Discover the innovative sound of Kavall, a groundbreaking solo artist and composer who redefines the boundaries of music and art. With a unique blend of film scores and multimedia art installations, Kavall has made his mark in the world of contemporary music. In 2018, he introduced the world to "As if the Air Was Grainy Substance," an album showcasing the mesmerizing tones of his self-developed instrument, Monolo. Kavall's talent extends beyond albums; his compositions have breathed life into award-winning documentaries and captivating art installations. In 2019, he launched the revolutionary Spatial Guitar format, captivating audiences with immersive performances at prestigious venues and festivals around the globe. Kavall's latest work takes listeners on a transformative journey where melody and movement converge. Imagine a composition that doesn't just play around you but envelops you-a physical space where you can exist within the very elements that momentarily become the music. This is the essence of "inmitten" (amidst), born from the desire to be physically inside the music, intuitively shaping this sonic environment with the instrument. At the heart of this experience is a new kind of instrument: a spatially playable guitar with independent voices. This innovation redefines what solo guitar can be, transforming every aspect of performing, recording, and experiencing music. For Kavall, this is more than just a new sound; it's a complete transformation as a composer and player. Spatial Guitar offers a multidimensional experience, where the listener becomes immersed in the music. The compositions are informed by embodied sensations-circulating textures, musical pulses, and a poetic minimalism that invites you to explore the intricate layers of spatially distributed chords and slowly unfolding melodies. From the live performances set within a hexagon of speakers and audio-reactive lights to the recorded form of this album, the instrument's sound evolves in close interaction with it's surroundings, creating a deep connection with the listener. Now that this vision has come to life, Kavall shares, "This is what I always imagined my instrument to sound like. I hope you enjoy exploring this musical space as much as I do." Experience the artistry of Kavall, where innovation meets emotion, and sound becomes a transformative journey. Don't miss the chance to explore the world of Kavall's music-where each note invites you into a new dimension of sonic exploration.

Nyman: Piano Music

For the first time, this cycle is now being released as a limited vinyl edition on 17 LPs. The edition brings together Berliner Philharmoniker recordings from the last ten years. It includes the nine completed symphonies and the Adagio of the Tenth, whose performance under the direction of Claudio Abbado on the 100th anniversary of Mahler's death is one of the highlights. In addition to chief conductor Kirill Petrenko and his predecessor Sir Simon Rattle, the edition features other outstanding Mahler interpreters closely associated with the orchestra: Gustavo Dudamel, Bernard Haitink, Daniel Harding, Andris Nelsons and Yannick N�zet-S�guin.

Storyville Records proudly announces the release of the Danish Radio Big Band - XL-LX on September 20, 2024. A bold and expansive project that captures the essence of the band's sound in the 2020's. This ambitious collection features five commissioned compositions from five diverse composers, showcasing the versatility and modernity of large jazz ensemble music. Spanning nearly two hours of music, XL-LX illustrates the dynamic and distinctive voices within the Danish Radio Big Band. Recorded over the past eight years, the collection emphasizes the band's role as the unifying element amidst diverse compositions. The title, XL-LX, not only signifies the extra-large scope of the project but also commemorates the band's 60th anniversary, with "LX" representing the Roman numeral for 60. 1. Sparkles by Marilyn Mazur - this vibrant suite captures the synergy between Mazur's percussion and the big band, enhanced by the chemistry with young conductor Miho Hazama. Performed in Denmark and at international festivals in Bucharest and South Korea, Sparkles sets the energetic tone for the collection. 2. Roller Coaster by Carla Bley - inspired by Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens, this piece reflects Bley's lifelong fascination with amusement parks. Commissioned for a Scandinavian tour, it was recorded in a chance studio session, adding to the magic of the album. 3. The Mind Behind by Palle Mikkelborg - celebrating Mikkelborg's 75th birthday, this piece features three flugelhorn soloists and contributions from guest artists Marilyn Mazur, Helen Davies, and Mike Sheridan. Premiered at the Danish Radio's Concert House, it is a testament to Mikkelborg's profound influence on jazz. 4. Reflections for Clarinet & Jazz Orchestra by Peter Jensen - a re-imagining of Carl Nielsen's Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, Opus 57, this composition highlights the talents of soloist Peter Fuglsang. It has captivated audiences in Denmark and at the Nordischer Klang Festival in Germany. 5. Suite Electus by Miho Hazama - comprising three movements played attacca, this suite marks Hazama's first composition for the big band. Debuted live alongside the release of XL-LX, it concludes the collection with a fresh and innovative perspective. XL-LX is akin to an art gallery's opening night, where each composition stands as an individual masterpiece while collectively creating a harmonious exhibition. Just as a gallery owner curates diverse artworks to complement each other, the Danish Radio Big Band seamlessly integrates these compositions, allowing each to shine while enhancing the overall listening experience. Each LP in this collection features a blank B-side, symbolizing the ongoing potential for new artistic expressions. Join us in celebrating 60 years of musical excellence with the release of XL-LX. This collection not only honors the Danish Radio Big Band's rich history but also heralds it's vibrant future.

