Jan Ruff O'herne

Fearlessly searching for new conceptions of sound and not caring where he found them, Garbarek joined hands with the classical early-music movement, improvising around the four male voices of the Hilliard Ensemble. Now here was a radical idea guaranteed to infuriate both hardcore jazz buffs and the even more pristine more-authentic-than-thou folk in early music circles. Yet this unlikely fusion works stunningly well - and even more hearteningly, went over the heads of the purists and became a hit album at a time (1994) when Gregorian chants were a hot item. Chants, early polyphonic music, and Renaissance motets by composers like Morales and Dufay form the basic material, bringing forth a cool yet moving spirituality in Garbarek's work…

A superb group featuring pianist Dwike Mitchell and bassist/French horn player Willie Ruff, the Mitchell-Ruff Duo has been recorded erratically and rarely reissued on CDs. This 1959 Town Hall concert is a recreation of an earlier performance in Moscow that could not be recorded due to problems with the Soviet regime…

The Mitchell-Ruff Duo decided upon a different approach for this 1958 session for Roulette, adding a string session and brass, along with veteran bassist Milt Hinton, and a young drummer, Elvin Jones (prior to his joining John Coltrane)…

Although Dwike Mitchell and Willie Ruff have worked together as a duo for decades, their recordings have been sporadically available, including these early-'70s sessions first issued by Mainstream. Their program focuses exclusively on the works of Billy Strayhorn, who was so impressed with their performance at the now defunct Hickory House that he wrote "Suite for the Duo" specifically for them…

A good day starts off with a good morning. Here is the music, which helps you get up on the right side of the bed: Beautiful, harmonious music inspired by nature. Imagine waking up every morning in a house by the ocean. The soothing sound of the waves and their eternal pulse in the background are reminiscent of things eternal in your existence. The night's gossamer of dreams retreats with a couple of deep breaths, and time has come to tackle the day's new challenges.

Beautiful music inspired by nature and the peace we all can expirience by taking a walk and listen to the birds singing, the calming sounds of ocean waves. Nature means a lot to Jan Skovgaard Petersen. Whenever important decisions have to be taken, he usually taks a walk by the ocean to create a break where thoughts can calm down. The music on this album expesses his gratitude and inner joy to have this sanctuary.

Beautiful music inspired by the magical moments in life when you are in harmony and life unfolds before your eyes in it's uttermost beauty.