Light, lively piano work from Claude Williamson – a set that almost takes us back to his famous dates of the 50s, but one that's also got some great mature depth as well! This second layer of Williamson's expression really comes through nicely on the ballads – which have a slow-burning warmth we really like – a sound that's also augmented greatly by the basslines of Andy Simpkins, who has a great depth of feeling in a setting like this. The more upbeat numbers have more of the Williamson of earlier years, and a bit more work on drums from Albert Tootie Heath as well. Titles include "Pretendo", "Corcovado", "Star Crossed Lovers", "South Of The Border", and "Robbin's Nest". CD

One of the rarest 70s albums in the Sun Ra catalog – and one of the most unique, too – given that the format here is a piano trio, of the style often used by other jazz musicians – but completely transformed here in the hands of Ra! The music is sometimes straight, but always with angles – taking off nicely from the Horo Records mode right before – and delivered by Ra with this new sense of confidence and historical imagination on the keys of the piano – with great support from Richard Williams on bass and Luqman Ali on drums. There's no spacey production or weird instrumentation – but still, as with the Horo and Improvising Artists material, Sun Ra shows us what a tremendous jazz musician he can be in a more familiar setting – a great snap back to all those who ever might have called him a pretender. Titles include "Blythe Spirit Dance", "Tenderness", "Days Of Happiness", and "Magic City Blue". CD

The title's a tribute to the great John Lewis – and although Kenny Drew definitely plays with a Lewis-like sense of space on the set, there's a warmth to the record that's pure Kenny all the way! The record stands strongly amidst some of the great Drew sessions for Baystate – mature work that has Drew bringing in a great mix of modern tones and deeper feelings – working with a perfectly subtle rhythm section that really matches his groove! Players include Niels-Henning Oersted-Pedersen on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums – and titles include the Lewis numbers "Afternoon In Paris" and "Golden Striker", plus "The Quiet Cathedral", "Ach Varmeland Du Skona", and "Midnight Sun". CD

A beautifully earthy performance – and a set that not only has the three members of the trio on their trademark instruments, but also picking up a wide range of other elements too! Joe Morris is perhaps the most striking here – as in addition to guitar, he also uses banjo, fiddle, bass, banjouke, pocket trumpet, and even a bit of whistles – a sonic sense of variety that's matched by Parker's use of shakuhachi, sintir, n'goni, and thumb piano – all instruments that he plays with the same deeply spiritual currents of his work on bass! Hamid Drake sticks mostly to percussion – a range of drums, cymbals, and gongs – but overall, his performance feels as open and organic as the others – far beyond both standard and free jazz, into a mode that almost works in some ethnographic currents as well. The whole record's as poetic as the title – and tracks include "Profound Branches", "The Sky Was Purple Blue", "Energy Of Patience", "The Rhythm Of Butterflies", "Endless Galaxies", and "Grass Beneath The Cracked Shells". CD

The Indigo Trio – flautist Nicole Mitchell, double bassist and pianist Harrison Bankhead and drummer Hamid Drake – accompanied by fellow flautist Michel Edelin on this Rogue Art set! Ethiopian Princess Meets The Tantric Priest may be at its core a prime pairing of 2 of the most creative flute players on the planet, but the other players have ample space to do their thing – lots of it! 2 brilliantly communicative, yet distinct flutes, supported and matched by Bankhead and Drake masterfully. Half of the set is credited as Nicole Mitchell compositions: 'Top Secret", "Inside The Earth", "Wind Current" and "Ambre Sunset" – plus Edelin's "Derives" and "Call Back", Bankhead's "Return Of The Sun" and the stellar title piece, credited to the group. CD

