Silent Night 2017

Born in Argentina to an American father and Irish mother, guitarist Dominic Miller was raised in the U.S. from age 10 and then educated there and in England. Now he lives in France, though he has toured the globe for the past three decades. Aptly, Silent Light Miller's ECM debut, featuring him solo and with percussion accompaniment has a very international feel, with the Latin influence strong in such pieces as Baden (dedicated to Brazilian guitarist-composer Baden Powell). Le Pont has an early 20th-century Parisian air, while Valium evokes Celtic tunes in the vein of Bert Jansch and Fields of Gold is a hushed instrumental take on one of Sting's best-known ballads. Miller has long been known as Sting's right-hand man on guitar and co-writer of the worldwide hit Shape of My Heart, among others. Miller has also worked with the likes of Paul Simon, The Chieftains and Plácido Domingo. The guitarist's playing has prompted praise from Simon, who points out, in a liner note to the album, that Miller has a beautiful touch, with a fragrance of jazz and English folk.

Seminal contemporary jazz super group Special EFX mark their 35th year of recording and touring in 2017 with the release of Deep As The Night their 21st studio recording and first celebrating their recent partnership with the Trippin ‘N’ Rhythm record label. Formed in 1982 the as the brainchild of the duo of Chieli Minucci and George Jinda, the combination of Chieli’s edgy driving style and George’s sense for temperament and melody struck a perfect balance and the rise of a distinctive new and original sound that incorporated heavy percussive world elements fused with smart, energetic, playful and memorable guitar lines…

The exceptional collaboration and friendship between the late Einojuhani Rautavaara and the internationally acclaimed bass-baritone Gerland Finley culminates in this unique album of orchestral songs by Sibelius, on which the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Edward Gardner. The album offers orchestrations, by Sibelius and others, of songs which Sibelius originally wrote for voice and piano, and includes the premiere recording of ‘In the Stream of Life,’ seven songs orchestrated by Rautavaara for his friend. Throughout, the poetry perfectly reflects the instinctively felt relation between Finnish nature and Sibelius’s music.

Released in spring of 2017, Tennessee Night, is the result of three days tracking with producer Michael Crittenden at Mackinaw Harvest Studios in Grand Rapids, MI. The heart of the record was recorded live in July of 2016 in the midst of a summer heatwave. The album features Rob Avsharian on drums, James Simonson on bass, Drew Howard on Steel/electric guitar, Chris Ranney on Piano, and Michael Crittenden doing a little of everything. Also featured on the album are singer-songwriter Judy Banker (Heading Home Again), Tara Cleveland (Some Things), and Cole Hanson (Everything Is In Bloom, Promised Land, and Tennessee Night.)

Welcome to the latest mix of new progressive sounds on this equally new Prog magazine cover disc. IQ, Cheer-Accident, Fish On Friday, Miriodor and more.