Eden is a French duo: Hubert Vrayance, who composed the music (Hammond organ, bass pedals, synthesizers, vocals) and Allan Lys (drums, congas, percussions). Eden released one album in (1979). Information on them is scarce and so focus will be given here on their music which is more simplistic and more straightforward in their approach (compared to others in this genre). Melodic, yet outdated in sound, they start their tracks with a main theme upon which they add more layers of sound and more ideas. Each track is depicting a different theme, idea or scene. For instance, the first track "La Nuit Des Sorciers" (The Night Of The Wizards) is about "silhouettes dancing to the rhythm of winds in a dense wood under a strange moon". This should appeal to people who like Organ work and a melodic album which can serve as soundtrack for a late afternoon or early Sunday listening.

After early French violin concertos with Johannes Pramsohler and North German cello concertos with Gulrim Choï, it is now the turn of Ensemble Diderot’s harpsichordist to distinguish himself in this genre: Philippe Grisvard has chosen the repertoire of composers from the court of Frederick II, thus continuing Ensemble Diderot’s comprehensive exploration of the style of the Berlin School. The decision not to include Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach in this program facilitates the rehabilitation and rediscovery of composers whose contribution to the concerto genre is no less important. The result is a completely new program of virtuoso works in which the spirit of Bach father and son shines through time and again.

Claude Debussy wrote of Albéniz’s compositions: ‘Never has music attained such diverse impressions and colours. One closes one’s eyes and is dazzled by contemplating so many images.’ Iberia certainly fits this description beyond doubt, with its vivid evocation of Spain. Composed between 1905 and 1909, the collection is divided into four books, each containing three pieces. Book I opens with ‘Évocation’, which combines the southern Spanish fandango with jota song forms. ‘El Puerto’ was inspired by El Puerto de Santa María, in Cádiz, whilst ‘Fête-dieu à Séville’ depicts the Corpus Christi Day procession. ‘Rondeña’ and then ‘Almería’ are both depictions of Andalusian towns, and are followed by ‘Triana’, which evokes the Gypsy quarter of Seville.

Constellations, the 5th opus in the Solo series of the Orchestre national d’Île-de-France, invites you to discover the viola repertoire from the 19th century to the present day. Conveyed with sensitivity and panache by violist Guillaume Leroy, joined by Victor Metral and Aurélien Pascal, this album brings together six previously unreleased works by some of today’s leading composers, set against pieces from the Romantic and modern repertoire. From Schumann to Connesson, not forgetting Lutoslawski, Pépin, Vieuxtemps and Tanguy, let yourself be guided through this galaxy of poetic and powerful works.

John Storgards's acclaimed series of Shostakovich symphonies continues with this recording of Symphony No. 13. The BBC Philharmonic is joined by the bass-baritone Albert Dohmen and the Estonian National Male Choir. The symphony, subtitled 'Babiy Yar', caused a great deal of tension and controversy in the lead-up to its premiere, in December 1962 - not because of the music, but the poetry.

As an instrument from Italy, one that was exotic and evocative of Mediterranean atmospheres, the mandolin was very much in fashion in France until the end of the Century of Enlightenment: a fact also confirmed by many iconographic and musical sources. Pizzicar Galante, an ensemble that stands today as a benchmark for the interpretation of the galant literature for mandolin and continuo, has been acclaimed for the "finesse, creativity and spirit" (Olivier Fourés, Diapason) and "communicative energy" of it's performances (Sébastien Llinares, France Musique).

Giorgio Moroder completed his first ever live tour in 2019 - now it’s time again to experience his disco decade! This definitive collection brings together recordings from the legendary disco producer who put the late, great Donna Summer on the map, and whose talents as composer, performer and producer led to Grammy and Academy awards and numerous collaborations with many artists worldwide.

In her first solo album as a singer and harpist, Arianna Savall introduces us to a repertoire from the medieval and Baroque periods performed with seven different historical harps. The music comes from three countries where the harp has held a prominent position in cultural life: Italy, France, and Spain, in which the harp experienced a flowering of unique variety and beauty. Arianna Savall with her crystalline voice and her sweet playing, reaches the depths of these distant but at the same time so timeless music.

