"pennies From Heaven" Soundtrack

Given that John Williams has his pick of much of the $80-million, thrill-packed boilerplate that comes clanging out of Hollywood every summer and fall, it's especially noteworthy (and often gratifying) when he doesn't exercise his option. In scoring Alan Parker's adaptation of Frank McCourt's Pulitzer-winning memoirs of his dire Irish upbringing in the 1930s and '40s, Williams has produced a graceful, autumnal work of compelling, though decidedly delicate, emotional power. Using spare piano and solo woodwind melodies filled with longing eloquence, Williams effectively punctuates a sweeping, largely string and wind ensemble. As he did to great effect in The Phantom Menace, the veteran leans heavily on his classical moonlighting duties for inspiration. Interspersed throughout (and also effectively underscored by his music) are concise, telling excerpts of the film's narration read by Alan Bennett.

Trumpeter-singer Brian Newman will release Showboat, his first album for the famed Verve label, on 16 November. It features his close friend Lady Gaga on a version of the Animals’ much-covered ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.’

Avid Jazz presents three classic Stan Getz albums - plus, including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered double CD. 'Stan Getz & The Oscar Peterson Trio', 'Hamp & Getz' and 'Jazz Giants '58' plus four additional tracks from Getz and Peterson and an outtake from the Hamp- Getz album. We guess you could say that this collection of classic albums follows the theme of our super-group idea with the recent Lionel Hampton release. For our first selection, the meeting of the cool Stan Getz and the perhaps more traditional Oscar Peterson Trio would certainly rate as a meeting of jazz superstars, take a listen and find out! The old meets the new with our next album as Stan Getz joins Lionel Hampton following a meeting of the two during sessions for the Benny Goodman Movie soundtrack…