Very, very dope LP by this London studio funk jazz genius. While half the scene's been messing around with blunted beats and weak stuff, Chris Bowden's composed a suite that has the sound of a great blacksploitation soundtrack or a classic album on Curtom. Lots of heavy grooves weaving in and out... read more
Like Dave Brubeck's legendary Time Out set? Try this one – a great record that takes off from the concept of the first, but which goes in some very fresh new directions – using the same great group with Paul Desmond on alto, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums! Dave's... read more
A killer hardbop session from the early 60s – one of Sonny Clark's later sides for Blue Note, and an album that features a great lineup of players that includes lesser-known Blue Note hornmen Charlie Rouse and Tommy Turrentine! The record crackles with the energy and imagination of Clark's... read more
A really well-titled set from the legendary Phil Cohran – as the album's one of his most meditative efforts ever – a beautiful single piece, spun over the course of the entire album, with slow-changing instrumentation that's wonderfully seductive! Phil's in a near solo mode here –... read more
Miles Davis' last studio session before a few years of seclusion – and a really monumental effort, probably the baddest of the electric period! The album does a great job of capturing the energy of the frenzied live sets from that time, and matching it with Teo Macero's cut and paste editing... read more
Searing live work from Eric Dolphy – part of a series of recordings that set a whole new standard for live jazz recording! The record features Dolphy going even farther out than on his studio sides from the time – as the record features very long tracks performed by a crack group that... read more
Arguably one of the most lyrical and expressive trumpeters in the history of Jazz, Kenny Dorham was unquestionably the one the foremost players of his generation. An absolute must own for all fans of the mid 50's to late 60's hard bop as defined by this side and many other contemporaneous... read more
Arguably one of the most lyrical and expressive trumpeters in the history of Jazz, Kenny Dorham was unquestionably one of the foremost players of his generation. An absolute must own for all fans of the mid 50's to late 60's hard bop as defined by this side and many other contemporaneous selections... read more
This is the kind of CD that makes us love reissues! Why? Well, because it features 2 incredibly rare jazz albums – both of which never turn up on vinyl, and are lovingly packaged here on 1 CD filled with a dozen hard bop grooves. The album Matador was originally issued under Kenny Dorham's... read more
A triple-trumpet session with a really wonderful sound – the kind of all-star date that only a label like Verve could have done so well! As you'll guess from the title, the record's a showcase for the three trumpeters in the lead – and the tracks are long, with plenty of space for each... read more
An excellent album recorded during the height of Benny Golson's powers as an arranger and tenor soloist! Benny leads two groups – a quintet and a nontet – both of which feature players that include Art Farmer, Wynton Kelly, Sahib Shihab, Gigi Gryce, and Paul Chambers – working... read more
Dexter Gordon —
GO ... CD
Blue Note,
1962. Used ....
$2.99
Seminal stuff – and one of Dexter Gordon's excellent Blue Note sessions with pianist Sonny Clark! Sonny's in fine fine form for the record, and in our opinion, he seems to be the most relaxed and inventive when accompanying Dexter Gordon – even over other Blue Note horn players, and... read more
A wicked session by Grant Green – one that's very different than any of his other Blue Note records! Here, Grant's going for a "Latin bit" – adding in a trio of percussionists to spice up the groove with a bit of bossa rhythms, and some harder jamming styles that feel a lot... read more
If you've ever needed a definition of hardbop, this is it! The set's a crack quartet session for Blue Note, recorded in the mid 50s by a young Johnny Griffin – fresh in from Chicago, and playing with tons of fire and loads of imagination! Wynton Kelly's on piano and Max Roach is on drums... read more
