A traditional jazz quartet rooted in the sounds, styles and history of jazz, Sophisticated Lady brings a fresh approach to this music. With a mix of original compositions and new interpretations of classic repertoire this quartet has a sound and aesthetic that is both familiar and new. The quartet pays homage to the Great Tradition of American jazz but most of their repertoire is written by members of the quartet. Unlike the majority of contemporary jazz recordings, which are carefully and surgically perfected in postproduction, this album remains raw and fresh. These tracks are complete takes, “live to tape”, without editing.

"Simpler Times" follows Sophisticated Lady's highly acclaimed self-titled debut album. The music on this recording is how Sophisticated Lady plays without the help of digital magic. The quartet rehearsed and performed some of these tracks before our recording but at least half are the first time through; the quartet discussed the tunes and who would take what solo in which order but without rehearsal. This is possible when superb musicians tackle new material together, listening carefully to each other and playing as a single organism. Some melodies, played for them on the piano right before our take and the quartet improvised from there. Music cannot get fresher than this.

McKaya McCraven is not your typical jazz drummer. No indeed he is not–his music spans so many generations of jazz. He and his groups are always pushing the boundaries of jazz and in an unique way. Case in point, here he is found with a quartet (drums, vibes, bass and cello) of world class musicians playing rhythmic layers and textures of sound somewhat reminiscent of Miles’ “In A Silent Way”. Further enhancing the experience, the sound was captured on the highest quality equipment using a custom Studer 8-track tape deck and world-renown vintage tube microphones. The result is a recording of startling presence and of natural sound. Many have commented that the vibes and drum sound on this recording are as good as ever recorded. Combined with an original, yet easy-to-listen-to performance, this is a true gem of modern jazz and a true delight for those interested in the highest quality sound.

Cootie Williams, one of the finest trumpeters of the 1930s, expanded upon the role originally formed by Bubber Miley with Duke Ellington's Orchestra. Renowned for his work with the plunger mute, Cootie was also a fine soloist when playing open. This sessions from 1958 shows that Williams' broad style was still mightily intact some 30 years after joining the Ellington fold.

Named after Mozart’s first publisher, having debuted with his delightful Oboe Quartet, five of Australia’s world class musicians unite to explore some of the extensive repertoire for oboe and strings. Founding member, Celia Craig, former Principal player with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, London, & current Principal Oboe of Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, said the concept was inspired while playing the Bax Quintet at Royal Academy of Music. Artaria’s debut recording features Bax, Britten, Finzi & Vaughan Williams recorded in the highest possible resolution at the newly designed Jeffrey Kong Performing Arts Centre, home of Brighton Secondary School’s Government-sponsored Specialist Music Program.

Founded in Munich in 1949 under Eugen Jochum, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra quickly won an international reputation, collaborating with leading conductors and contemporary composers, the latter notably under the Musica Viva programme. Jochum was succeeded by Rafael Kubelík, who held the position of principal conductor until 1979, to be followed by Colin Davis until 1992, and Lorin Maazel. In 2003 Mariss Jansons became principal conductor. Under successive conductors the repertoire of the orchestra has been widened, as well as under many other distinguished guest conductors. In addition to its broadcasts the orchestra gives regular concerts in Munich and elsewhere, and has participated in numerous festivals and recordings.

Composer, conductor, educator, and music theorist Howard Hanson (1896-1981) was, indeed, an “American romantic”. He was among the last of the breed, a kind of twentieth-century throwback to the nineteenth century, so you’ll find little of the avant-garde here, the experimental, the dissonant, the discordant, the odd, the atonal, or the eccentric. Yet as a prizewinning composer and director of the Eastman School of Music for over forty years, he continually championed new American music (Copland, Barber, Carter, Thomson, Sessions, Harris, etc.). On the present album, recorded over thirty years ago, released on the Albany label, and here remastered from the original tapes by HDTT (High Definition Tape Masters), we hear a lighter side of the composer, chamber and choral music mainly. It is not among his most-popular material nor is it his best, but some of it can be downright entertaining, and HDTT’s recording quality, as always, is excellent.

Naoko Tanaka learned classical piano from childhood, active at Yamaha JOC. Winning prizes at various competitions, she went on to Toho Gakuen University piano course and won first prize at the Bulgarian International Competition while studying abroad. As a classical pianist, she was able to walk smoothly, but turn into the jazz world. At the same time, she was invited into Pop world, as a keyboard player, participating in lots of live recordings. "I Fall In Love Too Easily" is she's fifth release as leader. Recorded as part of "Hi-Res Beauty Jazz Series", in native DSD256 without any editing, and produced by Masahiko Osaka, this album is the first "standards" album of a female pianist who expresses a sharp head in a jazz scene by a beautiful and bold play that is intellectually brilliant and sometimes thrilling.

"Vanish" is the engaging and highly innovative follow-up to Yarlung’s original and equally compelling Smoke & Mirrors release, presenting a wide tapestry of rhythms and harmonics skillfully arrayed across a broad and deep soundstage. There’s an immediacy, clarity, and transparency to this modern classical percussion recording that seemingly brings the performers to your living room.

Ning Feng, 1st Prize Winner of the Paganini Competition 2006, brings you Niccolò Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and Henri Vieuxtemps’ Violin Concerto No. 4 on his Stradivari ‘MacMillan’, 1721. "Virtuosismo" is his second recording with OSPA – Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias under the baton of conductor Rossen Milanov.

On her new album, Meant to Be - the eagerly anticipated follow-up to her acclaimed 1999 debut, Under the Influence - singer Jenna Mammina continues her relentlessly inventive exploration of new creative territory, and her quest for transcendence of the old boundaries that once separated musical styles.

Reference Recordings proudly presents this iconic work in a new and definitive interpretation from Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, in superb Stereo Audiophile sound. This "Soundmirror" recording was made and post-produced in DSD 256 on a Pyramix workstation to give you, the listener, the highest sound quality possible.

The monumental and colourful sounds of the organ and symphony orchestra blend together perfectly on this splendid recording of Camille Saint-Saëns' “Organ” Symphony, Francis Poulenc's Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani and the Toccata from Charles-Marie Widor's Organ Symphony Number 5. The Geneva Victoria Hall organ is played by Christopher Jacobson, he works with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and conductor Kazuki Yamada. This new Pentatone release takes yet another step closer to audiophile nirvana, providing a natural concert-hall perspective that balances clarity and atmosphere while capturing the full power of organ and orchestra with stunning, floor-rumbling power.

"Into the Mist" is Fiona Joy Hawkins' second album on the Blue Coast Records label. For this collection of neo-classical compositions, Fiona expresses a vast array of emotions in her journey through the mist. Picturesque and thought provoking these songs flow quietly for an hour of dreams. Fiona's three part Opus, the heart of this collective work, is a journey that begins shrouded in mystery. “Moon Over the Lotus Pond” is her tribute to the people of China who have welcomed her so warmly.

Fiona Joy Hawkins is an Australian composer, vocalist, and pianist, who uses the stage-name Fiona Joy. She is no stranger to acoustic instrumental music. "Signature-Solo" is Fiona's debut album of solo contemporary piano music. This album also marks Tiny Island Music's debut as record/imprint label under the well known audiophile label, Blue Coast Music Group, recorded live to analog tape and yhe label's first native double DSD release. Included on the album is new performance of Fiona Joy's song Grace, which was part of a Grammy winning album in 2015.