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Sweet electric keys from the great Bob James – a record that's a bit smoother than some of his first few classics for CTI, but still plenty darn nice! The set's got Bob working with a range of key fusion and studio players who include Steve Gadd, Earl Klugh, Eric Gale, Hubert Laws, Mongo... read more

A pair of grand pianos, played in a beautifully open space during a live performance by Jan Jarczyk and John Stetch – both players who can really balance their energies between melody and much freer expression! The set's not nearly as outside as you might guess from the format – and... read more

A very unusual record – one that has Keith Jarrett playing some solo organ – and a baroque organ at that – but in ways that are quite different than you might expect! The sounds here are amazing – almost noisy at points, as Jarrett really works the instrument in an... read more

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Exactly the sort of recording to remind us why the Keith Jarrett Trio has been such an important force in jazz during the past few decades – a popular group, yet one that still retains all its heart and edge as well! The lineup is way more than the piano of the leader – as bassist Gary... read more

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A rare slice of ECM Records from the 70s – a previously-unreleased live performance – featuring some of the label's most influential talents of the time! The core energy here comes from the piano of Keith Jarrett and reeds of Jan Garbarek – both musicians whose instruments shaped... read more

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With Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Edison, Oscar Peterson, Zoot Sims, Al Grey, JJ Johnson, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Louis Bellson, and Joe Pass.... read more

An overlooked gem from the early years of Schema Records – a straight jazz set that crackles with classic modal energy! The group's really a great one – and features some tremendous trumpet from Fabrizio Bosso – plus trombone from Gianluca Petrella, piano from Stefano Bollani,... read more

Sublime early soul jazz from the Jazz Crusaders – a seminal set that really has the group taking off right away! The use of "freedom" in the title is well placed – as the set definitely shows the players stretching out a bit on their solos – hinting at the magic that... read more

The landmark first album to feature the Jazz Crusaders playing live at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach – the start of a great run of albums that would go onto help redefine the sound of soul jazz in the 60s! Although the group was already plenty darn great on their studio sides, working at... read more

Killer Jazz Crusaders material – exactly the kind of record that really had the group coming into their own in the second half of the 60s – finding a rich new groove that few other combos could match! The record captures the group at a perfect time – a point when they were... read more

The trumpet of Jeremy Pelt really makes this album sparkle – blown with a mixture of lyrical tones and sharper edges, and getting great support from a lineup that features Anthony Wonsey on piano, Dezron Douglas on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums! The solo horn in the lead also gives the... read more

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A post-Art Blakey version of the Jazz Messengers – but one with a killer lineup that really opens up the older Messengers groove! Lewis Nash is on drums here – playing with some slightly more subtle touches than Blakey – and other group members include the great Benny Golson on... read more

The groovy combo The Jazz Modes were one of the 50's strangest groups – but their work is always entertaining, and a lot more filled with soul than you'd expect! The band is fronted by French horn player Julius Watkins and saxophonist Charlie Rouse – and Rouse's pre-Monk tenor is nice... read more

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A smoking little set – an album of jazz takes on Curtis Mayfield classics, played by a hip combo that includes a few musicians from Mayfield's old band! The album's a straight jazz effort all the way through – and the interpretations are so soulful and swinging on their own, you might... read more

One of our favorite albums ever from Eddie Jefferson – one of the last sessions he ever recorded as a leader, and a stone cooker through and through! The arrangements here are by Slide Hampton, who hits a really soulful groove for the set – one that moves away from some of the more... read more

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A very unusual slice of the Chicago jazz scene – and maybe the only album ever recorded by Grady Johnson – an altoist who's worked in the city for decades – an early disciple of Walter Dyett, and a student of his many years before Johnny Griffin and John Gilmore! The set's from... read more

Second volume of the two LP set that compiled JJ's bop trombone sides for Blue Note. Great stuff, and arguably among some of his best work. The arrangements are tight, and JJ's in the company of great rhythm players like Kenny Clarke, Horace Silver, and Paul Chambers, who make the sessions really... read more

