Jazz -- In Stock -- LPs  

Lee's sidemen on this LP are Martial Solal, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette. Titles include "Just Friends", "Green Dolphin Street", "Hymn", "Free blues", and "Satori".... read more

A nice little session from Lee Konitz -- simple, without many tricks, and a great 70s extension of the sound of his 50s work! The group's a quartet with Sal Mosca on piano -- and on a number of tracks, the pair of them play together alone, Lee blowing introspectively, and Sal working in a post-Tris... read more

One of our favorite-ever Lee Konitz albums -- a really unique session with a wonderful kind of sound! The record is one that might not please all Konitz purists -- as Lee plays a bit of Varitone sax and flute in addition to his usual acoustic alto. However, the set's got an amazing edge that you... read more

A classic meeting -- the icy alto of Lee Konitz, with the mellifluous sound of the Gerry Mulligan quartet that included Chet Baker, Larry Bunker, and Carson Smith. The material was recorded in 1953 at The Haig in LA -- and tracks include "Broadway", "These Foolish Things",... read more

Kind of a reprise of earlier days -- one that reunites Krupa with Anita O'Day and Roy Eldridge, as the group runs through some material from earlier years. Arrangements are by Quincy Jones, Billy Byers, and Nat Pierce -- and the set actually swings more cleanly than some of Krupa's material from... read more

A nice little 50s album that compiles Gene's work from the early 40s -- his groundbreaking early swing sides, some featuring singer Anita O'Day, others with the great Roy Eldridge on trumpet! Tunes are tight, lively, and feature some killer drum work (natch!) -- and titles include "After You'v... read more

Gene Krupa and Gerry Mulligan -- hardly a pairing that we would have thought of -- but one that works surprisingly well here, and which showcases Mulligan's increasing fascination for larger group settings! The album features Gene on drums with a set of players that include Kai Winding, Urbie... read more

Nice, tight, simple, and swinging! All players are hitting a good later stride here, set in unrestricted small group company on the occasion of the film release of the Benny Goodman story. Verve was able to get the players to go past the stock stuff they did for the film, and recreate some of the... read more

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A highly analogue recording from this cool Scandinavian combo -- a vinyl-only release that's much richer than you might guess from the cold-looking cover and title! As before, Kullrusk are still heavy on electric elements -- lots of amplified alto, tenor, and clarinet work -- but a bit more blown-o... read more

An ultra-hip album from organist Charles Kynard -- one of his earliest outings as a leader for Prestige, and a set that's much more in the Groove Holmes mode than some of his later, funkier sides! The setting here is quite lean -- a trio that features the wonderful Cal Green on guitar -- playing... read more

One of the few albums that drummer Pete LaRoca ever made as a leader -- and a gem through and through! LaRoca had a touch on the drums that was unlike anyone else -- free, but never "out" -- and in a flowing, progressive style that pointed the way towards the sound of jazz in the 70s,... read more

A strong little set from the upstate scene that circled around PM Records in the mid 70s -- one headed up by sax player Pat Labarbera, and which features Gene Perla on bass, Joe Labarbera on drums, and Richie Beirach and Don Thompson on piano. Pat plays tenor, soprano, and flute -- and at times,... read more

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How can we even begin to describe the genius of Lambert Hendricks and Ross? The group was a jazz vocal supergroup that merged three talents that had already made a big name in the bebop vocalese field -- Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, and the lovely Annie Ross -- and the project was an attempt to... read more

One of the first albums ever by this legendary jazz vocal group! LHR do the incredible -- and create a set of vocal renditions of standards by the Basie band, putting jazzy lyrics in to replace the instrumental solos, but keeping the same vibe as the original tracks. The sound and approach is... read more

A rare French session from American reedman Byard Lancaster -- and easily one of his funkiest albums ever! The set's got a hip mix of avant jazz and groovier rhythms -- bits of guitar and keyboards alongside sharper reeds and percussion -- all in a way that's a bit like some of the funky French... read more

A great little collection of hip 70s soul jazz tunes -- recorded for the Mainstream level by a few different groups, but all united with a spirit of freedom and soulful exploration. Titles include "Dark Mood" by a group with Bobby Hutcherson, Harold Land, Mtume, and Buster Williams; ... read more

