This CD compilation includes two separate sessions by the legendary soprano saxophonist Sidney Bechet and a third date by clarinetist Claude Luter. Bechet's hearty vibrato dominates the four octet tracks, though his French band provides more than adequate support for him. Trumpeter Gerard Bayol and trombonist Benny Vasseur get in their licks in the laid back "On the Sunny Side of the Street." The quartet session is more interesting, just for the opportunity to hear drummer Kenny Clarke and bassist Pierre Michelot outside their normal bop recordings; the pianist is Eddie Bernard (who was also present on the octet recordings)…

Lana Lane's second cover collection album is quite different from the first. While Covers Collection (2002) had several tracks that were not classics and some bands quite obscure, this time she decided to focused almost entirely on classic stuff. The only real surprise is the two Foreigner tracks included here: the hard rocking Long Way From Home and the more progressive Starrider (both from their self titled debut of 1977, the latter certainly one of their best). The remaining tracks were from more obvious choices like Pink Floyd, Moody Blues, Heart, Cream and The Jefferson Airplane…

Evgenia (Jane) Maximova - composer, music producer, collaborates with a German music project Lemongrass as a guest singer. Travelling through sound space Jane Maximova had come to Oriental philosophy and its deep emotional wisdom. The concept of her debut album is based on awareness of variability, natural course and stealing beauty of things and phenomena. "Wabi Sabi" in Japanese aesthetics means the ability for serene contemplative perception of the reality.

One of England's prime jazz-rock - or, more accurately, rock-jazz - outfits, most of the members of Colosseum had apprenticed in blues bands, and it shows very strongly on some of the material here. Both "The Kettle" and "Butty's Blues" are essentially tarted-up 12-bar blues, although they work well in a grander context; in the latter case much grander, as a brass ensemble enters for the last part, drowning out everything but the guitar, an indication that this recording is in dire need of remastering. "Elegy" is a fast-paced, minor-key blues that stretches guitarist James Litherland's vocal abilities. Things do get far more interesting with "The Machine Demands a Sacrifice," which offers solo opportunities to organist Dave Greenslade and sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith before re-emerging in what can only be called a proto-industrial style, all heavily treated clattering percussion…

The Ambient Visitor (Brin Coleman) is a prolific ambient, shoegaze musician and producer from Manchester, UK. Slow, gentle and majestic. Drifting music to accompany our collective journey through space. One continuous generative ambient drone.

Like its immediate predecessor, volume five in the Classics Stan Kenton chronology contains a substantial amount of material composed and/or arranged by Sicilian-American Pete Rugolo, a student of Darius Milhaud and Kenton's right-hand man during the mid- to late '40s. It was Rugolo who assisted Kenton during his experiments with modernized, "progressive" big band jazz. (Speaking of modern jazz, note the return of alto saxophonist Art Pepper on the session of October 22, 1947, which opened with Rugolo's "Unison Riff.") Following the example of Dizzy Gillespie, Kenton was now incorporating more Latin percussion and Caribbean rhythms than ever into his music, and even hired Cuban bandleader Machito to play maracas on the sessions which took place during the latter part of December 1947…

Simon Stokes the crazy hard psych rocker par excellence. Grandson of big band leader Harry D. Stokes, Simon Stokes was known as a loner, sleepwalker, and fan of the classic monster movies his grandfather loved. As a teenager, Stokes became obsessed with the blues and R&B via the legendary DJ Symphony Sid. Beginning in 1965, Stokes recorded a number of 45s in LA as the Flower Children and Heathen Angels. He then got a deal as a staff writer at Elektra the same day they signed his friends The MC5 and The Stooges! That’s not it for impressive connections. Simon Stokes made this album, beyond Captain Beefheart in the psychedelic blues stakes, in 1968, and became a cult figure with Biker groups everywhere…

Manifold Records present Summer Time Vol. 5. 22 excellent Chillout tracks and a continuous mix with mixing duties handled by DJ Maretimo.

