Jazz -- Recently Added  

Revolutionary work from one of the most important talents you never heard of -- 2 jazz/world classics from the amazing Ahmed Abdul-Malik! The CD begins with The Music Of Ahmed Abdul Malik from 1961 -- a record that has the bassist working in a very sophisticated cross-cultural mode -- pulling... read more

Amazing stuff from Ahmed Abdul-Malik -- one of the early 60s most enigmatic jazz talents! Malik was Thelonious Monk's bassist for a few years, but by the time of this record, he was working in a very sophisticated cross-cultural mode -- pulling together many different strands of jazz and Eastern... read more

Tremendous work from saxophonist Pepper Adams -- quite possibly one of his most hard-blowing sets on record! The album's a live date, recorded at the legendary Five Spot -- and the group here is a swinging one with plenty of soul jazz touches -- a combo that includes a young Bobby Timmons on piano... read more

One of the greatest Cannonball Adderley albums from the Riverside years -- a completely smoking live date recorded in San Francisco, often with long tracks that really let the group open up and do their thing! The lineup here is that classic one that first grabbed attention -- the group with... read more

A hardbop classic from Cannonball Adderley -- and one of his harder to find albums from the Riverside days! The set has Cannon playing without his usual group, in the context of an all-star batch of players that includes Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb -- who he worked with in his time... read more

One of Cannonball Adderley's late funky sessions for Fantasy -- and a record that still features some mighty heavy production from David Axelrod! The album's got that core groove that Axe and Cannon first crafted together at Capitol in the 60s -- but the sound here has some definite 70s touches... read more

Sweet funky 70s work from Cannonball Adderley -- a record that has him revisiting older tunes from his early soul jazz years -- but in ways that give them a whole new electric vibe overall! The album's actually Cannonball's last full studio set, but it's also one of his greatest too -- a very hip... read more

One of the coolest, baddest, funkiest albums Cannonball Adderley ever recorded -- a massive suite of tunes based on the signs of the Zodiac, produced to perfection by David Axelrod, and featuring some hip recitations from the mighty Rick Holmes! The double-length set is completely compelling all... read more

One of the all-time great ones by Cannonball! This record captures him in the prime of his early soul jazz fame -- working with an unbelievably heavy quintet that featured Bobby Timmons on piano (with Barry Harris sitting in on a few tracks), Sam Jones on bass, Louis Hayes on drums, and brother... read more

Toshiko Akioshi makes a trip back to the Japanese jazz scene in the early 60s -- for this great little session that has her meeting up with "old pals" from previous years -- including Sadao Watanabe on alto sax, Akira Miyazawa on tenor, and Hideo Shiraki on drums! The reunion is a really... read more

The Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band plays tribute to their experiences on the European scene -- with a well-written set of tracks recorded in big band format. Toshiko takes the lead on "Remembering Bud", a great tune dedicated to the pianist who first inspired her style -- and the... read more

A second great performance from the Akioshi/Tabackin Big Band's performance at Newport in 1977 -- and one we like even more than the first! The sound here is totally great -- hard, focused, and flowing with a magical energy that made this group one of the few large jazz bands to flourish strongly... read more

A very different album than usual from Jan Akkerman -- but in a really nice way! The album's not nearly as guitar-heavy and rock-leaning as some of Jan's other sets from the 70s -- and has a bubbling sort of soul-based finish, one that's arranged by Akkerman with some help from Mike Gibbs -- and... read more

A long-overdue session of ballads from modern tenor giant Eric Alexander -- a player we've always loved for his soaring, leaping lines on soul jazz sets -- but who also has just the right tone to carry off an album of mellow tunes and ballads! Alexander's tone reminds us a lot of the Sonny Rollins... read more

Pure brilliance from tenor giant Eric Alexander -- one of the few modern players we'd put on a par with our favorites from older years! Alexander's got a depth of tone and sense of poise that's simply wonderful on the set -- one that's never staid, but which continues to grow beautifully over the... read more

