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Bonobo:

LAZARUS Soundtrack

Milan Records today debuts three soundtracks from the new anime series LAZARUS by artists KAMASI WASHINGTON, BONOBO and FLOATING POINTS. Each artist was tasked with contributing a full-length soundtrack to the series by director Shinichiro Watanabe, resulting in three distinct listening experiences that together provide a dynamic soundscape to the thrilling sci-fi narrative. In addition to contributing the series opening theme “Vortex,” multi-instrumentalist, composer and bandleader KAMASI WASHINGTON infuses the series with expansive ensemble jazz numbers punctuated by his virtuosic saxophone solos. Meanwhile, producer and DJ BONOBO delivers a dreamy and atmospheric collection of music that blends twinkling electronic synths and warm organic instrumentation. Finally, producer and composer FLOATING POINTS rounds out the soundscape with a genre-defying body of electronic-meets-jazz music that provides an otherworldly companion to the onscreen story.  

Produced by Sola Entertainment and animated by Studio MAPPA, Lazarus airs Saturday at midnight on Adult Swim during the network’s Toonami action/anime block, next day on Max. The series is airing on Adult Swim in English with encore airings will debut every Thursday at midnight. Episodes in Japanese with English subtitles will debut in the U.S. on Adult Swim and Max 30 days after their English-language premiere.

Kamasi Washington:

LAZARUS Soundtrack

Milan Records today debuts three soundtracks from the new anime series LAZARUS by artists KAMASI WASHINGTON, BONOBO and FLOATING POINTS. Each artist was tasked with contributing a full-length soundtrack to the series by director Shinichiro Watanabe, resulting in three distinct listening experiences that together provide a dynamic soundscape to the thrilling sci-fi narrative. In addition to contributing the series opening theme “Vortex,” multi-instrumentalist, composer and bandleader KAMASI WASHINGTON infuses the series with expansive ensemble jazz numbers punctuated by his virtuosic saxophone solos. Meanwhile, producer and DJ BONOBO delivers a dreamy and atmospheric collection of music that blends twinkling electronic synths and warm organic instrumentation. Finally, producer and composer FLOATING POINTS rounds out the soundscape with a genre-defying body of electronic-meets-jazz music that provides an otherworldly companion to the onscreen story.  

Produced by Sola Entertainment and animated by Studio MAPPA, Lazarus airs Saturday at midnight on Adult Swim during the network’s Toonami action/anime block, next day on Max. The series is airing on Adult Swim in English with encore airings will debut every Thursday at midnight. Episodes in Japanese with English subtitles will debut in the U.S. on Adult Swim and Max 30 days after their English-language premiere.

Floating Points:

LAZARUS Soundtrack

Milan Records today debuts three soundtracks from the new anime series LAZARUS by artists KAMASI WASHINGTON, BONOBO and FLOATING POINTS. Each artist was tasked with contributing a full-length soundtrack to the series by director Shinichiro Watanabe, resulting in three distinct listening experiences that together provide a dynamic soundscape to the thrilling sci-fi narrative. In addition to contributing the series opening theme “Vortex,” multi-instrumentalist, composer and bandleader KAMASI WASHINGTON infuses the series with expansive ensemble jazz numbers punctuated by his virtuosic saxophone solos. Meanwhile, producer and DJ BONOBO delivers a dreamy and atmospheric collection of music that blends twinkling electronic synths and warm organic instrumentation. Finally, producer and composer FLOATING POINTS rounds out the soundscape with a genre-defying body of electronic-meets-jazz music that provides an otherworldly companion to the onscreen story.  

Produced by Sola Entertainment and animated by Studio MAPPA, Lazarus airs Saturday at midnight on Adult Swim during the network’s Toonami action/anime block, next day on Max. The series is airing on Adult Swim in English with encore airings will debut every Thursday at midnight. Episodes in Japanese with English subtitles will debut in the U.S. on Adult Swim and Max 30 days after their English-language premiere.

