Monarch Art

The third installment from Canada's Monarch Trail marks perhaps their strongest album todate. With music as majestic as the cover art , this band really pull out a beauty here on Wither Down! Ken Baird, the architect behind Monarch Trail, has hit the jackpot here with six classic symphonic prog tunes, the longest track alone "Megalopolitana" is some 15 minutes and musically stunning. Dino Verginella and Chris Lamont lay down some solid prog chops along the journey and adding in a few guest guitarists too (Steve Cochrane and Kelly Kereliuk). If you are a fan of IQ, Marillion, Mike Oldfield and in general symphonic rock, then Wither Down may just be your next album to purchase!

Art Farmer - Live At Stanford Jazz Workshop (1997) {Monarch Records MR-1013}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 368 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 151 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 27 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1997 Monarch Records | MR-1013
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Flumpet

Art Farmer (on his flumpet, a compromise between a trumpet and a flugelhorn) swings in creative fashion on a live set with veteran tenor Harold Land, pianist Bill Bell, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath. The quintet performs a pair of Thelonious Monk tunes, a few ballads, Land's "Rapture" and "Straight No Chaser." There are spots where Farmer (67 at the time) and Land show their age a little, but their enthusiasm, decades of success at developing their own sounds, and constant creativity within the hard bop tradition result in many strong moments.

Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection
This is a VERY underrated album from Rick Wakeman, the Yes' keyboardist. Wakeman here is supported by the excellent English Rock Ensemble, made of Tony Fernandez on drums, Ashley Holt on lead vocals and some brass instruments musicians, among others.