Flac 352

Jan Gunnar Hoff launches his new jazz trio with Anders Jormin and Audun Kleive, two of Europe's most reknown and respected jazz performers. A powerful trio setting presenting strong melodic compositions and high class interplay. The album has been conceived as a cohesive experience where the compositions themselves, the moments of spontaneous inspiration during performance and the natural sound world of the church acoustic all affect the final result.

"Born To Be Blue" is the latest release from Sound Liaison. It highlights the sound of the vibraphone and features the REF Trio - Rob van Kreeveld (piano), Edwin Corzilius (double bass), and Frits Landesbergen (vibraphone). The name REF Trio comes from the first letter of each member's name. The album was recorded live at MCO Studios in The Netherlands in front of a live audience. It includes performances of "A Child Is Born" (written by Thad Jones), "Emily" (written by Johnny Mandel), "The Girl Next Door" (written by Hugh Martin), "Born To Be Blue" (co-written by Mel Torme and Robert Wells) and a Medley of Duke Ellington favorites.

"Stories" is Jan Gunnar Hoff’s third solo piano album on the 2L label and is a sequel to his critically acclaimed album "Living" from 2013. On the new release Hoff stretches his creative abilities, presenting contrasting compositions and improvisations, in a distinctly personal mixture. Some of the pieces are meditative and expressive, while others have a strong rhythmic vibe. Stories also displays Hoff as an arranger, presenting versions of classics like “God Only Knows” and the traditional Swedish folk song “Värmlandsvisan”.

"Two of a Mind" is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonists Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in 1962 which were released on the RCA Victor label. This is an album of great melodic interaction between Desmond and Mulligan. It's too bad that they did not perform more often with each other. But what the did give us, will have to do.

Carmen Gomes has won many awards in the Netherlands and surrounding areas. Like so many new European singers, she sings in English. Her style is bluesy and intimate with a sexy voice that's sweet as dark tupelo honey, and her interpretations are unerring. Her newest album, "Don't You Cry" is a One Mic Recording with the Josephson C700S. Almost all the songs are first takes. Except for 'Billie’s Blues' and 'How Long' where second takes where needed in order to get the balance right.

"Ballade pour la nuit (Ballad For The Night)" is an album that brings you a tribute to the music of Django Reinhardt which our listeners have referred to as “jazzy”, “gypsy”, “swing” and “the best”. On the album, lead guitarist Reinier Voet and Kain van Kooten on violin are supported by Jan Brouwer on rhythm guitar and Jet Stevens on double bass. Voet’s guitar and van Kooten’s violin playing truly swings with Brouwer and Stevens laying down a solid foundation for each selection. This is musical playing at its best with sound quality to match. If you need an album that shows off the One Microphone Recording style, this could be the ticket.

Impex Records is excited to announce their premier collaboration with one of our generation's most influential jazz artists, Patricia Barber. Her elegant album "Higher", recorded and mixed by long-time collaborator Jim Anderson, contains eight songs that explore the mysteries that bind us, causing Jazz times to declare: "Few performers in or out of jazz are as consistently brilliant as Patricia Barber…Brainy. Beautiful".

"Midnight in Paris" is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded in 1962 for the Columbia label. The album features performances of compositions inspired by or associated with Paris…

Acquiring life skills during a challenging, fragile phase of life learning to belong, to feel seen and included, learning to build friendships all of this lies at the core of the Nidaros Cathedral Girls' Choir's mission. The Requiem in Andrew Smith's version, commissioned by the choir, is loosely based on the Roman Catholic mass for the dead. Several of the texts of the traditional Requiem Mass have been replaced, however, with biblical references to the tragic fate of children, reflecting the all-too-frequent conflicts of today in which the young are innocent victims. The musical material in the Requiem takes its inspiration from Gregorian chant. Melodic fragments of the ancient Requiem mass can be heard in the background. These works add dimensions of faith, hope and love. And light too, when all seems dark. In life there are moments to treasure, and challenges to overcome.