Duke Ellington was the most important composer in the history of jazz as well as being a bandleader who held his large group together continuously for almost 50 years. The two aspects of his career were related; Ellington used his band as a musical laboratory for his new compositions and shaped his writing specifically to showcase the talents of his bandmembers, many of whom remained with him for long periods. Ellington also wrote film scores and stage musicals, and several of his instrumental works were adapted into songs that became standards. In addition to touring year in and year out, he recorded extensively, resulting in a gigantic body of work that was still being assessed a quarter century after his death.

With their recording contract with CBS now over, Titanic moved to the rather smaller Barclay records for the release of their fifth studio album in 1977. Once again, the line up was to alter significantly, with John Williamson and Andrew Poulton both departing. Back came John Lorck on drums, to be joined by the wonderfully named bassist Saintclair Brunet. More significantly though, the line up once again boasted a keyboard player in Claude Chamboissier. While the album displays some of the pop rock traits which hampered the disappointing "Ballad of a rock 'n' roll loser", it does at least see the band attempting to turn the clock back towards their fine early albums. The opening "Blue train" is a pleasant but largely prosaic piece of guitar rock…

After his 2009 album "Hypnosis", when we learned to know Roland Voss aka Lemongrass as an ambient artist, he reinvents himself once more with his brand-new effort "The 5th Dimension". On his eleventh album, the French influences of the predecessors "Pour L’Amour" (2008) and "Filmothèque" (2007) still shine through but the extraordinary voices of Karen Gibson Roc and Suzy Duffy add a completely new touch thanks to their NuSoul vocal style. Framed by sun-drenched, marvelously airy instrumentals and embellished with rolling beats, the album immediately turns on its charm. If "The 5th Dimension" were a bottle of wine you would have to describe it as superbly matured, full-bodied and abundant with fascinating nuances. As it is a music album you may depict it as an intriguing soundtrack for a journey through time and space towards its final destination: the soul, or the fifth dimension of human imagination.

The Jazz Club series is an attractive addition to the Verve catalogue. With it's modern design and popular choice of repertoire, the Jazz Club is not only opened for Jazz fans, but for everyone that loves good music.

Light plays Art-Rock with influences of Ekseption and Nice and integrates jazzy brass elements like Colosseum and Latin-American percussion work similar to Santana. Light were formed in the town of Gouda in the 1960s and toured through the provinces of the Netherlands in the late 60s. The band members were Adri Vergeer (piano, organ, mellotron, keyboards, vocals), Gerard Steenbergen (acoustic guitar), Joop Slootjes (bass), Hans de Bruin (saxophone, flute) and Sjaco van der Speld (drums, vocals). Eddy Barclay brought the band - then called "Light Formation" - to the attention of producer Bert Schouten. In 1972 "The Story of Moses" was published, having been recorded at Phonogram Studio in Hilversum…

Strange-Eyed Constellations 2 follows on from its 2015 predecessor, focusing on downtempo grooves, atmospheric soundscapes and ambient moods, mixing field recordings, classical instruments and electronics. Some tracks were produced by current Disco Gecko artists, others by associates and acquaintances, and a few came as a result of asking a wider audience to send in their tracks for consideration, which has lead to the discovery of some great new talents.

It isn't surprising that John Scofield spent some time in Miles Davis' employ. Like that innovative trumpeter, Scofield has always had a restless spirit. One never knows what to expect when a new Scofield album arrives; Up All Night, it turns out, pretty much picks up where its predecessor, Überjam, leaves off. Like Überjam, Up All Night is a fusion effort that manages to be intellectual and funky at the same time. Of course, intellect and funkiness don't automatically cancel one another out - Davis demonstrated that on many occasions. But some artists have a hard time balancing the two in an effective way…

