Pianist-composer Vijay Iyer follows his 2021 ECM disc Uneasy — the first to showcase his trio featuring bassist Linda May Han Oh and drummer Tyshawn Sorey — with Compassion, another album in league with these two gifted partners. The New York Times captured the special qualities of this group, pointing to the trio’s flair for playing “with a lithe range of motion and resplendent clarity… while stoking a kind of writhing internal tension. Crucial to that balance is their ability to connect with each other almost telepathically.”

Intensity of feeling and drama, joy of playing and energy: on its second album Symphonic Dances, the Cologne-based Xenon Saxophone Quartet presents a rich palette of emotions and a different facet of musical expression with each work. In the eponymous Symphonic Dances by Rachmaninoff, in which the quartet is expanded to include the pianist Sergey Markin, the five play to the full the "Russian soul" of Rachmaninoff. Their recording of Franck's Prélude, Fugue et Variation brings the almost mystical character of the work to life, and in Ligeti's Six Bagatelles, their profound avant-garde modernity becomes clear.

Tracking down the miracle of Bach's music: masterworks such as the Brandenburg Concertos have awakened the ensemble's spirit of discovery. In order to better understand their inner architecture and genius, ensemble member Christoph Harer, in collaboration with his colleagues, has created baroque transcriptions from Bach's originals, producing three "Neubrandenburg Concertos". A harpsichord concerto becomes music for three competing string trios; solo and chamber music is transformed into colourful concerto movements for different instrumentations. And a simple vanitas song is transformed into a dreamy string aria. Performing these works, la festa musicale reaches top form: solo parts are distributed across the entire orchestra, and the concertos are carried by the virtuosity and imagination of many. The creative play with originals opens up new and unexpected perspectives on Bach's great music.

Nobody knows why Mozart wrote three symphonies—his last, as fate decreed—in less than three months in the summer of 1788. Some say it was divine inspiration, others that he desperately needed a new income stream. Whatever the case, they stand among the great landmarks of the symphonic repertoire. The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and its founder-conductor, Marios Papadopoulos, in their expansive, lyrical interpretations of the last two of these works convey their nobility and classicism. They articulate countless details of rhythm and phrasing that all too often fly by in period-instrument performances, especially in the finale of Symphony No. 40 and the “Jupiter” Symphony’s opening “Allegro vivace,” the latter graced by superb string playing. While the prevailing mood is serious, there’s room for charm and lightness in the minuets of both symphonies.

Those elusive qualities of ‘transcendental beauty paired with an enchanting simplicity’, eloquently glossed by Alban Gerhardt in his booklet note, might also be said to characterize his playing in this outstanding new recording.

Visitors to Venice had borne witness to Vivaldi’s prowess as a violinist, although some found his performance more remarkable than pleasurable. He certainly explored the full possibilities of the instrument, while perfecting the newly developing form of the Italian solo concerto. He left nearly five hundred concertos. Many of these were for the violin, but there were others for a variety of solo instruments or for groups of instruments, including a score of such works for solo flute or recorder, with strings and harpsichord. He claimed to be able to compose a new work quicker than a copyist could write it out, and he clearly coupled immense facility with a remarkable capacity for variety within the confines of the three-movement form, with its faster outer movements framing a central slow movement.

45 years after his debut Philips recording of Beethoven’s 9th, Seiji Ozawa returns to this epic masterpiece. The Mito Chamber Orchestra features many international star players including Radek Baborák (horn), Ricardo Morales (clarinet) and Philippe Tondre (oboe). The German baritone Markus Eiche leads a quartet of leading Japanese soloists and the Tokyo Opera Singers in a fascinating performance on a chamber orchestra scale.

NOW is pleased to announce the latest addition in the Millennium series – NOW – Millennium 2006-2007 – out June 14th! 85 tracks across 4CDs, showcasing more unforgettable sounds of the 2000s from two fantastic years in music!

Comprehensive 3 CD+DVD collection from the agitpop band, including 2 albums, a clutch of singles, previously unreleased radio sessions and great television appearances. It's a reminder of just how brilliant TRB were.

38 track 2CD digipack featuring all of the recordings made by T.R.B. for EMI Records between 1977-79. Disc 1 is the No.4 charting ‘Power In The Darkness’ album. Now with an additional ten bonus tracks including the No.5 hit single ‘2-4-6-8 Motorway’ and the Top 40 ‘Rising Free’ EP and ‘Up Against The Wall’ single. The second disc features the No.18 charting ‘T.R.B. Two’ album. This has an additional seven bonus cuts including the previously non CD extended version of ‘Never Gonna Fall In Love…(Again)’ which was co-written with Elton John. This album also features the ‘Bully For You’ single which was co-written by Peter Gabriel.

Keith Jarrett Trio's album "France 1972" was released by Top Note in June 2024. This live recording captures the trio's performance in France and showcases their remarkable synergy and improvisational skills. The lineup features Keith Jarrett on piano, soprano saxophone, flute, and tambourine; Charlie Haden on bass; and Paul Motian on drums.

25 CD box set. Following the model of The Perfect Jazz Collection, this format comes in a cube lift off lid box, holding 25 original albums by 25 different artists. All original albums are replicated in mini jacket sleeves. This excellent value package, contains albums by legendary performers from the Blues genre ranging from 1951-2003; across some real classic albums, from Stevie Ray Vaughan, Aretha Franklin, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Taj Mahal, Etta James and many others.

There is nothing more satisfying than belting out your favourite power ballad at the top of your lungs. It never gets old. The Power Of Love delivers 100 of the greatest Power Ballads for you listening pleasure, whether you’re in the shower, gathering with friends or on a long car journey, we have all the fist pumping favourites on one amazing album.
The collection includes some of the best selling power ballads with 40 massive top-10 hit singles from the likes of T-Pau, Huey Lewis & The News, Cutting Crew, Cher, Bonnie Tyler, Marie Mckee, Richard Marx, Asia, the list goes on. The heavier epic rock gems are delivered courtesy of Nazareth, Kiss, Magnum, 10CC, Poison, Rainbow, Rod Stewart, Motorhead plus many more.The album could not be complete without the popular newer hits from huge names like Lenny Kravitz, Maroon 5, Shania Twain, Robbie Williams, Scorpions, Stereophonics, Ronan Keating to mention but a few. Whether you are into the 80s, 90s, Blockbuster movies, Pop, Indie or Rock, this set caterers to all tastes. Enjoy the most irresistible emotionally charged ballads that will resonate forever on this must-have collection.

Albert Marcœur is a French composer, singer and songwriter. He began his career in the early 1970s. His body of work mixes melodic, rhythmic and sonic experimentations with fancy nursery rhymes, humorous and offbeat lyrics. In France he has been called "the French Frank Zappa". Albert Marcœur was born on December 12 1947, in Dijon, France. During his formal education of clarinet at the National Academy of Music and Dance of Dijon, Marcoeur actively participated in many straightforward college rock 'n roll bands. Closing an end to his formal training Marcoeur's musical visions had gravitated towards the experimental facets of music, wishing "to do nothing else but make my own music".

41 Burt Bacharach Classics By An All-Star Assemblage Of Artists, 1962 to 1996 The Most Comprehensive 2 CD Set Of Bacharach Hits Original Hit Versions By Everyone From Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick & The Carpenters To The Pretenders, Elvis Costello, Neil Diamond & Cher A Remarkable Litany Of Classic Songs: 'What The World Needs Now Is Love,' 'I Say A Little Prayer,' 'A House Is Not a Home,' 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head,' 'Heartlight,' and on and on.