Despite the stupid name (or perhaps because of it), this is one of the great lost sessions of the 60s! Drummer Pete LaRoca originally cut this set for the tiny Douglas label, and the session's an amazing bit of modernist jazz that features a rare non-Sun Ra appearance by tenorist John Gilmore. ... read more

A standout set from keyboardist Neil Larsen -- a record that crossed over big back in the 70s, and which still sounds pretty darn great in the 21st Century! Larsen's keys here are kind of a more mainstream take on territory Bob James was exploring a few years before -- arguably hipper at this... read more

A spacious mid 70s set from Yusef Lateef -- with some numbers showing his more soaringly spiritual bent -- and others hewing towards a more bluesy or loosely funky vein. Tracked live in San Francisco, some numbers were later augmented with overdubbed strings and vocals -- there's some nicely... read more

Haunting set of stripped down tracks by the brilliant Yusef Lateef, who not only plays his usual assortment of reeds here -- tenor, alto, flute, and oboe -- but also lays down a bit of theremin! He's accompanied by Hugh Lawson on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Roy Brooks on drums -- and the... read more

A strange bit of funk from Yusef Lateef! The record was recorded late in the CTI electric years -- and it's got Yusef fronting a funky jazz group on 5 tracks that have a decidely R&B-ish fusion twist. Dave Matthews -- of James Brown funky fame -- arranged the whole album, and the record is... read more

One of our favorite Atlantic albums by the great Yusef Lateef -- an incredible session that has him dipping back into his earlier exotic roots, yet still hitting the sweeter soulful groove of some of his other Atlantic sides! The sound is tremendous -- wonderfully righteous, at a level that really... read more

An obscure moment in Yusef Lateef's career -- and a great one too! The material on this set was recorded in 1960 for Vee Jay Records, but wasn't issued until the mid 70s -- and even then, only briefly, on a short-lived pressing that soon went out of print. That status doesn't stop the music from... read more

One of the best of Yusef's Atlantic recordings, and one that offers a mix of his 2 different sides -- his older spiritualist one, and his newer funkier one. Includes the tight groover "Live Humble", with nice conga work by Ray Barretto, plus the extended "Chandra" and "A... read more

The title says it all -- as Yusef Lateef works here in that wonderful mixture of hardbop, soul jazz, and Eastern stylings that he brought to all of his best early sessions as a leader! Lateef himself is playing tenor, flute, and oboe -- which he uses to craft these eerie snakecharmer lines that... read more

A wonderful album that's as swinging as it is exotic! The record really picks up the groove from Lateef's earlier sides for Savoy -- and features a mixture of hardbop and more "Eastern" themed musical images, all extremely compelling, and a wonderful look at a jazz underground that... read more

One of the greatest Yusef Lateef albums on Atlantic Records -- and that's saying a lot, given the high level of quality he was hitting at the label! The album's a perfect blend of the newly-funky Lateef style with some hipper, more sophisticated touches -- a mode that hints at his bigger-concept... read more

Yusef Lateef explores a number of different world music rhythms on a mix of woodwind instruments that includes tenor, basoon, flute, oboe, and shanas. He's joined here by the great Richard Williams on trumpet, whose playing with Lateef is always excellent. The rest of the group's made up of some... read more

"Jazz For Thinkers" -- a great title for this mind-expanding set of tunes from Yusef Lateef, recording here from the Detroit underground of the late 50s, with a really cosmic and exotic approach to his work! The album's one of the best of Lateef's sides for Savoy -- a blend of hardbop... read more

A groundbreaking set from Yusef Lateef -- one that mixes together a number of different soul jazz styles! In a way, Atlantic records tried to handle Yusef Lateef in the same way they did Roland Kirk -- by creating recordings that either let him express himself strongly as an arch-modernist, or... read more

A rare treasure from Yusef Lateef -- one of his hardest to find albums, recorded right around the same time as his magical work for Savoy! The record has Lateef playing in his local Detroit area -- working with Terry Pollard on piano, William Austin on bass, and Frank Gant on a host of percussion... read more

A wonderful batch of Latin Jazz grooves -- from a group who more than deserved the right to call themselves the Latin Jazz Quintet! The core sound features vibes and piano jamming away nicely, really hitting some great modal rhythms -- but this album's also got an added bonus in the presence of... read more

