Toumani Diabate is one of the finest contemporary kora players. Diabate teams with Ballake Sissoko for New Ancient Strings, a collection of African harp duets. Recorded in one take in Diabate's native Mali, New Ancient Strings is at once ethereal and earthy.

The first outing by Brian Auger's jazz-rock ensemble the Oblivion Express, first issued in 1971, is one of the great masterpieces of jazz-rock fusion. Auger, having just disbanded his longtime band the Trinity in 1970, still had plenty of rock and roll in his system. His yearning for the open frontiers of electric jazz was certainly the driving force – in the same way that it was for Miles Davis on A Tribute to Jack Johnson, and Lifetime was for Tony Williams – but it was anchored in the visceral application of rock. With guitarist Jim Mullen, bassist Barry Dean, and drummer Robbie McIntosh, Auger charted into the unknown. This album fits like a glove, each tune moving ever forward into the next.

Kwon Boa (born November 5, 1986), commonly stylized and known by her stage name BoA, which is a backronym for Beat of Angel, is a Korean singer, active in South Korea, Japan, and the United States. She is referred as the Queen of Korean Pop.

The composer, arranger and trumpeter William E. May (Pittsburgh, 1916-2004), aka 'Billy' May, has been a prolific arranger of compositions for a large number of singers and such as Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Bobby Darin, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee and Rosemary Clooney among others, as well as composer for film and TV and conductor of his own band. This studio album is a splendid example of creativity and performance quality of Billy. Fabulous and surprising their sound, swing and big band.

Spica (stylized as SPICA) is a five-member South Korean girl group currently under B2M Entertainment. The group released "Potently" followed by their official debut, "Russian Roulette".

Baiba Skride - Bach Bartok Ysaye
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 387 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Sony Classical # SK 92938 | Country/Year: Germany 2004
Genre: Classical | Style: Violin, Romantic, Modern

The Latvian violinist Baiba Skride won the 2001 Queen Elisabeth competition at the age of twenty. This is her debut recital for Sony, and probably the only SACD of her playing for the indefinite future, as her follow up has only been released on plain CD. (…) This disc is one of the most intelligently planned violin selections currently available…

A new studio album of Millenium called "Ego" are six extended art rock compositions depicting the band and its music in a new light without losing the typical Millenium style. In addition to the steady line-up a few other names appeared featuring Dariusz Rybka (saxophone), Michał Bylica (trumpet), and Karolina Leszko (backing vocals). The album lyrically refers to the topics related to human life in the modern world and the longing for what has already passed.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Die Entführung aus dem Serail [BluRay Untouched]
Netherlands Chamber Orchestra / Chorus of De Nedelandse Opera / Constantinos Carydis / Johan Simons
MPEG-4 AVC, 1080i, 1.78:1 | Dolby True-HD 5.1, Dolby True-HD 2.0 @ 24Bit/48kHz
Label/Cat#: Opus Arte # OA BD7017 D | Country/Year: Europe 2008 | Size: 44,30 GB | 5% Recovery Info
Genre: Classical | Style: Opera, Viennese School, HiDef

…What a delightful surprise! I was most definitely not prepared for this bold but very entertaining take on Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail. I particularly enjoyed Mojca Erdmann's sexy Blonde. The Blu-ray disc herein reviewed, courtesy of Opus Arte, is very easy to recommend, even if the audio could have been handled a bit better. Highly Recommended.

AMAZE ME's 3rd album is their second-best (after the debut). Melodic but rough-edged guitars…tight, catchy hooks…over-the-top choruses…slick, layered backing vocals…this CD is a melodic hard rocker's dream. Just one listen to "Red Lips" and you'll be humming it for days! Very few bands have the necessary talent to release three stellar albums in a row, but these boys prove that it can be done.

After "Breakthrough" (1986), Pierre Moerlen's Gong mostly returned to the jazz-rock fusion sound that made them so enjoyable in the late '70s and early '80s on "Second Wind". Benoit Moerlen, who had departed after "Downwind" (1979), is back for this album, with stalwarts Pierre Moerlen and bassist Hansford Rowe forming the stable core of the band. Ake Zeiden, who had joined for "Breakthrough" adds some fine guitar work to this album and talented keyboardist Frank Fischer is a welcome addition.