Pianist/singer Sunnyland Slim (1909-1995) was a major force in Chicago blues for over 50 years. A professional by the late '20s, he was based in Memphis for a time before moving to Chicago in 1939. A powerful pianist and an expressive singer, he recorded for many labels through the years, having his own company (Airway Records) in the 1970s. She Got a Thing Goin' On reissues the best selections from those dates. In addition to numbers that showcase Slim's vocals, he is heard backing singers Zora Young, Bonnie Lee, and Big Time Sarah, all of whom sound inspired by his presence. Teamed with top-notch musicians, the pianist plays with the energy of someone half his age. In addition, there are two selections from a 1979 date with Kansas City Red and Honeyboy Edwards that was released on this CD for the first time. Highly recommended as a fine retrospective from the later years of Sunnyland Slim.

Betty Carter was an American jazz singer known for her improvisational technique, scatting and other complex musical abilities that demonstrated her vocal talent and imaginative interpretation of lyrics and melodies. Vocalist Carmen McRae once remarked: "There's really only one jazz singer—only one: Betty Carter."

Transcendence Sounds proudly presents 'Love is Here', a monumental archival release featuring - for the first time ever - the complete recordings of Pharoah Sanders at Maison de la Radio's Studio 104 in Paris on November 17, 1975. Transferred from the original stereo tape reels and mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab, these sessions stand as one of the last major unreleased treasures from the golden era of spiritual jazz. Performing with an extraordinary ensemble - Danny Mixon (piano, organ), Calvin Hill (bass), and Greg Bandy (drums) - Sanders offered a deeply expressive, stylistically expansive performance. The set opens with a meditative improvisation on pipe organ, followed by the sweeping three-part suite "Love is Here", the driving pulse of "Pharoah's 'Blues", and a transcendent reading of "I Want to Talk About You". Coltrane's influence is honoured through high-octane renditions of "Moment's Notice" and "Lazy Bird", before reaching an ecstatic, participatory climax with "Love Is Everywhere", shared joyfully with the audience. 'Love is Here' captures Sanders at a pivotal moment. After parting ways with Impulse! in 1974, he entered a period of reorientation. No longer tethered to label expectations, Sanders embraced full artistic freedom. His performance in Paris reflects a shift from the fiery energy of his early free jazz years to a more spiritual, cosmic voice - without abandoning his raw intensity. Available on deluxe 2LP + 2CD sets, which include a 20-page booklet with rare performance photographs by Christian Rose and a newly commissioned essay by Kevin Whitehead.

For pianist Red Garland's fourth recording as a leader, he's teamed up with bassist Paul Chambers, drummer Art Taylor, and (on "Four" and "Walkin'") guest guitarist Kenny Burrell. Garland plays in his distinctive style consistently throughout Red Garland Revisited!. Highlights include "Billy Boy" (which was adapted from Ahmad Jamal's rendition), "I'm Afraid the Masquerade Is Over," "It Could Happen to You," and two Burrell tracks. Predictably excellent music; Garland recorded more than 20 additional albums within the next five years.

To say this barrier-breaking string quartet plays modern music is an understatement. All of the five composers showcased on this audacious recording were born in the 20th century. Minimalist Philip Glass is among the best known of the five, whose works cannot possibly be mistaken with anything from the baroque or classical periods. This particular foursome illustrates the grace, beauty, and even power of a string quartet, but goes well beyond. In the words of first violinist and leader David Harrington, "I've always wanted the string quartet to be vital, and energetic, and alive, and cool, and not afraid to kick ass and be absolutely beautiful and ugly if it has to be." The album-ending cover of the Jimi Hendrix classic "Purple Haze" must be heard to be believed.

Bloom is Eric Johnson's fifth studio release, released in June 2005. It was the first studio release since his 1996 album Venus Isle almost nine years prior. However in these nine years he had released a live album by his side-project Alien Love Child entitled Live and Beyond in 2000 as well as an album of previously unreleased material titled Souvenir in 2002. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006 under the category of Best Pop Instrumental Album. Special guests include Grammy Award-winning vocalist Shawn Colvin and guitarist Adrian Legg.

