Reeds 2023

David Attenborough explores British woodland, grassland, freshwater and ocean habitats, revealing the surprising and dramatic wildlife that exist right on the doorstep, the existence of which is critical for the survival of species right across the globe.

Joe Santa Maria, a fiery alto saxophonist with a strong command of post-bop vernacular, took a detour from earlier acoustic jazz releases The Illustrated Man (2012) and Introspection (2014) when he made Creature (2016), an absorbing, otherworldly set of electronic tracks and experimental woodwind sounds and improvisations. His new release, Echo Deep, has a foot in both these worlds, in a sense: a sonically exploratory solo voyage, though one involving other players in a plethora of roles.

The idea of a big band in jazz is all-encompassing, representing completeness, fullness and instrumental articulation. In the mass collective imagination, when one thinks of jazz, a big orchestra immediately springs to mind, where the doors of rhythm and melody open wide, while harmonies run fast in swing time. The big band is the most traditional jazz formula, but it is also the most difficult: the musicians must be well disposed to choral and synergetic playing without attempting to overpower their sodalists, the solo parts are short and well distributed, while the improvisational fugues are contingent and controlled.

On her ninth album, and first in nearly a decade, Natalie Merchant echoes the lushness of her classic Ophelia from 1998—though you can hear the age in her voice.

Dandrieu’s Premier Livre de Pièces d’Orgue was printed a year after the composer died in 1738. It contains six suites of pieces in differing church tones, each followed by six versets suitable for performance under the canticle Magnificat.
While the Magnificat verses have a logical sequence, the other movements in the suites are somewhat haphazardly planned. Even setting aside the Pascal hymn in the Premier Suite, the remaining pieces have no apparent order, perhaps reflecting a desire to make the publication as generally useful as possible. s.

Three exquisite serenades, six caressing nocturnes and a meditative lied invite you to celebrate with Mozart the “beautiful night, clearer than the day”. Let's leave the Queen of the Night to her devious or furious sparkle, let's leave Don Juan to his mandolin, but let's enjoy with him the "beautiful night, clearer than the day" that Mozart, this great giver of serenades, celebrates. However, the serenata for instrumental ensemble is defined first of all as outdoor music, less necessarily linked to the night than to places of pleasure, real or fantasized – in Così fan tutte, it's in the garden, the after- noon, let the two fake strangers intone their serenata.

„A roller coaster“, „with parabolic orbits of rim-shots, rolls, and cymbal washes wiping down the sides. Jack DeJohnette again illustrates why he’s one of the leading drummers of this era” Down Beat, 1983

The Doncaster Jazz Alumni (DJA) mark the golden anniversary of the Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra (DYJO), showcasing the remarkable journey and enduring legacy of its founder, John Ellis MBE, as well as their own individual and collective achievements. 50 Years was recorded with a special intention to try and help support students at the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association (DYJA). As proud Doncaster Jazz Alumni and former members of the association, their shared passion for jazz and the community is a motivating factor to give back to the next generation of talented musicians.