Music, for all of us, is intimately connected to our lives and the sounds we love and grew up with, and that we discovered on our journeys through our world. We all remember the music we heard as children, and certainly we remember the songs that bound us together with our friends as teens. As we grow older, we are exposed to music from all over the world that we experience through visits, shows, and media. -Craig Madden Morris

Less is more: true to this motto, nine orchestra musicians who were friends founded the Ensemble Minui in 2016. Active in renowned orchestras such as the Carinthian Symphony Orchestra, the Slovenian National Opera, and the Vienna State Opera, they devote themselves here to exquisite minimalism with elegance and sophistication. Homogeneous and balanced, the five string players and four wind players offer previously unheard, sonically differentiated perspectives on large-scale operas such as Wagner's Die Walküre, Puccini's Manon Lescaut, and Strauss's Die Frau ohne Schatten.

2021 release. A career retrospective when you're not even 30 years old? Well, yes-if you've been performing professionally since age four and your name is Nicolas King. Act One: Celebrating 25 Years of Recordings is a remarkable release, both because it is a piece of show-biz history and because it chronicles the musical evolution of a star performer. Born of the pandemic and it's "time on my hands" state of being, King put together 17 tracks that represent a journey he considers the end of childhood and the launch into the next act of his career as an adult. The result is a compilation of new studio tracks, selections from previous solo albums, and archival numbers.

Though guitarist John Hart has performed with quite a few organists, including the distinguished Jack McDuff with whom he played 16 years, this is his third album with organ in the group. With the award-winning, remarkable Gary Versace at the B-3, John Hart unfolds here a spellbinding Act Three of his guitar/organ trio performance. John Hart, while leading an active life as performer on the world jazz scene, has held a full-schedule lecturer/head post of the jazz guitar department at the FROST SCHOOL OF MUSIC of his alma mater, University of Miami for several years now. On Hart’s previous and the first release on SteepleChase SCCD 31865 “Crop Circles” last year Ken Dryden commented, “The strength of this session merits more frequent record dates for John Hart.”

2015 release, the sophomore album from the UK's musical theatre supergroup. COLLABRO were one of THE UK success stories of 2014. Not only did they win Britain's Got Talent and go on to perform at the Royal Variety Show, they also entered the charts at #1 with their debut album. That album went on to sell over 180,000 copies, making it one of only a handful of new British artists that went Gold or Platinum with their debut releases. This second collection includes more of your favourite West End and Broadway Theatre classics along with the boys inimitable take on some Classic songs, given the COLLABRO twist. With a sell-out tour already under their collective belts and their first biography out in March, 2015 promises to be another record breaking year for COLLABRO.

Alto saxophonist Jackie McLean's 1960s output ran the gamut from hard bop to the avant-garde with his 1964 post-bop dates It's Time! And Action splitting the difference. Trumpeter Charles Tolliver had appeared alongside McLean in the horn frontline on It's Time! And returned once again for Action the next month, with McLean opting for Bobby Hutcherson's vibraphone in place of piano, as well as Cecil McBee on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. The albums leaps out of the gate with McLean's searing title track followed by two pensive Tolliver originals: "Plight" and "Wrong Handle." On a highly original version of the standard "I Hear a Rhapsody" the melody is answered by discordant interjections from the horns before the album comes to a close with McLean's grooving minor key piece "Hootnan."

The beauty of Oscar Peterson's sound has never been as superbly captured as this. (Jazz critic Gene Lees in the original liner notes) - When the world-renowned Canadian pianist Oscar Peterson came to Villingen in 1961, there was a mood of intense excitement all round. Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer (HGBS), former owner of the hifi dynasty SABA, had just set up the first version of his studio, equipped with the most advanced recording technology of the time, above the living-room in his villa. This was the bait used by the piano enthusiast to attract the famous pianist to the Black Forest. After a guest performance in Zurich, Peterson climbed into a limousine and embarked on a journey across the mountains. As soon as he arrived, along with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen, the international star was led to the Steinway grand in the living-room where several excited guests were eagerly waiting. - In the following years, the Canadian pianist returned again and again to the Black Forest with various line-ups to capture his musical vision on tape. As Peterson was still under contract to Verve, the recordings could not be released before 1968. The legendary Exclusively For My Friends series was the first release for Brunner-Schwer's newly-established MPS label. - Never before had a recording captured every aspect of Peterson's ground-breaking sound so vividly: the virtuosity and the speed as well as the delicate inspiration he brings to the subtle and reflective moments. These recordings, made over a short period of five years, also reflect the transformation from equal member of a trio to soloist. All albums beside "Mellow Mood" and "Travelin' On" were released in 1968, with those two being released in 1969. - This will be the first time MPS reissues all the recordings from the "Exclusively For My Friends" series as standalones. All editions will have a scan of the mastertapebox and the original linernotes included.

The Original DEBUT Recordings 1964 & 1967The legendary recordings by the TCJQ for the Danish DEBUT label have been out of print for more than a couple of decades. This double CD-set including the two original LP releases is not only the historical document but also recaptures the excitement that Scandinavia faced in the early 60s by the new wave jazz, which is still strikingly fresh today.

