The Hamburg acid-jazz troupe known as DisJam increasingly slanted their instrumental talents toward the electronica and trip-hop crowds. Formed in the early '90s, the band came together around keyboard player Ralf Petter, bassist Sascha Panknin, percussionist Oliver Schumacher, guitarist Volker Kurnoth, and reed player Ole Janssen. The collective soon became popular on the continental acid-jazz scene, and recorded their self-titled debut album in 1995 (it also earned American distribution through Instinct's This Is Acid Jazz series).

One of the most popular German bands of the '70s.Eloy went through several stages in their long career, with the only constant member being guitarist/vocalist Frank Bornemann. Transforming from a political-themed hard rock band to a spacey progressive rock band who sounded something like a mix of Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd, the group in later formations would move toward a more accesible hard rock sound with strong progressive elements.

Passport is the creation of saxophonist Klaus Doldinger who has stated that Passport is not so much a set group but a label and a name for his many projects. Doldinger, who had started out playing dixieland back in the 1950's, by the following decade was a modern tenor-saxophonist who also worked in the studios. His mind has always remained quite open and in 1970 he formed Passport so as to explore the combination of advanced jazz improvising with rockish rhythms.

TURN AROUND is a wholly appropriate title for Jonny Lang's 2006 album, since it marks a significant change in direction as the young blues singer/guitarist's first full-fledged Christian outing. Having embraced spirituality after his hard-living days as a child prodigy performer, the North Dakota-raised Lang leans strongly toward soul and gospel on this record, as evidenced on the passionate "Anything's Possible," a lightly funky tune that finds his searing six-string lines matching his dynamic and expressive vocals. Along with writing assistance from CCM luminary Steven Curtis Chapman ("My Love Remains"), TURN AROUND also features contributions by singer Michael McDonald, mandolin player Sam Bush, and violinist Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), making the album a faith-based coming-out party for Lang.

Jeb Loy Nichols is not a household name. Not that he couldn't be, or shouldn't be, for that matter. It's certainly a name that sticks with you, because how many Jeb Loys do you actually come across in your life? Take a listen to Just What Time It Is, however, and it won't be just his name that sticks with you. This guy has a sound that you really wouldn't expect, although it makes perfectly fine sense once you know his varied background and travels. He has soul oozing out of every pore. Not so much in his voice, which is a tad bit nasally, though it works for him. Rather, it's all about the feel of the music. When he's not working a clean acoustic and string section, he throws on that classic, smooth R&B guitar and Hammond sound that instantly sets the vibe while the rhythms saunter around in no hurry to get anywhere. And on top of it all, the songs are great. You can almost imagine someone like Donny Hathaway or Roberta Flack singing some of them.

If you want to impress your friends, spin this disc at your next dinner party.
Just let it simmer and chill in the background; Jeb Loy Nichols will do the rest.

Eric Burdon's life has been a musical journey matched by few other performers in rock music history. He has gone from the driving force of the grittiest British Invasion band, to pioneering the San Francisco psychedelic rock scene, to fronting War, the biggest funk band of the 1970's, to cutting an LP with an early influence, jazz-blues great Jimmy Witherspoon, to coming full-circle and reuniting his original band, The Animals, for a series of projects and a world-wide tour, to forming a new group of "Animals". On "My Secret Life", he reminds his loyal fans that his voice is unmistakably original, and show his diversity on the 12 songs. Sometimes soulful ("Once Upon A Time"), jazzy ("Motorcycle Girl") and all out rocking ("Over The Border"). In "Factory Girl" you can hear the passion that Eric feels for his music, only his voice accompanied by a lone guitar in a sea of emotion.

His authentic blues voice is still in top form and so are his energetic live performances.

Master saxophonist David Sanborn makes an astounding label debut with Time Again, and once again reminds his fans that he is firmly established as one of jazz's best alto saxophonists. Joined by an all-star ensemble of master musicians that includes Russell Malone on guitar, Steve Gadd on drums, Christian McBride on bass, Mike Mainieri on vibraphone , and Randy Brecker on trumpet and flugelhorn, among others, David Sanborn delves deep into his seemingly never-ending repertoire to bring his distinctive sound to a variety of pop and jazz standards. Opening with a super-funky rendition of "Comin' Home,"

Featuring several bassists who appeared on the earlier record, The Word Is Out is just over an hour’s worth of big band jazz, a la Jaco. Seven of the eleven tracks were written by Pastorius, one by Metheny, and two medleys pair Pastorius compositions with songs by Herbie Hancock and the Beatles. The band is supported by such talents as
Peter Erskine (drums), Bob Mintzer (tenor sax), Randy Brecker (trumpet) and Hiram Bullock (guitar). And while the band provides the melody and most of the solos feature other instruments, the bass lines are what make this album worthy of Pastorius.