Paul Desmond (born Paul Emil Breitenfeld; November 25, 1924 – May 30, 1977) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer and proponent of cool jazz. He was a member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet and composed the group's biggest hit, "Take Five". The song remains the best-selling jazz song of all time.

When Jan van Gilse completed his studies in Cologne in 1902, he devoted himself to a dramatic scene based on the prose poem "Sulamith" by Prince Erich von Schönaich-Carolath, in which Satan recognizes that there is still love on earth despite his machinations, in addition to his prize-winning first symphony. Judging by the impressive music, this must have been the innermost conviction of the composer, who never found it easy in his life to bridge the gap between his German education and the prevailing taste of his fellow countrymen: Combative and vulnerable, quick-tempered and desperate, he strove for a truth that few heard - a maverick even when, in 1929, he wrote the poignant "Circle of Life" after Rainer Maria Rilke, which had had to wait around a hundred years for its adequate performance and deserved recognition. Now he has arrived.

Genius may not be the right word, but "brilliance" certainly fits. At the age of 51 in 1957, Hawkins had already been on records for 35 years and had been one of the leading tenors for nearly that long. This date matches him with the Oscar Peterson Trio (plus drummer Alvin Stoller) for a fine run-through on standards. Hawk plays quite well, although the excitement level does not reach the heights of his sessions with trumpeter Roy Eldridge.

"Frank Sinatra - Another Christmas With The Rat Pack!" is not an official album title, but likely refers to the 2002 compilation album titled Christmas With The Rat Pack, which features holiday songs by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. The album includes Sinatra's performances of songs like "Mistletoe and Holly" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".

Helen Merrill is the debut studio album by vocalist Helen Merrill, on which she is accompanied by trumpeter Clifford Brown in arrangements by Quincy Jones. Brown had recorded a similar album with Sarah Vaughan only a few days previously, on December 16 and 18, 1954.

Biophilia Live is a 2014 British concert film by Björk, directed and edited by Peter Strickland and Nick Fenton. The film features Björk performing tracks from her Biophilia tour, which started in June 2011 and ended in September 2013. It was filmed at Alexandra Palace in London on 3 September 2013, and had a theatrical premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on 26 April 2014 with screenings across the world throughout the same year.

Sonny Stitt led a number of excellent record dates in 1959, especially at the end of the year when he produced three LPs for Verve over a span of three sessions with pianist Lou Levy, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Mel Lewis. Playing alto sax throughout this album, Stitt hardly sounds like a Charlie Parker clone, something that unfortunately was a frequent claim by tin-eared critics throughout a fair portion of his career. The music includes several potent originals, especially "Hymnal Blues" (which is based on an old hymn) and the slow, powerful "Morning After Blues." Even an old warhorse like "Frankie and Johnnie" (which actually dates back to the early 1800s, according to liner note writer Leonard Feather) sounds fresh in the quartet's hands, with great solos by Stitt, Levy, and Vinnegar.

Gerry Mulligan's first session as a leader and one of the first to showcase his baritone was recorded in New York shortly before he relocated to Los Angeles and formed his famous pianoless quartet with Chet Baker. There is a piano on this set (George Wallington) but Mulligan's writing (all seven selections are his) for a two-baritone nonet that also features trumpeter Nick Travis and tenor-saxophonist Allan Eager is already in his influential "cool style"; best-known among the originals is "Bweebida Bwobbida."

In the end, if the musicians have brought their hearts, souls, and years of mastery, if the recording team has entered into the space with wisdom, tools, patience and good will, if the executive producer is saying, “Sure, let’s book one more session to make this the very best it can possibly be” then the opportunity exists for the listener to hear it all — the breath, the intention, the ensemble, the soloist, the fingers on the strings, the air as it comes out of the recorder, the hands on the regulators of the uilleann pipes, the tipper as it touches the head of the bodhran, the rosin on the fiddle’s bow, and feathered end of the note on a viola da gamba. It is all there.

Rubicon Classics is proud to present the third album on the label from award-winning pianist, conductor, and composer Karim Said. Karim first came to the attention of the UK audience through Christopher Nupen’s film Karim’s Journey, which followed the then 14-year-old from his family home in Jordan to the Purcell School in London.

Once again finding harmony and creating alchemy between seeming opposites, on Volta Björk is bold but thoughtful, delicate yet strong, accessible and avant.

Best known for his work in Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos, Minnesota singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Jr. Thomas returns with a collaboration that pays homage to the golden era of soul music.

A Piece of Infinity, the latest album by Meklit, is an invitation to think, to love, and to groove. Celebrating the rich musical traditions of Ethiopia, the Addis-born, San Francisco based vocalist, songwriter, and composer molds folk tunes from a multitude of communities and cultures throughout Ethiopia into jazz-inflected fantasies imbued with warmth and reverence. At its center is Meklit’s voice, which soars and whispers, intoning strength and devotion in Kambaata, Amharic, Oromo, and English. From songs of longing and love to children's riddles and original compositions, Meklit traverses expansive sonic ground that offers just a glimpse at the infinite complexity of Ethiopian culture. Featuring guest appearances by harpist Brandee Younger and flutist Camille Thurman and recorded at San Francisco’s Women’s Audio Mission.

Jeff Tweedy’s fifth solo album, Twilight Override, is a 30-track collection across three discs, showcasing his signature blend of wit, insight, and whimsy. Self-produced at The Loft in Chicago and engineered by longtime collaborators Tom Schick and Mark Greenberg, the album includes standout tracks from recent live sets like “Feel Free,” “Enough,” and “Lou Reed Was My Babysitter.”

John Rutter est l’une des figures les plus emblématiques de l’excellence et de la vitalité de la musique chorale anglaise. Graham Ross a réuni le Chœur du Clare College (institution que le compositeur lui-même dirigea au milieu des années 1970) et le Dmitri Ensemble pour rendre hommage à ce grand monsieur de l’histoire de la musique moderne, enregistrant une grande variété de ses œuvres dont certaines gravées ici pour la toute première fois.