A extremely rare album that Eric Dolphy recorded with the Latin Jazz Quintet -- a rare Latin-based side of Dolphy's career, and a set that's a bit different than the Prestige album by the same pairing! This set features a slightly different lineup of the LJQ -- one that includes Louie Ramirez on... read more

An insanely great record -- filled with lots of odd twists and turns, and done in a really unusual way! The session is an obscure one that features Pharoah Sanders joining the tight combo, who are working here with a very different sound than usual! Earlier Latin Jazz Quintet albums have the... read more

An insanely great record -- filled with lots of odd twists and turns, and done in a really unusual way! The session is an obscure one that features Pharoah Sanders joining the tight combo, who are working here with a very different sound than usual! Earlier Latin Jazz Quintet albums have the... read more

We've never actually been sure if it's Pharoah playing on this one, since the cover and notes are a bit sketchy on dates -- but whatever the case, the sound is fantastic, and this is an excellent Latin album with some tight electric-sounding grooves, and a few funky tracks that are unlike anything... read more

A very nice bit of spacey funky jazz from sax player Azar Lawrence, and one of the great earlier productions by Skip Scarborough, with a feel that's very similar to Gary Bartz's work with Larry Mizell! Azar plays a mix of funk and spiritual soul jazz -- and he's got some great electric backing by... read more

One of Hubert Laws' funkiest records for CTI -- recorded with a full group funky style that's plenty darn great, and a lot harder-hitting than some of Hubert's more laidback sessions for the label! Arrangements are by Bob James and Laws -- working here with a large batch of players who come... read more

A landmark record -- the first album that flutist Hubert Laws cut for CTI, and the beginning of a very important partnership with the label! The record is a sublime exploration of sound and space -- very different than Laws' 60s Latin sides for Atlantic, and handled in a baroque mode that has his... read more

Excellent moody work from one of the 70s most groundbreaking flute players! Laws was not only richly talented, but he was also capable of a large number of styles -- and this double-length set for CTI has him moving past the electric funky jazz that was the usual manner of the label. The set... read more

Although Hubert Laws went on to cut some smooth fusion-y records in later years, this early Atlantic album finds him playing in a great soul jazz vein, laying down nice slightly-funky flute solos with a very good groove. The group on the record includes a young Chick (then called "Armando"... read more

One of the most sublime Hubert Laws albums for CTI -- featuring his soulful flute work over larger arrangements by Don Sebesky that are a great mix of warmer orchestrations, with touches of electric piano by Bob James that give the set a wonderfully moody quality. There's none of the gimmicky... read more

Nothing too silent here, as the set's filled with the kind of soulful fusion grooves we'd expect from Hubert Laws in the 70s! The album's a real standout in his Columbia catalog -- a perfectly balanced set that features plenty of great work from Hubert on flute, amidst arrangements that also have... read more

Flute, strings, and soul -- a wonderful counterpart to some of Hubert Laws' funkier albums of the time -- and a record cut with some tremendous backings! The core group features Hubert on assorted flutes, Gary Burton on vibes, Chick Corea on piano, and Bernard Purdie on drums -- all augmented by... read more

A great little set of soulful fusion -- played by one of the artists who helped invent the genre! Ronnie's mixing soul and jazz easily here -- hitting a sweet groove that's a bit more electric than ever, but which still has all the warmth and depth of his 70s work. A few tracks feature Ronnie... read more

An excellent batch of smooth jazz funk -- with production by Wayne Henderson in that tight At-Home Productions mode, snapping rhythms underneath the grooves to give them enough of a kick to still be funky, and some nice smooth finishes on the top to give the set a bit of class! Ronnie's solos are... read more

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The classic meeting of the great French arranger/pianist with American jazz players like Miles Davis, Ben Webster, Milt Hinton, Donald Byrd, Hank Jones, and others. The tracks are a beautiful strident blend of Legrand's best arranging styles, and they show his keen talent for letting the soloist... read more

A really wonderful album from Michel Legrand -- one of his few jazz efforts to really capture the same dynamic charm of his soundtracks! The album was recorded live -- with a mixed group of electric and acoustic players that includes Joe Beck, Randy Brecker, Ron Carter, Phil Woods, and Ron Carter -... read more

