The Soldier's Tale is a theatrical work ""to be read, played, and danced"" by three actors (the soldier, the devil, and a narrator) and dancers, accompanied by a septet of instruments. The libretto relates the parable of a soldier who trades his fiddle to the devil in return for unlimited economic gain. The music is scored for a septet of violin, double bass, clarinet, bassoon, cornet or trumpet), trombone, and percussion. The libretto is adapted by Roger Waters from the translation by Michael Flanders and Kitty Black, based on the original text by Charles-Ferdinand Ramus. Roger Waters recorded the album because of a personal background as Mr. Waters father went missing in World War II and his grandfather died in battle in World War I. The loss of his father has been a central theme throughout his live and topic for other releases. Telegraph UK: I think I am still preoccupied by the same things that I was 30 years ago. Losing my father, and that attachment that I have to his humanity, is still central to everything that I do Roger Waters adapted the English translation of Lhistoire du Soldat (original title of the piece) and recorded all 3 characters himself with different accents and speaking voices.
Queensrÿche (pronounced /ˈkwiːnzraɪk/) is an American heavy metal / progressive metal band formed in 1981 in Bellevue, Washington. The band has released ten studio albums and several smaller releases including EPs and DVDs and continues to tour and record.
Queensrÿche has been relatively successful in the progressive scene, having sold over 20 million albums worldwide including over 11 million albums and videos in the United States
American Soldier is a concept album from Seattle-based progressive metal band Queensrÿche, released on March 31.
At long last, the wait is over: DIORAMA have unleashed their ‘Zero Soldier Army’! About 3.5 years after the release of ‘Even the Devil doesn't Care’, the band from Reutlingen, Germany, that uniquely presents Dark Electro next to Alternative Rock, finally shares twelve new, eclectic tracks with us. DIORAMA have been around for two decades and everyone who'd been expecting that they would simply repeat themselves on their by now ninth studio album, will probably be disappointed…
Salute is the new project from Last Autumn's Dream vocalist Mikael Erlandsson (voice: melodic, gritty and raspy, with strength and range) Sweden's best answer Bryan Adams. On board with him is fine guitarist and producer Martin Kronlund (DogFace, Gypsy Rose, White Wolf). If you dig anything and everything from LAD, you will love Salute's debut Toy Soldier. Toy Soldier is well composed and performed solid melodic hard rock from two individuals who know how to do it.
Little Jimmy King's third album finds him in the well-placed hands of Memphis producing and arranging legend Willie Mitchell. With Mitchell's publishing branch supplying six of the 12 selections here, there's a much more pronounced soul/blues feeling to this album than his two previous efforts, spelled out in a most contemporary manner on the confessional opening track, "Living In the Danger Zone" and "We'll Be Together Again." As always, Little Jimmy tips his hat to his mentor, the late Albert King with every note he hits on his Flying V, squeezing strings over several frets to get those classic Albert microtonal bends on tracks like "I Don't Need Nobody That Don't Need Me," "Drawers" and the title track. This is a thoroughly contemporary blues album that could - and should - expand King's audience beyond the usual blues circles.
Youthful pianist Eric Reed, who at the time of this recording was debuting as Marcus Roberts' replacement in the Wynton Marsalis band, plays carefully and sometimes tentatively on his first release as a leader. It's a trio affair, and although Reed doesn't throw many challenges toward bassist Dwayne Burno or drummer Gregory Hutchinson, he's certainly a solid player with the potential to become a great one.