Landmark work by one of the hippest gals on the Chicago scene of the past 50 years – blues singer Koko Taylor, an artist who also had a heck of a lot of soul as well! Titles include "I Got What It Takes", "Um Huh My Baby", "Twenty Nine Ways", "I Don't Care Who Knows", "Blue Prelude", "What Came First The Egg Or The Hen", "Insane Asylum", "Wang Dang Doodle", and "Bills Bills & More Bills". CD

A fitting title for this scorching set tracks led by the incomparable Lee Morgan – captured over several dates throughout 1960 at the legendary Birdland club – and backed up by Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers! Nothing but legends on the stage here – with Morgan's trumpet out front of Blakey on the kit, Bobby Timmons on piano, Wayne Shorter on tenor, and Jymie Merrit on bass. The tracks on the first disc were recorded on three dates in the spring and summer of '60, and they include "The Chess Players", "This Here", "The Midget", "Nelly Bly", "Dat Dere", "Justice", Night In Tunisia" and more. Disc two features numbers recorded in the summer and fall of the same year, and it includes "Lester Left Town" with Lester Young sitting in on piano, "It's Only A Paper Moon", "This Here", Sakeena's Vision", "Koko's Waltz" and more. CD

Well, it's not the whole Charlie Parker Story – but the album does feature some great material from a very famous session, recorded on 11/26/1945, originally issued on 78s, along with extra tracks, compiled here in one of Savoy's posthumous Bird LPs from the early 60s. The group includes Miles Davis on trumpet, Bud Powell on piano, Curley Russell on bass, and Max Roach on drums – and titles include original and alternate takes of "Thriving From A Riff", "Meandering", "Koko", "Now's The Time", and "Billie's Bounce", all in early famous versions! CD

This record collects some unreleased takes as well as original masters of some of his better known recordings. Included on this collection are "Bird Gets The Worm", "Bluebird", "Klaunstance", "Barbados", "Merry Go Round", "Chasing The Bird", "Koko", "Perhaps", "Warming Up A Riff", "Slim's Jam", "Popity Pop", "Dizzy Boogie", and "Flat Foot Floogie". CD

A killer batch of hardbop tracks – no-nonsense, straight-ahead, and with all the fire of Roach's work with Clifford Brown! The set was recorded a few years after the untimely death of the Brown/Roach group – and although the album's got "Charlie Parker" in the title, there's a lot more going on here than just a bop revival mode. Players include Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley, and George Coleman – and the album's got that Prestige Records feel from the late 50s, similar to some of Mobley's own work for that label at the time. Titles include "Yardbird Suite", "Confirmation", "Koko", "Billie's Bounce", and "Au Privave". CD also features 4 bonus cuts – "Anthropology", "Tune Up", "This Time The Dream's On Me", and "Raoul". CD

Music from Hound Dog Taylor, James Cotton, Professor Longhair, Koko Taylor, Tinsley Ellis, Kenny Neal, Elvin Bishop, Roy Buchanan, Son Seals, Lonnie Brooks, Sonny Terry, and more. CD

Music from Lil Ed & the Blues Imperials, Katie Webster, Elvis Bishop, the Lonnie Brooks Blues Band, Koko Taylor & her Blues Machine & an All Star Jam. CD

Music from Albert Collins, Big Twist & the Mellow Fellows, Koko Taylor, Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials, Littel Charlie & the Nightcats, Johnny Winter, Lonnie Brooks, Lonnie Mack, Professor Longhair, Buddy Guy & more. CD

A tremendous tribute to the legendary Art Ensemble Of Chicago – a group who work here with only two of their surviving members, but with help from a constellation of jazz musicians inspired by their music! The group here is large, and includes AACM members and other younger talents – a fantastic lineup that mixes the core work of Famadou Don Moye on drums and percussion, and Roscoe Mitchell on reeds with work from Nicole Mitchell on flutes, Hugh Ragin and Fred Berry on trumpets, Tomeka Reid on cello, Jaribu Shahid and Junius Paul on basses, Enoch Williams and Titos Sompa on percussion, and Christina Wheeler on voice and a range of unusual electronic instruments! There's a very ambitious feel to the music – like some of Roscoe Mitchell's larger form creations, but with more of a spiritual jazz current that comes from the whole ensemble – and from vocal contributions from Moore Mother and Rodolfo Cordova Lebron. The double-length set features a studio album and a live album by the expanded group – and titles include "Bell Song", "We Are On The Edge", "Chi Congo 50", "Fanfare & Bell", "Odwalla/The Theme", "Tutankhamun", "Mama Koko", "Saturday Morning", and "Villa Tiamo". CD

