A rare vocal session from Jane Powell – a singer better known for her film performances, but who sounds pretty darn great here on an obscure 50s studio session for Verve! Jane's got a higher-voiced style than most of the other singers on Verve, but she's brought down to earth nicely by arranger Buddy Bregman – who manages to keep things jazzy and swinging, but also creates some of the loftier modes from her film work – some lush moments that really come through on the mellower tracks. Titles include "My Baby Just Cares For Me", "Comes Love", "In Love In Vain", "Can't We Be Friends", "Imagination", and "Ev'ry Time". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer album from Sonny Rollins' prime 60s years at RCA – almost a return to basics, but always with that edge that makes Rollins stand out way more than most of his contemporaries – a subtle balance between straight and modern that really makes the album crackle! The album features Sonny working with Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter or Bob Cranshaw on bass, Roy McCurdy on drums – and a bit of welcome additional cornet from Thad Jones – sounding great here in a small group setting. Tracks are mostly jazz standards, but done with an incredible poise on the solos – completely transforming the tunes with Rollins' rich imagination! Titles include "52nd St Theme", "Round Midnight", "Four", "Afternoon In Paris", "St Thomas", and "I Remember Clifford". LP, Vinyl record album

Early Rollins work for Prestige – recorded between 1951 and 1954, in a variety of settings! Like a lot of the other Milestone 2LP sets issued in the 70s, this album collects tracks from a number of sessions, restoring recordings to the order they were recorded in rather than how they were originally issued, which in this case was mostly as 10" LPs, under a variety of titles including Mambo Jazz, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rollins With The Modern Jazz Quartet and others. As such the set features five lineups, all smaller groups, mostly quartets and sidemen include Miles Davis, Roy Haynes, Elmo Hope, Kenny Dorham, Thelonius Monk, Kenny Drew, Percy Heath, and Art Blakey. Since most of this was originally issued on 10"s, the tunes are shorter than you might be used to hearing Rollins' LPs, but there's still plenty of power and imagination in the grooves – very economical solos, crafted with a great deal of imagination. 20 tracks in all, with including "Scoops", "Shadrack", "Mambo Bounce", "The Stopper", "I Know", "Movin' Out", "Solid", "Newk's Fadeaway", "Silk'N'Satin", and "No Moe". LP, Vinyl record album

If worktime was like this for us, you'd catch us showing up on the job early every day – but sadly, nothing at our office can match the brilliance of early Sonny Rollins here – a sharp-edged genius that perfectly illustrates why he was one of the greatest players on his horn for many decades running! There's a depth of tone on the record that rivals Coleman Hawkins or Lester Young – but a quickness of pace and imagination that shows a clear influence from Charlie Parker, and a deftness that few were bringing to the tenor at the time. The rhythm section here is super tight – and features Ray Bryant on piano, George Morrow on bass, and Max Roach on drums – all supporting Rollins' bold lead with lines that bristle with electricity, but still often fall back to let the sound of the tenor envelop the whole group. Tracks are longish, and titles include "Raincheck", "There Are Such Things", "Paradox", and "It's All Right With Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Shoes continue the brilliance of their first album for Elektra – serving up the kind of music that was so well-done, so subtle, it was maybe missed by most of the world at the time – even though it's gone onto the status of classic, thanks to legions of fans and critics! Shoes have a way with a tune that's unlike anyone else – maybe that compressed charm of Big Star, but fused into the sharper modes of the power pop years – but without any of the too commercial modes of some of the bigger groups of the time. Instead, the whole thing feels like you've just stumbled upon a brilliant band, playing in a backroom bar – which, unfortunately, is how Shoes spent too much of their career. Titles include "Only In My Sleep", "She Satisfies", "Found A Girl", "Hate To Run", "When It Hits", "Yes Or No", "Your Imagination", and "Girls Of Today". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the first-ever album to be issued under the name of the great Charles Stepney – even though the artist/musician/producer/songwriter had a huge role in the careers of Chicago contemporaries like Minnie Riperton, Ramsey Lewis, and Earth Wind & Fire! This set brings together recordings that Stepney made on his own, often in his home studio – many of which are songs that never saw the light of day on some of his bigger-name projects, next to others that feature melodies you might recognize, but done in these sweet jazzy instrumentals that are totally great! Most of the set features Charles on a variety of keyboards Rhodes, piano, and even some cool moogy bits – plus some vibes from time to time – often set to spare early electric drum machine rhythms – in a style that makes you feel like you've stumbled upon Timmy Thomas doing an all instrumental jam session in the early 70s. Given that Stepney first got his start as a jazz musician – playing piano and vibes on some great early 60s sessions – the keyboard work is superb, and the record stands as a completely different testament to his genius – with titles that include "Funky Sci Fi", "Gotta Dig It To Dig It", "Daddy's Diddies", "Rubie Charles", "Notes From Dad", "Black Bold", "Gimme Some Sugar", "No Credit For This", "Imagination", "Look B4U Leap", "Mini Mugg", "Denim Groove", and "That's The Way Of The World". LP, Vinyl record album

A very nicely selected 2LP set of tracks from Stitt's oft-overlooked years at Argo/Chess! The tracks have him in great company that includes the pianists Barry Harris, John Young, and Ronnie Matthews – and if you know Stitt's style from the time, you know that his choice of piano player made a very important difference in the sound of his playing. Most of the cuts are easily blown quartet material – with a lot of creative imagination applied to tunes that would otherwise be top-snooze material in the hands of a lesser player. Titles include "Ko Ko", "It's Hipper Than That", "A Natural Fox", "Wee", "Reed & A Half", "Flame & Frost", and "A Minor Sax". LP, Vinyl record album

A really tremendous album from The Talking Heads – and a set that moves far past their already-great early records, to really show a rhythmic complexity we never would have expected! Brian Eno is helping the group in the studio again here, and the record really shows both David Byrne and Eno's late 70s fascination with global rhythms – elements that are often used in spare, simple little ways to really help inflect the tunes with a playful imagination that goes way beyond the colder post-punk and new wave of most of their contemporaries! The balance of previous aesthetics with these new grooves is wonderful – heard to great effect on the classic club cut "I Zimbra" – but brewing up strongly underneath on gems that include "Mind", "Paper", "Cities", "Life During Wartime", "Memories Can't Wait", "Air", "Heaven", "Animals", "Electric Guitar", and "Drugs". LP, Vinyl record album