Zdenek Liska Archives is a project aimed at releasing a sequence of vinyl records featuring a selection of original recordings of film music by this important Czech composer, from his personal audio-tape archive. The first album of the collection contains music from three short films by Jan svankmajer from 1966 to 1977 - Don sajn (Don Juan), Leonarduv denik (Leonardo's Diary) and zvahlav aneb saticky Slameneho Huberta (Jabberwocky). Out of a total of ten short films by svankmajer, which Zdenek Liska provided music for, the recordings of these three films have been preserved in his home archive. In the album's booklet, Jan svankmajer highlights Liska's brilliant film-composing skills: "What was amazing about Liska's music was that, unlike most other composers, he didn't attempt to go with the mood of the film and milk the emotions but listened to the rhythm of the movie itself. Especially in an animated film, this helped to greatly enhance the sense of the picture's pace and drama. He was able to discover rhythms in films that even their authors weren't aware of." The album is released in the year of Jan svankmajer's 90th birthday. The work of this exceptional surrealist artist is represented by a retrospective exhibition presenting works by Jan and Eva svankmajer in the Central Bohemian Region Gallery or a program section dedicated to his film work in the Dafilms online cinema.

In his upcoming album, �Brightlight,� Cohen showcases his multifaceted talents alongside a stellar ensemble of musicians. Among these are some of the brightest young talents from the new jazz scene, including drummer Roni Kaspi, pianist Guy Moskovich, his working core trio as the centre on many of the titles and joined by saxophonist Yuval Drabkin and many others hand-picked talented artists. Roni Kaspi brings a youthful vigor to the album, infusing the music with a sense of spontaneity and drive. After more than 3 years of touring with Avishai Cohen, she's even got a dedicated title on this recording ("Roni's Swing"), wrote by Cohen as an homage to her dynamic and energetic drumming. Guy Moskovich, a pianist whose harmonic sensibilities and technical prowess have garnered him recognition as a rising star in jazz, provides the perfect complement to Cohen's bass lines. Yuval Drabkin, on saxophone, adds another layer of richness to the extensive ensemble. His emotive playing and nuanced interpretations bring a compelling voice to the project, enhancing the album's overall depth.

'Close Harmony' is the latest musical offering from Grammy Award winning and internationally acclaimed vocal group The King's Singers. Accompanying the new album, this limited edition LP features a selection of the newly recorded tracks, recorded in 2020 and 2024.

Now focusing on original compositions (along with some Indian chants and a piece by Claude Debussy), this album also distinguishes itself from the previous two albums by presenting a new sonic landscape.� Blending the rich timbres and textures of both the acoustic and electric sonic worlds of the musicians, we were looking to get a strong, direct, full sound that still retains enough detail and acoustic warmth.

Ashley Henry presents it's second album "Who We Are", a London-born jazz journey that unites devotion, collective dreaming, and the fight for freedom. Featuring acclaimed artists like Judi Jackson and Aja Monet, this record is a powerful anthem for our times-echoing Nina Simone's legacy while finding inspiration in the pulse of the city and collective dreaming. Praised by global medias such as Wonderland, Notion and the BBC, Ashley Henry is set to become one of the most influential jazz acts in Europe with it's signature piano touch and soothing vocal tones.

