As a poet and musician, Joy Harjo channels a creative force she describes as a "vibration of love" to connect countless traditions and artforms, countering the despair and heartache caused by power and hate. Insomnia and Seven Steps to Grace, her debut for Smithsonian Folkways, draws on the long-intertwined rhythms of jazz and poetry, the power of improvisation and self-expression through sound, and the vitality of Native culture and spirituality to spark a chain of vibrational energy to engulf the whole world. Harjo's voice is bold and direct, supported producer and bass player esperanza spalding, covering a repertoire that includes a jazz standard, a song written by Harjo's mother and uncovered by her sister, and many originals that speak to contemporary issues and her life as one of the most celebrated American poets of the last century.
Rautavaara & Aho: Joy & Asymmetry / Schweckendiek, Helsinki Chamber Choir
BIS
SACD
$21.99Aug 30, 2024
Einojuhani Rautavaara and Kalevi Aho, teacher and pupil, are both key figures in the Finnish music of their respective generations. Rautavaara's musical language evolved from neoclassicism through dodecaphony and the stylistic freedom of the 1960s before he eventually allowed himself to choose his expressive idiom according to the individual requirements of his works. Towards the end of his career, his works took on a very consistent, soft-toned character. For his part, Aho also began his career using a freely applied neoclassical style before gradually progressing to a more varied, at times modernist expressive and incisive approach. The works featured on this disc offer a glimpse into the choral output of these two composers who, in addition to demonstrating their stylistic versatility, also reveal their literary curiosity. While Aho draws on contemporary Finnish literature, Rautavaara has recourse to poets of various origins and periods. They are entrusted to the expert voices of the Helsinki Chamber Choir and it's conductor, Nils Schweckendiek, who recently won an American Grammy for their disc devoted to the choral works of the late Kaija Sariaaho.
A Plácido Domingo protégé, soprano Angel Blue has enjoyed recent opera house triumphs in Valencia and at English National Opera. + Following her acclaimed 2013 Wigmore Hall recital, this new Rosenblatt Recital studio recording, on which Ms. Blue is accompanied by noted pianist Iain Burnside, features songs by Richard Strauss, Sergei Rachmaninov, a selection of zarzuelas, and George Gershwin's classic Summertime. + In partnership with Opus Arte, this and other CD releases will be based predominantly on studio recordings with occasional bonus live tracks. + A native of California, Angel Joy Blue's voice has been recognized for it's shining and agile upper register, "smoky" mid-register, and beautiful timbre. + She has performed internationally and won numerous awards. + "At her first meeting with Placido Domingo, he told her that she "reminded him of some of his former colleagues" - sopranos he'd worked with in the past, such as the great Leontyne Price." (The Telegraph)
Vinyl LP pressing. Born out of her time on the road, Samara Joy took her touring band into legendary Van Gelder Studios in February of 2024. This record, appropriately entitled Portrait, is a collection of standards (as well as one original) and features her singular voice, alongside arrangements from this tight-knit young group. The recording tells the story of the community she's created with a new generation of young players and is evocative of the energy of her incredible live show.
The Brigham Young University Choirs have four auditioned groups: the BYU Singers, the Concert Choir, the Men's Chorus, and the Women's Chorus, and each December they come together along with the BYU Philharmonic for the Celebration of Christmas concert, which has combined the spiritual, traditional, and international aspects of Christmas into one joyous concert, with music as timeless as Christmas itself. These concert celebrations, which have been nationally broadcast on television since 1993, are a seasonal favorite at Brigham Young University and across the United States. Carol of Joy is the 6th in a series of fantastic BYU Choirs Celebration of Christmas albums, which showcase not only the talent and artistry of these students and their directors but also their strong personal and spiritual connection to the repertoire which they are performing.
Songs Of Joy And Peace [Deluxe Edition] / Yo-Yo Ma
Sony Masterworks
CD
$16.98Oct 14, 2008
For his first holiday album, Yo-Yo Ma brings together renowned musicians from folk, jazz, classical, and world music to celebrate seasonal festivals of the world -- Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid al-Adha, Kwanzaa, Yule, and New Year's Day.
This deluxe edition includes a 60-minute bonus DVD featuring behind-the-scenes recording session footage with Yo-Yo Ma and the guest artists, a photo gallery, and 5 complete music videos:
James Taylor, "Here Comes The Sun" Diana Krall, "You Couldn’t Be Cuter" Alison Krauss, "The Wexford Carol" Chris Botti, "My Favorite Things" Renée Fleming, "Touch The Hand Of Love"
Imagine a party, a musical party inspired by the holiday season. A party that celebrates the universal hopes, dreams and joy animating seasonal festivals the world over.
That is what brought Yo-Yo Ma together with a remarkable group of friends - some old, some new - to create SONGS OF JOY & PEACE. It is Yo-Yo's hope that everyone who listens to this album will hear a song familiar, comfortable and beloved to them as well as discover and fall in love with music that is brand new.
Born out of her time on the road, Samara Joy took her touring band into legendary Van Gelder Studios in February of 2024. This record, appropriately entitled Portrait, is a collection of standards (as well as one original) and features her singular voice, alongside arrangements from this tight-knit young group. The recording tells the story of the community she's created with a new generation of young players and is evocative of the energy of her incredible live show.
Double purple vinyl LP pressing. One of the first full releases for Prince's innovative online subscription service The NPG Music Club, was this remixed version of Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic; highlights include a remix of 'Hot Wit U' that incorporates elements of the Prince-penned Vanity 6 hit 'Nasty Girl' and the previously unreleased 'Beautiful Strange.' Chuck D, Gwen Stefani, Sheryl Crow, Maceo Parker and Ani DiFranco guest on this 1999 album-but Prince, his synths, his guitars and his drum machines are as dominant as ever as he delivers a head-spinning set of funk, pop, rap and some very slinky ballads.
