Larry Willis Steal

Sarah Willis is a tireless ambassador for her instrument, the French horn, which she champions around the world. A horn player with the famous Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra since 2001, she launched what was soon to become a famous TV programme, ‘Sarah’s Music’, for Deutsche Welle in 2014, interviewing personalities ranging from Gustavo Dudamel to Wynton Marsalis. The award-winning programme presents music with warmth and in all its diversity.

For this set, Willie Willis has reprised seven of the songs that appeared on 'Blues Food For The Soul' (1989), in many cases expanding on the originals, and with the addition of keyboards and more use of the piano, giving the songs a fuller sound that complements his voice, which has gained a rawer edge over the last few years, to perfection. His hit single 'It's All Over Baby', is slowed down in tempo, and with it's rolling piano and swirling organ, attains a far jazzier feel than the original, a formula that's also used on 'I've Been A Fool' where a slow-er tempo and the use of that rolling Texas piano at the expense of the horns used on the original, gives the number an altogether tougher feel. 'You Used Me Baby', with it's insistent bass and riffing horns, and the jazzier 'I Love This Woman', conjure up visions of ZuZu Bollin and T-Bone Walker respectively…

Willis Jackson, a veteran of the jazz-oriented R&B music of the late '40s, was a powerful tenor in the tradition of Gene Ammons. This is a particularly exciting release with Charles Earland pumping away at the organ, guitarist Pat Martino offering a contrasting solo voice and Jackson in top form, wailing away on the uptempo pieces. The CD reissue of the original LP adds two alternate takes to the program. The chord changes might be fairly basic but Willis Jackson plays with such enthusiasm and exuberance that it almost sounds as if he had discovered the joy of playing music.

Willis Jackson was a tough-toned tenor who came to fame as a honker and screamer with Cootie Williams's big band in the late '40s. Although he calmed down his style a bit through the years, he always has a passionate sound and an accessible style best heard on blues, ballads and standards. This is a CD reissue of a 1978 session that features Jackson with guitarist Pat Martino, organist Carl Wilson and a supportive rhythm section. Although the Barbara Streisand-associated "Evergreen" (heard in two versions) and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" may not seem like the best material for the tenor, he uplifts the songs…

With this album - subtitled La Bella Cubana - the Mozart y Mambo trilogy is complete. After two critically acclaimed albums, three documentary films, two international tours and fundraising to help support classical musicians in Cuba, Sarah concludes this adventure of a lifetime with the Havana Lyceum Orchestra and their conductor, José Antonio Méndez Padrón by recording Mozart's Concerto No. 4 with its famous final Rondo. Also on the album, three of her colleagues from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Jonathan Kelly, Wenzel Fuchs and Stefan Schweigert, join her for more Mozart, performing the Sinfonia Concertante for four solo wind instruments and orchestra.

Willis-Sørensen celebrates the release of her second solo album with Sony Classical, “Strauss: Four Last Songs”. The album presents masterpieces from Richard Strauss’s later years, including his sublime Vier letzte Lieder and the closing scene of his final opera, Capriccio. Praised by Opéra Magazine for possessing an “uncommon talent, able to rival the best examples of the past, without being content to simply follow in their footsteps”, Ms. Willis-Sørensen is accompanied by renowned conductor Andris Nelsons, who leads the Gewandhausorchester. Also featured on the album is German bass Sebastian Pilgrim who joins Ms. Willis-Sørensen for the Capriccio scene. Her debut album Rachel which was released last year, received widespread praise and recognition. Gramophone Magazine recommended the album as “a rewarding and intelligent debut from a very fine singer”.