Robert Harris presents Marcus Tullius Cicero as a young lawyer on the make in Imperium. The story is told by Cicero’s slave, Tiro, who invented a short-hand system that provided invaluable in legal and political situations. Cicero, without money or family connections, manages to climb the Roman bureaucracy through his brilliant skills at rhetoric and speaking. Harris captures the intrigue of the Roman Senate and the corruption of the political process. If you enjoyed I, Claudius, you’ll find this fictional biography very satisfying. Harris has done his research and insists “Although Imperium is a novel, the majority of events it describes did actually happen; the remainder at could have happened; and nothing, I hope (a hostage to fortune, this), demonstrably did not happen.” This is excellent historical fiction! GRADE: B+

Last night, Diane and I went to a concert featuring GRAMMY Award-winning Chanticleer, the only full-time classical vocal ensemble in the U. S. Over its 22-year history their interpretation of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz, and from gospel to Christmas carols is legendary. With its seamless blend of twelve male voices, ranging from countertenor to bass, Chanticleer is known as “an orchestra of voices.” Since 1994, Chanticleer has been recording exclusively for Teldec Classics International, with 22 recordings to its credit. If these guys show up in your neighborhood, you need to hear their joyous music. I liked their Doo-Wop version of “Summertime.”

FUNKY MIDNIGHT MOVER – THE ATLANTIC STUDIO RECORDINGS (1962-1978) captures legendary soul singer Wilson Pickett’s career in a 6 CD collection. FUNKY MIDNIGHT MOVER includes all of Wilson Pickett’s originally issued recordings for Atlantic Records, as well a full CD of rare and previously unreleased recordings. This set’s 154 tracks include all 35 of the Pickett’s R&B smashes – including five #1 hits – from “In The Midnight Hour,” his first hit for Atlantic Records, to 1973’s “International Playboy,” his last chart entry for that label. A 92-page book with rare photos and comprehensive liner notes includes intros by Jerry Wexler who produced several of Wilson Pickett’s albums. If you’re a fan of the “Wicked Pickett” this is a must-buy! GRADE: A

David vs. Goliath. You’ll hear this comparison plenty of times leading up to the tip-off of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship tonight. Little Butler University taking on mighty Duke! In the Final Four games Butler struggled against Michigan State, pulling out a 2-point win while Duke cruised over West Virginia by 21 points. Most commentators predict Duke will crush Butler. But, I think it will be a closer game than most people think. Maybe Cinderella has one more bit of magic left to show us…

Over the decades, I’ve read and admired Bernard Cornwell’s SHARPE series. Richard Sharpe is a British soldier who rises through the ranks of the British Army from book to book because of his courage and bravery. He’s a natural warrior and manages (with Cornwell’s help) to be a participant in every important battle of the Napoleonic Wars. With Waterloo behind him, Sharpe retires. But, he’s drawn back into the Great Game when he accepts a mission in India. Here, an insurgency threatens British rule. Fans of Top Chef will recognize Padma Lakshmi as the beautiful (but treacherous) Madhuvanthi. Sean Bean brings just the right blend of grit and sophistication to these SHARPE adventures. I have them all on DVD (as well as the books), but these are two new episodes presented as part of MASTERPIECE CLASSIC on PBS. Check your local listings for times in your area.

The Judas Window (aka, The Crossbow Murder and The Bowstring Murders) features both a locked room murder and a dramatic courtroom explication of how the murderer pulled off such an impossible crime. Avery Hume, master archer, is found dead from an arrow shot into his heart. The only other person in the locked room is young James Answell, Hume’s future son-in-law who is charged with the murder. Answell claims he was drugged and when he regained his consciousness, Hume was dead. Crusty barrister Sir Henry Merrivale untangles the twisted plot and reveals not only the real killer, but manages to punish a blackmailer in unique fashion, too. This is the first time I can recall nude photographs being part of a locked room plot. If you like mind-boggling puzzle mysteries, The Judas Window is one of the best. Thanks go to Art Scott for recommending it!

I’m a sucker for books like Andrew Martin’s Funny You Should Say That: Amusing Remarks From Cicero to the Simpsons. I can dip into it and always find some thought-provoking and funny remarks. How about this one: “Single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor…which is one very strong argument in favour of matrimony.” Jane Austen said that. Or, how about: “I hate television. I hate it as much as peanuts. But I can’t stop eating peanuts.” Orson Welles said that. The book is organized by themes. There are author biographies, an index by author, and a subject index. What a wonderful book! A browser’s delight! GRADE: A

Allison Moorer’s latest CD is a collection of moody songs. Moorer wrote all of them except for “It’s Gonna Feel Good (When It Stops Hurting).” My favorites are “Like the Rain” and “Easy in the Summertime.” Moorer is sometimes considered a Country & Western singer, but there isn’t any twanging on this CD. The music projects a sense of hope amid despair. If you’re looking for Allison Moorer in a more cheerful mood, try her earlier CDs, The Duel and The Hardest Part. Both are very good. But, if you’re in the mood for the darker side of Allison Moorer, then Crows is the CD to listen to. GRADE: B+

I have at least a dozen CDs of Beethoven’s piano concertos. Why on earth would I buy yet another one? Well, last year I loved Austrian pianist Till Fellner’s J. S. Bach: Inventions & Sinfonias & French Suite CD. When I saw Fellner’s new Beethoven CD, I immediately bought it and listened to it. Fellner is a meticulous pianist. There’s not a lot of pounding and annoying emotionalism here. Fellner took a cool and professional approach to Bach and now he does the same thing with Beethoven. Some may prefer an overwrought performance of the “Emperor” concerto, but not me. The music has plenty of energy; it takes a talented pianist to channel it into a satisfying result. Fellner’s approach is deliberate yet deft. If you love this music, hearing Fellner play it makes it sound new again. GRADE: A