Atlantic Records has announced the upcoming release of AVATAR Music From The Motion Picture Music Composed And Conducted By James Horner the official score album companion to 20th Century Fox's hugely anticipated 3-D sci-fi action-adventure. The album, which features music composed and conducted by Academy Award-winner James Horner (Titanic, A Beautiful Mind, An American Tail), will be released physically on December 15th. Avatar arrives in theatres everywhere on December 18th.
Written and directed by Academy Award-winner James Cameron (Titanic, Aliens, The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, True Lies, The Abyss), Avatar takes us to a spectacular new world beyond our imagination, where a reluctant hero embarks on a journey of redemption and discovery as he leads a heroic battle to save a civilization. Cameron first conceived the film 14 years ago, when the means to realize his vision did not yet exist. Now, after four years of actual production work, Avatar delivers a fully immersive cinematic experience of a new kind, where the revolutionary technology invented to make the film disappears into the emotion of the characters and the sweep of the story.
Avatar stars Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation), Zoë Saldana (Star Trek), Michelle Rodriguez (Lost, Fast & Furious), and Sigourney Weaver (Aliens, Galaxy Quest). The film is produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau.

This best of Brian Crain release was re-recorded in the studio with the BC String Ensemble. This album is a collection of melodies from Brian's previous albums.

"When I started working on my album Piano Opus in the summer of 2008, I didn't have the faintest idea what I wanted to compose. This being my thirteenth album, I found it challenging to write something fresh. I listened to many other composers in an effort to spark inspiration. I was surprised by how many albums lose their appeal after the first few songs. So I set out to create a solo piano album that can keep the listener's interest all the way through. I found that one of the main reasons so many other composers' songs sounded similar was that they were written in the same time signatures. Most music is written in 4/4 or 3/4 time. So I set out to write a song in complex time. I chose 5/4 for my first attempt. I didn't realize how difficult it would be to play in 5/4, let alone compose in it. I carried on my experiment for a couple of months until I composed the song titled Wind."

"After the exhausting work of composing in 5/4, I tried to go back to composing in common time (4/4 or 3/4), but I now felt more comfortable writing in complex time. So I continued my complex time adventure and wrote an additional song in 5/4, then three in 7/8 and one in 11/8. I was having so much fun that I often wondered if others would think that I was off my rocker. I hope you think I'm still rocking ;)" ~ Brian Crain (From CD insert)

Excellent CD!!! Soft and mellow piano with excellent orchestral backing. Wonderful rendition of fine selection of Christmas music. Enjoyable listening anytime but especially at Christmas!

"When The Saints Go Marching In" is Bradley Sowash's follow-up to 2001's "We Gather Together". Aptly subtitled "Hymns & Spirituals for Solo Jazz Piano", Sowash combines traditional gospel and jazz stylings with his own contemporary flavor, creating a collection that is fun, inspiring, and uplifting. A pianist with impeccable chops, Sowash's playing always sounds effortless and spontaneous. Some of the tracks really cook, like "Down By the Riverside" and the title track. Others are more reflective ("Come Ye Disconsolate", "America", "Beach Spring", "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need") and some are bluesy ("He Never Said a Mumblin' Word", "Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho" and the medley of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / Michael Row the Boat Ashore"). "Jesu, Jesu" doesn't really fit any of those categories, but has a beautiful, swirling effect that is full of joy and life. I've thoroughly enjoyed all of Bradley Sowash's albums, but this one may be my favorite. "When the Saints Go Marching In" is strong and exciting from start to finish. Even the cover art and liner notes are exceptionally good. Highly recommended!

(Kathy Parsons, amazon.com)

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For the Beauty of the Earth Bradley Sowash's final release in the acclaimed trilogy of hymns and spirituals for solo jazz piano has a decidedly personal feel. Some of the selections emphasize nature such as Shall We Gather By he River, The Ash Grove, and the title cut, For the Beauty of the Earth. Others dig deeply into jazz traditions such as the blues inflected Go Down Moses or a striding This Little Light of Mine. Whatever the style, Sowash's unique take on these timeless melodies both surprises and delights. Four bonus tracks include sample cuts from previous recordings. Designer Bryan Huber's spiritually suggestive packaging contributes to the sense of intimacy with a scrapbook format that includes excerpts from the artist's journals, pressed leaves and Frank Hunter's haunting photos of earthly pathways.

Beauty Will Rise is a collection of 12 new and profound songs from Steven Curtis Chapman. Created in the past 18 months in the walk through the darkness of the loss of his daughter Maria, and while God continues to meet him there on the journey. Part lament, part praise, part grief, part hope, part wrestling, part pondering; these tracks resonate as Steven's personal Psalms. It is a desperately hopeful, raw, personal, and honest recording that is likely the most important of his already incredible 20 plus year ministry.