Bill Perkins pays tribute to former boss Woody Herman on this CD by leading a 14-piece big band through a variety of standards, most of which were featured by Herman. Actually, this is more of a tribute to Herman's spirit than to his original recordings, for the arrangements (by Jim Knight, John La Barbera, Dennis Mackrel, Frank Strazzeri and Mark Taylor) are much newer; not all of the songs (such as "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me," "9:20 Special" and "Blue Lou") were that closely connected with Herman's legacy, and his hits ("Four Brothers" and "Early Autumn") are absent. In addition, there is no clarinetist in the band filling in for Herman…

Probably the most popular, iconic mood music album ever made, Jackie Gleason s Music for Lovers Only set the stage for untold imitators to come with its evocative album artwork and lush, sweeping soundscapes. Released as a 10" LP in 1952, it set the record which still stands! for most weeks in the Top Ten Album charts at 153, and hit the charts yet again in 1955 when it was released as a 12" LP. But here is where the history of Music for Lovers Only becomes, like most romances, complicated. The original 10" included only eight tracks, but Capitol's first 12" issue of the album added eight more for a total of 16; subsequently, however, the album was reissued on LP with 12 tracks…

British guitar legend Bert Jansch has done far more constructive work (and certainly less damage) regarding authentic roots music than his fellow countryman Eric Clapton has, but tragically Jansch's works go relatively unnoticed, except for a fraction of the guitar-appreciating populace. Hopefully, Castle Music's anthology Dazzling Stranger can help to change that fact. Forty-two songs spread over two CDs tell the folk guitarist's story in chronological order from his Transatlantic recordings in 1964 through his home recordings in 2000, with an emphasis on his late-'60s and early-'70s works.

"Forsaken Earth" is the title of the second full-length album of German Doom / Death Metal hopefuls DECEMBRE NOIR. The band seems to have achieved the ability to reproduce the ideas in their heads also on the songwriting- and performing-side. The overall picture is consistent and the band's standard easily can compete with genre protagonists like OCTOBER TIDE or MY DYING BRIDE. The production again is clear and powerful with a harmonious balance of their ingredients. Rounded off with a really fine and well-fitting cover artwork, this release is recommended for all fans of the mentioned genre and the right medicine for this year's rainy summer.

At the beginning of his career, Keb' Mo' appeared to be a clever update of the acoustic bluesman, one that managed to recall country-blues but offer a contemporary spin on tradition – sort of like a '90s version of Taj Mahal…