Kemmler Pas Fait Pour Briller

This well-known set of Suites is rarely gone about by most harpsichordists because of its distinctive virtuosity. Its popular title refers to only one manuscript – the one of Johann Christian Bach, who noted “fait pour les Anglois” on it. After all it’s maybe a homage or musical reply on the 1713 publication of François Couperin’s Premier Livre de Pièces de Clavecin.

Muse to the Parisian literary scene of the '50s, godmother of songwriter-led '60s French pop, and a self-reinventing torch singer from the '70s until now, Juliette Gréco is one of the great French recording artists of the 20th century. Born in Montpellier in 1929, Gréco was classically trained at the Paris Opera as a youngster. Forced to flee Paris at the outbreak of the Second World War, and practically orphaned when her mother was jailed for her resistance to the Nazis in 1943, Gréco then sought refuge with her former French teacher in the St. Germain des Prés quarter of Paris.

While not a new album as such, this movie soundtrack confirms Boubacar Traore's iconic status in his native Mali. The music is his journey, from his home city of Kayes to Bamako, and through his life, with a special focus on his late wife, Pierrette, who's beautifully celebrated on this version of "Adieu Pierrette." Plenty of people come out to help, including guitarist Ali Farka Toure on "Diarabi," "Duma Me Yelema," and "Improvisation 2," while rising star Rokia Traore and her band back him on a live version of "Sa Golo."