Classical Music

Dzambo Agusevi Orchestra has been called the “newest trumpet revolution,” In the competitive world of Balkan brass bands, this 11-piece group is legendary. This fast-paced, passionate program features 14 tracks of outstanding Balkan music, some composed by the ensemble and some traditional tunes. The Dzambo Agusevi Orchestra has an impressive list of awards to their name, including first prize winners at the Fanfare World Competition in Dole, France, and first prize winner in the Balkans’ “Kumanovo Trumpet Fest” every year between 2006 and 2011. In fact, the ensemble was banned from the festival to give other competitors a chance.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Flamenco can be traced back several centuries although the exact point in time at which it began to evolve is unknown. History shows, however, a diverse background of cultural roots and influences including Indian, Jewish, Byzantine, Arabic, and South American. At certain times throughout the history of the Iberian Peninsula, people from these various cultures have passed through and settled in Andalusia and in so doing forged their own particular characteristics upon the development of this southern region of Spain. At the fall of their last stronghold in Granada in 1492 after the occupation of southern Spain for seven hundred years, the Moors left behind a cultural heritage so strong and of such magnitude that five centuries later, the impact of their influence is still very much apparent. In this diverse cultural melting pot of so many different races, the seeds of flamenco were sown and there emerged a new form of musical expression. Flamenco has been evolving continuously and today the three principal elements of singing, dancing and guitar playing have reached a peak of unsurpassed technical virtuosity and musical sophistication. To understand and retain the purity of style and spontaneity of this art form, however, we must look into the way of life of the flamenco people whose roots were buried centuries ago deep in the soil of Andalusia. It is from this way of life that the very essence of flamenco has grown.

Classical Music

Tango Argentina is a beautiful collection of intimate, elegant and sensuous tangos, waltzes and milongas by some of the most glittering names in tango. All are played with style and swagger by Trio Pan tango.

Classical Music

Young Peruvian group Wayne Picchu is made up of three brothers who learned to play the various traditional pipes and flutes in early childhood. Their music, while being traditional, has a contemporary feel partially due to the keyboards and bass that they use in addition to the traditional instruments. The group recorded their debut album in 1996. They currently live and work in Germany, but return to Peru frequently for concerts and recording sessions.

Multiple award-winning erhu player Zhou Yu presents an album of Chinese music, played on the erhu (2-stringed Chinese fiddle) with orchestral accompaniment: pipa (lute), yangqin (dulcimer), ruan (lute), dizi, xiao (bamboo flutes), sheng (mouth-blown 'pipe organ'), guzheng (board zither) and others. A very beautiful, enjoyable album with a mystical, dreamy mood.

Best of Flamenco

This recording features beautiful haunting panpipes and flutes with all the traditional instruments of Bolivia plus bass and percussion.

Sufi songs from India and Iran' contains field recordings of traditional Sofi music made in 1955 1979 and 1999.

This is an album of some of the best and most passionate songs of Esma Redžepova, whose expressive and emotional voice has earned her the title of “Queen of Gypsy Music”. + Ms. Redžepova was born in Skopje, Macedonia. + At the age of fourteen she was discovered by bandleader Stevo Teodosievski, who furthered her talent and educated her voice. + The Stevo and Esma Ensemble soon became one of the most successful ensembles in the whole Balkan region. + Born in Shtip, a small town in eastern Macedonia, master of the Gypsy saxophone King Ferus Mustafov is one of the greats of today’s Balkan popular folk music.

This beautiful selection of traditional lullabies and songs from across the globe were carefully selected to calm the minds and souls of little ones. Instrumental and vocal music from contemporary and ancient cultures and traditions blend seamlessly to encourage sleep and provide a soothing and peaceful atmosphere for children at rest. (ARC Music)

This new release features over an hour of festive and authentic Hungarian gypsy tunes. Presented by Andras Farkas and the Budapest Ensemble, these songs are infectious and lively melodies, laced with classical elegance. Andras Farkas’ “singing violin” shines on these 44 well-known traditional tracks.

This album marks the return of a Master. Salif Keita is devoted to the cause of Albinos in Africa but after 5 years, he is back with his enchanting voice and his unique sense of groove, surrounded by an outstanding band (Alune Wade, Paco Sery, Herv� Samb...) and first-class featured guests: Ang�lique Kidjo, MHD, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Yemi Alade). This is a major musical and cultural event! Salif Keita is an afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. He is notable not only due to his reputation as the "Golden Voice of Africa," but also for his albinism. He was born a traditional prince in the village of Djoliba. He moved to Paris in 1984, where his music reached a world-wide audience.

IRELAND, MOTHER IRELAND TOO-R

Classical Music

Classical Music

The Hugo Diaz Trio consisted of the late Hugo Diaz on bandoneon, Miguel Angel Ledesma on piano and Horacio Cabarcos on bass. This is a minimum ensemble, but their sound is full, largely due to the full and rich sound production of Diaz and the robust playing of Ledesma. Most of the pieces are fairly short and never outstay their welcome and are mostly from the 1920s - 1940s, although every piece sounds up to date in Diaz's hands. (As a special treat is a jazzy version of 'Por una Cabeza', the tango made famous in America by the movie Scent of a Woman.) Many tunes on this album are dramatic, musically interesting and just plain danceable fun. 'A Orillas del Plata' betrays a deep jazz influence that is very pleasant to listen to. 'La Racha' is a bit slower than most of the other numbers, but it swoops and pounces with the best of them. One slight caveat: The last three tracks on the disc are for solo bandoneon and that will not charm everyone. Still, this album will appeal to lovers of traditional tango as well as followers of tango outcast Astor Piazzolla.

Columbia is an exciting and exhilarating album of music from the different regions of Columbia. Great variety in styles and rhythms including the Southern Son sureno, the Andean Pasillo, the cumbia of the Caribbean coast, the bambuco of the south-eastern Llanos, the Curruloo of the Pacific coast, said to be the 'soul of black Columbia'.

Abduvali Abdurashidov, master of the sato (bowed tanbur), belongs to a great line of Tajik art music performers. As refined, sinuous lines of the sato blend with singing, dotar lute and occasional doyra percussion, the elegance of this music evokes an ancient courtly art.