An 80s groove classic – and a killer bit of Captiol Records soul from High fashion! Of all US major labels, Capitol was probably putting out the best soul in the early 80s – and this is a tight modern batch of up-tempo tracks, right up there with other contemporary classics on the... read more
A bold return to Blue Note for pianist Andrew Hill – his first record for the label in over 15 years, and a record that echoes with the modern tones of Hill's legendary Blue Note run in the 60s! The sound here is a bit more starkly modern and obtuse – done with more of a sense of space... read more
Lisa Hilton —
Underground ... CD
Ruby Slippers,
2011. Used ....
$0.99Just Sold Out!
Another lost gem in this excellent Jazz In Paris series! This one features pianist Earl Hines working with a French rhythm combo of Guy Pederson on bass and Gus Wallez on drums. The material is relatively straightforward, but Hines is in great form – and the set includes 2 unissued bonus... read more
Amazing stuff – a really incredible dip into the life, mind, and music of Billie Holiday – with some rare studio banter that's almost as compelling as her famous recordings for Verve! Amazing package, too – a real standard-setter for CDs when it came out!... read more
About as classic as you can get for Billie Holiday on Verve – a wonderfully intimate small group session, recorded with top-shelf players and a smokey torchy mood! Billie's in her later years by the time of the set, but somehow singing with even more emotion and life – working with a... read more
With Chris Potter, Robin Eubanks, Steve Nelson, and Billy Kilson. 8 tracks in all: "Looking Up", "Make Believe", "A Seeking Spirit", "High Wire", "Jugglers Paradise", "Candlelight Vigil", "Wonders Never Cease" and "Down... read more
Jennifer Holliday's strong '91 set – with material that's par for the course for Arista soul efforts of the late 80s and early 90s – but Holliday outshines it with her powerful, emotional and wonderful voice! Definitely an underappreciated set, particularly for fans of powerfully... read more
Takehiro Honda —
I Love You ... CD
Trio/Ultra Vybe (Japan),
1973. Used ....
$21.99
Straight trio grooving from Takehiro Honda – but pretty darn great work nonetheless! The album's a nice bridge between the harder, more rhythmic pulse of his early soul jazz sessions, and the later, freer sound of his more lyrical trio sides – and the whole album shows Honda opening up... read more
A cool collection of rare recordings from trumpeter Allen Houser – mostly recorded around the DC scene of the 70s, all with hip small group players and a pretty soulful feel overall! Houser's trumpet is set up in quartet, quintet, and sextet formations – often with a groove that draws... read more
Hu Vibrational —
Beautiful ... CD
Soul Jazz (UK),
2004. Used ....
$6.99
Hu Vibrational brings a pounding instrumental mix of percussion, electronic beats, and African-inspired jazz! The loose group feature multi-instrumentalist Adam Rudolph (who has played with Pharoah Sanders, Herbie Hancock and Don Cherry to name a few) on all types of acoustic drums, shakers,... read more
A real standout in the early career of trumpeter Freddie Hubbard – a very unique session that has him working with some larger arrangements in the background – blowing these magical solos over the top, while still hitting a great edge with the rest of the musicians as well! There's a... read more
The Charlie Hunter quartet offers their take on Bob Marley's groundbreaking album Natty Dread – taking the original Jamaican grooves of the set, and performing them in a laidback jazz funk style! The lineup includes Charlie on 8-string guitar, plus alto sax, tenor sax, and drums – on... read more
