Revisiting his alter-ego Oli Mac for a second time with Oli Mac presents Slim Pickin', Mississippi Macdonald has produced a true nugget of acoustic folk-blues. MacDonald is a three time UK Blues Award Winner with second acoustic album for APM Records. The album features the trio Oliver MacDonald (gtr/vcls), Phil Dearing (gtr/piano) and Brent Cundall (bass). Includes the songs Bad Attitude, I'm Sorry, Sad Songs developed from sessions in Memphis with the Reverend Charles Hodges and Boo Mitchell. Slim Pickin' is a No.1 album on the Roots Music Report and IBBA charts, also on the Big Blues Chart. On tour in Europe March-April 2026.

With Blues in Blueprint, bassist and composer Clovis Nicolas delivers his fifth album for Sunnyside Records and one of his most focused artistic statements to date. Framed by the subtitle "12 Variations on the Blues," the album explores the blues not as a fixed form, but as a living blueprint-flexible, expansive, and deeply woven into the DNA of jazz. For this project, Nicolas set himself a clear challenge: to record an entire program of blues and blues-related repertoire while drawing from a wide range of jazz eras, grooves, and formal approaches. The result is a cohesive yet adventurous journey, revealing the blues as both a historical foundation and an endlessly renewable source of expression. To bring this vision to life, Nicolas assembled an exceptional trio featuring Larry Goldings, heard here in a rare and welcome appearance on acoustic piano, and the masterful Carl Allen on drums. Recorded in New York and engineered by the legendary James Farber, the trio plays with deep rapport, elegance, and rhythmic authority throughout. The repertoire spans an unusually broad terrain. Traditional material such as "Old Stack O'Lee Blues," famously associated with Sidney Bechet, sits alongside modern classics by Duke Ellington, Ornette Coleman, Carla Bley, and Wes Montgomery, as well as a 19th-century hymn to close the album. Each selection reveals a different structural or emotional facet of the blues, from stop-time lyricism and bebop sophistication to free interplay and gospel-tinged introspection. Nicolas's original compositions are central to the album's identity. Pieces like "Hutch," "The Bass Speaks," and "Groovy Globy" reimagine blues forms through unconventional structures, contrapuntal writing, and fresh harmonic language, highlighting Nicolas's distinctive voice as both composer and bassist. His warm, vocal tone and melodic approach-particularly evident on "Abide with Me"-anchor the trio with quiet authority and emotional depth. Highlights abound: Goldings' lyrical imagination and harmonic elegance, Allen's refined swing and coloristic mastery (especially on brushes), and the trio's collective ease across styles-from R&B-inflected grooves on "Lawns" to open, free-form dialogue on Ornette Coleman's "Ramblin'," one of the album's most striking moments of spontaneous interaction. Blues in Blueprint is ultimately a meditation on continuity and reinvention. Rooted firmly in tradition yet forward-looking in spirit, the album presents the blues as a timeless framework-one that continues to inspire new shapes, new voices, and new stories. With Goldings and Allen at his side, Clovis Nicolas offers a blues album that is at once respectful, personal, and unmistakably contemporary.

The Colonel & The Governor "World-renowned Australian "fingerstyle" acoustic guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, CGP, and Britain's Martin Taylor, MBE, release their highly anticipated collaboration album "The Colonel & The Governor" on Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings. " - Guitar International "Aficionados of the style out there will love it... The guitar work is mesmerizing. " - No Depression "Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor Releasing New Album - A Top Story" - AntiMUSIC. Com The sound they put together is inviting, homely and truly incredible. The images each tune throws up is one of stimulating and carefully loved enticement, designed to relax the listener whilst at the same time giving a sense of hope and off beat gentleness. - Liverpool Sound and Vision The music has a delicious feel, relaxing and soulful and one can picture up families, even with small children, dancing around the kitchen or living room, the music has a wholesome, family feel about it all, and in today's commercial world this album is a simply a blessing. - Rockshot. Com "Any aspiring guitar player might have one of two reactions to a performance by six-string virtuosos Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor. You might stand, open-mouthed in amazement and admiration, and walk away inspired and energized. Or you might savor their complex skills and beaming passion, then abandon all hope of ever being able to master the instrument yourself... Few can match his [Emmanuel] flawless standard, but for his latest record release and tour Tommy has teamed up with a man with all the right credentials - his long-time friend and British acoustic guitar hero Martin. " - This is Somerset "It's as if they were always destined to work together. " - The Birmingham Mail "After years of planning, they're out on the road for a 21-date UK tour following the release of The Colonel & The Governor album, a sensational collection of personal favourites. In the autumn they tour China, Japan and Asia. There's no language barrier when two great performers let the instruments do the talking. " - This is Devon

Return to the Enchanted Forest by Heisenberg Uncertainty Players is a vivid and imaginative exploration of memory, nostalgia, and transformation. Led by composer and bandleader John Dorhauer, this genre-blurring jazz big band album features eight tracks-six originals and two inventive covers of pop hits by the Backstreet Boys and Wilson Phillips. With hypnotic grooves, rich harmonies, and emotionally charged improvisations, the album invites listeners on a journey through memories as they evolve and distort over time. The result is both accessible and artful, blending memorable melodies with bold, unexpected turns. A must-hear for fans of progressive jazz, cinematic arrangements, and fresh big band energy.

From March to May 2015, John Zorn composed 300 new tunes that were eventually collected into a book of music he called The Bagatelles. Volume 8 presents the long-awaited premiere recording of John Medeski's psychedelic organ trio. Featuring David Fiuczynski (Screaming Headless Torsos) in a striking Hendrix/Blood Ulmer mood and the powerhouse drummer G. Calvin Weston (Ornette Coleman, Lounge Lizards), the music is fierce, imaginative and endlessly creative. Touching on funk, jazz, psychedelic rock, metal and more-this is one of the most intense interpretations of the Bagatelles ever conceived. This music will sear your brain!! Essential.

This is the second album by Elektriktus, the moniker of the 70's of Andrea Centazzo in his journey to the Cosmic Rock. All the tracks are from the ICTUS archives remastered and edited for a new exciting album with the vibes of that era. The feeling of Tangerine Dreams, popol Vuh and Other are still there.

Recorded at the Art Sengawa Festival in Tokyo, this album presents the powerful music of Masayo Kiketsu Alto sax, Andrea Centazzo Perc & Elec, Kiyoto Fugjiwara Double Bass in an improvised music suite.

The term 'spectrum' is usually associated with physics. When white light hits a prism, it breaks down into the full spectrum of rainbow colors. These colors have always existed but only become visible through refraction. Music is similar. The pieces on this album are like a prism, unfolding the fundamental human emotions into their infinite facets, and creating a tribute to the timeless power of music, that resonates with the entire color palette of the human soul. The selection of pieces therefore follows an inner logic: that of emotion, timbre, and the moment. Each piece unfolds it's own microcosm and invites the listener to lose themselves within it. Esther Birringer's new album is a must for lovers of the piano, and an essential playlist addition.

Mike Zito returns home with his fourth solo studio album for Gulf Coast Records. A personal record for Mike shaped by memory, places, and renewal. Walking the streets of his birthplace, St. Louis, Zito reconnects with the sounds, stories, and hard lessons that forged his signature blend of soul-driven blues and fearless storytelling. Thirteen years after Gone to Texas, this album feels like a defining moment, marking a new chapter for Mike, his family, and a life reclaimed in the city that started it all.

BLOSSOM

2026 release. Most recently seen as John Adams on HBO's smash-hit "The Gilded Age," Claybourne Elder's debut album uses his favorite music from the Great American Songbook, Sondheim, Whitney Houston, and beyond. "If The Stars Were Mine" explores sex, fatherhood, religion and love. Clay recently starred on Broadway as Andy in the Tony Award-winning revival of Company with Patti LuPone. Elder is a SAG Award, Grammy, Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel nominee who's brought laughter and heart to audiences nationwide with roles in Sunday in the Park with George, Bonnie and Clyde, and Torch Song. His TV and film credits include "The Carrie Diaries," "FBI," and "Bad Cupid."

