Constantinople weaves together threads from East-West, sacred-secular, past-present, real-mythical, high art-popular culture and much more. The strength of its underlying message is reinforced by the way Christos Hatzis challenges our expectation that its music belongs in one genre or another.

Les roches chantent offers music composed after journeys up in the far North and in a village at the door of the Great North. The trip ends by a piece which changes by the time, the day and the place where the musician is located.

In these well-programmed songs for baritone, Gentle Lady, features two distinguished composers of the 20th century whose working lives were centered in Western Canada. The essential lyricism of Jean Coulthard and the clarity and boldness of expression characteristic of Violet Archer seems somehow rooted in this dynamic geography even as these songs travel in both time and place, seeking a contrast of inspiration.

Marking the tenth year since Canadian trombonist/composer/arranger Dave McMurdo has been able to keep his irregularly assembled 19-piece orchestra in fine fettle, if not in actual paying gigs, this two-disc set should alert many stateside and European ears to its potential as a festival attraction.

Taalworks is a dynamic recording featuring North indian tabla solo compositions with intriguing melodic textures, including Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and The Swan by Saint Saens.