A great "birth of the cool" album from Capitol – a 10" record that brings together some key recordings from that pivotal jazz year of 1949! Titles include "Imagination" by a large group with Bill Harris in the lead on trombone; "Wow", "Marionette", and "Yesterdays" from a great Lennie Tristano group with Warne Marsh on tenor, Lee Konitz on alto, and Billy Bauer on guitar; "Boplicity" by Miles Davis with JJ Johnson and Lee Konitz; and "Penthouse Serenade", "Extrovert", and "Good For Nothin Joe" by a quintet with Buddy DeFranco on clarinet and Teddy Cohen on vibes. LP, Vinyl record album

As pure a distillation of McCoy Tyner's lyrical vision as one could ever hope for – a brilliant early standout session for the pianist as a leader! McCoy is backed up here by the energetic drumming of Elvin Jones – with whom he shares a natural empathy from their many years together under Coltrane – as well as the incomparable bass of Ron Carter, and the spirited tenor of Joe Henderson – both players who make the quartet date explode with a fresh sense of imagination – the kind of work that has McCoy stepping out strongly from the shadows of The Great One, into a hip space of his own. The set glistens with 5 Tyner originals – including "Passion Dance", "Four By Five", "Contemplation" and "Search for Peace" – all of which point towards new directions in the post-Coltrane years! LP, Vinyl record album

A massive Fender Rhodes set from early 70s Belgium – the kind of set that never shows up on this side of the Atlantic, and which is pretty darn rare in its home territory too! Keyboardist Jack Van Poll has a wonderful sense of space on this set – a way of letting the tunes build simply and gracefully – often with a slow-growing groove that lets the Rhodes roll along wonderfully – never too slow, though, and always with a sweet funky undercurrent! And while we'd never heard of Jack before this set, he's got a great sense of style and imagination on his solos – very open, but always with a soulful undercurrent. The rest of the trio includes Mary Hehuat on Fender bass and Ruud Pronk on drums – and titles include "Marriedyet", "Blue Tait", "A Box For Leslie", "Sweet Georgie Fame", "Passage To Pferov", and "Objizdka". LP, Vinyl record album

In the years immediately preceding the rise of the MPB giants of the post-Tropicalia years, Geraldo Vandre was one of Brazil's best talents, and an extremely strong singer/songwriter who managed to build a bridge from the bossa era to the present. This incredible album from the mid 60s is one of his best – and features an amazing set of songs that match any of the best Brazilian work of the 60s. Some tracks are folksy, some have a bit of a jazz sound – and the range of styles seems to run from Leonard Cohen to Marcos Valle to Dick Farney. Really great stuff – with an imagination and soulfulness that still leaves us breathless. Titles include "Requiem Para Matraga", "Tristeza De Amar", "Pequeno Concerto Que Ficou Cancao", "Rosa Flor", "Que Quizer Encontrar O Amor", and "Porta Estandarte". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from Charlie Ventura – just the kind of record to make you appreciate what an amazing player he was back in the day! The session's a nice spare one, without some of the pyrotechnics or showmanship of other Ventura albums – especially the live dates – and the intimacy really lets Charlie open up in a personal, creative sort of way on his tenor – almost rivaling Lester Young or Ben Webster for tone and imagination. Great Verve-like work throughout – with rhythm by Gene Kutch, Louis Cicchini, and Ace Tesone – and tracks that include "Blues For Two", "Somebody Loves Me", "Limehouse Blues", "Blue Prelude", and "Girl Of My Dreams". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic session of mellow magic from tenorist Lester Young and pianist Teddy Wilson – both giants of jazz from an earlier generation, but maybe sounding even better here in a sublime Verve Records setting from the 50s! Young's tenor fronts the trio of Wilson – with Gene Ramey on bass and Joe Jones on drums – a somewhat unassuming group, which means that Lester's power really holds sway throughout – these magical solos that so easygoing they almost seem effortless – but which are filled with soul and imagination. Titles include "Love Me Or Leave Me", "All Of Me", "Prisoner Of Love", and "Love Is Here To Stay". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of Verve Classics – back to back on this UK album from the 70s! First up is Jazz Giants 56 – a timeless ensemble session from Verve Records! The feel here is almost in jam session mode, but perhaps a bit tighter – a group of all-star players from the mid-50s, with Lester Young on tenor, Roy Eldridge on trumpet, Vic Dickenson on trombone, Teddy Wilson on piano, and Freddie Green on guitar – a nice mix of generations and styles that really helps open up the sound of the record. Tracks are nice and long, taken in that open, solo-conscious Verve mode – and tunes include "I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan", "This Year's Kisses", "You Can Depend On Me", and "I Didn't Know What Time It Was". Next is Pres & Teddy – a classic session of mellow magic from tenorist Lester Young and pianist Teddy Wilson – both giants of jazz from an earlier generation, but maybe sounding even better here in a sublime Verve Records setting from the 50s! Young's tenor fronts the trio of Wilson – with Gene Ramey on bass and Joe Jones on drums – a somewhat unassuming group, which means that Lester's power really holds sway throughout – these magical solos that so easygoing they almost seem effortless – but which are filled with soul and imagination. Titles include "Love Me Or Leave Me", "All Of Me", "Prisoner Of Love", and "Love Is Here To Stay". LP, Vinyl record album

Iconic soundtrack in peak 80s fashion scored by Giorgio Moroder, features the title theme by Irene Cara, "Maniac" by Michael Sembello, "Romeo" by Donna Summer, "Imagination" by Laura Branigan, and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful album from the wonderful reedman Sonny Criss – one of the first albums in his brief stretch of return to recording in the late 70s – and quite possibly the best! Criss has a sound that's completely amazing, right from the start – every bit as sharp toned as in his early years on Imperial, and as full of all the imagination as on his sides for Prestige – but with much deeper feeling, too – this sense of pain and life that makes even the simplest notes extremely powerful – blowing us away like few others players could do with such understated brilliance. The whole thing's perfect – maybe even more so than the Prestige recordings – and backing is by Barry Harris on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Lenny McBrowne on drums – a really wonderful group! Titles include the amazing "Saturday Morning" – a track that will really make you fall in love with Sonny all over again – plus "Angel Eyes", "Tin Tin Deo", "Jeannie's Knees", "My Heart Stood Still", and "Until The Real Thing Comes Along". LP, Vinyl record album