Ludwig Goransson:

'Dangerous' feat. Hailee Steinfeld from 'Sinners'

HAILEE STEINFELD MAKES HER RETURN TO MUSIC AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS ON “DANGEROUS,” AN UPTEMPO POP ANTHEM THAT BLENDS PULSATING RHYTHMS WITH GÖRANSSON’S BLUES-TINGED INSTRUMENTALS. INTERPOLATING GÖRANSSON’S ORIGINAL THEME FOR STEINFELD’S ONSCREEN CHARACTER MARY, THE TRACK FEATURES LYRICS WRITTEN BY STEINFELD AND SARAH AARONS AND  TELLS THE STORY OF MARY’S DEEP ROMANTIC YEARNING.

 

Ludwig Goransson:

Sinners - Original Score

Sony Classical and Sony Masterworks today release the Original Score and Original Soundtrack albums from writer/director/producer Ryan Coogler’s new film SINNERS, with music and production by Oscar-winning composer LUDWIG GÖRANSSON. A thrilling, genre-bending original concept set in the Mississippi Delta of 1932, Sinners marks the fifth feature film partnership between Göransson and Coogler, their deeply collaborative and research-intensive creative process giving rise to two distinct and complex musical narratives from the composer. In addition to crafting an Original Score, Göransson produces an Original Soundtrack alongside Coogler and Serena Göransson featuring songs performed within and inspired by the film with features from Rod Wave, James Blake, Don Toliver, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Howard, Raphael Saadiq, Buddy Guy, Rhiannon Giddens, Cedric Burnside and more.

Having previously collaborated on Coogler’s blockbuster franchises Black Panther and Creed, Göransson describes the experience of scoring Sinners as “the most personal of his career.” Key to Coogler’s overall vision was the notion of exploring the film’s themes through the blues, not only as a musical tradition but as a distinct culture as well, prompting Göransson to begin his creative process with a trip to the Deep South to experience its birthplace firsthand. The attention to authenticity permeates throughout Göransson’s musical involvement, the heart of which is a 1932 Dobro resonator guitar that provides a distinct throughline across both the score and soundtrack albums.

Ludwig Goransson:

Sinners - OMPS

Sony Classical and Sony Masterworks today release the Original Score and Original Soundtrack albums from writer/director/producer Ryan Coogler’s new film SINNERS, with music and production by Oscar-winning composer LUDWIG GÖRANSSON. A thrilling, genre-bending original concept set in the Mississippi Delta of 1932, Sinners marks the fifth feature film partnership between Göransson and Coogler, their deeply collaborative and research-intensive creative process giving rise to two distinct and complex musical narratives from the composer. In addition to crafting an Original Score, Göransson produces an Original Soundtrack alongside Coogler and Serena Göransson featuring songs performed within and inspired by the film with features from Rod Wave, James Blake, Don Toliver, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Howard, Raphael Saadiq, Buddy Guy, Rhiannon Giddens, Cedric Burnside and more.

Having previously collaborated on Coogler’s blockbuster franchises Black Panther and Creed, Göransson describes the experience of scoring Sinners as “the most personal of his career.” Key to Coogler’s overall vision was the notion of exploring the film’s themes through the blues, not only as a musical tradition but as a distinct culture as well, prompting Göransson to begin his creative process with a trip to the Deep South to experience its birthplace firsthand. The attention to authenticity permeates throughout Göransson’s musical involvement, the heart of which is a 1932 Dobro resonator guitar that provides a distinct throughline across both the score and soundtrack albums.

Lise Davidsen, Gerald Finley:

Wagner - Der fliegende w/Orch/Chorus NNO

Decca Classics is proud to announce the release of Der fliegende Holländer, the first full-length opera recording on the label from “the greatest soprano in the world right now” (The Telegraph), Lise Davidsen. This recording was captured live over two spectacular nights at the opera house in Oslo during the summer of 2024.