A very nice little album – and one that moves way past the gimmicky nature that you might guess from the title! The Sun Ra influence is obvious – as it seems natural for the Chicago-based players to show a bit of respect to what's gone before them in the city. The Funkadelic twist might seem a bit more odd, though – but not if you consider the fact that Vandermark's played a heck of a lot with funky jazz combos over the past 10 years, and that Drake can really kick it on the set when he wants to! In fact, the two of them go so full-out on the Funkadelic tunes that you'll be hard-pressed to believe that there's actually only a trio of sax, drums, and bass playing the music! The Ra tunes seem a bit restrained next to the Funkadelic ones – but that also makes for a nice mix of styles on the CD. Titles include "Tapestry From An Asteroid", "Cosmic Slop", "Future", "Super Stupid", "You & Your Folks, Me & My Folks", "El Is A Sound Of Joy", and "Street Named Hell". CD

Artistry is a word that's not used lightly here – as the album gives Charlie Byrd plenty of space to show off his deepest talents on the acoustic guitar – in a spare trio setting with Keter Betts on bass and the lesser-known Buddy Deppenschmidt on drums! The format is one that was rare at the time – used for only a handful of virtuoso players, such as Laurindo Almeida – but the setting is a perfect one for Byrd's introspective approach, and gives him plenty of room to illustrate the rich array of influences that go into his sound. Tracks are short, and Byrd's guitar is upfront – and titles include "Django", "Nice Work If You Can Get It", "The House Of The Rising Sun", "Taboo", and "Ring Them Harmonics". CD

A great album from McCoy Tyner – a set that's steeped in the modal soulfulness of his years with John Coltrane, but also handled in a way that really has him breaking away from the pack a bit! Half the album's played with a trio that features Jimmy Garrison on bass – but the strongest cuts feature a sextet with John Gilmore on tenor (making a rare non-Sun Ra appearance), Frank Strozier on alto, Thad Jones on trumpet, Butch Warren on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – all working beautifully together in an early example of the soulful group groove that Tyner would hit even more strongly in the post-Coltrane years. Titles include "T 'N A Blues", "Three Flowers", "Contemporary Focus", and "Night In Tunisia". CD

Pure genius from pianist Monty Alexander – a collection that features some of his greatest recordings for MPS! Sometimes, there's a special sort of magic that happens between a player and a label – and that's definitely what happened with Alexander at MPS Records during the 70s – a whole new level of his playing that never came out with other labels – and which, despite countless other recordings in later years, may not have ever sounded this great again! There's a sense of freedom to the MPS recordings – a unique approach to rhythm that really works well with Monty's touch on the keys – and which makes the tunes, although often just trio or quartet number, supremely groovy from the ground up. Titles include "So What", "Theme From Shaft", "Montevideo", "Brown Skin Girl", "We've Only Just Begun", "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", "Here Comes The Sun", and "Theme From Love Story". CD

One of the greatest jazz vocal albums of all time – and one of the first true moments of genius from a young Dee Dee Bridgewater! The album's a Japanese only release (proof that they're always hipper to our jazz artists than we are!) – and it features Dee Dee singing material that's quite different than her later R&B-inflected sides from the late 70s – very soaring and spiritual work, delivered in a way that set a whole new standard for jazz at the time! Backing is by a small combo with brothers Ron and Cecil Bridgewater, plus Roland Hanna on acoustic and electric piano, George Mraz on bass, and Motohiko Hino on drums and percussion – but the star of the set is always Dee Dee, who sparkles beautifully on the album's classic versions of "Afro Blue" and "Little B's Poem" – both of which have been redone by many other singers over the years. Other great cuts include "People Make The World Go Round", "Love From The Sun", and "Love Vibrations". CD

Subtle genius from pianist Barry Harris – an overlooked 60s set that showcases both Barry's tighter bop leanings and his even more wonderful lyrical side! The session's recorded with a relaxed energy that points the way towards freer Harris sides in years to come – but also still has the focus of his other best trio work from the early years – and rhythm support here is by Ron Carter on bass and Leroy Williams on drums. Titles include "Ah Leu Cha", "Bean & The Boys", "Dexterity", "Sun Dance", and "Rouge". CD

