Something of a smooth jazz oriented answer to the label's 2003 straight-ahead compilation Jazz After Dark, this highly engaging two-disc set features oft-played radio hits that have helped define the genre's generally easy grooves and colorful melodies. For diehard fans, smooth jazz has always been as about much about lifestyle as music, and these tracks will no doubt remind them just why they became devotees. All the early classics (circa mid-'70s to mid-'80s) are here, from Kenny G.'s "Songbird" and Dave Grusin's "Mountain Dance" to George Benson's "Breezin'" and Grover Washington, Jr.'s "Just the Two of Us." These are supplemented by later hits like Boney James & Rick Braun's "Grazin' in the Grass" and Dave Koz's "You Make Me Smile." But it's not simply an objective survey of smoothness at its best. The collection also seems designed to promote artists in the Concord Jazz stable – David Benoit and Russ Freeman, the Rippingtons, the Braxton Brothers, Gato Barbieri, Eric Marienthal, and Cassandra Reed, among others.

Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 in C minor, WAB 108, is the last symphony the composer completed. It exists in two major versions of 1887 and 1890. It was premiered under conductor Hans Richter in 1892 at the Musikverein, Vienna. It is dedicated to the Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. This symphony is sometimes nicknamed The Apocalyptic, but this was not a name Bruckner gave to the work himself.

The Space Between Worlds is a concept album that follows the story of a huntress who travels the infinite metaphysical worlds brought into being by the dreams of humankind. In these realms, she encounters a dream eater which threatens to unravel the fabric of reality by devouring dreamers and destroying the dimensional gateways.

This album is of historic interest as it comprises the only studio recordings made by the Johnny Hodges band while John Coltrane was a member, most of the other sidemen being former Ellingtonians or guests from Duke Ellington's orchestra. The music is excellent: Johnny Hodges is on superb form throughout; all of Harold Baker's trumpet solos are exquisite, as is Jimmy Hamilton's clarinet playing on "If you were mine",while Louie Bellson demonstrates that he was surely the best drummer ever to play with Ellington.
The CD is marketed under John Coltrane's name. However anyone who buys this record expecting to hear any solos by Coltrane will be disappointed; Coltrane is the one horn player in the band who does not play any solos.

Mikhail Pletnev was born in Archangelsk, which is located in the north of Russia on the coast of the White Sea. By the time Pletnev began piano studies at age seven, with pianist Julia Shaskina, his family had moved to the central Russian City of Kazan in Tatarstan. Pletnev demonstrated promise and was enrolled at age 13 in Evgeny Timakin's piano preparatory class at the Moscow Central Music School. At 14, Pletnev earned the Grand Prix awarded by the International Jeunesses Musicales in Paris, and at 15 he transferred into master classes headed by Yakov Flier at the Moscow Conservatory. /quote]

Barock Project is the name of an Italian Progressive rock band, made of young but very experienced musicians. They are led by keyboardist virtuoso Luca Zabbini, who composed a concerto for piano and saxophone, a true sign of excellent musical abilities ! Their project is described by themselves, "To spread the finest and perfect structure of classic music (Mainly baroque music) with a rock style, and a little bit of jazz harmony, all supported by a pop song structure".
"Misteriose Voci" ("Misteriosevoci"), published in the year 2007 on the Musea label, fits this sentence well. Here are eleven symphonic songs, with dominating keyboards but also fine guitar parts, without mentioning a powerful rhythm section and a good singer, expressive but not too much. The influences of Emerson, Lake & Palmer is quite evident, especially in the opening track, but Barock Project has found a true identity of its own, based on strong melodies, and keyboards parts full of sensibility…

The Chinese province of Yunnan has long been a treasure trove for ethnomusicologists, however its totally unique musical heritage has largely remained a mystery to the wider world. This Rough Guide uncovers both the ancient and the innovative sounds from this magical land.

Brought back into the active catalog by popular demand, the second Schubert release by the brilliant English pianist Paul Lewis features the composers' sublime late Piano Sonatas D959 and D960. Clearly channeling the musical spirit of his legendary teacher, Alfred Brendel, Lewis finds the heart of these works and instills them with his own brand of unrivaled clarity and virtuosity.

Recorded live at the Sydney Opera House, this concert performance finds beloved Australian pop singer/actor Olivia Newton-John offering up a set of her best-known songs. Highlights include signature tunes from her films XANADU (a slightly jazzy take on "Magic") and GREASE (a swooning version of "Hopelessly Devoted to You"), along with a playful bossa nova-like reworking of her 1981 hit, "Physical."

Thirty-three years after their first meeting, Samsara is a spectacular reunion of three of the world's most extreme musical explorers—John Zorn, Bill Laswell, and Mick Harris. Originally formed in 1991, PainKiller is a legendary trio that forged a completely unique language blending jazz, metal, grindcore, ambient, dub, and so much more. Recording again for the first time in over a quarter century, these three master musicians have come up with an intense new musical direction. Mick Harris, performing on his trademark electronics, has created a rich tapestry of beats and sounds that have inspired Laswell and Zorn to some exciting new heights. Samsara presents three old friends exploring some bold new sounds.

The Ultimate Christmas Album, Vol. 6: WCBS FM 101.1 is another eclectic collection of pop holiday tunes from the '50s, '60s, '70s, and '80s, including Wham!'s "Last Christmas," the Beach Boys' "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," and Andy Williams' "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!." Aretha Franklin's "Winter Wonderland," America's "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and Connie Francis' "White Christmas" are some of the other highlights from this scattered compilation, which somehow mixes different sounds and eras into a festive celebration.

Julian and Gyan are two of new music’s most accomplished guitar virtuosos. Brought together for Zorn’s “Bagatelles” project in 2015, their duo performances are truly a transcendent experience—filled with telepathic interplay, meticulous detail, and astonishing soloistic fireworks. Their 2017 CD “Midsummer Moons” (inspired by lunar imagery in Shakespeare) is one of Zorn’s most beautiful creations, and here they perform a dramatic book of music inspired by the haunting and enigmatic novel “A High Wind in Jamaica”. Filled with ominous mystery and a dangerous innocence,“Quatrain” is an absolute delight.

The newest CD by Zorn’s most recent quartet “Incerto” is a beautiful and moody suite of nocturnes inspired by the night imagery of Shakespeare. Heart wrenchingly beautiful, the music carries you to a lush romantic world of modern lyricism, blending elements of jazz balladry with classical atonality and minimalism into a vibrant new sound world. Featuring four of the most accomplished musical masters out of the Downtown scene—trusted members of Zorn’s inner circle— this is modern chamber music at its very best!

Claire Lynch's new album is a rare bird indeed. At one point, albums like this weren't the exception, but the rule. Twelve exquisitely written, carefully produced songs that bound along at a pace appropriate for their subject matter: life, love, and the conviction to get on with both. Only one song nudges the four-minute mark, and rightfully so.