Sometimes there are discoveries that hit likethunderbolts! Matt Pascale & The Stomps areundoubtedly one of them-and a major one atthat. Everything here is simply perfect. Musically,the backbone of this album remains blues, butrock, funk, soul, and even hip-hop are never faroff. The compositions flow like a string ofpotential hits. It only takes listening to this albumonce or twice for certain melodies to lodgethemselves firmly in your brain. As for theperformance, it"s downright incredible. MattPascale has a raspy voice with a "more Italian youcouldn"t get" vibe, his guitar playing is a sheermarvel of precision and feel, and The Stomps area rhythmic and groovy powerhouse capable ofwaking the dead. Un-be-lie-va-ble!

“Poulenc’s piano works, like his other works, have always captivated me, both with their unrelenting honesty and their fearless formal certainty. Poulenc is brilliant at taking his listeners from one emotion to another, often without any transition. Poulenc’s language is often glibly described as ‘light’ even by the musical public. But this view is only correct to the extent that one can objectively observe his personal life from within the palpable proximity of danger. This ‘predatory’ gaze pervades the French composer’s work. The unvarnished honesty of Poulenc’s music, which brilliantly blends tradition and progression, makes it astonishingly direct for all of us.”

Soliloquy is the third solo album by Jaco Liu and his first international release. The album features nine original compositions and two arrangements, blending elements of rock, pop, jazz, and East Asian music. It showcases his deep musical expression and unique artistic style. Jaco Liu is a rising acoustic guitar artist from China. He has performed at numerous international music festivals and won many competitions, including the 6th European Guitar Award. With over 100 solo concerts to his name, he has extensive performance experience. He is currently studying at the Dresden University of Music.

Maurice Ravel’s piano trio was the result of an earlier war insinuating itself into his composition. The work’s first movements, however, were conceived as far from war as imaginable. Early summer 1914 found Ravel at his happiest, holidaying with Alexandre Benois in the Basque town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, on the Atlantic coast half a mile from Ravel’s birthplace of Ciboure.

The largest collection of piano nocturnes on CD, celebrating the art of the romantic piano song without words. Over a century of repertoire in all modern recordings, plus a new booklet essay exploring the history and context of the nocturne.

Previously, soprano Fatma Said’s latest albums, El Nour and Kaleidoscope crossed cultures and musical genres, her new album Lieder instead focuses on German-language songs of the Romantic era: lieder by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms.