Richie Valens Sacd

Just for You is the seventh studio album by Lionel Richie. Released shortly after Richie's divorce from his second wife, the album featured Richie in collaboration with singers and musicians from different backgrounds. It received mixed reviews, with much of the criticism targeted at the album's lyrics. It sold 207,000 copies and peaked at #22 on the American Billboard 200.

Veteran pianist Richie Beirach distinguished himself as one of the most innovative and creative jazz pianists in the 1970s with his work with Stan Getz, Dave Liebman and his own recordings on ECM. His lyrical style and keen, advanced sense of harmony put him in the same league as his contemporaries Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea. This is the first of the two Ballads albums recorded in Japan in 1986-1987, performed in a contemporary manner with the Jazz standard repertoire.

Richard Steven Valenzuela, known professionally as Ritchie Valens, was a Mexican American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. A Rock and Roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, Valens' recording career lasted eight months, as it abruptly ended when he died in a plane crash. In 2001 he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

No Borders focuses on classical pieces as a basis for improvisation, and, on the other hand, also contains a completely composed original composition by Beirach: "Steel Prayers", a piece for the victims of 9/11. To take classical pieces and open them for improvisation, without depriving them of their character, is also the basic principle in the cooperation with violinist Gregor Hübner.

Richie Beirach has mostly worked with two different trios. Recorded in 1999, this album contains pianist Richie Beirach's top-notch performances with a first-rate rhythm section of George Mraz and Billy Hart. The highlights include thrilling interpretations of "Nardis", "On Green Dolphon Street" and the title track.

On this enjoyable release, bebop altoist Richie Cole performs seven of the main themes from West Side Story, plus his own complex "West Side Blues." Cole teams up with his longtime guitarist Vic Juris, pianist Lou Forestieri, bassist Ed Howard, drummer Tommy Campbell and veteran percussionist Ray Mantilla to give the familiar melodies his "alto madness" treatment, being respectful of the themes while stretching out. Highlights include "America", "Maria" and "Tonight".

The golden trio of Richie Beirach, George Mraz and Billy Hart returns to Venus Records with another superb album. This is an eagerly awaited release because their previous output, Manhattan Reverie, was not only selected as Swing Journal Gold Disc but also won the magazine's 2006 Jazz Disc "Silver" Award. The trio goes back more than 30 years, and, as Beirach lives and teaches in Germany now, they seem to especially enjoy these 'reunion' recording sessions. Their exuberance is felt throughout the program which is dominated by four Miles Davis compositions and augmented by four standards and two classical tunes. This is another strong album by Beirach, and should not be missed by his fans.

This classically-trained veteran pianist was marking his sixth decade on earth with a little help from his friends—trio band mates, bassist George Mraz and drummer Billy Hart, expert rhythm makers also featured on this highly effective Japanese import from Venus Records, Manhattan Reverie. They all appeared to have a certain twinkle in their eyes, suggesting that they are very comfortable playing with each other, wise to each other's ways and that they were having a good time. It was kind of a nice message: Age has nothing to do with vitality or musical ability, except maybe, in this case, it adds to both of those things.

Veteran pianist Richie Beirach distinguished himself as one of the most innovative and creative jazz pianists in the 1970s with his work with Stan Getz, Dave Liebman and his own recordings on ECM. His lyrical style and keen, advanced sense of harmony put him in the same league as his contemporaries Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea. Beirach has been recording for the Japanese Venus label for sometime now, and in previous works he has emphasized his swinging jazz roots in trio settings. For this release he chose to go solo, and play the beautiful classical melodies and jazz ballads.

Another compilation sampler from Venus Records archives. This time, a famous Japanese Jazz audio authority Takashi Yamaguchi selects ten ultimate sounded tracks from the label's extensive library. Artists includes Joe Beck Trio, Nikki Parrott, Bryan Lynch, Enrico Rava, New Your Trio, and more.