60 years have passed since the release of a recording that would change Swedish jazz forever. Bill Evans, with his incredible touch and mastery of harmony has made an undeniable imprint on jazz musicians all over the world - and through his collaboration with Monica Zetterlund on "Waltz for Debby" in 1964, a new era for Scandinavian music was born. Impressions of Evans is an effort to pay tribute to this - a gesture of gratitude for making pine trees and 5th Avenue come together in a remarkably seamless, beautiful way and for being the perfect example of how one plus one sometimes equals three.

Experience the extraordinary musical journey of Bjarke Falgren and Sonke Meinen, a duo celebrated for their virtuosic playfulness and boundless creativity. Seamlessly blending their talents, they break stylistic boundaries between folk, jazz, world music, and classical music. Their compositions and arrangements, often crafted in serene, idyllic settings like an old schoolhouse in the Danish countryside, evoke a sense of peace and inspiration. Known for coaxing an unusually wide range of sounds from their instruments, they transition effortlessly from warm and mellow tones to powerful and percussive expressions. This remarkable ability showcases their depth and versatility, captivating audiences worldwide. Both artists bring a wealth of experience and recognition to their projects. Bjarke Falgren, a four-time Danish Grammy Award winner, and Sonke Meinen, acclaimed for his creativity and technical prowess on the guitar, have won numerous international competitions. Praised by guitar legend Tommy Emmanuel as one of the most creative guitarists of the current scene, Sonke's innovative approach complements Bjarke's masterful violin performances, making their collaboration truly exceptional. Don't miss the chance to witness the magic of Bjarke Falgren and Sonke Meinen as they redefine musical boundaries and create unforgettable performances.

Last year, Tigran Hamasyan composed his greatest work, inspired by a traditional Armenian tale of the same name: The Bird of a Thousand Voices, is rediscovering this story in a transmedia project, consisting of an innovative livestaged play (world premiere at the Holland Festival on June 8, 2024), two ambitious cinematic fiction music videos, a documentary music video and an online game. The original story of the firebird has been orally transmitted over the centuries and cultures. The folk tale requires a multi-layered, transdisciplinary approach to provide an artistic context for this fascinating story. The mystical bird of a thousand voices is a beautiful metaphor of our times: a world in search of connection and harmony, faced with ecological, psychological and spiritual crises. Any form of recognition and new means of transmitting this beautiful music of the ancient traditions of the Caucasus is therefore important and sets the tone for world curiosity and diversity. "The Bird Of A Thousand Voices" is part of this context. Tigran is one of the most remarkable jazz pianists and composers of his generation. He combines improvisation with the rich traditional music of his native Armenia. Ten years ago, Tigran and award-winning filmmaker Ruben Van Leer met during a collaboration at the Cite de la Musique in Paris, creating "Shadow Theater", a visual musical experience (see ARTE broadcast). They went on to create several music videos together (see Cave of Rebirth & Fides Tua). Armenian culture, geopolitically situated between globalized powers such as Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, has been under pressure for centuries. Most recently, in September 2023, Azerbaijan took over Armenian territory. Right after, almost the entire population was expelled from the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of an "ethnic cleansing", in the words of the European Parliament. Azerbaijan is now expressly ordering the burning of ancient historical manuscripts in Armenian monasteries. Deluxe vinyl 2LP box set with 3 superb illustrated booklets (80 pages in total).

Sweden in the 60s was experiencing the surge of cool jazz (Tristano tradition) and saw young alto saxophonist Rolf Billberg emerged on the scene as one of its most talented practitioners. Due to his premature death at age 35 ten months after this recording his name never made it to the stardom. This hitherto unknown album is one rare testimony to the state of Swedish jazz scene. It was recorded in November 1965 privately in the legendary live/rehearsal basement club Subland in Malmö. 180g Audiophile Vinyl