Recorded in the spring of 1978 at Yes bassist Chris Squire's home studio, K-Scope featured three founding members of the Split Enz/Crowded House: Eddie Rayner (keys), Tim Finn (lead vocal) and brother Neil Finn (backing vocal). Manzanera also enlists percussion heavyweight Simon Phillips, good buddies John Wetton and Bill MacCormick (both bassists and vocalists), and saxophonist Mel Collins, among several others. The band strong arms the solid pop/rock structures and approaches the instrumentals with the same verve. The literally "coolest" tune in the set is also Manzanera's personal favorite, the breezy "Gone Flying." The composition (and performance) is a fine example of how truly excellent a pop song can be…

Chasm (stylized as CHASM) is the 15th studio album by Ryuichi Sakamoto and was released in 2004. The album is experimental, pairing Sakamoto's piano work with ambient and glitch programming. Notably, Sakamoto's former bandmates from Yellow Magic Orchestra, Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, contribute on several songs under their own production name, Sketch Show. "coro" was featured on the soundtrack to the anime film Appleseed, while "World Citizen - i won't be disappointed/looped piano" and "only love can conquer hate" were featured in the film Babel. The original version of "Ngo", featured on the single for "Undercooled", was used in a New Balance advertisement. "Seven Samurai - ending theme" is taken from Sakamoto's score for the PlayStation 2 game Seven Samurai 20XX.

For her second album, Shawn Colvin took a temporary break from longtime collaborator and producer John Leventhal, teaming up instead with Larry Klein. And while the strongest songs – "Tennessee," "Climb On (A Back That's Strong)," and "Object of My Desire" – are Colvin/Leventhal collaborations, credit should be given to Klein, who incorporated a glossy, more dynamic production and top-notch session players for a stronger and more accessible album. In addition to turning in a strong batch of songs, Colvin shows much more diversity, tackling everything from rootsy rockers to more sensitive folk ballads with equally passionate delivery. "I Don't Know Why" (the first song she wrote) and "Round of Blues" both found considerable success in adult contemporary radio formats, adding to her growing fan base.

2019 two CD set, the twelth volume in the So80s series. The finest collection of original classic 12" club & extended mixes.
"Celebrate the '80s in style" was the premise Blank & Jones started the So8os (So eighties) Project under circa ten years ago. Since then, the two '80s born artists have been digging through countless archives of old master tapes of legendary '80s maxi versions of famous songs for this series - building up an impressive fanbase while releasing 11 entries so far under the moniker So8os. Thanks to the massive renaissance of this colourful decade and the success of series such as Stranger Things also open to a broader and younger audience these days. Volume 12 includes tracks by Wham, Sheena Easton, Sade, Visage, New Order, Billy Joel, Simply Red and many others.

Included with the July 2025 issue of Uncut magazine (TAKE 340).

Two CD set. Hailing from Wolverhampton in the UK, The Montanas produced a string of singles, many produced and written by Tony Hatch for the Pye label from 1965 - 1969, before switching to MAM. Most 45s enjoyed strong airplay, particularly 'Ciao Baby' and 'You've Got To Be Loved' (which charted in the US), but in the UK they never reached the charts which, considering the strength of the material, is one of life's mysteries! Contains all the Pye recordings including the US 45 'I'm Gonna Change' and the MAM and Charisma recordings. Digitally remastered and slipcased, and with new notes.

In 1993, the album Symphonic Music of Yes was released, featuring orchestrated Yes tracks arranged by Dee Palmer.

Yes didn't invent progressive rock, but they helped bring it to mainstream audiences, steering the development and definition of the genre. Once their classic lineup of Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Bill Bruford locked into place for 1971's Fragile, the band crystallized all of the sonic and visual signifiers that eventually became synonymous with prog rock. Yes shifted between complicated time signatures, spliced pastoral folk, and Baroque classical in their muscular rock & roll, structured their songs as mini-suites, and wrapped the entire package in fantastical artwork by Roger Dean.

River of Music the new album from “musical marvels” the Kanneh-Masons (The Guardian) reunites all seven siblings – Isata, Braimah, Sheku, Konya, Jeneba, Aminata and Mariatu – following the success of Carnival (2020). The album features new arrangements of classical works and folk songs, with the centrepiece being Schubert’s Trout Quintet – a beloved family favourite the siblings grew up listening to together. Recorded in Abbey Road Studios in summer 2024, River of Music shares how the Kanneh-Masons’ love of music has been passed on through generations. From their Welsh grandmother following love across the sea to Sierra Leone, to their Antiguan grandad passing on his own dashed hopes of a musical career, this album celebrates the musical threads of the Kanneh-Mason family.