Official Digital Download 2024

Mexico's most famous ranchera singer, Lucha Villa earned more notice than Lola Beltran thanks to a long, successful film career in addition to her recording work. Born in the Chihuahua state town of Ciudad Camargo in the mid-'30s, young Luz Elena Bejarano entered a number of talent contests and was dubbed Lucha Villa by television producer Luis Dillon (the name is a contraction of Pancho Villa and the Chihuahua village where he spent time). Her biggest early hit was a version of the José Alfredo Jiménez standard "Media Vuelta," and after several minor film roles, she became a star with the 1965 cockfighting feature El Gallo de Oro.

Vol. 4 by Lucha Villa, released through the collaborative efforts of Musart-Balboa and Concord, is a vibrant reimagining of the iconic Mexican singer's classic album. This meticulously remastered edition enhances Villa's powerful vocals and timeless mariachi and ranchera arrangements, offering both new listeners and long-time fans an enriched auditory experience. The release celebrates Lucha Villa's enduring legacy in Latin music, preserving the emotional depth and cultural significance of her work with modern sound quality.

This debut album, from Germany based ensemble Conceptus, features music for tenor and ensemble by Butterworth, Warlock, Holst and Bridge, in addition to Timothy Collins’ Sea Song. Collins has composed and arranged extensively for the ensemble.

Bára Gísladóttir (b. 1989) considers sounds, instruments and ensembles as living organisms. In VAPE, Hringla and COR, the Icelandic composer and double bassist engages with the largest musical organism of all: the symphony orchestra. Inspired by death metal or techno as much as by Scelsi or Penderecki, the foreboding atmosphere of her music is cut through with irony, puns and black humour. After all, organisms themselves – especially human bodies – contain the potential for both comic excess and self-annihilation. In these three works we follow Gísladóttir’s fascination with language and coincidence; we hear an uncompromising interrogation of the body’s excesses and ailments; and, most of all, we see life, vaporous and between states, neither dark nor light.

Tales of the Glens is a journey through Ireland’s Glens of Antrim, as depicted in Anthony Capparelli’s piano album of compositions by Philip Hammond. Inspired by years of immersing himself in Celtic and Scandinavian traditions, Capparelli’s collection beautifully captures the essence of this picturesque region.

Jazz harmonica virtuoso Hendrik Meurkens began his career in Germany playing vibes. In 1992, a trip to California led to his signing with the prestigious Concord label and established him as the first major new voice on the harmonica since Toots Thielemans. His 28 CDs have received rave reviews and strong airplay and he has been listed repeatedly in the Downbeat and Jazziz Polls.

azz harmonica virtuoso Hendrik Meurkens began his career in Germany playing vibes. In 1992, a trip to California led to his signing with the prestigious Concord label and established him as the first major new voice on the harmonica since Toots Thielemans. His 28 CDs have received rave reviews and strong airplay and he has been listed repeatedly in the Downbeat and Jazziz Polls.

In a very casual-sounding way, Canadian vocalist Angela Verbrugge offers truths of the heart, urgent and genuine. A gentle authenticity without pretense that lends a light-hearted tenderness and a speaking naturalness. With the stellar accompaniment of NY and Canadian players such as pianists Ray Gallon & Miles Black, bassists Cameron Brown & Jodi Proznick, and drummers Anthony Pinciotti & Joel Fountain, Angela's take on Bernstein's "Somewhere" is sweetly sustaining, "Born to Be Blue" is a playful piano/voice duet, and "If the Moon Turns Green" is a masterpiece of delicate ardor.

William Howard's latest album, "Sixteen Nocturnes and a Lantern," brings listeners a rich tapestry of piano masterpieces. The carefully curated selection traverses genres and eras, from Clara Schumann's timeless elegance to the contemporary allure of Howard Skempton's "Lantern" (2023). As one of Britain's preeminent pianists, Howard's solo career, marked by performances at prestigious festivals and renowned venues such as Wigmore Hall, has been augmented by his central role with the Schubert Ensemble, one of the country's most successful chamber groups. A recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Best Chamber Ensemble, Howard's collaborative and educational contributions have left an enduring impact.

Montgeroult: Piano Sonata op. 5 no. 3 in F sharp minor; Etude No. 7; Etude No. 8; Etude No. 17; Etude No. 28; Etude No. 37; Etude No. 55; Etude No. 62; Etude No. 89; Etude No. 101; Etude No. 111; Fantasy in G minor, from Cours complet pour l'enseignement du forte piano.