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Douglas J Cuomo: Arjuna’s Dilemma

The hit movie so far this year is Sex and The City, and the score includes a number of references to the familiar theme from the TV series. That theme is probably Douglas Cuomo’s most famous work. But Cuomo’s new CD is a far cry from the world of high fashion and champagne cocktails. Arjuna’s Dilemma is a chamber opera, inspired by the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita. And so it uses both Western and Indian classical elements, mixed with jazz and Gregorian-style chant, to create a tale of conflict between duty and conscience. A theme that, unfortunately, never seems to go out of fashion. – picked by John Schaefer

Soul Science – Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara (World Village)

Rock’n’roll pioneer Bo Diddley died last week, but the beat he created lives on. The latest musicians to re-invigorate it are British guitarist and producer Justin Adams and Gambian fiddle player Juldeh Camara. Adams is often referred to as the English Ry Cooder for his explorations with world music. And Camara is a virtuoso of the ritti, a one-stringed fiddle. With two amazing musicians and a Bo Diddley beat, what can go wrong? The album is called Soul Science. – Picked by Gisele Regatao

Olivier Messiaen: 1908-1992 Olivier Messiaen, Pierre Boulez, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Reinbert de Leeuw, Asko Ensemble, Maarten Bon, Slagwerkgroep Den Haag, Schönberg Ensemble, Groof Omroepkoor et Radio Symfonie Orkest Hiversum, Koor van de brt Bruxelles (Naïve)

Which 20th century composer has been an influence on The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, and architect Daniel Libeskind? It was French composer Olivier Messiaen. Messiaen died in 1992 and this year, he would have celebrated his 100th birthday. In commemoration, a new 6-CD box set has been released featuring a number of landmark performances. Included in the set is "Des canyons aux etoiles," (From the Canyons to the Stars) a piece that marked the bicentennial of the U.S. in 1976, and which portrays the canyons of Utah, complete with birdsongs, thunderstorms, and a kaleidoscope of colors. – picked by Brian Wise