Water Moon

American trumpet player and composer returns to ECM with a stand-out album. Jon Hassell is known for his influence in contemporary music and his unusual electronic manipulation of the trumpet sound which has been lauded and imitated by many. He has collaborated with the likes of Brian Eno, he co-composed the electronic theme music for the television show The Practice, and still makes guest appearances on many albums). The music and Jon's background provided sizeable opportunities to market the record to a wide audience encompassing lovers of electronic, jazz, and world music.

Flow with the 13 Moon Calendar and Lunar Cycles to Increase Magical Potency For Attraction, Healing and Alchemical Union

Improving Your Life through Working with the Moon

Many smooth jazz artists view song titles as an afterthought, so it's refreshing to see guitarist Chuck Loeb play a romantic connect-the-dots with the names of the nine originals on The Moon, the Stars and the Setting Sun. Sure, it's a little corny to follow the sweet little tale strung together by ellipses (i.e. "…the stars…above us…shine on…while we speak…of love and the setting sun") but it gives us a glimpse into Loeb's mindset of this sharply played, generally laid-back project. Sometimes, the stroll is melancholy. Over floating synth washes, he generates a crying effect via lengthy acoustic notes, which are echoed by the subdued Sanborn-esque touches of Nelson Rangell (on the swaying James Taylor cover "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight") and Andy Snitzer. Aware that listeners probably already know the sad lyrics, Loeb cries out over gentle synth drum beats on Boyz II Men's "Water Runs Dry." One of Loeb's trademarks is his ensemble-minded approach, and deferring to a lively two-minute Bob James keyboard solo on the Brazilian-flavored piece makes perfect sense; the disc offers the same sort of gently rhythmic flavors as a James-Earl Klugh collaboration.

Christmas comes early for Chris Brown fans. The R&B superstar unwraps a 57-track deluxe edition of his album Heartbreak on a Full Moon. The repackaged version, titled Deluxe Edition: Cuffing Season – 12 Days of Christmas, adds 12 tracks to the original 45, and features appearances from Trippie Redd (“Yoppa”), Ella Mai (“This X-Mas”), Solo Lucci (“Secret”), and Brown’s rumored girlfriend Agnez Mo (“On Purpose”).