A gem of a record from this pair of Basie-ites – one that allows Joe Williams to hit some different modes than on his fuller records with the Count – set up here in a nicely relaxed groove with trumpeter Harry Sweets Edison! Arrangements are by Ernie Wilkins, but are more laidback than some of his fuller charts – and we love hearing Joe at a level when he doesn't have to punch it out of the park, and can just fall back in a sweet groove alongside Harry's trumpet, which then often gets a spot to solo on the tune. Charles Thompson plays piano – again with a style that's more easygoing than Basie – and titles include "Out Of Nowhere", "Together", "Winter Weather", "By The River Saint Marie", "Alone Together", "Deep Purple", and "Lover Come Back To Me". LP, Vinyl record album

With Charles Ables on bass and Steve Williams on drums. Titles include "Something Happens To Me", "I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good", "Nice 'N' Easy", "The Great City", "I Thought About You", and "Our Love Is Here To Stay". CD includes two bonus tracks – "I Wish I Didn't Love You So", and "Quiet Nights (Instrumental)". CD

Shirley Horn caught right at the height of her great revival years in the 90s – a time when she was arguably even more expressive and deeply soulful than before! Like most of Horn's best recordings of the time, this live date features a trio – with Shirley herself on piano, Charles Ables on bass, and Steve Williams on drums – all working in warmly swinging territory that's totally great! Horn's vocals are wonderful throughout – very well-recorded, despite the festival setting – and there's an intimacy and sense of personality to the record that you'll be hard pressed to find in some of the other Monterey live dates. Titles include "Blues For Big Scotia", "A Song For You", "How Am I To Know", "Foolin Myself", "The Look Of Love", "Nice N Easy", and the sublime "LA Breakdown". CD

Unissued live work from the great Shirley Horn – recorded in Las Vegas right before her big comeback recordings of the 90s – at a time when Shirley was hardly getting a chance to make an album! That lack of attention hardly matters to Horn, though – as she faces this performance with all of the class, charm, and undeniable soul of her bigger label material – both singing and playing piano with that unique sense of phrasing that made her a standout from the 60s onward – easily one of the coolest jazz talents of her generation – and an artist that we'd rank up there with Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, and a rare few others. The album's got a few especially nice long tracks – which have Shirley stretching out with great long solos on piano, too – in a trio that features Charles Ables on bass and Steve Williams on drums. Titles include "Meditation", "The Boy From Ipanema", "Hi Fly", "Just For A Thrill", "Blues For Big Scotia", "Lover Man", and "Isn't It Romantic". CD

An overlooked gem from the great Shirley Horn – a record from a time right before she burst into bigger fame, thanks to Verve Records – but was still working strongly in the underground, cutting fantastic records like this! Horn's got this mature, thoughtful approach that makes her way more than just another jazz singer – this well-developed mixture of sophistication and swing that's got the same very personal level of Betty Carter at this point – even though Shirley's a completely different singer – with the lady herself playing piano, alongside bass from Charles Ables and drums from Steve Williams. Titles include a great version of "Summer" (aka "Estate") – plus "Since I Fell For You", "You're My Thrill", "Dindi", "Softly As I Leave You", "Forget Me", and "I Watch You Sleep". CD