Satin Doll

Accompanied by a top-flight rhythm section, four exceptional German gypsy violinists trade solos on five standards and three originals. The album swings infectiously as the violinists present lively renditions of Satin Doll and Autumn Leaves, as well as a surprisingly up-tempo Bye Bye Blackbird. The four are following in the tradition of legendary gypsy guitarist Django Rheinhardt and his musical soulmate French violinist Stephane Grappelli, but there is a taste of something more modern. Leader of the pack Zipflo Rheinhardt is descended from Django, but admits to being influenced by Jean-Luc Ponty.

John Pizzarelli takes so naturally to these Ellington classics that if you didn't know better, you might think they were written for him. Following With a Song in My Heart, the guitarist/vocalist's 2008 tribute to songwriting icon Richard Rodgers, and, prior to that, 2006's Dear Mr. Sinatra, it would seem that Pizzarelli is systematically checking off all of those to whom he feels indebted. And that's a good thing, because his dedication to and understanding of this music is unquestioned.

Nights of Ballads & Blues is the third album by the jazz pianist McCoy Tyner, released on the Impulse! label in 1963. It features performances by Tyner with Steve Davis and Lex Humphries. The jazz critic Harvey Pekar said in his August 29, 1963, review for Down Beat magazine, "Tyner's playing has many virtues, but one in particular is his tastefulness. There is nothing trivial about his music; he is, to quote an often used phrase, a 'musician's musician'."

Unreleased 19-track set recorded at the Peninsula library on Long Island in 1972 of the piano legend and trio.British born jazz piano legend Marian McPartland was a trailblazer in the music business recording over 40 albums for various labels including Savoy, Capitol, Concord and her own independent imprint, Halcyon Records. She was the host of Piano Jazz on NPR from 1978-2001 showcasing countless luminaries including Elvis Costello, Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Sondheim, Tony Bennett and countless others. She was awarded a lifetime achievement Grammy, designated a jazz master by the National Endowment for the Arts, appointed an officer to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and an inductee into the National Radio Hall of Fame. This never before released performance was recorded at the Peninsula library in Lawrence on Long Island in New York on December 10, 1972, before a crowd of fans and students for a Sunday afternoon concert. The 18-track set features McPartland with Rusty Gilder on bass and Joe Corsello on drums playing various standards including "Stella by Starlight", "A Night In Tunisia" and "Satin Doll" along with songs of the moment like "Fire & Rain", "Raindrops Keep Fallin on My Head" and "The Summer of '42 Theme". The 19-track CD set features extensive liner notes from music historians Barry Singer and Paul de Barros with rare photos and memorabilia. The release will be supported with a major publicity campaign celebrating this overlooked legendary musician and influential cultural force.