One of a few key efforts done by Michel Legrand for RCA in the 70s -- sessions that stand out as some of his best jazz work from the decade, and which present Legrand in unfettered brilliance, both as a player and arranger! This live date still has the original compositions and sense of... read more

You try playing a hollow-body with hands of fire, my friend -- and you'll have even greater appreciation of the genius of O'Donel Levy! Jokes aside, though, the album's a great one -- and brings together 2 of Levy's best albums for the Groove Merchant label! Simba may be the best album ever by... read more

One of John Lewis' non-MJQ albums of third stream jazz for Atlantic. This side features Lewis working with Gunter Schuller, showcasing Lewis and Schuller's keen ambition to move jazz into the sophisticated world of the concert hall. Although not a wildly successful endeavor the record has some... read more

Luv N Haight has done it again! This totally cool reissue of a very very lost funky LP is a real monster, and another reissue feather in the cap of the great Luv N Haight catalog. The hot and funky Johnny Lewis Quartet recorded this massive slab of jazz in the early 70's, when the group's lineup... read more

A collection of Ramsey's work on Cadet/Argo that focuses mostly on the groovy uptempo tracks from the mid 60s -- when Lewis had cracked the pop instrumental charts with soulful versions of bigger hits. Titles include "The In Crowd", "Function At The Junction", "Soul... read more

A set of classic Ramsey Lewis recordings with his trio of Eldee Young and Redd Holt, all of which were recorded during the 60s for Argo/Chess, but not released until this set in 1972. The tracks all came from the same live set that spawned the group's hit single version of "Hang On... read more

An overlooked gem from Ramsey's 70s years at Columbia -- a record that has him grooving over larger arrangements, sweeping along in a great blend of soul and class that makes for some really great numbers! Side one of the album features Ramsey playing keyboards on the extended "Legacy"... read more

A great little album of mid 70s funk from Ramsey Lewis -- very much in the mode of his Earth, Wind, & Fire related work -- no surprise, since the album's dedicated to Charles Stepney, whose influence was such a key part of the sound of the group, and of some of Ramsey's other Kalimba-produced... read more

One of Ramsey Lewis' best albums of the 60s -- a killer Cadet record that stands right up there with classics like Maiden Voyage and Mother Nature's Son! As on those records, arrangements here are mostly by Charles Stepney, who comes up with that righteous blend of soul, strings, and jazz that... read more

A sweet late 70s groover from Ramsey -- not as all-out electric as some of his earlier work for Columbia, but done with some nice arrangements that have a full and soulful feel! There's a bit of Kalimba/Earth Wind & Fire soul to the mix -- and some tracks have production by James Mack and... read more

The date for this is 1974, but we're pretty sure the tracks are compiled from some of Ramsey's 60's sessions -- especially because half of them are with the Young/Holt rhythm combo, and the other half are with Cleveland Eaton and Maurice White. Titles include "Easy Does It", "Solid... read more

A common record, but a fantastic one! Ramsey Lewis collaborates here with Earth, Wind, & Fire -- the group headed by Maurice White, the drummer of his second trio -- and the result is a beautiful set of funky electric piano tracks that match Ramsey's heavy solo style with the group's tight... read more

One of the hardest-hitting electric sets ever cut by Ramsey Lewis -- a live performance from the start of the 70s, done with a really gritty groove! Ramsey's on both Fender Rhodes and acoustic piano -- the former of which is played with even more forces than on his Cadet studio recordings -- heard... read more

The follow-up to Ramsey's famous Sounds of Christmas album -- and even better than the first! The record features Ramsey's trio with Eldee Young, plus guest work by Cleveland Eaton on bass and a young Steve McCall on drums! Plus, a number of tracks feature larger backing by a jazz group arranged... read more

Sublime electric work from Ramsey Lewis! Ramsey's working here with his hip 70s group that included Morris Jennings and Cleveland Eaton, and he's playing some fantastic electric piano -- a blend of funky grooves and soulful spiritualism, stripped down into a sound that's one of his leanest and... read more

Genius jazzy soul from Webster Lewis -- one of his amazing late 70s sets for Epic Records! By this point in his career, Lewis had honed his keyboard craft to perfection -- and on albums like this one, he laid down some excellent smooth soulful fusion that soared in a righteous way that few other... read more