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One of the few albums ever cut by reedman Rudolph Johnson – a hell of a saxophonist, and one with a great ability to combine the spiritual with the searing – a bit like Joe Farrell at his CTI best, but not as freewheeling – nicely focused, and a little bit funky in all the right... read more

Great work from one of the grooviest pianists of the 60s – a player who could always keep things lively and swinging, even in a small combo session! The album's one of Pete Jolly's gems for the Ava label – a follow-up to his semi-hit Little Bird, and like that one, a record done with... read more

Not the Hello Dolly album you might guess from the title, but instead a wonderfully groovy batch of tracks from pianist Pete Jolly – an album done with great larger arrangements from Dick Hazard and Dick Grove, and a tight vibe that makes the set one of Pete's grooviest albums ever! Pete's... read more

Remarkable Carmell Jones, indeed – and one of the few albums ever cut as a leader by this up-and-coming force on the LA scene at the start of the 60s! Jones was a player who really showcased something new on the west at the time – a move away from cool jazz, and the start of a deeper,... read more

A sweet early date as a leader from Elvin Jones – one that has him working strongly away from a John Coltrane setting, with some hip arrangements by Melba Liston! Elvin brings in some excellent accompaniment from two other Joneses as well – Thad on cornet and Hank on piano – both... read more

Soaring, righteous sounds from Elvin Jones – an early 80s session, but one that cooks as strongly as his most soulful albums from the 70s! In fact, there's almost a focus or tightness here that could sometimes be missing from other Jones albums – a really bold, sharp use of the group's... read more

Easily the most hard-hitting of Blue Note's 2LP Lighthouse Live series from the early 70s – and a record that really lets Elvin Jones and his group stretch out and play! The setting is a perfect one for Jones – given the boundless energy already present on his studio sessions for Blue... read more

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One of Elvin Jones' greatest records – a set that's quite different from both his work in the John Coltrane Quartet, and some of the powerhouse jazz sides he'd cut later as a solo act! The vibe here is a bit hard to describe, but it somehow comes together in the "midnight walk" of... read more

Plenty of young blood here – a trio of powerful horn players who really make the set stand out nicely! Elvin Jones proves once again that his ear for a horn is almost as great as his work on the drums – and having chosen the trumpet of Nicholas Payton, and tenors of Javon Jackson and... read more

Hank Jones takes on Porgy & Bess – with some wonderfully groovy results! The set is one of many version of the Gershwin musical that were timed to come out with the release of the late 50s film – but thanks to some careful handling by Jones, the music is way more than a cash-in... read more

The title certainly gets it right – as the album's an early showcase for the piano of Hank Jones – a talented touch that's already able to rise above most of his contemporaries! The date's a trio outing, and Jones is allowed a bit more freedom than the usual jazz musician on Capitol at... read more

Trumpeter Jonah Jones swings nicely with a Broadway theme – yet still manages to keep things in his charming blend of trad, swing, and some groovier elements too! The set's mostly instrumental, although Jonah sings on a few numbers with that warmly raspy voice of his – and as with most... read more

The first-ever release of a great live date from pianist Oliver Jones – working here with a hip trio that features Reggie Johnson on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums! Jones gets plenty of room to open up in the relaxed format of the performance – often using a strong left hand to set the... read more

A stunner! Philly Joe's Beat is a beautiful bit of modernist hardbop by the drummer. Philly Joe pounds away with his usual clarity and groove, but the real treat is an unexpected appearance by the great Bill Barron, who plays tenor on the session. Barron's tenor is amazingly precise, and filled... read more

A stunner of an album – and one that definitely draws plenty power from the double drummers in the lead! The set's way different than most of Elvin Jones' other work of the time – and is even more hard-hitting than some of the Philly Joe Jones sessions too – and, unusual for... read more

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An unusual package of Quincy Jones albums – featuring variations on two American records, presented here in offbeat German versions of the 60s! First up is Songs For Pussycats, kind of a mix of Quincy Jones' Pussycat album for Mercury with some tracks from other records too – all done... read more

A great bit of 70s electric work from Quincy – and probably his funkiest album ever! Quincy's really stepping out here from the straighter and spacier styles of earlier records – going for more of the dirty grooves he was cutting up for soundtrack albums, and hitting notes that were a... read more