Live Monty Alexander set from the mid 70s, featuring his groovy group with Ernest Ranglin on guitar, Eberhard Weber on bass, and Kenny Clare on drums. The bass playing's especially good, and there's lots of nice round funky moments in some of the best tracks. Titles include "Feel Like Making... read more

The second album by this excellent all-female San Francisco jazz combo -- a live date that's even more cooking than their debut! As before, there's a sweetly breezy style to the record -- that hip SF sound of the 70s -- with echoes of Braziliana and soul amidst the group's jazzier leanings -- all... read more

One of the few great Christmas jazz albums recorded in recent years -- one with a classic sound that takes us back to 60s holiday jazz from Blue Note and Prestige! Harry Allen's working here in a no-nonsense mode with organ, guitar, and drums backing him up -- a lean and clean sound that really... read more

Vintage piano work from some boogie woogie giants -- most of it cut before there was even a Delmark Records to issue the material! A good deal of these sides were cut in Chicago in 1939 -- a point when older styles of piano were coalescing into the tightly vamping, highly rhythmic mode that was... read more

A soul jazz classic from Gene Ammons -- the kind of session that easy made him "boss" on tenor -- with a tone and conception that few other players could touch! The set is done in a style that's laidback, but never too loose -- bouncing along in that "with conga" style of... read more

Gene Ammons gets the Cannonball Adderley treatment -- as he blows funky solos over an album arranged and conducted by David Axelrod! Brasswind has a larger, fuller funky sound than some of his earlier work for Prestige -- and it works very well! The overall sound's a bit smoother, but Axelrod's... read more

2 lesser-known Gene Ammons albums for Prestige -- back to back on one CD! First up is Got My Own, a more laidback set than usual from Ammons' early 70s stretch on Prestige -- but a record that nicely gets back to that big-toned tenor sound he used often on ballads from earlier years! The combo... read more

A more laidback set than usual from Ammons' early 70s stretch on Prestige -- but a record that nicely gets back to that big-toned tenor sound he used often on ballads from earlier years! The combo mixes both electric piano and organ -- the former from Hank Jones, the latter from Ernie Hayes -- and... read more

Although late in the Prestige jazz funk years, and not in the small combo mode of some of Ammons' best early 70s sides, this is still an excellent batch of tracks -- thanks to hip arrangements from Bill (William S?) Fisher! The format's almost in a Kudu/CTI mode, as larger arrangements envelope... read more

A nice little album -- featuring some of the sides that Gene Ammons cut "off contract" for Chess/Argo during the early 60s, and ones that feature him paired with Sonny Stitt, his longtime partner in legendary tenor battles from the 50s. The two horns aren't really locked in combat here,... read more

Fred Anderson celebrates his birthday in the company of another avant tenor talent -- reedman Kidd Jordan, who joins Anderson on the album's extended title improvisation -- which is referred to as an update of the Dexter Gordon/Wardell Gray "Chase" battle of the late 40s! As you'd expect... read more

Fred Anderson celebrates his birthday in the company of another avant tenor talent -- reedman Kidd Jordan, who joins Anderson on the album's extended title improvisation -- which is referred to as an update of the Dexter Gordon/Wardell Gray "Chase" battle of the late 40s! As you'd expect... read more

Probably the greatest album ever by the Art Ensemble of Chicago -- and also one of their rarest! The album was cut for Pathe Marconi in Paris in 1970, and was the soundtrack to a film that was as obscure as the album. The group's never been finer -- and plays with a creative tightness that you'll... read more

Probably the greatest album ever by the Art Ensemble of Chicago -- and also one of their rarest! The album was cut for Pathe Marconi in Paris in 1970, and was the soundtrack to a film that was as obscure as the album. The group's never been finer -- and plays with a creative tightness that you'll... read more

The long unseen film Les Stances A Sophie -- the reason for the Art Ensemble Of Chicago's avant garde classic soundtrack that's one of our favorite albums of all time -- and a worthwhile film that's been lost for nearly 40 years! Les Stances A Sophie is kind of a post French New Wave era film with... read more

A seminal bit of funky Afrojazz from the DC scene of the 70s! The album features work by percussionist Okyerema Asante, and also includes sax work by Plunky Nakabinde -- best known as the leader of the group Oneness Of Juju. Plunky's influence can really be felt strongly on the set -- and the... read more

