Guitarist Kenny Burrell debuted on Blue Note Records in 1956 and over the following 7 years made a series of excellent albums for the label that culminated with his masterwork Midnight Blue. Recorded in 1963, the album waded deep into the blues, conjuring an alluring late-night vibe with a profoundly soulful cast including tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, bassist Major Holley, Jr., drummer Bill English, and Ray Barretto on congas. Burrell originals including “Chitlins con Carne,” “Midnight Blue,” “Saturday Night Blues,” and the stunning solo guitar piece “Soul Lament” set the tone for this timeless classic adorned by one of the all-time great Reid Miles cover designs. This Classic Vinyl Edition is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Since its formation in 2008, the Ensemble Correspondances has devoted itself chiefly to French sacred music of the seventeenth century. Brought together by Sébastien Daucé during their studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique (CNSM) de Lyon, the musicians of Correspondances pursue this work (focusing notably on Marc-Antoine Charpentier) with infectious enthusiasm today.

On her new album Freewheelin’ Woman, Jewel presents her boldest and most unbridled body of work to date, revealing entirely new dimensions of her breathtaking voice. In giving life to such a powerful selection of songs, the four-time Grammy Award-nominated artist immersed herself in a process she refers to as a spiritual rewilding—a reawakening of the raw creative energy that first set her on her path as an ever-evolving singer/songwriter.

A re-interpretation so often comes from an impulse, even if subliminal, of one-upmanship – let me do better, wait ‘til you hear it my way. Sometimes though, and it happens too rarely, the cover is an act of devotion in which a musician’s humility produces something more beautiful than bravura could.

Currently based in Los Angeles, Laurel Halo has spent over a decade stepping into different towns and cities for a moment or more, to the point where everywhere almost became nowhere. Atlas, the debut release on her new imprint Awe, is an attempt to put that feeling to music. Using both electronic and acoustic instrumentation, Halo has created a potent set of sensual ambient jazz collages, comprised of orchestral clouds, shades of modal harmony, hidden sonic details, and detuned, hallucinatory textures. The music functions as a series of maps, for places real and imaginary, and for expressing the unsaid.

UMR is proud to announce PETE TOWNSHEND LIVE > IN CONCERT 1985-2001 an expanded 14-CD box set and digital set featuring seven long-out-of-print live albums by Pete Townshend.

The debut album Pangea by violinist Lea Brückner combines the idea of expanding and illuminating the musical diversity of classical music. The selection of works takes the listener on a journey through 9 countries, musical styles such as impressionism, minimalism and jazz influences as well as the influence of folklore on composers.

Lyrebird Brass presents the world premieres of five contemporary brass quintets in BOOK OF BRASS, an album shaking up the scene with an assortment of boundary-pushing works by highly lauded and awarded composers.

Contemporary jazz, funk, swing: How much is possible with just 3 musicians? How little? The trio "Bird's Free Funk" plays calm and melody followed by groove and beats in original compositions, so that a new world opens up in a minimal line-up. Intense and gripping, with the search for beauty of sound, in which each musician bears maximum responsibility, the trio plays its way from bebop to Latin jazz to modern compositions. The three young musicians from Hanover and Berlin try to give jazz their own flavour, away from too much and towards the most necessary, the most musical, the most beautiful.

True Concord’s newest album, A Dream So Bright, features two world premiere recordings of works by Jake Runestad. His EMMY®­-winning choral/orchestral work, Earth Symphony, with poetry of Todd Boss, was commissioned and premiered by True Concord in 2022. Dreams of the Fallen, Runestad’s prize­-winning work for solo piano, chorus & orchestra, features pianist Jeffrey Biegel and includes texts of the poet Brian Turner, a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan war.

On the way to the next Balans project, I needed to do something else. Like breaking up with your boyfriend and sleeping with someone opposite, then hopefully seeing everything clearly again. Where would I go? I have been looking for the right entry to combine my music with the deep feelings and connections I have had with N since I was a small child.

On their new album "Kammin Jaaretti," the renowned jazz trio Hot Heros craft mesmerizing forest jazz.

Johannes Motschmann's latest album is a revolutionary fusion of human creativity and artificial intelligence. This groundbreaking project showcases a unique AI, custom-built and meticulously trained on Motschmann's extensive work to replicate his distinctive style seamlessly. Unlike generic AI music tools, this AI collaborates intimately with Motschmann, pushing the boundaries of modern composition. This album promises an unparalleled auditory journey. It was performed by the illustrious Ensemble Modern at the SWR Experimental Studio and conducted by the renowned Peter Tilling. Immerse yourself in the future of music, where technology meets artistry.

Ruth Gipps made her musical talents apparent from an early age, and they were encouraged by her very supportive mother. She entered the Royal College of Music in 1937, aged 16, studying oboe and piano, in addition to composition (with Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gordon Jacob). Whilst at college, she performed Brahms’s Second Piano Concerto, and her tone poem Knight in Armour (CHAN 20078) was presented by Sir Henry Wood at the Last Night of the Proms in 1942. As the war continued, Gipps left London to become principal oboe with the City of Birmingham Orchestra, where she also performed as pianist and had several of her works programmed. Returning to London after the war, Gipps found fewer opportunities as a performer, and less interest in her orchestral scores. She concentrated on composing more chamber music, alongside a successful teaching career.

Virtuosic playfulness and seemingly infinite creativity – from the first note on, violinist Bjarke Falgren and guitarist Sönke Meinen leave all traditions behind and enthuse their audiences all over the world. In their concerts they break the stylistic boundaries between folk, jazz, world music and classical music. Their compositions are expressive and vibrant, and especially the quiet notes draw the listener into their musical world. Nevertheless, the two musicians never take themselves too seriously, leave room for spontaneous interaction and accompany their pieces with humorous and touching stories.