Graham Haynes —
Transition ... CD
Antilles/Verve,
1994. Used ....
$1.99
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
Gilbert Isbin & Scott Walton —
Recall ... CD
pfMentum,
2011. Used ....
$2.99
A great record from a great guitarist – one of Mundell Lowe's best small group sessions of the 50s, and a record with a wonderful sound overall! One of the key factors in the record's success is the presence of pianist Dick Hyman – who plays organ as well as piano here (plus celeste on... read more
The classic debut of a young Wynton Marsalis – cut after a stretch when Wynton was working with Art Blakey, and had really sharpened his chops! The record's a wonderful return to straight jazz tradition for Columbia – but it also has some modern moments too – proof that the... read more
Martino plays in a 2-guitar quartet – with Bobby Rose backing him up on guitar, plus rhythm accompaniment by Richard Davis and Billy Higgins. The sound's definitely in the trippier, post-hippie style of Martino's work, with a sort of looseness and fluidity that you either love or hate, but a... read more
A real classic by Jackie McLean – a record that's pulled from 2 different sessions, but which stands out with a strikingly unified feel! The album was cut during the height of Jackie's bop years for Blue Note – with one 1959 session that featured Donald Byrd and Sonny Clark, and... read more
The thing to do – is jam! Blue's sounding wonderful in this classic set for Blue Note – one of his best small group albums – recorded with a sound that's solidly in keeping with his lyrically melodic work in the Horace Silver group! The quintet features Chick Corea on piano... read more
A classic outing of solo piano by Thelonious Monk – a format that wasn't used often, but which always made for some really compelling work! Monk in this mode is often different than the bolder leader of a trio or larger group – and there's a more introspective quality to the record... read more
Wes Montgomery —
Bumpin' ... CD
Verve,
1965. Used ....
$4.99
An incredible album from Wes Montgomery – and the beginning of a whole new sound for his guitar! Wes moves away from his small combo soul jazz roots on the set – and hits a wonderfully sweet new vibe with larger arrangements from Don Sebesky – bigger backdrops that fill in the... read more
Native Soul (Peter Brainin/Noah Haidu/Marcus McLau —
One Mind ... CD
American Showplace,
2012. Used ....
$2.99
Native Soul is Peter Brainin, Noah Haidu, Marcus McLaurine and Steve Johns.... read more
A wealth of unusual records – not just under Oliver Nelson's name, but material for other artists too! The set features the Oliver Nelson-led sessions for Full Nelson, Fantabulous, Jazz Interactions Orchestra/Jazzhattan Suite, Kennedy Dream, and Sound Pieces – plus music from Jimmy... read more
A classic Blue Note album – with one of the label's most compelling cover images ever! The "three" in this case refers to pianist Horace Parlan, bassist George Tucker, and drummer Al Harewood – all of whom jam nicely on this classic soul trio album from Blue Note! The record... read more
Quintet (Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, & Others —
Jazz At Massey Hall ... CD
Fantasy/OJC,
1953. Used ....
$1.99Just Sold Out!
A legendary concert – recorded at Massey Hall in Toronto, with a previously-unmatched quintet of superstar bop players – Charlie Parker on alto, Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet, Bud Powell on piano, Charles Mingus on bass, and Max Roach on drums – all coming together in a performance... read more
A legendary concert – recorded at Massey Hall in Toronto, with a previously-unmatched quintet of superstar bop players – Charlie Parker on alto, Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet, Bud Powell on piano, Charles Mingus on bass, and Max Roach on drums – all coming together in a performance... read more
Although Buddy's always been a bit laughable, he was always trying to keep his bag moving, and his band of the late 60s included some pretty darn nice players. The group on this session includes Ernie Watts and Bobby Shew, and the band wails hard and fast in a live setting with lots of tight... read more
Classic Blue Note work by Horace Silver – the stuff that soul jazz legends are made of, and an album that showed he was destined to be a huge force away from the Jazz Messengers! Blue Mitchell and Junior Cook hold down the frontline with Horace – playing in a mellifluous style that... read more
One of Horace Silver's greatest records ever – and the album that always makes us remember how many of his tunes are now etched in the memory of modern jazz! The album's got a slightly exotic bent that you might guess from the title – a furthering of the sound that Silver first started... read more
Trumpeter Louis Smith made only two records for Blue Note, but both of them are great! This set's arguably his most famous – because of a rare uncredited appearance by Cannonball Adderley, working here under the "nom de date" of "Buckshot La Funke" – and blowing... read more
Snake Figures Arkestra —
Cooks & Devils ... CD
Zarek (Germany),
2009. Used ....
$2.99