SKU: MB.30844M

ISBN 9781513464268. 8.75 x 11.75 inches.

Skip James was one of the most influential early Bluesmen, but his importance as a stylist remained undiscovered until he was brought out of a long retirement by the Folk/Blues revival of the early 1960â??s. Born in 1902 and raised in Bentonia, Nehemiah Curtis James was brought up in a religious family: his father was a bootlegger who reformed and became a Baptist preacher. Skip learned piano in school but picked up guitar from his friend Henry Stuckey. In 1931 Skip was picked up by a scout for Paramount Records and he cut 26 tracks, of which 18 were released, in a two day session at their Grafton, Wisconsin studios. These recordings presented a unique and haunting genius that influenced legendary bluesmen as Robert Johnson, Kansas Joe McCoy and Johnny Temple. But the recordings sold poorly, having been released during the Great Depression, and he drifted into obscurity.

< span style=font-family: Arial;> We have included as online downloads Skipâ??s 1931 recordings. The crackling sound of these rare recordings cannot obscure the brilliance of this seminal Blues master.

After over 30 yearâ??s retirement from music, Skip was rediscovered by Blues enthusiasts Bill Barth, John Fahey and Henry Vestine. They persuaded Skip to appear at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964, where his renditions of his old songs were still powerful and moving. His performances as well as his old and new recordings influenced a generation of new musicians: Eric Clapton, Alan Wilson of Canned Heat, Cream, Deep Purple, Chris Thomas King, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Derek Trucks, Beck, Big Sugar, John Martyn, Lucinda Williams and Rory Block to name a few.

Books on legendary Blues musicians written by white musicologists tend to offer a subjective perspective on how the artists felt, thought or reacted. A tainted picture is captured that has more to do with the writerâ??s social and musical experiences. This autobiography is different. The words, thoughts and feelings come directly from the artistâ??s lips. This is the story of Nehemiah â??Skipâ? James told by Nehemiah â??Skipâ? James.

UPC: 747313273775.

James Whitbourn is known for his 'boundless breadth of choral imagination' (The Observer) resulting in compositions of brilliance and power. His extraordinary work for choir, saxophone and organ, Son of God Mass, receives a new recording from the young voices of one of the finest chamber choirs from Rider University's Westminster Choir College under one of the leading American choral conductors, James Jordan. It is heard alongside premiere recordings of other works associated with life and death, including the Requiem canticorum and Living Voices, a work to commemorate the date of 9/11 with a poem by Andrew Motion. The luminosity and sheer beauty of Whitbourn's composing style is brought to unusual heights by the skills of the Williamson Voices and their conductor, James Jordan. The entire album is a collection of choral music with a spiritual center. The composer's use of saxophone and organ, interweaving with those lovely young Westminster voices, attain a kind of choral glory unusual for any music, extraordinary for 'contemporary' music. The album soothes, stretches, pulls the listener to places of fascination and high emotion, captivates and can often amaze. It is an exalted achievement. — Roger Ames A truly stunning recording.

SKU: AP.40226S

UPC: 038081456157. English.

Alfred is pleased to offer a three-piece halftime show featuring music from the ever-popular James Bond movie series. The iconic James Bond Theme opens the show. Victor López pulls out all the stops with this sizzling chart, combining all the great elements of the original with some great new twists! This arrangement also works great as a stands or pep band chart. (2:10).

SKU: AP.40228S

UPC: 038081458663. English.

To close out our Music of James Bond show, Victor presents the driving theme to Die Another Day, which is followed up by the beautiful Live and Let Die. Featuring a tasty trombone or baritone solo, the music quickly goes into a fast section which gradually builds to a driving finish before a reprise of the James Bond Theme brings the whole show to a stunning conclusion! (2:30).