A classic solo piano album from Thelonious Monk – recorded live in San Francisco, and maybe one of his best albums ever in the format! There's a special sort of quality that makes Monk's solo work so different from his trio, quartet, and larger group music – this real understanding of the piano, and a personal sense of sonic shading, even when covering some of his familiar compositions – maybe a bit like the way that Sun Ra's solo piano is also so distinct. Most of the tunes here are Monk originals or standards that Thelonious has played before at least a few times on record – but the solo setting almost has him pulling the tunes apart slowly – contemplating their components, then stepping through them with new inspiration as he puts them back together. Titles include "Blue Monk", "Pannonica", "Remember", "Reflections", "Bluehawk", "Everything Happens To Me", and "Round Lights". CD

The jazz bassist re-teams with legendary violinist Billy Bang, who worked with Parker back in the 70s, and also worked with Sun Ra, Bootsy Collins and other titans of the era. Bang's violin is at the heart of the compositions, with Parker's elastic bass pluck there to keep everything bouncing within the same down home kinda groove. Avant dummer Hamid Drake rounds out the trio. The vibe runs from a very moody cool feel, to some fairly out passages – but it's all still mostly within the defined groove. The six tracks all run north of the five minute mark, leaving plenty of room for the trio to stretch their wings, and do so without wearing out their welcome. Our favorite album yet in Thirsty Ear's Blue Series – and the most definitively jazz set in the series, too! Includes "Scrapbook", "Sunday Morning Church", "Dust On A White Shirt", "Urban", and more. CD

A beautiful set by Nat King Cole joined by conductor/bandleader Quincy Jones and his Big Band – performing live in Zurich on May 1, 1960 – and what an impeccable performance it is! Quincy was touring with a pretty amazing line-up in his Big Band at this point – with Benny Bailey, Jimmy Cleveland, Melba Liston, Phil Woods, Sahib Shihab, Joe Harris and more – and they kick off the set with a couple gentler numbers before swinging more heavily on a couple, then introduce Nat – who's voice is in perfect form here. He sings his hits with the big band, some additional strings and a pared down trio format for a few – so we really get a broad representation of what these consummate performers can do in a number of settings, all in one concert, to boot. Wonderful stuff – released for the first time ever! Titles include "Moanin'", The Midnight Sun Will Never Set", "Airmail Special", "Unforgettable", "Sweet Lorraine", "Tea For Two", "Madrid", "The Phantom Blues", "Route 66", "Joe Turner's Blues", "The Midnight Sun Will Never Set" and more. Also includes a 5 minute interview with Nat. CD

A real breakthrough in female soul for the 70s – the initial album from Labelle – a set that's very different material than the group were doing on their girl group singles in the 60s! The trio here is legendary – Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash – three tremendous singers all working together at a level that really sets the standard for bad-rapping female soul in the 70s! We're not sure what happened with Patti and the group between their 60s material and this set – but whatever it was, it was something great – a turn towards a style that would keep them in the record racks for years! Titles include "Too Many Days", "Running Out Of Fools", "When The Sun Comes Shining Through", "Heart Be Still", and a nice version of "Time & Love". CD

Forget the "pretty" in the title here – as this stuff's not glossy or fancy – just wonderfully stripped-down Hammond work from Jimmy, performed with a trio that includes Eddie McFadden on guitar and Donald Bailey on drums. The title should probably read "mellow" instead of "pretty" – as the groove is very laidback and late-nite, with Jimmy hitting some of those really cool "unbridled" notes that are the best part of his early Blue Note sound. Titles include "East Of The Sun", "The Very Thought Of You", "Penthouse Serenade", and "Old Devil Moon". CD

Ken Vandermark and crew take a funkier turn – working off the style of their last album (a tribute to Sun Ra & George Clinton), moving into tunes that are tributes to soul and funk heroes of the past 30 years. Most tunes are originals by Vandermark – played by the trio that includes Ken on reeds, Nate McBride on bass, and Hamid Drake on drums – and titles include "Clocked", "Back Of A Cab", "Reasonable Hour", "Size Large", "Journeyman", "She Just Got Here", "All Frequencies", and "Force At A Distance". CD

