The Roxy Performances

American art-rock was often stilted and lacking in humor until new wave arrived. This ranks as one of the best debut albums from a rock band. The Cars are filed under rock, but they are closer to power pop than any other genre. Ric Ocasek sounded like a cross between the Raspberries and Television, punk sound with a pop attitude. Liberated by the influence of the Velvet Underground, Roxy Music and punk-era fellow travelers like Blondie and Suicide, the Cars methodically linked hookiness (enough to produce three hit singles and several other FM favorites from this debut album) and at least one raised eyebrow. The result still plays as a rock & roll classic. And if charm wasn't their aim, the fact is, it's undeniable. In 2003, the album was ranked number 282 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

By 1978, southern rock was running on fumes. By 1980, most of these bands no longer existed or if they did, they no longer enjoyed the commercial success of the early to mid-70s. This live compilation of artists who recorded for the legendary Capricorn label serves as a celebration, of sorts, of the genre's most successful period. Some of the recordings date back to the early 1970s. The Allman Brothers Band's Statesboro Blues live performance at the Fillmore with Duane Allman is a different performance than the performance that appears on At Fillmore East. The inclusion of this track made this compilation very collectable among ABB fans for many years until the entire Fillmore East performances were released in 2014. And there are other rare cuts here including the only official live release from Sea Level, the band that Chuck Leavell of ABB started after the band's first breakup. Hotels, Motels and Road Shows is a fine time capsule of the 70s southern rock genre from one of the premier labels of the era. Too bad it's never been released on CD.

Saxophonist Roxy Coss steps boldly into the spotlight with her latest release The Future Is Female. This exciting musical program features Coss brilliant original compositions presented by an amazing group of players, including guitarist Alex Wintz, pianist Miki Yamanaka, bassist Rick Rosato, drummer Jimmy Macbride, plus a special guest appearance by Lucas Pino on Bass Clarinet. Critical listeners will certainly agree that Coss performances clearly demonstrate both her command of the saxophone and her functional mastery of the jazz idiom. With a delicate balance of modernity and classic aesthetics, "The Future Is Female" is insightfully straight forward, steadily swinging, and refreshingly melodic enough to evoke a wide assortment of bright moments to discerning jazz fans everywhere.

While fronting Roxy Music in the 1970s and early '80s, Bryan Ferry devised a blueprint for art rock, and as a solo performer, he brilliantly updated the parameters of the pop songbook. Although Ferry's solo career has included several excellent self-penned tracks, he's best-known for his adventurous interpretations of songs from the rock and pop canon. Combining a studied, wry, lounge-singer persona with a genuine passion for everything from Motown and Bob Dylan to the Great American Songbook of the 1920s and '30s, Ferry's performances add a post-modern gloss to pop standards. Following rumors of a reunion, Roxy Music re-formed in 2001 and did several tours during the ensuing decade.

The long-awaited 32-disc boxed set of Robert Fripp in the studio and in concert 1977 - 1983 will be released on 27th May 2022. The set will feature many previously unreleased tracks, outtakes and rarities as well as a number of tracks appearing on CD for the first time. The largest in the series, Exposures is the ninth boxset release collecting King Crimson / Robert Fripp material from 1969 to 2008.

While fronting Roxy Music in the 1970s and early '80s, Bryan Ferry devised a blueprint for art rock, and as a solo performer, he brilliantly updated the parameters of the pop songbook. Although Ferry's solo career has included several excellent self-penned tracks, he's best-known for his adventurous interpretations of songs from the rock and pop canon. Combining a studied, wry, lounge-singer persona with a genuine passion for everything from Motown and Bob Dylan to the Great American Songbook of the 1920s and '30s, Ferry's performances add a post-modern gloss to pop standards. Following rumors of a reunion, Roxy Music re-formed in 2001 and did several tours during the ensuing decade.