Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Although it followed a formula similar to the hugely successful Memphis Underground, Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty stands on its own as a superb example of the fusion of jazz with '60s soul music, a genre that Herbie Mann stood atop at the time of its release. In addition to Mann band members Roy Ayers, Miroslav Vitous and Bruno Carr, the recording employs the Muscle Shoals rhythm section that had played together on numerous soul hits of the '60s, including those of Aretha Franklin. Standout cuts include the title track, with the its horn-driven groove; Sharrock's "Blind Willy," featuring a jew's-harp hook; and a smoldering version of Lennon & McCartney's "Come Together." Throughout the album, Mann's solos wail through the upper register of the flute, while Ayers finds interestingly funky passages on the vibes.

Paddy McAloon had not yet found the key to the elegant compositions that made Prefab Sprout distinctive when it came time to record their debut, Swoon. He certainly tries hard to make his sophisticated contemporary pop sound distinctive, but the problem is that he does too many things at once – the lyrics are overstuffed, and the music has too many chord changes and weird juxtapositions, as he tries to put white-funk beats to carefully crafted melodies. A few moments work, such as "Couldn't Bear to Be Special," but Swoon is primarily of interest as a historical item, since it only suggests the promise the band later filled.

German four-piece speed/thrash metal band, regarded as very influential to the modern black metal scene…

There is a fine selection of performances of John Dowland's music by English musicians available, and it may be that few listeners outside Germany will be attracted to this recording of his music by German viol group Hamburger Ratsmusik and its leader, Simone Eckert, with tenor Jan Kobow. That would be a shame, for there is plenty to distinguish this album from other Dowland releases on the market. The program is unique: the "contemporaries" mentioned in the title are not the usual English suspects, but a group of mostly German (or Danish) instrumental composers. Some such as Michael Praetorius, are well known, but others like Dane Melchior Borchgrevinck are obscure.

Bassist Dave Holland has been at the forefront of experimental, forward-thinking jazz ever since his formative years playing in Miles Davis' fusion ensemble. His 2013 album, Prism, finds Holland returning to his crossover funk roots with an able-bodied quartet. Featured here are former Tonight Show guitarist Kevin Eubanks, pianist/Rhodes keyboardist Craig Taborn, and drummer Eric Harland. All of these musicians have reputations for playing adventurous, genre-bending styles of jazz, making them perfectly suited for the project at hand. Holland's fourth outing on his own Dare2 Records, Prism follows his 2008 sextet date Pass It On, his 2010 octet album Pathways, and his 2010 flamenco-inspired Hands.

Cesar Franck's passionate and sunny Violin Sonata has long been regarded as one of the greatest in the repertoire, and is the work of a composer at the height of his powers. Richard Strauss's Violin Sonata, composed a year after Franck's in 1887, is the work of a young composer on the cusp of discovering his mature voice; lyrical and sumptuous, it has all the hallmarks of his later style. Performed here by distinguished violinist and conductor Augustin Dumay and French-Canadian pianist Louis Lortie, this recording marks the duo's recording debut. In addition to the sonatas, this album includes two Franck rarities - Melancolie and the Prelude, Fugue and Variation Op.18 for organ, heard here in an arrangement by Dumay and Lortie. The recording concludes with the wonderful Heifetz arrangement of Strauss's song Auf stillem Waldespfad.

Bojan Gorišek is the leading Slovenian pianist in the field of contemporary music, perhaps best known for recording the complete piano opus (10 CDs) of Erik Satie for the Blaricum Music Group of the Netherlands and the English label LTM Recordings. Those recordings, rated among the best ever made, represent the most complete review of Satie’s piano compositions to date. He has recorded over 30 CDs to date, including four CDs by George Crumb, the piano sonata Concord by Charles Ives and two CDs by Philip Glass for the Blaricum Music Group (Audiophile Classics series). He has also recorded the complete piano opuses of a number of Slovenian composers. Most recently, he has received high regard for his interpretations of Arvo Pärt and Philip Glass.

Incredible limited edition 16 Hybrid-SACD box set, featuring the 13 albums (15 discs) released by English prog rock group between 1968 and 1987, plus a unique 12-track bonus disc of rare mixes and single versions, all newly remastered and packaged in standard jewel cases. Albums include; "Yes (1969)," "Time and a Word (1970)," "The Yes Album (1971)," "Fragile (1971)," "Close to the Edge (1972)," "Yessongs (1973)," "Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973)," "Relayer (1974)," "Going for the One (1977)," "Tormato (1978)," "Drama (1980)," "90125 (1983)," and "Big Generator (1987).".

Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist Kara Grainger teams up with acclaimed producer and engineer David Z (Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Ana Popovic) for a soulful slice of Americana on her Eclecto Groove Records debut. Grainger's trademark fiery slide guitar and smooth sultry vocals fondly invites comparisons to American icon Bonnie Raitt on a selection of evocatively handcrafted originals, along with a few choice covers including Robert Johnson's classic C'mon in My Kitchen. Featured musicians include guitarists Josh Sklair and Kirk Fletcher, keyboardist Mike Finnigan, bassist Hutch Hutchinson, as well as drummers James Gadson and Jimi Bott.

Since arriving in New York City in 2001, Nate Wooley has established himself as one of the most inventive trumpet players of his generation. In addition to the admiration of his peers, including fellow trumpeters like Taylor Ho Bynum, Peter Evans and Kirk Knuffke, Wooley has earned the respect of esteemed scene veterans, such as Dave Douglas, who said "Nate Wooley is one of the most interesting and unusual trumpet players living today, and that is without hyperbole."

Hyperion presents a second volume of music from the Conductus repertory - the least-known genre of medieval music - performed by tenors John Potter, Christopher O'Gorman, Rogers Covey-Crump, three singers who combine expert knowledge of the music with voices of unearthly beauty. This album contains poems set to music from thirteenth-century England and France. The subjects range from straightforward exhortations to the Virgin Mary to criticisms of the Papal Curia and a depiction of the student riots in Orleans in 1236.

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Hip soulful work from organist Shirley Scott – one of the first records that has her breaking out of the straighter soul jazz sound of her work on Prestige and Impulse – and a gem of a set that features some great funky arrangements from the great Marty Sheller! The group's all-Atlantic all the way through – with players that include King Curtis, Hank Crawford, and David Newman on "soul" saxophones – backing Shirley up on a batch of tunes are mostly takes on 60s pop and soul hits – given a larger band groove, and a sweet Atlantic swing! The album's got a great funky version of "It's Your Thing", plus "I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel To Be Free", "Get Back", and "Natural Woman".

A mainstay of the Radical Jewish series since their first release in 2000, Jaroslaw Bester is one of the most consistently creative and imaginative musicians in the New Jewish Renaissance. Here he approaches the classic compositions of Cracow-born Mordechaj Gebirtig, the preeminent Yiddish folk artist and one of the most influential poets and songwriters of his time. Bester’s arrangements are lush and filled with emotion, setting the tone of Gebirtig’s lyrical melodies into a modern and powerful new context.

At the close of the '70s, Hall & Oates began inching toward a sleek, modern sound, partially inspired by the thriving punk and new wave scene and partially inspired by Daryl Hall's solo debut, Sacred Songs, a surprising and successful collaboration with art rock legend Robert Fripp. While 1979's X-Static found the duo sketching out this pop/soul/new wave fusion, it didn't come into fruition until 1980's Voices, which was their creative and commercial breakthrough…