It's not often that Sam Jones gets the chance to record as a leader with a group larger than a trio – but when he does, the results are always great – and this album's no exception! Jones is working here on a date that's easily one of his best ever – a sextet outing that features... read more

A trio of classics from the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra! First up is the initial Presenting album – great music by one of the hippest large American ensembles of the late 60s – almost a US equivalent to the groovy sound of the Clark Boland Big Band over in Europe! Trumpeter Thad... read more

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One of the most ambitious albums ever recorded from Clifford Jordan – a totally righteous little effort that was the first installment in the legendary Dolphy Series on the Strata East label! The set has Jordan working with a larger group than usual – an all-star array of players that... read more

Quite possibly the greatest album ever cut by pianist Duke Jordan – a seminal force in bop, both for his writing and playing – but an artist who rarely ever got the chance to work as a leader! This session's a prime bit of lost Blue Note – with an unusual and edgey lineup that... read more

A trio of Blue Note albums from guitarist Stanley Jordan! First up is Magic Touch – a crucial album for the jazz guitar in the 80s – the debut effort of Stanley Jordan, and a set that exploded with a very fresh sound! Jordan has a really unique way of handling his instrument –... read more

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Sweet sound library funk from Joy Unlimited – an early 70s German combo heard here on their rarest record ever! As with the group's commercial releases, there's a wicked blend of funky jazz and hard-riffing instrumentation – and unlike other records, this one's got an even leaner,... read more

The rare second album from Juju – the avant jazz collective who'd later morph into funk band Oneness Of Juju, but who still sound pretty revolutionary here! There's a bit more focus than before – still energy that's a lot like the best righteous jazz groups coming out of Chicago or St... read more

A sweet Japanese piano trio session from the 70s – named after the ballad "Emily", which features prominently in the lineup – but handled with a depth of sound that goes way past that familiar number! Emiko Kai's got a subtle touch on the keys – one that definitely has... read more

Not an orchestra, but the work of a single individual – yet served up with a sound that's more blistering than most large ensemble! Michel Coffi conceives the record as a "new challenge for the music of the future" – an "interactive collaboration" that heavily mixes... read more

A rare set from pianist Alex Kallao – an obscure player we really only know from a 50s album for RCA – and who sounds equally great here! Kallao was born blind, but has a hell of a fluid touch on the keys – a soulful swing that goes even farther than his RCA session in this rare... read more

Pure genius from tenor saxophonist Richie Kamuca – a magical exercise in tone and balance, played by Richie with that warm and raspy style that we love so much in his work! Kamuca's probably best known for his bigger group work of the 50s, but on a session like this he steps out as a... read more

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Lovely work from Kimiko Kasai – easily one of the best female jazz vocalists on the Japanese scene in the 70s! Kimiko's got a wonderfully deep range – an ability to dip into lower notes when needed, but not in any sort of gimmicky way – just this full-voiced quality that makes... read more

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Japanese drum powerhouse George Kawaguchi leads a very hip band here – one that's filled with quick-thinking players who can really create strongly on the fly – matching George's boundless energy, but bringing plenty of their own elements to light as well! Kawaguchi's drums are back a... read more

An unusual little record – a set that's a bit "fake" in its pedigree, but which still comes across with some wonderfully vivid results! Fred Kaz is a Chicago pianist, but he works here on a set of original compositions based on his readings on Near Eastern cultures – dubbed... read more

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A surprisingly wonderful set from Wynton Kelly – really fluid and swinging, and with a unique approach on half the material! The core group of the set features Kenny Burrell on guitar, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums – but then Jones sits it out on the second side... read more

One of the greatest 60s recordings from the Wyton Kelly Trio – thanks to some wonderful guest work from guitarist Wes Montgomery! Montgomery's working here in a gusty, rootsy style that recalls his best soul jazz sides from the earlier years – and which have a feel that's quite... read more

Proof that the Kenton sound could work in just about any format – as Stan transforms a host of older tunes from his book into a bossa nova groove! The approach is simple, but great – as the rich Kenton tones and colors are infused with some added rhythms laid down by Milt Holland,... read more

