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Great raw vocal group material – and an essential batch of sides from this group that only ever cut rare singles! The set's a much-needed look at the rich talents of the Van Dykes – a southern male vocal trio with a style that covered a number of different areas, from hard post-doo wop harmony, to sweeter Impressions-like soul. We'd only heard a couple of the group's singles for the Mala label, and we're really pleased to discover how much of their stuff is on a par with what we'd already known. The CD features a total of 15 tracks – and titles include "I'm So Happy", "Tears Of Joy", "No Man Is An Island", "Hey Mr Lonesome", "You Need Confidence", and "I'm For Real, Baby". CD

A rising sun from the Jose James side of the universe – trumpeter Takuya Kuroda, stepping out here in a wonderful debut for Blue Note! You've heard Kuroda play with Jose James over the years, but he comes up with a rich new groove here on his own – a mostly-instrumental mode that has his cool, compressed lines over some sweet contemporary funky backings – heavy on Fender Rhodes from Kris Bowers, and some tightly snapping live rhythms that really add a lot of energy to the record! James guests on one track – a great remake of "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" – and also produced the whole set – but the core strength of the record comes from Kuroda's trumpet, and the great keyboard lines of Bowers. Other titles include "Green & Gold", "Piri Piri", "Afro Blues", "Mala", "Call", and "Sometime Somewhere Somehow". LP, Vinyl record album

A set of merengue tracks, but from a very focused source – as the package features all numbers recorded in the Dominican Republic during the 60s and 70s – often with a groove that sets them apart from the rest! The rhythms here are often blindingly fast – so much so, you might be tempted to make sure you're not playing the album at 45rpm – which makes for an even more amazing discovery once you realize that live musicians are moving at such speed with such dexterity – in a way that also creates all this weird tension in the vocals and other instrumentation too! As with other Bongo Joe sets, the track list is great – and titles include "La Negra" by Bilo Y Sus Tipicos, "Me Gustan Las Pegajosas" by Trio Ramirez, "Que Mala Suerte" by Rafaelito Roman, "La Mecha" by Victor Suriel Y Trio Rio Verde, "La Pasion De Cristo" by Trio Royecell, "Por La Manaita" by Negrito Figueroa, "Cana Brava" by Fefita La Grande, and "Los Lanbones" by Aristides Ramirez. CD

A set of merengue tracks, but from a very focused source – as the package features all numbers recorded in the Dominican Republic during the 60s and 70s – often with a groove that sets them apart from the rest! The rhythms here are often blindingly fast – so much so, you might be tempted to make sure you're not playing the album at 45rpm – which makes for an even more amazing discovery once you realize that live musicians are moving at such speed with such dexterity – in a way that also creates all this weird tension in the vocals and other instrumentation too! As with other Bongo Joe sets, the track list is great – and titles include "La Negra" by Bilo Y Sus Tipicos, "Me Gustan Las Pegajosas" by Trio Ramirez, "Que Mala Suerte" by Rafaelito Roman, "La Mecha" by Victor Suriel Y Trio Rio Verde, "La Pasion De Cristo" by Trio Royecell, "Por La Manaita" by Negrito Figueroa, "Cana Brava" by Fefita La Grande, and "Los Lanbones" by Aristides Ramirez. LP, Vinyl record album

American film may have invented the genres of crime jazz and blacksploitation funk – but by the mid 70s, the Italian scene was really giving us a run for our money – as they turned out some amazing grooves for their legendary run of cop and crime films at the time! The movies were awash in music that really kept the action moving – heavy drums, badass basslines, wah wah guitar, and anything else that fit the spirit of a great chase or action scene. This collection brings together some of the best of that stretch – and, as with other of these recent Sugar productions, adds in some unreleased material that makes the package essential, even if you've already got work from this scene in your collection. Titles include "Il Cappotto Dilegno (edit)" by Riz Ortolani, "Poliziotto Spring M2" by Stelvio Cipriani, "Silkin Street" by Guido & Maurizio De Angelis, "Ordine Firmato Inbianco" by Carlo Savina, "Onore E Guapparia M7" by Filippo Trecca, "L'Intoccabile Mr Cliff" by Riz Ortolani, "I Gabbianivolano Basso M13" by Roberto Pregadio, "Body Guard" by Stelvio Cipriano, "Il Braccioviolento Della Mala M10" by Vassili Kojucharov, and "L'Assassino Hale Ore Contate" by Luis Bacalov. CD