Bobby Hutcherson —
Stick-Up! ... CD
Blue Note,
1966. Used ....
$8.99
The sticks are up, and Bobby Hutcherson is at the top of his game – hitting a whole new groove here in this sublime session of modal numbers for Blue Note – a slightly warmer set than his more modern albums of the "new thing" years, and a great indication of the directions he'd... read more
Sparkling modern soul from the lovely Phyllis Hyman – and an album that has the singer picking up the wonderfully smooth groove that had become the Philly International sound of the mid 80s. This format works surprisingly well for Phyllis – quite possibly more so than it did even for... read more
A soaring set of solo piano from Weber Iago – music that bubbles and flows with a beautifully spontaneous quality – almost in the mode of a lost ECM session from the 70, but with all the warmth we've come to love from the Adventure Music label! The set may well be the best so far in... read more
Vintage Godzilla music – pulled from the first film to feature the big scaly green guy, presented here with some sparkling remastering for a 50th Anniversary edition! There's a really haunting quality to much of the music – not the typical monster movie stuff you might expect, and... read more
The Isleys sure aren't out to prevent teen pregnancy with the title of this set – but given the strength of the album, we can easily forgive them for any lack of social consciousness! In an era when countless young artists are copping the Isley groove of the 70s, the Brothers are back to... read more
Mid 90s Isleys – with some songs written by Angela Winbush, who also produces – as does R Kelly on a few numbers too! Includes "Floatin On Your Love", 'Whenever You're Ready", "Let's Get Intimate", their cover of Simply Red's "Holding Back The Years"... read more
Utsumi Izuru —
Utsumi ... CD
Flower (Japan),
2002. Used ....
$6.99
Jazzy samples with an earthy edge – worked together in some magical soundscapes that also manage to groove nicely at the best moments! One of the more "organic" titles in the hip catalog of the Japanese Flower Records label – and a compelling release that takes us back to... read more
J Dilla —
Shining ... CD
BBE (UK),
2006. Used ....
$6.99
A glorious send off from J Dilla – with some of the most soulful productions Dilla's ever laid down – and appearances by Common, D'Angelo, Pharoahe Monch, Madlib, MED, Black Thought and others! It's impossible to listen to The Shining without considering the sad circumstances... read more
Bold 80s soul from Jermaine Jackson – a set that's heavy on beats and keyboards, but which still leaves enough space for his gentler-toned vocals! The upbeat tracks here sometimes get a bit dramatic, which makes us like the ballads more – sweeter-styled numbers that are much better... read more
The third great album in the trilogy that includes Off The Wall and Thriller – and a set that still has Michael Jackson running strong at the height of his solo powers! Quincy Jones is still at the helm, and Michael more than proves that he can still come up with a pop tune without going too... read more
Michael Jackson —
Thriller ... CD
Epic,
1982. Used ....
$2.99
Arguably the last true moment of genius in Michael Jackson's career – a record that sold a bazillion copies around the world – and for plenty good reason! Michael's still working here with Quincy Jones – in territory that steps nicely from the Off The Wall groove, into territory... read more
Whatever you may think of Milt Jackson's later work, this stuff from the early 50s, recorded in his pre-MJQ years, shows the vibist as a lively talent, playing head to head with boppers that he'd never dare face in later years. Players include Lou Donaldson, John Lewis, Thelonious Monk, and Shadow... read more
A slightly different take on the Modern Jazz Quartet sound of the early years – as the album features Milt Jackson's vibes in the company of MJQ bandmates Percy Heath and Connie Kay, but also includes Horace Silver on piano – in the spot normally reserved for John Lewis! The presence... read more
A beautiful combination we'd like to hear more of – one that comes from the meeting of Milt Jackson's vibes and the guitar of Wes Montgomery – both recorded here in easygoing brilliance! The session's a nice break from the usual sound of both players at the time – and although... read more
A smoking second album from Rebbie Jackson – a set that has Rebbie working with strong production help from two of the bigger aspects of the Columbia Records soul family in the 80s – Tito Jackson and Reggie Lucas, who each handle a handful of songs along with David Conley and Howie Rice.... read more
Etta James —
At Last ... CD
Chess/MCA,
1960. Used ....
$3.99
Wonderfully sophisticated soul from Etta James – a real departure from the raw shouting R&B of earlier years, and perfectly set to sparkling arrangements by the great Riley Hampton (who'd had similar success with Walter Jackson, Lorez Alexandria, and other Chicago soul stars.) Hampton's... read more
The great Jesse James – still going strong! We've loved Jesse for decades – from his great 60s album on 20th Century, through his important 70s underground singles, and even into his later bluesy years – a great place for James' talents in the later generation! This album's... read more