A stunning live recording from Sarah Vaughan – recorded in the late 70s, when she was at a whole new height in her talents – and at a level that's far more dynamic and striking than some of her other records from the time! The double-length set presents the first-ever commercial release of a beautifully recorded performance originally done for NPR – with Vaughan in a very open, expressive mode alongside a trio with Carl Schroeder on piano, Walter Booker on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums – working at a small club in New Orleans with a wonderfully soulful vibe! Vaughan shines beautifully on the ballads, but really blows us away with the swingers – hitting some edges we don't always hear on her 70s sides for Pablo, Groove Merchant, or Mainstream – managing vocal complexity with inherent rhythm, all with effortless ease. The sound quality is wonderful – and titles include "I'll Remember April", "A Lot Of Livin To Do", "The Man I Love", "Watch What Happens", "If You Went Away", "I Could Write A Book", "Time After Time", "Somebody Loves Me", "My Funny Valentine", "Everything Must Change", "Send In The Clowns", "Sarah's Blues", and "East Of The Sun". CD

A rare non-Sun Ra session from bassist Ronnie Boykins! Boykins was one of Ra's most long-term players – a key part of the Arkestra for many years – but on this album, he hits a totally different sound –and one that's somewhat spiritual as well! The group's got a great sax-heavy sound that comes from a trio of reedmen – Monty Waters, Joe Ferguson, and James Vass – handling alto, tenor, soprano, and flute between them – often in a tight line at the head, then breaking out into some wonderfully personal solos – played with such feeling that almost makes us think that Boykins was a much more sensitive musician than he ever got the chance to be with Sun Ra. The tunes have a really beautiful sense of structure and soul – and the reedmen explode beautifully with their work, alongside a remaining lineup that features Daoud Haroom on trombone, Art Lewis on percussion, and George Avaloz on congas. Titles include "Tipping On Heels", "The Third I", "The Will Come, Is Now", "Starlight At The Wonder Inn", and "Demon's Dance". CD

A nice dose of work from one of the greatest harmony soul groups of all time – the mighty Delfonics, a trio who took high-end vocals to a whole new level! The package does a good job of mixing hits up with a few lesser-known gems from the group – showing their full vocal potential, and wonderful approach to the music – stellar harmony soul that really redefined the genre at the time, and which remains some of the best male group work you could ever hope to find! 20 tracks in all – including "Hey Love", "Delfonics Theme", "Over & Over", "Funny Feeling", "Loving Him", "Somebody Loves You", "Break Your Promise", "La La Means I Love You", "I'm Sorry", "Walk Right Up To The Sun", "Think It Over", "I Told You So", and "Lying To Myself". CD

Tenorist Ellery Eskelin's in a very compelling setting here – a trio that has the great Gerry Hemmingway on drums, and organist Gary Versace on the Hammond B3 – an instrument we're not sure we've ever heard on any other records from Ellery! Yet the set's hardly a conventional version of tenor and organ jazz – as the Hammond's often used in ways that are a sonically creative as Eskelin's approach to tenor, with waves of sound that are often far beyond music, but which also can hit some tuneful moments as well – all over the course of songs that are familiar, but which are completely transformed by the process! The group does hit a slightly soulful vibe on a reading of "I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance Without You", but really takes off on versions of "We See", "East Of The Sun", "Blue & Sentimental", and "My Melancholy Baby" – as well as their own "On Or About". CD