A really wonderful trio set from pianist Red Garland – featuring long tracks that really spin out with a soulful sense of imagination! The trio features Paul Chambers on bass and Art Taylor on drums – a superb lineup, with a vibe that's like some of the Coltrane albums recorded with Garland – but with a lot more room for Red himself! Titles include "I Can't See For Lookin", "Soon", "Blackout", and "Castle Rock". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little session – and a meeting that was one of the best things to happen to the Oscar Peterson trio during the 50s! Stan's tone fits perfectly with the group here – and his playing next to the guitar of Herb Ellis recalls many of the fine strengths of the early 50s Getz sides with Jimmy Raney – although somehow coming across with even more depth and imagination here – probably a result of the more sophisticated approach to productions handled by Verve! Peterson's no slouch, either – but Stan's the man who really makes the session sparkle – as you'll hear on tunes that include "Tour's End", "Bronx Blues", "I Was Doing All Right", and "I'm Glad There's You". LP, Vinyl record album

Stunning live work from piano genius Ahmad Jamal – still very young at this point, but already working with the fluid sense of imagination that would only unfold even more in the 60s! As with most of Jamal's live dates of the time, the balance of lyrical energy on the keys and rhythmic sensitivity at the core is fantastic – given sublime support from Israel Crosby on bass and Vernell Fournier on drums – a trio who were as unique in their own way as the three piece combo of Ramsey Lewis was as well – although in a completely different style. The tunes are all familiar, but given these really fantastic readings – and titles include "April In Paris", "I'll Take Romance/My Funny Valentine", "Falling In Love With Love", and "The Second Time Around" – plus the Jamal original "Night Mist Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant 70s comeback for Ben E King – a record that shows the world that his vocals are still some of the best in soul, long after his early hits – and a massively mature effort that also grooves like a mofo! King's style here is completely different than before – rich, full, and a bit clubby in parts – perfectly put together by maestro Bert DeCoteaux with a smooth-stepping groove that draws a lot from the best Philly work of the 70s – a surprisingly great fit for Ben's wonderful vocals. Gwen Guthrie co-wrote a number of the cuts on the record, too – and also sings a bit of backup – and titles include the seminal "Supernatural Thing", a perennial dancefloor fave that's offered up here in 2 parts – plus "Your Lovin Ain't Good Enough", "Do It In The Name Of Love", "Imagination", "Do You Wanna Do A Thing", and "What Do You Want Me To Do" – and a great version of Sam Dees' "Extra Extra". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest albums ever from Blue Note tenor giant Hank Mobley – a set that really explodes in all the new directions Hank was taking in the 60s! Mobley in the 50s was already the stuff of legend – a tremendous soloist on tenor, and every bit his own man – firmly focused forward with a voice that was already tremendous – but which was turned towards a lot of new ideas with records like this! Both Mobley's phrasing and rhythmic construction are different here than a few years before – still every bit as soulful as ever, but able to open up with richer imagination, especially on the strong original tunes on the set. The group's great – a quintet that offers up both guitar from Grant Green and piano from Wynton Kelly – and rhythm is by the mighty team of Paul Chambers on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums. Tracks are longish, with plenty of room for solos – and titles include "Smokin", "Greasin Easy", "Workout", and "Uh Huh". LP, Vinyl record album

Solo piano recordings by Montoliu, with titles that include "Yesterdays", "Here's That Rainy Day", "Imagination", "Have You Met Miss Jones?", "I Feel All Alone", "Circe", "Apartment 512", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary album from The Ohio Players – a set that's famous not just for its sexy cover, but for the way the group managed to set a whole new standard for mainstream funk at the time! The group started out in the farther reaches of the Midwest underground, and previously had brought some nice psychedelic elements to their music – which here are more focused and folded into a sound that's wonderfully tight, yet still filled with plenty of imagination – a sense of funk that would be beaten down into a more formulaic mode by groups in years to come, but which here is still wonderfully fresh! Most folks go for their big hit "Love Rollercoaster", but we've always been partial to the smooth, mellow funky track "Sweet Sticky Thing", served up here in the cool long version, which has a groove that builds and builds – a completely sublime journey in sound! The whole album's great, though – and other cuts include "Honey", "Fopp", "Let's Love", "Ain't Givin' Up No Ground" and "Alone". LP, Vinyl record album

Way more than the disco cash-in some folks thought at the time – and a surprisingly classic set that perfectly sums up the late 70s Stones ethos – and, in a way, the vibe of a changing New York! Titles include "Miss You", "Beast Of Burden", "Shattered", "Imagination", "Lies", "Far Away Eyes" and "When The Whip Comes Down". LP, Vinyl record album

A massive live document of the power of Rush in their early years – mostly just guitar, bass, and drums – but used with intensity and imagination on titles that include "Bastille Day", "Anthem", "Bytor & The Snow Dog", "Fly By Night/In The Mood", "Lakeside Park", "Working Man/Finding My Way", "Something For Nothing", and even a full rendition of the "2112" opus! LP, Vinyl record album

An album of incredible beauty – and one of the key early sides that Shorter cut for Blue Note! It's nearly impossible to describe the genius of these records without playing them – and upon playing, all words disappear in the brilliance of Shorter's incredible tone, solo imagination, and writing! There's a nascent soulfulness here that would emerge quite strongly across the field of jazz in the late 60s and early 70s – bubbling forth here on the session, with a sound that we could only call Shorter-archetypal – and return to again and again over the years, as proof that few players ever measured up as greatly at such a young age! The group's a quintet with Herbie Hancock on piano, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Ron Carter on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – and the set list includes "Speak No Evil", "Infant Eyes", "Witch Hunt", and "Wild Flower". LP, Vinyl record album

