Spyro Gyra's new release Vinyl Tap, their first album of new material in six years, is sure to excite their worldwide fan base as well as to bring new listeners into the fold. Never content to rest on their prodigious work of the past, they have once again challenged themselves to apply their iconic sound to an idea that makes this release stand out from all of it's predecessors. With Vinyl Tap, they have decided to craft an entire album of inventive jazz covers from pop favorites from the vinyl era. But these versions of familiar tunes will surprise the listener as well as entertain them. Whether it's turning Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" into a Latin big band sound or making a tender ballad out of the Beatles' "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away", this release will impress at every turn. They weren't satisfied with just turning Johnny Rivers' 1960's hit "Secret Agent Man" into a rollicking party jam. They added an uptempo melody from "Alfie's Theme" to make something brand new, "Secret Agent Mash". There are also more conventional approaches with faithful versions of songs like War's "The Cisco Kid" and the Doobie Brothers' "What a Fool Believes". Spyro Gyra's haunting version of Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home" is going to radio ahead of the release, so we anticipate high consumer awareness.

Louis Prima's Angelina was released in 1973. Featuring his backing band, Sam Butera & The Witnesses, the album delivers a lively and entertaining collection of some of Prima's most enduring songs, including "Baciagaloop", "Please No Squeeza Da Banana", "Mari Yootch", "Che La Luna", "Mama", and "Josephina."

I was so happy to hear the latest new music from Matthew Curry. I've always really admired Mathew's music, ever since he, and his band began playing shows with us, maybe 6, or 7 years ago. The audience loved his well crafted songs, soaring guitar solos, and soulful singing. We were part of that audience. He is the real deal. His most recent album, 'Open Road', is further proof that Matthew Is continuing to hone his formidable chops. Mathew rips it up on the title track, which reminds me of a Delaney & Bonnie style Eric Clapton tune, and I say this with admiration, since that is one of my favorite Clapton eras. 'On My Way', is just great rointuneck 'n roll, in sort of a Skynyrd vein. 'I Think Of You', a beautiful ballad of lost love, and hope. Then there is some extreme angst in 'Workin' It Out'. A really interesting production, and once again, some killer guitar playing, and amazing vocals. Every song on the album has something special that sets it apart, and makes this a complete package. I've listened to all the songs several times, and I continue to hear things I hadn't noticed before. There's so much great music on this recording. I can't recommend it enough. Check it out, I know you'll feel the same! - Pat Simmons (The Doobie Brothers)

Carlos Nino & Friends Bubble Bath for Giants Bubble Baths For Giants - Carlos Nino Opaque White Vinyl An immersive percussion-led meditation from Los Angeles-based composer and producer Carlos Nino, Bubble Bath for Giants is at once an ode to oceanic vastness and a celebration of the quietly powerful - what Nino describes as the same energy expressed in different vessels. Recorded in Topanga, California and across the homes of the artists involved, the album unfolds through an extraordinary density of acoustic material: bells, bowls, ceramics, chimes, cymbals, bass drum, sakara, surdo, tom, gongs of every provenance (chao, cup, Indonesian, sun, symphonic), metal and wooden keyboards, synthesizers, plant leaf bundles and fronds of bamboo, eucalyptus and palm, rattles, shakers, voice, whistles, and Nino's own sound design. The result is something that breathes rather than moves - a vast, ceremonial gentleness.

In honor of what would have been Henri Dutilleux’s one-hundredth birthday, this commemorative box set is being released by The Seattle Symphony. This three-volume series is a critically acclaimed overview of all of Dutilleux’s major works for orchestra. This is an essential collector’s item for any lover of 20th century French music. The individual releases included in this box set have been nominated for a number of honors, included Grammy Award nominations for Best Orchestral Performance, Best Engineered Album, Classical, and received the Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo by Augustin Hadelich.

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REVIEW:

The defining recording project of Ludovic Morlot’s tenure as music director in Seattle, this luscious three-disc set is a compendium of the orchestral canvases of Henri Dutilleux, whose centenary has been celebrated this year. It’s all played with considerable refinement, but there are particularly special results when the poised violinist Augustin Hadelich joins in for “L’arbre des songes” and “Sur le même accord.”

