Paradiso (Ian Ritchie) - Solaris

I believe everyone watched at least one episode of "Globe Trekker" (or "Lonely Planet" until a number of years ago) on Discovery Channel. Awesome show. Anyway, I also do believe many have noticed the show's soundtrack, a very interesting knitting of ethnic elements in electronic arrangements.
Composed by British musician Ian Ritchie in 1994-1995, that original soundtrack still runs in today's episodes of "Globe Trekker" (or is it called "Pilot Guides" now?). And to no wonder, it's bloody fantastic! That's not today's feature however, but we have something equally good in store: a jazz track from Ritchie's Paradiso project, entitled "Solaris". A smart blend of acoustic sound and electronic feeling (though it may be possible it was recorded with a live band, I really don't know; nevertheless, the feeling is electronic).

If you like this make sure to also check the soundtrack to "Globe Trekker" and visit www.ian-ritchie.com for a lot of free music from Mr. Ritchie.

Yanni - A Night To Remember

Who hasn't heard about Yanni? Hailing from Greece, Yiannis Hrysomallis (his real name) is a self-taught (!) pianist/composer who gained world fame in the 1990s by being nominated for multiple Grammy awards and accumulating dozens of platinum and gold albums globally.
His music has often been likened to that of compatriot composer Vangelis and often described as "new age" (a term disputed by some critics) or "contemporary intrumental". He is also known for his outdoor live concerts in front of tens of thousands of people, with "Yanni Live At The Acropolis" (1994) being the most famous.

From his 8th album, "Dare To Dream" (1992), I have selected "A Night To Remember", an instantly feel-good track that I felt was a suitable track for this special day.

Merry Christmas!!!