SteepleChase originally released in 1984 this Shirley Horn's live tribute to songwriter Curtis Lewis (1918-1987), who was one of the first Black composers and lyricists to emerge on the Broadway scene in the early 1940s. Shirley Horn (1934-2005), long connected to Lewis's music, brings deeply personal readings of 'He's Gone Again,' 'Old Country,' and 'Roaming Lover,' before unfolding the dramatic, story-like suite The Garden of the Blues, quoting Lewis's own linking prose. Her trio-Charles Ables (bass) and Steve Williams (drums)-provides subtle, breathing support, leaving space for Horn's unhurried phrasing and emotional clarity. Newly remastered in 24-bit/96 kHz and pressed on 180g vinyl, this edition restores the concert's warmth, poise, and luminous detail. 'Shirley Horn has one of the most alluring voices in jazz - she let's the lyrics melt into a violet haze as she slowly unwraps the melody - and she's an exceptional pianista wonderful, moving combination of voice and song.' (Cash Box)
From the spirited wit of the Viennese stage to the quiet sanctuary of his most private sonatas, this collection captures the multifaceted genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Journey through the vibrant energy of The Marriage of Figaro, the ethereal dialogue of the Flute and Harp Concerto, and the heartbreaking solemnity of his final Requiem. Whether it is the playful charm of Papageno's aria or the sublime tranquility of the Piano Concerto No. 23, each track has been carefully curated to showcase a legacy that remains as vivid today as it was over two centuries ago.
With Rain, Flowers and New Beginnings, trumpeter, composer and bandleader Maik Krahl presents a deeply personal and beautifully balanced album about growth, change and resilience. Inspired by the idea that no flower blooms without rain, the music reflects the quiet strength that can emerge from difficult seasons, transforming experience into sound with warmth, clarity and lyrical depth. Krahl's trumpet playing is marked by a rich, flexible tone, elegant phrasing and a calm emotional intensity. Across the album, he moves through spacious, melodic landscapes, playful rhythmic passages and moments of reflective stillness, always maintaining a sense of openness and natural flow. His compositions are adventurous yet grounded, shaped by contrast, silence and release. The album features an exceptional ensemble: Constantin Krahmer on piano, Jakob Kuhnemann on bass, Fabian Rosch on drums and glockenspiel, and Tamara Lukasheva on vocals. Together, they bring Krahl's music to life with sensitivity, imagination and a strong collective voice. From the opening 'Blue Dots Descending' to the closing 'The Journey of Serenity,' Rain, Flowers and New Beginnings unfolds like a musical meditation on renewal. It is an album about what is endured, what is absorbed, and what eventually blossoms.
Vinyl LP pressing. Pianist and composer Aaron Parks expands his trio with bassist Ben Street and drummer Billy Hart into a quartet with the addition of tenor saxophonist Ben Solomon on his luminous third Blue Note album, By All Means. Although Parks has made his band Little Big the center of his recorded output in recent years, he never stopped writing music that belonged to a different harmonic universe influenced by the likes of Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Duke Ellington, Joe Henderson, and others.
Leo Parker was the first bebop baritone sax player and a member of Billy Eckstine's Unholy Four saxophone section with Dexter Gordon in the mid-40s. Sidelined in the '50s due to personal troubles, he made a tragically brief comeback in 1961 recording two Blue Note dates, including Rollin' With Leo months before he died. This stereo Blue Note Tone Poet Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.
Black vinyl edition of the new album Building Characters from pianist Charles Chen. Chen pairs jazz legends with other legends from fiction. The album features an acoustic Horace Silver-esque band playing in a variety of styles including bossa nova, classical influenced jazz, funk, swing, pop ballad, & post-bop. It features Randy Brecker on trumpet, Bob Sheppard and Lawrence Feldman on sax, Mike Richmond on bass, & Adam Nussbaum on drums.
Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. A little-known baritone saxophonist who possessed remarkable agility and lyricism, Serge Chaloff made his defining album with 1956's Blue Serge, his second recording for Capitol. Joined by pianist Sonny Clark, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Philly Joe Jones, the quartet simmers on a laid-back set of standards. This mono Blue Note Tone Poet Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe tip-on jacket.
La Nuit Blanche was born out of the pandemic-the music composed at my home in CDMX during lockdown and eventually recorded in NYC (the same weekend I received my second vaccine). There was a unique energy within the group. Musical spirits were allowed to open and release whilst our collective sense of inwardness was discarded for something we all knew how to do: just play. Whatever happened in that Queens studio felt special and seems to have translated to the recording. Aided by Jeff Hill's vibey mix, the music invites you inside to listen or just soak. So lots of love to all the folks involved-I can't wait to hear these jams on wax. Erik Deutsch - keys Avi Bortnick - guitar Mike McGinnis - reeds Brian Drye - trombone Jeff Hill - bass Tony Mason - drums Mauro Refosco - Percussion on "Tio Ilegal" + "Lockdown
PRECIOUSLY few Irish bands can compare in both virtuosity and versatility with Solas, a quintet of truly dazzling individual talents. Multiple All-lreland champion Seamus Egan plays no fewer than eight instruments, John Williams is a gifted button accordionist and the only American ever to win the coveted All-lreland sen- ior concertina title, Winifred Horan weaves deft classical touches with an earthy passion in her fiddling, Karan Casey possesses a crystalline voice that can soar like no other, and John Doyle provides faultless guitar rhythms throughout. But the sum of Solas is far greater than their impressive parts, combining to produce a marvelously spirited and textured sound rich in imagination, innovation, and tradition. They are the most exciting Irish band to emerge in many years - as this stunning debut album attests. - Earle Hitchner, Irish Echo April 1996
With special guest Lindsey Webster! Smooth Jazz saxophonist Vincent Ingala's astounding 15 #1 Billboard Contemporary Jazz hit singles, including the 2023 Airplay Song of the Year, and his recent triumphs as Sirius XM Watercolors Breakthrough Artist Of The Year and Billboard Smooth Jazz Artist Of The Year Establish him as one of the hottest stars on the contemporary jazz scene today. Highlights include Vincent's exciting collaboration with Smooth Jazz diva Lindsey Webster on the Ultra Nate classic "Free," the romantic "Escape With Me," the ultra-funky "Ramp It Up" and much more!
Paul Cornish - "You're Exaggerating!". You're Exaggerating! Features Cornish with the rhythm tandem of bassist Joshua Crumbly and drummer Jonathan Pinson, performing nine original compositions, most of them inspired by personal memories, reflections and idols. Helmed by a generous, uplifting bandleader, the trio chops up and reinvents the groove at will and embarks on unforeseen detours. Cornish's approach, in it's even-keeled texture and shrewd harmony, is a sort of mastery that entices rather than merely impresses. Available on 180g vinyl.
Thomas Strønen - "Relations". Musical messages from Oslo, New York, Basel and Lugano - recorded between 2018 and 2022 - are juxtaposed and recombined on an absorbing recording that features Norwegian drummer Thomas Strønen solo and in a series of duets. With such partners as Craig Taborn, Chris Potter, Sinikka Langeland and Jorge Rossy, the musical frame of reference is very broad. Strønen offers a project that implies new threads of connectivity, new creative relationships. Produced by Manfred Eicher.
Verve Remixed Now back on vinyl for the first time in 20 years, with the series' inaugural project Verve Remixed, we hear what happens when Masters at Work meet Nina Simone, and Zihan & Kamien take on Billie Holiday. Experience the interpretations of renowned remixers with this refreshed physical format. Verve Remixed debuted in 2002, it's [Galaxy 2 LP]