A partner album of sorts to Jimmy Smith's classic Midnight Special album – recorded during the same sessions as that one, and also featuring Stanley Turrentine on tenor and Kenny Burrell on guitar! The sound here is almost even more open and stretched out – with only 4 long tracks on the album, 2 on each side – all offering up plenty of room for Jimmy to hit the Hammond with that keenly imaginative approach to a solo he was showing at this time – a style that proved that the instrument could do a lot more than just make weird noises or pump up the rhythm. Turrentine's tenor more than matches Jimmy's solos for imagination – and titles include "When I Grow Too Old To Dream", "Messy Bessie", "Minor Chant", and "Back At The Chicken Shack". LP, Vinyl record album

Sonny Stitt's work for Verve was some of his best on record – and this album is a perfect illustration of that bold claim! Sonny's blowing here in a wonderful style – a bit more restrained than on his early bop sides, more complicated than on his later soul jazz sessions, and all together totally solid, totally in-the-pocket – with not a note out of place, nor a moment of superfluous blowing on the set. Stitt's extremely confident here – dominating the intimate quartet setting with lots of fire, warmth, and imagination. The rhythm section includes Jimmy Jones on piano, Jo Jones on drums, and Ray Brown on bass – and tracks include "Sonny's Tune", "Down Home Blues", "Alone Together", and "Norman's Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most hard-hitting sessions ever recorded for the Bethlehem label – and a rare date for the imprint by the team of trumpeter Donald Byrd and saxophonist Pepper Adams! The style here is similar to work the pair recorded for Riverside and Blue Note at the same time – razor-sharp hardbop, played with a strong sense of imagination, and plenty of room for drawn-out, creatively-blown solos. Adams is especially great – playing the baritone here with the leanness of a tenor sax – but Byrd is wonderful too, and really starts to break out of some of the more staid modes of his work from a few years back. The group's a sextet that includes guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer "Hey" Lewis (pseudonym for Lewis Hayes) – on titles that include "Trio", "Philson", "Libeccio", and "Bitty Ditty". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic early material by Albert Ayler, recorded in New York in 1964, but originally issued only in Europe! The session features Ayler with the obscure trumpeter Norman Howard, plus Henry Grimes on bass and Sonny Murray on drums – and has all the crackle and imagination of Ayler's ESP recordings. In fact, the album stands as a key record that's as essential as Spiritual Unity or Spirits Rejoice – and has a very similar feel to both of those sets. Titles include "Spirits", "Witches & Devils", "Holy, Holy", and "Saints". LP, Vinyl record album

The trumpet of Chet Baker was hard pressed to find a better accompanist than the piano of Russ Freeman – and the pair made some incredible recordings during Baker's early years at Pacific Jazz. This lovely set by Mosaic brings together all of the recordings cut during the time, and although it includes a reasonable number of alternate takes, the bulk of the set is totally tight, totally together master recordings that show Baker in all his youthful power. There's a total of 4LPs in all, and the set's packaged with a booklet that provides good notes on the material. Tracks include "Imagination", "Russ Job", "Bea's Flat", "Love Nest", "Fan Tan", "Say When", "Lush Life", "Amblin", "The Thrill Is Gone (vocal)", and "But Not For Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A really great trio set from the mighty Walter Bishop – one of those hip 70s records that really has him opening up his sound, a bit like his material for the Black Jazz label! This set is more acoustic and a trio date – with Sam Jones on bass and Billy Hart on drums – but there's still a creative imagination here that's wonderful! The title cut "Valley Land" is great – and there's other great titles too – like "Sam's Blues", and good versions of "Killer Joe" and "Invitation". LP, Vinyl record album

A hell of a record from the LA scene of the mid 70s – recorded by a quartet of musicians who'd gotten their start during the early bop years of the city, and who kept the flame burning brightly with great records like this! The set's noteworthy not just for a rare appearance as a leader by tight drummer Frank Butler, but also for some tremendous tenor from Jack Montrose – a musician who sounds even more powerful and expressive here than on his records from the 50s – with an open tone, and plenty of space to display a sense of imagination on his solos that he never had before! The great Dolo Coker helps keep things swinging on piano, and Monty Budwig turns out some very powerful work on bass – on titles that include the long title track "The Stepper", plus "Au Prive", "Urbane", and "Captain Kidd". LP, Vinyl record album

A solo piano set from the great Jaki Byard – and, like his best in this mode, a record that explodes with imagination at a level that's very different than most standard solo outings! Titles include "Besame Mucho", "Lonely Town", "Blues Au Gratin", "Tribute To Jimmy Slide", and "Spanish Tinge #3". LP, Vinyl record album

Mellow magic from Betty – one of her first "comeback" albums for Verve, and an excellent set of tunes that still keeps the same feel as her 80s work on her own label. The group on most tunes is a trio – with Benny Green on piano, Michael Bowie on bass, and Winard Harper on drums – but some tracks feature additional tenor from Don Braden, blowing soulfully next to Betty's incredible voice. Tunes skip around with imagination and a sense of soul in places where you'd never expect it – and titles include "Look What I Got", "The Man I Love", "That Sunday That Summer", "All I Got", and "Just Like The Movies". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent work from Betty Carter – much more sophisticated than some of her 60s work! The album features Betty recorded in that hip trio format that she developed to fantastic heights during the decade. Betty sings standards and originals with a warmth an imagination that we can hardly describe accurately – bringing emotion into the songs that we'd hardly heard in earlier recordings, and using a trio in ways that we'd never heard before with a vocalist. Incredible stuff all the way through, very much on a par with any of Betty's later work – and featuring cuts that include a sublime version of "Open The Door", plus "New Blues", "I Was Telling Him About You", "Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love", and "Making Dreams Come True". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the more obscure John Coltrane albums for Atlantic – but a beautiful batch of spiritual numbers that really show him pushing towards the sound of A Love Supreme! The date on the album's 1966, but the material was recorded earlier – in that key turning point year of 1960, when Coltrane really started to let loose with his new ideas – ideas so fresh, in fact, that they might have kept this record from getting released at the time! The group here features piano from McCoy Tyner, drums from Elvin Jones, and bass from Steve Davis – an oft-overlooked talent who did some amazing work with Coltrane during this brief time. The tracks are open, flowing, and filled with imagination – and Coltrane works both on tenor and soprano sax, on titles that include "Liberia", "Equinox", "Satellite", "Central Park West", and a classic reading of "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the classic early Miles Davis & John Coltrane sessions for Prestige – a well-crafted quintet album that shows Miles finding a stronger voice than ever, and Coltrane beginning to emerge as a key force on his own! Backing is subtle and soulful – handled by the trio of Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones – and although the tracks are mostly ballads and standards, they're all nicely given the Davis treatment on the set, turned into beautiful new vehicles for jazz imagination and improvisation! Titles include "If I Were A Bell", "I Could Write A Book", "Oleo", and "Woody'n You". LP, Vinyl record album

