Throughout her career, Dianne Reeves has, perhaps more than any other vocalist, blurred the line that separates jazz from pop and contemporary R&B, extending the boundaries of each. Beautiful Life is her first recording in five years and her debut for Concord. Carefully produced by Terri Lynne Carrington, the musical cast includes Robert Glasper, Esperanza Spalding, Reginald Veal, Sheila E., Sean Jones, , Gregory Porter, Gerald Clayton, Richard Bona, Lalah Hathaway, and her late cousin George Duke. The opener is a thoroughly inventive Carrington arrangement of Marvin Gaye's "I Want You," which underscores the gossamer quality in Reeves' voice and jazz phrasing, sacrificing none of the original's seductive soul - it's as much of the spirit as it is of the flesh - and features a fine trumpet solo by Jones. A brilliant reading of Stevie Nicks' "Dreams" is introduced by Terreon Gully's tight…

The two legendary 1970s albums "Mandalaband" and "The Eye of Wendor" have been completely re-mixed and digitally re-mastered by David Rohl - the mastermind behind Mandalaband and composer-producer-engineer extraordinaire.
Mandalaband began life in the early 1970s when David Rohl recruited the first band line-up of Dave Durant (lead vocals), Vic Emerson (keyboards), Ashley Mulford (guitars), John Stimpson (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Tony Cresswell (drums). David played keyboards and contributed to the backing vocals - and engineered, produced and composed the music.
With this new mix, David has been able to reinforce the sound of the instruments to give more power and depth to the original recordings…

Curated by DJ/production duo Blank & Jones, the So80s ("So Eighties") series compiles 12" versions and rare B-sides of artists who had their heyday in the '80s. After compilations of material by OMD, Ultravox, Heaven 17, Kajagoogoo, Hubert Kah, Billy Idol, and Culture Club, the duo presents a two-CD collection of German singer Sandra, who is best known for her number one hit "Maria Magdalena" and for being the ex-wife of Enigma mastermind Michael Cretu. The first disc contains extended versions of Sandra's biggest hits - "Maria Magdalena," "Everlasting Love," "In the Heat of the Night" - while the second disc features remixes (including dub mixes of "Heaven Can Wait," "Secret Land," and "Hiroshima") and instrumental B-sides ("Heatwave," "Party Games," "It Means Forever"), some of which have never been released on CD before.

In 2005 Mad Dogs & Englishmen was reissued in a two-CD deluxe edition with eight previously unreleased live performances inserted throughout the discs and four rare studio recordings tacked onto the end. The new live performances are longer and looser and Russell plays an even bigger role. They're excellent, as are the stereo studio mixes of "The Letter" and "Space Captain," available for the first time here.
Mad Dogs & Englishmen was just about the most elaborate album that A&M Records had ever released, back in 1971, a double LP in a three-panel, fold-out, gatefold sleeve, with almost 80 minutes of music inside and a ton of photos, graphics, and annotation wrapping around it…

When most people think about Nigerian music, the first thing that comes to mind is Lagos, the country's main commercial center, the glittering megacity that spawned Yoruba-speaking music luminaries such as Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Sir Shina Peters and Wizkid. But Nigeria is a country of rich diversity, especially in its music: From the Igbo highlife and rock bands of east-central region, to the deep Edo roots rhythms from the midwest, to the keening, ornamented Fulani melodies of the north. But one region whose music has remained largely under-explored is the south eastern land of the Efik and Ibibio ethnic groups in Cross River and Akwa Ibom State, the region colloquially referred to as "Calabar." A cradle of culture, this region was one of the earliest outposts of Nigerian popular music. Its primordial rhythms traveled across the Atlantic during the slave trade to provide the part of the foundation for Afro-Cuban grooves that would go on to influence the development of jazz, rock & roll, R&B and funk.

Indie rock superstars salute one of the most deeply revered and profoundly influential artists in modern rock, David Bowie! Features all new and exclusive performances by Kittie, Dum Dum Girls, Electric Six, Rogue Wave, Heartless Bastards, The Muffs, and more! Includes riveting versions of “Heroes,” “Ashes To Ashes,” “Space Odity,” “Changes” and many more!

The latest recording by Zorn’s newest ensemble Chaos Magick is a suite inspired by the ancient Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice. Combining contemporary classical with jazz, funk, rock, blues, film soundtrack, noise improvisation and so much more this is a wild and evocative trip thru Hell and back. Tight conductions, complex melodies, burning solos, telepathic group interaction and all the wit, humor, joy and mystery that one has come to expect from Zorn’s dedicated and passionate crew of virtuosi are in abundant display in this beautiful and unique rendering of the classic Orpheus legend.

Hania Rani announces "On Giacometti" a tender meditation on the life and art of Alberto Giacometti and family.