Johnny Cash released more than half a dozen gospel albums during his career, beginning with 1959's Hymns by Johnny Cash, and he scattered gospel tunes throughout his other works as well. A deeply religious man, he sang his songs of praise with as much, or perhaps more, conviction as he did his secular material – even the most skeptical non-believer would have to appreciate the honesty and soul of Cash's gospel recordings. Cash: Ultimate Gospel collects 24 of his best, most drawn from his Columbia catalog with a pair ("I Was There When It Happened" and "Belshazzar") emanating from Cash's early Sun Records period, and two ("Oh Come, Angel Band" and "Children Go Where I Send Thee") originally on the Cachet label.

The violin concerto accompanied Vivaldi throughout his life. And more than any other genre, the circa 220 extant violin concertos reflect the biographical and professional events relating to the "Red Priest". Hence the idea - proposed, we believe, for the first time on disc - of recording 18 concertos, divided into three "seasons" that illustrate the evolution of Vivaldi's art through the three different stages of his career: the early years, his maturity and the late period.

Regarded today as the embodiment of classical music at its most lyrical and poetic, composers have entrusted the cello with some of the loveliest melodies every penned. Yet, when it came to writing cello concertos, for most composers it was a “one and done” proposition. One of the major musical monuments in the cello literature is the Schumann Concerto, composed as Schumann himself said because “there are so few works for this lovely instrument.” In contrast, Soviet composer Dmitry Kabalevsky is one of the exceptions to the “one and done” rule. For a long time dismissed in the west as a mediocre apparatchik, a more evenhanded appraisal of Kabalevsky’s work reveals a consummate craftsman with a natural gift for folk-inspired melodies and vivid orchestrations.

Guitarist Kenny Burrell leads a strong jam session that features the talented but very underrated trumpeter Louis Smith (who sounds a bit like Lee Morgan), the similar but contrasting tenors of Junior Cook and Tina Brooks, pianist Duke Jordan, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Art Blakey. Jordan's tongue-in-cheek "Scotch Blues" is a high point.

British singer/songwriter Howard Jones was a glinting jewel caught in the avalanche of synthesized music that overwhelmed the pop scene in the '80s. Jones had a true gift for crafting gleaming melodic hooks that make his hits some of the most memorable of the era. He used synthesizers not because they were "in," but because he could use them to create a delicious soundscape that couldn't be created without them. (Later in his career, he proved that he didn't need the electronics to write compelling pop music.) This 12" Album was released in support of his 1984 effort Humans Lib. It includes remixes of four of the hits from that record, including a previously unreleased extended mix of "Pearl in the Shell" and a "new version" of the now-classic "New Song," which features a reworked bass run and a new piano solo.

Tom's debut release was one of the many highlights of 2024, the multi-instrumentalists homage to the Canterbury scene is so evident with the use of vintage equipment and systems, this archival album will only enhance the feeling within music that Tom is an undeniable talent.
Tom (guitarist of Djiin and former keyboardist of Orgöne), began playing guitar at the age of 6 and later learnt how to play drums, piano and organ to a professional standard by the age of 15.

Master Cylinder is an obscure american band who manage to release only one album in 1981 named Elsewhere.
Master Cylinder's Elsewhere is a vibrant blend of jazzy, Canterbury-inspired fusion, featuring intricate rhythms, lush electric piano, and dynamic horns, perfect for fans of National Health and Weather Report.

This was the first and last time Pepper worked with Jordan, and came about as a result of Pepper's usual pianist, George Cables, being unable to make the dates at Club Montmartre in Copenhagen. To Pepper's dismay, Danmarks Radio decided to record the first gig of the Montmartre series. Pepper need not have worried – the show was a rousing success, with the band tackling a set of standards (and a couple of Pepper originals) with such verve and determination that relatively simple tunes turned into astounding solo workouts (there are several drum and bass solos to be heard on this record), the amazing highlight of which is a shot at "Besame Mucho" that rounds out to twenty-two minutes. Art Pepper was in the process of dying at the time this recording was made, but there's no lack of energy, no loss of vitality. A two-CD live jazz set that's well worth having and should not be overlooked.

Anita O'Day is heard in prime form on this early Verve date. Accompanied by an orchestra conducted and arranged by Buddy Bregman, O'Day is at the peak of her powers on such songs as "You're the Top," "Honeysuckle Rose," an emotional rendition of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," and "As Long As I Live." One of her better recordings, this date is recommended.