The banning of opera performances during Lent in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Rome meant that composers had to turn their attention to biblical subjects. However there is no sense that either composer or librettist felt at all limited in their subject matter, judging from the extraordinarily inventive oratorios that were produced during this time. Scarlatti’s work tells the dramatic story of David and Goliath. Whilst the biblical account relays the story in a few sentences, the anonymous librettist of Davidis pugna et victoria expands upon these to create an extensive libretto, with the characters fully developed and explored.

Karl Fasch, the son of the famous Kapellmeister of the court of Zerbst, Johann Friedrich Fasch, was harpsichordist at the Prussian court from 1756 until his death. Underemployed by Friedrich II and underestimated by musicologists, he has been forgotten for a long time. Philippe Grisvard is preparing to rectify this injustice with a program consisting of world-premiere recordings that will make it possible to discover an original and visionary composer. The Arts Desk said of Grisvard's previous release on Audax of Handel's keyboard works: 'And what Grisvard does so well is recreate what a contemporary observer described as Handel's uncommon brilliance and command of finger that amazing force and energy.

Simply MARI is the name of the Deutsche Grammophon debut of Norwegian violinist Mari Samuelsen. Recorded with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin under the baton of Jonathan Stockhammer, MARI's music reflects the contradictions of life in our time - the feeling of haste in everyday life, of being driven by constant communication, of being uprooted in a boundlessly mobile world, but MARI also refers to the longing for peace and quiet, for a place in nature to find oneself again.

This superb collection of acid-influenced guitar rock originally appeared in 1970 and has languished in underserved obscurity ever since. Produced in LA by legendary engineer Bill Halverson (Crosby, Stills & Nash, Cream, the Grateful Dead), it's heavily imbued with West Coast influences and features superb musical interplay throughout. The band supported acts including Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd, but proved sadly short-lived. In 2007 Blue Mountain Eagle was reissued on CD.

With every generation comes a great war. It may take years to fully reveal itself, but the seasoned warrior knows preparation is everything. Now in 2025, Bay Area thrash metal icons Testament return with their fourteenth studio album, Para Bellum, via Nuclear Blast Records. Taken from the Latin phrase Si vis pacem, para bellum - "If you want peace, prepare for war" - the album stands as both a battle cry and an observation of humanity's uneasy alliance with its own creations. As technology accelerates and disconnection grows, Para Bellum sees Testament reflecting the modern chaos through music that’s urgent, sharp, and unflinchingly human.
True to their legacy, Para Bellum is a masterclass in dynamic thrash songwriting, guided by founding guitarist Eric Peterson and vocalist Chuck Billy, who continue to lead the band with vision and force…

Nnenna Freelon is an internationally acclaimed vocalist, composer, arranger, and producer based in Durham, North Carolina. She started her career in her late thirties and made up for lost time with her eponymous 1992 debut, 1993's Heritage, and 1994's Listen - all charted. She signed with Concord for 1996's Shaking Free. Her slightly smoky, airy alto is equally comfortable singing jazz standards, contemporary jazz, soul, and gospel. She closed the 20th century with 1998's Top Ten Maiden Voyage. Freelon immersed herself in articulating and extending tradition on 2000's Soulcall and 2002's Tales of Wonder. Recorded at the Kennedy Center, Live appeared in 2003. The Grammy-nominated Blueprint of a Lady: Sketches of Billie Holiday appeared the following year, while Better Than Anything appeared in 2008 and Homefree in 2010…

Usually described as a "supergroup", Il Volo was a studio band formed by very popular musicians all coming from famous bands: Alberto Radius and Gabriele Lorenzi from Formula Tre, Mario Lavezzi from Flora Fauna Cemento and Camaleonti, Bob Callero from Osage Tribe and Duello Madre, Gianni Dall'Aglio from Ribelli, along with composer Vince Tempera who also had his own band Pleasure Machine. Very good (somewhat jazz) fusion melodic symphonic with also very interesting percussion, keyboards, as nicely balanced music. The first Italian album from 1974, their music is built upon two keyboards with great vocals and lush arrangements. Close to PFM or Banco by the vocals parts and the beauty of the themes and to E.L.P. by the instrumental virtuosity.

Masterful trio interplay reliant on deeply honed three-way communication and a refined sense of understatement make Fred Hersch’s third recording for ECM an essential entry into the piano trio canon. Hersch tackles a handful of 20th century compositions – spanning from standards to less frequented jazz tunes – as well as three originals, with Drew Gress on bass and Joey Baron on drums – two longstanding companions of Fred’s who have played with him on and off since the late 80s and early 90s respectively. “I feel that on this record you really hear the history," the pianist notes. “I hope that people can feel the maturity of the interaction, the sonic world and the sensitivity at play.” Fred’s own pieces are striking in their lyrical intensity, beaming with elaborate harmonies and interwoven counterpoint on “Plainsong”, timeless melodic invention on the title track “The Surrounding Green” and irresistible Latin groove on “Anticipation”.

Joshua Redman’s second Blue Note album, Words Fall Short, is a collection of original compositions that serves as the introduction of his new quartet featuring pianist Paul Cornish, bassist Philip Norris, and drummer Nazir Ebo, which formed as a working band for the world tour behind the saxophonist’s label debut where are we. As the quartet performed steadily on the road, Redman felt a vibe developing and was inspired to bring them into the studio to record a set of music he had composed during the pandemic that embraced the shifting moods of wistfulness, sadness, and resolve. The album also features special guest appearances by saxophonist Melissa Aldana, trumpeter Skylar Tang, and vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa.

Finnish pianist and composer Aki Rissanen returns with a bold new album, Imaginary Mountains, a Nordic jazz statement rooted in rhythmic intensity, sonic exploration, and emotional depth. Known for his acclaimed work with the Aki Rissanen Trio on albums such as Amorandom and Art in Motion, Rissanen continues to evolve, pushing the boundaries of form, space, and expression. “The title Imaginary Mountains refers to the emotional and psychological obstacles that can feel as real and massive as physical landscapes,” Rissanen explains. “It also nods to one of my favorite records growing up—Keith Jarrett’s Personal Mountains. In a world shaped by war, chaos, and numbness, this album is my way of climbing those unseen peaks.”

"In our imaginations, John was Buddy Holly and I was Little Richard." So said Paul McCartney many moons ago, admitting the key influences on both himself and John Lennon in terms of the pair’s initial vocal styling. In fact, Messrs Holly and Penniman were just two artists whose impact on The Beatles was evident from the band’s choice of cover tunes. Indeed, all of the tracks featured on this bespoke Mojo compilation were covered by John, Paul, George and Ringo during the band’s formative period.
Our 15-track collection starts with The Isley Brothers’ uproarious 1959 hit, Shout. The Beatles themselves first cut their version at London’s IBC Studios on April 19, 1964, for inclusion in Jack Good’s TV extravaganza, Around The Beatles…