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Brilliant work from Sun Ra – and one of his rarest LPs! This double LP set was recorded with only a quartet – John Gilmore on tenor, Michael Ray on trumpet, Luqman Ali on drums, and Ra on keyboards. The album's got a number of tracks that are relatively straight – at least for Ra – and which are played with a wonderful edge that makes them instantly compelling, sounding almost like obscure indie soul jazz sides from the east coast underground of the mid 70s. The feel on most numbers is very different than Ra's usual work, and the record sparkles with a genius that makes us wish someone would get the Horo catalog reissued sometime soon! Includes the sublime vocal tune "When There Is No Sun", plus the original tracks "The Horo", "Moon People", "Rome At Twilight", and "Friend & Friendship" – plus a very nice cover of "My Favorite Things"!

An incredible set from Sun Ra – straighter than most of his 70s work, and a brilliant showcase for the tenor of John Gilmore! The group's just a quartet – with Ra on keyboards, Michael Ray on trumpet, and Luqman Ali on drums – on titles that include "Along The Tiber", "Rebellion", "The Mistery Of Being", "One Day In Rome", and "Springtime & Summer Idyll".

An amazing album – one of our favorite records ever from drummer Max Roach, and a set that also features some of the best 70s work by tenorist Billy Harper too! The session's a unique date done for the Horo label – and soars even farther than other Horo classics from the time – with a one-of-a-kind energy that makes it a really special record right from the start – even better than any other Roach/Harper pairings from the time. Max has a killer quartet here – no piano at all, just himself on drums, Billy on tenor, Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, and Reggie Workman on bass – a group that's filled with soulful spirit – and manages to stretch out without ever getting overindulgent, nor too free – that special kind of balance we're used to hearing on Harper's Japanese 70s sessions – which is carried through strongly here. The album only features two long tracks – "The Matyr" and "Six Bits Blues" – each of which strech out for both sides of a record!

A standout early album from Luiz Bonfa – one that features larger orchestrations than a number of his other sides, as well as a good blend of vocals in addition to Bonfa's haunting work on guitar. The album's got a full, rich sound – one that takes Bonfa to territory that we'd never expected, showing him to be a much more expressive artist than you'd hear on some of his "guitar with arrangements" sets. Maria Toledo sings on a few numbers as well, and titles include "Melancolia", "Mania De Maria", "Amor Demais", "Menina Flor", "Chorou Chorou", "Fio De Cancao", and "Indiferenca".

Brilliant work by the team of Clifford Brown and Max Roach – a seminal hardbop album that was one of the few to bridge the east and west coast scenes! The set was recorded in LA under the joint leadership of Brown and Roach – and features the classic quintet lineup that included Harold Land on tenor, Richie Powell (Bud's brother!) on piano, and George Morrow on bass. The mix of Roach's heavy full-on drumming and Brown's lyrical beauty is beyond compare – and Land's angular and sensitive tenor lines provide a perfect link between the two. Titles include classics like "Parisian Thoroughfare", "The Blues Walk", "Daahoud", "Jordu", and "Joy Spring".

Cyclist rides in with Bones In Motion – a joint release by Stones Throw and Leaving Records – an icy cool mix of early electro and housey influences with grittier, more experimental touches! The hypnotic approach and 80s era synth atmosphere bring Tour De France era Kraftwerk to mind – which sure makes the name Cyclist an apt one – and whether the name is a Kraftwerk nod or not, there's a lot more going on here! It's ultimately quite unique and all Cyclist's own. There's a hazy digital fog hanging over these instrumentals that give it a far fuzzier vibe than most 80s electronics-inspired sounds of the post millenium years – plus a thoroughly modern take on avant sampler dynamics. Distorted as they might be, there's usually a compelling, danceable beat underneath, too! Titles include "Feel Beauty", "Mangel", "Bones In Motion", "Sheen", "Makeshift", "Stove", "The March", "Visions", "Fleet Meeting", Black Train", "Another Exploitation", "

Cyclist rides in with Bones In Motion – a joint release by Stones Throw and Leaving Records – an icy cool mix of early electro and housey influences with grittier, more experimental touches! The hypnotic approach and 80s era synth atmosphere bring Tour De France era Kraftwerk to mind – which sure makes the name Cyclist an apt one – and whether the name is a Kraftwerk nod or not, there's a lot more going on here! It's ultimately quite unique and all Cyclist's own. There's a hazy digital fog hanging over these instrumentals that give it a far fuzzier vibe than most 80s electronics-inspired sounds of the post millenium years – plus a thoroughly modern take on avant sampler dynamics. Distorted as they might be, there's usually a compelling, danceable beat underneath, too! Titles include "Feel Beauty", "Mangel", "Bones In Motion", "Sheen", "Makeshift", "Stove", "The March", "Visions", "Fleet Meeting", Black Train", "Another Exploitation", "

