2017

Sinatra Frank: Ultimate Christmas [Gatefold / 2 Vinyl LP + Download]

180 gram vinyl.<br/><br/>Released on the occasion of Anouar Brahem's 60th birthday, "Blue Maqams" offers many reasons to celebrate. Recorded in New York's Avatar Studios in May 2017 and produced by Manfred Eicher, it brings the Tunisian oud master together with three brilliant improvisers: the "Maqams" of the title refers to the Arabic modal music system, rendered kind of blue by the jazz players. For Anouar Brahem and Dave Holland the album marks a reunion: they first collaborated 20 years ago on the very widely-acclaimed "Thimar" album. Brahem meets Jack DeJohnette for the first time here, but Holland and DeJohnette have been frequent musical partners over the last half-century beginning with ground-breaking work with Miles Davis - their collaborations are legendary. British pianist Django Bates also rises superbly to the challenge of Brahem's compositions. And Anouar in turn is inspired to some of his most outgoing playing. "Blue Maqams" is a highlight of ECM's autumn season.

180 gram vinyl.<br/><br/>Herbie Manns album "Memphis Underground" från 1969 finns med på musikmagasinet Rolling Stones lista över de "100 Bästa jazzalbumen" genom tiderna. Nu har Magnus Lindgren, som räknas som en av Europas bästa jazzflöjtister, spelat in en modern version i samma anda - men med egen touch. I ryggen har han det "gamla" kompet från Funk Unit, Henrik Janson, gitarr, Lars DK Danielsson, bas, och Per Lindvall, trummor. Som gästsolister hörs Nils Landgren, trombon, Eric Bibb, sång och gitarr, Till Brönner, trumpet, och Ida Sand, sång.

Eric Schaefer has been described as the "central shining star of the German jazz scene" by the prestigious weekly Die Zeit, while the Munich broadsheet Süddeutsche Zeitung has referred to the "wide-ranging inspiration that he brings to the jazz world." In "Kyoto Mon Amour" the drummer/composer takes on the challenge of building bridges between Japanese and western.

180 gram vinyl.

180 gram vinyl.<br/><br/>ACT is proud to mark this milestone with a "Jubilee Album". However, the label has taken care to steer well clear of the predictable. Except three tracks everything on the album is being released for the first time. The result is a newly crafted summation of the kind of music for which ACT exists: music that can touch the heart, stir the soul and lift the spirit of the listener. It is a kaleidoscope of magical musical moments by artists with an openness of mind to all genres and styles.

180 gram vinyl.