­– New York Times (David Allen)

The injustices of history are made to be redressed. Here a cast of international singers, under the dynamic direction of Gergely Madaras, devotes itself with conviction to the task of reviving one of the forgotten glories of French Romantic opera. Hulda, completed in 1885, was never staged in César Franck’s lifetime. This gory medieval legend recounts the multiple acts of vengeance its heroine inflicts on the Aslak clan, which slaughtered her family, and on her unfaithful lover Eiolf. The ferocious performance of American soprano Jennifer Holloway in the title role is matched by the sinister presentiments of her French colleague Véronique Gens and the tender outbursts of Dutch soprano Judith van Wanroij. Although the imaginary Norwegian setting brings Wagner to mind, Franck continues the tradition of French grand-opéra while adopting the contemporary Verdian idiom. The intensity of the action is reflected in harmonic and instrumental experiments that place Franck in the forefront of the modernists of his time. The inventiveness of the ballet is matched only by the splendour of the choral writing. How could such a masterpiece have languished in oblivion for so long? Quite simply, because it was deliberately buried by Franck's pupils, who preferred to keep for themselves the glory of personifying the French operatic revival.

In 1965, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass released one of the most popular and influential albums in the history of American Music: Whipped Cream & Other Delights. To celebrate the album's monumental 60th Anniversary, Herb Alpert Presents is re-releasing the album as a special vinyl picture disc featuring the iconic and enduring album cover image that has been imprinted in the collective consciousness of pop culture for decades! The album has been remastered from it's original analog tapes and is pressed on high quality, 180-gram vinyl. Revisit some of Herb Alpert's biggest hits, including "Whipped Cream", "Lollipops and Roses", "Ladyfingers" (which has seen a huge resurgence in popularity thanks to TikTok, YouTube, and recent film/TV uses), and "A Taste Of Honey" (which won the Grammy for Record Of The Year when the album was released). Don't miss your chance to get this special reissue of one of Herb Alpert's biggest albums!

Riviera '76 - THE GODFATHER OF FUSION is back with 1976, Newly Discovered material from the French Radio Archives. The Eleventh House was a superstar jazz fusion group of the 1970's led by the guitarist Larry Coryell. This material has never been released on a physical format before. This single vinyl package includes: OBI side spine, full color printed inner sleeve and a Vibrant Magenta Opaque color vinyl LP.

Just Friends is a 1998 jazz album by French pianist Martial Solal, featuring bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Paul Motian. The trio is highly regarded for it's blend of high-energy, straight-ahead swing and avant-garde improvisational complexity. The album features a mix of jazz standards and original compositions by Solal. Critics have noted the trio's remarkable technical facility, harmonic imagination, and ability to navigate both aggressive, complex avant-garde passages and traditional swing.

Philip Catherine is a guitarist. He released his debut album, Stream, in 1972. He and guitarist Larry Coryell recorded and toured as an acoustic duo. The same year, when Jan Akkerman abruptly left Focus, Catherine replaced him in the band. The following year, he recorded with Charles Mingus, who dubbed him "Young Django". In the early 1980s, he toured with Benny Goodman. He was in trio with Didier Lockwood and Christian Escoude, then in a trio with Chet Baker. During the 1990s, he recorded three albums with trumpeter Tom Harrell.

Didier Lockwood was a French violinist. He played in the French rock band Magma in the 1970s, and was known for his use of electric amplification and his experimentation with different sounds on the electric violin

