Shinzo wo Sasageyo

The two CDs forming Vol. 2 are also based on a new collection and edition of the extant musical materials. The order of the pieces on the recording initially adheres to the sequence of the chorale settings in the musicological edition. The result includes programs with special thematic Christmas, Passiontide, Easter, Psalm settings, and catechism songs. This new recording is an invitation to listeners everywhere to rediscover Pachelbel's versatility as a keyboard composer.

Lullaby for the Moon presents Japanese contemporary works for koto and shakuhachi based on traditional folksongs (1. Komoroiuta, 6. Sakura, and 7. Kojo), as well as some original ones, including a piece for 2 shakuhachis. The CD ends with one of the most known pieces of the Japanese classical repertoire: "Chidori" (known also as "Chidori no Kyoku"), written around 1750. A large group of excellent musicians were selected for this CD, including one of today's most known and best shakuhachi musicians: Hozan Yamamoto. This excellent CD presents a music of high meditative quality.

Overall, this is not quite in the top echelon but is a solid entry in the increasingly crowded sub-genre of greasy, white-hipster, roadhouse blues - a retro-blend of Texas and Chicago blues sensibilities with dirty-toned guitar, danceable jump and shuffle rhythms, and soul-inflected vocals. The band is a guitar-bass-drums trio, plus singer Jimmy Morello (who brings to mind Kim Wilson and Sugar Ray Norcia, sans harp). Boyack displays flashes of wit on guitar. Producer Ron Levy thickens the sound with his own Hammond B-3, although mixed very much in the background, and with horns on a few cuts. The tunes are all originals, a majority written or co-written by Morello (who has since left the band). Best cuts are the upbeat "Sugar," with its catchy "wo-wo-wo-wo" hook; the minor key "I Know It's Over"; and the Albert King-style "Cleanin' Out My Closet."

Kanako Itō is a female Japanese singer from Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan. She has sung many songs that have appeared in video games and anime.