In this performance, Davidsen—described as "one of the greatest vocal talents to have emerged in recent years, if not decades" (Gramophone)—brings her extraordinary artistry to the role of Senta, a part she currently does not plan to sing again. Der fliegende Holländer not only captures a defining moment for Davidsen but also preserves a significant piece of Wagnerian history, with her portrayal of this iconic character set against the dramatic Norwegian fjords that inspired the opera.
Lise Davidsen has quickly become the leading Wagnerian soprano of our time, praised by Opera Now as “a once-in-a-generation Wagnerian” and “a phenomenon in today’s opera world.” She has performed Wagner’s great heroines on the world’s top stages, including Bayreuth, the Met, and Covent Garden, earning a reputation for her powerful voice and deep connection to his music. As Kevin Ng wrote in the Financial Times, she is “the opera world’s next great hope for the big Wagner and Strauss roles.” True dramatic sopranos who can take on these demanding roles are extremely rare, and Davidsen is one of them. This makes her live recording of Der fliegende Holländer, her only-ever performance as Senta, a truly special moment. 
Joining Davidsen on this landmark recording is internationally renowned Canadian baritone Gerald Finley, whose portrayal of the Dutchman has been widely celebrated for its lieder-like finesse and emotional depth. The performances were conducted by Edward Gardner, marking his debut as the new Music Director of The Norwegian Opera and Ballet, further underscoring the significance of this production.

Reflecting on the experience, Davidsen shares: “I can never know if it will be my last,” she adds, “but it’s a role I was asked to sing for a long time and waited because I thought it was too demanding. Now I have so many other Wagner roles coming up that it’s unlikely I will sing it again. But I was very grateful to do it like this: in concert, with great friends and colleagues, and to top it off with a recording.”

Der fliegende Holländer also serves as a tribute to Wagner’s own experiences in Norway near the town of Sandvika, an hour from where Davidsen was born. The composer’s inspiration for this opera was sparked by a stormy sea voyage along the Norwegian coast in 1839, during which he was struck by the haunting natural acoustics of the fjords—an experience that profoundly shaped the opera’s dramatic atmosphere. The legend of the cursed mariner found new life in Wagner’s hands, shaping the tempestuous music and existential drama of Der fliegende Holländer, first performed in 1843. Wagner was deeply moved by the region’s rugged landscape, describing the fjords’ granite walls and the sailors’ voices as "one of the most remarkable and beautiful impressions of my life." Speaking about her connection to the role, Davidsen says: “I love that Senta is a dreamer and a believer in so many ways. She has a mission in life, and she’ll do anything for it. That is a human trait I admire deeply.”

Phil Haynes:

RETURN TO ELECTRIC

If there’s a single characteristic that could describe the diverse paths that Phil Haynes' artistry has traversed, it’s a sense of forward movement. Interestingly, in his latest release, Return to Electric, Haynes reconnects with one of his earliest musical passions, the electric guitar, delving into fusion classics and exhilarating originals with longtime collaborators guitarist Steve Salerno and bassist Drew Gress (the late/great Paul Smoker Notet rhythm section). Return To Electric fulfills Haynes’ long-held dream of releasing a fusion album. “I had always been attracted to early, edgy fusion, when it still had the concepts of experimentation, evolution and revolution, beginning with Miles, Tony, Mahavishnu, and the rest. After hearing their music for decades, it's easier to have something to say than at the time first inspired by them. Hopefully, this trio shines a fresh light on these classics, framed by my own tunes, illuminating how we’ve been enriched by - and cultivated - the music ever since. We hope the masters might even get a kick out this set.”

PRESS SECURED BY Ann Braithwaite

Nicola Benedetti:

Beethoven Violin Concerto w/Aurora Orch, Collon

Benedetti further comments, “The solo line of this concerto was born out of an improvisatory spirit, with a lightness of touch soon to be out of fashion, with a virtuosity of integrity and poise. Many of us violinists grew up with such unhealthy reverence towards Beethoven, which soon turns into fear and an unnatural approach to his music. It can damage our ability to notice and embrace his humour, his wildness, and perhaps more importantly, the depth and power of his relationship to improvisation.”  

