In campo operistico, il periodo storico tra Cavalli e Handel - quello, per capirci, che comprende giganti come Stradella, A. Scarlatti, Legrenzi… - è il più trascurato dalla discografia. Ed è un peccato, perché è il periodo nel quale si sviluppano le forme e gli stili che saranno tipici del Barocco maturo, come l'aria con il da-capo ed il virtuosismo belcantistico. Benvenuta quindi questa produzione dell'austriaca ORF, che documenta dal vivo l'esecuzione di questo rarissimo "Giulio Cesare in Egitto" del veneziano Antonio Sartorio, uno dei maggiori eredi di Cavalli nel florido operismo lagunare.

The second of Jon Batiste's recordings to emerge from his November 2018 residency at New York's Village Vanguard, Chronology of a Dream: Live at the Village Vanguard is a vibrant set showcasing the keyboardist and his earthy ensemble. As with 2019's Anatomy of Angels, Chronology of a Dream highlights Batiste's jazz roots with a set of primarily original songs that find him drawing upon funky, '60s- and '70s-style hard bop and soul. Joining him in his group are a cadre of adept, high-energy players including drummer Joe Saylor, bassist Phil Kuehn, percussionist Negan Santos, trumpeter Giveton Gelin, saxophonists Tivon Pennicott and Patrick Bartley, tubist/trumpeter Jon Lampley, and guitarist Louis Cato, all of whom get moments to shine here. With his rise into the national spotlight leading his band Stay Human on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, it's sometimes easy to forget that Batiste has hardcore jazz credentials.

"Talking Book" is the 15th studio album by American singer, songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder, released on October 28, 1972, on the Tamla label for Motown Records. The album is widely noted for being the signal recording of Wonder's "classic period". The sound of the album is sharply defined by Wonder's keyboard work, especially with the synthesizers he incorporated. His use of the Hohner clavinet model C on "Superstition" is widely regarded as one of the definitive tracks featuring the instrument.

"Tug of War" is the 3rd solo studio album by Paul McCartney, discounting the seven studio albums with Wings, released in April 1982. It was McCartney's first album released after the dissolution of Wings in April 1981. The album was produced by former Beatles producer George Martin and was a number #1 in numerous countries.

"Alternative" is a compilation album by English synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys. It was first released in 1995. "Alternative" is a 2-disc set, consisting of 30 B-sides in chronological order. The title Alternative was a last-minute change from the title that had been long saved for such an album, Besides, but that title was taken by American rock band Sugar, who released their own B-sides compilation two months prior. "Alternative" only really gained popularity among devoted fans of Pet Shop Boys with the exception of the UK, where it entered the charts at #2. A remake of the original 7-inch "Paninaro", titled "Paninaro '95", was released as a single (which was featured in the later PopArt set) to promote the 2-disc compilation. The cover of Alternative features photographs of Tennant and Lowe in fencing masks. The first copies of the CD have a lenticular image on the cover which shifts between the two photographs.

"Nothing Has Been Proved" is a song and a single release by British singer Dusty Springfield, written and produced by Pet Shop Boys. The song was the second collaboration between Springfield and Pet Shop Boys, following their UK #2 and US #2 hit duet "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" in 1987. "Nothing Has Been Proved" prominently features an orchestral arrangement by Angelo Badalamenti and a soprano saxophone solo by Courtney Pine. Marshall Jefferson provided a dance mix which appeared on the 12" and CD singles.

Originally, One Way came out as Al Hudson & the Soul Partners and recorded a few interesting, but unsuccessful albums for ABC Records. They were then, and are now, a self-contained act, though the original name suggests a standup vocal group. Essentially, Midwest wonders, they never crossed over, and never got as big as predicted on the R&B circuit, despite having a devastating live act. They should have added their bassist/falsetto tenor, Kevin McCord to the title; he contributes as much as Hudson & Myers, if not more. This best of compilation ignores their Al Hudson & the Soul Partner days, and is top heavy with upbeat jams. Like an even handed boxer, One Way could deliver a lethal blow with either hand, being equally as proficient on fast tunes or ballads.

The female vocalist from the Christian Rock band Fighter, this is Amy's first and only solo album. Reminiscent of 80's female Rockers like Benatar, it's a pretty solid album for fans of Fighter or the Melodic Rock genre.

"Flamagra" is the 6th studio album by American record producer Flying Lotus. It was released on May 24, 2019, by Warp Records. It is his first album since 2014's You're Dead! The lead single, the spoken-word "Fire Is Coming" featuring David Lynch, was released along with its video on April 17, 2019. The album also features contributions from Anderson Paak, George Clinton, Little Dragon, Tierra Whack, Denzel Curry, Shabazz Palaces, Thundercat, Toro y Moi and Solange.

One of the most consistent R&B/Funk bands of the 70s and 80s, ConFunkShun, is back in 2015 with its first album after the 1986 release “Burnin’ Love” (there was an additional live album in 1996) which had been recorded without songwriter and singer Felton Pilate who, together with Michael Cooper and Louis McCall, was part of the core members of the group which was founded in 1969 (Felton came on board in 1971). A lot of tensions were the reason for the final breakup and now, original members Michael Cooper and Felton Pilate alongside Karl Fuller, are back with the 2015 edition.

Due to all the great funk, R&B, and soul bands of the '70s, it's easy to overlook many of the lesser-known (but just as great) bands. Such is the case with the Trammps. Best known for their smash hit from the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack, "Disco Inferno" (their only Top 20 appearance on the pop charts), the group had many other hits on the R&B charts, which were just as deserving of crossover success. Just about any track from the excellent This Is Where All the Happy People Go: The Best of the Trammps compilation is a solid example of '70s R&B at its finest and most expertly crafted. Many overlooked and forgotten gems reside here, such as "Hold Back the Night," "Trammps Disco Theme," "That's Where the Happy People Go," and "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart."

"Chance" is the 8th album by American soul and gospel singer Candi Staton. Singles released from the album included "When You Wake Up Tomorrow" (co-written by Patrick Adams and Wayne K. Garfield), and the title track, which became a Top 20 R&B record. The album peaked at #23 on the US R&B Album chart and #129 on the Billboard 200.

"Kissing to Be Clever" is the debut album by the English band Culture Club, released on 4 October 1982 in the United Kingdom. It includes Culture Club's international breakthrough hit single, "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", which reached #1 in the band's native UK and the Top 10 of many charts around the world. The album has reportedly sold over 5 million copies worldwide, including over 1 million in the US where it has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.

"Colour by Numbers" is the 2nd album by the British new wave band Culture Club, released in October 1983. Preceded by the hit single "Karma Chameleon", which reached #1 in several countries, the album reached #1 in the UK and has sold more than 16 million copies worldwide. It has been certified triple Platinum in the UK and quadruple Platinum in the US. It was ranked #96 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Best Albums of the 1980s.

Jan Mulder is a pianist and composer who has become one of the stable of top-selling music stars in the United Kingdom, Europe, and America. He has composes and arranges on a daily basis for solo albums, frequently recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, which have achieved gold and platinum status. His award-winning inspirational CD series, "Love Divine", is popular in over 20 countries, and features one Christmas album with a guest track by Andrea Bocelli.