Hoff Ensemble consists of some of Norway's finest jazz and session musicians, fronted by trumpeter Mathias Eick, of ECM renown, who plays a leading role in several of the compositions. The ensemble's basic quartet features legendary veteran bassist Arild Andersen and arranger Jan Gunnar Hoff on piano. Hoff has performed with his own group since 1993, collaborating with such artists as Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Maria Joao and Alex Acuna. This time in this great Norwegian band he mixes flavours in a "cross-over" setting… The music is created by film composers Geir Bøhren and Bent Åserud and among the vocalists are some of Norway's top names in popular music: Helene Bøksle, Åsne Valland Nordli, Sondre Bratland, Unni Wilhelmsen, Tomine Harket, Bjørn Johan Muri, Cecilia Vennersten and Bjørn Eidsvåg.

Baby, It's Cold Outside is Holly Cole's holiday album and features renditions of classic tunes such as "Christmas Time Is Here", "Santa Baby", and "Sleigh Ride".

"Endless Forms Most Beautiful" is the eighth album by Finnish symphonic power metal band Nightwish. The album's themes primarily inspired by the work of naturalist Charles Darwin. This is the band's first featuring singer Floor Jansen and the first with Uilleann pipes player, Troy Donockley as a full-time member. It was also the first without drummer Jukka Nevalainen, who took a break from the band due to severe insomnia. Drumming was by Kai Hahto of Wintersun and Swallow the Sun. The album includes only five Nightwish members, despite its being their first album release as a sextet.

With gritty, grizzled vocals, brazen songwriting talent and one hell of a live show, Luke Combs stormed onto country music landscape as a force to be reckoned with. Combs' debut smash radio single "Hurricane" is quickly becoming a staple anthem for country fans. After attending Appalachian State, Combs, a true road warrior, built his avid fan base, delivering over 200 rowdy, hold-nothing-back shows per year. "This One's for You" is his first full-lenght album.

"Christmas Songs", featuring the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, is the first full-length holiday recording by this Grammy Award winning artist. It is an uplifting collection of seasonal favorites, with Krall sounding better than ever on both piano and vocals. Features swinging big band arrangements by John Clayton and several tracks for quartet,including string arrangements by Johnny Mandel.

Toronto's Emilie-Claire Barlow is a Juno Award-winning singer with a warm, lithe vocal style and a knack for tackling urbane jazz standards. Her 12th album ("Winter Lights") continues Emilie-Claire's musical evolution with her first foray into song writing. Lumières d’hiver showcases three new original compositions – Le Dernier Noël, Janvier and title track Lumières d’hiver. Always pushing her boundaries, her original compositions honour Emilie-Claire's love of sophisticated pop music.

As a drummer, Ari Hoenig's success has been unprecedented. A native of Philadelphia, he began playing drums at age twelve and by age fourteen, he was honing his skills at Philly clubs such as Ortlieb's Jazz Haus. Ari is also a composer, arranger and pianist/keyboardist and In 2005, in affiliation with the National Endowment for the Arts, he was awarded a Meet the Composer grant to perform his compositions with his own group. Currently Ari leads the group Punk Bop, featuring Will Vinson on alto, Jonathan Kreisberg on guitar, Tigran Hamasyan on piano and Danton Boller on bass. His regular Monday night gig at Smalls is a generally sold out affair of young, enthusiastic fans.

Dean Martin, the King of Cool, shines on this collection of seasonal classics. A slightly different repackaging of a Christmas album Sinatra recorded and released in 1959 entitled A Winter Romance, this version includes one bonus track recorded in 1953 (The Christmas Blues). Martin's effortless cool and smouldering charm pair perfectly with these familiar favourites and romantic ballads; not all strictly Christmas songs but songs about romance in the winter.

Internationally acclaimed violinist Arabella Steinbacher presents a dazzling album which brings together two of the most challenging concertos of the 20th century: Britten's Violin Concerto, Op. 15 and Hindemith's Violin Concerto. Full of intense and emotive moments alongside vivid virtuosity, Steinbacher shines with the support of the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin and conductor Vladimir Jurowski.

Always reaching, always stretching, Becca Stevens reinvents herself once again with "Regina", her debut solo album. In the two years since her last release, Stevens undertook a journey that began with a study of Queen Elizabeth I as inspiration for a commissioned piece. That seed sprouted tributes to various queens from history, legend and from her personal life, songs inspired by the regal and divine. Produced by Troy Miller, Regina features creative and performance collaborations with the award-winning Attacca String Quartet, Snarky Puppy’s Michael League, Jacob Collier, Laura Mvula and very special guest David Crosby.

From Bach to Bluegrass to Balkan Beats, the mandolin is the chameleon of the music world - every culture and musical genre features the mandolin or one of its close relatives - and Avi Avital is this beautiful instruments most charismatic, versatile exponent. A genre-defying tour of the globe exploring the nexus between classical, popular and traditional music uniquely inhabited by Avi Avital and his magical mandolin.

"Merry-Go-Round" is drummer Elvin Jones' 1972 Blue Note studio album. The record features an all-star cast including David Liebman, Joe Farrell and Chick Corea, among other notable musicians. The album is a recording filled with originals including Chick Corea's "La Fiesta" and David Liebman's "Brite Piece".

The release from Bob Marley's youngest son. Damian Marley (a.k.a. Jr. Gong) has been his late father's rangiest ambassador. His first solo album in a decade is an inspiring 18-track collection, flexing authority on roots jams and dancehall bangers, political meditations and come-ons. It's a reminder that reggae remains a potent pop force, especially when it's in the hands of a master.

Ben Wendel enjoys a varied career as a performer, composer and producer and is widely respected as the co-leader of the long standing, GRAMMY nominated band, Kneebody. In his third solo album, acclaimed up-and-coming saxophonist Ben Wendel explores the influences that have shaped him as a musician, dedicating each of the 8 tracks on "What We Bring" to an artist that has had an impact on him. Wendel dedicates all of the pieces on this album to masters from the past, peers from the present and musicians of the future.

Staind's lead singer Aaron Lewis continues to explore the world of country music with his second solo album "Sinner", recorded in Nashville in a 16 hour burst of creative energy. The songs capture Lewis's mindset, a laid back soundtrack that is reminiscent of the genre’s most honest and musically adventurous artists. In addition to a cover of Chris Stapleton's 'Whiskey And You', "Sinner" features a guest appearance from none other than Willie Nelson on the title track.