One of the grooviest records ever -- a sublime blend of African percussion, soulful orchestrations, and Dorothy Ashby's amazing electric harp! By the time of this landmark album, Dorothy had been knocking around the jazz world for a number of years, but it wasn't until she hooked up with Richard... read more

A Brian Auger double-header -- two great albums back to back in a single set! First up is Definitely What -- Brian Auger's first album away from singer Julie Driscoll -- and a landmark batch of funky organ work that made big waves in both the rock and jazz worlds at the time! Auger's really... read more

A beautiful set from the Canadian scene of the 60s -- proof that there were plenty of fresh ideas in jazz up north, if you knew where to look! The group's led by Nick Ayoub on tenor -- blowing with a bold sort of imagination, undercut by this lyrical sensibility that really grabs us -- kind of a... read more

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Searing live work from Gato Barbieri -- a brilliant little album that follows on the spirit of his other Latin America sessions for Impulse! The format here is similar to those studio outings -- an organic blend of percussion, keyboards, and sax -- all bubbling together in a highly rhythmic mode... read more

Amazing work from Gato Barbieri's legendary exploration of Latin American sounds for Impulse Records -- a set that's heavy on Cuban influences, thanks to arrangements from the mighty Chico O'Farrill! The sound is sublime -- a bit fuller than some of Gato's other albums in the run, but never with... read more

Sublime 70s work from Kenny Barron -- a record that really has him stretching out strongly from his roots in the 60s, and sounding almost even more inventive than on some of his later material as well! Kenny's playing a fair bit of keyboards on the set -- showing a wonderful sensitivity for... read more

Early soul jazz brilliance from a young Gary Bartz -- music that pre-dates his Ntu Troup, and his work with Larry Mizell! Libra is fantastic early work from Gary -- and probably his rarest record ever! The album was cut at a time when the young Bartz was first coming to prominence in the hip... read more

A key early pairing of saxophonist Gary Bartz and producer Larry Mizell -- working here together before their more famous collaboration on Capitol Records, in a sound that's even more freewheeling and open-ended! Bartz still has a bit of an edge in his horn here -- the style laid down heavily on... read more

A landmark set of recordings -- both of Gary Bartz's Harlem Bush Music albums, back to back on one CD! After a few years as a modern-tinged soul jazz saxophonist, Bartz broke strongly into the 70s with this pair of sessions -- working in a mode that brought together rhythmic percussion, funky bass... read more

A rare 1970 set from Italian tenorist Gianni Basso -- a set that's easily one of the greatest examples of his talents we've ever heard! Basso's tone on tenor is amazing -- blown with a sense of freedom that's breathtaking, with odd phrasings and voicings that are extremely personal -- almost in... read more

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A lost classic of the spiritual soulful Detroit/Tribe jazz scene! Initially issued on the Gem Eye label in 1974, in a pressing of only 1000, the record's done nothing but increase in legend since -- and for good reason too! The groove picks up in the same domain as the better Art Ensemble Of... read more

A lost classic of the spiritual soulful Detroit/Tribe jazz scene! Initially issued on the Gem Eye label in 1974, in a pressing of only 1000, the record's done nothing but increase in legend since -- and for good reason too! The groove picks up in the same domain as the better Art Ensemble Of... read more

A great early CTI session by George Benson, and one of the most stripped-down, straight-ahead funky records he did for the label! There's a version of "So What" on here that completely cuts down the version that Ronnie Jordan released a few years ago, with a nice funky groove and a good... read more

A sweet 70s collection of late 60s work from George Benson -- tracks recorded in 1968 for Verve, originally from the albums Giblet Gravy and Goodies! The set list here really does a great job of picking out the best numbers -- the kind of clean, lean tunes that were pushing Benson from his soul... read more

Sweet 70s funk from George Benson -- an album that's a bit smoother than some of his earlier work, but still free from the commercial polish of his later hits! Maestro David Matthews is at the helm for this session -- and most numbers have a full backing from players who include some of the best... read more