The first album in many years from German jazz legends Embryo – and a set that hardly has them missing a beat at all from their famous work of the 70s! Part of the strength of the record might be its placement on Madlib's record label – but from the notes, it seems that all the credit is due to the group themselves – still doing a fantastic job of mixing together global elements and long-drawn jazz explorations – served up here on Fender Rhodes, vibes, guitar, saxes, flute, and plenty of percussion – sometimes with a bit of vocals, but usually in a way that's more chanted or instrument-like – which only seems to further the global explorations in the music! A stunning addition to their legendary catalog – with titles that include "Baran", "Januar", "Alphorn Prayer", "Besh", and "Yu Mala". LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary set of grooves from the Italian scene of the early 80s – a batch of tracks that's a lot less electro or disco than some of its contemporaries – thanks to contributions from American jazzmen Don Cherry and Don Moye! Tullio De Piscopo's a percussionist by trade, but he also sings a fair bit here too – in a chanting way that goes along nicely with the mix of drums, keyboards, bass, guitar, and other elements – used in varied ways from track to track, in styles that run from post-disco dancefloor funk to more abstract jazzy grooves. The standout track is the classic "Stop Bajon" – a cut that had a big influence on early Chicago house – but there's plenty other interesting bits here too, and other titles include "Stadera", "Silva Mala", "Cartago", "Chiano Chiano", "Gente Mia", and "I Sono E Notte". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album in many years from German jazz legends Embryo – and a set that hardly has them missing a beat at all from their famous work of the 70s! Part of the strength of the record might be its placement on Madlib's record label – but from the notes, it seems that all the credit is due to the group themselves – still doing a fantastic job of mixing together global elements and long-drawn jazz explorations – served up here on Fender Rhodes, vibes, guitar, saxes, flute, and plenty of percussion – sometimes with a bit of vocals, but usually in a way that's more chanted or instrument-like – which only seems to further the global explorations in the music! A stunning addition to their legendary catalog – with titles that include "Baran", "Januar", "Alphorn Prayer", "Besh", and "Yu Mala". LP, Vinyl record album

A 70s rock album like you've never heard – one that mixes some of the groovier style of late 60s beat combo material with a more percussive approach that showcases the group's Uruguayan origin – all with a result that's completely wonderful throughout! There's almost a Latin soul vibe mixed into the music at times – the percussion driving the guitars more than the other way around – with some nice rhythm breaks in the middle, and romping lyrics that are sung by the group in a very party-hearty sort of style! The whole thing's great – even different than other South American classics of the period – and titles include "Para Hacer Musica, Para Hacer", "No Va Mas (Ya)", "Mi Sol", "Que Me Importa", "Junto Al Mar", "No Ves Que No Cabe", "Candombe Triste", "Hiroshima", and "Rompan Todo". CD also features the bonus cut "Mala-Mala", a 1972 single b-side. CD

Rare 60s work from the world of Polish vibist Jerzy Milian – not sounds from his own group, but that of the Polish Radio dance band – headed up by Edward Czerny, and featuring here a whole set of original compositions and arrangements by Milian! Jerzy plays some solo vibes on the set, and there's also solo work from Albert Pradella on tenor, Franciszek Kowalski on trumpet, and Waclaw Lesicki on flute – players who get some brief time in the spotlight, over work that's mostly in an ensemble mode overall. The approach is a bit like that of Gustav Brom at the same time – lively, swinging, and kind of an Eastern European extrapolation of modes borrowed from Duke Ellington and Count Basie, with all the rhythm and color that would imply! Titles include "Zabwa Prazy Swiecach", "Spaicy Dorozkarz", "Dwaj Panowie M", "Koleka W Grenoble", "Mala Suita Na Big Band", and "Spacery Z Pudlem". CD

