Takanaka Rainbow Sacd

Through his numerous releases from Venus Records, Eddie Higgins has firmly established his position as one of the most celebrated jazz pianists in Japan. Eddie Higgins has been on the jazz scene for a long time, but he seems to be a best-kept secret by those able to track down his various releases for independent labels in the U.S. or Japanese titles, such as this one from Venus. This 2003 session features the veteran purely as a soloist, performing a dozen of his favorite ballads.

This is the eighth volume release of Venus Records' SACD compilation. It is a sampler of tracks from the Venus Records library. This edition, (again) focused on the GREAT PIANO TRIOS. The album includes tracks from Dick Hyman Trio, Pepe Rivero Trio, Kenny Werner Trio, Monty Alexander Trio, Stefano Bollani Trio, and more.

This is the 24th (and the last at the current time) volume release of Venus Records' SACD sampler compilation. It is a sampler of tracks from the Venus Records library and includes some of the label's biggest artists. Features Brandon Fields, Jon Davis, Ted Rosenthal, Harold Mabern, Stefano Bollani, and many more.

People, Hell & Angels is a new album of twelve never before released Jimi Hendrix studio recordings. This special album showcases the legendary guitarist working outside of the original Jimi Hendrix Experience trio. Beginning in 1968, Jimi Hendrix grew restless, eager to develop new material with old friends and new ensembles. Outside the view of a massive audience that had established the Experience as rock’s largest grossing concert act and simultaneously placed two of his albums together in the US Top 10 sales chart, Jimi was busy working behind the scenes to craft his next musical statement.

Wonderful Guys is the second album of Hiromasa Suzuki's supergroup of Japanese Jazz & studio musicians. Funky jazz-rock fusion with mellow moments and more jumping parts. This is one of their most successful albums.

Modern Chant (subtitled Inspiration from Gregorian Chant) is an album by pianist Paul Bley, cellist David Eyges, and drummer Bruce Ditmas recorded in 1994 and released on the Japanese Venus label.

A dynamic performer with an entrancing voice, singer/actress Christy Baron has recorded three albums with Chesky Records over the last decade. This critically acclaimed singer "seems to outperform all before her" (Audio & Video Lifestyle). The repertoire on this compilation represents the cream of the crop from each album and highlights Christy Baron's signature vocal style.

Yesterday Once More: The Carpenters Song Book is a pop jazz/crossover music album recording by Nicki Parrott, world-class double bassist and an emerging singer/songwriter. Australia-born Ms. Parrott began her musical path as a piano and flute player, but soon settled on double bass as her forte. On Yesterday Once More: The Carpenters Song Book, she provide both bass and vocals, alongside Ken Peplowski, John Di Martino, Frank Vignola and Alvin Atkinson.

Veteran pianist Richie Beirach distinguished himself as one of the most innovative and creative jazz pianists in the 1970s with his work with Stan Getz, Dave Liebman and his own recordings on ECM. His lyrical style and keen, advanced sense of harmony put him in the same league as his contemporaries Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea. This is the first of the two Ballads albums recorded in Japan in 1986-1987, performed in a contemporary manner with the Jazz standard repertoire.

Rising star saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Sharel Cassity (pronounced sha-REL) is quickly making waves on the New York and international jazz scenes with her fiery and soulful style of playing. In her debut album for Venus Records of Japan, Sharel is supported by a stellar trio of Cyrus Chestnut, Rufus Reid and Lewis Nash. She choose mostly well-known standards for this album and added her own spin with inventive hooks and arrangements.