Peter Caydick

This discography of musical work by the bassist Peter Kowald, who died in 2002, was compiled in honor of his 70th birthday. Kowald (1944-2002) was a vital figure in German free jazz, playing for many years with the Globe Unity Orchestra, the Schlippenbach Quartet and with Peter Brotzmann, on to periods living in Greece, Japan and in New York. He worked in a vast amount of settings from solo and duo bass recordings to dance and film work. The four CDs here offer a selection of studio and live recordings, including the Grandmothers Teaching session with Chris McGregor, Harry Beckett etc, and two rare albums recorded for small Greek labels: Aphorisms (1997) and The Human Aspect (1990).

As well as being internationally recognised as a leading interpreter of music new and old, Peter Sheppard Skærved is the only violinist to have performed on the personal violins of Viotti, Paganini, Joachim, Kreisler and Ole Bull. Here he presents the works from ‘Preludes or Voluntarys’ (2nd edition, published by John Walsh in 1705. The edition includes petite gems from the leading lights of the age such as Purcell, Biber, Pepusch, Correlli and Torrelli, and some whose names are somewhat forgotten: Matteis, Bassani and Vitali – and more who are only known by their surname, probably musicians of the royal court who had presented a work to Walsh for publication. It’s also true that Walsh included several extracts from sonatas, suites and other chamber works, not always correctly attributed.

This discography of musical work by the bassist Peter Kowald, who died in 2002, was compiled in honor of his 70th birthday. Kowald (1944-2002) was a vital figure in German free jazz, playing for many years with the Globe Unity Orchestra, the Schlippenbach Quartet and with Peter Brotzmann, on to periods living in Greece, Japan and in New York. He worked in a vast amount of settings from solo and duo bass recordings to dance and film work. The four CDs here offer a selection of studio and live recordings, including the Grandmothers Teaching session with Chris McGregor, Harry Beckett etc, and two rare albums recorded for small Greek labels: Aphorisms (1997) and The Human Aspect (1990).

During his lifetime, Hugo Alfvén became known as one of Sweden’s principal composers of his time, with works that struck a chord with a wide audience. As a result of his popularity, a nationwide collection was held in celebration of his 70th birthday in 1942, with the proceeds used to build Alfvéngården, the composer’s home during his final years. Now, 80 years later, Elin Rombo and Peter Friis Johansson are releasing their tribute to Alfvén’s 150th anniversary, recorded at Alfvéngården using the composer’s own piano.

A massive, 2-disc compilation featuring cover versions of virtually every Peter Green song written during his Fleetwood Mac period, and a few drawn from his mid-80s solo period. While there are some weaker moments in this 39-track collection, the majority of the interpretations feature blues guitar, piano and vocal at their very best. Rather than simply pay tribute to Peter Green by faithfully imitating his material, the artists have chosen to re-interpret these songs and in most cases the results are superb. The power of Green's influence is felt all the more deeply when so many artists use his music as a jumping-off point. A must have item for blues guitar fans.

SOMM Recordings is delighted to announce the release of Eclogue. British Chamber Music, a collection of British chamber music from the 19th to the 21st centuries including nine first recordings featuring the label debut of the Chamber Ensemble of London in their 25th anniversary year with director Peter Fisher.