Moved by the legacy and narrative possibilities of the Gold Lyre of Ur, composer Michael Mauldin composed “The Last Musician of Ur” for orchestra and harp, crafting a flowing narrative following the last musician to play the historic instrument as she is torn between inescapable destruction and the hope of timeless, international peace. This single offers Mauldin's piece along with the historical background of the project.

Observing the landscape of contemporary classical, one might assume that the art music community has shifted its focus away from the melodic, harmonious, and accessible. “Convergence”, an album of works by David Nisbet Stewart and George Gershwin, presents just the opposite: imaginative, expressive works that appeal to performers and audiences alike. Alongside Gershwin's Porgy and Bess arranged for brass quintet, Stewart's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra and Suite for Piano-Brass Quartet prove that contemporary composers can maintain stylistic integrity with a broad appeal.

“Gallery” is a collection of works by Michael G Cunningham, containing three of his narrative ballets and The Gastein Masterwork. The ballets: Nyadina, based on a Balanchine film ballet; She, based on the 1887 Haggard novel; and Chrysalis at Mardi Gras, based on the Saint Joseph story resembling Cinderella-contain a narrative, choreographic flow with emotional and fable-like undertones. Cunningham's knack for narration continues with The Gastein Masterwork, a "prediction" of Schubert's lost work and Cunningham's take on what the final version may have been.

“Dimensions” is a collection of string orchestra works from composers Gregory Hutter, Louis Babin, Reynard Burns, Andrew March, Claude Debussy, Rudy Kronfuss, and Daniel Burwasser, captures the fluidity of time and emotion, and illustrates the impact of past experiences on the present and future. Influenced by grief, the fate of the innocent, and finding oneself thrown into a perpetual state of change, the subject matter of these pieces proves to be as powerful as the music itself.

“Casino Umbro” is the debut release from Israeli composer Amos Elkana, bringing listeners into a sonic world comprised of thoughtful, expressive, and emotional works for chamber ensemble, voice, and orchestra. Ranging from the dreamy, jazz-like Casino Umbro to the linguistic and tumultuous Arabic Lessons to the imaginative and fanfaric Tru'a (feat. clarinetist Richard Stoltzman), CASINO UMBRO conveys the essence of humanity and international relations through communicative and sophisticated musical expression.

”Concerto for Piano with Percussion Orchestra” is the fifth release from the McCormick Percussion Group. Living up to their reputation as vanguards of percussion repertoire, the Group uses this album to explore the possibilities of collaboration between piano and percussion wherein neither steals the spotlight. Along with Ji Hyun Kim, the McCormick Percussion Group performs the works of Igor Santos, Mel Mobley, David Gillingham, and David Noon with precision, emotion, and purpose.

Djam Karet‘s new album ”The Trip” will be released in March of 2013. “The Trip” is a cinematic journey through time, consisting of one new continuous piece of music clocking in at right around 48 minutes. This new studio album features the entire extended 5 piece DK lineup from The Heavy Soul Sessions. The final mix is being painstakingly assembled now and music samples will be posted in the beginning of 2013. Djam Karet have also been busy working hard in the studio, writing and rehearsing most of the summer and fall in the hot box of White Arrow Studios, and are now in the active process of recording even newer material. These sessions also include original Djam Karet member Henry Osborne on bass. The fruition of these sessions will be new albums released as a series of projects mid-to-end of year 2013 and into 2014, the 30th Anniversary of the band. Numerous possible live dates and touring to coincide with the 30 Year Anniversary of Djam Karet in 2014 are currently in the works.

Herd Of Instinct’s new album ”Conjure” will be released Tuesday, January 22, 2013. It features all of the original members of the band, with Djam Karet’s Gayle Ellett on keyboards, and includes special guests Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree) and Joel Adair (Legacy Brass Quintet), amongst others.