Don Cherry & Krzysztof Penderecki - Actions - A memorable live recording of a unique encounter of jazz and contemporary classical music is available again. Don Cherry and Krzysztof Penderecki appeared live in concert in 1971 at the Donaueschingen Music Festival. Ever since this festival has been of major significance not only for avant-garde music. - The live recording of Donaueschingen was available only on vinyl on the Wergo-Label and has been out of print for many years. Before releasing ACTIONS for the first time on compact disc on Intuition, the original masters were carefully restored and 24-bit digitally remastered. - The booklet includes liner notes by producer Joachim Ernst Berendt and excerpts from an interview with Krzysztof Penderecki as well as previously unknown photos of the concert. Feat. The New Eternal Rhythm Orchestra with Manfred Schoof (tr, co) - Kenny Wheeler (tr, co) - Tomasz Stanko (tr, co) - Paul Rutherford (tb) - Albert Mangelsdorff (tb) - Gerd Dudek (ts, ss) - Peter Brotzmann (ts, bs) - Willem Breuker (ts, cl) - Gunter Hampel (fl, bcl) - Fred van Hove (org, p) - Terje Rypdal (g) - Buschi Niebergall (b) - Peter Warren (b, e-b) - Han Bennink (dr, Chinese woodblocks, tabla, thumb piano, perc).

George Colligan’s debut album Activism returns in a newly pressed 180g LP edition (G1382), celebrating its 1996 arrival as one of the most confident first statements of its era. At just 25, Colligan emerged as one of New York’s most in demand pianists, and this trio recording captures the full force of that promise. Joined by bassist Dwayne Burno and drummer Ralph Peterson, he approaches works by Wayne Shorter, Duke Pearson, Horace Silver, Thelonious Monk, Fats Waller, and Freddie Hubbard with the assurance of a seasoned bandleader. Critics immediately recognized the album’s vitality—its positive, vigorous, and resourceful spirit—and The Washington Post praised Colligan’s commanding touch and fearless conception. Nearly three decades later, Activism stands as a remarkable debut from a musician whose artistic voice arrived fully formed. “....this album is all about a remarkable arrival of a musician whose conception epitomises Activism in the best sense - positive, vigorous, outgoing and resourceful....” (Mark Gardner)

AD ASTRA is Il Volo's new album, marking a significant milestone in their 15-year career as one of the leading names in classical crossover pop. This album is the trio's first to feature 11 previously unreleased tracks, bringing together a unique fusion of pop, classical symphonic music, and traditional opera. This international edition of AD ASTRA offers 16 tracks in total, including five new tracks. - Highlights include the golden tones of Now We Are Free, the iconic theme from Ridley Scott's Gladiator, composed by Hans Zimmer, as well as timeless American classics like The Sound of Silence and Hallelujah, reimagined with original arrangements by M. Tenisci and S. Marletta. Also featured is a special collaboration with renowned soprano Pretty Yende on Amazing Grace and an English version of their hit single Capolavoro. - This album, much like a finely tailored suit, is a perfect reflection of the distinct yet harmonious personalities of Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto, and Gianluca Ginoble, highlighting the rich vocal dynamics that have defined Il Volo's global success.

The active support for "ad hoc "he has gathered around himself by using outstanding masters of their craft whilst trying to crack this latest musical puzzle has paid off for Miller. With them at his side he has created an open-minded new work, which should delight fans of rich and diverse sounds everywhere. Those working at the frontiers of their art don't care about traditional genre barriers and in titles like " Exiting Purgatory", written in an intricate 7/8, the tender and melodic "Eva", the meditative " Shavasana " and " Moroccan roll " reminiscent of Weather Report's World Jazz, he has transcended all style barriers. What is special with this album is that he doesn't just stop at the mere crossover of time signatures, close together, sometimes wide apart, it's the combination of modern jazz, electronica, acoustic folk, contemporary classical and world music combined " ad hoc" style that leads to something entirely new. There isn't yet an appropriate genre term for such a symbiosis, it's yet to be coined, any suggestions anyone'

Thomas Kelly made his concerto debut performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No.24 with the orchestra of the Purcell School. He was just 9 years old. Since then, Thomas has studied with Dmitri Alexeev at the Royal College of Music, and awarded the RCM's highest accolade for a pianist, the Benjamin Britten Fellowship. Thomas has many awards from international competitions and has a wide repertoire embracing both core and lesser known areas of the piano repertoire. His debut album is a daunting program of organ works arranged by great pianists for their instrument.

This compilation is an exquisite curation of classical music's most introspective and soul-stirring moments. Designed for the listener who seeks a sanctuary in sound, the tracklist moves seamlessly from the sweeping, cinematic melancholy of Mahler and John Williams to the delicate, crystalline precision of Bach and Debussy. Opening with the hauntingly beautiful Adagietto from Mahler's 5th Symphony - famous for it's use in the soundtrack of the film Death in Venice -, Side A sets a tone of profound reflection. The journey continues through the iconic, weeping violin of the Schindler's List theme, and the tender ache of Faure's Apres un reve, offering a rich, orchestral embrace. The flip side transitions into a more intimate, nocturnal space. From the timeless, moonlight-drenched keys of Debussy to the shimmering textures of Saint-Saens' Aquarium, Side B focuses on the soloists. The album closes with Beethoven's "Pathetique" Sonata.

With this new volume in their ongoing Romantic Violin Concerto series, Hyperion proudly announces a new collaboration with the brilliant young British violinist Chloe Hanslip, the former child prodigy famously signed to Warner Classics at the age of just fourteen. Here, she lends her now mature talents to the second release in Hyperion's overview of Vieuxtemps' Violin Concertos. Henry Vieuxtemps (1820-1881) was a French violin virtuoso who, after the death of Paganini, was widely considered to be the best violinist in Europe. Besides being a brilliant player, he was a remarkably fine composer, as demonstrated in these, his first two concertos. Alongside the memorable violin fireworks, Vieuxtemps here shows a well-argued musical sensibility that straddles both the Classical and Romantic eras as well as the ability to write gorgeous, almost operatic slow movements in the best bel-canto tradition.