Various Artists – Dubois: Chamber Music (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:18:42 minutes | 769 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Toccata Classics
The music of Théodore Dubois (1837–1924) has rather been overshadowed by that of other French composers of the same period, not least Fauré and Saint-Saëns. But Dubois does not deserve his relative neglect: not only was he a superlative craftsman, but he could also unfold a fetching melody and had a strong sense of musical narrative. This recital of chamber works for oboe and strings is noteworthy for a further quality, one often underestimated: much of the music is, quite simply, charming.
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Various Artists – Sky Music – A Tribute to Terje Rypdal (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:19:55 minutes | 1,50 GB | Genre: Jazz Fusion, Jazz Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rune Grammofon
Sky Music is a humble and heartfelt celebration of an inspirational artist and truly unique guitarist that hasn´t fully received the due credit and recognition he deserves for over 50 years of excellent music making. Initiated by the experimental US guitarist and lifelong Rypdal fan Henry Kaiser, we put together a Rune Grammofon allstar band including keyboardist and long time Rypdal side-kick Ståle Storløkken (Elephant9, Supersilent), bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (Scorch Trio, The Thing), drummer Gard Nilssen (Bushman´s Revenge), guitarists Even Helte Hermansen (Bushman´s Revenge) and Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen, Finnish guitarist Raoul Björkenheim (Scorch Trio) and Swedish guitarist Reine Fiske (Dungen). Kaiser also played and produced while Hans Magnus Ryan (Motorpsycho) added bits and pieces and Jim O´Rourke beamed in his exquisite contributions to “Sunrise” from Tokyo. Bill Frisell, Nels Cline and David Torn delivered solo interpretations, Cline with the aid of cellist Erik Friedlander. Sky Music is their birthday present to Terje Rypdal at 70.
Read moreVarious Artists – If Music Presents You Need This: an Introduction to Klinkhamer Records Compiled by Michel Veenstra (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 30:34 minutes | 317 MB | Genre: Funk, Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © BBE Music
IF Music owner Jean-Claude turns his attention to Dutch record shop Klinkhamer Records for the latest in his “An Introduction To…” series on BBE Music, inviting owner Michel Veenstra to compile a special selection of music to represent the store.
Located in the city of Groningen, Klinkhamer Records began in the year 2000 as an offshoot of the already-established ‘Klinkhamer Antiek en Curiosa’ shop. Having made a success of the record trade, Michel Veenstra and his brother Stephan purchased the business from founder Martin Klinkhamer in 2005. “We kept the name” says Michel “since we both loved it, and it was already well-known in our town.”
Read moreVarious Artists – Naji Hakim: Phèdre, Caprice en Rondeau, Diptyque, Concerto for Piano (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:00:11 minutes | 561 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Signum Records
A prolific composer and organist, Naji Hakim is truly one of the most versatile performer-composers working today, garnering praise from his numerous organ and composition competition prizes as well as an award from Pope Benedict XVI for his musical work in benefit of the church.This new recording continues Signum’s series of discs with Naji Hakim with a new selection of his chamber works, featuring performances by Rima Tawil, Magali Mosnier, Claire Foise, Quatuor de la Chapelle Royale (with Renaud Bary) as well as by the composer.
These works draw on a wide range of influences: Phèdre sets the words of Jean Racine’s tragic work of the same name to music; Caprice en Rondeau is a sprightly piece featuring themes by Rameau; and the Diptyque combines folk tunes through the tonal pallate of the basque flute the txistu. The premiere recording of the Concerto for Piano is a tour-de-force for soloist Claire Foise, accompanied in this version for String Quintet by the Quatuor de la Chapelle Royale and Renaud Bary.
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Various Artists – Merci Yaya Bongo – Les Groupes d’Animation Féminins du Gabon 1982 – 1989 (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:15:59 minutes | 1,61 GB | Genre: World, Afrobeat, Female Vocal
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Secousse
Gabon, 1980’s. President Omar Bongo has been in power since 1967. Together with his wife, the infamous singer Patience Dabany, he invents one of the ultimate political propaganda machine: ‘animation groups’, massive female choirs and dancers, up to 60 women deep, singing the praise of his regime over some of the best soukous rhythms ever, broadcasted live on TV.
Between 1982 and 1989, mainly thanks to the flourishing oil economy, a record-label is created, a state-of-the-art recording studio is set up, and the best Gabonese and Congolese musicians are recruited. Dozens of vinyls are pressed and sold with huge success all over the country.
The Bongo family has reigned continuously over Gabon until the August 2023 coup d’état.
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