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Barney Kessel in a really great style – a mode you won't normally hear on other albums of the time – but which really turns out to be a treat! As you'd guess from the title, the album's got a definite bossa nova influence – one that mixes Barney's sweet guitar lines with bigger... read more

One of the grooviest albums ever recorded by guitarist Barney Kessel – a sweet reworking of Henry Mancini's fabulous music for Breakfast At Tiffanys! The set's got a warm feel and more than a bit of bossa nova inspiration – similar to some of the other Kessel and Shorty Rogers projects... read more

A wonderful wonderful set from Barney Kessel – bossa-inflected jazz, and a wonderful setting for Barney to hit some very groovy lines on electric guitar! The group on the date is part of the strength of the record – with Conte Candoli on trumpet, Emil Richards on vibes, Paul Horn on... read more

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A wicked collaboration between Dutch keyboardists Rob Franken and Jan Huydts – a set that has the pair of them really stretching out on Fender Rhodes, Arp, clavinet, and other keyboards – with only a bit of drums to back them up! Yet although the set's got a really freewheeling sort of... read more

No need to be cautious here – as the album's the sort you can jump into right away – thanks to some wicked grooves from legendary guitarist Calvin Keys! Calvin's had a great revival in recent years, but this album's the stuff that first put him on the map – a brilliant early date... read more

Lots of long tracks played with plenty of fire – just the kind of record to remind us again that David Kikoski's a hell of a pianist, especially in a setting like this! The album follows the format of the other excellent live dates on the Smalls label – lots of room for the artist to... read more

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Smoking tenor from one of the greatest reedmen of all time – and one of the few who could easily bridge the worlds of jazz, soul, and R&B! The set's one of King's earliest albums – recorded back in 1959, and really given a tight Atlantic Records focus that takes the music way past... read more

A great little live set from King Curtis – cut in his local turf of Harlem, with a very loose sort of feel and nice gritty groove – which lets both King and his combo get even freer and funkier than usual! There's an edge here you don't usually get on the studio work from Curtis –... read more

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Later genius from Rahsaan Roland Kirk – a record of wonderful depth and soul, and a session that moves back to the straighter jazz focus of some of his work from the Mercury years – yet still keeps all the personality and charm of the best Atlantic sides! Roland's playing in a warm... read more

A beautiful late chapter in the jazz journey of Rahsaan Roland Kirk – and an album of subtle genius that's really opened up to us over the years! The setting here isn't as "hit you over the head" as on some of Kirk's Atlantic Records – because at one level, the tunes are... read more

One of the hippest albums that Rahsaan Roland Kirk ever recorded – a perfect realization of his "black classical music" ethos, and a pan-generational jazz album that's all held together by one unique musical vision! Side one features the extended suite "The Seeker", which... read more

A stone classic from Roland Kirk – and a record that beautifully balances his modern ideas and playful energy – as you might guess from the title! While posing as the "whistleman", Roland's also pushing the boundaries of jazz a few steps forward too – not just in modern... read more

Tremendous work from this young group – a set that embraces a range of modern jazz traditions, then pushes them forward strongly to the next generation! The lineup here features some of the sharpest talents of the current Windy City underground – James Falzone on clarinet, Jason... read more

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Killer piano from Ronnie Kole – a set with loads of cool soul jazz touches throughout! The core of the album's based around Ronnie's trio – with some excellent hard-handed work from Kole that's right up there with Ray Bryant in the 60s – but it also features great arrangements... read more

The greatest session ever recorded by pianist Ronnie Kole – recorded for the Louisiana label Paula, but with all the feel of a Chess/Cadet session from the late 60s! All of this is no surprise, since Ronnie himself was an ex-Chicagoan, living in New Orleans – and the album's... read more

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One of THE key records in the Konitz school – a full length Prestige album that brings together important material from sessions originally issued on 10" LPs! The lineup here is virtually the Konitz school – with shifting lineups that include Billy Bauer on guitar, Lenny Tristano... read more

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With Bill Frisell.... read more