NEW RELEASES: ENNIO MORRICONE - MORRICONE 60; BILL LAURANCE - LIVE AT UNION CHAPEL; ARTASKA - COFFEE

ENNIO MORRICONE - MORRICONE 60

We're not sure why Ennio Morricone is making the "shush" sound at us on the cover – as the set's such a wonderful celebration of his music, it makes us want to cheer! The performance here is all new – and features Morricone conducting the Czech National Symphony in a selection of tunes from his classic film scores – in a celebration of his 60 years of giving the planet some of the most beautiful music ever written! The orchestrations are great, and really live up to the spirit of the songs – and there's a recording quality here that's different than some of the other live Morricone albums, which can sometimes flatten the music, and not have that sense of separation and isolation that make the maestro's compositions so great. Titles include "Chi Mai", "Bestiality", "La Califfa", "Death Theme", "Deborah's Theme", "Metti Una A Sera A Cena", "Croce D'Amore", "The Fortress", and "The Man With The Harmonica". ~ Dusty Groove

BILL LAURENCE - LIVE AT UNION CHAPEL

You might know Bill Laurance as the keyboardist with Snarky Puppy – but here, he's something else entirely – a hell of a jazz musician with a mighty rich vision – one that's got just the right sort of heavenly vibe to be recorded in a church! There's nothing churchy about the music – just a great spirit in Bill's vision – as his piano lines pour out effortlessly – cascading in sound, and rising in the company of a sweet little string quartet, which is then driven onward with both drums and percussion! The mix of instrumentation is quite unique – and has a sound that's jazz at the core, but also reaching for other elements too – maybe a bit like some of the young Japanese piano trios of recent years, but also with a wider vision in the use of tone and timing. Titles include "The Rush", "Gold Coast", "Swift", "The Real One", "December In New York", "Good Things", "Never-Ending City", and "Ready Wednesday".  © 1996-2016, Dusty Groove, Inc.

ARTASKA - COFFEE

Soul- Jazz music is given new meaning when it comes to Artaska. She is known for her powerful, yet soulful voice and violin playing. It is impossible to not want to dance and feel good when hearing her grooves. Classically trained since the tender age of 4 years old, Artaska mastered the crafts of violin and singing through the involvement with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and many other orchestras and ensembles infusing her influences in every note. The prodigy-turned-pro might well be the hope for the future of jazz and instrumental music.