Pressed on 180-gram white marbled vinyl, this premium edition revives a historic 1969 Paris session from the iconic BYG/Actuel catalog-an essential statement from a visionary musician and activist, now reissued in it's best quality ever. Restored & remastered from the original tapes by Nick Robbins, it features a new and insightful essay by author & music journalist Kevin Le Gendre. The LP edition presents the original gatefold sleeve and artwork meticulously recreated with a sleek matte laminate finish, along with a double-sided insert. Awarded Audiophile Album of the Month by Jazzwise, March 2023, and hailed as "A must for Shepp fans as well as free-jazz aficionados" by Kevin Whitlock - Jazzwise. Among the many African-American jazz musicians who arrived in Paris in the late '60s, saxophonist Archie Shepp was arguably the most influential. Still residing in the French capital today, he became a key figure in the European jazz scene, forging strong collaborations with artists like German pianist Joachim Kuhn. Archie Shepp recorded several landmark albums for BYG, with Yasmina, A Black Woman standing out as one of the most compelling-both musically and intellectually. The title track is a powerful tribute to a "soul sister" with an Afro-Arabic name, signaling a deliberate shift away from Eurocentric narratives. Shepp's impassioned performance is matched by an extraordinary lineup that bridges hard bop and the avant-garde. Saxophonist Hank Mobley and drummer Philly Joe Jones-two hard bop legends-share the stage with boundary-pushing soloists like pianist Dave Burrell, trumpeter Lester Bowie, and saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell, both of whom were members of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. The result? A true jazz supergroup. This remarkable ensemble delivers a dynamic repertoire that reflects Shepp's deep engagement with the entire spectrum of Black American music, from blues and swing to free improvisation, while embracing African rhythms and post-colonial themes. The album radiates defiant energy yet also reveals moments of profound romanticism and tenderness-a testament to Shepp's artistry and vision.

Pressed on 180-gram white vinyl, this premium edition revives a historic 1969 Paris session from the iconic BYG/Actuel catalog-an essential statement from a visionary musician and activist, now reissued in it's best quality ever. Restored & remastered from the original tapes by Nick Robbins, it features a new and insightful essay by author & music journalist Kevin Le Gendre. The LP edition presents the original gatefold sleeve and artwork meticulously recreated with a sleek matte laminate finish, along with a double-sided insert. Awarded Audiophile Album of the Month by Jazzwise, March 2023, and hailed as "A must for Shepp fans as well as free-jazz aficionados" by Kevin Whitlock - Jazzwise. Florida-born saxophonist, composer, poet, actor, and playwright Archie Shepp was one of the most powerful voices of politicized Black culture in the late '60s-a time of radical thought and social upheaval. After relocating to Paris, Shepp recorded a series of groundbreaking albums, including Blase, which explored themes of freedom, racial equality, and the deep roots of African-American music. Blending gospel, blues, and avant-garde jazz, the album featured the mesmerizing vocals of Jeanne Lee and members of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, creating a powerful fusion of jazz, poetry, and radical politics. Blase defies categorization, moving fluidly across eras and influences-what Shepp called "pre-jazz" as much as "free jazz." From a graceful reprise of Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Lady to the propulsive rhythms of Touareg, inspired by his transformative experience at the 1969 Pan-African Festival in Algiers, Shepp's vision was always expansive. Black music has a dynamic relationship with it's past-what was once old becomes new again, resonating across generations. If Blase teaches us anything, it's that younger artists will always feel the spirit of their predecessors, both in life and beyond. As Duke Ellington put it: "All God's chillun got rhythm."

Dexter Gordon (1923 - 1990) was a giant in every respect. Both his height and his playing exuded authority. He had the power to draw conclusions amid many musical impressions and, carefree of other people's opinions, said/played things as they were. He was one of the first tenor saxophonists to play modern jazz after the big band style, making him a source of inspiration for many. On July 15, 1979, he joined North Sea Jazz with his accompanying trio consisting of pianist Kirk Lightsey, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Eddie Gladden. On this album you can hear their performances of 'It's You Or No One' and 'More Than You Know'. In addition, the album contains a recording of the tenor battle held later that evening during 'Flying Home' with Hank Jones on piano, Gene Ramsey on bass and Gus Johnson on drums, in addition to Dexter Budd Johnson, Illinois Jacquet, Arnett Cobb and Buddy Tate sound on sax. After the Ella Fitzgerald album this is the second release of the North Sea Jazz Concert Series presented at the end of last year by Bertus Distribution, in collaboration with NTR, AVROTROS and MOJO. It's a new vinyl series consisting of live recordings of legendary artists through the decades made at the renowned North Sea Jazz Festival. The North Sea Jazz Concert Series will include officially licensed releases that will be released as standard on 180-gram white vinyl in a sleeve of heavy paper and printed on reversed board. The records will be captured in mainly black-and-white artwork by Hans Pol in his signature style of the festival with inspiration from the covers of classic older jazz releases from the Blue Note label, for example. The liner notes are written by journalist and jazz expert Jeroen de Valk. For all recordings it's a first time ever release on vinyl!