Simply put, Samara Joy is next. At just 22 years old, her Verve debut 'Linger Awhile' shows that with a voice, tone, and phrasing that harkens back to the most legendary jazz vocalists, Samara belongs in the company of iconic labelmates from Ella Fitzgerald to Sarah Vaughan to Billie Holiday. Samara is remarkably savvy on TikTok and Instagram, fostering a community of devoted followers through fully organic means. She is poised to be a household name, synonymous with timeless jazz music.
Samara Joy -"Linger Awhile" - Samara Joy is a two-time Grammy winner - BEST NEW ARTIST and BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM. At just 23 years old, her Verve debut 'Linger Awhile' shows that with a voice, tone, and phrasing that harkens back to the most legendary jazz vocalists. Samara belongs in the company of iconic label-mates from Ella Fitzgerald to Sarah Vaughan to Billie Holiday. The Deluxe version of this album includes never-before-heard b-sides as well as alternate arrangements of Linger Awhile material.
JOYFUL NOISE. the product of a tremendous collaboration and the confluence of a range of musical currents. In 2021, Challenge Records gave me the opportunity to conceive and produce a new CD. I had previously completed a project with the Ravelli Brass septet and ace drummer Arie den Boer. My roots are in the world of brass bands and I really wanted to let those roots shine through.
Samara Joy is a 2x Grammy winner for Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album for her Verve Records debut, Linger Awhile. At just 23 years old, her voice, tone and phrasing harken back to legendary jazz vocalists such as labelmates Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday. She is poised to be a household name, synonymous with timeless jazz music. Available on transparent blue vinyl. Limited Edition.
Saxophonist and composer Gregory Tardy emerged from the highly productive and creative jazz scene of the 90s and has established himself “as one of the most important saxophonists of his generation.” (Matthew Miller – AAJ).
The music Gregory Tardy composes and performs is filled with devotional texture and emotion. The strength of his music and performance reaches out to the vast range of people regardless of their spiritual background, as it is the case with this his 8th release on SteepleChase.
“He sounds as if he’s physically wresting new possibilities and beauty…. It’s moments such as these that invoke the combination of faith-infused yearning and hard-won triumph that is at the heart of the best spiritually inspired improvisational music.” (Carlo Wolff - JazzTimes on The Strongest Love” SCCD 31698
The Grace Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys, San Francisco, under the direction of conductor Benjamin Bachmann, present a program spotlighting 20th century composers and choral arrangers in the Anglican choral tradition. The voice of a cathedral choir soaring upward like the great building it fills is a thrill and an inspiration to even the most unmusical listener. Grace Cathedral has had a men’s choir since its founding in 1906, but it was not until 1913 that boy’s voices were added. The centuries-old Anglican tradition of a men and boys choir has since blossomed here, as one of a handful of such choirs in the US. The Cathedral music staff oversees an extensive program of choir rehearsals (including mixed-voice volunteer choirs), music classroom work with the choristers, education for the cathedral congregation, concerts, choir tours, and a wide variety of other musical activities in the life of this cathedral and beyond. The choir tradition continues to flourish into Grace Cathedral’s second hundred years, inspiring those who are privileged to hear it, and bringing back fond memories to old choristers.
2022 release. Simply put, Samara Joy is next. At just 22 years old, her Verve debut Linger Awhile shows that with a voice, tone, and phrasing that harkens back to the most legendary jazz vocalists, Samara belongs in the company of iconic labelmates from Ella Fitzgerald to Sarah Vaughan to Billie Holiday. Samara is remarkably savvy on TikTok and Instagram, fostering a community of devoted followers through fully organic means. She is poised to be a household name, synonymous with timeless jazz music.
Nova! Nova! Joy to the World! / Temple, Hertfordshire Chorus
Signum Classics
CD
$19.99Sep 15, 2023
Christmas carols have a universal appeal stemming from the tradition of music being played; sung; re- arranged and rewritten by different generations in many different countries and over a number of centuries. Louis Halsey’s Nova! Nova!; a collection of new arrangements of many of the most well-known and beautiful carols from as far back as medieval times; represents perhaps the largest collection of carols by a single composer for many years. Hertfordshire Chorus and David Temple have recorded 24 of these carols in this beautifully presented new collection; including English; German; French; Czech; Basque; Welsh and Irish melodies. “What I love about Louis Halsey’s arrangements is that they are both tasteful and simple; allowing the beauty of each carol to shine through. We are thrilled to share these with a wider audience with this new recording.” David Temple
Featuring Tony Award winner Lachanze, Tony Award Nominee J. Robert Spencer, MiG Aylesa from Rockstar: INXS, and the Boston Pops conducted by Keith Lockhart, HANDELS MESSIAH ROCKS brings the renowned beauty of Handel's Messiah the Western worlds most famous oratorio to contemporary audiences with rock music at it's center.
News of Great Joy - Christmas from St John's College, Oxford
Resonus Classics
CD
$16.99Nov 01, 2024
The Choir of St John's College, Oxford, directed by David Bannister, sings music associated with Christmas, together with youthful work by Imogen Holst and Benjamin Britten. Looking towards the sixtieth anniversary of Elizabeth Poston's Penguin Book of Carols (1965), initially undertaken with Ralph Vaughan Williams, the recording presents music associated with these two composers and the works they edited, alongside newer pieces exemplifying and revivifying the English carol tradition.
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