With players like these, the life of a trio must be a great one – and the album's one part of a two-day recording session done by pianist Paul Bley, bassist Steve Swallow, and saxophonist Jimmy Giuffre! The "trio" tag is somewhat misleading at times – because the album's often a gathering of all three players in the studio, rather than a continuous collaborative effort. Some tracks have a single player, working alone – while others sneak in a duet, and others then follow a trio format – and the album's a great illustration of the sharp talents that all players still had at this point in their career! Giuffre's especially great – and works here on both clarinet and soprano sax – and given that Swallow had been a key part of Jim's trio in years back, many moments often sound like a revival of the more "out" Giuffre trio sides, with the addition of Bley's great tones on piano. This second volume features the "Sunday" session – with titles that include "Things", "Fallen Statue", "Play Ball", "Scrambled Legs", "Where Were We", "Mephisto", and "Tango Del Mar". CD

The Fab Trio's really been making some great musical waves in recent years – flying the flag of older improvisation high with their creative interplay, and boundless sense of imagination! That's no surprise, though, given the strength of the three players in the group – Billy Bang on violin, Joe Fonda on bass, and Barry Altschul on drums – all working together here with sounds that stem from their musical legacy back to the 70s – particularly some of the most open, expressive sounds that Bang gave us back in the day! In fact, there's almost a loft jazz feel to the whole record – a relaxed, respectful sense of creation that gives the album a very organic feel. Titles include "Night In Paris", "Da Bang", "Just A Simple Song", "China", and "Spirits Entering". CD

A trio session – but a killer, too – very different than just about any other piano trio material from the time – with that special sort of edge that always made Jaki Byard really stand out from the pack! There's some very unusual things happening in the rhythms – some slight Eastern elements, a few trippy touches, and other heady elements that live up to the title – but in a subtle way, too. Byard plays piano throughout, but also handles a bit of guitar, too – and the group features Ornette Coleman's bassist David Izenzon on bass, plus Elvin Jones on drums and tympani – the latter of which is used in some very cool ways. Titles include "Trendsition Zildijian", "Sunshine", "Cast Away", and "Chandra". CD

One of Bill Evans' landmark sessions with the young bassist Scott LaFaro – a player who made key contributions on every record he touched, then left this earth far too soon in his career! The live session's a perfect demonstration of the way that the Evans trio format not only re-worked the use of the piano in jazz, but also the bass and drums as well – as LaFaro's deeply evocative playing is paired with the equally fresh drum work of Paul Motian – heard here at his youthful early best, before some of his contributions to jazz had become cliche in the hands of other players. The session was caught live at the Village Vanguard on the night of June 25, 1961 – and titles include longish takes on "Solar", "Jade Visions", "Gloria's Step", and "Alice In Wonderland". CD

Quite possibly the freshest vibist we've heard in years – a player whose records are always exploding with amazing sounds on his instrument – and the kind of intensity we'd reserve for a rare few on the vibes – maybe Bobby Hutcherson, Walt Dickerson, or Steve Nelson! Jason Adasiewicz has a talent that's been building and building for the past few years – and here, he really knocks it out of the park – showing a melodic conception that's as bold as his rhythmic inspiration – and control enough to get free, yet swing inside beautifully at just the right moment! The balance is one that's really been bringing some great sounds to the Chicago scene in recent years – and Jason's trio here features very like-minded cats – Mike Reed on drums and Nate McBride on bass, both players who ensure that the record is far more compelling than most other vibes trio sets you'll hope to find. Titles include "Stake", "Life", "Rose Garden", "Overtones Of China", "Warm Valley", and "Off My Back Jack". CD

One of Bill Evans' landmark sessions with the young bassist Scott LaFaro – a player who made key contributions on every record he touched, then left this earth far too soon in his career! The live session's a perfect demonstration of the way that the Evans trio format not only re-worked the use of the piano in jazz, but also the bass and drums as well – as LaFaro's deeply evocative playing is paired with the equally fresh drum work of Paul Motian – heard here at his youthful early best, before some of his contributions to jazz had become cliche in the hands of other players. The session was caught live at the Village Vanguard on the night of June 25, 1961 – and titles include longish takes on "Solar", "Jade Visions", "Gloria's Step", and "Alice In Wonderland". CD

