Image: David McClister
German vocalist Alma Naidu begins our new set of releases this week; her album Redefine comes three years after her debut and builds upon her smooth sound through fresh original songs and arrangements. The Grammy-winning duo of Taj Mahal and Keb Mo make a triumphant return with their new album Room On The Porch, a joyful blend of blues, Americana and folk, and Italian saxophonist Michele Polga assembles a quartet that showcases the best of tradition and innovation in Doors. Finally, vocalist Roxana Amed puts a unique jazz twist on Argentine rock classics in Todos Los Fuegos, and pianist Tanya Ekanayaka delivers beautifully expressive solo piano compositions in 16 Sri Lankan Piano Isles.
Redefine
Alma Naidu
After finding success with her debut album, vocalist Alma Naidu presents a selection of brand new original songs in her follow-up album, Redefine. A firmly rising artist in Germany, Naidu has been praised for her clear and delicate voice and musical depth. With arrangements that span from the intimacy of the voice and piano to string orchestras and classic band ensembles, Naidu expands upon her debut with grace and emotional depth.
Available format: CD
Room On The Porch
Taj Mahal and Keb Mo
Rich in the sound of blues, Americana and soul, Grammy winners Taj Mahal and Keb Mo come together once more for their new album Room On The Porch. With the majority of the album written and recorded in just two weeks, the album’s emphasis lies in organic spontaneity with strong links to tradition and the pair’s roots. Full of warmth and joy, this album celebrates the musical power of this duo, featuring a series of guest performers alongside them.
Available format: CD
Doors
Michele Polga
In this quartet recording, Italian saxophonist Michele Polga delivers his own highly melodic compositions as well as an arrangement of Benny Golson's 'Along Came Betty'. A blend of both the old and the new, Polga looks to manifest his profound respect for tradition alongside his understanding of the modern age in the company of his ensemble: Alessandro Lanzoni on piano, Bernardo Guerra on drums and Gabriele Evangelista on double bass.
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
Todos Los Fuegos
Roxana Amed
Undertaking her most recent challenge yet, Roxana Amed reinterprets a collection of Argentine rock classics in her latest album, Todos Los Fuegos. Blending South-American folk traditions with jazz and contemporary sounds, Amed is joined by an array of talented musicians to reconnect to the very music that honed and shaped her artistic development.
Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
16 Sri Lankan Piano Isles
Tanya Ekanayaka
A powerful collection of sixteen solo piano works is inspired by sixteen isles of Tanya Ekanayaka’s native Sri Lanka. The album embodies two distinct compositional approaches: eight pieces were composed between 2022 and 2024, and eight ‘extempore compositions’ were entirely improvised and recorded in a single take during an April 2024 session. Each extempore piece incorporates a unique musical motif, making this Ekanayaka’s most ambitious project yet.
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