A really cool, complicated set of grooves – Peruvian tropical at its best, with plenty of sweet guitar lines mixed in with lots of rootsy percussion! Kroffer Jimenez handles the lead vocals, and has this style that leaps one minute, swells the next – very individual, and kind of a perfect match for the offbeat qualities of the record – really setting things apart from standard chicha with the way he handles the lyrics! There's a completely unique feel to the set all the way through – and titles include "Oh Que Bueno", "Mala Mujer", "Fiesta En El Callejon", "Ritmo En Furor", "La Surenita", "La Tamalera", "La Planidera", "Como Baila Lucy", and "Elvira No Se Vira". LP, Vinyl record album

The classic recording of Chico Buarque's opera Malandro – done with the supervision of Chico himself, who also stars on vocals along with singers that include Gal Costa, Zizi Possi, MPB4, Nara Leao, Alcione, Moreira Da Silva, and Francis Hime. Hime handled the arrangements and directed the music – and titles include "O Malandro", "Viver De Amor", "Hino De Duran", "Terezinha", "O Meu Amor", "Pedaco De Mim", and "Opera". CD

The classic recording of Chico Buarque's opera Malandro – done with the supervision of Chico himself, who also stars on vocals along with singers that include Gal Costa, Zizi Possi, MPB4, Nara Leao, Alcione, Moreira Da Silva, and Francis Hime. Hime handled the arrangements and directed the music – and titles include "O Malandro", "Viver De Amor", "Hino De Duran", "Terezinha", "O Meu Amor", "Pedaco De Mim", and "Opera". LP, Vinyl record album

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The complete Malaco recordings of McKinley Mitchell – an excellent singer/songwriter whose work was a key part of the southern scene in the 70s, but who rarely ever gets his due! McKinley had a really unique voice that shared some of the warmth of northern singers – including a few of the uptown crowd of the late 60s – but he also worked in a mode that was much bluesier, with more of the traces of the burgeoning Jackson scene, of which these recordings were a part during the 70s. The set features the full tracks from McKinley's one album for the label, plus singles – with a total of 16 tracks that include "When It Rains It Pours", "Open House At My House", "The Town I Live In", "The End Of The Rainbow", "Same Old Dream", "Slave For Your Love", and "Follow The Wind". CD

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Malachi Thompson always has a great ear for the saxophonist in his groups – and that's definitely the case here, as the record sparkles as much from the tenor of Carter Jefferson and alto of Joe Ford, as it does from Malachi's trumpet! The three horns rise together wonderfully – Ford plays a bit of soprano, as well – and the session has a vibe that's very different than others recorded at the time – maybe more in the soulful blend of styles you would have found on a 70s session for a label like Muse. The rest of the group features Kirk Brown on piano, Harrison Bankhead on bass, Nasar Abadey on drums, and Richard Lawrence on congas – and titles include a great reading of the Billy Harper gem "Croquet Ballet", plus "In Walked John", "Lucky Seven", "Drown In My Own Tears", and "Mystic Trumpet Man". CD

Overlooked spiritual jazz genius from Chicago trumpeter Malachi Thompson – a player who was making 70s-styled sessions when most folks had given up on the music! The vibe here is right between Strata East and some of the more righteous 70s sessions on Muse – and the group features superb work from tenorist Carter Jefferson, who's at the level of his Rise Of Atlantis work from back in the day – in a group that also features Albert Dailey on piano, James King on bass, Nasar Abadey on drums, and Randy Abbott on congas. Arnae Burton sings on the track "Back To The One", Leon Thomas guests on "No More Hard Times" – and other instrumental tracks include "A Rising Daystar", "Spirit Of Man", "Dhyia Malika", and "I Remember Clifford". CD features the bonus track "Dearly Beloved". CD

