LATIN

Sky Music

Beethoven: String Quartets, Op. 18, Nos. 4 & 5

The Wind That Shakes The Barley: Hammer Dulcimer

GREAT WALL OF CHINA

Long considered as one of the Big Apple's most in demand sidemen, in recent years alto-tenor saxophonist Dick Oatts has stepped out as a leader. In this his fifth effort as a leader for SteepleChase seven out of the eight tunes are originals. The band is anchored by his long time rhythm section of Dave Santoro on bass and James Oblon on drums. On three of these tunes he is joined by SteepleChase stalwart pianist Harold Danko whom he first met and played with in the Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra in the late seventies. Ken Dryden of the AMG All Music Guide describes Oatts as having a "fat confident tone." Indeed this is a saxophonist extrordinaire whose instrumental prowess is matched only by his compositional abilities.

HIGH SOCIETY

80 ROOTS

Another historical recording from one of the most prolific groups in jazz. Recorded live in Montreaux, in 1974, Kabalaba captures the Art Ensemble during a very strong period for the group. With Muhal Richard Abrahams featured as a special guest, this is a very rare treasure. Kabalaba was originally released on vinyl independently on the Art Ensemble's own label (AECO) in the 70's and reissued on CD in limited quantities. This is the first time that this treasure will be widely available.

Dave Stryker’s indeed “striking up” the band on this his latest SteepleChase release in a most impressive and imaginative way as Mark Gardner puts it, “That’s how jazz works at it best, and this is top drawer stuff.”.

C. Andrew Hovan of AllAboutJazz once observed, “What has marked all of Stryker's previous SteepleChase sides has been his penchant to not repeat formats or ideas. Each session sports a different group of musicians and the material covers new ground.” Mr. Hovan’s observation proves true here on Stryker’s latest recording of mesmerizing organ quintet with repertoire raging from Michael Jackson to Clifford Brown together with his originals. “(Stryker) combines tradition and modernity in equal balance, arranges with skill and imagination, teases optimum performances from associates with good-natured relish, and plays the blues with deep felt conviction.” (Mark Gardner – from the liner notes)

MANHATTAN MUSIC

Super deluxe box set includes the remastered album on CD in vinyl replica sleeve, companion audio on two CDs in card wallet, remastered album on 180gm vinyl in a sleeve replicating first pressing, companion audio on double 180gm vinyl, high-def audio digital download card of all content, hard bound, 72+ page book filled with rare and previously unseen photos and memorabilia and high quality print of the original album cover. The first 30,000 of which will be individually numbered. The appropriately titled Coda was Led Zeppelin�s final album of studio recordings. Released in 1982, it was comprised of eight unreleased tracks recorded between 1970 and 1978. It peaked at #6 on the album charts and has been certified platinum in the U.S. Coda is the only Led Zeppelin deluxe edition to include two companion discs, featuring 15 tracks recorded between 1968 and 1974. The oldest song in the collection is also perhaps the most interesting. The frenetic blues jam Sugar Mama was recorded in 1968 at Olympic Studios during sessions for the band s eponymous debut. The song was completed but never officially released until now. Baby Come On Home from the same session is also included in the set. Also included is the previously unreleased St. Tristan s Sword, a rollicking instrumental recorded during the Led Zeppelin III sessions in 1970.

Ten CD box set. The Studio Albums 1969-1978 rounds up the remasters of what many consider Chicago's golden period - the band's first 10 albums. Every one of the albums from 1969's Chicago Transit Authority to 1978's Hot Streets is here, packaged as paper-sleeve mini-LPs. For hardcore fans, this is a handsome way to get the remasters, and for more casual fans, it's a convenient and relatively affordable way to get the best albums of Chicago in one place.

In his new album “Lookin’ Up” Dick Oatts teams up with his colleague and friend of 34 years, veteran trombonist John Mosca. Dick Oatts notes, “I’ve always liked the way alto sax and trombone blend together and I’ve always been meaning to do a CD with John but the music was never quite right for it. So I sat down over the holiday break and wrote the music around John, the alto and the trombone.” Derek Taylor of Master of a Small House describes Dick Oatts’ previous release “Two Hearts (SCCD 31694) as “testament to Oatts’ improvisatory powers”.