The great debut from First Class – an east coast harmony group from the 70s, and one who work proudly here in some of the more uptempo styles of the time! Tracks here are often a bit extended, and filled with warmly clubby touches that are a nice All Platinum answer to the sound of Philly at the time – recorded in New Jersey, with orchestrations by Sammy Lowe and Mike Terry, who both take the music past standard dancefloor work. Tommy Keith plays some mean guitar in the backing group, and he also wrote and produced the whole record. Tracks include the wonderful stepper "Me & My Gemini" – a cut so good it makes us want to change our horoscope sign – plus the titles "Foxy Lady", "Let's Make Love", "This Is It", "Filled With Desire", "I've Got You", and "Lady Of The Evening". CD features lots of bonus tracks – including "Me & My Gemini (7" version)", "Me & My Gemini (inst)", "I Do", "So Glad That I Got You", and "This Is It (7" single)".

Cali mic veteran Planet Asia – paired up producer Gensu Dean! A tight, purposefully trend-skirting collaborative effort from a duo concerned with making high quality music that'll stand the test of time. Tracks include "Thoroughest", "Bar Mitzvah", "Chochise", "Faces O The Dollar", "Chuck Berry" feat Shawn Pen, "Listen", "Reflections", "Thyself" with David Banner & Tragedy Khadafi, "Do What I Want" with Larina & Washey Choir and more.

One of our favorite later albums by Stephane Grappelli – a really inventive little session that's filled with odd twists and turns! The outward format is somewhat simple – a quartet with Roland Hanna on piano, George Mraz on bass, and Mel Lewis on drums – but the structure of the songs is quite fresh, often with unusual timings and rhythms arranged by Hanna – which are themselves augmented by Grappelli's instrumentation – way more than just traditional jazz violin, and a complicated mixture of plucked and bowed phrasing. Titles include "Parisian Thoroughfare", "Wave", "Too Cute", "Fascinating Rhythm", "Love For Sale", and "Perugia".

An amazing bit of jazz funk from Johnny Hammond – and one of his greatest LPs! This is the first album that Johnny recorded with Larry Mizell, cut right before the pair of them went onto do the landmark Gears album. While this one never became as famous as Gears, it's got some fantastic moments that are every bit as great – a perfect blend of Mizell's spacey fusion and Hammond's fiercely soulful soloing, with lots of great jazzy changes to keep the pace fresh throughout. Includes the great spacey jazz cuts "Star Borne" and "Yesterday Was Cool", the latter of which is an excellent piece of work by Larry Mizell – plus the cuts "Back To The Projects", "Gambler's Life", "Rhodesian Thoroughfare", and "Virgo Lady". Plus, the CD features 4 bonus tracks that represent some of Johnny's best work for the Kudu label – including "Rock Steady", "Higher Ground", "Breakout", and "Who Is Sylvia".

Beautiful solo piano from Jovino Santos Neto – an artist we've loved on other releases from Adventure music, but one who really shines here in the spare space of their Piano Masters series! The isolation of Neto's instrument allows for even greater fascination with his subtle tones and textures than before – and honestly, the way the notes flow and ebb, we'd almost think that some passages featured more than one player, or overdubs – but are, as described in the notes, just the product of Jovino's open-ended freedom at the keyboard of a top-shelf piano. Tracks are a great mix of originals and surprising standards – and titles include "Bebe", "Amanha", "Descanso", "Na Batucada Da Vida", "Muito", "Nem Um Talvez", "Do Solo", "Choro Bandido", and "All The Things You Are".

Funky vibes, electric sitar, and a madly tripped-out album – one of the best of the MPS psychedelic jazz sessions from the end of the 60s! Back in the US, Dave Pike was always a pretty straight vibist – but he's working here with his European combo that included the legendary Volker Kriegel – who plays both electric guitar and sitar on the record, giving it a really groovy "Eastern" sort of vibe! Drummer Peter Baumeister kicks the bottom of the set mightily – rolling in a modal groove one minute, picking up a heavier funk approach the next – and always inspiring the rest of the group to stretch out in the grooviest way possible. Tracks are shortish, but filled with great sonic touches – and titles include the legendary "Mathar", a well known bit of sitar funk – plus the tracks "Mother People", "I'm On My Way", "Regards From Freddie Horowitz", and "Walkin' Down The Highway In A Red Raw Egg".

