Handel, a child of his time, was fascinated by the poignant human dramas and emotions exemplified by Greek and Roman classical myths, dramas and poetry. A theatre composer to his very bones, he was remarkably skilled in the portrayal of human psychology. The oboe was an instrument especially beloved by Handel and it is the unifying element in this fascinating anthology of arias and cantatas focusing on themes of love and madness sung by soprano Johannette Zomer. Zomer is accompanied by oboist Bart Schneemann and the ensemble Musica Amphion under direction of Jan-Pieter Belder.

Cardboard sleeve reissue from Herbert von Karajan features SHM-SACD format for the first time. Japanese original release. Recorded in August 1964 in St. Moritz.

At the age of 71, Johnny Frigo finally had his debut as a leader on record, with the exception of an obscure effort in 1957. Although he had spent much of his career as a studio bassist, Frigo successfully switched full-time to his first love, the violin, and was immediately considered one of the top swing-based violinists. Joined by both Bucky and John Pizzarelli on guitars, either Ron Carter or Michael Moore on bass, and drummer Butch Miles, Frigo is in wonderful form on 14 standards, including "Pick Yourself Up," "Detour Ahead" (which he had co-written while with the Soft Winds in the late '40s), "Stompin' at the Savoy" and "The Song Is You". This recommended album launched the Chesky label.

John Williams, classical guitar virtuoso, is known for his wide-ranging approach to repertory, which includes appearances playing electric rock guitar and international music.

Momoe Yamaguchi (山口 百恵) is a Japanese former singer, actress, and idol whose career lasted from 1972 to 1980. Often simply referred to by her given name "Momoe", Yamaguchi is one of the most successful singers in Japanese music, releasing 32 singles, including three number one hits, and 21 studio albums. "L.A. Blue" is her 18th album, recorded in Los Angeles using local musicians and production staff. It features mostly Japanese-language songs in light disco-funk arrangements and couple AOR-ballads as well.

Blow by Blow served as a new creative peak for Beck and is, to date, his most commercially successful release. Offering a one-two punch of ingenious production and imaginative soloing, the wonderfully unpredictable guitar genius meshes stinging jazz-rock with string arrangements and energetic rhythm for You Know What I Mean; Constipated Duck; Air Blower; Scatterbrain ; Stevie Wonder's Cause We've Ended as Lovers; Thelonius; Freeway Jam; Diamond Dust , and a clever arrangement of Lennon and McCartney's She's a Woman.

Quiet Nights is a studio album by jazz musician Miles Davis, and his fourth album collaboration with Gil Evans, released in 1964 on Columbia Records. Recorded mostly at Columbia's 30th Street Studios in Manhattan, it is the final album by Davis and Evans.

Soultrane is one of the essential albums in John Coltrane's career. Recorded during the first year of his Prestige contract, between his critical service in Thelonious Monk's quartet and his return to the band of Miles Davis, it finds the tenor saxophonist displaying a new level of both technical and conceptual refinement, dispensing torrents of notes that annotator Ira Gitler famously dubbed "sheets of sound".

Cry Me a River is an album led by pianist John Hicks. John Hicks is joined by fellow musicians Dwayne Burno on bass and Victor Lewis on drums for a compilation of jazz standards titled Cry Me A River. Tunes include "Witchcraft", "Alone Together", "Moon And Sand", "Cry Me A River" and more.

One of the most beautiful Eddie Henderson albums we've heard in years – a richly modal session with lots of classic influences, recorded beautifully, and with a feel that will make it a real standout! The set list includes some killer jazz standards – like Wayne Shorter's "Prince Of Darkness" and "Footprints", Miles Davis' "So What" and "All Blues", and Monk's "Well You Needn't" and "Round Midnight" – not to mention great versions of "Green Dolphin Street", and "Old Folks". And even though the tunes are classics, they're played with the fresh modernism of the mid 60s Miles Davis quintet – a style that's got angular edges, but also some deeply soulful moments – played with elegance by a group that includes Bob Berg on tenor, Dave Kikoshi on piano, Ed Howard on bass, and Billy Hart and Victor Lewis on drums.

Illinois Jacquet was "foremost of the WWII-era "Texas tenor titans", an influential figure in both jazz and R&B saxophone. "Swing’s The Thing" is one of his first recordings. Recorded in Los Angeles in 1956, it features Illinois Jacquet on tenor sax, Roy Eldridge on trumpet, Jimmy Jones on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and Jo Jones on drums. These magical performances capture the genius that was Jacquet's playing, backed by a stellar ensemble.

Here 'Tis is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label in 1961 and performed by Donaldson with organist Baby Face Willette, guitarist Grant Green and drummer Dave Bailey.

Harold Mabern was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1936 and spent some of his early years in Chicago before moving to New York in the early 1960s. There he began to work with Lionel Hampton, Art Farmer's Jazztet and J.J. Johnson. Mabern has accompanied many vocalists including Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Dakota Staton, Irene Reid and Arthur Prysock. He's also worked with Roland Kirk, Sonny Rollins, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Roy Haynes, Wes Montgomery, Clark Terry, Billy Harper, Joe Newman and George Coleman. On this record, he's joined by Joe Farnsworth and Dwayne Burno.

The Omnibus Wind Ensemble's interest in Frank Zappa's music dates back to the beginning of the 1980s, almost from their very beginnings. Under the motto "From Mozart to Zappa", which also became the title of their 1st, widely acclaimed CD on the Opus3 label, they have had many of Frank Zappa's compositions in their repertoire over the years.