Beethoven’s original piano version of the first movement cadenza was rearranged and adapted by Petr Limonov. In the first movement, the music is based on the cadenza that Beethoven wrote for his own arrangement of this Violin Concerto as a Piano Concerto. Beethoven approached it in a truly revolutionary way by incorporating a timpani part into the texture, turning his cadenza into a dialogue between the pianist and the timpanist. Benedetti and Limonov felt that attempts to transcribe Beethoven’s bravura broken octaves and chromatic scales for violin in a literal way sounded too forceful for the otherwise lyrical and inward-looking nature of the piece. It gradually became clear that the cadenza needed re-writing, being true to Beethoven’s spirit, but not necessarily the letter. Usage of the timpani in a solo cadenza was as unusual at that time as it is now, so the harmonic progression leading up to it had to be unusual as well. Beethoven went around the full circle of fifths in a daring brush-stroke, employing highly sophisticated enharmonic techniques in a very subtle way as if to deliberately confuse the listener, leading him or her away from the established classical sense of tonality and preparing the ground for the timpani entry. Having started the cadenza with the same B-flat major chord as in Beethoven’s version, Benedetti and Limonov then emulated that unusual harmonic progression on the violin, albeit with a texture very different from Beethoven’s piano writing, allowing them to emphasise the element of surprise at the point of timpani entry, played on this recording by Henry Baldwin. It ensured that Beethoven’s original proportions stayed intact without making the violin writing resemble a transcription of a piano piece.  

aron!:

cozy you (and other nice songs)

aron!, the 21 year old singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist, announces his debut EP cozy you (and other nice songs), which will release June 6 on Verve Records. It's an intimate six-track introduction to aron!’s world of cozy music. Along with the EP announcement, aron! shares the title track “cozy you,” tailor-made to soundtrack a promising first date or an evening at home snuggled up in a blanket with the fire crackling.

It’s important to know that when you listen to aron!, you’ll hear his virtuosity, but you’ll also hear his authenticity. When he isn’t making music, he’s either on a long walk outside, eating pho and ramen (his diet almost exclusively), or watching an episode of Gilmore Girls.

aron! has amassed millions of streams and built a loyal, dedicated following as he gears up to make his Verve Records debut. This EP is all about how everyone wants to get “cozy” sometimes — “My songs are little vignettes from my life,” he observes. “To me, ‘cozy’ is the perfect word for the vibe of this project. Hopefully, you’ll think so too!

Federico Albanese:

Blackbirds And The Sun Of October

XXIM Records is thrilled to announce the launch of Blackbirds And The Sun Of October, the latest album from renowned Italian artist, producer, pianist, and composer FEDERICO ALBANESE. This album is Albanese's fifth studio effort and his first full-length release under XXIM Records, following the success of his 7-track EP, Days Of Passage. Crafted entirely in Albanese's homeland of Monferrato in Northern Italy, Blackbirds And The Sun Of October explores themes of heritage, reconnection, and the natural beauty of the Italian countryside. “This album is about coming home and rediscovering connections,” Albanese says. “At its core, it’s about heritage.”

Returning to Monferrato in the autumn of 2020 deeply influenced Albanese, inspiring compositions that reflect the region’s natural beauty, history, and legends. This change of scenery brought a sense of freedom that permeated everything, including his music. Notably, the historical and romantic essence of the region played a crucial role in shaping the album's themes. Reflecting this inspiration, Blackbirds And The Sun Of October represents a major evolution in Albanese’s artistic journey. Known for his genre-blending compositions and thematic albums, Albanese has seamlessly combined classical traditions with contemporary sounds in this new work, resulting in a rich, timeless musical tapestry. “There’s a new sense of freedom in this music,” he says. “It’s more positive, and I can feel it’s different from my earlier work.”

The album features a variety of compositions inspired by the physical world around Albanese. From the serene piano and strings of “The Prince and the Emperor,” based on a 10th Century AD tale, to the uplifting “Adelasia,” inspired by a charming princess, each track captures the essence of Montferrat's heritage and beauty. Other standout pieces include the delicate “A Story Yet To Be Told” and “Song For the Village,” as well as the soothing “Wallpaper Of Dreams.” The title track, “Blackbirds And The Sun Of October,” with its ascending piano line and steady drums, encapsulates the spirit of autumn in Northern Italy.

