Robyn Rihanna Fenty, known professionally as Rihanna, is a Barbadian singer, actress, and fashion designer. Both her debut album, Music of the Sun (2005) and its follow-up A Girl Like Me (2006) peaked in the top ten on the US Billboard 200; the former featured the commercially successful song "Pon de Replay" while the latter produced her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, "SOS". Rihanna has sold over 41 million albums and 150 million songs worldwide, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time. She has achieved thirteen number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the youngest and fastest solo artist to accomplish this record. Billboard named her the Digital Songs Artist of the 2000s decade and the top Hot 100 artist of the 2010s decade.

Tomes are available annotating the importance of this recording. The musical and social impact of Miles Davis, his collaborative efforts with Gil Evans, and in particular their reinvention of George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess are indeed profound. However, the most efficient method of extricating the rhetoric and opining is to experience the recording. Few other musical teams would have had the ability to remain true to the undiluted spirit and multifaceted nuance of this epic work. However, no other musical teams were Miles Davis and Gil Evans. It was Evans' intimate knowledge of the composition as well as the performer that allowed him to so definitively capture the essence of both…

'Live in Europe' crowns what was a momentous year for pianist Fred Hersch. Capturing his trio - with longtime associates, bassist John Hébert and drummer Eric McPherson - in peak form, the new album signals a high level mark for an ensemble that has been garnering critical and popular praise for nearly a decade.

Wabe Wieringa (guitars), Rik van Honk (keys), and Chistiaan Bruin (drums) developed what became Sky Architect while at the Rotterdam Pop academy. The trio was primarily instrumental but later recruited singer/guitarist Tom Luchies and bassist Guus van Mierlo, fleshing-out a formidable and multi-layered group of young prog rockers. "They make music from the heart with a technical edge" says their bio, and it's an apt description of the quintet's carefully constructed and utterly professional material. Their 2010 debut 'Excavations of the Mind' on Galileo Records embraces both golden age greats like Genesis and Yes as well as peers The Flower Kings, K2, and Porcupine Tree.

New Amsterdam and Nonesuch Records release composer-performer Daniel Wohl’s album État. The album features electro-acoustic pieces written by Wohl, and includes guest performances by Poliça’s Channy Leaneagh with co-production by Son Lux’s Ryan Lott and mmph. État, recorded with members of yMusic and the Calder Quartet is the third release in a new partnership between the two record labels, established with the goal of enabling contemporary American composers to realize creative ambitions that might not otherwise be achievable. État is at once cinematic, grandiose and variable in texture and color, a highly entertaining listen that’s obviously created with a ton of care.

Again, Michael Franks switches gears, this time back to a more romantic, thoughtful approach. The result is Objects of Desire, a natural follow-up to Tiger in the Rain. Steve Khan adds a distinctive touch with his guitar work as does Rob Mounsey with his keyboards; yet neither takes away from the orchestrated grandeur of some tracks. Primarily produced by Franks, the album was his most personal statement musically up to that point. In his attempt to create a musical portrait in a style reminiscent of the art of Paul Gauguin, Franks comes closest with "Tahitian Moon." His clever love song style is evident on "Laughing Gas"; yet in setting out to come up with something ambitious within the jazz-pop arena, Franks is again less successful at creating songs with the wide appeal of his earlier works.

Recorded at the original Sun studios in Memphis, this turns into an Elvis tribute album from Swan. But rather than just replicate Elvis' old Sun sound and arrangements, Swan puts his own spin on these tracks and despite the historic surroundings, the session has a modern sound to it that's not at all reverential. Instead, Swan simply has a good time with these old war-horses, changing them around to suit his needs and vocal timbre. The result is a loose session that captures some real rock & roll feeling, without becoming a mundane retro exercise. Definitely worth a listen.

John Zorn - Forro Zinho: Forro In The Dark Plays Zorn (2015) {Tzadik TZ 8334}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 251 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 98 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 103 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2015 Tzadik | TZ 8334 | Tzadik Archival Series
Jazz / Jazz Rock / Ethnic Jazz / Bossa

There has never been a Zorn CD like this one! One of the most exciting bands to come out of the wild late night Nublu scene in the East VIllage, Forro in the Dark combines the driving dance rhythms of forro from Northeastern Brazil with rock, jazz, reggae, folk and country. Here they take on some of Zorn’s most lyrical and grooving compositions to create a charming CD of Brazilian-tinged dance music. Endlessly listenable, this is a CD filled with catchy hooks, burning solos, driving rhythms and infectious Zorn melodies, new and old. Produced by Jesse Harris and featuring Brazilian legend Marcos Valle as a special guest.

Gamma was a band formed by guitarist Ronnie Montrose and singer Davey Pattison in San Francisco in 1979. They released four albums: Gamma 1 in 1979, Gamma 2 in 1980, Gamma 3 in 1982 (all on Elektra Records) and Gamma 4 in 2000. The Best of Gamma is an excellent 16-track collection that hits most of the high points of their career, including "Meanstreak," "Dirty City," "Voyager," "Condition Yellow," "Thunder and Lightning," "Razor," "Modern Girl," "What's Gone is Gone" and "Fight to the Finish."