Acoustic Sounds and Contemporary Records present this new reissue of iconic jazz trumpet player Art Farmer’s 1958 Contemporary Records debut, “Portrait of Art Farmer”. Featuring Hank Jones (piano), Addison Farmer (bass) and Roy Haynes (drums) with this edition features remastered audio from the original tapes.

Artur Rubinstein's 1956 Beethoven concerto cycle lacks the forethought and stylishness of his '60s remakes with Leinsdorf. These earlier versions, however, convey more of Rubinstein's irrepressible stage presence. At times the pianist's freewheeling spirit in the First and Fifth Concertos causes momentary finger slips, which matter not one whit. Rubinstein's unruffled demeanor and languorous phrasing in the Third and Fourth Concertos, though, are better suited to Chopin.

If one believes the few testimonies that free the life story of the Italian composer Francesco Geminiani (1687-1762) from its historical semi-darkness, then he must have been a true jack-of-all-trades, a spring chicken and a jack of all trades - a musician who was unassimilated by the standards of his time and who did not make things easy for his contemporaries. Later often labelled with the carelessly given epithet "minor master", some of the works of this enterprising and imaginative Italian prove to be extremely fascinating facets in the great musical puzzle that we call "Baroque".

Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) had already completed his eightieth year when he set the 119th Psalm to music with almost youthful freshness. The enormous text poem apparently offered him a musical challenge of the highest caliber and, in terms of content, the opportunity to write down his unshakable faith in a powerful confession. He supplemented this so-called swan song with his creative examination of Psalm 100 and the German Magnificat - two hymns of praise to the greatness of the Lord in whose hand he felt secure.

Lilah Krytsick is a mother and housewife who's always believed she could be a stand-up comedian. Steven Gold is an experienced stand-up seemingly on the cusp of success. When the two meet, they form an unlikely friendship, and Steven tries to help the untried Lilah develop her stage act. Despite the objections of her family and some very wobbly beginnings, Lilah improves, and soon she finds herself competing with Steven for a coveted television spot.

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach was music director of five of Hamburg's principal churches from 1768 until his death in 1788. It was a strenuous and risky position of great responsibility. He was to make church services as attractive as possible with performances of his own original compositions alongside those of his contemporaries, so the faithful would show up in droves to church.