Maceo Parker's former rhythm section is now the longest-lived organ trio in jazz history.

Call Joe Simon the reluctant soul star. Despite his countless hits in the 1960s and '70s, his heart just wasn't in it, though the sound proved otherwise. Thankfully, that's not a bit apparent on this collection, which consists of his fabulous, hit-laden discography from 1966-1970 with producer Richbourg at the helm for Sound Stage 7 Records.

Antonio Soler is best known for his many keyboard sonatas. His training as a church musician and a post as organist at the royal palace and monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial brought him into contact with musicians such as Domenico Scarlatti from the court of Philip II. With the Op. 4 sonatas the influence of Scarlatti mixes with new styles emerging from Vienna.

This is basically a greatest hits CD, but with a Symphony and Choir. The band keeps to the original versions of each song, all the riffs, notes and arrangements are there and performed well. Kelly nails the vocals and may be the best part of each song…

Sade’s longest absence yet did not prevent their return from being an event. It at least seemed eventful whenever “Soldier of Love,” released to radio a couple months prior to the album of the same title, was heard over the airwaves. Even with its brilliantly placed lyrical allusions to hip-hop past and present and its mature sound, the single stuck out on stations aimed at teens and twentysomethings, as well as points on the dial that court an older audience…

Boys Don't Cry, the magazine distributed at pop-up locations the day this unlike-titled album was released, featured an essay in which Frank Ocean affably reflected upon his infatuation with cars. Allusions to parallels between vehicular travel and other aspects of life, such as making music, were drawn, his relief in completing the Channel Orange follow-up made apparent…

Located somewhere between chamber music and orchestra, since its founding in 2016 the Carinthian-based ensemble minui has dedicated itself with elegance and finesse to the musical possibilities for large chamber music ensembles. While simple reductions of large orchestral works were initially on the programme, opera music gradually became the great passion of ensemble minui. In the arrangements of clarinettist Stefan Potzmann, the nine versatile orchestral musicians offer listeners with their second recording stylish new perspectives on three large-scale opera works, reduced to what is essential for them: the music!

This long awaited album was released by DUX and features two piano concertos by the outstanding Polish post-Romantic Zygmunt Stojowski, a student and friend of Ignacy Jan Paderewski. It is our great pleasure to be able to remind listeners once again of such a valuable repertoire. We are certain that this new album will bring them much joy and satisfaction!

In March 2020, Tahiti 80 had a plan to start recording their new album in the studio. That plan, of course, along with everything else in the world, got derailed. But the five-piece group was resilient and resourceful. They quickly shifted to a socially distanced plan B that included file swapping and virtual sessions, all refereed by producer Julien Vignon. The result, due for release in March 2022, is the buoyant Here With You, a collection of eleven upbeat songs that unfold like a prescription for a post-pandemic panacea.

The Lord of Chaos EP sees the original Killing Joke line-up delivering their first new material in seven years – a return to an earlier, punkier style, shot through with raw angst and documenting the turbulent times in which we now exist.

This recording finds Elio Villafranca leading an outstanding group of jazz musicians and with seamless transitions from latin jazz to straight ahead jazz…

A fascinating and eclectic collection of caprices ranging from Paganini to a wide selection of contemporary composers, some of whom contribute not only individual works, but who joined together for a splendid composite set of variations on Paganini’s famous 24th caprice. This is a personal, daring and exciting album of dazzling virtuosity!

A contemporary of Beethoven and Rossini, Hélène de Montgeroult (1764–1836) was a wealthy aristocrat who lived in Paris during the French Revolution. Renowned in her own lifetime and beyond as a pianist, composer and teacher, she held a profound belief that the dry, percussive pianos of the time were capable of ‘singing’ like the Italian bel canto vocal style of the day.

The compositions featured on their new album, titled Elements, are staples of the Belfiato Quintet’s modern repertoire and are, above all, music close to their hearts. The Belfiato Quintet are indisputably a world-class ensemble, with regard to the present album’s repertoire and beyond. Supraphon will release Elements on CD and in digital formats on Friday 25 March 2022.

Washington National Opera presents Blue, a contemporary opera about racism in the United States today, with a libretto by Tazewell Thompson and music by Jeanine Tesori. Blue tells the tragic story of an African-American police officer whose son is killed by a fellow officer during a demonstration. The play, which strongly alludes to the Black Lives Matter movement, is equally groundbreaking on the opera stage thanks to its intimate and multi-layered portrayal of African American family life.