The latest [2015] release from the Seattle Symphony’s Grammy-nominated label is a provocative coupling of two great works by European composers reflecting their response to the vibrant culture of the New World. Varèse’s Amériques, written only 30 years after Dvo?ák’s beloved “New World” Symphony, is a pivotal masterpiece that changed the course of music forever. In live performances of electrifying energy, and recorded in stunning sound, this is a mind-bending combination of masterpieces. - Seattle Symphony Orchestra

Following the Seattle Symphony’s first Grammy®-nominated Henri Dutilleux disc comes the second installment in the Symphony’s venture to record a complete survey of the orchestral music of this late, great, long-lived, and most important French composer whose music has been authoritatively described as “sumptuous… fastidious… rigorous… seductive… non-dogmatic…” – Guardian. This time Ludovic Morlot and his musicians turn their attention to Dutilleux’s most well-known and exciting orchestral work – Métaboles. Augustin Hadelich joins for a performance of the violin concerto, L’arbre des songes, with the disc completed by a performance of the composer’s Second Symphony (“Le Double”), the recordings realized within the spectacular acoustics of Seattle’s Benaroya Hall, and, in the cases of Métaboles and the Symphony No. 2, recorded live in concert. Founded in 1903, the Seattle Symphony continues to be one of America’s leading symphony orchestras. Music Director Ludovic Morlot has been leader of the orchestra since September 2011. Constantly astonishing audiences with his phenomenal technique, poetic sensitivity and gorgeous tone, violinist Augustin Hadelich’s remarkable consistency throughout the repertoire, from Beethoven to Thomas Adès, is seldom encountered in a single artist.

Henri Dutilleux' Symphony No. 1 is an early work and the composer’s first piece for orchestra. It is in four movements, but these do not all conform to traditional types. (SSM)

PLEASE NOTE: PURCHASE OF THIS CD INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING WORKS:

Bruch, Violin Concerto No. 1 (Maazel)
Bartók, Violin Concerto No. 1 (Gilbert)
Korngold, Violin Concerto (Robertson)
Williams, Theme from Schindler’s List (Williams)

PURCHASE OF THE MP3 ALSO INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING WORKS (not available on CD):

Album 2
Kernis, Lament and Prayer (Maazel)
Bernstein, Serenade (Bernstein)
Barber, Violin Concerto (Masur)
Waxman, Carmen Fantasie (Mehta)

Album 3
Prokofiev, Violin Concerto No. 2 (Mehta)
Szymanowski, Violin Concerto No. 1 (Masur)
Shostakovich, Violin Concerto, No. 1 (Shostakovich)

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The New York Philharmonic is saluting Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow — who is leaving the Orchestra after 34 years, the longest tenure of any concertmaster in Philharmonic history — with New York Philharmonic Presents: The Glenn Dicterow Collection. The three albums feature Mr. Dicterow’s favorite concerto performances.

The first album is available on CD, which comes with a 90-page commemorative booklet that includes program notes with Mr. Dicterow's commentary, essays about Mr. Dicterow by Music Director Alan Gilbert and Archivist/Historian Barbara Haws, photographs, and a complete list of the Concertmaster’s solo performances.

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!

Norman Brown again teams up with superstar producer Paul Brown to create more magic! Grammy Award-winning Contemporary Jazz/R&B su-perstar Norman Brown has sold over 2 million albums in his extraordinary career and virtually lives at the top of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz sale sand radio charts. Let's Get Away has Norman Brown's hit-making talents on full display. Featuring inspired original com-positions such as the vibey "L.A. Chill," the funk/bluestinged "Talk It Out," and the romantic tribute to Wes Montgomery, "Wes Side Story," Norman tops it all off with a brilliant rendition of the classic "Down Here On The Ground!"

With THE ROAD Keiko Matsui brings her legions of fans on an exotic, sensual journey with influences and grooves from all over the planet. Keiko is joined on THE ROAD by an all-star cast of guest artists and producers including saxophone greats Kirk Whalum and Jackeim Joyner; producer/vocalist/bassist/guitarist the brilliant Richard Bona and producer/composer Derek Nakamoto. But it is the brilliance of Keiko Matsui that shines through above all, and makes THE ROAD a journey not to be missed.

Keiko follows up 2012s critically acclaimed production THE ROAD with the brilliant new album, SOUL QUEST without a doubt her most heartfelt release yet. The impressive list of special guests includes saxophone greats Kirk Whalum, Andy Snitzer and Dave Mann, hit-making guitarist Chuck Leob, superstar bassists Marcus Miller and Will Lee, drummer and mega-producer Narada Michael Walden and more!

UNSPOKEN

Smooth Jazz Icon Richard Elliot has performed and recorded with jazz and R&B superstars Rod Stewart, Smokey Robinson, The Yellow Jackets, Tower Of Power, Bonnie Raitt, just to name a few. With more than 20 top ten smooth jazz singles and number 1 contemporary jazz albums, he has delighted his dedicated fan base worldwide. Straight Up Down, produced by Richard and his long-time collaborator Paul Brown, overflows with Richard's ebullient spirit. Highlights include a deeply moving remake of the S.O.S Band classic "Tell Me (If You Still Care About Me)," Richard's tasty collaboration with Paul Brown, "High Tide," the joyous "Very Delicious," and much more!!

SHE CAME TO ME - O.S.T.

In choosing Movements as the title for this album of piano works, George LI highlights both their structure and their dancing spirit: the 18 movements of Schumann's Davidsbündlertänze (supplemented by his Arabeske in C major) are followed by Ravel's eight Valses nobles et sentimentales and three movements from Stravinsky's score for the ballet Petruskha. "There are intriguing and intoxicating elements in this dance programme that captured me from the outset when crafting it," says the Boston-born pianist. "Broadly speaking, I love the effects of color and harmony in these works, as well as the general feeling of an evolution, or perhaps a continuous battle, between the introverted and extroverted impulses... The Davidsbündlertänze embodies the full spectrum of human emotion - despair, anxiety, sorrow, triumph, bliss, or pure love, to name a few... Another fascinating element in this program is the motivic and harmonic threads which connect the smaller pieces into a cohesive whole. Recently, I've developed a great obsession with learning how to weave musical moments into a single overarching architectural narrative. This program offers a different challenge - giving space for each musical moment to be it's own distinct individual voice, while also still maintaining the narrative arc..."

PORTRAITS OF CUBA

2017 release. The world of jazz has been graced by many great female vocalists through the decades - Ella Fitzgerald, Sara Vaughan, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, to name just a few. Chesky Records is excited to introduce a name we feel will one day be in their company... Camille Thurman. On her Chesky Records debut, Thurman shows her versatility with stunning performances on both saxophone and vocals. The multi-talented Camille Thurman is an award-winning composer, a formidable saxophonist, and a second-place winner of the prestigious Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition. She has performed with artists ranging from Dr. Billy Taylor, George Coleman, Lew Tabackin, and George Benson, to Chaka Khan, Alicia Keys, and Missy Elliot. She recently made her Jazz at Lincoln Center debut during the Generations in Jazz Festival, leading a killer quartet as she sang, played, and showcased original compositions and some classics. She also recently gave an improvised scatting performance during Battle of the Big Bands that brought down the house in The Appel Room. The inaugural release of the new Virtual Audio Series from Chesky Records, this album was recorded in front of a live audience at Rockwood Music Hall in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan, using a single binaural microphone. This technique places the listener in the middle of a live show. If you didn't know any better, you'd swear you can smell the perfume of the young lady seated to your left.

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