Entrance (1970). Edgar Winter came out of the chute kicking with this remarkable record filled with jazz, blues, and a little old-fashioned rock & roll. The record follows an established theme throughout its first side, stringing the songs together without breaks, highlighted by dreamy keyboard and sax work, plus Winter's smooth vocalizations. But jazz isn't the only thing Winter brings to the party. His first recorded version of the old J.D. Loudermilk tune "Tobacco Road" throws a few nice punches (although the live version with White Trash a few years later would prove the definitive one). "Jimmy's Gospel" plays on his early church influences, while "Jump Right Out" is the predecessor of half-a-dozen "jump up and dance" numbers Winter would pepper his records with in the years to come…

Recorded in 1973, Fuller's Blues was Johnny Fuller's much-belated full-length debut, and it also turned out to be his last record. That's too bad, because it certainly illustrates what he was capable of achieving. He runs the gauntlet here, pulling out jumping R&B numbers and acoustic blues with equal aplomb. It's an exhilarating listen - it's just too bad there weren't more like it.

Soirée captures the atmosphere of informal, domestic music making. Czech star mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená offers an intimate and highly personal collection of international songs together with an outstanding group of musical friends, including Sir Simon Rattle, who makes his recording debut as a pianist. The German lied is represented by Brahms (Two Songs, Op. 91 and Five Ophelia Songs, WoO 22) and Strauss (Morgen!), the French chanson by Chausson (Chanson perpétuelle) and Ravel (Chansons madécasses), and 20th-century avant-gardism with Stravinsky’s Three Songs from William Shakespeare.

Domenico Scarlatti was born in 1685 - the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. Only a small fraction of his compositions were published during his lifetime; his 555 keyboard Sonatas were published long after his death. These virtuosic single movement works display remarkable harmonic originality. Pierre Hantaï is recognized as one of the most notable harpsichordists of his generation. The previous five volumes of his dazzling cycle of Scarlatti Sonatas received strong critical acclaim. This long-awaited sixth volume continues to set a new standard for these works.

First performed in 1729 and quickly forgotten, Lotario is a worthy work with plenty of effective arias and a duet, with characters and intrigues that demand attention. Conductor Alan Curtis explains in the liner notes that he has cut the recitatives and an aria or two in order to get the work onto two CDs. I can’t argue with his decision, and it’s good to have such a fine performance of this unknown work available. Curtis breathes life into each aria and paces the recitatives wisely. He takes time over the warm, loving arias and doesn’t give in to the temptation to rip into the allegros.

When Kenny Wheeler expatriated from his native Canada to England, it was not headline news. But upon the release of Gnu High, he became a contemporary jazz figure to be recognized, revered and admired. Playing the flugelhorn exclusively for this, his ECM label debut, Wheeler's mellifluous tones and wealth of ideas came to full fruition. Whether chosen in collaboration with label boss Manfred Eicher or by Wheeler alone, picking pianist Keith Jarrett, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette was a stroke of genius. They support the elongated and extended notions of Wheeler's in many real and important ways. What is also extant is a sense of self-indulgence, real for listeners with short attention spans…

6CD Box Set comprising the first five original studio albums plus exclusive bonus CD of demos, live tracks and non-album material, housed in a custom maroon and gold picture box with with a superb illustrated and detailed 28-page band chronology booklet!
Perhaps better known to most as a successful New Zealand, (and NZ's most successful band and hugely popular in NZ and Australia) new wave act from the early 1980s. Split Enz did in fact start life as a prog band formed in 1972 originally spelt Split Ends (the spelling changed to Enz when the band left New Zealand), by friends at Auckland University Phil Judd (Guitar, vocals) and Brian (Tim) Finn (Vocals, piano, guitar), who had an inspired period of song writing together. Their early sound was a mixture of vaudeville and influences of the Beatles, Genesis, Yes, Roxy Music, Jethro Tull and Gentle Giant…

Enjoy the wonderful winter season, with high quality lounge sounds selected by DJ Michael Maretimo. Cool and warm lounge sounds, sometimes melancholic, will warm your ears and your mind.