A big hit for the group – and a great album of smooth funky soul! Spirit is a perfect example of the way that Earth Wind & Fire could tighten things up, yet still keep them real – holding onto the deeply spiritual side that first made them great – but also focusing their energy towards a wider audience that showed their influence for years! Of course, with Charles Stepney helping out on production, it's hard to miss – and he's one of the few cats who could handle a blend like this so well. The compression in the band's playing is impeccable – with just the right mix of spacey spiritualism, sophisticated jazzy playing, and a straight ahead love of the soulful hook. Includes the instrumentals "Biyo" and "Departure", plus the vocal tracks "Earth Wind & Fire","Burnin Bush", "Spirit", "Imagination", and "Getaway", all produced to perfection by Maurice White and Charles Stepney! LP, Vinyl record album

Ostensibly simple stuff from Bill Evans, but pretty darn great – and a nice move into a more sophisticated vein than his earlier recordings! The album has him working with bassist Eddie Gomez, a hugely talented bassist that would be one of Bill's best partners during this period, and a player who added a nice dose of soul to the proceedings. The drummer is Shelly Manne, who's pretty nice, too – and really shows off some of his more sophisticated shadings here in the presence of Evans and Gomez – similar to his work on the great Empathy album. Tracks are shortish, but filled with imagination – and titles include "Unless It's You", "These Things Called Changes", "Stella By Starlight", and "A Simple Matter Of Conviction". LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary set from the team of guitarist Jim Hall and pianist Bill Evans – both already wonderful players on their own, but really hitting a magical sort of space here together! The record is a classic in understatement – the inevitable meeting of two players who'd both made a career out of saying more with less – and both Evans and Hall manage to make this special sort of sound when working together in such a space – spare, but never short on ideas – filled with color and tone, but never overdone. The tracks are long and dreamy, and the piano/guitar lines seem to float in the air, suspended on naught but idea and imagination. Titles include a very nice version of "Skating In Central Park", plus "Dream Gypsy", "Romain", and "Darn That Dream". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the earliest albums as a leader from tenorist Scott Hamilton – definitely the young talent promised in the title, but already one with a very traditional sense of tone and timing! Hamilton's horn takes the lead, but gets strong support from Warren Vache on trumpet – whose well-crafted, economical lines never overwhelm the solos of the leader! The group's also got very deft piano work from John Bunch – who may well be the secret hero of the record – plus bass from Michael Moore and drums from Butch Miles. Scott's got this great rasp in his tone on some of the best numbers – a quality that hardly belies his age at all – and which has echoes of Lester Young and Ben Webster at their best. Titles include "Scott's Idea", "Thru For The Night", "Imagination", and "Warren's Rush". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Isaac Hayes' richest soundtracks – deeper and more complicated than the groove of Shaft and Truck Turner, and filled with some great tunes that glow with color, life, and imagination – showing an Isaac Hayes that almost seems to be moving beyond the usual blackploitation groove! The album sports 2 really classic tunes – the title theme "Tough Guys", and the classic "Hung Up On My Baby" – both of which have a solidly funky feel that will more than please the usual soundtrack beathead crowd. But overall, the other tunes twist and turn in a delightful mix of modes – expanding on the soulful territory Ike first explored in his original soundtracks, and offering up a great range of moods and emotion. The album's got some especially great chromatic guitar work – and other titles include "Joe Bell", "Randolph & Dearborn", "Buns O Plenty", "Run Fay Run", and "Red Rooster". LP, Vinyl record album

Early work by Jamal, recorded back when he was really turning heads with his sophisticated approach to the piano. The album's all trio material – played in Jamal's piano/bass/guitar drumless format, which leaves the notes just floating in air, swirling around in smoky clouds of imagination. Titles include an early reading of "Poinciana", plus "Ahmad's Blues", "Aki & Ukthay", "Billy Boy", and "Pavanne". LP, Vinyl record album

A big one for Al Jarreau – a record that has a groove that's a bit more mainstream than some of Al's previous records, but which still leaves plenty of space for his amazing vocals! Jarreau's working again with producer Jay Graydon, who pitches the instrumentation towards more electric-sounding levels than before – more of the rhythms and keyboard parts you'd guess from the album's date, although still at a level that's warmer than some of Al's more commercial contemporaries. Titles include "Raging Waters", "Imagination", "Murphy's Law", "Tell Me", "After All", "High Crime", and "Let's Pretend". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful beautiful record, and still one of the greatest jazz vocal albums ever made. The great King Pleasure sings in a raspy vocalese style similar to Jon Hendricks or Eddie Jefferson, but with a sense of warmth and delivery that the two of them never seem to reach. The set list here features a stellar batch of tracks with lyrics by Pleasure, including "The New Symphony Sid", "No, Not Much", "Parker's Mood", and "Golden Days". There's some great accompaniment by LA hard bop players like Teddy Edwards, Gerald Wiggins, and Harold Land, and the whole set sparkles with imagination and warmth. Plus, the liner notes include a cool set of notes about Pleasure's crazy philosophy called Planetism. Wild stuff! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the key records from the Cadet/Concept scene in late 60s Chicago – a tremendous collaboration between pianist Ramsey Lewis and arranger Charles Stepney – and the kind of record that took soul and jazz to a whole new level! Ramsey on his own is great enough at this point – but add in Stepney's touch, and the record becomes something really brilliant – a blend of soaring strings, groovy rhythms, and spaciously stepping piano lines – all held together with a tremendous amount of creative imagination! The group here features a young Maurice White on drums and Cleveland Eaton on bass – both hitting a groove that's quite different than the Ramsey Lewis Trio sound of years back, with a lot more space, a lot hipper rhythms, and just the right sort of groove to match Stepney's sophisticated touches. The piano gets a bit electric at times, but is mostly acoustic overall – and titles include a great version of Minnie Riperton's "Les Fleur", a funky version of "Mighty Quinn", and the cuts "Afro Boogaloo Twist", "Maiden Voyage", "Ode", "Do You Know The Way To San Jose", "Only When I'm Dreaming", and "Eternal Journey". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet and jazzy little session from Carmen McRae – an overlooked batch of groovy tunes recorded with small combo backing – with a hip vibe that's a bit different than some of her other 70s work! The sound's pretty soulful overall, and takes off nicely from Carmen's best moments on Atlantic a few years before – mixing in just a bit of electricity to keep things sounding a bit 70s-styled without losing any of Carmen's talent for interpreting a tune. The group features Joe Pass on guitar and Larry Bunker on vibes – and titles include Blossom Dearie numbers "Hey John" and "Inside A Silent Tear", plus "All The Things You Are", "The Right To Love", "Where Are The Words", "It Takes A Whole Lot Of Human Feeling", and "Imagination". LP, Vinyl record album