Early live work from Baden Powell – a set recorded for Elenco in Brazil, but done with some of the best stripped-down, intimate modes of his later European recordings! Baden's acoustic guitar is firmly in the lead on most tracks, and the sound is almost solo, in a way – as the added piano of Oscar Castro Neves and drums of Victor Manga are really just used to color in the spare lines on Powell's guitar. There's a warmly jazzy sensibility to some of the tunes – and titles include "Astronauta", "Tempo Feliz", "Preludio Em Re Menor", "Valsa De Euridice", "Samba De Uma Nota So", "Berimbau/Choro Para Metronomo", and "Lamento".

A striking solo set from Phillipe Baden Powell – much bolder and more expressive than his previous album – even though the overall feel is a lot more stripped-down too! Baden's got a very sharp approach to the keys of the piano – working here in a range of tones that's really breathtaking – a stark palette of sounds that's recorded with just the right sort of depth to let all of his most subtle touches come through. As befits his roots, the tunes are a mix of Brazilian numbers and jazz standards – plus a few original compositions as well – and titles include "Canto Triste", "Consolacao", "Prologue", "The Meantime", "Loro", "Choro Para Metronomo", "Ending", "Giant Steps", and "Vista Chinesa".

Dramatic funk from 70s Iran – some really compelling grooves, set to rich vocals by the lovely Ramesh! The approach here definitely borrows bits from Western culture – some rhythms and elements that echo American mainstream soul and funk of the time, with moogy touches too – but the overall execution is often a lot more exotic, and often has the same sort of appeal as Bollywood funk – with all the offbeat references that might imply! In another setting, Ramesh might sound too soppy or emotive – but here, amidst some very groovy grooves, her vocals are wonderful – and ring out as just the right topping for the creative instrumentation of the tracks. Titles include "Nago na", "Delakam", "Labe Daryaa", "Ghoroobaa Ghashangan", "Zoj", "Sharm-E Boos-E", and "Afosoos".

Dramatic funk from 70s Iran – some really compelling grooves, set to rich vocals by the lovely Ramesh! The approach here definitely borrows bits from Western culture – some rhythms and elements that echo American mainstream soul and funk of the time, with moogy touches too – but the overall execution is often a lot more exotic, and often has the same sort of appeal as Bollywood funk – with all the offbeat references that might imply! In another setting, Ramesh might sound too soppy or emotive – but here, amidst some very groovy grooves, her vocals are wonderful – and ring out as just the right topping for the creative instrumentation of the tracks. Titles include "Nago na", "Delakam", "Labe Daryaa", "Ghoroobaa Ghashangan", "Zoj", "Sharm-E Boos-E", and "Afosoos".

One of the most obscure albums ever cut by Latin vibes genius Pete Terrace – and one of the best, too! The album's got a great mix of jazzy and soulful influences – a sound that's a fair bit groovier than some of Pete's other, earlier records – with a hard swinging on most numbers, thanks to plenty of heavy piano, timbales, and vibes! A number of tracks have vocals in choro style, but the main focus here is instrumental – almost creating a mini-descarga sort of vibe at times, and a Latin Soul groove at others. Titles include "Now", "Carmela", "What", "Arw", "Deadalus", "Hi", "Walkin", "Zee Pee", "Mio", and "Fiebre De Tu Amor".

A killer album of German fusion from the late 70s – a blend of acoustic elements, Brazilian rhythms, and freer jazz moments that's right up there with the best of the Glucklich generation! The group's led by percussionist Heinz Von Moisy – and it features plenty of his own rootsy work – but also includes vibes, bass, and guitar – all in a swirlingly rhythmic blend! Some of the longer cuts have spare, spacier moments – but others get nice and tight, and the album's a great example of the organic advances of the German jazz scene after the initial spark of the MPS generation. Titles include the classic "Nil", plus "Las Plantas", "The Lost Dream", "Mirage", "Samba Do Contrabandista", and "La Carretera".

A (sadly) posthumous release from Amy Winehouse – a voice we loved for a couple good years before knowing how troubled she was in real life and now lament the loss of – and this set, largely put together by producer Salaam Remi turned out surprisingly well! It'd be pretty easy to bow to cynicism, but for our money, there's more than enough strong stuff here. It features production by Remi, plus Mark Ronson on a couple tracks, and it's a mix of styles that ably demonstrate Amy's depth as an interpreter. There's some great, kinda late night jazzy soul numbers, classic level 60s R&B and thoroughly modern hip hop soul – all with strong vocal performances from Amy. Includes "Our Day Will Come", "Between The Cheats", "Tears Dry (Original Version)", "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (2011)", "Like Smoke" feat Nas (and some eerily timely lyricism, as of this album's release date), "Valerie ('68 Version)", "Half Time", "The Girl From Ipanema", "Half Time", "Body & Soul" with Tony Bennett, "A Song For You" and more.

