The new CD Umoya (titled from the Zulu word for life force), features rising star Samuel Eagles on sax and is one of the first wave of releases on the new jazz imprint from prestigious classical label Odradek Records. On this album, Clouts’ African inspirations extend beyond Cape jazz to Gnawa music and Afrobeat, and further to pan-European folksong, soul-jazz and even drum ‘n’ bass. Joined by saxophonist Samuel Eagles, bassist Alex Keen and Yamaha Jazz Scholarship-winning drummer Dave Ingamells, he brings his musical journey alive with superb musicianship and infectious vigour…

New Orleans pianist Sullivan Fortner is an adept, award-winning jazz musician and composer with a bent toward sophisticated post-bop. Born in New Orleans in 1986, Fortner first began playing piano around age four. He was playing in church groups by the time he was nine, and at 13 he enrolled in the famed New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). As a teenager Fortner excelled at piano, earning scholarships to both the Vail Jazz Institute and Skidmore Jazz Studies summer programs. Having graduated from both NOCCA and his regular high school (where he was Valedictorian), he perfected his craft by earning a bachelor's degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and, later, a master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music…

To state Californian Heavy Metal warriors HUNTRESS are making their presence known in the Metal community would be more than stating the obvious, their brutal sound and their dominant charisma has ensured they will secure a place in Metal history. Their relentless touring and fierce work ethic has ensured this; gaining support slots for the likes of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, LAMB OF GOD, AMON AMARTH and ARCH ENEMY….

At the time of the release of Robert Lamm's debut solo album, Skinny Boy, in 1974, it was easy to think that the singer/songwriter/pianist intended to launch a solo career, even though no announcement was ever made that he was leaving Chicago. The group was at the peak of its popularity at the time, having recently released the third of five consecutive number one albums, Chicago VII.

The original Borodin Quartet was founded in 1945 in the Soviet Union and this release marks the Quartet’s 70th anniversary. They enjoyed a close relationship with Shostakovich, and often worked with him as a new quartet was written (and they also recorded the cycle).

Florida death metal veterans MALEVOLENT CREATION will release their twelfth album, "Dead Man's Path", on September 18 via Century Media. The cover artwork for the CD was created by tattoo artist German Latorres and perfectly captures the evil vibe of the album. MALEVOLENT CREATION vocalist and founding member Bret Hoffmann previously stated about the band's new record deal: "It feels great to have the guys at Century Media believe in us and our new songs, and really want to stand behind them and the band, and push us forward to bigger things! I mean, I think we have always been a bit underrated (I hear that from a lot of fans too) and I really think with this signing, we have a great chance to boost this band up!!! It's also a pleasure to have drummer Justin DiPinto back in the fold! He brings the hungry aggressive quality this band has always had back to the forefront!"

The two large-scale works by Dvořák and Smetana are complemented here by the one- movement Elegy, by Josef Suk, Dvořák’s student and later son-in-law. Formed in 2007, the Sitkovetsky Trio performs worldwide and has received numerous awards and critical acclaim, but is here making its début on disc, in a programme perfectly suited to the ensemble’s virtuosic and impassioned music-making.