Great stuff – recorded in Mingus' classic period! Mingus leads a sharp small group here – a wonderful quintet that features Booker Ervin on tenor, John Handy on alto, and Richard Wyands on piano – with longtime musical partner Dannie Richmond on drums! The session was recorded live at the Nonagon Gallery in New York, and has that sort of arch-modernist groove that was Mingus' hallmark in these key late 50's years. Ervin, as always, is amazing, and John Handy, who makes his recording debut here, demonstrates the genius that Mingus had for spotting brilliant young players as he plays with the sort of imagination and intensity that he only ever managed to hit again on one or two of his own records as a leader. The record's got four long tracks, including long takes of "Nostalgia In Times Square", "Alice's Wonderland", and "No Private Income Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Great stuff – recorded in Mingus' classic period! Mingus leads a sharp small group here – a wonderful quintet that features Booker Ervin on tenor, John Handy on alto, and Richard Wyands on piano – with longtime musical partner Dannie Richmond on drums! The session was recorded live at the Nonagon Gallery in New York, and has that sort of arch-modernist groove that was Mingus' hallmark in these key late 50's years. Ervin, as always, is amazing, and John Handy, who makes his recording debut here, demonstrates the genius that Mingus had for spotting brilliant young players as he plays with the sort of imagination and intensity that he only ever managed to hit again on one or two of his own records as a leader. The record's got four long tracks, including long takes of "Nostalgia In Times Square", "Alice's Wonderland", and "No Private Income Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the all-time classics of early 60s mainstream jazz – and a beautiful record that showcases writing and arranging talents of Oliver Nelson! Nelson had been bumping around a variety of sessions before this one – as a leader, sideman, and arranger – but it was with this album that his true talents really unfolded – sparkling with a depth of imagination and expression that marked him as one of the greatest artists in 60s American jazz! The group on the set is an all-star sextet – featuring Paul Chambers, Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Roy Haynes, and Freddie Hubbard – a disparate group of players who manage to come together with Nelson and find a unique voice that's rarely been duplicated again! The album features 6 fantastic compositions by Nelson, including "Stolen Moments", "Hoe Down", and "Yearnin". A fantastic record – and one that you can't go wrong with! LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool package – one that brings together a classic album, plus another disc of even more rare material! LP 1 features Blues & The Abstract Truth – one of the all-time classics of early 60s mainstream jazz – and a beautiful record that showcases writing and arranging talents of Oliver Nelson! Nelson had been bumping around a variety of sessions before this one – as a leader, sideman, and arranger – but it was with this album that his true talents really unfolded – sparkling with a depth of imagination and expression that marked him as one of the greatest artists in 60s American jazz! The group on the set is an all-star sextet – featuring Paul Chambers, Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Roy Haynes, and Freddie Hubbard – a disparate group of players who manage to come together with Nelson and find a unique voice that's rarely been duplicated again! The album features 6 fantastic compositions by Nelson, including "Stolen Moments", "Hoe Down", and "Yearnin". LP 2 features material from the Sound Pieces sessions – just the small group sides, with two previously unreleased tracks appearing here. The group features Oliver Nelson on soprano sax – plus Steve Kuhn on piano, Ron Carter bass, and Grady Tate on drums. Kuhn's piano brings a nice modern edge that works perfectly with the soprano – and titles include "Patterns", "Shadow Of Your Smile", and "Elegy For A Duck" – plus the unissued "Straight No Chaser" and "Example 78". LP, Vinyl record album

The second half of the legendary Jazz At Massey Hall performance from 1953 – a set that features the core rhythm trio, without Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie – a killer lineup that has Bud Powell on piano, Charles Mingus on bass, and Max Roach on drums! The tunes are a bit shorter than on the quintet sides, but maybe that's because Powell can always pack so much into such a short space – and Mingus has plenty of sharp small group imagination here, while Roach is a young genius, really breaking out here too. Titles include "Sure Thing", "Lullaby Of Birdland", "Jubilee", "Cherokee", and "Embraceable You". LP, Vinyl record album

A really incredible record, and one that stands as a strong testament to both of the players involved – as they work together with open-ended improvisational energy that's really incredible throughout! The set follows a style that drummer Max Roach would soon revisit on other labels – but is maybe the first session to showcase his incredible ability to open up and improvise, in ways that hadn't shown up on most of his other, earlier recordings – perfectly matched by the energy of Archie Shepp on tenor, who's still very much in the throes of his more avant years – sounding incredible as he spins out these bold solos with a deep sense of imagination and meaning. The set features the three part "Sweet Mao" – with titles that include "La Preparation", "La Marche", and "Le Commencement" – followed by the side-long "Suid Afrika 76". Just drums and tenor, nothing else – and brilliant! LP, Vinyl record album

Way more than the disco cash-in some folks thought at the time – and a surprisingly classic set that perfectly sums up the late 70s Stones ethos – and, in a way, the vibe of a changing New York! Titles include "Miss You", "Beast Of Burden", "Shattered", "Imagination", "Lies", "Far Away Eyes" and "When The Whip Comes Down". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer album from Sonny Rollins' prime 60s years at RCA – almost a return to basics, but always with that edge that makes Rollins stand out way more than most of his contemporaries – a subtle balance between straight and modern that really makes the album crackle! The album features Sonny working with Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter or Bob Cranshaw on bass, Roy McCurdy on drums – and a bit of welcome additional cornet from Thad Jones – sounding great here in a small group setting. Tracks are mostly jazz standards, but done with an incredible poise on the solos – completely transforming the tunes with Rollins' rich imagination! Titles include "52nd St Theme", "Round Midnight", "Four", "Afternoon In Paris", "St Thomas", and "I Remember Clifford". LP, Vinyl record album

