Perhaps hearkening back to 1971's two-volume Piano Improvisations, pianist Chick Corea issues this majestic, two-part solo recording, the first disc of which features his original compositions. The music spans Corea's career thus far: opening with "Brasilia" and then "Yellow Nimbus" – the latter written for flamenco guitarist Paco De Lucia – he goes on to play "Armando's Rhumba," three selections from the 1983 solo piano album Children's Songs, and then a short, to-the-point "Spain," probably his most famous piece. (The finale, "Children's Song #12," runs over thirteen minutes.) Curiously, he also includes two preludes by classical composer Alexander Scriabin – one of which he also played solo on 1986's Trio Music: Live in Europe.

This is the second of two LPs recorded by Chick Corea shortly after he broke up the avant-garde quartet Circle, saying that he wanted to communicate to a larger audience. As with the first set, these brief sketches are melodic and a bit precious but contain some strong moments. In addition to seven Corea originals, he interprets Thelonious Monk's "Trinkle Tinkle" and Wayne Shorter's "Masquellero." Not essential but worth acquiring.

The late Conrad Silvert had a rare opportunity to achieve the jazz critic's dream by organizing a concert featuring many of his favorite jazz musicians in unusual combinations. This double LP matches together the pianos of Denny Zeitlin and Herbie Hancock on one fairly free performance, has duets featuring pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi with flutist Lew Tabackin and pianist Herbie Hancock with either vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson or Wayne Shorter on tenor, and four numbers ("Sister Cheryl," "Footprints," "Silence" and "Hesitation") with trumpeter Wynton Marsalis (who was then 20), Shorter, Hancock, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Tony Williams. The results are consistently inspired and often memorable.

Formed in 2011 with Mathew Spivack and Chris Childness, the band had several line-up changes with Kody Little departure and Calvin Merseal joining the band in 2013. At that period, the band went into a productive writing period. Kody came back to solidify things even further. The band has to rely on many musicians to play the keyboards because they don't have a permanent keyboard player. They had a lot of songs to record (more than 3 hours). The first album "Time of Departure" was the first of a trilogy around the story of Alan Quill struggling artist in this modern society. They played at the Progtoberfest III in Chicago, the second album "As We Were" was just ready for that festival. The music of Amalgam Effect shows some nice interplay between guitar and flute with a solid rhythm section. The influences of Jethro Tull and Rush can be heard but in the distinctive own style of the band…

While virtually unknown in the U.S., pop singer Jennifer Rush achieved superstar status as an expatriate in Europe, selling millions of records and releasing a string of hit singles notable for their booming, dance-rock arrangements and Rush's powerful voice. Born Heidi Stern in New York City, Rush's father was an opera singer and her mother was a pianist. At the age of nine, she moved to Germany with her family, returning in her teens to the States.

Prog/Jazz-rock band Izvir (Eng. "source" or "spring") was formed in Ljubljana (Slovenia, ex-Yugoslavia) back around 1971, although not under that name, and was active until 1978. In this period they released two singles and the eponymous LP album, which today rank as highly valued collectors' items and are rare to find. The music is excellent and wonderfully performed jazz-rock with strong funk and progressive rock influences. Dual electric guitars, effective Andrej Konjajev's use of various keyboards like clavinet, organ, el. piano and strong tenor of vocalist Marko Bitenc are main ingredients of this music. After the break-up of Izvir, most of members collaborated with group Predmestje and other Slovenian jazz-rock acts.

Nouvelles Lectures Cosmopolites is a project of French composer Julien Ash, leader and only permanent member, helped by various artists. NLC combines Neo-Classical music with electronics for a unique example of modern chamber music. Piano is joined by violin, acoustic guitar, and acoustic bass plus ambient electronics and processed voices (singing and speaking).

Recorded at the Olympia in Paris, in 2003, En Toute Intimite is the third live album from Belgian-born pop vocalist Lara Fabian. Featuring piano-based acoustic arrangements of some of her biggest hits, it includes material from her 1994 breakthrough album Carpe Diem, her 1996 follow-up Pure, and 2001's Nue. Alongside collaborations with Maurane and Daniel Lavoie are several cover versions of French classics, including Charles Aznavour's "Comme Ils Disent" and Jacques Brel's "Voir un Ami Pleurer," and a previously unreleased English-language track, "Calling You."