Forgas Band Phenomena – “Acte V”:
Composer/drummer Patrick Forgas has been hailed as “the French answer to the Canterbury scene” ever since his debut 1977 release “Cocktail” (recorded with members of Magma and Zao). Since the late 1990s, as leader of the Forgas Band Phenomena, he has helped ignite interest in Canterbury-infused jazz-rock among a new generation of young French musicians and fans. Besides Forgas, most of the musicians in the Forgas Band Phenomena are in their 20s or 30s, and they enliven his compositions with an energy and verve that make the music sound fresh. For “Acte V”, his 5th Forgas Band Phenomena release (and his 3rd release on the American label Cuneiform), Forgas leads a 7-piece instrumental ensemble (sax, trumpet, violin, guitar, keyboards, bass and drums) through complex, melodic and epic compositions that mix ambitious progressive rock structures and intense jazz soloing. Fusing new jazz directions with the most adventurous rock of the 70s, the music should appeal to fans of Frank Zappa’s instrumental works and such British Canterbury bands as Soft Machine and National Health. A double disc set released by Cuneiform in early 2012, “Acte V” contains the band’s new studio CD and a 75-minute live DVD of its 2010 NEARfest performance, and showcases the formidable Forgas Band as both a studio and a live phenomenon.

Thinking Plague – “Decline and Fall”:
With the release of “Decline and Fall” the seminal Colorado avant-garde prog rock band Thinking Plague captures the tenor of the times with a caustic look at our troubled state of affairs in the 21st century. Inspired by RIO bands like Arts Bears and Henry Cow, as well as by contemporary classical composers, Thinking Plague has earned an avid international following by forging a singular synthesis of prog-rock with 20th century classical, folk, and jazz. Rigorously constructed and passionately played, the music makes a compelling case for rock’s relevance as a forum for creative composition. A new album by Thinking Plague is always an event; working slowly and unwaveringly, the group has released a handful of brilliant, art-rock classics. “Decline and Fall” is the latest dispatch from sonic explorers who aren’t afraid of the beasts they find at the edge of the musical map. Tough and sinewy, the album marks something of a return to the band’s roots, with a stripped down sound that reveals TP’s well-honed cohesion.

Parma Recordings are proud to announce the official release of Method Music’s self-titled debut. This is a double album of algorithmic compositions that serve as both the outgrowth and the foundation of Pete Townshend's legendary "Lifehouse" project. “Method Music” was produced by Townshend & Bob Lord and is available worldwide today.

"What music encapsulates the 90s?" This question is usually answered with grunge, alt-rock, manufactured pop, hip-hop, or any combination thereof. With “Nineties Timeflow”, composer Alan Schmitz steers us in another direction with a collection of contemporary classical works that represents the overarching themes of his work throughout the decade. The melodic, evocative, and accessible works on this release cap off a revolutionary century of classical composition with the perfect balance of influence and ingenuity. From traditional string trios to violin and marimba duos, Schmitz's works span a diverse set of configurations that perfectly compliment his style as a composer. The 18 performers on this release match the diversity of Schmitz's composition and play each piece with a deep understanding of his artistic vision.

With works described as "an inspired creation" (Music & Vision), "original and quite brilliant" (Fanfare), and "one of the most imaginative, melodious and expressive pieces of serious contemporary music that can ever have been written and recorded" (Tempo), Jonathan Little has planted himself as a luminary contemporary composer. On ”Polyhymnia”, Little is able to transform traditional influences into rich, intense, and finely structured music that lives up to his reputation. “Polyhymnia” features Polyhymnia and Terpsichore, two orchestral pieces from Little's Nine Muses series, along with the powerful Fanfare, the atmospheric string quintet Sacred Prelude, and the intricate polychoral Kyrie.

Equinox is a new jazz-fusion band featuring the Mahavishnu Orchestra violinist Jerry Goodman. “Renaissance”, its first release, is a state-of-the-art album using many elements from Jazz, Rock, Fusion and Classical Music, implying renewal, invention and rejuvenation of both music and instruments.