Federation of The

In this first ever survey of the music of this war torn region, Michael Church lifts the veil on a vibrant musical tradition. The small but troubled Republic of Chechnya is a member of the Russian Federation, located in the North Caucasus Mountains between the Black and Caspian Seas. With a population of a little more that one million, its fierce fight for independence has kept it in the news and kept visitors out. A beautiful but harsh mountainous landscape has made for a traditionally hard and resilient people whose culture has rarely reached the outside world. Michael Church has recorded and compiled the stunning music on this disc partly in Chechnya itself and was held by the Russian police for his efforts. Some of the tracks are love songs and circle dances, others are living history, accompanied by balalaika, violin, drum and accordion, these songs celebrate heroes and denounce genocidal crime.(Amazon)

Benny Goodman was the first celebrated bandleader of the Swing Era, dubbed "The King of Swing," his popular emergence marking the beginning of the era. He was an accomplished clarinetist whose distinctive playing gave an identity both to his big band and to the smaller units he led simultaneously. The most popular figure of the first few years of the Swing Era, he continued to perform until his death 50 years later. Goodman was the son of Russian immigrants David Goodman, a tailor, and Dora Rezinsky Goodman. He first began taking clarinet lessons at ten at a synagogue, after which he joined the band at Hull House, a settlement home.

And this time Trail Records continue with an interesting song collection recorded by bands coming from the Russian Federation exclusively. Some of the tracks were previously unreleased…

REALLY great blues rock covers, with impressive guitar, mildly reminiscent of Cream at times. Side 1 is mostly hard blues rock, while side 2 is primarily laid back mat'l, with a west coast vibe…

Illness, exhaustion and a national recording ban imposed by executives heading the American Federation of Musicians forced Stan Kenton to disband and withdraw from the music scene in December 1948. The hiatus lasted until February 1950, when he resumed making records for the Capitol label (see Classics 1185, Stan Kenton & His Orchestra 1950). Classics 1255, 1950-1951, which is the seventh volume in the Classics Kenton chronology, contains all of the recordings he made with his big band between May 18 1950 and March 20 1951. By and large, Kenton's music sounded better than ever during this period.

World premiere 2-CD release of complete Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack to Russall Mulcahy film with Alec Baldwin as famed and flawed crime fighter, co-starring John Lone, Penelope Ann Miller, Ian McKellen, Peter Boyle. Dark, edged action plus stunning period design inspire Goldsmith to create one of his most involved, exciting (and longest) scores of his later career. Powerful French horn main theme imposes but is mere stepping stone to ferocious action music, mysterious ideas, tender love theme. Latter melody is especially pretty on piano, amongst composer's most beautiful - and barely heard from on original 1994 album.