The earliest work we've ever heard from keyboardist Webster Lewis -- and a set that's quite different than his late 70s groovers for Columbia Records! The music here is equal parts jazz, soul, and funk -- spun out of over a set of long tracks recorded in Oslo at the start of the 70s -- and done in... read more

With Terumasa Hino on trumpet, John Scofield on guitar, Ron McClure on bass, and Adam Nussbaum on drums -- and titles include "Reunion", "Moontide", "Move On Some", "Autumn In New York", "If They Only Knew", and "Capitstrano".... read more

Reissue of a rare Teddy Charles album that also featured Booker Little and Booker Ervin. The album features the inventive vibist caught live in New York at a Metronome sponsored gig featuring Mingus alums Mal Waldron, Booker Ervin and Booker Little. The set includes one expansive Charles original,... read more

A nice live side from Lloyd, originally recorded live in Oslo during a European tour during the mid 60s, but not issued until he reached the peak of his popularity in the early 70s, in an effort to capitalize on the success of the Forest Flower set. The group features Keith Jarrett, Cecil McBee,... read more

Key work by one of the most unique voices in 60s mainstream jazz -- reedman Charles Lloyd, heard here on a set that's filled with amazing sounds, tones, and timings! The group here features Gabor Szabo on guitar -- Lloyd's previous partner from the Chico Hamilton combo -- plus Ron Carter on bass,... read more

With Lloyd on tenor and flute, Keith Jarrett on piano, Ron McClure on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums. Titles include "Forest Flower 69", "Pre-Dawn", "Sombrero Sam", and "Voice In The Night".... read more

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One of Jeff Lorber's mid 80s amalgams of tight fusiony keyboard grooves and r&b -- probably his most r&b oriented albums ever -- with soulful vocals on most tracks and a tight focus on a crisp groove! Lorber's synths and programming provide the fusiony foil for the soulful vocals of Karyn... read more

Nothing too soft here -- as this classic from the Jeff Lorber group of the late 70s is a sweet fusion set with lots of soulful edges, but never a watered-down approach! The groove's much different than you'd expect from Lorber's later work -- and the album's got lots of nice edges in the mix, even... read more

The Jeff Lorber group makes a move into R&B with a few tracks on this set -- adding in vocals to their core sweet fusion approach, but in a style that totally makes sense! Lorber's always had a great way with a soulful tune -- working with both electric and acoustic keys in a style that's... read more

A landmark set of fusion from Jeff Lorber -- the major label debut of his group, and the virtual blueprint for a sound that many would try to copy over the years, but never quite match! The style's almost a summation of the CTI/Kudu approaches of the mid 70s -- with Lorber setting down a sweet... read more

A real classic from Jeff Lorber -- the kind of record that crossed-over immediately, and had a huge influence on so many different scenes! The style is smooth sweet fusion -- of a sort that Lorber virtually helped invent, and so many others helped to ruin in later years -- but here, things are... read more

Crackling piano trio work from LTC -- a groovy Italian combo who burn things up nicely with this club jazz set for the Ricky Tick label! There's a tightness here that takes us back to some of the best European piano sets of the 60s -- influences from soul jazz, modal jazz, and a bit of bossa --... read more

Lovely bossa work from Argentine guitarist Agustin Pereyra Lucena -- one of his first records, done in a style that's right up there with the best of Brazil in the 60s! Acoustic guitar is the main instrumentation on the set -- supported by light percussion, warm basslines, and some occasional... read more

Do yourself a favor, and buy this album -- you won't be disappointed! The record is a gem all the way through -- a really unique mixture of LA soul jazz and African rhythms, with a sound that's almost like Hugh Masekela sitting in with the Jazz Crusaders! Of course, there's a lot of Jazz... read more

Do yourself a favor, and splurge on this album -- you won't be disappointed! The record is a gem all the way through -- a really unique mixture of LA soul jazz and African rhythms, with a sound that's almost like Hugh Masekela sitting in with the Jazz Crusaders! Of course, there's a lot of Jazz... read more

A later Muse date with legend John Patton on organ, Miles' drummer Al Foster diggin' in with the legendary George Duvivier on bass, and harp and synthesizer thrown in for added layers of sound. Johnny's signature songs the "Village Caller" and the mellow burner "Lela" are cast... read more

