The music on this recording is at once far-reaching and intimate. It has a quality enjoyed well beyond contemporary fans of this style of music, and yet this recording gives the listener the sense of being privy to a very precise moment in music history with Memphis Slim (1915-1988) as he plays piano. Slim (born Peter Chatman) grew up listening to his father perform blues in various venues in Memphis, Tennessee. He started performing around town at a young age before moving to Chicago at 25. He is accompanied on this album- the third of his four recordings for Folkways Records - by Arnold "Jump" Jackson (drums) and Arbee Stidham (guitar). The liner notes feature a biography of Slim by music critic Martin Williams.

Peter Chatman Jr.., aka Memphis Slim, stomps out a "progressive boogie and blues" on the piano. Self-taught in the honky-tonk juke joints of Tennessee, he produced some of the most powerful boogie-woogie out there, with an incessant bass like you wouldn't believe.

Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand) - solo piano.

Dave Specter'S 30 YEAR MUSICAL JOURNEY ON DELMARK showcases the guitarist, songwriter and vocalist surrounded by a stellar lineup of special guests including: OTIS CLAY, JIMMY JOHNSON, RONNIE EARL, LURRIE BELL, BILLY BRANCH, WILLIE KENT, JORMA KAUKONEN, JACK McDUFF, LYNWOOD SLIM, SHARON LEWIS, JESSE FORTUNE, BARKIN' BILL SMITH, STEVE FREUND, FLOYD McDANIEL, TAD ROBINSON, LENNY LYNN and more! Specter's career has been intertwined with the deepest roots of Chicago blues and Delmark's rich musical history. This double CD release constitutes a definitive testimony to one of today's most tasteful and versatile blues artists featuring Specter in a wide variety of styles, all played with six string soul., ALL TRACKS REMASTERED AT DELMARK'S RIVERSIDE STUDIO BY JULIA A. MILLER. INCLUDES GATEFOLD JACKET WITH EXTENSIVE DISCOGRAPHY, LINER NOTES BY HISTORIAN DICK SHURMAN, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD CARD OF THE COMPLETE DOUBLE CD EDITION FEATURING 11 MORE TRACKS.

The Heat is turned up again for another chapter in the 25-year history of Pierre Lacocque's Mississippi Heat. The Living Blues review of their previous album said "Warning Shot (DMK 839) showcases bandleader and principal songwriter Lacocque's eloquent harp playing, supported by a cast of heavy hitters that delivers the trademark big band sound and one of the hottest, tightest bands in Chicago today, and the original songs on this album are pure fun and are worthy additions to the great history of Chicago blues." Cab Driving Man features 15 new songs with Inetta Visor and Michael Dotson as lead vocalists again. The songs are a wonderful blend of Mississippi, Chicago, boogie, swing and south of the border.

Smooth Jazz Superstar Marion Meadows is without question one of the most popular and unique talents on the jazz scene today. Blessed with movie star looks and the smoothest sax- ophone tone on the on the planet, Marion has sold over two million albums in his brilliant career. His constant string of radio hits and relentless touring have garnered legions of fans, and his appearances with such varied artists as The Temptations, Michael Bolton and Will Downing are a testament to his broad audience appeal. Just Doing Me, Marion's most intimate and heartfelt album to date, takes the listener on a sensuous journey through a soundscape of brilliant original compositions and masterful improvisations. The album is produced by the top producers in smooth jazz: Marion's long-time collaborator, Chris "Big Dog" Davis (Will Downing, Gerald Albright, Maysa), Wirlie Morris (Norman Brown, Charlie Wilson), and Paul Brown (Boney James, Peter White)! Highlights include the deeply sensuous "Pink Glass," the funky and spirited "Say What," and much more!

World renowned Tony nominee, New York Cabaret Award "Best Jazz Vocalist" winner, and Theater World Award winner Ann Hampton Callaway delivers a must have not just for jazz and cabaret, but for lovers of great music the world over! Finding Beauty, a stirring collection of original compositions and collaborations by this brilliant Women Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee, overflows with warmth, passion and intimacy, revealing the inner feelings of this great artist!! Highlights include the joyous "The Moon Is A Kite," the uplifting duet with Kurt Elling "Love and Let Love," Ann's brilliant collab- oration with Tierney Sutton "You Can't Rush Spring," and much more

Smooth Urban Jazz superstar Kim Waters has sold over two million albums in his more than 20 years of touring and recording. Loved by R&B and Jazz fans alike, his crossover appeal, Smooth Jazz #1 radio hits, and dynamic performances have placed him among the elite in his field. That Special Touch has special significance to the artist because the album features the young smooth jazz hit maker, Kim's daughter Kayla! The energy and joy of this occasion have inspired and elevated Kim's writing and playing to new heights! Highlights include Kim and Kayla's dream-like remake of Adele's smash hit "Go Easy On Me," the ebullient "Joy Dance," the intensely pulsating "House Call," and more Kim Waters originals!