One of Bill Evans' landmark sessions with the young bassist Scott LaFaro – a player who made key contributions on every record he touched, then left this earth far too soon in his career! The live session's a perfect demonstration of the way that the Evans trio format not only re-worked the use of the piano in jazz, but also the bass and drums as well – as LaFaro's deeply evocative playing is paired with the equally fresh drum work of Paul Motian – heard here at his youthful early best, before some of his contributions to jazz had become cliche in the hands of other players. The session was caught live at the Village Vanguard on the night of June 25, 1961 – and titles include longish takes on "Solar", "Jade Visions", "Gloria's Step", and "Alice In Wonderland". CD

Satoko Fujii performs on solo piano, with her regular trio – Mark Dresser on double bass, and Jim Black on drums – and with saxophonist Sachi Hayasaka! CD

A wonderful album of sad-tinged bossa tunes sung by the enigmatic Ana Lucia – a really great vocalist who gets superb backings here from Oscar Castro Neves and the Zimbo Trio! The style of the album is slightly more emotive than the usual bossa album of the time – with a dreamy approach to the vocals that reminds us of some of our favorite French or Italian singers of the early 60s, all nicely juxtaposed with a mixture of jazz and string arrangements from Castro-Neves, and produced with a light and floating finish. There's kind of a watery brilliance to the whole thing that really matches the look of the cover – and titles include "Amei Tanto", "Andam Dizendo", "Acalanto", "Derradeira Primavera", "Valsa De Euridice", "Homem De Verdade", and "Tem Do". CD

A gentler sort of session from vibist Steve Nelson – one that doesn't have some of the edges of his earlier work, but which still comes off quite nicely! Nelson's working here in a broad palette of tones and sounds – using the vibes with an approach that seems to ring out afresh on each new tune – exploring that rich tonal range that's always made us love his work, and doing so without some of the overly-aggressive modes of other sets. The group's a trio, with Kirk Lightsey on piano and Ray Drummond on bass – and titles include "Original #2", "Laila In Blues", "Kirk's New Delight", and "Song For Justine". CD

A great session of 70s bop revival from the team of Sonny Stitt and Red Holloway – working here in the warm and sunny style of the great Catalyst label! The album Forecast has the two hornmen blowing to acoustic accompaniment from a trio that includes Art Hillary on piano, Larry Gales on bass, and Clarence Johnston on drums – jamming in boppish formation on tunes that include "Lester Leaps In", "The Way You Look Tonight", "Forecast: Sonny & Red", and "All God's Chillun". Even better is the second album on the set – Partners – which has the pair working with a bit of electric keyboards from Frank Strazzeri, and an expanded rhythm section that includes some conga – all of which makes for a sound that's rounder, warmer, and overall more in the mellow modal mode of the best Catalyst sides of the 70s. Titles include "Partners", "Stitt's It", "Lazy Moments", "Bee Dee", and "Evening In Madrid". CD

A wonderful compilation of classic bossa tunes – packaged in a lovely way, and selected by Ruy Castro, who (literally) wrote the book on bossa nova! Castro's the author of a great book on bossa nova – the first of its type in English (and incidentally, often for sale at Dusty Groove!) – and here, he's selected 2CDs worth of tracks to fit the mood and spirit of the book, a perfect soundtrack for a sunny summery afternoon on the beach in Rio! Titles include "Que Besteira" by Joao Donato, "Pois E" by Nara Leao, "Captain Bacardi" by Antonio Carlos Jobim, "Tem Do" by Rio 65 Trio, "Two Kites" by Mario Adnet, "Jangal" by Dom Um, "Domingo Azul" by Billy Balanco, "E Nada Mais" by Os Gatos, "Surfboard" by Roberto Menescal, "Coisa No 8" by Moacir Santos, "Samba De Verao (live)" by Marcos Valle & Patricia Marx, "Ledusha Com Diamantes" by Celso Fonseca, "Tim Dom Dom" by Jorge Ben, and "Voce" by Dick Farney & Norma Benguell. CD

