Ron Shoval Michaela (רון שובל מיכאלה) Hebrew 2003

"Area Movement", which was conceived during the last 15 years (with many long intervals), describes some special places in the world. This ranges from Ron’s own country The Netherlands (The "Wadden Sea") to Canada and the Serengeti National Park. The style on "Area Movement" is quite melodically, sometimes even symphonic. In this case, "Area Movement" sometimes bares some of the same fine atmospheres of his early albums. The first track "The Grand Banks" already shows it. Starting with a soft piano part, this piece really "rocks". It features Harold van der Heijden on drums. Also, the sequences are excellent again. Another great track is "Rapids" in which the sequences somewhat remind of Ron’s masterpiece "Tainted Bare Skin"…

Neither extravagantly experimental nor conservative, The Golden Striker presents a befittingly mature, somewhat brooding collection of tunes. Working within a guitar trio format with pianist Mulgrew Miller and guitarist Russell Malone, Carter offers nine tracks which include four of his own compositions, as well as one each by his band-mates. In order to emulate a "club" atmosphere, Carter, Miller and Malone recorded with little rehearsal, and with two exceptions layed down each tune on first takes. Executed with a refined attention to detail, the album as a whole presents solid musicianship and the blending of three well-matched yet distinct voices. Malone’s guitar sings soft, astute lines that play gracefully against Carter’s resonate, warm bass and Miller’s often almost classically melodic approach. With the unfortunate exception of missteps, "The Golden Striker" and "A Quick Sketch," all the album’s selections offer subtle readings of quite difficult arrangements.

Just re-released in October 2003, for the first time on DVD, comes this capture of a live performance on the 1995 'Alien 4' tour. It was really the last time (as in most recent) that Hawkwind mounted one of their nationwide-tours-with-a-big-stage-show…

A little less than eight years after it occurred, Concord Records issued this concert, originally broadcast on German radio, from Gerry Mulligan's last European tour, performed less than a year before his death. Mulligan appears with his regular band of the time – pianist Ted Rosenthal, bassist Dean Johnson, and drummer Ron Vincent – playing a group of originals that serve as springboards for his lyrical style of baritone saxophone playing. The group, which had been together for several years at this point, plays smoothly, offering excellent support to the leader. A special treat is the final track, a version of "These Foolish Things" on which Mulligan duets with guest star Dave Brubeck. The album demonstrates that, in his maturity, Mulligan continued to live up to the standards he had set for himself across a career stretching back 45 years. There are no real revelations this late in the game, but Mulligan and the band play with the assurance of veterans.

Barb Wired Tour Vol. 2 is the second of two volumes of Empress Valley’s ambitious nine disc compilation of important tapes from Ron Wood’s New Barbarians side project in support of his solo album Gimme Some Neck. Picking up where The Drug Dealer Tapes Vol. 1 (Empress Valley EVSD 196/200) leaves off, Vol. 2 contains four discs with another hour of the tour rehearsal tape along with two complete shows…

Concert for George is a live tribute soundtrack album in honour of George Harrison, issued in 2003 in conjunction with the simultaneous DVD release of the same name. Featuring performances of many of Harrison's best-known songs, played by his closest musician friends, Concert for George is considered a fitting and heartfelt celebration of Harrison's considerable career…