It does not take very long to realize that this is a nicely put together record. The singing is intense in somewhat of a Springsteen/David Eugene Edwards (Woven Hand) manner, but unique from them. The surrounding instrumentation weaves in and out in a folk rock manner at times and works as a full throttle rock band at others. The Singer-Songwriter category does not quite do justice to the songs. I would say rock fans will like this more than people wanting straight folk, but it has a good general appeal to both the crowds seeking lighter thoughtful material and those that want a good rock beat. The music is rather universal and what is truly interesting is that the California duo behind this band has historically done so much better in Europe than in the US. While I often can understand why some great European born music may not translate as well in the US (and vice versa), I have never understood why several great US bands (Wipers, 16 Horsepower) do so much better in Europe. Add this band to that list, as US listeners need to join in. I believe this album of eleven original songs comes with a bonus CD containing a full live set. (David Hintz)

The many talents of Della Reese has meant she has enjoyed a long and successful career as top drawer performer of Jazz, Blues, R&B, Gospel and stylish pop music. Here the spotlight is on her two complete albums and a collection of her singles from Jubilee records including the classic hit 'And That Reminds Me'. This is a great introduction to the work of Della Reese and shows exactly why she was to considered one of the foremost interpreters of the American Songbook.

"The Broadcast Collection (Live)" is a comprehensive compilation of live performances by the Pat Metheny Group, recorded between 1976 and 1987. Released in 2019, this album captures the energetic and innovative live recordings from the early stages of the group’s career. Featuring 46 tracks and approximately six hours of music, the album highlights the depth and diversity of their stage performances

For more than ten years Soul Jazz Records have been exploring and documenting the sound of New Orleans Funk. Now they turn their attention to the flipside of this musical coin - New Orleans Soul.
These two musical forms share a lineage that begins with the city's enormous rhythm and blues explosion in the post-war 1940s and 1950s. New Orleans Soul incorporated the soulful vocals of the gospel church, the driving beat of rhythm and blues, as well as traces of the second-line parade bands and the latinized rhythms of the city. Here you will find New Orleans soul in all its glorious variations - from the deep, deep soul of singers Aaron Neville, Willie Tee and Robert Parker to the storming northern soul of Maurice Williams and Eldridge Holmes, the funky soul of Eddie Bo, Lionel Robinson and Ernie K-Doe all alongside the Crescent City's finest soul sisters - Irma Thomas, Betty Harris, Jean Knight, Inell Young and more!

Stranded, the third long playing outing from Roxy Music, not only gave the band their first No. 1 album in the UK but was also the first to come to the wider attention of US audiences. An incredibly accomplished and consistent collection of songs, Stranded thrills from start to finish – from the definitive album opener (and hit single) ‘Street Life’ to the affecting ballad ‘Just like You’, the smouldering ‘Song For Europe’ and the epic (and one of the all-time great Bryan Ferry compositions) ‘Mother Of Pearl’. From its Antony Price-styled sleeve in, Stranded is nothing short of a musical hothouse, brim-full of colour, drama and exotica.

Hear songs from Björk’s recent Lisbon performance in Spatial Audio. Björk, the Icelandic avant-garde musician known for her boundary-pushing sound and theatrical performances, takes us on a journey through her catalogue during an exclusive show in Lisbon. While the performance leans heavily on Utopia, her ambitious 2017 project about healing and new beginnings, she also performs vivid early-career compositions like “Isobel” and “Hidden Place”. The set list was arranged to celebrate a lifetime of creative innovation, performed in front of a live audience, and mixed and mastered in Spatial Audio.

TED NUGENT KENTUCKY STATE FAIR - From A Live FM Broadcast Recorded At The Kentucky State Fair, Louisville, KY, 26th August 1995. 1995 saw the release of Ted Nugent s Spirit Of The Wild, his first and only solo album of the 90s. The record also witnessed the return of vocalist Derek St. Holmes, who had featured on many of Nugent s early LPs. Spirit Of The Wild ultimately peaked at No. 86 on the Billboard Charts and marked a return to critical acclaim, with many praising Nugent for reviving his original heavier, hard rock sound. To support the album, Nugent set out on a 27-date U.S. tour throughout 1995. One of his finest performances during this time was given at the Kentucky State Fair, which took place at Cardinal Stadium, Louisville on 26th August with support from British hard rock supergroup Bad Company. Recorded for live simultaneous FM broadcast across the United States, and playing a selection from his latest record as well as a number of older favourites and covers - including The Amboy Dukes classic Journey To The Centre Of The Mind and Jimi Hendrix s Red House - this whirlwind show is now available in its entirety on this CD for the first time.