Vivaldi was one of the first composers to focus on the transverse flute as a viable solo instrument, and he may have even been the first to dedicate a whole publication to the flute family. His Opus 10 was published by Michel-Charles Le Cene in around 1728, though in reality many of the works in the collection were revised versions of earlier compositions, with Vivaldi capitalising on the popularity of the flute and rewriting material previously used for other instruments. Adding descriptive elements to the movement names, often connected to natural phenomena - such as 'La tempesta del mare' - was another way of boosting sales, something the composer had already discovered with his publication of The Four Seasons some years earlier. Vivaldi wrote over 500 concertos during his lifetime, and his expertise in this field is particularly evident in the exchanges between the ritornello and the orchestral tutti: while the ensemble comes together perfectly in the tutti, the soloist is really given a chance to fly in the soaring ritornelli, showcasing the instrument to it's fullest. Performing these works is Italian flautist Mario Folena, principal flautist of the Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto since 1982. He has previously collaborated with many prominent ensembles, including I Solisti Veneti and I Filarmonici di Verona, and is a respected teacher of the Baroque flute, having given summer courses at the Fondazione Cini in Venice and the conservatoires of Padova and Parma. He is joined by L'Arte dell'Arco, led from the front by violinist Federico Guglielmo, whose exuberant and thoroughly researched Vivaldi performances have previously garnered high praise. - The LP version of one of the most successful Vivaldi recordings in the Brilliant Classics catalogue. - Vivaldi's six Concertos for flute Op.10 nearly attain the same popularity as the Four Seasons. Published in Amsterdam in 1728 they contain some of Vivaldi's most famous concertos: Il Gardellino, La Notte and the Tempesta di Mare. Music of wonderful invention, drama, tone painting and instrumental virtuosity. - Played on original instruments by soloist Mario Folena, a pupil of Jean-Pierre Rampal and Rene Clemencic, principal flutist of the famous Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto, and veteran of the Historically Informed Performance Practice. Federico Guglielmo leads his ensemble l'Arte del'Arco, lifelong champions of the Red Priest from Venice. - Performance is based on the new Critical Edition of Vivaldi's works, revealing many new details and insights.

A foretaste of the artistic mastery of Beethoven's late work: the "Diabelli Variations" are the last major piano work to embody the pinnacle of Beethoven's variation oeuvre and are considered one of the most extensive and important compositions of this art form. Parallel to the release of the first of a total of three CD boxes with Alfredo Perl's new complete recording of all of Beethoven's piano works, the "Diabelli Variations" are available exclusively on LP.

The legendary husband-and-wife duo-Irena and Vojtech Havlovistarted to work togetherin the mid-80s andsince the very beginning have hada very unorthodox approach to bothhistorical and modern compositional techniques and interpretative procedures. Graduallythey created their typically unclassifiable, multi-layered sound and stylethat is howevereasily discernableand appreciated by audienceseven far beyond the bordersofthe CzechRepublic. Their music is poetic, meditativeand inspired by non-Europeanculturesas well asminimalism. They recorded and released several very original CDs which earned themacclaim both at home and abroad. They have been appearing in concert across the CzechRepublic, Europe, Canada, the USA as well as Africa and Japan, thanksto the collaborationwith avant-garde artists Petr Nikl and Jana Svobodova. Irena dna Vojtech Havlovi are alsowriting music forshort and featurefilms, documentariesand theatre (film Little Crusader byVaclav Kadrnka was awarded by the Czech Film and TVAcademy for the best film score). Intheir music, they are using various musical instruments-cello, piano, viola da gamba, bells, tibetian bowls and others. On their newalbumFour Handsthey bringnew compositions for4 hand piano and organ. The album �s release will be accompanied by several videos andtouring in the Czech Republic and abroad.

With his new "lieder" (song) cycle "Kafer toten", composer Alexander Maria Wagner (b. 1995) presents a sonic cosmos that brings a new and surprising variety to the ears, both on the text/vocal level and on the instrumental level. He thus opens up the world of contemporary music in his very own way, excellently and passionately interpreted by Graham F. Valentine (Voice) and the the ensemble Christian Spataru, Florian Moser (Violin), Felix Rosenboom (Cello), Eniko Cseh (Flute), Jake Mann (Clarinet) and Shun Oi (Piano).