Part of the fun of listening to Universal Music's Jazz in Paris series is digging into their compilations of obscure recordings, such as these two mid-'50s sessions, led by Buddy Banks and Bobby Jaspar. Banks, originally a saxophonist who switched to bass, had arrived in Europe after World War II; he is accompanied by drummer Roy Haynes, pianist Bob Dorough, and guitarist Jimmy Gourley. The leader takes the spotlight in a subtle take of "Yesterdays," though a strange clicking mars an otherwise swinging "I Love You." Banks' group also offers serviceable interpretations of modern pieces like Gerry Mulligan's "Line for Lyons" and Milt Jackson's "Bag's Groove"…

Jerry Berkers was born in the Netherlands. He is best remembered for his work with Wallenstein ('Blitzkrieg' and 'Mother Universe') as well as his appearance on two of the Kosmische Kurrier LP's ('Lord Krishna Von Goloka' and 'Tarot'). Jerry Berkers was able to record a solo album in 1972 utilizing members from the various bands with whom he had played. Unterwegs contains eight tracks in total. The music is a cross between folk-flavored rock and singer-songwriter pop. The songs are presented in a tightly structured straightforward manner which is different from most of the bands with whom he played…

The Orb has announced a new album No Sounds Are Out Of Bounds that will be released in June. The ambient duo worked with Roger Eno (brother to Brian), Killing Joke bassist Youth, session musician Guy Pratt and Jah Wobble, formerly the bassist for Public Image Ltd, who is on “Blue Room.”
"I wanted to try something with more musicians and more voices. More contributors essentially - similar to the conditions our first album Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld," said founder Alex Paterson…

This CD has quite a bit of variety. Teddy Wilson is featured on four of his better piano solos, backs Billie Holiday on one session (which resulted in superior versions of "More Than You Know" and "Sugar," and has some fine solo space for altoist Benny Carter and trumpeter Roy Eldridge) and is heard on 13 selections with his new (and unfortunately short-lived) big band. The Teddy Wilson Orchestra was impeccable, tasteful and swinging (just like its leader) but, despite the presence of such soloists as trumpeter Harold "Shorty" Baker and tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, it never really stood a chance in the competitive swing world of 1939; the orchestra would only record eight additional titles. However the music on this CD is quite enjoyable and not as common as most of the recordings reissued by the Classics label.

With Jack's 4th collaboration with Trent Gardner (Magellan) and Robert Berry in 5 years, we see the music really coalesce stylistically into something distinctive. The musical range is still there, but Trent, Robert and Jack have developed a sound that's unique and quite unmistakable. The album is extremely broad-ranged, exploring the mature themes of war, politics, marriage, and spirituality. But Jack makes these explorations without taking himself too seriously, and without preaching or being too demanding upon the listener. The music is rock with progressive and jazz influences, focusing on unique textures and feels, with a sophisticated palette of exploration.

Mystic Sound Records presents the debut album of a talented producer from Kazan, Tatarstan - Jai "Tartaria". There are a lot of rare ethnic samples in this album, related to the period of existence of Tartaria - the large civilization of ancient world that was located in the central part of modern Russia, such as old song that was recorded in the village and other folklore elements. It is alluring to follow the development of the album, because the first impression is something slavyanic-magic, like a shamanic circle uniting different tribes. And here flies in a ‘Mosquito’, and it all becomes quirky. The ritual energy inside of the gathering is splashing all out and around, touching the void. You can hear a variety of downtempo genres in the music of Jai, that are making strong impression all together.

Renowned electric violinist from King Crimson, David Cross, presents this collection of studio recordings featuring a diverse array of styles and moods! Includes both instrumental tracks as well as vocal performances by guest singers Sonja Kraushofer of L'Ame Immortelle, Anne-Marie Hurst of Skeletal Family, acclaimed Israeli singer Ofra Haza, Christian Death vocalist Eva O and more!