The term 'legend' doesn't do justice to B.B. King. The eight-decade story of how a Mississippi cotton-picker rose to the heights of the blues - changing the genre forever with his soul-drenched voice and 'one-note' touch - is told by his acclaimed studio catalogue and fabled live shows. Now, as the men who walked alongside him every step of the way for over 35 years, The B.B. King Blues Band write the next chapter, on an album that salutes King's classic songs and showcases their own. "It's important," nods executive producer Terry Harvey, "to continue what he started." Boasting several world-class songwriters in their ranks, The Soul Of The King finds the lineup supplying material that stands alongside their late leader's catalogue. There's the addictive brass-bolstered shuffle of Low Down. The slow-burn balladry of She's The One. The spring-heeled funk of Taking Care Of Business, and trumpet legend James 'Boogaloo' Bolden's own Hey There Pretty Woman. Joe Louis Walker gives a soulful hat-tip on Regal Blues - while the King would surely approve of Louisiana gunslinger Kenny Wayne Shepherd's masterful solo on opener Irene Irene. As Harvey says: "This record is a representation of B.B.'s musical styles and influences, to those who never got to hear or see him live." Mission accomplished, with The Soul Of The King making a bracing return to some of King's greatest cuts. There's a heartfelt turn from Michael Lee on The Thrill Is Gone. Mary Griffin and Taj Mahal combine their vocal and guitar talents on Paying The Cost To Be The Boss. Kenny Neal lends poignant vocals and licks to Sweet Little Angel. "Recording with the different artists and the band was an enlightening experience," reflects Harvey. "Everyone came in prepared, but when Mary Griffin came to record, she came in all bubbly - and nailed her vocals in two takes."

Bernard's next release will be a tribute to Luther Allison... All Luthers songs re-done by Bernard

J.S. BACH: TOCCATA AND FUGUES

PROJECT XII 2021 / VARIOUS

LIFE

SCRIABIN - SCARLATTI

MENDELSSOHN: LIEDER OHNE WORTE

MIRROR MUSIC

POCKET SYMPHONIES

The album features eight new compositions by Halvorson, performed with her sextet Amaryllis; the improvisatory band that performed on her critically praised 2022 albums Amaryllis and Belladonna comprises Halvorson, Patricia Brennan (vibraphone), Nick Dunston (bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), Jacob Garchik (trombone), and Adam O'Farrill (trumpet). Labelmate Laurie Anderson also is featured on the album track "Incarnadine."All the music on Cloudward was written in 2022, mostly in the fall and winter, when things started moving forward. Life felt like a creaky machine starting up again," she continues. "Air travel, however chaotic, had resumed, and we were once again cloudward. Performances and tours and recordings were happening after a long hiatus and with a renewed sense of gratitude. This band, for me, was quite simply working, both musically and personally, and the main thing I felt while writing the music was optimism."

PIANO CONCERTO NO. 20 & 21 (ORIGINAL SOURCE SERIES

PURCELL & MOZART

This collection assembles the range of sources that Robert Johnson heard and learned from including songs from his mentor Son House and from other Delta performers and from sources that show aspects of the musical world in which he lived. His tastes ranged far and wide and he had a gift for absorbing sounds of all kinds, including from tin pan alley to hillbilly songs. He was a brilliant creative musician who managed a stunningly effective fusion of his Delta roots and the smoother approach of the then prominent contemporary blues artists. As with any genius in any field he was able to produce great work only because he was standing on the shoulders of previous great artists. This collection provides an introduction to a number of them and gives a sense of how Johnson adapted and combined their styles. It presents music that can still excite and inspire us today just as it did to Robert Johnson back in the first golden age of the blues.

AMERICA

The discography of trumpeter Don Cherry is one of the most fascinating in music. Although famously associated with the ground-breaking free explorations of Ornette Coleman as his career progressed, Cherry delved into all manner of waters from cosmic mediative wig-outs to mainstream funk. He also pioneered what is now branded as world music, At the other end of the spectrum is this delicious collaboration with Jon Appleton called "Human Music". Jon Appleton was an early pioneer of electronic music in America. He established his first primitive studio whilst studying at the University of Oregon in the mid-60s. Assisted by a financial grant this was greatly expanded at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire in the late 60s where Appleton began to record his sonic explorations at his bespoke electronic music studio. It seemed only natural that Appleton would come to the attention of the questing ears of Flying Dutchman label supremo Bob Thiele. This led to the album "Appleton Syntonic Menagerie" released on Flying Dutchman in 1969. Recorded at the Dartmouth studio it's a fascinating album rich in ideas, proto synthesiser sounds and sonic exploration. Listening today, it's as if Steve Stapleton from Nurse With Wound went back in time to record a secret album. � It was probably Bob Thiele's idea to put Appleton and Cherry together. Thus, Cherry went to Appleton's electronic music studio at Dartmouth College to record an album of improvisations. Apparently, laid down live the four extended tracks are sparse, spacious and a compelling listen and where jazz meets early electronica. As a jazz musician, Cherry not only played wood, bamboo and metal flutes, kalimbas; earthquake drums, coronet with traditional mouthpiece and bamboo reed but listened to Appleton's oscillations to ensure that his parts fit into this unlikely musical jigsaw. This album has been out of print on vinyl for decades and as well as remastering "Human Music" we have made sure to serve it up in it's original gatefold sleeve that features striking original artwork by Don Cherry's Swedish wife Moki 'Moqui' Cherry. An exhibition of her work was recently displayed at the ICA between May and September 2023