Gardens of Stone

Our second jazz collection is deliberately easy listening; relaxing and enjoyable, with strong melodies and a gentle swing. Sinatra, Holliday, Ella, Nat and many more stars in possibly the ultimate fantasy night club programme! Relax into the small wee hours with numbers like Sweet Lorraine, or enjoy April in Paris, and dream a little dream with Armstrong.

Classical Music

Classical Music

This laid back program of classics by powerhouse jazz composers Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn adequately show Tommy Smith’s virtuosic saxophone playing. Smith does a fantastic job of keeping the composers’ intentions in mind, while still adding his own colors and textures to these classics. Smith is accompanied here by an all-star trio of musicians, including Kenny Barron, Peter Washington and Billy Drummond. Many of these tracks were recorded in just one take. This album was originally released in 1998, and is being re-issued here as part of Linn’s ECHO series.

Remembering the Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra is a premiere collection of the Air Force's finest tunes in tribute to the one and only Glenn Miller. Performed by The United States Air Force Orchestra, this album features a series of classic jazz charts like "Chattanooga Choo-Choo", "American Patrol", and everyone's favorite, "In the Mood." (Altissimo)

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

More jazz records should be like Sophisticated Lady Quartet-relaxed yet focused, tradition-based yet modern, elegant yet conveying a sure sense of swing. The recording is so pure that you almost feel as if you're eavesdropping on four musicians who seem completely in their element while performing, in a one-take environment, a set that's evenly split between previously rehearsed arrangements and performances where they had one chance to turn a composition into a memorable piece of music. No splicing or editing here-just a live-in-the-studio recording where the mood, playing and sonics are so solid that that jazz lovers will wish that the mostly-classical label Yarlung wandered over to this side of the street more often. -Jeff Wilson, The Absolute Sound The Sophisticated Lady Jazz Quartet's debut recording should be of great interest to fans of forward-looking straight ahead jazz. Each of the four musicians is excellent both as soloists and in ensembles, the music that they perform ranges from melodic versions of standards to lyrical originals and freer explorations, and their subtle playing keeps one guessing. This CD is well worth exploring and I certainly recommend it. -Scott Yanow, Los Angeles Jazz Scene Look out Brubeck, Sophisticated Lady's remarkable debut should perhaps be re-titled TAKE ONE. Why? Each tune was captured in one take! The 60 minute CD also celebrates Yarlung's audiophile venture into JAZZ with a splatter of Chet Baker's seductive, kicked-back Californication daubed with a drizzle of Miles at his mellowest. No matter how busy your day, an evening spin through this one will definitely move your mood. -David Thomson, Record Collector News

With Mantra Revealed, the Marc Rossi group continues the work he began on Hidden Mandala: bearing the standard for pan-Indian jazz fusion into the present tense and beyond. The album’s rich panoply of colors and textures comes from the interplay of Rossi’s own distinctive compositions and the players’ absorbing improvisational skills. It’s become commonplace to refer to an album as a “journey” these days, but few navigate a path as wide-ranging, engaging and multi-hued as Mantra Revealed.

A lively recording highlighting a selection of military marches and patriotic songs, featuring several Sousa pieces including "The Washington Post," "King Cotton." The USAF Band of the Rockies' performances are first-rate. Other songs include "The Footlifter," "El Capitan," "Chicago Tribune," "Sound Off - Air Force Blue," and more. 24 songs in all! (Altissimo)

Classical Music

Clive Bell is Britain's leading player of the Japanese shakuhachi, and a founder member of Jah Wobble's Deep Space project. DAVID ROSS was drummer for the instrumental combo Kenny Process Team. But none of this would prepare you for Mystery Lights, their first duo recording. This is a spacious, intimate music, full of colour and melody, exploratory but highly accessible. Many instruments, both acoustic and electronic, familiar and unfamiliar, weave a spell hard to resist. This album was made in collaboration with Walter & Donald the budgerigars. Recorded live at "The Earl of Kilgorlin". CD includes a video playable on any PC.