A pretty amazing little package – one that traces the evolution of 100 years of Brazilian music – with an especially strong focus on the best styles of the 20th Century! The performance is a live one – and features a host of talents, both famous and lesser-known – all very well suited to the genres they've chosen to tackle here – which includes a wide range of music from choro through bossa and samba – and even some of the more popular lyrical modes of the postwar years. Most numbers have a relatively earthy feel – almost like some of the Discos Marcos Pereira projects of the time – and artists include Luiza Gonzaga, Johnny Alf, As Gatas, Cauby Piexoto, Jackson Do Pandeiro, Alaide Costa, Doris Monteiro, Pery Ribeiro, Lucio Alves, Beth Carvalho, Cartola, Elza Soares, Paulina Da Viola, Roberto Silva, and many others. Box set features all of the 8 original albums – packaged together in one sweet collection!

Over 3 hours of classical piano virtuosity, including performances by Vladimir Horowitz, Artur Rubinstein, Edwin Fischer, Sviatoslav Richter, Glen Gould, Wilhelm Backhaus, Alfred Cortot, and others!

15 years of music from the Syliphone label – a key factor in the musical shift during Guinea's first few decades of independence – and home to the new "authenticite" policy of merging older roots and modern musical touches! The styles here are a great overview of the best sounds in Guinea during this period – played by a host of national orchestras on the scene – some well-known from other reissue collections, some reaching our ears for the first time here. There's a nicely complicated style to some of the music here, especially as the tracks move into the 70s – with horn passages that are particularly great, often with odd notes and a very other-worldy sound – cast out alongside more straightforward rhythms on percussion and guitar. Many numbers have vocals, but the instrumental passages get almost equal prominence even in these tunes – and the 2CD set features a beautiful 44 page booklet with wonderful notes on the music! 28 tracks in all – including "Soumba" by Kebendo Jazz, "Diaraby" by Balla Et Ses Balladins, "Soundiata" by Keletigui Et Ses Tambourinis, "Koukou Befo" by Orchestre De Beyla, "PDG" by Orchestre Du Jardin De Guinee, "Nana" by Soumbory Jazz, "Were Were" by Horoya Band, "Zimai" by Palm Jazz, "Fabara" by Syli Authentic, "Ziko" by Nimba Jazz, and "Festival" by Le Simandou De Beyla.

Mindblowing music from the trio of Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson, and Jo Armstead – most of it composed and recorded in New York during the mid 60s – before Armstead left for the Chicago scene, and Ashford & Simpson went to work for Motown in Detroit! The three writers have a really beautiful way of putting over a tune – fresh lyrics that are perfect for the budding soul generation of the 60s – and which often get some production work from the members of the trio too, especially on some of the tracks here that were issued by Wand Records. The package does a perfect job of unearthing these early years – pulling together compositions by the three (and occasionally just by Ashford & Simpson) – and illuminating this period with notes that are as thorough as the selection of tracks on the set. Titles include "Dance Children Dance" by Mary Love, "The Shoe Won't Fit" by Betty Everett, "Look Away" by The Shirelles, "Are You Trying To Get Rid Of Me Baby" by The Crystals, "I Don't Need No Doctor" by Sandy Nelson, "Please Little Angel" by Doris Troy, "The Real Thing" by The Chiffons, "Smokie Joe's" by The Jewels, "Say It Again" by Marie Knight, "Looky Looky" by Candy & The Kisses, "Mr Creator" by The Apollas, "You're Absolutely Right" by Tina Britt, "I'm Satisfied" by Chuck Jackson & Maxine Brown, "Cry Like A Baby" by Aretha Franklin, "Same Old Feeling" by Jo Ann & Troy, "Only Your Love Can Save Me" by Betty LaVette, and "Love Ain't What It Used To Be" by The Diplomats.

