The beautiful debut as a leader from pianist Surya Botofasina – an artist you may know from early work in the spiritual Build An Ark ensemble – finally given a chance here to shine on his own! The album's produced by Carlos Nino, with whom Botofasina worked in Build An Ark – and Nino also plays some percussion on the set, and brings some of his own meditative qualities to the music. Yet things are still very much Surya's own, with long tracks that stretch out on lots of sublime piano and keyboard passages that are almost harp-like at times – touched by some of Nino's percussion – and guest vocals on one track by Dwight Trible, and on another by Mia Doi Todd. Titles include "I Love Dew Sophie", "Surya Meditation", "Everyone's Children", "Beloved California Temple", "Waves For Margie", and "Sun Of Keshava". CD

The beautiful debut as a leader from pianist Surya Botofasina – an artist you may know from early work in the spiritual Build An Ark ensemble – finally given a chance here to shine on his own! The album's produced by Carlos Nino, with whom Botofasina worked in Build An Ark – and Nino also plays some percussion on the set, and brings some of his own meditative qualities to the music. Yet things are still very much Surya's own, with long tracks that stretch out on lots of sublime piano and keyboard passages that are almost harp-like at times – touched by some of Nino's percussion – and guest vocals on one track by Dwight Trible, and on another by Mia Doi Todd. Titles include "I Love Dew Sophie", "Surya Meditation", "Everyone's Children", "Beloved California Temple", "Waves For Margie", and "Sun Of Keshava". LP, Vinyl record album

A much-needed look at the really magical world of music in France – a scene that's always seemed to exist in its own sort of space, especially during the late 70s/early 80s years when most of these tracks were recorded! The French scene had some famous free jazz at the start of the 70s, but there was also another strain of unique sounds that were beyond categorization or comparison – music that took some of the creative inspiration of jazz and turned it towards global sources, acoustic instruments, analogue electronics, and even French vocal styles – creating work that was not only years ahead of its time, but which also was often missed on the global market, because it was so hard to label and categorize! This set brings together some of the best of those moments – music that's maybe a great second step if you've already dug sounds on labels like Saravah or Futura/Marge – and the whole package is wonderful throughout – filled with titles that even we might have missed otherwise. Tracks include "Gaal" by Noco Music, "Les Crocodiles" by Catherine Derain, "Reve De Voyage" by Remy Couvez, "Sokoto" by Structures Sonores Lasry Baschet, "Loreley" by Pan Ra, "Mahabaratha Kali" by Adjenar Sidhar Khan, "Bujumbura Lyon" by Workshop De Lyon, "Arabia" by Dynamo, "Love Always" by Jef Gilson, and "Moving Waves" by Andre Fertier & Clivage. CD

A much-needed look at the really magical world of music in France – a scene that's always seemed to exist in its own sort of space, especially during the late 70s/early 80s years when most of these tracks were recorded! The French scene had some famous free jazz at the start of the 70s, but there was also another strain of unique sounds that were beyond categorization or comparison – music that took some of the creative inspiration of jazz and turned it towards global sources, acoustic instruments, analogue electronics, and even French vocal styles – creating work that was not only years ahead of its time, but which also was often missed on the global market, because it was so hard to label and categorize! This set brings together some of the best of those moments – music that's maybe a great second step if you've already dug sounds on labels like Saravah or Futura/Marge – and the whole package is wonderful throughout – filled with titles that even we might have missed otherwise. Tracks include "Gaal" by Noco Music, "Les Crocodiles" by Catherine Derain, "Reve De Voyage" by Remy Couvez, "Sokoto" by Structures Sonores Lasry Baschet, "Loreley" by Pan Ra, "Mahabaratha Kali" by Adjenar Sidhar Khan, "Bujumbura Lyon" by Workshop De Lyon, "Arabia" by Dynamo, "Love Always" by Jef Gilson, and "Moving Waves" by Andre Fertier & Clivage. LP features the vinyl-only bonus track "Il Regalo Della Befana (part 3)" by Ghedalia Tazartes LP, Vinyl record album

We've always loved the music of Kahil El Zabar – and over the decades, the work of the drummer/percussionist has made us very proud to be part of the Chicago music scene! Yet recently, Kahil seems to be on fire even more than before – driven with a new sense of purpose and message that's had the musician making some of his greatest records in a long time – like this fantastic quartet session, an instant classic that has El Zabar working with some key Chicago associates in a very spiritual style! The album features key work from the great Isaiah Coller on tenor and soprano sax – a young player who's really setting things on fire, and finding a fantastic sense of direction here, alongside Corey Wilkes on trumpet and Justin Dillard on keyboards. As with Kahil, all other musicians bring a bit of percussion to play at times – on titles that include "A Time For Healing", "Urban Shaman", "Eddie Harris", "The Coming Of Spring", "We'll Get Through This", and "Time Is". CD

We've always loved the music of Kahil El Zabar – and over the decades, the work of the drummer/percussionist has made us very proud to be part of the Chicago music scene! Yet recently, Kahil seems to be on fire even more than before – driven with a new sense of purpose and message that's had the musician making some of his greatest records in a long time – like this fantastic quartet session, an instant classic that has El Zabar working with some key Chicago associates in a very spiritual style! The album features key work from the great Isaiah Coller on tenor and soprano sax – a young player who's really setting things on fire, and finding a fantastic sense of direction here, alongside Corey Wilkes on trumpet and Justin Dillard on keyboards. As with Kahil, all other musicians bring a bit of percussion to play at times – on titles that include "A Time For Healing", "Urban Shaman", "Eddie Harris", "The Coming Of Spring", "We'll Get Through This", and "Time Is". LP, Vinyl record album