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A record that's got a lot more to offer than just the "fun" promised in the title – and a set with a much deeper feel than you might guess from its wrapping paper cover! The quartet is definitely heavy on horns – soprano and alto sax from Volker Schlott, tenor and flute from Thomas Klemm, trombone from Jorg Huke, and trumpet and flughelhorn from Joachim Hesse – all working here with only a bit of percussion, but mostly just crafting these amazing lines in space between their horns – in ways that maybe echo a bit of the sax quartet style of the time from the US, but which definitely goes way way beyond as well! Things are never too far outside, and at many times, there's this sense of color and tone that almost recall some late 50s/early 60s experiments from folks like Jimmy Giuffre or Art Farmer – with all the sense of swing and soul that might imply. Other numbers have a more contemporary feel – and titles include "Round Funk", "Primo Tono", "Permanent'z", "Kanon II", "Bluestekuchen", "3 Saxophonie Nr 2", "Free Notes", and "Largo Lapidarius".

The lovely Dianne Reeves pays tribute to jazz legend Sarah Vaughn, in a set that's one of her straightest jazz outings to date! The album features arrangements by Billy Childs, who plays on the album, along with Mulgrew Miller, Clark Terry, Reginald Veal, and Steve Wilson. Tracks include the sweet original "I Remember Sarah", plus "A Chamada", "Key Largo", "Lullaby Of Birdland", "Speak Low", "Obsession", and "Fascinating Rhythm".

Wonderful work from Ennio Morricone – an obscure soundtrack that we somehow missed for years and years – even though we've always been huge fans of his music! There's a quirky, offbeat feel to the record at the start – some playful elements that bounce along with a slight touch of whimsy, but which are also offset by some more languid, mellow Morricone moments too – those slow-moving sexy sounds that can really make some of his best ones sparkle! The story features a violinist, and there's a bit of lead violin at points – but it's the compressed orchestrations that we dig the most. Titles include "Grande Overture", "Adagio Primo", "Largo", "Adagio Secondo", and "Allegretto" – and the CD features loads of bonus tracks too!

Benny plays alto and does the backings, Oscar adds in the piano – and the album's a lush, warm session with a really dreamy feel! The core group features Peterson at the keys, with bass from Ray Brown, guitar from Barney Kessel, and drums from Buddy Rich – all supporting Carter's sweet tones on the alto, and a rich backdrop of strings with a lonely and sentimental feel. Carter's alto is right up front in the mix, and Oscar's pretty much in the background, shading in the empty spaces with light colors and tones. Titles include "Key Largo", "Alone Together", "Long Ago & Far Away", "Gone With The Wind", "Some Other Spring", and "These Things You Left Me".

One of the greatest albums on the Bethlehem label – and one of the first albums as a leader by the legendary Booker Ervin! At the time of the set, Ervin had come off a great stint with the Charles Mingus group – one that inflected his rootsy Texas tenor tones with a sharper modern edge – heard to perfection on this great little session, which is equal parts hard swinging soul jazz and dark-tinged early 60s modern! Zoot Sims joins Booker in the front line, and the two of them trade tenor solos throughout on the album's long compositions – grooving with a great sextet that includes Tommy Turrentine on trumpet, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Mingus' drummer Dannie Richmond on the kit! Cuts include "Largo", "The Book Cooks", "The Blue Book", and "Git It".

One of the last records that Booker Ervin ever recorded, and one of the best! There's a depth of tone and conception here that goes far beyond even Ervin's already-great albums for Prestige – a mix of modernism and soulful expression that really points the way towards jazz expression in the 70s – although sadly, Booker was to leave the planet before getting a chance to stretch out in that era. All 6 tracks on the album are originals – and they sparkle with the imagination found on some of the most top-shelf Blue Notes of the time – work by Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley, or Wayne Shorter – played by a group that includes the amazing Richard Williams on trumpet (almost worth the price of the record alone), Bobby Few on piano, Lenny McBrowne on drums, and the little-known Cevera Jefferies on bass. Loads of dark edges, searing solos, and plenty of free flights into the sky – on titles that include "The In Between", "Tyra", "The Muse", "Mour", "Sweet Pea", and "Largo".

One of the greatest albums on the Bethlehem label – and one of the first albums as a leader by the legendary Booker Ervin! At the time of the set, Ervin had come off a great stint with the Charles Mingus group – one that inflected his rootsy Texas tenor tones with a sharper modern edge – heard to perfection on this great little session, which is equal parts hard swinging soul jazz and dark-tinged early 60s modern! Zoot Sims joins Booker in the front line, and the two of them trade tenor solos throughout on the album's long compositions – grooving with a great sextet that includes Tommy Turrentine on trumpet, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Mingus' drummer Dannie Richmond on the kit! Cuts include "Largo", "The Book Cooks", "The Blue Book", and "Git It".

We love this record – a larger concept album from Jackie & Roy – almost their Ishtar moment! It's late in the career of Jackie & Roy, but the pair haven't faltered a bit. Bogie is a surprisingly great live set from 1988 – a dozen songs dedicated to Humphrey Bogart, either from his films, or written in honor of them – performed by Jackie & Roy in a style that's without schmaltz or hoke – and which features some great lyrical twists that are very much in the "smart" Hollywood mode of the postwar years, which was fading strongly by the time of this session. Titles include "Am I Blue", "Bogie", "As Time Goes By", "Key Largo", "Hong Kong Blues", "Play It Again, Sam", "Moanin Low", and "How Little We Know".