HIGHLIFE

Vinyl LP pressing. With it's warmth, power and clarity, the music has the distinctive hallmark which makes Haffner probably the most popular drummer/bandleader in Europe, known from his albums and from thousands of concerts in more than 100 countries. And at the same time it marks an evolution in his music. Indeed, perhaps one of the key factors behind Haffner's success is that his music will always contain elements of the familiar alongside the new, and that Haffner always brings the audience along with him to participate in the flow of his ideas - and also in the 'life rhythm' which he communicates so brilliantly, and instills in everyone around him. A versatile approach and the highest level of musicianship are also factors which Wolfgang Haffner has in common with his fellow musicians on 'Life Rhythm'. At the core is his regular, completely 'played-in' trio with keyboard player Simon Oslender, also a drummer and a band leader in his own right, and Thomas Stieger, one of the most sought-after bassists on the German pop and jazz scenes. They are joined by trumpeter Sebastian Studnitzky, Haffner's regular collaborator since his ACT debut 'Shapes', and Finnish guitarist Arto Mik�l�, a real discovery with remarkable variety in his sound. Haffner also welcomes some unique musical personalities to bring their own highly individual colours to the band: Nils Landgren has been a good friend and touring colleague for more than 20 years. Also appearing are saxophone icon Bill Evans, Sting's guitarist Dominic Miller, Balkan beat star Shantel, the refined bassist Nicolas Fiszman, oud virtuoso Thomas Konstantinou and Bruno M�ller, one of the finest of German jazz guitarists.

WONDERLAND

ANSWER

Vinyl LP pressing includes digital download. Moreland & Arbuckle are a riveting live act just burning with energy, having honed their sound over the course of countless raucous live performances. They've shared stages with George Thorogood, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy and Los Lonely Boys. Promised Land Or Bust is as deep as delta blues and heavy as thundering rock, as the band continues to wring hard-hitting, modern roots music from traditional forms. Aaron Moreland's guitar stays groove-friendly while firing off sledgehammer riffs, Dustin Arbuckle's raucous singing and harp playing reinforce the relentless drive of the music, and both are barely held in place by Kendall Newby's propulsive drumming. Even when the throttle is pulled back for a loping folk-tinged ballad or a noir-ish blues worthy of Tom Waits, the band's intensity and raw emotion shine through.

AUSTRIAN SYNDICATE

4 WHEEL DRIVE II

STEALING MOMENTS

KARMA

JAZZPA�A is a showcase for the special compositional and arranging skills of Arif Mardin and Vince Mendoza, for the impeccable and dynamic section work of the WDR Big Band, for the exotic, and for the assured and articulate playing of top jazz guest players like Michael Brecker. Furthermore, JAZZPA�A reveals Vince Mendoza as a composer and arranger of immense talent and imagination.

Without Bernard Herrmann's accompanying score, you could argue that Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock's classic 1960 movie starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh, would not be celebrated as one of the greatest chillers of all time today

RAW

Marius Neset combines Brecker's power and Jan Garbarek's tonal delicacy (The Guardian) and "makes his instrument dance like a gazelle and soar like an eagle, and he's an ingenious composer too." (Telegraph) Downbeat described him as "not only an impressive technician but also a formidable composer." On "Happy" Marius Neset draws for the first time on the pop, soul and funk of the 70s and 80s.

PASSACAGLIA

TOUGH STUFF