Early Sonny Rollins work for Prestige – recorded in the years 1951 and 1953, in a variety of settings! 4 tracks on the album features Rollins blowing with the MJQ, one more has him working with a Miles Davis group, and the last 8 feature a quartet with Kenny Drew, Percy Heath, and Art Blakey. The tunes are shorter than you might be used to hearing Rollins, but there's still plenty of power and imagination in the grooves – very economical solos, crafted with a great deal of imagination. Titles include "Scoops", "Shadrack", "Mambo Bounce", "The Stopper", "I Know", and "No Moe". LP, Vinyl record album

Genius, pure genius! Like all of Wayne Shorter's Blue Note sessions from the mid 60s, this album's a beautiful blend of hard bop ideas with a modern spiritual soulful consciousness – as important in its own way as Coltrane's work of the time – an incredible precursor for sounds from generations to come! Shorter's tenor solos are the main focus here, and he plays with creativity and imagination that you don't often hear on his later works – a sharp, soulful approach – but one that's already light years ahead of some of his Blue Note contemporaries – reaching for new ideas, but without any sense of effort – none of the overly-tense notes you'd get later, and instead just a marvelously fluid feel that really makes sense from the very first note – tremendous listening for both the lifetime jazz fan or the newcomer. McCoy Tyner plays piano, and Reggie Workman and Elvin Jones complete the group – and titles include "House Of Jade", "Deluge", "Mahjong", and "Yes Or No". LP, Vinyl record album

Head to head blowing from Sonny Sitt and Paul Gonsalves – just the kind of twin-horn performance that Stitt was famous for in his live battle days, and one that also reminds us that Gonsalves can be a very loose swinger when he wants to be! The tracks are all long, and played with the sort of feel you'd hear if you caught these guys live at some small southside club – and the solos also show the kind of inventiveness and imagination you'd catch in that sort of setting – backed by a swinging rhythm combo that features Hank Jones on piano, Milt Hinton on bass, and Osie Johnson on drums. Titles include a version of "Perdido" that's nearly 13 minutes long – plus "Stardust", "Sposin", "Salt & Pepper", and "Theme From Lord Of The Flies". LP, Vinyl record album

Frankie, Frankie – OW! Take a broken-down synth, some crazy vocals, and a rich sense of imagination – and you've got one of the seminal groups of the New York scene of the early punk years. Suicide were a key bridge between earlier prog underground sounds and the art-rock punk styles that were coming out of New York in the late 70s – and one that was in a space that was completely their own – and still is, after all the decades since the release of this record! With this one landmark album, the band completely dismantled the cold German prog synth of groups like Kraftwerk, La Dusseldorf, and Tangerine Dream – and created a wild sound of spare anguish that brought a whole new dimension to punk rock. The album has got to be one of the top 50 "must have" rock records of all time – and titles include the cuts "Ghost Rider", "Rocket USA", "Johnny", "Frankie Teardrop", "Che", and "Cheree". LP, Vinyl record album

A real classic from those early 70s European years of exploration by the great pianist Mal Waldron – music that really has Mal pushing forward in ways that are completely unexpected if you only know his American records from earlier years – but maybe a bit more understandable, given the ever-growing genius he showed over the decades! The group's a trio – recorded live with Pierre Favre on drums, and the great Jimmy Woode on bass – and the combination of Favre's free modernism and Woode's soulful swing makes for a very interesting rhythm section – and Waldron, as he often did in this sort of session, dominates the proceedings with some moody and introspective work on the piano – bridging the players with a wonderful sense of creative imagination. Titles include "The Call", "Sieg Haile", "MC", "La Gloire Du Noir", and "Rock My Soul". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Bobby Watson's more urgent-sounding albums from the 80s – a quartet session recorded with an Italian rhythm trio – in a style that mostly features Watson blowing in the lead – really holding the session together with the strength of his own imagination – that boundless sense of creativity he always had at this point in his career! The rest of the group features Piero Bassini on piano, Attilio Zanchi on bass, and Giampiero Prina on drums – and it's great to hear Watson really opening up in a very different way, and in a very different group – than some of his better-known American records of the time. Titles include "Round Trip", "Blue In Green", "Ceora", and "All The Things Of Jo Maka". LP, Vinyl record album

Hard-swingin tracks from Ernie Wilkins – one of the most soulful arrangers of his time, working here in a wonderful all-star session from the 50s! The album's definitely got the "top brass" promised in the title – a lineup that features Donald Byrd, Ray Copeland, Idrees Sulieman, and Joe Wilder on trumpets – all working at a level that allows plenty of space for well-blown solos, but tied up in tighter ensemble formation overall – all with that Wilkins sense of swing that really set Ernie apart at the time. Rhythm is from a trip that includes Hank Jones on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Kelly Clarke on drums – and titles include "58 Market Street", "Trick Or Treat", "Speedway", "Dot's What", "Top Brass", "Imagination", and "Willow Weep For Me". Also features the album Trumpets All Out – an all-trumpet affair, one that features 5 different players on the instrument – Art Farmer, Emmet Berry, Charlie Shavers, Ernie Royal, and Harold Baker – supported by spare rhythm from the trio of Don Abney on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Bobby Donaldson on drums. There's a definite swing-based approach here – different than usual for some of Farmer's outings of the time – but the differences between the players are nicely pronounced, and the amazing thing about the album is how it manages to pack so much solo energy in such a relatively small space, in a way that still lets you hear the different voices clearly. Titles include "She's Just My Size", "Five Cats Swingin", "Blues In 6/4", "Trumpets All Out", and "Low Life". LP, Vinyl record album

