It's crazy to think that the beloved 2007 movie Once and its soundtrack almost didn't happen, at least not in the way that ended up charming the world. Cillian Murphy was originally meant to play the role of a busker who falls for a young flower seller and creates magical songs with her before a star-crossed, not-quite-happy ending. In real life, of course, it was Glen Hansard who ended up starring opposite Markéta Irglová, winning an Oscar alongside her for "Falling Slowly," forming the folky duo The Swell Season and (for better or worse) inspiring countless imitators—and becoming a couple. The relationship lasted long enough for a second album in 2009, but the duo parted ways even as Once lived on as a Tony-winning musical. Hansard has released several solid, sometimes very good, albums on his own and with The Frames, and Irglová has continued to make music as well. But neither has re-created the success or alchemy of their original partnership.

Muddy Waters had his second coming 30 years ago, when longtime friend and disciple Johnny Winter and his Blue Sky label returned him–after a series of listless recordings aimed at the rock audience–to the raw, powerful authenticity of his timeless Chess material with a series of powerful albums. Beginning with 1977's acclaimed Hard Again, a subsequent tour produced Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live, recorded onstage in Detroit, New York, and Philadelphia with Muddy's band, Winter, and harmonica player/vocalist James Cotton. Enough live material remained for Legacy to release an expanded version with an entire second disc of unissued concert material. It seems even that wasn't the end. This collection returns again to those remarkable concerts, featuring Muddy on five tracks, among them a rousing "I Can't Be Satisfied," "Trouble No More," "Caldonia," and the closing "Got My Mojo Workin'." Winter and Cotton are no less powerful, Cotton redoing Jackie Brenston's hit "Rocket '88'" and Winter ripping up John Lee Hooker's "I Done Got Over It" and "Mama Talk to Your Daughter."

As part of his final year as Music Director and following a two-season celebration of the Orchestra’s 125th anniversary, Peter Oundjian and the RSNO here present their second recording of music by John Adams, with the exceptional participation of the Doric String Quartet. Written for a large orchestra including six percussionists, keyboard sampler, and amplified steel-string guitar, Naive and Sentimental Music is a sweepingly symphonic masterpiece, full of contrasts and clashes. It reflects the dichotomy between ‘naive’ and ‘sentimental’ poetry as analysed by Friedrich Schiller in his 1795 essay Über naive und sentimentalische Dichtung, as well as the ‘bipolar’ musical life of Esa-Pekka Salonen, the dedicatee of this piece, who conducted the first performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1999. Absolute Jest is a large-scale scherzo for amplified string quartet and orchestra, heavily inspired by the music of Beethoven, which Adams has always deeply admired. The quartet of soloists, a late addition to the score, emphasises the echoes of Beethoven’s music (mainly his string quartets) and facilitates a ‘hyperspace rate’ of virtuosity, which the Doric String Quartet here perfectly demonstrates.

Gifts–recorded with the Weavers quartet–serves as a deeply personal musical memoir.

Acclaimed young saxophonist Xhosa Cole is to release his third album with Birmingham’s Stoney Lane Records – a dynamic live recording celebrating the work of transcendent pianist Thelonious Monk, with inventive interpretations of Monk's timeless compositions.

Dot Time Records is thrilled to announce the August 23, 2024 release of My Ideal, a breathtaking new album from acclaimed GRAMMY®-nominated vocalist Catherine Russell and prodigious pianist Sean Mason. This modern classic marks a significant milestone in both artists' careers, capturing a powerful and intimate musical dialogue. My Ideal is a very special project even in the very rarified strata where Catherine works; this is not only her first complete set of voice-and-piano duets, but her partner on this project is a remarkable piano prodigy whose technical skill is only rivaled by his soulfulness.

THE BIGGEST ROCK SHOW EVER HEADLINED BY THE MIGHTY QUEEN Queen headlined two nights of the 10-day Rock In Rio festival in 1985, the biggest music festival in history. Also headlining both nights were AC/DC, Yes, and Rod Stewart. Queen played on January 11 and 18, but they hit the stage around 2am each night, technically dating the performances 12th and 19th respectively. The band also set a record for paying attendances, playing to at least 250,000 people each night - the biggest audiences they would ever play for. Some sources suggest up to 350,000 attended on the first night. After the show, EMI threw a party in Queen's honour at the Copacabana Palace Hotel. On the beach outside the hotel, some fans had gathered for a candle-lighting vigil, where 1,500 candles spelled out the word Queen . Brian May, who was coming out of the hotel when this event was taking place, was apparently very touched by the gesture and after he lit the last few candles, he stayed around to sign autographs. A 60-minute compilation of both nights of Queen In Rio would be transmitted live on local radio, and from this recording comes this exceptional CD containing the best of Queen In Rio 1985, released here for the first time.

