Ray Barretto a.k.a. King of the Hard Hands (April 29, 1929 – February 17, 2006), was an American jazz musician, widely credited as the godfather of Latin jazz. He was also the first Hispanic to record a Latin song which became a "hit" in the American Billboard Charts.

If you consider the songs on Voodoo Circle’s new album Raised On Rock to be an indicator of the current emotional condition their most important protagonists find themselves in, there seems to be no reason to worry about band founder, guitarist and main composer Alex Beyrodt in particular. Thanks to Beyrodt’s excellent songwriting – as usual inspired by renowned sources such as Whitesnake, Rainbow, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix – and his outstanding guitar performance which brings to mind icons from Ritchie Blackmore through Jimmy Page to John Sykes, this recording oozes pure, unadulterated fervour.

Chuck Brown (born August 22, 1936) is a guitarist and singer who is affectionately called "The Godfather of Go-go". Go-go is a subgenre of funk music developed in and around Washington, D.C. in the mid- and late 1970s. While its musical classification, influences, and origins are debated, Brown is regarded as the fundamental force behind the creation of go-go music.

Chester Arthur Burnett, known as Howlin' Wolf, was a Chicago blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, originally from Mississippi. With a booming voice and looming physical presence, he is one of the best-known Chicago blues artists. Musician and critic Cub Koda noted, "no one could match Howlin' Wolf for the singular ability to rock the house down to the foundation while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its wits." Producer Sam Phillips recalled, "When I heard Howlin' Wolf, I said, 'This is for me. This is where the soul of man never dies'". Several of his songs, including "Smokestack Lightnin'", "Back Door Man", "Killing Floor" and "Spoonful", have become blues and blues rock standards. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 51 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."

Jalapeno Records, celebrates our 20th anniversary with the release of a compilation, showcasing highlights from the label's illustrious 20 year history.The compilation features 20 seminal tracks from the label's back catalogue, providing a unique snapshot of a label that has quietly established itself as one of the most important funk and soul labels in the UK today.

Welcome to the second instalment of my ‘Jazz Dance Fusion’ compilation series for Joey Negro’s Z Records. I continue to look back into the story & history of the UK jazz dance and jazz music scene; a movement that started for me back in the 70's. The sounds of funk & soul mixed with jazz, influences from Brazil, Africa, Europe and all over the globe, textures of instrumental sounds & voices, fuse to create the much-loved ‘jazz fusion’ sound that we love.Here we are in 2020 when interest in all forms of Jazz is growing fast as DJ pioneers such as Gilles Peterson, Patrick Forge, Perry Louis, Snowboy, Nick Hosier, Alan Mckinnon, Jim Bernardi, Kev Beadle, Harv Nagi, Shuya Okino and David Patterson continue to push all aspects of Jazz to converted and new audiences.So, to this compilation where I am showcasing unreleased material and offering tracks up for the first time ever on vinyl and CD. The track listing covers my addiction to dance-floor jazz, coupled with my passion for vocal and percussive jazz, with my usual trademark latin touches.Hope you enjoy the selection – turn it up loud and feel the jazz passion flow!

It's a jazz trio record with piano, bass and drums, and all the music is written by the great Johann Sebastian Bach. The compositions have been rearranged by the trio, to be used as springboards for improvisation.

Okay, the way the story goes is that in 1965 John Lennon bought a Swiss KB Discomatic portable jukebox. What’s that you ask? It’s the 1965 equivalent of an MP3 player or an i-pod. It was a suitcase-sized thing and you could fill it with 40 of your own 45s. So John bought one, I’m sure at the time only the very rich could afford a Swiss KB Discomatic, and he filled the thing with 40 of his favorite 45s and took it with him on tour. One of the 45s Daydream/ Night Owl Blues by the Lovin’ Spoonful didn’t come out until 1966 so we know he didn’t put at least that 45 in the jukebox until then.

The truly definitive singles collection of this living legend – featuring all of Shaky’s singles released as a solo artist, highlighting the broad umbrella of styles from rock and country blues, to Cajun, and Americana to classic rock – and including all the classics hits. Stevens shares with the Beatles (60s) and Elton John (70s) the distinction of being the most successful UK singles chart performer of a decade (80s), as confirmed by the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles and Albums. ‘Singled Out’ – the 3CD collection of singles is unique, in that it is the only release ever to feature all of Shaky’s singles from throughout his solo career. Exclusive to this release is also a brand new single ‘Wild At Heart (Neros Single Version)’

A major strength of the Parma performances has been the contribution of the theatre’s chorus. So it proves here as well. Along with the choral contribution, and that of the four soloists, I always listen carefully to hear how the conductor controls the dynamics of the opening Requiem Eternam…the thrilling Tuba Mirum…and the Dies irae and its reprise. Yuri Temirkanov, Musical Director of the Teatro Regio, passes my tests with an ethereally quiet opening. Add to this a viscerally exciting lead into the Mors stupebit…

Cliff Richard has been a fixture on British rock charts for six decades. Born Harry Rodger Webb in Lucknow, India, on October 14, 1940, he made his rock'n'roll debut Sixteen years later with his first band The Drifters, which became the Shadows and collected hits: "Move It", "Livin ' Doll", "Bachelor Boy", among others. After a solo stint, the youth idol converted to Christianity in 1964 and pursued a multiple career as a hugely popular singer, actor and TV host in the UK. Dean of British rock since 1958, Cliff Richard has placed fourteen songs at the top of the sales charts, including "We don't Talk Anymore" (1979) and "Millennium Prayer" (1999). He continues to record albums between pop, rock and Christmas songs.

Nexus Polaris is the second studio album by the Norwegian metal band Covenant, and was released in 1998 through Nuclear Blast. Starting the new album, Nagash and Blackheart wanted to form an actual band this time. They enlisted guitarist, Astennu (who was playing in Dimmu Borgir at the time with Nagash), keyboardist Sverd (of Arcturus), Sarah Jezebel Deva (of Cradle of Filth and other bands), and Hellhammer (of Mayhem). Nagash took over bass and vocal duties while Blackheart took guitar.

The Gallery is the second full-length studio album by the Swedish melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity, released on November 27, 1995. It was the first full-length release to feature Mikael Stanne on vocals, as he was previously the rhythm guitarist. In 2004, The Gallery was re-released with a slightly different cover art and five cover songs as bonus tracks.

Enrico Pieranunzi has proved himself to be one of the leading jazz pianists in Europe, primarily as a post-bop pianist who has recorded numerous CDs as a leader for various European and Japanese labels since his career took off during the mid-'90s. But this 2008 gig at Birdland in New York City reveals a different side, as it focuses on six Latin-flavored originals by Pieranunzi. He recruited a top-notch cast of supporting musicians, including trumpeter Diego Urcola; saxophonist Yosvany Terry; the young, in-demand drummer Antonio Sanchez; and veteran bassist John Patitucci. Pieranunzi's compositions blend the energy of Latin jazz with a singular infectious drive, particularly on his extended opener, "Danza 2," showcasing Urcola, Terry, and the composer in turn. The lovely Latin ballad "Rosa del Mare" is a subdued lyrical gem omitting the horns.

Although much acclaimed at the time of its premiere in 1890, César Franck’s quartet is rarely played or recorded; here it is at the centre of this third album by the Quatuor Zaïde, who have repeatedly pursued an original and ambitious discography off the beaten path.