A wonderfully wicked album -- one that sold so many copies that it's sometimes hard to remember how great it is! George takes on all of Abbey Road -- or just about all of it -- as he runs through some of the most beautiful tracks The Beatles ever wrote, like "Golden Slumbers", "I... read more

Old Idea, maybe, but a fresh, engrossing and straight up excellent set of modern jazz with an ear for classic avant garde -- coronet player Josh Berman's debut as a leader! We're not sure if Berman has shown admirable patience and restraint in waiting until he felt ready to get put out marquee... read more

A killer 2-in-1 CD -- featuring two rare Capitol albums from Elmer Bernstein! Staccato is a great lost crime jazz soundtrack -- penned by Elmer Bernstein in the style of some of his best work from the 50s, with a really jazzy feel throughout! There's a real Man With The Golden Arm feel here -- as... read more

Nice set of moody piano trio tracks recorded by Walter Bishop Jr. during the same era that he made his LPs for the Black Jazz label. He's backed here by the excellent rhythm section of Sam Jones and Billy Hart, and the three of them play with a nice mellow groove throughout. The title cut's a... read more

2 incredible albums from The Blackbyrds -- back to back on a single CD! First up is the self-titled Blackbyrds record -- a funky jazz treasure, and the band's landmark first album! The Blackbyrds were a legendary 70s combo that were discovered by Donald Byrd while he was teaching at Howard... read more

Cindy Blackman's looking a bit foxy on the cover, but her sound here is solidly soulful -- a forceful batch of tunes that really match the best energy of the Muse Records soulbop scene of the early 90s! There's a nice blend of modern ideas and straight jazz energy here -- sounds that grow strongly... read more

Cindy Blackman's one of those players who always surprises us with her music -- coming across with a lot more to offer than just her unique role as a girl drummer in jazz -- sounds so bold, we instantly forget her gender and pretty image on the cover, and always just let ourselves get swept away by... read more

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One of Art Blakey's first true moments of genius! This transitional version of the Jazz Messengers included two parts -- Lee Morgan and Bobby Timmons -- of the holy Morgan/Shorter/Timmons trilogy, and it's also got the added bonus of Benny Golson on tenor, who was at the height of his power at... read more

A beautiful Art Blakey album from the early 70s, and one that's got the same sort of electric soul jazz vibe as his great Buhania record! Art's playing here with a great set of musicians that includes Woody Shaw, George Cables, John Hicks, and Ramon Morris -- and the group grooves together in a... read more

80s repackaging of a fantastic live set from 1968 -- recorded after Blakey's classic Blue Note years, with a unique lineup that includes a young Billy Harper on tenor, Ronnie Matthews on piano, and Julian Priester on trombone! Harper alone is worth the price of the LP -- as his firey solos are... read more

A rare live date from Art Blakey -- recorded right around the same time as his Giants Of Jazz concert album for Atlantic in 1972! Like that set, this one features Blakey working with a group of bigger stars than his usual Jazz Messengers -- a compelling assemblage of players that includes... read more

One of the classic first releases by Art Blakey's early version of the Jazz Messengers -- back when the group was co-led by Blakey and Horace Silver. Silver plays piano on here, and the rest of the group includes Clifford Brown, Lou Donaldson, and Curly Russell. The sound is much harder, much... read more

A lost classic from Art Blakey -- quite different from some of his Blue Note work! The album's a very swinging mid 60s session, noteworthy for the presence of John Gilmore, recording here in one of his few appearances away from Sun Ra. Gilmore wails on tenor, and he sounds great next to Lee... read more

An amazing album that has Art Blakey completely reinventing himself for the 70s! Blakey shifts from straight hardbop to kind of a modal soul jazz groove, touched with some of the electric playing of the younger jazz generation, but not enough to qualify as fusion or funk. Instead, he's working... read more

A warm, real and hokum free Christmas album from Carla Bley -- played with a depth of affection for the material on both the well known numbers and the excellent couple of originals! Karla alternates between spiritual resonance, and playful warmth, having a lot of fun with 20th Century holiday song... read more

