Peter Wholleben

For most artists recording a Christmas record is a convenient stop-gap in between releasing new material. In Peter Cetera's case this doesn't ring true as it has been a while since we last heard from one of soft rock's most distinctive crooners. You Just Gotta Love Christmas brings to the table everything you'd expect from a Peter Cetera record: lush, pleasant arrangements with crisp, warm, polished production and able musicanship from a crew of veteran session players. It's a mix of holiday favorites mixed in with a few originals and some guest appearances from Alison Krauss and Peter's daughter Claire; who is more than up to the task of singing with her father on two of the album's 12 tracks. Cetera and Chicago fans will no doubt enjoy having this on in the background during the holidays.

Romance '76 (1976). Esoteric Recording’s Reactive label is pleased to announce a newly remastered CD release for the seminal German Electronic & Ambient musician Peter Baumann’s debut solo album, “Romance ‘76”. Peter Baumann came to prominence as a key member of Tangerine Dream, joining Edgar Froese and Chris Franke in the group in 1971 and making his debut on the album “Zeit”. His contribution was felt on the classic Tangerine Dream albums released by Virgin Records issued between 1974 & 1976, “Phaedra”, “Rubycon”, “Ricochet” and “Stratosfear”. In 1976 he embarked on a solo career with his classic work “Romance ’76”, recorded in July and August that year in Berlin and Munich. The result was a remarkable album that is now held in huge esteem by aficionados of German Electronic Music…

Renowned for his avant-garde approach to the saxophone, Peter Brotzmann unleashes sonic landscapes that push the boundaries of free jazz. His playing style reflects a profound exploration of emotion and technique, making each note a revelation. Anto Pett, a virtuoso pianist and composer, weaves intricate musical tapestries with his nuanced playing. As a pioneer in improvisation, Pett brings an emotive and thought-provoking dimension to the ensemble. His harmonious interplay with Brotzmann and Bystrov creates a dynamic balance, elevating the collective improvisation to new heights. Vlady Bystrov's mastery of woodwind instruments adds a rich and diverse texture to the trio's sonic palette. His skillful exploration of timbre and tone enhances the improvisational landscape, providing a captivating interplay with Brotzmann and Pett…

The popular 15th-century tune L'homme armé became the basis of at least 31 Masses over two centuries. Josquin wrote two Mass settings using the melody as a cantus firmus (sung in long note-values in one voice, usually the tenor). Missa L'homme armé super voces musicales begins the tune a tone higher in each succeeding movement; its texture is dense, with the four voices' ranges constantly overlapping. Missa L'homme armé sexti toni is more transparent, with the four voices' ranges spaced widely and sections for reduced voices numerous; its extraordinary final Agnus Dei à 6 plays two paired canons in the four upper parts against the cantus firmus in the lower voices–one singing it forwards, one backwards. The magical effect is often compared to the music of Philip Glass.

The popular 15th-century tune L'homme armé became the basis of at least 31 Masses over two centuries. Josquin wrote two Mass settings using the melody as a cantus firmus (sung in long note-values in one voice, usually the tenor). Missa L'homme armé super voces musicales begins the tune a tone higher in each succeeding movement; its texture is dense, with the four voices' ranges constantly overlapping. Missa L'homme armé sexti toni is more transparent, with the four voices' ranges spaced widely and sections for reduced voices numerous; its extraordinary final Agnus Dei à 6 plays two paired canons in the four upper parts against the cantus firmus in the lower voices–one singing it forwards, one backwards. The magical effect is often compared to the music of Philip Glass.

Lange Zeit arbeitete er mit Michael Weisser zusammen, mit dem er insgesamt 14 Alben auf dem vom Elektroniksolisten Klaus Schulze gegründeten Label IC/Innovative Communication veröffentlichte, zuerst unter dem Namen Mergener & Weisser, dann unter dem Namen Software. Die Musikformation Software setze sich konzeptionell mit dem aufkommenden Thema „Computerkultur“ auseinander. Software-Cover und das Artwork aller Tonträger (LP, MC, CD) zeigen Grafiken von Computerkünstlern wie MAPART (Heinz-Otto Peitgen), Herbert W. Franke, Jürgen Brickmann, Able Image Research, Yoichiro Kawaguchi, Nelson L. Max, David Sherwin, Andy Kopra, Mental Images.

This discography of musical work by the bassist Peter Kowald, who died in 2002, was compiled in honor of his 70th birthday. Kowald (1944-2002) was a vital figure in German free jazz, playing for many years with the Globe Unity Orchestra, the Schlippenbach Quartet and with Peter Brotzmann, on to periods living in Greece, Japan and in New York. He worked in a vast amount of settings from solo and duo bass recordings to dance and film work. The four CDs here offer a selection of studio and live recordings, including the Grandmothers Teaching session with Chris McGregor, Harry Beckett etc, and two rare albums recorded for small Greek labels: Aphorisms (1997) and The Human Aspect (1990).