Sharon Isbin:

Karen LeFrak - Romantico

With influences from Africa, Europe, and the indigenous peoples of Latin America, ROMÁNTICO features Karen LeFrak’s dazzling ‘Miami Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra.’ Sharon Isbin is joined by the Orchestra of St. Luke's, led by conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez. Recorded October 7 and 8, 2024 at the DiMenna Center, Cary Hall, NYC, ‘ROMANTICO ‘ was Produced by Elaine Martone, in collaboration with engineers Gintas Norvila and Jennifer Nulsen. The album will be released on May 30, 2025 via the ‘KL2’ label, distributed by Naxos. LeFrak’s ‘Peaceful Piano’ series also on Naxos, has reached over 45 million global streams over the last three years.

ROMANTICO includes:
Miami Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra

1) Bailamos (4'58")
2) Romántico (8'16")
3) Festivo (4'36")

Chamber pieces:
4) Habanera Nights (3'31")
5) Urban Tango (4'10")

PRESS SECURED BY Genevieve Spielberg

Doug Wyatt:

Days of Gypsy Nights

Composer and pianist Doug Wyatt explores and transcends the boundaries of jazz and classical music, revealing a “third thing”, anchored in his piano playing, contrasting fiery improvisation with saxophone, bass and drums with soaring arrangements for string quartet. This beautifully expansive music emerged from the darkness of the 2020 pandemic, developed with inspiration from the natural beauty and vibrant music scene of Doug’s home town of Ithaca, New York. It was recorded in Silicon Valley (California), Ithaca, Boston, Nashville, and Italy.

Doug Wyatt: Compositions, piano, synthesizer
Michael Rosen: Tenor and soprano saxophones (1 2 3 5 7)
Marcello Pellitteri: Drums (1 2 3)
Tim Reppert: Electric and double basses (1 3 5) Giuseppe Bassi: Double bass (2)
Francesco Ponticelli: Double bass (7) Michael Waldrop: Drums, marimba (5)
Little Big Sound Strings feat. David Davison (1 2 3 4 6 8 9) New Zealand String Quartet (5)

Roberto Prosseda:

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN - Sonatas Opus 2

Like most pianists, I have been playing Beethoven’s Sonatas since my earliest years of study, and have regularly performed many of them in concert over the past 30 years. However, I had not so far dared to approach the recording of Beethoven’s Sonatas, not least because of the huge number of recordings already made by many of the greatest performers.

Now, at the age of 50, and after having tackled and systematically recorded all of Mozart’s piano music, I have decided to approach the recording of Beethoven’s first sonatas. I consider them, from a certain point of view,
to be a natural continuation of the in-depth work I have already done with Mozart’s music.

Can something new, interesting and ‘true’ still be said about the interpretation of Beethoven’s sonatas? I believe so, provided we break out of the conventions created by the tradition of interpretation and discography, where a modern piano is used in 98% of cases. Therefore, I thought that the choice to record Beethoven on a historical instrument could also be a way of embarking on
a more individual interpretative investigation, free from the models we risk becoming accustomed to from listening to famous recordings on modern pianos. Having become more and more familiar with historical instruments in recent years, I have gradually come to realise that Beethoven’s music, and especially that of the early period, can sound much more meaningful and ‘sincere’ on the fortepiano than on the modern piano. It is not, of course, a question of having to recreate the sound Beethoven had in mind at any cost. After all, today, more than 200 years after the composition of Beethoven’s

Sonatas, our perception of sound has also changed: the same sound of a fortepiano certainly had a different effect on a Viennese listener in 1795, compared to a listener today.

Various:

LAZARUS - 3 single EP

Milan Records unveils three lead singles from the new anime series LAZARUS including the show’s main theme by KAMASI WASHINGTON as well as tracks from BONOBO and FLOATING POINTS. Furthermore, each artist has contributed a full-length soundtrack to the show, with all three albums set for release Friday, April 11. Known for his eclectic and innovative musical choices, Lazarus director Shinichiro Watanabe tasked the three acclaimed artists with composing distinct soundtracks for his latest series, the resulting albums providing a truly expansive and dynamic soundscape to the thrilling sci-fi narrative.