One of the coolest doo wop duos from the 50s – a pair of singers who arguably paved the way for countless male soul duets in the 60s, given their dynamic energy! Titles include "Jungle Hop", "Pink Champagne", "The Letter", "Mammer Jammer", "Koko Joe", and "Justine". CD

Hard and heavy female soul from the mighty Chess Records – and a selection of tracks that features plenty of funk in the mix too! The sisters on this set are not of the sobbing kind – as the package goes for a proud-stepping approach to soul that puts the ladies in charge right from the very first note – backing their deeply soulful vocals with a righteous set of backings, and really upping the power of tunes with some sock-solid production all the way through! Most of the tunes are from the late 60s, when Chess was bringing a good deal of funk into the mix – and plenty are from rare singles that haven't been reissued for years! 20 tracks in all, and part of this great Mojo Chess series – with titles that include "Dirty Man" by Laura Lee, "Git Out" by Mitty Collier, "Liberation Conversation" by Marlena Shaw, "Take Me For A Little While" by Jackie Ross, "Don't Mess With The Messer" by Koko Taylor, "In Orbit" by Joy Lovejoy, "Cheater Man" by Irma Thomas, "Sally Go Round The Roses" by The Jaynettes, "California Soul" by Marlena Shaw, "My Babe" by Mitty Collier, "I Surrender" by Fontella Bass, and "I Don't Wanna Fuss" by Sugar Pie Desanto. CD

Music from Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Bo Diddley, Billie Holiday, Elmore James, BB King, Leadbelly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Jimmy Reed, Koko Taylor, Muddy Waters, more – 45 tracks total. CD

Includes the songs "Tiny's Tempo", "Koko", "Moose The Mooche", "Yardbird Suite", "Ornithology", "A Night In Tunisia", "Cool Blues", "Relaxin' At Camarillo", "Chasin' The Bird", "Cheryl", "Milestones", "Embraceable You", "Scrapple from The Apple" "Out Of Nowhere", "Quasimodo", "Crazeology", "Bluebird", "Au-Leu-Cha", "Parker's Mood", and "Merry Go Round". CD

Music from Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Powermad, Angelo Badalamenti and Kinny Landrum, Nicolas Cage, Them, Koko Taylor, Chris Isaak, Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps, Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra, Rubber City, and Angelo Badalamenti and Kinny Landrum. CD

Music from Lonnie Brooks & Koko Taylor, Wynonie Harris & Joe Turner, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf & Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Louis Jordan & Ella Fitzgerald, Bessie Smith & Clara Smith, Big Mama Thornton & Johnny Ace, John Cephas & Phil Wiggins, Butterbeans & Susie, Bobby Bland & Little Junior Parker, and more. CD

Another striking volume in the always-great Ethiopiques series – this one a recent concert, done in honor of, and in the style of, the music on the previous volumes! The set was recorded in Addis Ababa in 2001, and is filled with some really great rhythms, snakey grooves, and some ultra-cool sax work that really sets a great tone for the album. Most tracks have vocals, either by solo singers or ensembles – trading back and forth in a call/response style that also adds a lot to the evocative feel of the record. Titles include "Bati", "Segota 1", "Segota 2", "Koko", "Belomi Benna", "Medo Hane", and "Ambassel". CD

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Albert Beltman and Hans Meijdam on alto saxophone, Nils Van Haften on baritone saxophone, Ab Schaap and Toon Roos on tenor saxophone, Hans-Jorg Vink, Ilja Reijngoud, and Martijn Sohier on trombone, Erik Veldkamp, Mike Booth, Peter van Soest, and Ruud Breuls on trumpet, Ack van Rooijen on flugelhorn, John Ruocco on clarinet, Rob Van Bavel on piano, Frans Van Der Hoeven on bass, and Erik Ineke on drums. CD

An incredible record from Mississippi Fred McDowell – a set that was issued on a big label, but which has a wonderfully rootsy feel throughout – in a way that almost out-does any work from the indie blues labels of the time! The package was put together by Tommy Couch as an early Malaco production – but it's even more stripped-down than later blues work from those studios – as it features mostly just Fred on vocals and guitar, introducing himself and his music – then working through these incredible inflections on electric guitar, which are as far from the rockish sound of all the crossover blues that McDowell promises he won't provide in the title! Really timeless stuff, brilliantly recorded – with cuts that include "Red Cross Store", "61 Highway", "Jesus Is On The Mainline", "Kokomo Me Baby", and "Good Morning Little School Girl". CD

Four altos in perfect formation – a record that captures a young Phil Woods at the height of his powers, and offers a rare non-baritone set from the great Sahib Shihab! The style here is similar to the Prestige tenor blowing sessions of the time – with core rhythms by a trio that features Mal Waldron on piano, Tommy Potter on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums – and altos from the four players in the lead – coming together a bit at the start, then breaking off into some really wonderful solo work that's arguably tighter and better executed than most tenor sessions of this type! Titles include "Pedal Eyes", "Kokochee", "No More Nights", "Kinda Kanonic", and "Staggers". CD

