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An early moment of genius from El Gran Combo – just the sort of record to show why the group was such a hit from the get-go! The instrumentation here is great – heavy on saxes from Eddie Perez and hector Santos – mixed with trumpets from Victor Perez and Rogelio Velez – and supported by some hard-hitting percussion, by players who include a young Roberto Roena on bongos! Pianist Rafael Ithier directs the whole thing with a tightness that's right up there with the bigger names on the New York scene – and vocals are handled by Eddy Montanez and Pellin Rodriguez. Titles include "La Muerte", "Cabeza De Hacha", "El Perico", "Sobina", "Cosas De La Vida", "A La Loma De Belen", and "La Mafafa".

It's always a treat to hear from the team of Kako and Totico – and this album's no exception! The pair have a way of coming up with lively interplay right from the start – the energy that would formerly build over time in Kako's early jam session records, nicely brought to the forefront here and combined with Totico's contributions – all to make for an album that grooves strong from the ground up! Titles include "Que Quiere La Nina", "Con Sabor Llego La Rumba", "El Doloroso", "Pongase Duro", "Que Quiere La Nina", and "Ganga Zumba".

Calexico live in Gemany with Radio Symphonie Orchestre Wien – and giving songs from throughout there career a full on orchestral presentation. 10 tracks in all: "Frontera/Trigger", "Epic", "The News About William", "Black Heart", "Minas De Cobre", "Inspiracion", "Two Silver Trees", "Para", "Crystal Frontier" and "The Vanishing Mind"

An excellent album of small combo piano work – with a sweet groovy groove! We know little of Jac Murphy, or of the film that the music was recorded for – but the album's got a great indie bounce that makes it glide with the best work of the Frank Cunimundo Trio! Like Frank, Jac's got a fiercely rhythmic touch on the keys – and is equally at home with an electric piano as he is with an acoustic one – shifting back and forth effortlessly, sometimes within the same track, to give the album a full fleshed-out feel! Titles include "Control At The Top", "Spill Over", "Changemaking", "Institutional", "The Changemaker", and "New Thing".