Multi-instrumentalist, composer and bandleader KAMASI WASHINGTON unveils the series’ theme song, “VORTEX,” an ambitious multi-suite jazz number that shifts between choral-punctuated ensemble movements, virtuosic saxophone solos and a searing electric guitar climax – listen here. Hand-selected by Watanabe-san as Lazarus’ main theme, “Vortex” features in a new clip from the series unveiled today – watch here.  

British musician, producer and DJ BONOBO debuts original vocal track “DARK WILL FALL,” a Western-meets-gospel slowburn led by acoustic guitar and soulful vocals by JACOB LUSK that gradually intensifies into a choral-led vocal crescendo – listen here. Producer and composer FLOATING POINTS, meanwhile, contributes a 9-minute masterpiece of pulsating electronic rhythms and synths with “DEXION,” its intricately layered textures and instrumentation culminating into a hypnotically upbeat groove – listen here.

Talon Smith:

Debut

Navona Records' newest release, TALON SMITH: DEBUT from virtuoso pianist Talon Smith, set for May 23rd

24 PRELUDES, OP. 1; SONATA IN C MINOR, OP. 2
Talon Smith composer, pianist

TALON SMITH: DEBUT showcases the extraordinary artistry of 23-year-old pianist and composer Talon Smith through two masterful original works. His 24 Preludes, Op. 1 spans a vast emotional landscape with intricate melodies, rich harmonies, and exhilarating rhythms, demanding both technical brilliance and deep expressiveness. His Sonata in C minor, Op. 2 unfolds across three movements: a bold sonata-allegro with recurring themes, a profoundly tender second movement, and a fiery rondo finale. These works not only highlight Smith’s virtuosic skill and compositional depth but also offer a captivating and unforgettable listening experience.

A rising force in the classical world, Smith has enchanted audiences across America, Europe, and Asia with his emotionally powerful performances and original compositions. Launched onto the international stage at just 14, he has since earned over 40 top prizes for both performance and composition. Critics have hailed his poetic phrasing, masterful technique, and rare sensitivity, drawing comparisons to legendary pianists. With a deep passion for both performing and composing, Smith continues to push the boundaries of classical music, leaving a lasting impact on audiences and the future of the art form.

TALON SMITH: DEBUT showcases the remarkable artistry of the young pianist and composer through two compelling original works. 24 Preludes, Op. 1 explores a vast emotional spectrum with intricate melodies, consonant harmonies, and exhilarating rhythms, demanding both technical mastery and expressive depth. Smith’s Sonata in C minor, Op. 2 follows a three-movement structure, opening with a dynamic sonata-allegro featuring recurring themes; transitioning to a profoundly tender second movement; and concluding with a gritty, energetic rondo. Together, these works highlight Smith’s virtuosic skill and compositional prowess, offering listeners an evocative and memorable musical experience.
 

Andris Nelsons - Boston Symphony:

Shostakovich Symphonies, Concertos, Lady McBeth

In 2015 the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its newly appointed Music Director Andris Nelsons teamed up with Deutsche Grammophon to record Shostakovich’s fifteen symphonies. Ten years, four GRAMMY Awards®, and scores of rave reviews later, DG is issuing the full cycle as part of a towering anthology of Shostakovich’s major works. These recordings will enable listeners to immerse themselves in a dramatic and endlessly fascinating sound-world, thanks to performances that reflect the intimate bond between orchestra and conductor, and the profound insight they have gained into a composer whose music has been central to their first decade together.