Albert and Emil Mangelsdorff are two brothers who had an important impact on the development of German jazz. Emil studied clarinet at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt, but he is more widely known for his saxophone playing. After he was a member of the illegal ensemble Hot Club, (jazz was banned in Germany at the time) he was imprisoned by the Gestapo and forced into the Hitler Army. After the war he performed in the Frankfurt All Stars and the Jazz-Ensemble des Hessischen Rundfunks before forming his own quartet in the 1960s. Albert is most known for his technique of playing multiphonics. A trombone player, he led a hard bop quintet in the late 50s, and performed frequently with his brother. This release is a compilation of concerts and studio sessions, recorded in the height of the brothers’ career, between 1956 and 1963.

A legend of progressive jazz, Stan Kenton led one of the most influential, innovative, and controversial jazz orchestras of the twentieth century. This album is a live recording from January 17, 1972, taken during the Stan Kenton Orchestra’s European tour. This release contains staples of the repertoire, including Rhapsody in Blue, Malaguena, Malaga, and Love Story.

This tale is a composed Snake Dream in the form of a fable in nine sections that starts out with a boa constrictor's hardships during a day in the jungle. It is performed by the Nogenja Ensemble (Non Generation Jazz), an ensemble who's participants age range spans 40 years.

"Originally released in 1987, ‘Nice Work’ features a spectrum of standards from the Great American Songbook The song list is chosen with Carol’s characteristic good taste; several Gershwin favourites are interspersed amongst neglected but estimable material From the beginning of Carol's career, her albums were extremely well received"

The pieces of Swiss pianist and composer Yves Theiler focus on the jazz universe, and seamlessly fuse together world music influences and minimalism. Dance In A Triangle includes seven of Theiler’s compositions. The works are performed by the Yves Theiler Trio, which includes the composer on piano, Luca Sisera on bass, and Lukas Mantel on drums. The ensemble is currently nominated for one of the most exclusive jazz-prizes of Switzerland.

The intrepid experimental jazz trio Aka Moon has represented an approach to jazz that has seen them collaborate with a multitude of artists from different backgrounds in their richly filled career. Their new collection ‘The Scarlatti Book’ is devoted to the music of Italian Baroque composer Domenico Scarlatti. (Outhere)

Classical Music

This concert, which has lay forgotten for almost fifty years, is now available on CD. This concert, recorded June 22, 1964, established Albert Mangelsdorff as Germany’s international jazz star. Along with his quintet, he performs works such as Set ‘em Up, Far Out Far East, Okaka, and more.

This 6 CD set contains a wealth of chamber music and songs. Bohemian composer Georg Benda achieved great fame in his time but is little remembered today, hence ripe for rediscovery. The booklet contains detailed notes, biographies and a full track list. The song texts are available via the Brilliant Classics website.

Founded in 1969, the 18-member United States Navy Band, Commodores, have been performing big band jazz for the Navy and the nation for over 40 years. They're held in high regard nationwide by concert patrons and critics alike, and have compiled an impressive roster of jazz artists who've guested with them (James Moody, Branford Marsalis, Chris Potter, and many more). This album includes an array of great jazz tunes, including “Caravan”, “Waltz For Debby” and “Lester Left Town”

This CD features some of the most distinctive personalities in the contemporary New York scene including the legendary Daniel Carter (sax, trumpet) who has been a leading light in the avant-garde since the early 70s and has featured on well over 100 recordings. Claire DeBrunner is an accomplished bassoonist with a classical as well as jazz training, and is one of very few musicians to play the bassoon in improvisational music. Ken Silverman plays guitar and hand percussion, and bassist Tom Zlabinger is an ever present in the free jazz worlds of New York and Vienna. (Detailed bios: click 'artist profile' above). on this album the quartet aim to create a freely improvised chamber-music-like sound without drums, allowing for total rhythmic flexibility and sonic complexity. Although the music can become intense it's general tendency is towards the delicate, subtle and intimate. A warm sound for warm evenings.