In some circles, Mickey Jupp is something of a minor legend, a roots rocker with excellent taste and a cutting wit, best heard on the songs "Switchboard Susan" and "You'll Never Get Me Up in One of Those," both covered by Nick Lowe. Basher's endorsement is a clear indication that Jupp is a pub rocker, a guy who specializes in laid-back good times, so it shouldn't come as a great surprise that his first band, Legend, was proto-pub, an unabashed celebration of old-time rock & roll, filled with three-chord Chuck Berry rockers and doo wop backing vocals. Nevertheless, listening to their 1971 LP is a bit of a shock, as it's completely disassociated with anything that was happening in 1971, even with Tony Visconti enlisted as their producer. Legend's sensibility is ahead of its time in its retro thinking, pointing the way to the rock & roll revival of the late '70s and not even that similar to the country-rock of Eggs Over Easy or Bees Make Honey…

Following his big band arrangements of John Coltrane’s classics, "A Love Supreme" and "Africa/Brass", Christophe Dal Sasso tackles Chick Corea's "Three Quartets". Under the expert guidance of the arranger, his big band (Voted France’s best jazz orchestra in 2020) revisits the legendary album, featuring in the footsteps of the late Michael Brecker, three exceptional saxophonists: David El-Malek, Stéphane Guillaume and Rick Margitza. A lively and spectacular tribute to the pianist who passed away in 2021.

You wouldn't think that transporting one of Chicago's reigning piano patriarchs to Englewood Cliffs, NJ would produce such a fine album, but this 1960 set cooks from beginning to end. Sunnyland Slim's swinging New York rhythm section has no trouble following his bedrock piano, and the estimable King Curtis peels off diamond-hard tenor sax solos in the great Texas tradition that also mesh seamlessly. Slim runs through his standards - "The Devil Is a Busy Man," "Shake It," "It's You Baby" - in gorgeous stereo, and two unissued bonus cuts (including another of his best-known tunes, "Everytime I Get to Drinking") make the CD reissue of Slim's Shout even more appealing.

Billie Holiday was an American jazz musician & singer-songwriter with a career spanning nearly 30 years. Nicknamed "Lady Day," by her friend & music partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz music & pop singing. The Billie Holiday Verve CD collection contains a selection her best-loved albums. Songs By Billie Holiday, A Recital By Billie Holiday, Velvet Moods - Songs By Billie Holiday, Lady Sings The Blues & All Or Nothing At All are housed in a hard-case boxset.

Formed in 1972, this ethnic/kraut jazz quintet (Jochen Leuschner, Reinhard Karwatky, Gerd Bock-Ehrmann, Deiter Kramer, and Ludwig Braun) released their self titled album the same year in a relative discretion. This album made an exploration in long / space rock improvisations relied on jazz grooves and weird electro -acoustic sounds. The "ethnic", mystical elements are obvious notably due to the acoustic percussions rhythm sections. Compositions are mainly instrumental and improvised, brightly showing the technical capacities of the musicians. After several departures the band will be organised under a trio form, recording in 1973 the seminal "Time Machine". This album features astonishing manifestations of freaky fusion jazz exercises mixed with weird experimentations and mysticism. This album was recorded at Dieter Dierk's mythical studio…

Guitarist Melvin Taylor's fluid, smartly constructed solos and understated yet winning vocals are surprises on this 1984 nine-track set recorded for Isabel and recently reissued by Evidence on CD. Taylor is not a fancy or arresting singer but succeeds through his simple, effective delivery of lyrics, slight inflections, and vocal nuances. His guitar work is impressive, with skittering riffs, shifting runs, and dashing solos. Organist/pianist Lucky Peterson is an excellent second soloist, adding cute background phrases at times, then stepping forward and challenging or buttressing Taylor's playing with his own dazzling lines.