A startlingly deep and diverse second volume of ethnographic recordings from the first half of the 20th century – Secret Museum Of Mankind Volume 2 – material culled from archival 78s of recordings made all over the world! Includes recordings from Bulgaria, Puerto Rico, India, Mozambique, Ukraine, Trinidad, Kazakhstan, Ceylon, Tibet and many more points globally – compiled by archivist Pat Conte and seeing a very well done vinyl pressing of the series after initial CD sets in the 90s. Amazing! 23 tracks on 2LPs: "Storise Khoro Goliamo" by Mita Stoycheva (Bulgaria), "Old Time Cat-O'-Nine" by Lord Invader (Trinidad), "Paghjelle" by Corale Corse (Corsica), "Kaike Ena Sholio" by A Kostis (Greece), "Umakotshaha" by John Bhengu (South Africa), "Liau Kwo Da Tsaou Yuen" by Bau In Da Li Ga (Tibet) and much more!

The second volume of work that Donald Byrd recorded live at the Olympia in Paris in 1958 – even harder-hitting in tone than the first! The set features Byrd playing some tight hardbop lines – working in a cool group that also features Bobby Jaspar on tenor, Walter Davis Jr on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – all players who come together with the sound and style of some of those great late 50s Prestige blowing sessions! The difference, though, is that Byrd is the clear leader here – working his trumpet solos with techniques that really show him growing as an artist on this Paris trip – forging a tight vision into the music that makes it way more than just a loose bop exercise on stage. You'll hear that especially on "52nd Street Theme", but the whole set's pretty darn great – and tracks include "At This Time", "Formidable", "Two Bass Hit", "Parisian Thoroughfare", and "Stardust".

One of the lovelier records cut by guitarist Laurindo Almeida during the 1950s – a spare set of duets with pianist Ray Turner – featuring original tunes and tracks by Brazilian composers, all performed in a lightly poetic style. The album's got lots of wonderful work on acoustic guitar from Almeida, very much in the pre-bossa mode that he's credited with as an influence on a later generation of Brazilian musicians. Titles include "Serenata", "Copacabana Sunset", "Gavota Choro", "Nosso Choro", and "Concertino For Guitar & Piano".

Brilliant work by the team of Clifford Brown and Max Roach – a seminal hardbop album that was one of the few to bridge the east and west coast scenes! The set was recorded in LA under the joint leadership of Brown and Roach – and features the classic quintet lineup that included Harold Land on tenor, Richie Powell (Bud's brother!) on piano, and George Morrow on bass. The mix of Roach's heavy full-on drumming and Brown's lyrical beauty is beyond compare – and Land's angular and sensitive tenor lines provide a perfect link between the two. Titles include classics like "Parisian Thoroughfare", "The Blues Walk", "Daahoud", "Jordu", and "Joy Spring".

Some of the most ambitious electric work from Joe Henderson to date – a record that really has him stretching out from his previous small combo keyboard sets, into a space that's much fuller and even more righteous! Frequent partner George Cables is very much in force on electric piano – helping create that floating middle-level sound that really lets Henderson find some new space on tenor – as well as soprano sax and flute. Other players are a range of different musicians with a similar spirit – and include David Horowitz on synthesizer, Ralph MacDonald and Airto on percussion, Jack DeJohnette on drums and electric piano, Dave Holland on acoustic bass, Ron Carter on electric bass, and Georg Waldenius on guitar. Some of the cuts have a Brazilian tinge, others have a moody fusiony feel – really stretching out with intensity! Titles include "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Mind", "Terra Firma", "Current Events", and "Vis-a-Vis".

One of Antonio Carlos Jobim's greatest records – and a perfect blend of his subtle bossa genius with the moody electric sound of CTI! Jobim plays electric and acoustic piano, guitar, and sings a bit – and Deodato handled the arrangements with a breezy brilliance that matches all the magic of Jobim's wonderful compositions, but gives them a slightly more fluid feel too – in a way that's somewhat more sophisticated than the sound of Jobim's previous CTI outings – Tide and Wave. Other players on the album include Joe Farrell on soprano sax, Hubert Laws on flute, and Airto on percussion – and there's a great mix of Brazilian and American styles on the set – electric, sinister, breezy, and always wonderful! Includes the titles "Sabia", "God & The Devil In The Land Of The Sun", "Children's Games", "Stone Flower", "Brazil", "Tereza My Love", and "Choro".

One of Dave Pike's best American albums after his groundbreaking funky jazz work in Germany for MPS! This one's got some nice lines flowing between Pike's vibes and Tom Ranier's electric piano, and the tracks include "Secret Mystery of Hensch", "Visions of Spain", and "Regards from Freddie Horowitz", all pretty good groovers.

