Juraj Stanik I Wonder

When Juraj Stanik asks you to write something for the sleeve of his new recording, you certainly don't say 'no'. In my case, bolstered by years of experience of his work, from the outstanding group 'Five Up High' through to his trio CDs like 'Shaken not stirred', 'Wow' and 'Inside out'. It always was and still remains a great pleasure to listen to Juraj. His playfulness with musical forms, his unexpected, funny but always controlled fantasies and that consistent, unmissable swing with his colleagues on bass and drums, all following the same groove. Jazz that I always regarded as a sort of homecoming.

When Juraj Stanik asks you to write something for the sleeve of his new recording, you certainly don't say 'no'. In my case, bolstered by years of experience of his work, from the outstanding group 'Five Up High' through to his trio CDs like 'Shaken not stirred', 'Wow' and 'Inside out'. It always was and still remains a great pleasure to listen to Juraj.

Whilst it could never lay claim to being a front-runner of the British Psychedelic movement, President Records was nonetheless quick to respond to changing musical tastes when it was launched into the heady midst of swinging London in 1966. In keeping with other independents at the time, President's autonomy allowed it to experiment freely with new artists and saw the label expand into areas which nowadays might be termed Psych Pop. And whilst it's true that its major successes both at home and abroad were with artists like The Equals and Dorothy Squires, within Sike circles many of its more left-field releases are now beginning to enjoy the recognition that eluded them first time around.

The bestselling I Wonder Why series has the answers to all the questions you’ve ever wanted to ask about the natural world, history, space, and more!

I Wonder What Became of Me features 12 early tracks from cabaret vocalist Anita Ellis recorded in the mid-'50s. The program consists mainly of standards, as she dips into the songbooks of George and Ira Gershwin ("They Can't Take That Away from Me"), Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn ("Something to Live For"), Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart ("Wait Till You See Him"), and Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer ("I Wonder What Became of Me"). Ellis fans will definitely want this set, as so little of her material remains in print.