John Alex Mason Jook Joint Thunderclap

This CD, in places, just cranks it up and spits out a wall of undiluted rock and roll. Straight ahead full speed ahead and tell everything to get out of our way. "Gypsy Blood," and "Dancin' on Top of the World," are two cuts that really stand out in this vein. A couple of the tracks just seem to be languishing in a daze as if they've suffered a concussion, and can't decide which way to go. This CD is produced by Dave Edmunds, and I like a lot of his work because when it hits, it hits hard. However, when it misses it leaves you scratching your head wondering. The band is tight, just sometimes lacking that guiding hand. The hard-charging "Courage" alone makes this a worthwhile disc, and there is more than just that track to pick the listener up. (Bob Gottlieb, AMG)

Harvey Mason's 2014 effort, Chameleon, is an expansive and funky album that finds the journeyman jazz drummer exploring the space between the '70s post-bop/fusion albums that marked his early career and the contemporary smooth jazz work that has defined the latter half of his career. Having started out playing with the masterful pianist Erroll Garner, Mason eventually join Herbie Hancock's legendary Headhunters ensemble, with whom he recorded the original version of this album's title track. And while he went on to a successful career working with a bevy of artists including Lee Ritenour, George Benson, and others, it is primarily his work with Hancock that is Mason's focus here.

Two CDs containing talented guitarist, comedian and writer Mason's five albums for Warner Bros Records, dating from 1968 to 1971. Originally featured on 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour' US TV show, 'Classical Gas' as performed by Williams became a US No.2 hit and a Top 10 hit in the UK and Canada. Williams has had a varied career, from recording with Mannheim Steamroller to bluegrass with Byron Berline, to writing comedy for 'Saturday Night Live'.

Three of the world’s greatest classical stars join forces to record Beethoven’s Triple Concerto. All alumni of the BBC Young Musician competition, they are great friends but this is the first time they have appeared on record together. They have a joint reach of over 1 million and are all touring regularly internationally. The first recording of the work on Decca Classics, Nicky, Sheku and Benjamin toured the concerto around the UK in 2023, after which they recorded it with the Philharmonia and their Principal Conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali. The works are accompanied by a selection of Beethoven’s rarely performed Folk Songs, along with celebrated baritone Gerald Finley. Reflecting the Scottish, Welsh, Irish and English roots of the musicians, the album concludes with the trio alone: Kreisler’s arrangement of ‘Londonderry Air’, often known as ‘Danny Boy’.