Conrad Herwig - Reflections-Facing South - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

On Reflections, a co-led sextet recital comprising two charts from Russian tenor saxophonist-bandleader Igor Butman and six from trombonist Conrad Herwig. For the tenth CD that Herwig has either led or co-led for Criss Cross since 1997, he recruits trumpeter (and Criss Cross veteran) Alex Sipiagin to round out the front line, and a killer rhythm section comprising pianist David Kikoski, bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Jeff InchTainInch Watts. Well-known as the leader and guiding intelligence of the Moscow State Jazz Orchestra, Butman, in a rare sideman appearance with a combo of New York A-listers, brings his A-game, improvising with heat and logic that his partners match throughout. Album Tracks 1. Falling Out 2. King of the Mountain 3. Wingspan 4. Reflections 5. Olvidame 6. Who Cares? 7. Samba de Igor 8. Big O'S Blues

After receiving four Grammy nominations for his highly successful series of recordings that InchlatinizeInch the music of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Horace Silver, Conrad Herwig turns his attention to the legendary Charles Mingus. An imposing figure in jazz, Mingus was known for being complicated, volatile and a touched-by-genius innovator. As an homage to this influential artist, Conrad Herwig provides a fiery excursion into the world of Afro-Caribbean rhythms skillfully applied to Mingus' wildly imaginative compositions. Joining Herwig is special guest trumpeter Randy Brecker together with long-time InchLatin SideInch band colleagues pianist Bill O'Connell, reedman Craig Handy and the trumpet/flugelhorn of Alex Sipiagin with the rhythm section of Luques Curtis, Robby Ameen and Camilo Molina. Collectively they bring a vibrant spirit and authority to this repertoire which is unique among today's salsa ensembles. Featured tunes run the gamut from the thoughtful and intimate InchDuke Ellington's Sound of LoveInch to the unbridled joy of InchBoogie Stop ShuffleInch with the somewhat lop-sided introduction to the opening track, InchGunslinging Bird,Inch being the perfect harbinger of things to come. This latest installment in Conrad Herwig's InchLatin SideInch series pays tribute to the work of Charles Mingus with progressive arrangements, propulsive rhythms, exciting solos and the consummate musicianship of the leader and his bandmates. Album Tracks 1. Gunslinging Bird 2. Boogie Stop Shuffle 3. No Dejes Que Pase Aquí (Don't Let It Happen Here) 4. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat 5. Hora Decubitus 6. Duke Ellington's Sound of Love 7. All the Things You Could Be By Now If Sigmund Freud's Wife Was Your Mother 8. Better Get Hit in Your Soul

The Poem of Life Picture 45 RPM Deutsche Grammophon presents The Poem of Life, a new album by composer, pianist, and producer Yu-Peng Chen. With this , Chen turns to a more personal project a symphonic suite for piano and orchestra in 12 movements, exploring different stages of life with a focus on reflection, expression and storytelling. This marks a new direction in his work, bringing together his experience in game music with a more intimate, concert-focused approach. Conceived as a reflective exploration of universal human experience, The Poem of Life traces an emotional and spiritual arc from birth to farewell. Through lyrical melodies and symphonic arrangements, Chen evokes the wonder of childhood, the trials of adulthood, and the serenity of later years - culminating in the final moments of life. This Picture Disc 2LP set is cut at 45 RPM. Limited Edition. A sweeping orchestral work featuring compositions by Yu-Peng Chen and performances by Liang Zhang with the Shanghai Philharmonic. Album Tracks 1. Overture The Flavors of Life 2. First Breath 3. Waltz of the Fireflies 4. The Wind Chaser 5. Love in First Bloom 6. A Journey Forged Through Fire 7. Under the Moonlight 8. Unspoken 9. Wordless Farewell 10. Where Longing Ends 11. The Unfinished Poem 12. Life, Like a Dream