Saxophonist and playwright Archie Shepp (b. May 24, 1937 in Fort Lauderdale. FL) then 26 years old visited Copenhagen in the fall of 1963 as a member of the famed New York Contemporary Five. Though Shepp at that time was the passionate practitioner of Free jazz, this recording in which he shared the bandstand with Sweden’s legendary baritone saxophonist Lars Gullin is something quite different from what one normally expects from Shepp in the 60s. It is Shepp playing straight jazz with audible enjoyment showing off his broad range of expression. “The topnotch rhythm section is composed of the late Catalonian pianist Tete Montoliu and a pair of “young lions,” Swedish (Danish ed) drummer Alex Riel and Danish bassist Niels–Henning Ørsted Pedersen, seventeen years old when the recording was made. Montoliu’s swinging, straight–on solos are a breath of fresh air.” (Jack Bowers – AAJ) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

50 American Patriotic Military Songs is presented as a four-vinyl LP set of the greatest patriotic music available! This album features over fifteen traditional favorites such as 'This Land is Your Land', 'God Bless America', 'You're a Grand Old Flag', and 'God Bless the USA', along with all the service songs, and Naval and Air Force hymns. This best-selling album also features original compositions by members of the military band including the songs 'The Flag Still Flies High', 'They Died For You, They Died for Me', and 'Honor With Dignity'. This is a great patriotic collection with over two and a half hours of marches, concert band, choral, sing-a-long, and contemporary songs for all to enjoy!

How can an artist move forward and keep finding new ways of creativity and not stagnate? This question is as old as art itself but those who search can make a discovery. Such musicians whose every album develops the never-ending story of searching and discovering are undoubtedly the Prague-based Clarinet Factory. This internationally renowned ensemble, which has redefined the approach to and use of clarinets, has written another chapter of it's fascinating exploration on it's new record, Towers. In comparison with their previous album, Pipers (2020), they now put more emphasis on instrumentals, so the first single, Obloha seda (The Grey Sky), is one of only two songs with lyrics on this record. The main role is played by clarinets, drums and loopers while the human voice is often used as an instrument or as ambient sound. The resulting sound of the album is largely contributed to by their guest, Beata Hlavenkova, who conjures up many distinct and colourful layers on the piano and Fender Rhodes. Besides Beata Hlavenkova and the quartet of Ludek Boura, Vojtech N�dl, Jindrich Pavlis and Petr Valasek, another important figure is Milan Cimfe of the SONO Records Studio, who collaborated with the Clarinet Factory on Pipers and who is in charge of the drums, samples and other electronics on the new record. Other guests include drummer Daniel soltis, who has collaborated with the ensemble for many years. Towers is another important item (not only) in the Clarinet Factory discography. It's multiple layers are a joy to discover with every listening. The album is released only in digital formats and as a three-side double LP, whose graphical design was created by the renowned artist, Pavel Fuksa. / The Clarinet Factory have written another chapter of their remarkable exploration of the world of sounds

The ostensible follow-up to So Percussion co-founder and composer Jason Treuting's ambitious work Nine Numbers, Go Placidly with Haste is a multi-movement sonic meditation that actually bears a more distinct connection to Treuting's early work Amid the Noise (2006) - which began as a soundtrack, then morphed into So Percussion's third album, and from there into a communal music-making project that can occur with a flexible number of musicians in almost any combination. Go Placidly takes up that thread and weaves it into a vivid tapestry of moods, styles and genres, from the oddly folk-inflected strains of "1927" (featuring Irish singer and Afro Celt Sound System mainstay Iarla o Lionaird) to the Eno-esque keyboards and electronics of "White Diamond," the frenetic and angular "Build Up," the mournful and stately "Slow Moving Chords" (with singer-songwriter Sam Amidon), the groove-chasing "Four Lines" (with composer and singer Angelica Negron) and plenty more. By turns whimsical, expansive and exploratory, this is new music in the most thrilling and adventurous sense of the word.

