Saxon, those seminal British Heavy Metal Heroes hailing from Barnsley release Carpe Diem through Silver Lining Music. Ten titanic tracks bristling with still-clad riffery and proud intent, Carpe Diem is the statement which reminds heavy metal fans worldwide who the true masters of British Metal are, drawing on a variety of ingredients from their career to forge what is Saxon’s most dynamic release in many a year.

The Zigzag Manoeuvre might be the description of Ping in 2014, navigating their way out of the ashes of their studio/rehearsal room for thirteen years. When the dust had settled, most of the instruments were immolated, but crucially, all unpublished pieces of music survived. The song “A Hammer Falling from the Sky”, which can be heard on the album, was recorded just two days before the studio went up in flames. A long and arduous process later, with a slight change of personnel, Ping now re-emerges with a roller coaster record, destined to inspire or dull the masses. Expect hiccups and downs, mental order and disorientation, out-of-tune harmonics, as well as motivating and unsettling lyrics.

Part of a refreshing series of two-fers from major vocalists of the '60s, British EMI issued this compilation pairing Sarah Vaughan's 1963 LP, Snowbound, with 1964's The Lonely Hours. As could be expected, the two work well together, both being sets of nocturnally oriented standards. The former is a cozy collection of romantic ballads arranged by Don Costa, while the latter is more isolated, with arrangements from jazzman great Benny Carter. Though both LPs aren't among Vaughan's more famous releases, they're nearly as good as a classic like Sarah Vaughan in Hi-Fi or Sarah Vaughan With Clifford Brown.

To think that David Gilmour waited 22 years to record his third solo album is a pretty solid indicator that he's not the kind of bloke to merely cash in on his name. After all, he's the guy who sold his house for four million English pounds and gave the money to charity. Perhaps now that the Pink Floyd reunion happened and he and Roger Waters are at least civil to one another, the Floyd enigma can finally find its way into the annals of history and rock legend. This catches listeners up to On an Island. Those desiring something edgy and dramatic will have to wait. Gilmour wrote six of these ten tunes with his wife, Polly Samson, who also plays a bit of piano and sings. Musically, On An Island is mostly a laid-back, utterly elegant English record. It has the feel of taking place between twilight and dawn. There are a few rumblers to upset the overall balance of tranquility and stillness, like flashes of heat lightning across the dark skies…

The leaves are turning colors, the leaves are falling, the sounds are getting calmer and more melancholic. "Autumn Breeze Vol. 9: Chill Sounds For Relaxing Moments" brings chill sounds for relaxing moments in autumn. Selected by DJ Michael Maretimo.

After recording Level Headed, an album that mostly forsaked their hard rock leanings for pure pop, longtime lead vocalist Brian Connolly left Sweet for good. The rest of the group decided to press on as a trio, combining their pop/rock sound with a variety of other musical styles in a bid to gain a more progressive image. The result was Cut Above the Rest, a bizarre combination of the hard-rocking pop that dominated classic Sweet singles with progressive flights of fancy in a 10cc/Electric Light Orchestra vein, plus a dash of lounge lizard-ish soft rock balladry thrown in to cover all the pop/rock bases. There's no way an album that tries do so many things at once could succeed at all of them, but Cut Above the Rest is a surprisingly listenable affair…

These two 1975-1976 LPs reunited on 1 CD are to say the least very enjoyable. This is not the usual songbook devoted to the composer. Grappelli manages to play with those Porter tunes and ends up winning in the process to make them sounds his own with his instrument. It's a good example of the way a musician can pay tribute to a composer and let his personnality express his true musicianship, without losing grip of the general focus of the project.

Intervention Records is proud to announce that The Church's 1988 smash Starfish arrives on remastered Hybrid CD/SACD in May 2021.

The Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio's latest album captures the ensemble's dynamic performance in a live studio setting. This recording features a selection of tracks chosen based on listener requests, including classics like 'Misty' and 'Alice in Wonderland,' showcasing Yamamoto's expressive piano interpretations. The album also introduces fresh renditions of pieces such as 'Milestones' and 'All the Things You Are,' highlighting the trio's versatility and deep connection with their audience. This release offers a vibrant listening experience that reflects the trio's commitment to engaging with jazz enthusiasts.

Feelin' Good is a 1972 studio album by Sarah Vaughan, featuring arrangements by Allyn Ferguson, Jack Elliott, Michel Legrand, and Peter Matz.

Although collectors and serious fans will have little use for it, RCA's Collected Roy Hargrove is a nice overview of his RCA recordings for casual fans, containing ten tracks including "Wee," "Ruby My Dear," "Night Watch," and "Milestones."

Nnenna Freelon's voice is a reflection of life, filled with personal stories, deep emotion, and quiet wisdom. Since her 1992 debut on Columbia, the seven-time Grammy® nominee has used her unique perspective to tell familiar stories—from reimagining Billie Holiday to paying tribute to Stevie Wonder. On Beneath the Skin, she goes the extra step, reaching in to create heart-spoken songs, born from curiosity to more closely visit stories inhabiting her own life. With co-arranger and pianist, Alan Pasqua, Nnenna's created her most personal musical statement to date. Freelon's vocal artistry, rooted in tradition but always forward-thinking, has captivated audiences around the world, and Beneath the Skin is sure to do the same.