A double-length set that brings together 2 key early live sets by Albert Ayler – both recorded on the New York scene of the mid 60s! Bells was an unusual one-sided record that featured only 20 minutes of music, performed with an intensity that hardly leaves room for complaints about the shortness of the album! The single track "Bells" was performed at Town Hall by Ayler with a group that includes Donald Ayler on trumpet, Charles Tyler on alto sax, Lewis Worrell on bass, and Sunny Murray on percussion – all coming together in a raw, real sense of freedom – beautifully explored here without ever getting too overindulgent. The tune may well be one of the greatest illustrations of the ESP format at its best – as Ayler and company never stray too far, but carve out some incredibly imaginative space through their starkly-blown horn solos! Prophecy is longer – a full album that was recorded live in 1964 at the Cellar Cafe in New York, but not issued by ESP until years later, after Ayler's untimely early death. The performance is a trio outing – with Ayler's tenor alongside the bass of Gary Peacock and drums of Sunny Murray – all freely skirting around each other's space on the date, in a way that allows Ayler to take the bold lead with his sharp-toned solos, but which also allows for free interplay between the bass and percussion. Ayler's tone and wide swaths of sound are simply amazing – and titles include two variations on "Ghosts", plus "Spirits", "Prophecy", and "Wizard". CD

A double-length set that brings together 2 key early live sets by Albert Ayler – both recorded on the New York scene of the mid 60s! Bells was an unusual one-sided record that featured only 20 minutes of music, performed with an intensity that hardly leaves room for complaints about the shortness of the album! The single track "Bells" was performed at Town Hall by Ayler with a group that includes Donald Ayler on trumpet, Charles Tyler on alto sax, Lewis Worrell on bass, and Sunny Murray on percussion – all coming together in a raw, real sense of freedom – beautifully explored here without ever getting too overindulgent. The tune may well be one of the greatest illustrations of the ESP format at its best – as Ayler and company never stray too far, but carve out some incredibly imaginative space through their starkly-blown horn solos! Prophecy is longer – a full album that was recorded live in 1964 at the Cellar Cafe in New York, but not issued by ESP until years later, after Ayler's untimely early death. The performance is a trio outing – with Ayler's tenor alongside the bass of Gary Peacock and drums of Sunny Murray – all freely skirting around each other's space on the date, in a way that allows Ayler to take the bold lead with his sharp-toned solos, but which also allows for free interplay between the bass and percussion. Ayler's tone and wide swaths of sound are simply amazing – and titles include two variations on "Ghosts", plus "Spirits", "Prophecy", and "Wizard". And then, if that's not enough, the 2CD package also features more material from the Prophecy sessions – 6 more tracks originally issued on the Albert Smiles With Sunny album – with titles that include "Saints", "Children", "Ghosts", "Spirits", and "Wizard" – all in different versions. CD

Early greatness from Wes Montgomery – and a session that's got a gritty edge that takes Wes back to his Indianapolis roots! The album's one of the few of the time to feature the unsung Hammond hero Mel Rhyne – a player who worked with Wes at his start, but has only gotten stronger acclaim in recent decades as part of his comeback. Rhyne's a key force in the record – working alongside Montgomery's guitar and the drums of Jimmy Cobb – in a loose, open trio that has Mel participating as strongly in the rhythms as he does in the solo side of the album. Titles include a few Montgomery originals – "The Trick Bag" and "Fried Pies" – plus the tunes "Besame Mucho", "Dearly Beloved", "Days Of Wine & Roses", "Canadian Sunset", "The Breeze & I", and "For Heaven's Sake". CD includes bonus tracks "Besame Mucho (take 2)", "Trick Bag (take 6)", and "Fried Pies (take 1)". CD

