Les Paul had such a staggeringly huge influence over the way American popular music sounds today that many tend to overlook his significant impact upon the jazz world. Before his attention was diverted toward recording multi-layered hits for the pop market, he made his name as a brilliant jazz guitarist whose exposure on coast-to-coast radio programs guaranteed a wide audience of susceptible young musicians.

Dublin, ireland-based true doom trio DREAD SOVEREIGN has unveiled details of its upcoming debut full-length album. Subsequent to last year's critically acclaimed "Pray To The Devil In Man" 12-inch, the band headed to the studio last autumn to work on the follow-up release. The resulting ten-track beast of a record, entitled "All Hell's Martyrs", will be released by Ván Records in March.Although retaining the rugged, epic drama of PRIMORDIAL (in which Nemtheanga and Dubh Sol both perform), DREAD SOVEREIGN is distinctly different, blending influences of VENOM, SAINT VITUS and CIRITH UNGOL in the raw underground cult doom idiom.

C.P.E. Bach would undoubtedly rejoice, were he alive, upon hearing this album of his cello concertos by Truls Mørk and Les Violons du Roy under the direction of Bernard Labadie. From the opening notes, one cannot help but feel the orchestra is fantastic. The A major Cello Concerto begins with vigor and liveliness, with the ensemble playing perfectly together in tempo with great spirit. Mørk plays just as well, with a clean, accurate, and somewhat light touch.

Michael Collins is one of our most versatile clarinettists, possessing a dazzling virtuosity and sensitive musicianship that have made him the favourite of conductors, composers, and audiences throughout the world. Now an exclusive Chandos artist, Collins is embarking on a series of recordings designed to display the extraordinarily wide range of music written for his instrument. The present programme comprises a varied repertoire, concentrating generally (though not exclusively) on its more extrovert virtuoso aspects and offering some breathtaking show-stoppers. Well-known works such as Rachmaninoff’s haunting Vocalise contrast with the sunny brilliance of Giampieri’s Il carnevale di Venezia, and the playful, inventive French items by Milhaud and Messager provide a further contrast in mood and colour.

Third studio album by Nitin Sawhney, originally released in 1996. Featuring a variety of musical styles, from jazz, classical, trip hop, drum & bass & traditional Asian influences. The results provide a compelling listening experience. If you are impressed by Sawhney's recent offering, "Beyond Skin", you will not be disappointed by this highly sophisticated and idiosyncratic album.

This box set of three DVDs contains numerous television and filmed live performances by the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. Included are Elvis Presley: Great Performances, Vol. 1 - Center Stage, Elvis Presley: Great Performances, Vol. 2 - The Man and the Music, and Elvis Presley: Great Performances, Vol. 3 - From the Waist Up. The clips are presented in standard full-frame transfers.

Spacey progressive record from Spain on the DRO East West label from 1977. Lots of dreamy drifting keys. Nice gatefold cover in fantastic shape.

I Solisti Veneti is one of the first rank of small Italian chamber orchestras with modern instruments. Founded in Padua in 1959 by Claudio Scimone, it has made a reputation especially with Italian Baroque music, recording many works by Antonio Vivaldi, Tomaso Albinoni, Francesco Geminiani, Benedetto Marcello and Giuseppe Tartini. Giuliano Carmignola and Piero Toso were two of the soloists in the ensemble. The group has made over 300 recordings, many on the Erato record label. A number of these were first-ever recordings of works of Vivaldi, Albinoni and Rossini.