This is not just another disc (or, in this case, double disc) of Vivaldi violin concertos, but rather one of very few discs on the market to treat a chronological aspect of Vivaldi's career. In question here are early works by the Red Priest. These concertos date from around 1700 to 1710 and were thus composed prior to the appearance of the L'estro armonico, Op. 3, and La stravaganza, Op. 4, sets that made Vivaldi's name. Most of them appear on other recordings, but many were only recently authenticated. And not very many musicians have tried to draw a portrait of Vivaldi as a young man.

Neben dem überaus erfolgreichen Singspiel Doktor und Apotheker haben es gerade noch Dittersdorfs originelles Kontrabasskonzert, mit Abstrichen wohl auch seine Sinfonien nach Ovids Metamorphosen geschafft, sich im Bewusstsein des Klassikpublikums zu halten. So dürften die dem klassischen Konzerttypus folgenden Klavierkonzerte A-Dur (1779) und B-Dur (1773) des gebürtigen Wieners und hoch geschätzten Violinvirtuosen und Opernkomponisten Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf (1739-1799) nur einem kleinen Kreis von Insidern bekannt sein, wenngleich das A-Dur-Konzert in der Bearbeitung als Harfenkonzert vermutlich bekannter ist.

The idea behind this programme is to let the guitarists explore the intermingling of dream, darkness and light. Graham Lynch, influenced by several composers and artists of the past, created music subject to rapid mood changes, great fluidity of time and considerable variety. The album majors on time, characters and places, and on wide-ranging emotions. All the works have a strong sense of chiaroscuro that can be a central characteristic of the guitar. It may help to be aware of Lynch’s highly eclectic style, which ranges from tango and neo-baroque, by way of serialism to post-modern Romanticism.

"The Best of Wattstax" celebrates the 50th anniversary of the iconic Wattstax event by bringing together twenty of the best performances from the 1972 event at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. Hand-picked by Stax Records, the album features live performances from legendary artists including Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, The Bar-Kays, Kim Weston, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Albert King, Eddie Floyd and more.

Buddy Guy revitalized his career when he signed with Silvertone Records in the early '90s. His first album for the label, Damn Right, I've Got the Blues, was a smash success, earning critical acclaim, awards, and sales hand over fist. Prior to that record, he was a legend only among blues fans; afterward, he was a star. Although it was a bit too rock-oriented and slick for purists, Damn Right was a terrific album, setting the pace not only for Guy but for modern electric blues in the '90s. As the decade wore on, Guy continued to make albums for Silvertone, some of them a little complacent, others quite excellent. Buddy's Baddest: The Best of Buddy Guy attempts to summarize those years in 14 songs, including three previously unreleased cuts.

Countertenor Tim Mead presents Beauteous Softness, a programme containing restrained yet profoundly moving songs by seventeenth-century English composers such as Purcell, Blow, Humfrey and Webb, in collaboration with La Nuova Musica and David Bates. The album also showcases the rich musical context that provided the foundation from which Purcell rose to prominence.

Swans present their sixteenth studio album The Beggar. The Beggar was written and produced by founding member Michael Gira and features contributions from recent and former Swans members, members of Angels Of Light, as well as guest Swan Ben Frost.

To celebrate the 80th birthday of one of Quebec’s most renowned living composers, pianist Louise Bessette presents Hommage à François Dompierre, which features music written for the cinema, a few unpublished works, and pieces for two pianos featuring the composer himself. Of special note is “Entre mer et chanterelles”, composed for Louise Bessette as a tribute to the composer Gilles Tremblay, and “Un bonheur d’occasion”, an unusual duet with Dompierre, who improvises on his own score performed by Bessette.

Gaute Storsve Trio is merging Nordic jazz with Latin American music. The music on this album has been inspired by a plethora of different genres expanding from Cuban son and old Mexican boleros to 70s jazz rock and prog.

First ever US CD edition of this classic album from 1973 by original YES guitarist Peter Banks. Features appearances by Jan Akkerman, Phil Collins, Steve Hacket and John Wetton. Peter Banks was the original guitarist of the progressive rock bands The Syn, Yes, Flash and Empire. The BBC's Danny Baker and Big George often called Banks "The architect of progressive music".

For almost 60 years, Elder Charles Beck enjoyed widespread recognition as a singer, pianist and trumpeter, as well as a preacher, church leader and civil rights activist. From 1930 until the late 1950s Beck recorded for Decca, Bluebird, Gotham, King and Chess labels. His lively services at his church in Buffalo, New York gave Beck renown even in folk music circles.