In his review of Mark Turner's last quartet effort for ECM, 2022's Return From The Stars, the Swiss daily Weltwoche's Peter Ruedi described the program as "the leanest, most concentrated, and most inspired improvised chamber music imaginable." It's a fitting description of the tenor saxophonist's powerful quartet endeavors, which seem to have arrived at their most sophisticated and hard-hitting on Patternmaster, an album that in many respects feels like a continuation and expansion of the group's last recording. Both boundless improvisation and cool control are driving motors behind a quartet that has molded it's common musical understanding over years on the road and in the studio. "The more you trust, the more chances you can take and the deeper you can go with people," says the leader, who feels that within this group's chemistry he can go "beyond craft and gage into the art of music more in depth."

Borderland" is the first Amorphis album produced in collaboration with Danish producer Jacob Hansen. Before that, we had made three amazing records at Jens Bogren's studio. During the planning phase of the project, we strongly felt that it was time to explore something new and see what working with a different producer might bring to the table.

BURNER

This is a disc of music for chamber ensembles and solo performers written by two of Britain's leading women composers, who also happen to be mother and daughter. Sparklingly presented by Okeanos, comprising several leading contemporary music performers.

Classical Music

Among the so-varied styles of music being written and constructed today, there remains a vibrant and strong lyrical tradition, focused on the English school. Proving that such work is still fresh and relevant, here are exquisite pieces for clarinet, recorder and string quartet by Robert Crawford and the late John Veale. Modern idioms which also incorporate classical and Romantic traditions. We regret to note that Bob Crawford died on January 26, 2012.

Through the Reeds is a collection of woodwind concerti from American composer Walter Ross. A lifelong musician and composer, Ross has historically worked most closely with instruments in the woodwind family; the four concerti on this album, all of which feature woodwind solo, highlight his preference for the family and his keep ability to compose works for oboe, bassoon, and flute.

In the '50s, Big Joe Turner played a major role in the popularity of the fledgling music form known as rock and roll. This compilation hints at his influence, featuring 18 tracks crafted during the latter half of the previous decade when he also was appearing with the Count Basie Orchestra.

The British composer Robin Stevens is a great talent waiting to be discovered by the global music community. His varied, stimulating and expressive work is exemplified by this collection of music for wind instruments, ranging from the jolly and accessible (yet very difficult to play) Concert Rondoto the darker, deeper and meaningful Grief’s Portrait. Stevens has a brilliant touch, and also is an excellent pianist, cellist and guitarist and plays all three instruments here, alongside some of the foremost instrumentalists from the musical hotspot of Manchester, England: John Bradbury (principal clarinet, BBC Philharmonic); John Turner (recorderist: Academy of Ancient Music etc.); Richard Simpson (principal oboe, BBC Symphony), Janet Simpson (former principal keyboardist, Hallé Orchestra); and freelance soloists Sarah Miller (flutes);Helen Peller (bassoon) and Lindsey Stoker (horn).

Peter Hope is an English composer whose name is not well known to the public, but some of his music certainly is. A veteran of the light music genre, he has been a fulltime composer and arranger for fifty years, working for many years with the BBC Concert Orchestra- many of his arrangements becoming classics in their genre, also writing music for the marriage of the Crown Prince of Spain and many other public events. His theme tune for BBC TV news ran for over a decade, known to practically every person in the UK. Since 2000 he has concentrated on more serious and extended compositions, though retaining a commercial sense of approachable style. This album features four wind sonatas and two other works, performed by instrumentalists of high caliber and renown. All the works are receiving the premiere recording and one is being considered as the music for an animated film based on the music itself.

Classical Music

For over fifty years, Britain’s foremost recorder player, John Turner, has composed a carol and sent the score as his Christmas Card. Until now just a personal gift to his friends, John was persuaded to record a selection, which has led to this beautiful album. Presented by the chamber choir Intimate Voices (which also performs as Voces Intimae) and featuring sopranos Sasha Johnson Manning, Eleanor Gregory and Philippa Hyde in solo and duet pieces, with obbligato harp and oboe in some, this is a lovely mixed programme of Nativity carols, composed very much in traditional style, in new settings of ancient texts. John Turner is a fine composer but is chiefly known as a recorder player and champion of contemporary composers, with dozens of recordings to his credit, many from Divine Art and Métier.

Kerry Turner made his mark on the global music community through his association with the illustrious American Horn Quartet. Turner’s compositional goal is to communicate to the listener a vivid picture through his highly melodic musical language. Many sources provided the inspiration for the works on this album, ranging from the spiritual, to the literary, and even Turner’s powerful response to the music of J.S. Bach.

TELL ME PRETTY BABY

Album pairs 2 stylistically different tenor players on a program of 9 iconic ballads, feat. Kevin Hays, Larry Grenadier & Billy Drummond.

The Hunter is one of Ike & Tina's most blues oriented albums. It was cut during the blues revival period of the late 1960s. Released just a few years after the Phil Spector-produced River Deep Mountain High, The Hunter boasts several fine blues workouts in which the Stax sound figures prominently. The album features electric blues guitarist Albert Collins. This masterpiece earned Tina Turner her first solo Grammy nomination. This is the first official American LP re-issue in more than 40 years.

Classical Music