Babel 2002

Although Spyro Gyra's late-'70s instrumental pop chart hit "Morning Dance" is always credited by some for opening doors for the genre that folks would later call smooth jazz, this 16-track compilation - part of GRP's new classic artist collector's series - shows that saxman Jay Beckenstein and company never really fit perfectly into any category. And that's by design. Manager Philip Brennan sequenced these tracks with GRP A&R guy Bud Harner, wisely choosing to make a live version of "Morning Dance" the last track, something of an afterthought, since most of the material here (from 1988 through 1997) is far more challenging and exciting…

Voyageuse de toujours, écrivain de l’ailleurs depuis des décennies, Lieve Joris a traversé l’Afrique de part en part. Aujourd’hui elle poursuit son chemin. Sur les traces de ses amis du Congo, elle suit la nouvelle route du commerce jusqu’en Chine. Et les Africains sont bien là, au cœur des échanges internationaux et de l’avancée fulgurante de la mondialisation. …

The world of contemporary prog seems to solidify on bands who either comply to the museum piece values of the 1970s progressive rock or make it a priority to deny being a part of the movement at all - and then there’s The Tangent, an English progressive rock outfit, which wears a plethora of hats simultaneously. In short, the band plays modern symphonic prog somewhat similar to Spock's Beard and The Flower Kings, taking the occasional stab at the classic Canterbury blend of jazz and rock. Apart from the obvious vintage prog influences, you can hear subtle traces of bands such as The Isley Brothers, Steely Dan, and Return to Forever. That is to say, The Tangent is eclectic prog of the finest caliber…

Mizuki Nana (水樹奈々) is a Japanese pop singer and a popular anime seiyuu. She was the winner of "Best Musical Performance" in the first annual Seiyuu Awards.

Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer, pianist, and composer. He has worked with lyricist Bernie Taupin as his songwriting partner since 1967; they have collaborated on more than 30 albums to date. In his five-decade career Elton John has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world…