Released as a private edition of only 200 copies in 1977 on the 'Joint' label (but recorded two years earlier, in 1975), Warlus 'Songs' could be regarded as the king of all French 70s obscure private pressings. Warlus was the brainchild of young musician Richard Maubert, who created a mini- masterpiece of twisted, melancholic fuzzed- out psychedelic- pop, with a charming homemade sound/ production and druggy atmosphere. Sung in English, it also brings to mind some obscure USA private pressings like Kath. This is a very special record that will appeal to both psych afficionados and fans of 70s DIY weirdness. If you like other French private pressings like Dandelion and Les Temps Heureux, you'll be amazed when you hear Warlus…

Legendary percussionist Byron Metcalf's Inner Rhythm Meditations Vol II continues the immersive journey into hypnotic rhythms and haunting melodic textures which he began on the critically acclaimed, award-nominated 2016 album Inner Rhythm Meditations - Music for Expanded Awareness and Inspired Movement. Once again joined by noted sound sculptor Erik Wøllo & world-class flutist Peter Phippen, Metcalf explores a haunting landscape that gravitates between pulsing sensuality and drifting contemplation. Inner Rhythm Meditations Vol II is a deeper exploration of the dynamic interplay between the energetic and the subtle - sometimes vibrant, sometimes spacious…

Blue Note has done an admirable job of collecting the mellow material of a number of classic players for its Ballads series. Sonny Rollins' entry, like the others, finds the tenor in a late-night mood. The disc begins and ends with intimate trios offering fine renditions of "I Can't Get Started" and "Softly As in a Morning Sunrise," both featuring bassist Wilbur Ware and drummer Elvin Jones. The openness of these two live recordings allows Rollins plenty of room to search and discover the right notes. There's a seven-minute version of Thelonious Monk's "Reflections" with Monk himself sitting in, and an adventurous take on "Decision" with trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Wynton Kelly, and drummer Max Roach…

Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of the classic 1972 self titled album by Home. The band featured a line up of Mick Stubbs (guitar, piano, lead vocals), Laurie Wisefield (lead guitar, vocals), Cliff Williams (bass, vocals) and Mick Cook (drums) and formed in London in 1970. Signing to CBS Records they recorded their debut album in 1971. Their second self-titled album was released in 1972 and included the classic track Western Front . This Esoteric reissue has been re-mastered from the original master tapes and restores the original album artwork.

Experimental electronica coupled with calming, adroit sound design. Texture-clad drone fuelled haziness, classically intertwined ambience. Synths slowly evolve as they sonically depict Nordic landscapes and delve into the mind of one of Ambient music's most consistent.

This album was composed by German cult favorite Peter Thomas and contains the score for Erinnerungen an Die Zukunft, a documentary based upon a best-seller by Erich Von Daniken that proposed the theory that mankind's ancestors were aliens who landed on this planet centuries ago. The resulting soundtrack album is not easy for the listener to assimilate, primarily because it consists of two side-long medleys patched together from several unrelated musical cues. The medleys aren't arranged in a smooth, flowing fashion, and the album probably would have made an easier listen if it had been broken down into a better programmed set of individual tracks. Programming quibbles aside, Chariots of the Gods (Erinnernungen an Die Zukunft) is still pretty impressive…

Paradigms is an honest attempt to expand musical horizons, capturing the essence of the unique prog vibe by focusing on the genre's most important aspect: variety. Featured musicians on the album include drummer Craig Blundell (Frost*/Steven Wilson), bassist Kristoffer Gildenlöw (ex-Pain of Salvation), guests Derek Sherinian (ex-Dream Theater), Alex Argento on keyboards, and the lovely jazz vocalist Houry Dora Apartian. Project by: guitarist and founder Shant Hagopian…

Ian Carr records have long been difficult to find in the U.S., but tend to be worth the search. At the time that this LP was recorded, Carr was leading a quintet called Nucleus and was very much under the influence of fusion-era Miles Davis. With Brian Smith adding some capable tenor and soprano, the keyboards of Geoff Castle, electric bassist Bill Kristian and drummer Roger Sellers, Carr performs four lengthy group originals, including the 16-minute title cut. The dated music sometimes rambles, but does include some worthy trumpet solos and interesting vamps.