In Beethoven's own words: "Music is the only incorporeal introduction to the world of knowledge… a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy… reaching beyond even the starry sky to the original source." IN this program by pianist Anne Queffélec. That is indeed where the epiphanies of the ultima verba uttered by the last three sonatas take us: on a journey of initiation that could not be undertaken in reverse.

The songwriting core of '80s supergroup Asia was vocalist/bassist John Wetton and keyboardist Geoffrey Downes. Guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Carl Palmer contributed to the awesome whole, but virtually every song on 1982's number-one behemoth Asia and 1983's Alpha were officially credited to Wetton and Downes. After the original lineup splintered following those two albums, Downes continued to lead various incarnations of the group with occasional, gradually dwindling involvement from the others. Wetton and Downes resumed writing together from time to time, and finally pooled their talents to record 2005's Icon, which is what they also named this duo project itself.

From Boston, this was a heavy psychedelic outfit with free jazz influences. Except for the classic blues track, Sweet Little Angel, all the songs on their album were penned by the group and sung in a very rasping voice by Jere Whiting. The album was produced by Danny Weiss (Everything Is Everything) and recorded in New York. It's one of the few records issued on Vanguard Apostolic, the label managed by John Townley (from Family Of Apostolic).

The music on "Elemental" is certainly Boddy's most structured set of pieces for quite some time. The 8 tracks run in a continuous set merging into each other via ambient cross fades. The first, "Never Forever" and last tracks, "Elemental" have a grandiose, chordal character that nicely bookend the album. Four of the other tracks are strongly rhythmic and include hefty bass lines and intricate percussion overlaid with beguiling and subtle melodic themes. The remaining two tracks are in a more atmospheric, ambient vein and provide aural resting points in what feels like a musical journey. However "Elemental" doesn't have a spacey feel as found on his last two releases but exudes a more organic, down to earth approach.

A significant name of the German krautrock scene, Thirsty Moon were found in Bremen in 1972 and started as a 7-member band. By the same year their eponymous debut was already recorded and released by Brain Records. It consists of four short tracks and one epic jam,clocking at over 20 minutes (+ bonus track on this CD edition). The album follows the typical German mode of krautrock with strong interplays, long jamming and a lot of space for endless improvisational musicianship.
Saxes are everywhere played by Willie Pape and ranging from smooth passages to abstract heavy parts. There is also some lovely percussion work throughout the listening, featuring also nice organ and groovy electric pianos. Vocals are English with a rough edge, which fit very much to the band's style…

The Nelson Riddle Orchestra was always great enough to play music for film and television soundtracks, and accompany the greatest of stars, including Louis Jordan, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, among many others. For the band to back up the 1963 version of the Oscar Peterson trio with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen might have created some tension, with Peterson always wanting to cut loose and go over the top as opposed to the silky smooth sound Riddle favored. Fortunately, Peterson strikes a balance between playing it cool and lettin' 'er rip on this collection of standards with the dinner hour in mind. Though not exclusively subtle and romantic, Riddle and Peterson strike a golden bipartisan compromise in rendering these well-known American popular songs into quietly burning embers of pure delight…