Ond of which is now available. Belgian harpsichordist Mario Sarrechia plays the solo part in the two concertos BWV 105Johann Sebastian Bach wrote six harpsichord concertos and compiled them in a volume around 1738. Most of his concertos for one or more harpsichords are probably arrangements of earlier concertos, mostly by Bach himself. The 'grand seigneur of early music' Sigiswald Kuijken combines Bach's six harpsichord concertos and the three double concertos for two harpsichords with the two violin concertos and the double concerto for two violins, which Bach also arranged as harpsichord concertos. All twelve concertos appear in a series of three CDs, the sec2 & 1058, Taiwanese harpsichordist Hsiu-Tzu Ryanas in the concerto BWV 1056, and Sigiswald Kuijken himself takes the solo in the violin concerto BWV 1042. Sigiswald Kuijken casts all the orchestral parts as soloists, as is customary with La Petite Bande and as was probably also practised by Bach - a theory that Kuijken underpins with ample evidence.

Acid Jazz Records introduces the new Jazz Sessions series, with a very special album from prolific drummer Steve White, in his first album as a leader, performing as the Steve White Trio. White is known for his long association with Paul Weller, as a member of the Style Council, playing on the hit single "Long Hot Summer" and Weller's biggest solo albums: Wildwood, Stanley Road, Heavy Soul and As Is Now. Alongside this, he continued to record in both jazz and soul settings, under names such as Trio Valore, The Groove Train and of course the Jazz Renegades - his great late '80s Hard Bop outfit that recorded an LP for Polydor, another for Acid Jazz-precursor label Re-Elect The President, and an EP for Acid Jazz. On Soul Drums, his return to Acid Jazz Records, he plays glorious tribute to his jazz roots and filmic influences, performing alongside long-time collaborator Chris Hague. The perfect album to introduce this new jazz series, with a midcentury-inspired sleeve to match. Leading with the single "Changes," the album also includes a clever reworking of the Style Council's "My Ever Changing Moods."

Louisiana-born Marc Broussard channels the timeless spirit of R&B and Southern soul into a bold, modern statement. Teaming up with 2x Grammy Nominated producing Duo Joe Bonamassa & Josh Smith, Broussard is back with 14 new Blues infused soul original songs that will satisfy any musical sweet tooth. Rooted in rich musical tradition, Broussard brings raw emotion and undeniable authenticity to a project sparked by an intense burst of creativity. "It all came together effortlessly," he says. "I can't wait for people to hear what we made."

Wind Piano Trios brings together four outstanding works for oboe, bassoon, and piano, performed by the Trío Ausiàs March, one of Spain's most active chamber ensembles for contemporary and 20th-century repertoire. This release offers a compelling journey through nearly a century of music, from the neoclassical elegance of Francis Poulenc and Jean Françaix to the stylistic openness of André Previn and the vibrant contemporary voice of Jorge Santos. At the heart of the programme stands Poulenc's Trio FP 43 (1926), a cornerstone of the repertoire, combining wit, lyricism, and refined harmonic colour. Françaix's late Trio (1994) displays his unmistakable blend of clarity, humour, and rhythmic vitality, while Previn's Trio (1994) introduces jazz-inflected rhythms and cinematic lyricism, reflecting his unique crossover between classical, jazz, and film music. The programme concludes with Jorge Santos's Trio (2001), a work that fuses contemporary techniques with Latin and jazz influences, adding a distinctive modern perspective. Recorded at the Auditorio Manuel de Falla in Granada, this album combines artistic excellence with outstanding sound quality. Wind Piano Trios is an attractive release for distributors seeking high-level chamber music, strong repertoire value, and a balance between established masterpieces and contemporary works.

