The Invitations

Rebekka Hartmann is the winner of several national and international awards. Her international concert activities brought her together with conductors such as Christoph Eschenbach, Justus Frantz, Salvador Mas Conde, Esa Pekka Salonen, Jukka Pekka Saraste and Enoch zu Guttenberg. Her repertoire comprises the complete spectrum of violin literature from early Baroque to contemporary music and new compositions, of which she has also performed some first recordings and world premieres like works for solo violin by Håkan Larsson and Anders Eliasson. In 2012 Rebekka Hartmann was awarded the ECHO Classic-Prize in the category “Best solo recording of the year” for her album “Birth of the Violin.”

The long running Jazz/Funk group Shakatak throw off the shackles of electricity with this acoustic greatest hits collection! With every long-serving and successful band comes a point when it's right to release an album to showcase that softer, more gentle side of themselves… and here it is for Shakatak! 'Once Upon A Time - The Acoustic Sessions' demonstrates the perfect dynamical change that these world class musicians have embarked upon to bring a new, 'stripped-down' experience to their devoted fan-base and jazz-funk listeners all over the world.

Shakatak have enjoyed a level of success and career longevity rarely paralleled in contemporary music - but then Shakatak is a particularly unusual group. Because of the nature of their music, their fan base is one that is far reaching while always retaining an ‘underground element’. This paradox sees the band, who are known primarily as serious jazz/funk musicians, enjoying both high ‘cult’ status and instant recognition as a household name.

British crossover jazz, funk, and pop outfit Shakatak are a sophisticated ensemble who have enjoyed a long career. With a sound steeped in contemporary jazz and R&B, they found success with both instrumental albums and pop vocal productions. Formed in London in 1980, Shakatak originally featured keyboardists Bill Sharpe and Nigel Wright, guitarist Keith Winter, bassist Steve Underwood, and drummer Roger Odell. The group quickly scored an underground hit with its debut single "Steppin'." Collection includes: Invitations (1982); Down On The Street (1984); City Rhythm (1985); Street Level (1993).

Shakatak have enjoyed a level of success and career longevity rarely paralleled in contemporary music. Compared as the Rolling Stones of Jazzfunk their music just keeps getting better and better. After a number of successful top twenty singles in the U.K. the band have gone onto secure unprecedented International success which has continued through their career.

Shakatak have enjoyed a level of success and career longevity rarely paralleled in contemporary music. Compared as the Rolling Stones of Jazz-funk their music just keeps getting better and better. The art of the remix is an interesting one - depending on context.

With her new album I’m Still Learning (her first on Justin Time Records), the graceful jazzer Barbra Lica announces her ability to absorb the teachings of those singers who came before her. A fan of Betty Hutton, Peggy Lee and Nat King Cole, Toronto’s Lica is comfortable in spry and breezy situations. Her investigation into Ron Sexsmith’s Secret Heart leads to whistling and lighthearted reggae ideas; elsewhere there are casual bossa nova invitations. With her upbeat lilt and vocal cuteness on covers and originals, Lica offers smiles and sympathy, not blues. Maybe that is still to come - we understand she is still learning.