Michael Mclean

Founded in 1972, SteepleChase Records is one of the most significant and prolific European jazz record labels. With a catalogue running to well over 200 titles, the Copenhagen-based imprint has recorded and released music from some of the greatest names in jazz, including Dexter Gordon, Andrew Hill, Jackie McLean, Horace Parlan, Chet Baker and Stan Getz.
Starting out by recording visiting Americans when they performed at the legendary Café Montmartre, founder Nils Winther was encouraged to start the label by none other than the great Jackie McLean, who was the first artist to release a record on the new imprint.From there, Steeplechase rapidly grew into one of the foremost labels to document European jazz with all its distinctive originality and style. With a particular emphasis on recording front rank American artists who had chosen the expatriate life in Europe, Steeplechase was first in line to document the sounds of the greats as they developed in exile.Featuring in-demand tracks from the likes of Billy Gault, Johnny Dyani and Khan Jamal, and unearthing deep cuts from greats like Jackie McLean and Mary Lou Williams, our Spiritual Jazz 11: Steeplechase pays tribute to one of Europe's most important jazz labels.

A unique and extraordinary duets album featuring the unmistakable voice of folk music icon Judy Collins and an all-star assembly of her superbly talented friends performing an intensely moving set of ballads! Guests include country legend Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Jeff Bridges, Glen Hansard (of The Swell Season), Jimmy Buffett, Michael McDonald, Don McLean and more!

British keyboardist and composer Benjamin Croft began piano and trumpet lessons at age seven and later earned a BA (Hons) Music degree at Leeds College of Music. In his debut album 10 Reasons To…, Croft dedicates four tracks to his heroes Allan Holdsworth, Keith Emerson, Christopher Lee, and Gustav Mahler. A disparate bunch to be sure, but Croft's compositions, written over a period of two years, hang together surprisingly well.

Triple-disc collection from Virgin Records featuring acoustic tracks from Al Stewart, America, Bert Jansch, Bob Dylan, Buffy Saint-Marie, David Gray, Don McLean, Kirsty MacColl, Gary Jules, Rickie Lee Jones, Paul Mc Cartney, Tracy Chapman, Jim Croce and many more. 2004.
Here’s a 65 track, 3 x CD compilation of ‘acoustic’ tracks from the 1950s through to the early 2000s. By far, one of the best compilations out there with well known hits brilliantly placed together with lesser known classics that didn’t always trouble the chart placings. There certainly isn’t a ‘filler’ track on any of the discs and even the more ‘folky’ disc 3 is superbly constructed to keep the listener enthralled throughout.

At the height of a commercial teen pop explosion in the late '90s, the Backstreet Boys emerged at the top of the boy band pack alongside friendly rivals *NSYNC, quickly trailed by a crop of imitators. Their hybrid of R&B balladry, hip-hop, and dance pop initially found its greatest audience in Canada and Europe, while success in their native land didn't follow until mainstream pop hit it big on radio and MTV in America.

Patricia Barber's Modern Cool was the recording that made Barber an international jazz star. On the initial tour for this album, Barber played a four night stand at The Jazz Standard in New York where she was heard by Bruce Lundvall of Blue Note Records. This led to a string of Barber recordings for both Premonition and Blue Note, worldwide touring and unapologetic critical acclaim from which Barber never looked back. Audiophiles were well aware of Barber from her 1994 Premonition recording Café Blue. Sonically, modern cool copied the café blue playbook: same recording studio, engineer, and recording approach. Musically, Barber added trumpeter Dave Douglas to her stellar working band and showcased her original compositions more than on any previous recording.