2019 holiday release from the legendary "rock band with horns". Produced by founding member Lee Loughnane, Chicago Christmas is the 37th album of the band's career and it's fourth holiday collection. Whereas it's previous releases focused more on traditional Christmas songs, the new record spotlights holiday music the band wrote especially for the album. Along with the new songs, the album also features the band's interpretations of two holiday standards: "Here We Come A Caroling" and "Sleigh Ride." It's the second time Chicago has recorded "Sleigh Ride." A different version appears on Chicago XXXIII: O Christmas Thee (2011). The album's other non-original track is a soulful Chicago interpretation of the Hal David and Burt Bacharach classic, "What The World Needs Now Is Love," which founding member Robert Lamm thought had a timely message for the holidays. Chicago Christmas features original compositions by many of the band members, along with unmistakable horn arrangements by founding member James Pankow. The album was recorded and mixed by Tim Jessup.

Lizzo COCONUT OIL - Coconut Oil is the debut solo EP by American singer and rapper Lizzo. It was OTIGINALLY released in 2016 by Nice Life Recording Company and Atlantic Records, Lizzo's first major-label release. Lizzo co-wrote each song on the album, while enlisting Ricky Reed, Christian Rich, Dubbel Dutch, and Jesse Shatkin for the album's production. The result was a departure from Lizzo's previous hip hop releases. Lyrically, the extended play explores themes of body positivity, self-love, and the journey to those ideals. Coconut Oil received positive reviews from music critics.

Unanimously hailed by the critics ever since their release in 2000, these recordings offer a chance to follow Schubert's development in the field of the piano trio, from the youthful Sonatensatz (1812) to the immense masterpieces of his maturity. The Sunday Times wrote, "The Wanderers take us on an exhilarating emotional rollercoaster ride, with a wonderful sense of conversational repartee in the fast outer movements and rapt expressions of wonderment in Schubert's sublime, songful slow movements."

A brilliant sequel to the highly acclaimed Standard Issue (SCCD 31439) of 1998, this volume has a welcome addition of pianist Harold Danko on three of the five tracks. In the warm atmosphere of live house, the band gets extra energy from the appreciative audiences. Dick Oatts’ personal sound on alto sax (and tenor sax on one track) is once again a real treat for all listeners.

Super Deluxe Boxset Includes the Deluxe Two CD Edition, the Double 180GM Vinyl LP Pressing, High-Def Audio Digital of All Content at 96KHZ/24 Bit, a Hard Bound 80 Page Book Filled with Rare and Previously Unseen Photos and Memorabilia and a High-Quality Print of the Original Album Cover. Digitally Remastered Edition of the British Rock Quartet's Fourth Studio Album, Originally Released in 1971. Although the Album Was Untitled, It Is Commonly Referred to As Led Zeppelin IV. Produced By Guitarist Jimmy Page, It Was Recorded Between December 1970 and March 1971 at Several Locations, Most Prominently the Victorian House Headley Grange. The Album Features Many Stone Cold Classics Including 'Black Dog', 'Rock and Roll' and 'Stairway to Heaven'. In 1968, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Formed Led Zeppelin, One of the Most Influential, Innovative and Successful Groups in Modern Music. The Band Has Sold More Than 300 Million Albums Worldwide with a Celebrated Catalog.

Super deluxe edition.

CLEAN. 2012 sophomore album from the singer, songwriter and international superstar. The album includes production from Mark Ronson, Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, Diplo and Supa Dups, as well as the Smeezingtons, Mars' three-man songwriting and production team. He notes that the album is more musically varied and refuses to "pick a lane". "Locked Out of Heaven" was released as the lead single from the album. It has been described as having strong influences of New Wave, with striking resemblances to "Message in a Bottle" and "Roxanne" by the Police, the Romantics' "Talking in Your Sleep", and even Michael Jackson's "Beat It", while some have mildly referenced it to the Outfield's "Your Love".

Howard Shelley's survey of the piano music is an undoubted highlight of the Mendelssohn revival. In this, the final instalment of the series, he focuses on late works and posthumous publications.

A celebration from The Orlando Consort of the musical and literary worlds of Florence's golden age under the Medici, in a selection of works which includes a number of first recordings.

