By the time Joni Mitchell made The Hissing of Summer Lawns, she had already entered the pantheon of the greats, with albums that can be talked about in casual conversation without having to say the artist (Court and Spark, Blue, Ladies of the Canyon, et al.). But the pioneering work in alt-folk and self-confessional singer-songwriting done, she started pushing her music in radical directions, incorporating jazz, African music (which was hard to actually hear in the States in the ‘70s) and a new, sprawling vision of pop music into her fold. The first moment that all those styles converge and lift Mitchell off into some new vista is The Hissing of Summer Lawns, an album we believe to be her masterpiece, an album that has tendrils of influence that are still being felt today. Remastered by Ryan Smith at 2xLP 45RPM from original tapes, this edition has to be heard to be believed.

Asha Parkinson's vibrant, genre-busting LP Possession is a cinematic exploration of states of possession, blending Jazz, Contemporary Classical, Flamenco, Mediterranean, and Arab music. Tracks combine the intensity of a symphony with the concision of a pop single, addressing themes from obsessive love to mystical inspiration. Influences include fairy tales, Tolstoy, Huxley, Rumi, and the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic. The album features her Kalpadruma ensemble, a 14-piece mini orchestra combining jazz quintet, string quartet, woodwind, voice, and the distinctive qanun, showcasing melodic, rhythmically sophisticated, and sometimes groove-based material with Asha's inspired saxophone playing.

It all starts with the voice. At turns heavy and hulkingly powerful, yet agile and pointedly precise, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s vocal not only embodies the tradition of the Sufi qawwali but it is the emotive essence of singing itself.

New Moon Suite is a 4-part work reflecting on the inspiration of ancestors, family and tradition - and how we navigate the world as multicultural beings. When given the opportunity to create this piece, I thought first of one of the most influential people in my life: my maternal grandmother, Aaji.

"El Khat make joyful clatter…everything is recycled metal, plastic or wood, all coming together in a funereal march that sounds like a huge, disgruntled anima shaking itself into life." – The Financial Times

Forq's latest release, 'Big Party,' is a celebration of its undeniable grooves, singular sonic brand, and mischievous humor. Your host for this party is critically acclaimed keyboard player, composer, and arranger Henry Hey. He’s joined by Forq veterans: Snarky Puppy guitarist Chris McQueen with his signature funky sound, Government Mule bassist Kevin Scott with his grooving bass lines, and Snarky Puppy drummer Jason 'JT' Thomas with his unmistakable musicality and relentless power. This raucous potluck shindig also boasts incredible guitarists Ryan Scott and Jordan Peters, bassists James Genus, Chris Morrissey, and Eli Menezes, and drummer Josh Dion. Tying it all together is the unexpected harmony, head-nodding, and toe-tapping joy that is absolutely Forq. It's a 'Big Party,' and everyone's invited!

Paradise Cinema is a project led by multi-instrumentalist Jack Wyllie (Portico Quartet/Szun Waves) with contributions from Khadim Mbaye, Tons Sambe and Laurence Pike. The first, eponymous, Paradise Cinema record, released in 2020, was recorded in Dakar and featured the dense rhythms of Mbalax music combining with Wyllie’s textural saxophone and synth playing.

Aapostrophe (‘) Turns 50!
Arguably the most popular album in the Frank Zappa catalog, apostrophe (‘) has consistently been a best-seller. It was Zappa’s first Gold Record Award in the U.S., peaking at #10 on the Billboard 200 chart. The “Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow” single also made the Billboard Top 100 Hits chart, peaking at #87. The success of Apostrophe(‘) brought along a new awareness for Zappa and through the years, the album has been a go-to for most when discovering his music.
For the 50th Anniversary, Zappa Records and UMe have compiled a 5-CD + Blu-ray Audio set featuring the original album newly remastered by Bernie Grundman, session outtakes from the Vault and two bonus concerts spanning the year of 1974. The Blu-ray contains the new remaster in hi-res formats, brand-new Dolby Atmos remixes by Karma Auger and Erich Gobel and FZ’s 1974 Quadraphonic mix, back in print for the first time in 50 years. The package features new historical essays by Simon Prentis & Vaultmeister Joe Travers, along with never-before-seen images from the archive of Sam Emerson, who shot the now iconic front cover photo."

Legendary guitarist Mike Stern has been celebrated for his versatile playing style since he first hit the scene in the 1970s, transcending genre by performing with Blood, Sweat & Tears, Miles Davis, Jaco Pastorius, The Brecker Brothers, David Sanborn, Béla Fleck, Yellowjackets and more. With Echoes and Other Songs, Stern brings together an all-star group of musicians (including Chris Potter, Jim Beard, Christian McBride, Antonio Sanchez, Richard Bona & Dennis Chambers) for 11 brand-new originals that will captivate and unite guitar and jazz fans of all generations.

Over the past half century, Tony Levin has been a prolific session player and one of the most active live performers on the planet. He's contributed his talents to over five hundred albums amongst which include 15 with Peter Gabriel and 18 with King Crimson (counting live, studio, and compilations). Alongside contributions to the work of John Lennon, Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, Herbie Mann, Paul Simon and many others. On tour, he's travelled The World many times over with the aforementioned King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, and several of his own bands including Stick Men. This Fall, he'll stage 65 performances in North America as a member of BEAT, celebrating King Crimson's 80's repertoire alongside Adrian Belew, Steve Vai and Danny Carey interpreting Discipline, Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair."

‘Gratitude' is a journeying record that documents Honza’s life experience so far - one marked by living in different countries and exploring an array of music cultures. With storytelling at its core, the album takes a cinematic approach, with powerful horn fanfares, deft string interludes and tender guitar passages that create a through-flowing listening experience. Drawing musical influences spanning from the chanting salsa melodies of Ezra Collective and arranging sensibilities of Snarky Puppy and Daniel Casimir, through to the rock-edged grit of Kneebody, it’s an album that encourages listeners to break away from tunnel vision, and instead embrace the vastness of possibility and different perspectives.

Few artists would dare to tackle quite such a kaleidoscope of music styles and accompanying socio-political issues in the space of 12 songs and 66 minutes. And yet France-based Senegalese virtuosic bassist, vocalist and composer Alune Wade, who’s worked with Joe Zawinul, Marcus Miller, Oumou Sangare, Bobby McFerrin, Youssou N’Dour and others, achieves this with effortless mastery on Sultan, his fifth solo album in 15 years.

This Friday Sept 6 we’re releasing a session we recorded named ‘Infrared’. This was a fully improvised recording of drums, sax and taishokoto in a studio wired with overwhelming reverb pumping back at us. The recording was also captured in a beautifully processed film shot by Lisa IndigoBurns Wormsley.

For more than five decades, John McLaughlin has deployed his peerless guitar technique, compositional gifts, and imagination in service of a deeply personal higher calling, forging a vast legacy unmatched in improvised music. Now as the world reels from the toll of the ongoing viral-induced global lockdown, McLaughlin reflects on both the perils and potential of this challenging moment with 'Liberation Time'.

Recorded at Van Gelder Studios. Recorded January 27, 28, 29, 1970. Double LP Mastered At 45 RPM From Original Analog Tapes. Pressed At Pallas In Germany On 180 Gram Audiophile-Grade Vinyl. Limited to 1,000 copies.