A 2021 GRAMMY Nominee for Best Choral Performance!

** Physical package includes CD and Pure-Audio Blu-Ray with high-resolution and surround formats, and video selections of the world premiere concert and complete liturgical performance. **

Benedict Sheehan’s landmark setting of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in English grows out of the tradition of the great Russian liturgy settings by Rachmaninoff, Gretchaninoff, and Tchaikovsky. Reminiscent of medieval Eastern chant, minimalism, American folk singing, and the high tradition of Western church music, it is also hailed by Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America as “a new milestone for Orthodoxy in America.”

Sheehan’s sweeping and virtuosic a cappella Liturgy represents a fresh and vibrant voice for choral music today.

The Saint Tikhon Choir was founded in 2015 by Benedict Sheehan, the group’s artistic director, and Abbot Sergius of St. Tikhon’s Monastery. It is the first professional vocal ensemble connected with an Orthodox monastery in America, founded with a mission to foster and build up the American Orthodox choral tradition at the highest artistic level.

ABOUT THE RECORDING

Sheehan’s Liturgy is the first of four planned releases on Cappella Records produced by multi-GRAMMY® Award winner Blanton Alspaugh and the engineering team at Soundmirror. Soundmirror’s outstanding orchestral, solo, opera, and chamber recordings have received more than 100 GRAMMY® nominations and awards, with releases on every major classical label.

This is also the first release of The Saint Tikhon Choir on Cappella Records. The Choir recently recorded a collaboration on Naxos with three other choirs and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s conducted by Leonard Slatkin, which debuted at #1 on Billboard. They also previously recorded the sacred works of Benedict Sheehan for Saint Tikhon’s Monastery Press.

The 2-disc deluxe set features both CD and PureAudio Blu-ray™ media with high-resolution 2.0 Stereo and 5.0 Surround versions (DSM192K/24bit), recorded in DSD and downloadable to audio servers and devices. The Blu-ray™ also contains three video performances: two concert selections from the world première performance and the complete liturgical première sung at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC. The accompanying booklet provides an extensive essay by the composer, the full text of the Divine Liturgy, and beautiful photography.

BENEDICT SHEEHAN

SILENZIO; MISTERIO! SECRET AND SILENT ... this is how the chorus begins Verdi's first Venice opera. For I due Foscari; the composer combined dark timbres; impressive choral scenes; intimate orchestral solos and stirring arias.

THREE TENORS CONCERT 1994

This edition features heavyweight orange vinyl showcasing the original 1969 BYG Records album, restored & remastered from the original master tapes. It comes in a deluxe gatefold sleeve with a matte laminate finish, along with an insert featuring liner notes by John Masouri. The first of The Art Ensemble of Chicago's renowned trio of albums for BYG's Actuel series now returns in a deluxe, audiophile edition This album is the Art Ensemble's most celebrated release, capturing the American avant-garde jazz collective at their most sensational, provocative, and startlingly original in a historic June 1969 session at Studio Saravah in Paris. Recorded in the aftermath of widespread anti-government protests and student riots, this album showcases what happens when four highly intuitive and accomplished musicians-driven by Black Nationalism and dreams of liberation, and armed with an array of diverse instruments-let their inspiration run free. The tracks on A Jackson in Your House challenge us to view music in a different light-not just as a source of entertainment, but as enlightenment, wonderment born of togetherness, courage, beauty, and surprise, all mixed with terrifying honesty.

The Love Unlimited Orchestra were the instrumental voice of Maestro Barry White. Rhapsody in White, the group's debut LP written and produced by BW, was issued in 1974, following his breakthrough solo success the year before. Mostly instrumental, it's highlighted by their No. 1 signature song, "Love's Theme," a.k.a. The launchpad of the 1970s disco movement - but also includes Barry White vocal appearances on the wildly popular LP cuts, "Midnight and You" and "Baby Blues." 140g Limited Edition Black Vinyl

Vinyl LP pressing housed in gatefold jacket. Released by Motown in 1972, The Temptations' Solid Rock features vocals by Dennis Edwards, Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams, Damon Harris, and Richard Street. A #1 Soul LP smash, it was the first recorded by the group without original lead singers Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams.