Vinyl LP pressing. 'You Should Be Here' is the second and debut commercial mixtape by American singer and songwriter Kehlani. 'You Should Be Here' features guest appearances from Lexii Alijai, Chance the Rapper, and BJ the Chicago Kid. Mixed by Joe Fitzgerald, the mixtape predominately features production by Jahaan Sweet, along with production from JMike, Madmax, Geoffro Cause and Ted Digtl, among others.

Schubert: Piano Sonatas D664 769a & 894 - Stephen Hough - The late G major sonata followed such landmarks as the 'Great' C major symphony and Schubert's last string quartet, and explores similarly expansive terrain; the A major is an earlier, genial work. These frame the brief D769a fragment, which adds to the uniqueness of Stephen Hough's marvellous recital.

A must-have for all sci-fi fans, Galaxymphony II - Galaxymphony Strikes Back, a symphonic space journey. Travel the universe with the best tracks from Apollo 13, Avatar, Blade Runner, Gravity, Interstellar, Star Trek, Star Wars, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and The Mandalorian.

Issued complete for the first time, including several albums new to CD, is the Philips catalogue of the Netherlands Wind Ensemble - an ensemble that made a defining contribution to Dutch musical life in the 1970s. The Netherlands Wind Ensemble began life in 1959 as a wind quintet, but soon expanded to play Classical-era serenades and divertimenti which were hardly known at the time but have since been recognised and enjoyed as masterpieces of entertainment music, notably the Gran Partita of Mozart, the late Octet by Beethoven and the wonderful Octet-Partitas by his Viennese contemporary, Franz Krommer. Starting to record for Philips in 1968, the Netherlands Wind Ensemble immediately won critical praise for the technical precision of it's playing as well as the brilliance and wit of it's interpretations, whether led by it's regular conductor Edo de Waart (himself a former oboist and member of the ensemble) or played as true chamber music. The ensemble made one of the first comprehensive recordings of Mozart's wind music, including miniatures, no less delightful for their brevity and rarity, and a precious but little-known collaboration with the much-loved Dutch soprano Elly Ameling. The youthful, funky vibe of the Netherlands Wind Ensemble was captured by Philips both in exceptionally vivid recordings as well as kooky cover designs, which are reproduced on the sleeves of the issues. A booklet essay by Peter Quantrill outlines the history and character of the ensemble, drawing on a new interview with Edo de Waart. The repertoire extends into the nineteenth century with a classic account of the Wind Serenade by Dvor�k - the ensemble's debut on disc - as well as ingenious arrangements of overtures and arias by Rossini, and a unique collection of 'little marches by great masters'. The Netherland Wind Ensemble's long-standing commitment to modern music is represented by the wind music of Richard Strauss and Stravinsky, and the pioneering Jazz Symphony by the Franco-American 'bad boy' of classical music in the 1920s and 30s, Georges Antheil, recorded live at the 1976 Holland Festival.

Opalescent is a new recording by the Grammy-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ) that reflects the luminous nature of music. Dedicated to the memory of Australian composer Phillip Houghton, it features his pieces Opals and Wave Radiance, exploring the synesthetic intermingling of light and sound. Other works include Andrew York's Hidden Realm of Light, shimmering with propulsive grooves and bright splashes of color. Kevin Callahan's Alki Point captures the undulating currents and jazzy undertones of Seattle's early settlement site. In homage to the visionary fingerstyle legend Michael Hedges, Matt Greif arranged Aerial Boundaries, Hedges' ethereal anthem. Chorale by Frederic Hand transforms the guitar quartet into an a capella choir, in a lyrical style both profound and uplifting. Robert Beaser's exquisite Chaconne reveals aspects of it's unfolding harmonic pattern within multifaceted shards of light. Finally, Tilman Hoppstock, through his doppelg�nger Alan Willcocks, creates an imagined exhibition of Impressionist paintings in his Suite Transcendent.

Vinyl LP pressing. 2022 release, the fourth album from the singer and rapper. The album is the follow-up to her 2019 album Cuz I Love You, which peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and was nominated for Album of the Year at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. Special features the single "About Damn Time".