With a title that sums up their admirable refusal to pander to English-speaking audiences, Made in Germany: 1995-2011 celebrates the 16-year career of Neue Deutsche Härte outfit Rammstein, one of the few European rock bands to make any impression in both the U.K. and U.S. Spanning their six studio albums, from the synth-heavy theatrics of "Du Riechst So Gut" (from 1995 debut Herzeleid) to the glam-tinged vaudeville of "Haifisch" (from 2009's Liebe ist für alle da), alongside a brand new recording ("Mein Land"), the 16-track collection certainly justifies their rather provocative reputation. "Links 2-3-4" is an aggressive statement of defiance against the allegations of fascism and Nazism that had followed them around ever since they burst onto the scene, the brooding symphonics of "Mutter" soundtracks a dark tale of a neglected son murdering his mother…

Maynard Ferguson's blowing full steam ahead here - working with an octet that's heavy on horn parts, but in a richly creative way! Ferguson nicely shows off some of his best influences from the 50s large group scene in LA - and gets some key help on the record from Bill Holman, who wrote almost all the tracks on the date, and no doubt arranged most of the material too. Holman's horn isn't heard on the set, but other players are equally great - and include Bob Gordon on baritone, Georgie Auld on tenor, Herb Geller on alto, Milt Bernhart on trombone, and Conte Candoli on trumpet - supported by a rhythm section that features Ian Bernhard on piano, Red Callender on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums. As usual for the Emarcy years, Maynard plays a host of instruments - trumpet, bass trumpet, and valve trombone.

After two consecutive new Jethro Tull album releases in 2022 and 2023, another collection - 'Curious Ruminant' - is unleashed on the 7th March 2025. Consisting of nine tracks varying in length from two and half minutes to almost seventeen minutes, this is an album of mostly full band music. Amongst the musicians featured are former keyboardist Andrew Giddings and drummer James Duncan, along with the current band members David Goodier, John O'Hara, Scott Hammond and, making his recording debut with the band, guitarist Jack Clark.

A very obscure and one of the rarest albums from Italian rock music scene of the 70's. This album takes on ecology as its theme and sings of the evil of polluting the planet. Terrific basic progressive music housed in a creative gimmick sleeve with window to flower. Blocco Mentale were a quintet, consisting of Aldo Angeletti (who wrote the music) on vocals and bass, Michele Arena on drums and vocals, Gigi "Roso" Bianchi on guitar and vocals, Filippo Lazzari on keyboards, harmonica and vocals, and Dino Finocchi on vocals, sax and flute. Musically Blocco Mentale is characterised by a progressive style with some personal touches. The best intruments are the horns and the keyboards. The album opens with angular staccato sax riffs and then slides into a lush melody somewhat reminiscent of Premiata Forneria Marconi in their early (and best) days…

Radio Massacre International is a trio of British musicians, Steve Dinsdale (Keyboards and Drums), Duncan Goddard (Keyboards and Bass), and Gary Houghton (Guitar, Synth). They specialize in improvisational experimental electronic music, utilising vintage synthesizers and sampled sounds alongside electric guitar. They are also leading exponents of the mellotron keyboard. More recently they have begun to incorporate Bass Guitar and Drums by varying degrees in an attempt to stretch musical boundaries within the confines of a three piece. Their music has been described alternatively as ambient music, space rock, Krautrock, New Age, Berlin School, and various other terms, although the band itself prefers the label "organic music". Points of reference include bands ranging from Tangerine Dream to "Rabbit"-era Chas and Dave. Borrowed Atoms, a double CD from 1998, was a return to extended improvisation…

Elvis Presley forever changed the world both musically and culturally and is one of the single most important figures in 20th century popular music. He holds the record for most hit singles on the US Chart, most top 10 Albums on the UK Chart and still holds the record for the Most No. 1 Singles in the UK with 21 hits. His legacy and unforgettable style continues to shine and influence generations. The Nation’s Favourite Elvis Songs is a 44 track collection featuring some of the biggest hits and finest songs ever recorded and performed by the king of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Jazz Is Dead continues it's journey of honoring musical legends with Dom Salvador JID024, an album that revisits and revitalizes the pioneering spirit of one of Brazil's most influential musicians. Dom Salvador, the trailblazer who fused samba with jazz, funk, and soul in the late '60s and early '70s, is the cornerstone of a movement that shaped the sound of Black Brazilian music. Now, in collaboration with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, he returns to that foundation in a wholly new way.

A powerful transatlantic convergence, "Live At The Blue Note New York" captures Theon Cross's electrifying US debut at the legendary club-one of the first jazz albums recorded there in over two decades. Featuring standout performances by Isaiah Collier, James Russell Sims, and Nikos Ziarkas, this live set channels deep musical chemistry into a bold, spiritual statement of modern jazz.