A legendary moment in European free jazz – performances all recorded on a single Sunday in 1969 – but which stand as some of the most powerful music of the time! The vibe here is often in the best spirit of early FMP, or maybe the most outside work of MPS – and the recording quality equals the best avant jazz on both labels – with very long performances on each track that represent the pinnacle of all players involved! One side alone is worth the price of admission – a searing track titled "Finally", performed by an octet with Peter Brotzmann at the helm, alongside Evan Parker on tenor and soprano sax, Fred Van Hove on piano, Paul Rutherford on trombone, Peter Kowald on bass, and Pierre Favre on drums. Favre returns on "Let's Talk About The Weather" – played by a trio with Kowad on bass and Irene Schweizer on piano. Other tracks include "Five To Five" and "Gluga Gluga Blues" by the Joki Freund Quintet, "In Memory Of John Coltrane" by Marion Brown, "Vibration" by the group of saxophonist Joe Fiera and trombonist Ed Kroger, and "Circus Live" by a quartet led by Rolf Kuhn on electric clarinet, with Joachim Kuhn on piano and Stu Martin on drums. CD

A treasure trove of Nuggets from the LA Scene – fantastic material from a far reaching line up of gritty garage rockers, sunshine pop tunesmiths, psychedelic groovers, trippy psyche folk and much more – masterfully collected on 4 discs by the box set geniuses at Rhino! With such a diverse catalog to mine, the CDs are divided surprisingly well, and like other Nuggets comps, it's a great way to intro a ton of obscurities, while still including bigger hits that deserve to be remembered. Packaged in a beautiful 48 page book with essays, artist commentaries, tons of great photos, and even a 60s LA club guide! Disc one On The Strip includes: "Riot On The Sunset Strip" by The Standells, "Gentle As It May Seem" by Iron Butterfly, "Take A Giant Step" by The Guilloteens, "Tripmaker" by The Seeds, "Girl In Your Eye" by Sprit, "Eventually" by Peanut Butter Conspiracy and many more. Disc two The Studio Scene includes: "Action, Action, Action" by Keith Allison, "The Rebel Kind" by Dino, Desi & Billy, "Yellow Balloon" by Yellow Balloon, "Montage Mirror" Roger Nichols Trio, "Don't Say No" by The Oracle, "Baby, Please Don't Go" by Ballroom and lots more. Disc three Beyond The City includes: "Jump, Jive & Harmonies" by Thee Midnighters, "She Done Moved" by The Spats, "Underground Lady" by Kim Fowley, "Our Time Is Running Out" by The Yellow Payges and many more. Disc four New Directions has 3 previously unreleased tracks: "Sit Down I Think I Love You" by Stephen Stills & Richie Furay, "Words" (demo) by Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart, and "Once Upon A Time" by Tim Buckley; plus "November Night" by Peter Fonda, "Marshmallow Skies" by Rick Nelson. "You Set The Scene" by Love and many more. 101 songs on 4CDs! CD

A live trio recording with Barron on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Ben Riley on drums. Tracks include "Solar", "Blue Moon", "Alter Ego", and "Everybody Loves My Baby, But My Baby Don't Love Nobody But Me". CD

The Harriet Tubman Double Trio consists of Ron Miles on trumpet,Brandon Ross on guitar, Melvin Gibbs on bas, JT Lewis on drums, and DJ Logic and DJ Single on turntables. CD

One of the first big moments of global fame for the legendary Ennio Morricone – and a record that still stands as one of his landmark albums all these many years later! The set's famous for its haunting theme – that "wah-wah-wah" melody that led to countless covers and samples over the years – but the whole thing's a lot more complex than just that tune – with lots of the same sense of space and brooding that Morricone brought to his music for Once Upon A Time In The West – with careful use of key instruments on a track by track basis, and these floating lines that almost signaled a whole new way of recording music for a film soundtrack. And yes, there's certainly key western elements like guitar or harmonica – but maybe more striking are all the points at which these obvious tropes disappear – to leave us with those really unique Morricone sounds that go way beyond music! Titles include "The Sundown", "The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly", "Marcia", "The Desert", "The Strong", and "The Trio". CD