Released in 1973, Neither One of Us, the ninth studio album by Gladys Knight & the Pips, was their most successful work, reaching No. 9 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and No. 1 on the Soul LPs chart. By the time of it's release, the group had already left Motown and signed to Buddah Records, making the title song (which peaked at No. 2 on the US Pop charts and led the R&B charts) all the more poignant. "Daddy Could Swear, I Declare" was also a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Available on 140g virgin vinyl. Limited Edition.

PRECIOUSLY few Irish bands can compare in both virtuosity and versatility with Solas, a quintet of truly dazzling individual talents. Multiple All-lreland champion Seamus Egan plays no fewer than eight instruments, John Williams is a gifted button accordionist and the only American ever to win the coveted All-lreland sen- ior concertina title, Winifred Horan weaves deft classical touches with an earthy passion in her fiddling, Karan Casey possesses a crystalline voice that can soar like no other, and John Doyle provides faultless guitar rhythms throughout. But the sum of Solas is far greater than their impressive parts, combining to produce a marvelously spirited and textured sound rich in imagination, innovation, and tradition. They are the most exciting Irish band to emerge in many years - as this stunning debut album attests. - Earle Hitchner, Irish Echo April 1996

Light as a Feather was the second studio album by Chick Corea's band Return to Forever, following Corea's 1972 LP that introduced the group. The album features Corea on electric piano, Joe Farrell on flute and soprano and tenor saxophones, Stanley Clarke on double bass, Airto Moreira on drums and percussion, and vocals by Flora Purim. Light as a Feather was named 1972 Playboy Jazz Album of the Year and has been regarded by numerous magazines and polls as one of the greatest jazz LPs ever made.

This limited edition release of the original 1972 BYG Records album is pressed on 180-gram black vinyl and housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve with a matte laminate varnish. Restored and mastered to vinyl by Nick Robbins from the original tapes, with lacquers cut by Cicely Balston at Air Studios, it also includes an insert featuring liner notes by author and Jazz specialist Kevin Le Gendre Deeper into the cosmos-Sun Ra's landmark sessions return in a premium edition, celebrating the visionary genius of the founding father of Space Age Jazz In a characteristic surge of creative energy, Sun Ra and his ensemble, The Solar-Myth Arkestra, generated enough material for two albums. These volumes present a fascinating collection of tracks from various undocumented U.S. sessions in the 1960s, with some possibly dating back to the late 1950s. A true sonic odyssey, the music twists and turns unpredictably-just as one would expect from such an avant-garde collective. This second installment picks up where Vol. 1 left off while introducing intriguing new focal points. Echoes of Ellington resonate throughout, yet the sessions also feature captivating explorations of Afro-centric polyrhythms, highlighting drummers and percussionists Clifford Jarvis, Lex Humphries, and Nimrod Hunt. But the standout moment belongs to vocalist June Tyson-one of Ra's most underappreciated collaborators-who takes center stage on the mesmerizing 'Strange Worlds'. Meticulously restored and remastered to reveal the full depth and the finest details of it's orchestrations, this new edition of The Solar Myth Approach Vol. 2 is a highlight in Sun Ra's vast discography and an essential counterpart to The Solar Myth Approach Vol. 1.

Vinyl LP pressing. The seeds of the collaboration were planted in 2017 when Anderson. Paak and Bruno Mars toured together on the European leg of his 24K Magic World Tour. One late-night jam session on the road unlocked immediate chemistry. Just before the world slipped into quarantine, Bruno called Anderson: "Remember that idea we had back in 2017? Let's do it. " One studio session grew into to a months-long collaboration, culminating the "setlist of doom. " Legendary Bootsy Collins christened Silk Sonic and came in as the "special guest host" for An Evening With Silk Sonic, their debut album. Silk Sonic was finally set free on March 5th, 2021. Within less than a month, their debut single "Leave The Door Open" cracked over 230 million streams, and currently sits at 1. 2 billion streams with over 346 million official video views. It reeled in rave reviews, including Variety who noted it "could be a Best R&B Song Grammy winner from 1974."