A great date from the revival years of Johnny Lytle -- his stretch for Muse Records at the end of the 70s, and a bit of a return to his soul jazz roots of the 60s! The tracks here are a bit longer than before, but they've got a similar sort of energy -- a nice rhythmic undercurrent that comes from... read more

A great date from the revival years of Johnny Lytle -- his stretch for Muse Records at the end of the 70s, and a bit of a return to his soul jazz roots of the 60s! The tracks here are a bit longer than before, but they've got a similar sort of energy -- a nice rhythmic undercurrent that comes from... read more

Late 60's issue of the album previously released as The Village Caller, recorded in the early part of the decade. The set's funky vibes classic -- and a landmark side from Detroit vibist Johnny Lytle! The set's one of the purest examples of Johnny's great early groove -- a tightly stepping... read more

One of the few later Johnny Lytle LPs to maintain his classic vibes/organ/congas sound of his earlier years -- in this case recorded with David Braham on organ and Sammy Figueroa on congas. As the title might imply, the LP features a remake of Lytle's classic "Happy Ground". Other... read more

The cover bills this one as "the in sound of vibes and organ" -- and it's totally right, because you can't get more "in" than the grooves Johnny lays down on the set! The tunes are short, tight, and very soulful -- a wonderful blend of vibes, Hammond organ, and conga -- played... read more

One of Johnny Lytle's great recordings for the Tuba label, and probably one of the albums that shows his funky jazz vibes style at its best! The whole thing is very nicely stripped down - and the focus of the album is on down-and-dirty groovers, perfect for the jazzy stepper set that still digs... read more

A groovy little jazz mass -- written by Galt MacDermot in collaboration with lyricist William Dumaresq -- and done in a post-Hair style that's got plenty of subtle funky touches underneath the vocals! The work follows in the mode of similar albums from the time by David Axelrod, Howard Roberts,... read more

Although Teo Macero is probably best known as Columbia's jazz producer during their successful early 60s run with Miles, he's also quite a composer in his own right, as you'll hear on this striking set of sides from the late 50s! Macero splits the album with Bob Prince -- and each of these lesser-k... read more

A deeply jazzy album from Brazil -- one of the few rare records cut by the combo of Edison Machado, one of Brazil's greatest drummers of the 60s! The set has a sound that's quite different from Machado's earlier work -- a fusion of post-bossa and post-Coltrane styles that comes off with an... read more

A seminal bit of Latin jazz from the early 50s -- Machito's first "Afro Cuban Jazz Suite", written by Chico O'Farrill, and packaged here in the original 10" LP on Mercury, complete with the David Stone Martin cover! The set features a stunning mix of jazz and Latin playing, in a... read more

Madlib invades Blue Note! He gets free reign of the catalog for this mix of sampler genius and live band interpretations, too, as/with Ahmad Miller, Yesterdays New Quintet, Malcolm Catto, Medaphoar, and others from the Stones Throw camp. This one's truly a conceptual triumph, if there ever was... read more

There's a pretty big space between Nothingness & Eternity -- but Mahavishnu Orchestra manage to fill most of it up with their hard-jamming approach! The style here is a bit different than the group's initial albums -- as the record's a live one, and features some very long tracks that stretch... read more

An early album by vibist Mike Mainieri -- who later went on to do a lot of trippier albums in the late 60s. This one's a very nice quartet side with a straight feel, and was recorded for Chess/Argo in the early 60s, at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in New Jersey. The record is a lively mix of piano... read more

Trio side with Bob Cranshaw and Mickey Roker. Soul jazz piano stuff, with a few nice originals like "Cracklin" and "Down the Line".... read more

A pretty nice album from Mance -- recorded during his funky years at Atlantic, recorded at the Village Gate in 1969, with a small group that includes Wilbur Little on bass and Rudy Collins on drums, plus guest flute and tenor from David Newman on 2 tracks. All tracks are long -- and the 4 titles... read more

Oh for the mellow genius of Henry Mancini! The album's a sublime testament to Mancini's talent for understatement -- and features tunes that move along quietly, smoothly, and with a wonderful blend of piano, strings, and slight chorus vocals -- to to mention some great flugelhorn solos from Doc... read more