Echoes showcases Lars Moller's masterful fusion of Scandinavian introspection, robust American jazz, and emotive Indian modalities. Joined by legendary trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg and the NDR Bigband, Moller crafts a sonic journey that reflects his artistic evolution and exploration of jazz and Indian music. Contrasting spacious, improvised passages with dense orchestrations, Echoes balances air and fire, creating a timeless soundscape that embraces both spiritual openness and rhythmic intensity.

This live album brings together two legendary Parisian concerts, recorded in 1956 and 1961, that capture all the explosive energy and contagious enthusiasm of a "Lion" at the peak of his glory. These dynamite performances are a testament to the boundless generosity of one of the most formidable entertainers in jazz history, an artist capable of transforming a simple concert into a true show. The listener is carried away by Hampton's infectious enthusiasm and the powerful swing of his big band. It's dance jazz at it's zenith. - Patrick Fr�meaux The Live in Paris collection by Michel Brilli� allows listeners to hear previously unreleased recordings (made at concerts, private-, or radio-sessions) by the great 20th century stars in jazz, rock & roll and song. These "live" takes, and the artists' rapport with their audiences, give these performances an additional soul and sensibility in counterpoint to the rigorous demands of studio recordings. Particular care was taken when restoring the sound of these tapes in order to meet CD standards while preserving the original colours of the period. - Patrick Fr�meaux & Gilles P�tard

Stina Hellberg Agback - harp Filip Augustsson - double bass Jon Falt- drums

The title "Awaking" carries a double significance. On the one hand, it refers to the musical awakening that marks my artistic journey; on the other, it reflects the collective awakening that marked the end of the Corona pandemic. I hope that "Awaking" reflects not just the sound of my music, but my appreciation of all the people who have shared this creative path with me.

Stratus is the stunning new quartet album from violinist Zach Brock and pianist Phil Markowitz, joined by Finnish jazz standouts Jaska Lukkarinen and Ville Herrala. Recorded in the peaceful setting of Sipoo, Finland, the album blends lyrical improvisation, intricate composition, and intuitive interplay into a cohesive, deeply expressive whole. From lush ballads to dynamic rhythmic journeys, Stratus showcases the quartet's chamber-like sensitivity and jazz-rooted spontaneity. Brock and Markowitz, building on their earlier collaboration Perpetuity, offer a seamless musical conversation elevated by a rhythm section that listens and leads in equal measure. A rich, genre-blurring project, Stratus is both intimate and expansive an exploration of sound grounded in trust, nuance, and shared vision.

DUKE ELLINGTON - ALL THE HITS AND MORE 1927-54 - It's a comprehensive overview of his most successful output during a primary era of his career Duke Ellington was one of the most important and influential figures in the entire history of jazz, as pianist, bandleader, composer and innovator, his career spanning half century as the genre evolved from the early days of electric recording. However, while critics and commentators focus on his over-arching significance as a giant of the medium, it's easy to forget that he was a genius at composing tune and songs for the medium of the 3-minute 78rpm single, and during the first three decades of his career before rock 'n' roll changed the pop landscape irrevocably, he had more than 70 records that were credited as chart hits. This great-value 4-CD set comprised all those 77 recordings which are listed in recognised sources as hits, plus another 20 or so which are regarded as significant compositions which became standards, or were hits for other artists. It includes his No. 1s with "Three Little Words", "Cocktails For Two", "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart", and the Billboard R&B No. 1s "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", "Sentimental Lady", "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me" and "Main Stem", along with classics like "Mood Indigo", "Sophisticated Lady", "Moon Glow", "Solitude", "Caravan", "Take The 'A' Train" and "I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good". It's a comprehensive overview of his most successful output during a primary era of his career, and a great showcase for the artistry which made the Duke such a revered and iconic personality.

Clarinettist and bandleader Benny Goodman was one of the giants of the swing era, with his orchestra pioneering the genre in the late '30s and riding the big band wave through into the post-ear era. However, he also greatly enjoyed playing in more flexible small jazz groups, where his superb technique had more of a chance to shine. This great-value 70-track 3-CD set brings together a significant proportion, but excluding vocal performances, of the titles he recorded in Trio, Quartet, Quintet, Sextet and Septet environments the heyday of his swing orchestra, often recording with artists drawn from the current incarnation of his bands. It comprises recordings on the Victor, Columbia and Okeh labels, and not surprisingly features a host of significant jazz personalities, including Teddy Wilson, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Christian, Cootie Williams, Count Basie, Red Norvo, Slam Stewart, John Kirby, Fletcher Henderson, Johnny Guarnieri, Georgie Auld and many more. It's a thoroughly enjoyable anthology of small band jazz that defies being categorised, ranging across both well-known standards and original compositions, and allows us to hear Benny and his colleagues swinging and improvising in some star-studded line-ups

Jazz drummer Buddy Rich is famous as one of the most extrovert and impressive instrumentalists of his day, known for his virtuoso technique, power and speed, and one of the most influential drummers in the genre. Born in 1917, the son of a vaudevillian couple, he was immersed in the drums from a very early age, as well as being a singer and tap dancer. Having played with Artie Shaw, Bunny Berigan and Tommy Dorsey from the late 1930s, he served in WWII, he was with Dorsey until Frank Sinatra helped finance Rich to form his own orchestra in 1946. This 59-track 3-CD set comprises most of his studio recordings with his own band through 1946-47 for Mercury and on V-Disc, plus selected recordings through to 1955 with his own groups and with bands and small groups led by Charlie Parker, Flip Phillips, Count Basie, Bud Powell, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson, Roy Eldridge and Harry James, variously appearing on the Mercury, Clef, Norgran, Verve, Pablo and Columbia labels. It features performances alongside many notable musicians of the era, including Nat King Cole, Buck Clayton, Hank Jones, Clark Terry, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Benny Carter, Barney Kessel, Buddy de Franco, Herb Ellis, Ben Webster, Art Tatum, Illinois Jacquet and many more. Featuring Rich performing in a variety of musical environments, including some of Buddy's vocal outings, it's an entertaining showcase for his legendary versatility and prowess.

Live archive release. The First Lady of Song returns to Berlin, Home of her legendary concerts. Recorded in 1962 but never released, hear the most popular jazz singer of all time deliver an iconic performance at Sportpalast Berlin for the first time. This recording finds Ella and her band at the top of their game recorded in high fidelity stereo. With only two songs repeated from her hit record "Mack The Knife" two years earlier, this undiscovered recording stands on it's own.

My Man

The indisputable tenor giant Ben Webster spent his last years in Copenhagen. His appearances at the famed Jazzhus Montmartre in those days greeted by faithful and appreciative audience were the historical moments filled with unique quality of beauty ignited by the last spark of a truly great man. Canadian Coda magazine wrote reviewing this recording in 1975: “ Webster, as always, plays with passion throughout the album. But one title goes well beyond that. Old Folks is an exquisitely deep performance, the kind that even a great artist gets to play only once in his lifetime.” SteepleChase had the privilege of taping most of Webster’s performances during the last year of his life. And this recording (originally released on LP in 1974) is taken from those masters. 180g Audiophile Vinyl