I love Spanish Guitar, and most people I know do too! So when in a seductive mood, it’s good to have a handy disc or two. This compilation of various Spanish classical pieces from composers such as Albeniz, Tarrega, Ruiz-Pipo and so on is performed throughout by the virtuoso Narciso Yepes, and is a fine introduction to a style of guitar introduced to Spain by the Moors, and perfected by the Spanish romantics themselves. A sheer delight.

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Dmitri Hvorotovsky is a leading Russian bass-baritone, and an international opera star. Preferring Russian Opera over it’s more popular Italian counterpart as I do, this collection brings the best of both worlds: his rendering of some of Russian operas “greatest hits” and a sprinkling of Italian pieces. Verdi, Rossini, Donizetti and Bellini are all represented here, as are operatic works from his countrymen Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Rachmaninoff. If you like your Opera grand, varied and a little more deep in tone – Dmitri Hvorotovsky is the man for you.

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Ben Webster was a tenor saxophonist, originally with the Duke Ellington Big Band, who went on to become one of the greatest Sax players in jazz. This set, originally recorded in 1963, was named after the 1964 New York World Fair, showcases Webster’s extraordinary tonality and expressive blues, and is quite simply, a masterpiece. Showcasing tunes by Gershwin, Ellington, Hoagy Carmichael and Dave Brubeck in addition to original composition, is a fine introduction to a wonderful talent and one of the most romantic jazzmen of his day.

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Stephane Pompougnac is a French DJ, resident in the Parisian Hotel Costes. Now internationally famous, he plays at events such as the International Film Festival in Cannes and similar noteworthy events. His “Hotel Costes” series is now supplanting Buddha Bar as the soundtrack to laid back, jazzy inspiration, and remain stylish, inventive and fun as he chooses tracks from usually obscure artists, and melds them in a soundtrack for haute couture / haute cuisine. Lavishly packaged, this is perfect spring chill out music to flash about in your new Armani outfit to. If not, you’ll be hearing this in wine bars regardless. 

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This is probably the seminal recording of Bruckner’s sprawling, majestic work. I actually first heard the piece at the National Center for the Performing Arts (known locally as “The Egg”) in Beijing, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bernard Haitink. What is impressive about the piece is its sheer majesty – it requires a full, 90 piece orchestra to perform, and lasts for well over an hour. Pieces in it remind me of hunting scenes, with flugelhorns sounding the chase, and the piece is never less than thrilling. It also has it’s little jokes – the score demands the inclusion of one crash of the cymbals and a two second tinkling of the triangle to signify a thunderstorm and rain at the end of one passage – necessitating two specific musicians for each role. It’s a long way to travel to Beijing from Chicago for a two second tinkle of a triangle!

The CSO performance with Haidink (who is shortly to retire) is available, but for me it is Rattles interpretation that gives it just a slight degree more zest. If you like Wagner, you’ll enjoy Bruckner, and I would recommend checking out this work, his most acclaimed piece.

Valery Gergiev is Russia’s finest contemporary conductor and has worked with many famous international orchestras and soloists. In this stirring rendition of Prokofiev’s symphonies 1-7, recorded with the London Symphony orchestra, he is on fine form – as are the LSO, as he works his magic through the composer’s often thunderous scores. Born in 1953, Gergiev is general director and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, and principal guest conductor of the Metropolitan Opera, as well as the artistic director of the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg. This collection is a great introduction both to his musical legacy and also as a platform for enjoying the works of Russia’s greatest 20th century composer.

I’m a big Woody Allen fan, and his last film, featuring Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson and Javier Bardem, shot in Barcelona, was a delightful farce, in typical Allen style with a lot of comedy but also tragedy thrown in for good measure. With actors like that, and a city like Barcelona, you really can’t go wrong. Allen is also noted for his use of great music in his films, usually classical or jazz, but for this he enlisted a whole bunch of Spanish flavored tracks, many obscure – and it hasn’t been out of my cd player for weeks. The title track, "Barcelona" by Guilio Y Los Tellarini is a teasing, flirtatious flamenco cum bossa nova, and makes a fine standard – check it out on Youtube. Of the others, most are contemporary flamenco guitar pieces – has any music ever been so romantic ? Of which my personal favorite is the third track,  "Entre Don Aguas" by Paco De Lucia, which begins life as a mournful, slow samba but perks up with a bullfighters bravado and ends up with those fingers popping and feet tapping. It may well be the twilight of Allens movie career, but the man sure knows how to put compliation CD’s together.

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Originally recorded in 1970, this box set highlights some of Miles Davis best jazz harmonies. This was never commercially released at the time, yet listening to it today, as the band runs through three nights worth of material at the Cellar Door jazz club, this band — Miles’s sometimes wah-ed trumpet with Keith Jarrett on keyboards, Gary Bartz’s alto sax, Jack DeJohnette on drums, Airto Moriera on percussion, and Michael Henderson’s electric bass — stakes its claim as an important unit in popular music. On the famous, groundbreaking albums, Miles’s music sounds very much like an incantation or ritual, with a great mass of musicians — often multiple drummers, keyboards, basses or guitars — creating a swirling stew of rhythm. This is class jazz, and a must for anyone who loves melody and improvision.  

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Sparks are two brothers, Ron & Russell Mael, who are from LA and have had a 30 year career in avant garde pop music, with occasional hit records. Their sound is rather unique, and recently brings together vaudeville, classical music, electronic music and just some general off the wall weirdness. Their lyrics, one of the strongest parts of their charm, are always biting, witty but with undertones of melancholy and a desire to be loved. This, their latest CD, is a very odd collection of new songs indeed. While not for everyone, each seperate song is a story in itself, often telling strange tales of lust, romance and breakups. My favorite tracks: "Let The Monkey Drive" and "Strange Animal" (whose chorus when I first heard it seemed to repeat "The Wall Street Journal" -it’s actually "What a Strange Animal"). Weird pop music at its finest. Their website: www.allsparks.com, downloads also at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=3254211

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This is classic Christmas music, and features the well known "Troika" which is used extensively around the Festive season, its musical harmonies and use of sleighbells conjuring up images of travelling through the snow on a horse and sleigh. Its joyous music, and uplifing in its simplicity. The entire piece is based on a satire, written by the Soviet author Yury Tynyanov, on the bureaucracy of Emperor Paul 1 of Russia. In each setting, the Emperor’s subjects faithfully go through the motions to follow his orders, yet fail miserably. Prokofiev scored it in 1933, and it was subsequently also performed for ballet by the Bolshoi. It’s great Christmas music !