It's hard to overstate the influence of Max Roach and Clifford Brown on the west coast scene of the 50s – as the two players helped draw out the bop sound of LA that was quickly getting lost in the cool jazz shuffle of the time, and gave it a strength and focus that not only made the group one of the strongest of the time, but which also sparked new life and a hardbop generation on the LA scene! This classic set of live recordings was one of the first great Brown/Roach moments – recorded during 2 different concerts by Gene Norman Presents, and featuring some great tenor work by LA giants Teddy Edwards and Harold Land, plus some piano by the amazing "sideways" player Carl Perkins, as well as Bud Powell's brother Richie – a key factor of the group's studio recordings on Mercury, and a player who would perish in the same accident that took the life of Clifford Brown. This CD features the full versions of most of the tracks that have been highly edited on the GNP albums over the years – including "Clifford's Axe", "Sunset Eyes", "Jordu", "I Can't Get Started", "Parisian Thoroughfare", and "Tenderly". A few edits persist in a few parts, as the unedited tapes appear to be lost – but many of the tracks are in nice longish versions!

Skyy is still shining brightly in the mid 80s – delivering nicely thumping, dancefloor ready soul on From The Left Side! After a number of sweet sets for Salsoul, the group moved on up to Capitol Records for this one set – embracing the era's synth soul production sheen more than ever, but their by now veteran status as a funky soul group on top of disco and dancefloor act informs the sound. The beats thump harder, the electronics resonate that much deeper, and overall they create a thoroughly contemporary mid-to-late 80s style groove that should have made this record bust out huge for them. Includes "Givin It (To You)", "Love Attack", "Non-Stop", "Big Fun". "Love Illogical", "Jealousitis" and "Rock It".

The full scope of the mighty songwriting talents of Carole King and Gerry Goffin – a much-chronicled 60s team who had plenty of troubles of their own, but who brought some really amazing music to the world at the time! The package features songs in a variety of genres – soul, pop, rock, country, and more – including some appearing here on CD for the first time ever, and plenty more that aren't just the obvious Goffin/King hits! The CD features a huge booklet – nearly 25 pages in all – with track-by-track notes on the tunes, as well as on the songwriting team – and as with some of Ace's other explorations into 60s pop powerhouses, the single disc package is almost more informative and thorough than some bigger box sets. Titles include "He's In Town" by The Tokens, "Don't Ever Change" by The Crickets, "The First & The Last" by The Chiffons, "Brand New Man" by Richard Popcorn Wylie, "Let Me Get Close To You" by Skeeter Davis, "The Idol" by Bobby Vee, "I Can't Make It Alone" by PJ Proby, "Just A Little Girl" by Donna Loren, "I Can't Hear You" by Betty Everett, "I Just Can't Say Goodbye" by Bobby Rydell, "I Didn't Have Any Summer Romance" by The Satisfactions, "Yours Until Tomorrow" by Dee Dee Warwick, "So Much Love" by Ben E King, and "A Natural Woman" by Aretha Franklin.

Breezy bossa nova – Hollywood 60s style! The album's one of the best cut for Capitol by guitarist Laurindo Almeida – and has a sweet groovy little style that features Laurindo's lovely guitar work over some lightly dancing small combo backings that include flute, harmonica, organ, percussion, and even a bit of whistling on a few tracks! The vibe's very much in the best Verve/Impulse takes on the bossa – done with a clear California influence, which keeps things cool and breezy – and which also pushes Almeida past his sometimes-staid style on guitar. Two cuts also feature some great vocals by Irene Kral – and titles include "Twilight In Rio", "Old Guitaron", "Sarah's Samba", "Izabella", "Winter Moon", "Girl From Ipanema", and "Choro For People In Love".

The second volume of work that Donald Byrd recorded live at the Olympia in Paris in 1958 – even harder-hitting in tone than the first! The set features Byrd playing some tight hardbop lines – working in a cool group that also features Bobby Jaspar on tenor, Walter Davis Jr on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – all players who come together with the sound and style of some of those great late 50s Prestige blowing sessions! The difference, though, is that Byrd is the clear leader here – working his trumpet solos with techniques that really show him growing as an artist on this Paris trip – forging a tight vision into the music that makes it way more than just a loose bop exercise on stage. You'll hear that especially on "52nd Street Theme", but the whole set's pretty darn great – and tracks include "At This Time", "Formidable", "Two Bass Hit", "Parisian Thoroughfare", and "Stardust".

An amazing live performance from the legendary Joao Donato – captured here at the height of his 70s revival years, but with a spirit that hearkens back to his classic work of the bossa generation! The setting is spare and stark – classic Ensaio footage from TV, with a strong focus on Donato's face and hands as he sings and plays piano – and even a bit of accordion on a few tracks too! Tunes are a mix of older bossa compositions and some of the new grooves Donato was cutting in the 70s – but all tracks are done in this spare mode that's really wonderful – and quite different from Joao's studio work of the period. Titles include "A Ra", "Carangue Jo", "Ate Quem Sabe", "Lugar Comum", "Chorou Chorou", "Outra Vez", "Mini", "Levanta Poeira", "Flor De Maracuja", and "Que Besteira".

