Austin River

With a voice that is capable of convincingly interpreting virtually any style of material, Patti Austin is one of the most astoundingly gifted singers of her generation. Here Patti caresses twelve timeless melodies with great sensitivity and emotional depth, taking the listener on a warmly romantic journey. Intimate Patti Austin is the first in Mosaic Contemporary’s Intimate Series, presenting the "best of the best" ballad interpretations from an artist's entire recorded output for several labels. From her wonderful version of the classic Stylistics hit “Stop, Look, Listen” to the first recording of the now standard Ivan Lins/Alan & Marilyn Bergman gem “The Island”, this collection takes the listener through the many passionate feelings of love found, lost, and renewed.

And how! Austin tackles standards such as "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "They Can't Take That Away from Me," and succeeds brilliantly. Her version of Comden, Green, and Bernstein's "I Can Cook, Too" is enough by itself to make this a pick.

Johnny Cash was fortunate enough to enjoy a massive resurgence of attention and respect in the last decade of his life, but while no one seemed to be paying much attention to him from the early '80s (when his contract with Columbia ran out) to 1994 (when the Rick Rubin-produced American Recordings reminded listeners that a great artist was still in our midst), Cash continued to make good-to-great records and play for fans around the world, and this album, taken from a 1987 taping session for the long-running television series Austin City Limits, shows the Man in Black was still in sterling form as he traveled beneath the radar of country radio and the hipster music press.

In 1934, 17-year-old Ella Fitzgerald took the stage at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater on Amateur Night, winning first prize and launching an extraordinary, decade-spanning career. Ella 100: Live at the Apollo! was recorded during the 2016 tribute concert at the Apollo, honoring the First Lady of Song's 100th birthday & commemorating the discovery of her talent. Features vocalists Patti Austin with David Alan Grier, Lizz Wright, Cassandra Wilson, Ledisi, The Count Basie Orchestra and more.

Fifty years after Murphey helped pioneer the Austin Music Scene (along with Jerry Jeff Walker, Gary P. Nunn and more) , his latest offering is a look at the seminal period of Austin’s music history that set the stage for the “Outlaw” movement with Nelson and Waylon Jennings, among others, and the live music scene that is still thriving there.