IN THE BRASS PALACE

Walter Smith III -"Twio, Vol. 2" / For his third Blue Note album, tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III reprises his Twio concept with a highly enjoyable Vol. 2, a set of classic jazz songs that exudes a playful sense of joyful freedom. The album features a new cast of musicians including bassist Joe Sanders and drummer Kendrick Scott, plus special guest appearances by eminent elders Ron Carter on bass and Branford Marsalis on tenor saxophone. Capitol Music Group; Blue Note; Jazz.

Promised Heights solidified Cymande's place in music history, and contains some of their most-beloved and often-sampled tracks such as "Brothers On The Slide" & "Promised Heights." They were part of the first wave of innovators and originators of the fledgling Black British music scene. Promised Heights was recorded following the band's legendary US tour with Al Green. 2026 repress on black vinyl.

The empathy between Robert and Clara Schumann, Joseph Joachim and Johannes Brahms engendered one of Romanticism's most fruitful artistic friendships. With the aim of mining the precious jewels of that unique intimacy, three great artists have devised a program in the form of a poetic conversation; here chamber music once more becomes shared human emotion in it's purest expression.

A compelling collection of works for oboe and piano composed by Polish composers during the first decade after World War II. Neoclassicism-marked by clarity of form, inventive harmonies, economical means of expression, and frequent folk-inspired elements-meets virtuosity, wit, touches of the grotesque, and moments of neo-romantic lyricism. In most of these pieces, the piano stands as an equal partner to the oboe, engaging in a brilliant, dynamic dialogue. This interplay comes vividly to life in the performances of Justyna Stanek, principal oboist of the NFM Orchestra, and Monika Kruk-outstanding chamber musicians affiliated with the Wroclaw Academy of Music.

Tchaikovsky's final symphony, known as the "Pathetique", is a work of haunting beauty and emotional depth-a journey from darkness to fragile light. From it's doom-laden opening to the desperate, fading sorrow of it's final notes, this is music that doesn't just tell a story, it feels one. Tchaikovsky never revealed the symphony's hidden narrative, but with it he created new, intensely personal possibilities for the musical form. With Principal Guest Conductor Gianandrea Noseda leading the London Symphony Orchestra, this recording captures the full force of Tchaikovsky's vision. Noseda's deep connection to the Russian musical tradition brings out the symphony's vivid colors, sweeping melodies, and aching vulnerability. The album then journeys further into the heart of Russian history with Mussorgsky's Prelude to Khovanshchina, an atmospheric piece that evokes the break of dawn over the Moscow River, as the city slowly stirs to life.

Gerald Albright launched his solo career in the infancy of what became the smooth jazz format, with Just Between Us in 1987 and has been a core part of the genre with chart-topping albums, countless radio hits and as a member of many all star tours, including Guitars & Saxes and Groovin' For Grover.

Ebo Taylor, the Ghanaian guitarist, composer, bandleader, and producer is a seminal figure when it comes to highlife music. Remined is proud to present these two classics as a 45 for first time, in conjunction with Mr. Bongo. "Will You Promise" and "Maye Omama" are both taken from Taylor's 1976 release "My Love And Music." Grab doubles and watch the dance floor fill up.

Steven Isserlis -"Schumann & Moscheles: 1851 Cello Sonatas" "Prepare to be seduced," (Gramophone). Steven Isserlis's latest album takes inspiration from a single year: 1851, a year of invention, exhibition and creativity. Sonatas by Moscheles and Schumann (Violin Sonata No 2, specially arranged for cello by Isserlis) both date from that year. Also featuring four miniatures, including a Schumann song transcription and the famous Bach/Gounod "Ave Maria." The album centers around an 1851 Erard piano (played by Connie Shih) which won a Prize Medal at that year's Great Exhibition in London. The piano recorded here may well be one of the very instruments first showcased at the Great Exhibition Winner of 2 Gramophone Awards. Steven Isserlis CBE enjoys a global career as a cellist, author and broadcaster.

Braxton hails from west Texas... Lubbock, to be exact. This album is a love letter that pays tribute to his roots and formative years on the Great Plains. The CD, Flashback, contains material that reflects Tom's past through the lens of his contemporary smooth jazz perspective. Family, community, fun, and precious memories are the themes. Genre SMOOTH JAZZ