One of Antonio Carlos Jobim's greatest records – and a perfect blend of his subtle bossa genius with the moody electric sound of CTI! Jobim plays electric and acoustic piano, guitar, and sings a bit – and Deodato handled the arrangements with a breezy brilliance that matches all the magic of Jobim's wonderful compositions, but gives them a slightly more fluid feel too – in a way that's somewhat more sophisticated than the sound of Jobim's previous CTI outings – Tide and Wave. Other players on the album include Joe Farrell on soprano sax, Hubert Laws on flute, and Airto on percussion – and there's a great mix of Brazilian and American styles on the set – electric, sinister, breezy, and always wonderful! Includes the titles "Sabia", "God & The Devil In The Land Of The Sun", "Children's Games", "Stone Flower", "Brazil", "Tereza My Love", and "Choro". Also comes with a bonus alternate of "Brazil".

Some of the boldest, most expressive work we've heard from Edu Lobo in years – a beautiful recording with the Metropole Orchestra, who help Lobo regain all the lofty power of his early 70s years! The arrangements here are full, and full of feeling too – lead vocals by Lobo soaring over the top of his sublime compositions, pushed onward strongly with the full orchestrations of the ensemble –and given some great jazzy undercurrents by the flute and sax work of Mauro Senise! We always like Edu, but the album's a real return to the qualities that first made us fall in love with his music so many years ago – and is continuing proof that the Metropole Orchestra really know how to bring new energy to an artist. Titles include "Vento Bravo", "Canto Triste", "Casa Forte", "Zanzibar", "Ave Rara", "Choro Bandido", "A Bela E A Fera", "Frevo Diabo", and "Danca Do Corrupiao".

An essential book for detail-oriented beatheads – a "Sampling Dictionary", and one that spells out original samples used for thousands of hip hop tracks! The book's of Japanese origin, and it's done with a thoroughness that blows away previous efforts like this – completely alphabetical by the name of the artist doing the sampling, then song by song for the artist, with listings for both the artist and title of the original sample used! There's over 16,000 entries in the book – which is a well-produced paperback that's over 240 pages – essential for carrying around on crate-digging trips. Plus, the book also features "The Commandments Of Diggers" on the back – and the first one is "Always bring this book with you."

A loving look at the Adventure Music label – served up in a 3CD set that offers a heck of a lot of great music for a very low price, all hand-picked by the lovely Monday Michiru! Adventure's been one of the best sources for Brazilian music and acoustic sounds for the past decade – a label with a really strong dedication to a few sorts of styles – like some of the best mixes of jazz, bossa, and choro modes recorded in Brazil – or the wonderful post-folk acoustic underground that's risen up in the US. The package really spans the full scope of the label's music – and offers up a whopping 44 tracks in all – all to introduce you to their efforts. Our hat's off to Monday for the track selection – and the package features work by Hamilton De Holanda, Ricardo Silveira, Daniel Santiago, Muiza Adnet, Mike Marshall, Jovino Santos Neto, Moacir Santos, Antonio Arnedo, Maria Marquez, Clarice Assad, Tom Lellis, Eva Scow, Gui Mallon, Toninho Horta, Florencia Ruiz, Alex Hargreaves, Philippe Baden Powell, and others!

An incredible follow up to the first New Orleans Funk compilation on Soul Jazz – even harder-hitting than the first, and filled with funky rare gems! This set took nearly a decade to follow the first, but it's been well worth the wait – and the crew at Soul Jazz have clearly used all that time to dig way past the obvious on the New Orleans scene, and come up with a really incredible batch of all-funky cuts all the way through! Even if you've got a dozen other New Orleans funk collections in your collection, you'll find plenty here to win you over – as the package goes out of its way to pull cuts from rare singles and under-reissued material – then wraps the whole thing up with the usual extra-thorough Soul Jazz approach to liner notes and details. And while some of the names are familiar here, they're nicely interspersed with lesser-known folks who keep things fresh – making for a winning lineup that really sets a new standard for this sort of set. Titles include "The Twitch" by Danny White, "Street Parade" by Earl King, "Four Corners" by Lee Dorsey, "Hot Tamales" by The Prime Mates, "Tequila" by Allen Toussaint, "Right Place Wrong Time" by Ray J, "Gossip" by Cyril Neville, "Hold On Help Is On The Way" by G Davis & R Tyler, "Funky Belly" by Warren Lee, "I'm Mr Big Stuff" by Jimmy Hicks, "The Rubber Band" by Eddie Bo, "12 Red Roses" by Betty Harris, "What Do You See In Her" by Inell Young, "You Keep Me Hanging On" by Bonnie & Sheila, "Yeah You're Right You Know You're Right" by The Gaturs, "The Tap" by Porgy Jones, and "Bo Diddley" by Art Neville.