Although Roy Brown had a slightly softer edge than some of his King R&B contemporaries – he could definitely rock and wail when he wanted to, as you'll hear on this CD! The folks at Rhino have done a good job of digging through Roy's work at King, pulling together 18 tracks that have a fierce Wynonnie Harris-ish sound to them – no surprise, as King often had Brown and Harris splitting "Battle Of The Blues" albums together! Tracks include "Black Diamond", "Mighty Might Man", "Rockin At Midnight", "Cadillac Baby", "Hard Luck Blues", "Bar Room Blues", "Big Town", "Gal From Kokomo", "Beautician Blues", and the original version of "Good Rockin Tonight", which is a lot rawer than you'd expect! CD

Just Jimmy Rowles on piano and Eric Von Essen on bass. Tracks include "I'm Old Fashioned", "Lullaby Of The Leaves", "Theme From Arrest & Trial", "Belfast", and "A Night In Tunisia". CD

Great acoustic blues from the legendary Scrapper Blackwell – easily one of the greatest musical talents to ever come out of the Indy scene! The recordings here are early, but already represent a pinnacle of blues achievement – a pushing forward of the use of the guitar in the music to new heights – thanks to Blackwell's well-crafted solos! Tunes include titles done both under his name, and featuring Scrapper with other artists – and tracks include "Kokomo Blues", "Down South Blues", "Penal Farm Blues", and "Trouble Blues (parts 1 & 2)" by Blackwell – plus "Good Woman Blues" with Leroy Carr, "Down In Black Bottom" with Black Bottom McPhail, and "Pack Up Her Trunk Blues" with Tommie Bradley. CD

A beautiful album that perfectly mixes both sides of Aretha Franklin's talents – the hard-edged soul singer who first flourished at Atlantic records in the late 60s, and the artist who was growing even more as a vocalist – really reaching out her wings to more sophisticated material! There's a balance here that makes the record one of the deepest that Franklin ever recorded for Atlantic – lots of larger Arif Mardin touches, but also some raw moments that really round things out – on titles that include Aretha's classic take on the Weldon Irvine/Nina Simone tune "Young Gifted & Black", the funky classic "Rock Steady", the wonderful mellow groover "Day Dreaming", the hit "Brand New Me", and the strangely compelling "First Snow In Kokomo" – plus other titles that include "All The King's Horses", "Oh Me Oh My", "Border Song", "Didn't I Blow Your Mind", "April Fools", "I've Been Loving You Too Long", and "The Long & Winding Road". CD

A really wonderful third album from Osibisa – and a record that really crystallizes the group's sound into a trademark blend of African roots and more progressive-styled jamming! There's a mode here that's perfect for the cross-cultural London of the post-colonial 70s – a style that brings many strands of music into the capital, and mixes them up with some of the headier styles going down at the time. Bits of highlife echo alongside more tribally-based percussion – but most of the instrumentation on the set also has a strong ear for jazzy changes, especially during the flute and keyboards passages that make the record so great. Titles include "Kokorokoo", "Che Che Kule", "Sweet Sounds", "Sweet America", and "Do You Know". CD

One of the coolest Afro Funk groups of the 70s – and an outfit who definitely earn the "poly rhythmic" in their name! TP Orchestre have a jagged, jaunty sound that's totally great – really playfully rhythmic, in a way that breaks from the mold of most of their 70s contemporaries on the African scene – in a mad mix of beats and guitars that changes up heavily – often in the same song! The work here has a very fluid quality – pulled together in the Soundway mode with a focus on tracks that will appeal to overall fans of 70s funk, but also done with a real thought for displaying the true range of the group's mighty talents. Titles include "Angelina II", "Aihe Ni Kpe We", "Gbeto Vivi", "Agnon Djidjo", "Ne Te Faches Pas", "Kokoriko", "Hwe Towe Hun", "Gendamou Na Wili We Gnannin", "Mi Si Ba To", and "Medida". CD

The last album of the 70s by Little Feat – and it's a strange one! On one hand, Little Feat is revisiting some of their country rock and New Orleans-inspired roots of years past – as well as the self-conciously oddball humor. But they're also working in a tighter, leaner and cleaner studio sound than on the previous albums. Includes "Down On The Farm", "Six Feet Of Snow", "Front Page News", "Wake Up Dreaming", "Be One Now", "Kokomo", "Perfect Imperfection" and more. CD

Edward Simon on piano, Mark Turner on tenor saxophone, Larry Grenadier on bass, Adam Cruz on drums, and Milton Cardona on percussion. CD