A great set from Hamiet Bluiett -- almost back to his roots in the St Louis underground scene, as the album's a live recording of long spiritual jazz tracks, arguably a lot more compelling than most of Bluiett's studio work from the time! The album was recorded at Sweet Basil in 1983 -- with a... read more

With Hank Jones on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. Titles include "Joy Spring", "You Go To My Head", "Old Folks", and "Background Music".... read more

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Cecil's smoking on the cover, and he's smoking on the record too -- really cooking things up in the best old school soul jazz style of his Muse Records years! The album was recorded live in New Jersey, and it's proof that plenty of great jazz was still coming from west of the Hudson in the early... read more

An amazing album -- and one of the underground soul jazz classics of the 70s! The album's also one of the few ever cut as a leader by drummer Roy Brooks -- one of the hippest players on the Detroit scene back in the day, working here with a great lineup that includes Woody Shaw, George Coleman,... read more

The cover's black and white, but the album's filled with wonderful colors in sound -- a bold array of work from pianist Donald Brown -- working here with a hip lineup that includes Vincent Herring on alto and soprano sax, Tom Harrell on trumpet, and Steve Nelson on vibes! Nelson's sharp, chromatic... read more

The core combo here is already great -- with Charnett Moffett on bass and Louis Hayes on drums -- but pianist Donald Brown adds some key members to the group on a host of other tracks, and really manages to make the record sparkle! The album's a great set in the relaxed, open style of soul jazz... read more

One of the warmest, most sensitive albums we've ever heard from saxophonist Marion Brown -- a record that really takes off strongly from the soulful spirit of his last few albums for Impulse Records in the early 70s! Like those great sets, the vibe here is nice and laidback -- not the more bracing... read more

Beautifully mellow work from the great Marion Brown -- playing here in a laidback quintet setting that brings out some of his most soulful tones. The group includes piano, guitar, bass, and drums -- but the main focus is on the alto of Brown, which has a warm world-weary tone that's very different... read more

Oscar Brown moves into a funky 70s mode -- working here with some great soul-based arrangements by Chicago soul legend Richard Evans! There's lots of funky clavinet grooving on the record by Tennyson Stephens and Marvin Yancy -- and other players include Chess/Cadet session groovers, like Henry... read more

An unusual Dave Brubeck set from the start of the 60s -- surprisingly on Fantasy, given his Columbia fame of the time -- and with a slightly different lineup that features the great Bill Smith on clarinet! Smith's got a cool modern sound that's not unlike Jimmy Giuffre -- icy but expressive too,... read more

A full LP that combines early work by Dave Brubeck -- pulled together from a few 10" LPs, and packaged in a nice cartoony cover. The record features the work of his octet -- a group that gives a rare opportunity to hear Brubeck in a large group setting, and one that also features work by Cal... read more

Brubeck is reunited with tenorist David Van Kriedt, a key member of his early quintet, which first started making waves in San Francisco during the late 40s. The rest of the group includes Paul Desmond on alto, Joe Morello on drums, and Norm Bates on bass -- and it's interesting to hear Brubeck... read more

Weird instrumental grooves from composer Sandro Brugnolini -- played by a small combo that almost has a sound library feel! We know Brugnolini most from his soundtrack work, and this set's got a similar flair for odd sounds and weird rhythms -- played here by a group that features organ, two... read more

One of those groovy funky pop-jazz sessions that World Pacific was doing so nicely at this time, featuring Bobby Bryant's funky trumpet at the head of a large group that includes players like Wilton Felder, Ernie Watts, and Joe Sample. Wayne Henderson produced, so the set's got a nice crisp edge... read more

An excellent example of the massive groove that Ray Bryant set up during his 60s years at Cadet -- a simple soul jazz trio style, but augmented with dual horn backing -- which makes for a tightly stepping sound that's all-soulful, all the way! Bryant's left hand is nice and hard on the keys --... read more

Early funky work from Rusty Bryant -- 2 cookers for Prestige back to back on one CD! Night Train Now is one of the first few funky classics from tenorist Rusty Bryant -- a record that showed a whole new side of his talents, thanks to the addition of a rock-solid rhythm section! As the title might... read more