One of the most beautiful albums we've ever heard from Toshiko Akioshi – a wonderfully sensitive trio session that's quite different than her more bop-oriented work of the 50s! The mid 60s album features a fair bit of tunes pulled from traditional and Japanese sources – a few of the lullabies hinted at in the title, and a few more tracks with some slightly Eastern-styled themes. Toshiko's piano, while bold at times, also has a sensitivity that hadn't often shown up in her work by this point – a new sort of gentleness that's open to light colors and tones that really flesh out the album beautifully. Bass is by Yasuo Arakawa and drums are by Kanji Harada – and that's a young Monday Michiru sitting on the piano on the cover (and the album was also one of the last to bill Toshiko as "Mariano", referring to Monday's father Charlie.) Titles include "Mari To Tonosama", "The March", "Angel's Lullaby", "Tuppen Och Honan", "London Bridge", "Cancion De Extremadura", "Kanchororin Bushi", "I Ken Pien Tan", and "Chocho".

One of Antonio Carlos Jobim's greatest records – and a perfect blend of his subtle bossa genius with the moody electric sound of CTI! Jobim plays electric and acoustic piano, guitar, and sings a bit – and Deodato handled the arrangements with a breezy brilliance that matches all the magic of Jobim's wonderful compositions, but gives them a slightly more fluid feel too – in a way that's somewhat more sophisticated than the sound of Jobim's previous CTI outings – Tide and Wave. Other players on the album include Joe Farrell on soprano sax, Hubert Laws on flute, and Airto on percussion – and there's a great mix of Brazilian and American styles on the set – electric, sinister, breezy, and always wonderful! Includes the titles "Sabia", "God & The Devil In The Land Of The Sun", "Children's Games", "Stone Flower", "Brazil", "Tereza My Love", and "Choro".

Beautiful reed work from Mauro Senise – spun out over some really creative arrangements that have him sounding even more fluid and expansive than ever – and recorded with help from great guests who include Hermeto Pascoal, Egberto Gismonti, Wagner Tiso, Edu Lobo, and Gilson Peranzzetta! Given that Mauro's helped out most of these artists over the years, the sense of collaboration here is really warm and rich – that great Brazilian instrumental way of sounding expressive, yet never in an overly-emotive or cloying sort of way – easily moving through some classic references, but always with a sense of fresh discovery too. Titles include "Choro Bandido", "Ondine", "Choro Sim Porque Nao", "Tie Sangue", "Bodas De Prata", and "Mauro E Ana". DVD features one more track than the CD, too!

An incredible follow up to the first New Orleans Funk compilation on Soul Jazz – even harder-hitting than the first, and filled with funky rare gems! This set took nearly a decade to follow the first, but it's been well worth the wait – and the crew at Soul Jazz have clearly used all that time to dig way past the obvious on the New Orleans scene, and come up with a really incredible batch of all-funky cuts all the way through! Even if you've got a dozen other New Orleans funk collections in your collection, you'll find plenty here to win you over – as the package goes out of its way to pull cuts from rare singles and under-reissued material – then wraps the whole thing up with the usual extra-thorough Soul Jazz approach to liner notes and details. And while some of the names are familiar here, they're nicely interspersed with lesser-known folks who keep things fresh – making for a winning lineup that really sets a new standard for this sort of set. Titles include "The Twitch" by Danny White, "Street Parade" by Earl King, "Four Corners" by Lee Dorsey, "Hot Tamales" by The Prime Mates, "Tequila" by Allen Toussaint, "Right Place Wrong Time" by Ray J, "Gossip" by Cyril Neville, "Hold On Help Is On The Way" by G Davis & R Tyler, "Funky Belly" by Warren Lee, "I'm Mr Big Stuff" by Jimmy Hicks, "The Rubber Band" by Eddie Bo, "12 Red Roses" by Betty Harris, "What Do You See In Her" by Inell Young, "You Keep Me Hanging On" by Bonnie & Sheila, "Yeah You're Right You Know You're Right" by The Gaturs, "The Tap" by Porgy Jones, and "Bo Diddley" by Art Neville.