Gonzalo Rubalcaba on piano, Reynaldo Melian on trumpet, Felipe Cabrera on electric bass, Jack DeJohnette & Julio Barreto on drums & Charlie Haden on bass. CD

One of the greatest albums ever from trombonist Roswell Rudd – an early Impulse Records session, cut right at a time when Rudd was a crucial part of the New York "new thing" scene in the 60s! The album's almost more of an ESP session from its lineup – which includes Giuseppi Logan on flute and bass clarinet, Robin Kenyatta on alto sax, Charlie Haden and Lewis Worrell on bass, and Beaver Harris on drums – yet the overall feel of the record has more of the control and sense of vision we've come to love on Impulse – the mix of structure and freedom you might find in crucial 60s recordings by Marion Brown or Archie Shepp on the label – particularly the latter's Fire Music generation! Titles include "Respects", "Satan's Dance", "Everywhere", and "Yankee No How". CD

With Bill Frisell and Marc Ribot on guitar, Charlie Haden on bass, and Joey Baron on drums – plus special guest Jack DeJohnette on two tracks. CD

With a great line-up that includes Charlie Haden on bass, Joey Baron on drums, and additional guitar from Bill Frisell. CD

With Joe Lovano on saxophone, Charlie Haden on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums! CD

Growing brilliance from the young Archie Shepp – a record that's not just about Archie's own amazing work on the tenor, but also his keen modern vision as a leader! The combo here is an ensemble that features some of the hippest modernists of the 60s – Roswell Rudd and Grachan Moncur on trombone, Perry Robinson on clarinet, Howard Johnson on tuba, Charlie Haden on bass, and Tommy Turrentine on trumpet – making a rare non-bop appearance here, and further enforcing our already-high estimation of his talents! The style's somewhat in the "new thing" mode of the period, but it's also a bit more tightly arranged too – almost hitting Mingus-like modes for the bigger ensemble – balancing the force of the group together with very free, bold solo impulses from the players. Side one features the extended "Portrait Of Robert Thompson (As A Young Man)" – and side two features "Mama Too Tight", "Theme For Ernie", and "Basheer". CD

A record as striking as its title – and one of the few recorded performances of trumpeter Alan Shorter – brother of Wayne Shorter, and an equally powerful force in avant jazz in the 60s when he got a chance! And although Alan hardly recorded much, this album's a masterpiece – a set that bridges the "new thing" moment of jazz in the mid 60s with some of the freer improvisations that were taking over on both the New York and European scenes – a balance of modes that's similar to some of the Don Cherry albums for Blue Note in the late 60s, and delivered here with a stunning lineup that includes superb early modern tenor work from Gato Barbieri, bass from either Charlie Haden or Reggie Johnson, and drums from either Muhammad Ali or Rashied Ali. Tracks are all originals – and titles include "Parabola", "Straits Of Blagellan", "Outeroids", and "Orgasm". CD

A great later jazz set from Toots Thielemans – recorded half in New York and half in LA – as you might guess from the title! The sound is still very much Toots' own, though – no easy nods to styles from either city in earlier years – and despite the fact that the record is on the Private Music label, which could sometimes put out snoozy new age, it's definitely a jazz date through and through – with relatively stripped down small combo instrumentation on all numbers. Players include John Scofield on guitar, Christian Mc Bride and Charlie Haden on bass, Mike Maineri on vibes, Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Lyle Mays on piano, and Peter Erskine on drums – and tracks include "In Walked Bud", "Con Alma", "Groovin High", "In Your Own Sweet Way", "Giant Steps", "Waltz For Debby", "A Child Is Born", and "Take Five". CD

Very hip piano trio work – the first 2 Columbia albums by Denny Zeitlin, a young fresh talent in the 60s, with an approach that was lyrical, slightly modern, and a bit soulful. This is especially the case on the Cathexis album, which features a great rhythm section of Cecil McBee on bass and Freddy Waits on drums. Carnival is a bit more free flowing – with Charlie Haden doing some great bass, making a rare small group appearance here. Most tunes are originals by Zeitlin – and titles include "Stonehenge", "Cathexis", "Repeat", "I Thou", "After The War", "Carnival", and "Carole's Garden". CD

The complete Columbia Records studio sessions from pianist Denny Zeitlin – and a package that features a fair bit of unreleased material too – not just alternate takes, but loads of fresh new tunes recorded at the time – appearing here for the first time ever! Zeitlin's a hell of a pianist, especially during these years – a really fresh 60s talent who works with a sound that's both warmly lyrical and somewhat modern – stylistically rooted in Bill Evans' inspiration, but clearly his own man by the time of these recordings! Denny's never fully gotten his due, and reissues over the years have been spare – so this package is not only a much-needed look as his mighty talents, but also a key discovery of 12 previously unreleased numbers. Players include Charlie Haden, Cecil McBee, and Joe Halpin on bass – and Freddie Waits, Oliver Johnson, and Jerry Granelli on drums. Titles include "Blue Phoenix", "Spring Is Here", "Western Thing", "Slipstream", "Later", "Labyrinth", "The Journey Home", "Carole's Garden", "Skippying", "Carnival", "Dormammu", "Living Alone", "Night & Day", "Maiden Voyage", "Nica's Tempo", "Cathexis", and "Repeat". CD

Denny Zeitlin on piano, John Abercrombie on electric guitar, Charlie Haden on bass, and Peter Donald on drums. CD

Music from William S Burroughs, Betty Carter, Elvis Costello, Charlie Haden, PJ Harvey, David Johansen, Lotte Lenya, the Persuasions, and more. CD