Life changes. Feelings change. Music changes. Sometimes, you reach a turning point of some kind. Whenever this happens, the story of your life depends on where you begin and end the chapters. Are things changing for the better or for the worse, or both, or neither? We might not know until we see everything in retrospect, and even then we might not be quite sure. But in the end, these turning points define our stories. Recorded in just one day this music tries to catch an emotion that was fleeting in the air. It came about both with ease and through struggle. At the end we're left with fragments of all the feelings, thoughts and Life changes. Feelings change. Music changes. Sometimes, you reach a turning point of some kind. Whenever this happens, the story of your life depends on where you begin and end the chapters. Are things changing for the better or for the worse, or both, or neither? We might not know until we see everything in retrospect, and even then we might not be quite sure. But in the end, these turning points define our stories. Recorded in just one day this music tries to catch an emotion that was fleeting in the air. It came about both with ease and through struggle. At the end we're left with fragments of all the feelings, thoughts and experiences it's given us, and after a while it becomes a memory.

Stephane Gallande: A few years ago, the musicians in this band and I began a specific practice on unusual mixes of rhythmic ideas, inspired by traditions from various parts of the world, with the intention of integrating them until they became a personal vocabulary and means of expression. The result is on this album.

Cellist Jir?i� Ba�rta and pianist Terezie Fialova� dedicate their new album to the legacy of Leos? Jana�c?ek. The album features three pieces written originally for violin and piano: the well-known Sonata that had been, nonetheless, neglected at the time of it's origin, Dumka, and Romance. The violin parts of the three compositions have been arranged for the cello by Jir?i� Ba�rta and are released in a world premiere in this form. Jana�c?ek composed Dumka and Romance during his studies in Leipzig, an unhappy period when he tortured himself with doubts about his talent. They both show traces of classicist and romantic style and Barta �s cello recording even more pronounces the wistfully elegiac disposition of the piece. Cello adaptation of the Sonata is based on Janacek �s version from 1922, retaining the key and the having piano part unaltered, while the violin part has mostly been transposed an octave lower. The album also also includes the only two compositions by Jana�c?ek intended for cello and piano, Poha�dka (Fairy Tale), with a fourth movement that had been part of one of the working versions of the work but discarded later by Jana�c?ek, and the short Presto, originally probably intended as one the movements for Poha�dka - which also went through diverse stages of germination just as Sonata did, and it's last version was published in 1924. Inspiration by the tragic story of the Tale of Tsar Berendey and his child reflects Jana�c?ek �s own experience. "Like most of Jana�c?ek's chamber works, Poha�dka provides a fascinating insight into the composer's soul," says Jir?i� Ba�rta and describes his memories of his first encounter of Janacek �s music: "I'm listening to the strangely beautiful music, so different from anything I'd have encountered as a child. Harrowing, yet tender, sad, but in a different way, moving, yet devoid of whining and false tears. (...)In his almost despondent genuineness, he will not forgive any mannerism or insincerity, making it hard for the performer to decipher him. Even at moments of greatest anguish, he is faithful to the principles of beauty and truth." The catalogue of Animal Music features as well a recording of the two artists' performance of Beethoven's Sonatas for piano and cello (2021), and Jir?i� Ba�rta's solo recording of complete Bach's cello suites (2018).

The three renowned Danish jazz artists, bassist Lennart Ginman, drummer Thomas Blachman and pianist Carsten Dahl, collectively known under the moniker GinmanBlachmanDahl, are set to release their new album on Storyville Records on April 5th. Bearing the title, “What’s to Come!”, this record is a testament to the power of spontaneity, unpredictability, and collaboration in the realm of jazz.

The combination of these three masterful musicians has resulted in yet another album that simply oozes swing, timing, dexterity, and imagination. They are simply put - some of the most visionary and innovative Danish jazz musicians and composers, and their music reflects their never-ending quest to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Unlike a conventional studio recording, this album was born out of raw spontaneity and creative synergy within the trio – every note, every chord, every rhythm was created in the spur of the moment. The result is a sonic journey into the heart and essence of improvisation.

What’s to Come! invites listeners into the intimate dialogue between three masterful musicians. With a nod to the luminaries who have shaped the genre—Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Bill Evans—the trio infuses their compositions with a sense of homage and reverence, yet never shy away from boldly charting their own course. From the introspective melodies that stir the soul to the explosive bursts of energy that ignite the senses, this recording captures the full spectrum of human experience in all its complexity and nuance.

As the final notes fade into the ether, one cannot help but feel the palpable sense of anticipation lingering in the air—a promise of What’s to Come!, and an invitation to join them on their ongoing odyssey of sound and expression.