Roberto Fonseca is one of the most dazzling pianists and accompanists in Cuba. Although he hasn't quite delivered the big one yet, Fonseca -- best known to us as the young jazz pianist who was parachuted into the Buena Vista Social Club -- is unquestionably a serious talent in the making. The piano prodigy's success is in no small part down to having had a stable working relationship with the same core group for the last twelve years. The other major reason is the accessibility and eclecticism of his original melodies, which are rooted in Cuban styles, but show that he has his ears wide open to the world of Latin music, jazz and beyond. His last solo album continues the Buena… Read more
Recorded in Germany, the US and the UK, Sarah Brightman's brand new studio album "Symphony" features all-new songs, and was created by with long-time producer, Frank Peterson. Sarah Brightman possesses one of the most recognizable voices in the land of pop-classical crossover. The album features 13 tracks that explore a bold range of styles. From the Gothic tempestuousness of "Fleurs du Mal", to the pleading "Let It Rain", "Symphony" is a thrilling collection of material that cannot be easily categorized, yet remains accessible to lovers of a vast array of musical genres. Sarah states: "Throughout my career, I have worked in so many different styles of music. This is… Read more
These charity albums are usually a risky proposition - the cause might be good, but the music is often horrible. Here, the cause is certainly a worthy one, but thankfully, the music is also quite palatable. REM's take on "#9 Dream" and Matisyahu's "Watching the Wheels" stand out as the best covers here, but there are plenty of other good moments. There are also some virtually unlistenable songs, of course, such as Aerosmith's collaboration with Sierra Leone's Refugee All-Stars and The Black-Eyed Peas' "Power to the People". All in all, though, as a purely musical endeavor, this is pleasantly, surprisingly worthy.