2018 release. World renowned Tony nominee, New York Cabaret Award "Best Jazz Vocalist" winner and Theater World Award winner Ann Hampton Callaway delivers a must have album. "Jazz Goes To The Movies is a spectacular collection of all-time great movie songs lovingly performed by Ann and her ensemble led by Ted Rosenthal, winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition." Jazz Goes To The Movies" conjures stirring images from the golden age of Hollywood. Highlights include the iconic "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca, Irving Berlin's immortal "Blue Skies" from The Jazz Singer, Jerome Kern's "The Way You Look Tonight" from Swing Time and many more movie classics!

UNSPOKEN

With over 25 Top 10 Smooth Jazz radio hits to his credit, including an incredible 15 #1 smash hits, Chuck Loeb is truly an icon and pioneer of the Smooth Jazz genre. As the newest member, lead guitarist, and producer of the super group Fourplay, as well as leader of his own all star touring ensemble, Chuck performs in front of hundreds of thousands of fans every year and his popularity continues to grow. Silhouette features guest appearances by such notables as Fouplay band mate Nathan East, Will Lee (of David Letterman fame), legendary drummer Steve Gadd (Steely Dan), Eric Marienthal, Andy Snitzer (Rolling Stones), and others. In addition, the album features vocals from Carmen Cuesta (Mrs. Loeb) whose sensuous delivery has resulted in her own growing fan base.

Smooth Jazz superstar Marion Meadows is without question one of the most popular and unique talents on the Jazz scene today. Blessed with movie star looks and the smoothest saxophone tone on the planet, Marion has sold close to one million albums in his brilliant career. WHISPER is probably Marion's most intimate and sensuous album yet. In support of this album, Marion Meadows will be touring coast to coast as part of Sax and the City with special guest Paul Taylor.

This is the classic reissue of Ann Hampton Callaway 1996 album TO ELLA WITH LOVE. This gorgeous tribute to Ella Fitzgerald features guest appearances by: Wynton Marsalis, Cyrus Chestnut and Christian McBride.

The fourth volume of the complete Bix Beiderbecke retrospective is finally here! This one includes over 60 tracks of both Bix solo and with Paul Whiteman, Frank Trumbauer, Hoagy Carmichael and Irving Mills. Great sound, great player!

This is an addendum to the acclaimed "Bix Restored" series that featured meticulous restoration of every recording on which cornetist Bix Beiderbecke played. The highlight of this volume is three newly discovered alternate takes of recordings featuring Beiderbecke: one by Paul Whiteman's orchestra and two by Frankie Trumbauer's orchestra, one of which, "Futuristic Rhythm," contains the best and most significant new solo by Bix to be discovered in nearly three decades. The rest of the CD is filled with the reverberations of Bix's influence on his contemporaries between 1927 and 1939. On this CD, you will hear the work of well-known horn men like Jimmy McPartland and Bobby Hackett, as well as more obscure disciples such as Andy Secrest and Stirling Bose. Also included are other performers such as Bing Crosby, Benny Goodman and Red Norvo, showing that Bix's influence was not limited to cornetists and trumpeters. The package also features a new essay on Bix's influence by renowned author, Bix scholar and cornetist Richard M. Sudhalter.

This is an intensely personal, painfully revealing portrait of one of jazz's greatest alto saxophonist, Art Pepper. A remarkable expressive soloist and composer who alos was an addict, thief, womanizer and wildman. In candid interviews, he recounts his troubled marriages, dependence on drugs, prison terms, and luck in meeting his last wife, an articulate, compassionate defender of her errant husband. Year 1982. 50 minutes.

69 tracks that cover the first three years of Bix's career, from Fidgety Feet to Wringin' and Twistin'.

Triple threat guitarist, producer and composer Chuck Leob is the quintessential Smooth Jazz artist. Leob's CDs are quite possibly the most played on Smooth Jazz radio. His 5th album on Shanachi is entitled All There Is. Featuring special guest Krik Whalum First single "As Is"

Saxophonist Kim Waters releases this lush, poetically smooth album featuring speical guests: "Pieces of a Dream's James Lloyd and guitarist Chuck Loeb. Includes exciting new versions of classic hits like "midnight at Tht Oasis" and "Sunny."

HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN IN MONTREAL

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A BABY TO CRY / OUR FAIR LADY

Unfortunately it's not very often that we get to hear Mike LeDonne, world-renowned Hammond B-3 organist and leader of the acclaimed Groover Quartet, fronting a piano trio session-especially one that unfolds in as swinging, soulful and intuitive fashion. But given the caliber of artists involved, this won't come as a surprise since on this CD LeDonne works two of his closest and most accomplished friends: bassist Christian McBride and drummer Lewis Nash. It's no coincidence, then, that this unprecedented studio alliance sparks instant chemistry and conviviality. With a stack of new arrangements under his arm, LeDonne and company made the trek across the Hudson to the famed Van Gelder Studio and emerged with an album remarkable for it's spontaneity, creativity and sheer joy in the act of making music.

2021 release. Smooth jazz superstar Marion Meadows is without question one of the most popular and unique talents on the jazz scene today. Blessed with movie star looks and the smoothest saxophone tone on the on the planet, Marion has sold over one million albums in his brilliant career. His constant string of radio hits and relentless touring have garnered legions of fans, and his appearances with such varied artists as The Temptations, Michael Bolton and Will Downing are a testament to his broad audience appeal. Twice As Nice, Marion's most intimate and heartfelt album to date, takes the listener on a sensuous journey through a soundscape of brilliant original compositions and masterful improvisations. The album is produced by smooth jazz superstars in their own right: Grammy winners Jeff Lorber and Paul Brown plus Marion's long-time collaborator, Chris "Big Dog" Davis (Will Downing, Gerald Albright, Maysa).

Mike LeDonne belongs to an elite group of musicians - those who have mastered the piano AND the organ while creating original voices for each. However, here on It's all Your Fault, LeDonne sits down at the organ, puts his foot on the pedals and lays down some of the hippest organ licks you're likely to hear. Two groups are featured on this recording. Mike LeDonne's Groover Quartet has had the rare opportunity to play and record together for twenty years and counting. They had no difficulty integrating their sound into this all-star big band put together by Mike and his preferred arranger and conductor, Dennis Mackrel. Recorded in the famed Van Gelder studio and actually using the original Hammond C-3 organ that Jimmy Smith et al. Used to record the music within this recording is adventurous. It's a continuation of the groove that was established years ago by organists interacting with big bands and it reveals to us the Blues, the Rhythm & Blues and the Jazz that Mike heard coming up through the jazz ranks.

With the 10 arias on Tormento d'amore, Ian Bostridge demonstrates the important place that the tenor voice held in Italian opera from the mid-17th to the mid-18th century - often thought of as the era of the castrato. At this time, there were two main centres of opera in Italy: Venice, where such composers as Cavalli, Vivaldi, Cesti, Stradella, Sartorio and Legrenzi were active, and Naples, home to Provenzale, Caresana, Vinci and Fago. In addition to arias - two of them in world premiere recordings - the album offers five instrumental sinfonie and a traditional Neapolitan song, 'Lu cardillo', or 'The Goldfinch', a songbird closely associated with Naples. Bostridge is partnered by conductor Antonio Florio and his ensemble Cappella Neapolitana.

2023 release. This live solo album features the pianist and composer's interpretations of nine songs by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and one by George Harrison. Although other Beatles songs have long been staples of Mehldau's solo and trio shows, he had not previously recorded any of the tunes on Your Mother Should Know. The album ends with a David Bowie classic that draws a connection between The Beatles and pop songwriters who followed. Your Mother Should Know was recorded in September 2020 at Philharmonie de Paris.

'The Absence' is the third record from grammy-nominated Melody Gardot. Produced by Heitor Pereira, renowned for his work as a film composer ('Despicable Me', 'It's Complicated', 'From Prada to Nada') and world-class session guitarist (Sting, Seal, Caetano Veloso), the Brazilian-born, US-based artist shared Melody's enthusiasm for driving off the beaten path of western pop, jazz, blues and soul. And he was as adventurous as melody when it came to inventive sonic ideas. From the deserts of Morocco to the streets of Lisboa, from the tango bars of Buenos Aires to the beaches of Brazil, 'The Absence' captures the essence of each of these exotic locales, while at the same time remaining quintessentially Melody Gardot.

BALANCE

Vinyl LP pressing. "Twelve days after Louis Armstrong died, his old friend Earl Hines recorded a solo tribute to the great trumpeter/vocalist. This album, one of three that Hines recorded in a two-day period, features eight songs associated with Satch including "Struttin' with Some Barbeque," "A Kiss to Build a Dream On," "Someday You'll Be Sorry" and two versions of Armstrong's theme "When It's Sleepy Time Down South." This set should be of particular interest to Earl Hines collectors for the pianist rarely performed most of these songs, and he gives fresh heartfelt renditions to the standards" (ORG Music / AMG). Available on vinyl for the first time in decades, the historic recordings were remastered for the format at Infrasonic Mastering and pressed at Pallas Group in Germany.

Feat. Drummer Steve Cushing (Lee Jackson, Magic Slim, Smokey Smothers) & Willie Black (bass) & special guest on one track - Big Time Sarah.