The first of Bobby's highly successful Poet albums from the early 80s – wonderfully done albums that showed the world that he was still very much on top of his game at the time! The sound here is great – still with that older Womack rasp and warmth, but also done in a slightly smoother mode that grooves things up with some modern soul touches, yet never loses Bobby's charm! Tunefully, the record is one of his best in years – with some wonderful mellow soul groovers that never fail to delight – all produced with a warm California sound, and featuring some great backing vocals by The Waters and a host of other Womacks. Titles include "So Many Sides Of You", "Lay Your Lovin On Me", "Secrets", "Just My Imagination", "Games", "If You Think You're Lonely Now", and "Where Do We Go From Here". LP, Vinyl record album

Pepper Adams is easily one of the hippest players you'll ever hear on the baritone sax – an artist who changed in great ways over the decades, and always seemed to deliver something special when he got a chance to record as a leader! That's definitely the case here – as Adams stretches out on these really long tracks – blowing his horn with the kind of longform imagination that you might hear on a tenor performance of this nature by Dexter Gordon or Johnny Griffin – on a rare Canadian live date with backing from the trio of pianist Tommy Banks! Banks is a great player – with a nice raw edge that really brings a lot out of Adams – and titles are all very long, with versions of "Patrice", "Oleo", "Civilization & Its Discontents", and "Three & One". LP, Vinyl record album

A real standout set in the later years of trumpet legend Chet Baker – in part because the record features some wonderful tenor work from the equally legendary Warne Marsh! Marsh at this point in his career has really developed a subtle edge – this slight current of darkness that wasn't there at the start, and which works well next to the moody qualities that Baker developed in his final years too. Equally wonderful is the piano of Hod O'Brien – a great and overlooked musician, and one who has this almost broken-down quality that really fits the emotive energy of the date. Other players include Eddie Gladden on drums and Cecil McBee on bass – the latter of whom is a bit of a surprise on such a session – on titles that include "Imagination", "We Know It's Love", "Well Spoken", "Blues For A reason", and "Looking Good Tonight". LP, Vinyl record album

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, recording in the very familiar territory of the Birdland nightclub – in a format that was handled previously by the Blue Note label, but maybe never with a lineup this great! The performance features the sublime frontline trio of Lee Morgan on trumpet, Wayne Shorter on tenor, and Bobby Timmons on piano – all players that are their youthful best, and completely on fire with creative imagination under Blakey's leadership – the start of a great run for all of them as solo stars too. The tracks are long, and even if the tunes are sometimes familiar, the performances are spectacular – that special Jazz Messengers energy that makes records like this so great. This first volume includes the tracks "The Opener", "What Know", "Round About Midnight", and "The Breeze and I". LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime alto work from Benny Carter – a masterpiece of tone and timing that shows him at the height of his powers! Carter's sound alone is enough to sell the record, and it's wonderfully recorded by Norman Granz – but the rest of the group is a good fit too, and features Oscar Peterson on piano, Barney Kessel on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and Buddy Rich on drums – all of whom lay back nicely to let Benny take the lead. Titles include "Pick Yourself Up", "Imagination", "Street Scene", and "I Get A Kick Out Of You". This 12" LP also features some added "with strings" material, too – titles that include "Blue Star", "I'll Be Around", "Can't We Be Friends", and "Symphony". LP, Vinyl record album

The US debut from Japanese pop genius Keigo Oyamada aka Cornelius! The set is a fabulous ride that careens in and out of all the various corners of Cornelius's imagination, bouncing from sunny pop moments to bursts of garagey then back to some sweet easy passages! 13 numbers in all, including "The Micro Disneycal World Tour","New Music Machine", "Count Five Or Six", "Magoo Opening", "Star Fruits Surf Rider", "Chapter 8 - Seashore & Horizon", "Freefall", "God OnlyKnows", "Thank You For The Music" and "Fantasma". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Duke's last albums – and a great one! The session is right up there with some of Ellington's best late "suites" – an extended work that features writing around exotic themes, played by stalwarts like Paul Gonsalves, Harold Ashby, Rufus Jones, Cootie Williams, and Harry Carney – all coming together with more energy and imagination than you'd expect after all these years! The writing is fantastic, and the moods change strongly with each tune – running through numbers like "Afrique", "Chinoiserie", "Didjeridoo", "Gong", "Tang", and "Hard Way" – all of which sound as great as their titles might imply! LP, Vinyl record album

An album of explosive power and imagination from Don Ellis – a set that shows him very firmly shaking off the more academic mode of earlier years, and heading into hipper, more youth-oriented directions! The group's still a bit band on most numbers – but it's one with a lean, well-crafted sound that's not really big band jazz, and which also features some elements of later soundtrack scoring. Players on the date are all great – and include Frank Strozier, John Klemmer, and Ira Schulman on saxes – plus Pete Robinson on clavinet, piano, and electric piano! The set begins with the beautiful extended "Variations For Trumpet" – a suite-type number that has plenty of great colors from Ellis, plus loads of other horn work too. Other titles include "Indian Lady", "Pussy Wiggle Stomp", "Scratt & Fluggs", and "Child Of Ecstasy". LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary set from the team of guitarist Jim Hall and pianist Bill Evans – both already wonderful players on their own, but really hitting a magical sort of space here together! The record is a classic in understatement – the inevitable meeting of two players who'd both made a career out of saying more with less – and both Evans and Hall manage to make this special sort of sound when working together in such a space – spare, but never short on ideas – filled with color and tone, but never overdone. The tracks are long and dreamy, and the piano/guitar lines seem to float in the air, suspended on naught but idea and imagination. Titles include a very nice version of "Skating In Central Park", plus "Dream Gypsy", "Romain", and "Darn That Dream". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful lost gem from Ella Fitzgerald – very much in the mellow mood hinted at in the title, with only the piano of Ellis Larkins to back her up! The sound is incredible – and even very different than any of the work she recorded at Verve – with a moody, evocative quality that seems to offer up a whole different side of Ella than we'd ever known. Larkins is always perfect in such a setting – able to be richly emotive on the keys without interfering with the singer at all – and honestly, we're stunned to hear how much Ella makes with the empty space left on the set, and wish we'd had more of a chance to hear her in this format. Titles include "Please Be Kind", "I'm Glad There Is You", "Nice Work If You Can Get It", "Imagination", and "Until The Real Thing Comes Along". LP, Vinyl record album