Despite his Italian name, Mario Bernardi was a native-born Canadian and one of his country's leading conductors. His family sent him back to the Old Country to study music as a child, though, and this was through the entirety of World War II. He studied piano, organ, and composition at the Manzato Conservatory in Treviso (1938 - 1945) and the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Venice (1945). Young Bernardi returned to Canada after the war to complete his studies in piano and conducting at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto (1948 - 1951).

Elmore James Jr., son of the great Elmore James, is an accomplished and masterful Chicago blues singer, slide guitarist, and former rock & roll drummer. Second CD for Wolf Records, titled Old School Lover, is one of the best traditional Chicago blues albums of 2012. Includes six new songs and six traditional tunes in the Chicago blues style. Features Eddie Taylor Jr., Ed Williams, and Illinois Slim.

Krystian Zimerman is getting better as he gets older. He used to be one of a half-dozen great young pianists, a brilliant virtuoso with tremendous expressivity, enormous soul, and a habit of making even fewer recordings than Argerich or Pollini. Over the years of ever-fewer recordings, he's grown into an astounding virtuoso and the emotional power of his interpretations have grown with his technique.

Quincy Jones had jazz fans wondering when he released his killer Gula Matari album in 1970. That set, with gorgeous reading of Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with a lead vocal by none other than Valerie Simpson, pointed quite solidly into the direction Jones was traveling: unabashedly toward pop, but with his own trademark taste, and sophistication at the forefront of his journey. Its follow-up, Smackwater Jack, marked Jones, along with Phil Ramone and Ray Brown in the producer's chair, and knocked purist jazz fans on their heads with its killer meld of pop tunes, television and film themes, pop vocals, and big-band charts. The personnel list is a who's- who of jazzers including Monty Alexander, Jim Hall, Pete Christlieb, Joe Beck, Bobby Scott, Ernie Royal, Freddie Hubbard, Jerome Richardson, Ray Brown, Jaki Byard, Toots Thielemans, and many others…

These guys are an Irish band from the late 70's. The vocals remind of Rory Gallagher and the songs have a Thin Lizzy-ish quality with some nice dual harmony guitars. Songwriting is in the same mold as Lizzy as well as is the pace of the album. Nice guitars on this one supplied by Jim Armstrong who was in Them and also Truth (the Chicago-based one).
Anyone who remembers Them (with Van Morrison) between 1967 and 1968, and (without Van Morrison) between 1969 and 1971, or a Chicago-based band called Tuth, cannot fail to recall the playing of one of the world's great rock guitarists Jim Armstrong.
Following the demise of Truth in 1971, Armstrong retreated from the international scene to gig at a more relaxed pace in his native Belfast…

Following in the footsteps of Milos and his guitar revival, Deutsche Grammophon presents the charismatic young Israeli musician Avi Avital, champion of yet another beautiful and underestimated stringed instrument the mandolin. Avi Avital is a young man with a dream. Overflowing with charm, intelligence and enthusiasm he looks set to become the first international superstar of the mandolin.

Sous les empereurs autrichiens de la maison des Habsbourg, les arts et tout particulièrement la musique jouèrent un rôle très important dans le cérémoniel de l'affirmation du pouvoir de la cour et de l'empire. Bien que Ferdinand III fût le premier des empereurs autrichiens à avoir composé lui-même de la musique, son second fils et successeur Léopold (1657-1704) était bien plus doué que lui…L'un de ses professeurs fut Antonio Bertali. Son répertoire trop peu connu et qui mérite d'être redécouvert est d'une extrême variété musicale, clairement influencée par la musique théâtrale: elle ne lassera jamais l'auditeur, qui pourra toujours s'attendre à d'agréables surprises après chaque cadence.

Thuringia has always been a highly musical region. Along with the greats who resided there, including at times Schutz, Telemann, Bach and his sons, and Liszt, a closer examination reveals other Thuringian composers who indisputably contributed to the course of music history such as Johann Melchior Molter. This composer from Tiefenort was active in Eisenach and Karlsruhe and during his lifetime was regarded as one of the most productive and significant composers as well as a trailblazer participating in the transition from the Baroque to the classical era. On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of his death Theater&Philharmonie Thringen has launched an editorial project in cooperation with the Institute of Musicology in Weimar-Jena.

As the legend of Delerium lives on in Conjure One, the masterpiece of the main creative outlet of producer Rhys Fulber finally emerges as one of the world's best kept secrets. The former member of industrial flag bearers Front Line Assembly and crossover act Delerium is one of the most diverse producers of his time and brings you the multifarious creations of his 'Holoscenic' album.
Ranging from the astounding 'Kill The Fear' feat. Hannah Ray and the entrancing 'Miscreant', to the powerful 2013 singles 'Under The Gun' feat. Leigh Nash and 'Still Holding On' feat. Aruna, the album is fresh, intriguing, and absolutely striking. Home to some the most beautiful vocal performances and incredible atmospheres, 'Holoscenic' offers a lot more than any singular genre could offer…

Bella Davidovich (born in 1928) won the prestigious Warsaw International Chopin Competition in 1949, sharing first prize with pianist Halina Czerny-Stefanska. This is a rare recording of Chopin's two Piano concertos, with a warm sense of music. The piano has a weak presence, as if Chopin himself were playing. The London Symphony Orchestra, under Sir Neville Marriner, is not only an accompanist, but it has a full powerful presence. Enjoy this jewel!