When it comes to Nick Magnus, one can always expect art of high order, so there’s a little surprise in the keyboardist falling into a five-year groove with his latest releases. Magnus followed 2014’s "N'Monix" by delivering “Catharsis” in 2019, and now, on his seventieth spin around the sun, the intrepid veteran feels adventurous again, which is why Nick’s next album promises to be rather entertaining.
Delays in delivering anniversary editions of favorite records may have become an unpleasant trend for many artists who fail to establish control over release schedules, but BLACKMORE’S NIGHT seem to be driving ahead of the curve. The ensemble’s third album first saw the light of day – pardon the pun – in the Summer of 2001, so it should celebrate a quarter-century only in two years from now, yet Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night don’t want to miss the date, as they did with the remix of their debut “Shadow Of The Moon” that was issued in 2023, so, skipping over the somewhat less popular “Under A Violet Moon” from 1999, the family unit jump into "Fires At Midnight" again on September 27th.
With Fish‘s career officially over, it’s about time for Derek Dick to take stock and cement his legacy for good. He may have started working towards this goal two years ago by issuing the “Vigil’s End” concert set, and expanding his last studio efforts too, but July 22nd should find the Scottish singer return to the very beginning of his individual career with the release of deluxe editions of the two albums which set the veteran on the course to solo glory – and they’re bound to be brilliant to say the least.
It’s been almost a decade since the world lost the fantastic Jimi Jamison but the interest to his legacy doesn’t seem to diminish, especially with the knowledge of quite a lot material languishing in the late singer’s archives. That particular chamber of secrets was open once before, with 2022 release of “Rock Hard” from 1990, and there’s a second previously unreleased album looming on the horizon now.
A little less than a month ago Albert Lee belatedly celebrated his 80th birthday with a London concert that saw a host of stellar guests join the great guitarist on stage. It was there and then that the veteran also launched his new album, titled “Lay It Down” and currently available only at the venues Lee’s playing, with a wider release scheduled for July. Unlike Albert’s previous record, “Gypsy Man” from 2019, it’s not all covers – there’s one original on offer – while on other ten tracks the master’s paying tribute to his music heroes.