Fantastic funky jazz from tenorman Rusty Bryant -- one of the real standout titles in the classic early 70s Prestige jazz/funk years! Rusty leads a group that includes heavyweights like Charles Earland on organ, Virgil Jones on trumpet, Melvin Sparks on guitar, and Idris Muhammad on drums -- all... read more

A perfect title for a perfect record -- especially given all the love we've felt from Build An Ark over the years! The album's a masterpiece through and through -- easily the greatest statement ever from this already-amazing band -- a contemporary ensemble, but one that we'd seamlessly rank right... read more

A perfect title for a perfect record -- especially given all the love we've felt from Build An Ark over the years! The album's a masterpiece through and through -- easily the greatest statement ever from this already-amazing band -- a contemporary ensemble, but one that we'd seamlessly rank right... read more

One of the most righteous albums of the 21st century so far -- and an instant classic we'll be loving for years! Build An Ark are a seriously heavy soul jazz ensemble, with roots and traditions that stretch back to the most righteous days of the 70s underground -- the brainchild of producer Carlos... read more

This second part of Burnt Sugar's 2001 trilogy really picks up some energy from the first -- fiercely jamming guitars mixing with dark soundscapes and filtered rhythms, soaring out in a complicated mass of sound that's every bit as adventurous as it is soulful. Features rhymes by Mugabe, vocals by... read more

Burnt Sugar returns to the studio after a handful of live releases -- with a 2CD set of some of their most brilliant cosmic soul & jazz to date -- featuring an array of appearances by supporters and fellow celestial travelers such as Carl Hancock Rux, Beans, Vijay Iyer, Akiba Solomon, Kirk... read more

The first part in Burnt Sugar's 2001 trilogy -- a darkly jamming effort that's located somewhere at the "intersection of Stockhausen and Shorter"! The guitars are very strongly in the lead on this one -- sounding almost like a Glen Branca-driven jamband, as Vernon Reid, Rene Akhan,... read more

Why thank you -- we will! Kenny does too, as he grooves nicely and gently over arrangements by Richard Evans, perfectly crafted in that soul jazz mode of his 60s work for Chess -- not Kenny's most challenging format, to be sure, but proof that he often works better in a more structured environment... read more

Great great stuff -- and for some folks, THE album by Kenny Burrell! This classic set features the guitarist in a quintet with Stanley Turrentine on tenor, Major Holly on bass, Bill English on drums, and the great Ray Barretto on conga -- a really great lineup that sparkles with soulful... read more

A well-named LP, as this hard-grooving blowing session is one of Kenny Burrell's earthiest performances -- a no-nonsense, stripped-down batch of hardbop tunes that really lets him let loose! The format here is in the best late 50s Prestige blowing session mode -- with rhythm from the trio of Mal... read more

Beautiful work from Gary Burton on vibes and Chick Corea on piano -- both players who shine brightly in their own right, but who really seem to hit on something special when working together! These seminal sides feature the duo exploring some very fresh new space -- a fluid, sensitive groove that... read more

Don't let the title confuse you -- because although Butler did have an album called Night Life, this one features 2 different sides from his years at Prestige: Guitar Soul and Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow. Guitar Soul is one of Butler's best ever -- an updating of the chunky funky sound that... read more

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A trio session -- but a killer! Unlike some of Byard's earlier trio work from the 60s, this one's a pretty compelling set -- with some very trippy influences, and a strange mix of 60s grooving, Eastern rhythms, and trad jazz themes. Jaki plays piano (and guitar on one track!) -- and his trio... read more

A landmark album -- Donald Byrd's first session with producer Larry Mizell, the man who went onto forever change the face of jazz funk! After rumbling around for a few years attempting electric styles that really didn't fit his mode, Donald wisely hooked up with Larry, and hit a groove here that... read more

A landmark album -- Donald Byrd's first session with producer Larry Mizell, the man who went on to forever change the face of jazz funk! After rumbling around for a few years attempting electric styles that really didn't fit his mode, Donald wisely hooked up with Larry, and hit a groove here that... read more