Just A Gigolo

To many, Thelonious Sphere Monk is a piano genius of unique and exceptional talent. In terms of his rich harmonic inventiveness, his touch on the keys, the way he wove together a meticulous and forceful rhythmic framework with his left hand, his stylistic boldness, his sense for improvisation and his dense, bold sound, Monk is a unique and immediately recognisable pianist. Unlike a number of his contemporaries, Monk recorded relatively infrequently. From 1947 (the date of his first session in his own name) to 1971 (the date of his last session), he released 25 original studio albums and made just four official solo recordings, of which three form the basis for this double album - The Prophet (Swing Records, 1954); Himself (Milestone Records, 1957); In San Francisco (Milestone Records, 1959). This collection thus brings together for the first time all the solo pieces recorded by Monk from 1954 to 1961 (Studio and Live) + a few rare tracks not featured on the original albums.

Electronic dance music and classical swing combine to form a masterpiece. Electro Swing has had many followers from the beginning, and still keeps on being a hot trend. Whether you go for a modern Gatsby Party or if you are a fan of the 20s in general, this CD always delivers the perfect sounds!

Pressed between 1943 and 1949, V Discs (or Victory Discs) boosted the morale of U.S. soldiers at the warfront and kept them up to date with the latest music from home. They were freely distributed but forbidden for sale, and the FBI would even have powers to destroy all copies in circulation at war’s end. Every great artist of the period made a patriotic gesture, and the records contained every genre: jazz, classical, pop, blues and folk. Jazz was fashionable then and took the lion’s share; it became an emblem for the liberators of Europe before spreading across the world. This 4CD set compiled by Jean-Baptiste Mersiol is a portrait in sound of American music trends during World War II, but it also reserves surprises in the form of some fantastic treasures, like the very first version of Louis Prima’s international standard, “Just A Gigolo”, and messages to the troops sent by the artists themselves. Patrick FRÉMEAUX

The most exotic actress of the 1930s and '40s, Marlene Dietrich performed her cabaret act around the world and recorded for Decca, Columbia and Capitol in the post-war period, after her film career had slowed. A thick German accent and her odd sung-spoken vocal style proved no barrier to international popular success and adoration. Born near Berlin in 1901, she began studying acting as a teenager, and auditioned with director Max Reinhardt several times before entering his drama school.

In the 1970s, Peter Allen gained recognition both as a composer of romantic ballads such as "I Honestly Love You" and "Don't Cry Out Loud," and, contrastingly, as a flamboyant stage performer. He learned to play the piano and began entertaining people at the pub in his small Australian hometown when he was still a child. By 1959, he was in Sydney, where he became a last-minute replacement in a duo appearing on the television show Australian Bandstand with guitarist and singer Chris Bell.

Czechian Gustav Brom led one of the foremost European big bands of the 1960’s. During this period it was rated among the top ten big bands in the world. They played festivals and concerts throughout Europe, India and Cuba, with such international stars as Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Conniff, and Maynard Ferguson appearing as guest artists. The album rates more as easily accessible jazz than pop. With hip modern arrangements and outstanding solos, this 1970 release is proof positive that jazz had invaded the Iron Curtain and won.

Third studio album from the ex-Spandau Ballet singer. Here Hadley loses the 80's synth pop sound and dives head first into swing where his powerful voice sounds as good as ever. A project close to his heart that he's been working on for some time and hopes that his choice of songs, and vocal and musical arrangements, will challenge the normal format of current swing and delight not only his existing fans, but also some new ones.