The anthology’s release in 2025 coincides with the 50th anniversary of Shostakovich’s death. As well as the symphonies and incidental works already issued, it also includes new recordings of the composer’s complete piano, violin, and cello concertos, and the first commercial audio release in nearly 20 years of his only full-length opera, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District. Nelsons and the BSO are joined by pianist Yuja Wang, violinist Baiba Skride, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma in the concertos, while the Lady Macbeth cast is headed by Kristine Opolais, Brenden Gunnell, Peter Hoare, and Günther Groissböck. Benefiting from the superb audio quality achieved in the exceptional acoustic of Boston’s Symphony Hall – by a team led by legendary Hollywood producer Shawn Murphy and BSO lead recording engineer Nick Squire – the anthology is available digitally and as a 19 CD set today! 

David Murray Quartet:

'Capistrano Swallow' from Birdly Serenade

David Murray shares “Capistrano Swallow,” the second single from his upcoming album Birdly Serenade, due April 25 on Impulse! Records. Inspired by time spent in Upstate New York and various birds he’s encountered, David Murray and his lauded quartet improvised “Capistrano Swallow,” a highlight from the upcoming album. 

The fantastically prolific and endlessly ambitious Berkeley-born jazz star David Murray announces his new album. Nearly five decades into his storied career in jazz and improvised music, the saxophonist, bass clarinetist, composer and bandleader is making his Impulse! Records debut with Birdly Serenade, a collection of new compositions inspired by the original improvisors: birds. If the outdoorsy inspiration is new for the veteran player, the sound is in keeping with his massive, diverse body of recorded work, bold and innovative while remaining steeped in tradition. While he has appeared on hundreds of records as a leader and sideman, Birdly Serenade proves Murray is overdue for his moment of acclaim as an influential composer and saxophonist, and belongs in the pantheon of truly bold masters of jazz. 

Birdly Serenade will be available on April 25, 2025 on all formats and, to celebrate the announcement, Murray shares “Birdly Serenade,” the title track featuring vocalist Ekep Nkwelle.

 

Vijay Iyer - Wadada Leo Smith:

Defiant Life

Defiant Life, Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith’s second duo recording for ECM after 2016’s A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke, is a profound meditation on the human condition, reflecting both the hardships and acts of resilience it entails. But at the same time, it also proves a testament to the duo’s unique artistic relationship and the boundless forms of musical expression it yields. For when Vijay and Wadada meet in music, they simultaneously connect on multiple levels:

“Our time together, from the moment we meet right until the moment we play, is most often spent talking about the state of the world, studying histories of liberation, and sharing readings and historical references, as a means of grounding ourselves purposefully in our present.” In his liner note, Iyer has transcribed such a conversation between himself and Smith at length, revealing a closer glimpse at the individual themes that inspired the album and the term “defiant” in particular.

Muireann Bradley:

I Kept These Old Blues

Muireann Bradley is a once-in-a-generation talent. Aged just 17, this prodigious musician is rapidly garnering a devout fanbase – as well as the admiration of veteran artists – thanks to her unique style, which blends traditional guitar playing with personal and mature interpretations of classic blues songs. From playing music alone in her childhood bedroom, she has since become a choice favourite on international TV spots including Jools Holland and The Late Late Show, not to mention signing with Decca Records, itself a mark of industry recognition for her rare and authentic gift.

Raised just outside the small town of Ballybofey in County Donegal, Ireland, Bradley inherited a passion for music from her father, a keen guitar player and blues fan himself. Growing up in a home filled with guitars, she began to learn to play when she was just nine years old, only taking a brief break to win a series of national titles in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and regional titles in amateur boxing reaching two national finals.

 By this point, she’d badgered her parents into getting her a guitar of her own for her birthday; she developed her own playing style that lends the instrument a personality – a depth of character all of its own.

Bradley’s debut album, I Kept These Old Blues, is an astonishing first glimpse at the breadth of her talent – both as a guitar virtuoso and a singer. The first pressing has sold out everywhere and is already regarded as a collectible among in-the-know music fans – truly remarkable given Bradley was just 15 years old when she recorded it. Now remixed and mastered, I Kept These Old Blues demonstrates the kind of assuredness and skill to be expected of a musician five times her age, on blues standards such as Blind Blake’s “Police Dog Blues” and Rev Gary Davis’s “Candyman”. 

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