After the great success of the "MoonJune Compilation: $1 and then $2 min. donation for 60 tunes" promotion launched in November of 2012, and as well Mr. MoonJune Recommends, Volume 1 promo compilation launched in December of 2012, I'm now ready to offer another selection of extraordinary sounds from around the world: USA, Austria, Switzerland, UK, Israel, Uruguay, Denmark, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Norway, Finland, Ghana, Poland, Belgium, Greece.
With this new compilation I am saluting the guitar legend and one of my all time favorite jazz-rock guitarist, APOSTOLIS ANTHIMOS of the SBB hall-of fame, and my drear fraternal friend and the ultimate XXI century guitar maestro ALEX MACHACEK. I am including again the wonderful music of
MARK WINGFIELD, JOHN SUND (ACOUSTIC SENSE & with AYI SOLOMON), NICOLAS MEIER, MICHEL SAJRAWY, BELEDO (THE AVENGERS feat. ADAM HOLZMAN, LINCOLN GOINES, KIM PLAINFIELD), ERNESTO HOLMAN and introducing now DIALETO, UZVA, ECSTASY PROJECT, SING SING PENELOPE, EVIL GIRAFFE ON MARS, DOMINIQUE VANTOMME ROOT, SEAN WAYLAND, LUZ DE RIADA, MATTO MOLTO, TASSOS SPILIOTOPOULOS and MoonJune's THE WRONG OBJECT.
I recommend You to listen all streamed tracks, check info on each track and I encourage You to google about each artist and discover more. It's worth exploring.
Over the years I have received more than 1,500 albums from artists all around the world soliciting a CD release, trying to find a proper 'home' for their projects. I've done my best to answer every single solicitation, and to listen to every single album, although I must admit that some of the listening was done in 'fast-forward mode.' I suggested to some of the artists that they approach other labels that might be more appropriate for their music, or that they self-release their albums, and some, simply I couldn't afford and they are now on bigger labels.
"Mr. MoonJune Recommends - Volume 2" is the second in a series of 25-track compilations drawn from these submissions plus few tunes from few of my friends, legendary musicians or musicians with whom I have worked with. It features one track from each CD that over the past few years I have wanted, even yearned, to release on MoonJune but couldn't for a variety of reasons: lack of time, the fact that the label can only release a limited number of albums per year, I'm busy on tour with a band, or involved with my other two businesses. Except for a few musicians who are known to fans of progressive music, most of these artists are only known in their own country or region, and some not even in their own city; however, they are all musicians whom I respect and whose music I dig. The whole purpose of this compilation is to expose these musicians' recently recorded music to the constantly growing MoonJune audience, and also to pay due respect to their artistry. Each track comes with complete information about the artist and the album from which the tune was selected, and most importantly a direct link to the artists' sites where those albums can be purchased.
All the featured music represents in some way the philosophy of MoonJune Records - progressive music exploring the boundaries of jazz, rock, avant, ethno, and the unknown - and anything in between.
In the world we live in, with its oversaturated music market, rapidly disappearing record stores, and a record business that ignores real musicianship, and with fewer and fewer outlets where quality progressive music can be exposed, it's becoming more and more difficult for artists to be noticed unless they have a well-known legacy or they tour frequently and intensively, which many are unable to do. This compilation (the first of many) is my tribute to these musicians and contribution to their cause. I hope that all who download and listen to this remarkable music can appreciate the artistry of these musicians and their determination to keep great music alive.
Note that the tunes chosen for this compilation do not necessarily represent the best tracks from the featured CDs; they're purely my personal choice.
(Note: this compilation does not include any artists from Indonesia. Because they deserve a very special chapter of their own, a special 25-track compilation of Indonesian progressive jazz-fusion will be launched in January.)
The whole compilation has over three hrs of music and iis priced at only $1 (or more - whatever you would like to or can afford to pay) for 25 tunes. The tracks are downloadable in any (or all) of the following formats: MP3 320, FLAC, MP3 VBR (V0), AAC, Ogg Vorbis, or ALAC. If that list leaves you scratching your head, you probably want the default, MP3 320, which will play back beautifully in iTunes, Windows Media Player, your iPod, etc.