Features work by Oliver Lake on alto and Hamiet Bluiette on baritone and bass clarinet! CD

A totally wonderful collection of work from Malaco Records – an imprint that's best known for its southern soul, blues, and gospel recordings – but one that's also got a fair bit of modern soul in its catalog as well! In fact, Malaco was really instrumental in helping move forward the torch of southern soul at a time when other bigger labels like Stax, TK, and Atlantic were really losing steam – and the cuts here are the cream of the crop from a time when Malaco was turning out some amazing sounds that rival the best modern soul from scenes in Chicago, New York, or Philly! If you only know the deep soul side of Malaco, you'll really be stunned here – and the set does a great job of pulling out some lesser-known recordings from the label, in the best Free Soul tradition. Over 80 minutes of music – with tracks that include "I Can't Do Enough For You Baby" by Tommy Tate, "Groovin" by Power, "I Need Your Love" by Patterson Twins, "Girl Overboard" by Dorothy Moore, "Get Up & Dance" by Freedom, "You Used To Be Mine" by Mosley & Johnson, "Make It With You" by Ruby Wilson, "I'm For Real" by King Floyd, "Give Me Your Love" by GC Cameron, "When Can We Do This Again" by ZZ Hill, "Let Your Love Rain Down On Me" by Jewel Bass, and "Pillow Talk" by Fern Kinney. CD

A heavenly set of southern soul – a package that pulls together a wealth of rare and unreleased singles from the Malaco label – that important Jackson, Mississippi imprint that took on the deeper sounds of the 70s – after the Memphis and Muscle Shoals scenes were losing steam! Some of the artists here are ones who would have ended up on Stax or Volt, had the labels still been going at the time – and instead found a great home on Malaco, a company who also had a great legacy of work in southern blues, and really knew how to bring out the best in a strong-voiced singer! Yet despite that side of the label, the music here is all-soul all the way through – not some of the soul/blues hybrids that Malaco could do well, and instead amazing deep soul, handled with a new sort of sophistication for the 70s! The sound is wonderful throughout – and the set features loads of cuts we'd never heard before – 18 titles that include "Overflowing" by Jewel Bass, "Ain't No Love For Sale" by Tommy Tate, "Sour Love Bitter Sweet" by Joe Wilson, "Lovin On Borrowed Time" by Anita Mitchell, "Got To Find The Nerve" by Hank Sample, "Two Of A Kind" by Dorothy Moore, "Once Upon A Love Affair" by Chuck Brooks, "That's How Much I Love You" by Eddie Houston, and "Talkin About Love" by George Soule. CD

The soundtrack for the film version of Chico Buarque's famous opera Malandro – and quite possibly the best recording of the music we've heard! The style here really benefits from the tighter studio production of the film – and the tunes are put together with strong arrangements that have a bit more force than some of the live recordings of the music we've heard, but in a way that still also allows for plenty of up-close intimacy in the vocals. All performances here are great, and really bring a lot out of the tunes – and Gal Costa sings "O Ultimo Blues", Paulinho Da Viola sings "Aquela Mulher", Zizi Possi sings "Sentimental", Bebel Gilberto sings "Rio 42", Elba Ramhalo sings "Palavra De Mulher", Os Muchachos sing "Tango Do Covil", Ney Matogrosso sings "Las Muchachos De Copacabana", and Chico Buarque sings "A Volta Do Malandro". LP, Vinyl record album

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One of the lasting moments of genius from trumpeter Jon Hassell – his second entry in Brian Eno's 4th World series, and a set that's even more mindblowing than the first! As with that one, the approach here mixes together electric and acoustic sounds, with an imagined landscape of possibilities – music that sometimes feels as if it's come from ethnographic sources, but other times feels as if it's floated down from the future! Hassell blows trumpet on all tracks, often with a fair bit of electronic processing – alongside lots of percussion from other players, all mixed up by Daniel Lanois in the studio. The sound is almost a more abstract extension of the mixture of jazz and global elements that Don Cherry first explored about a decade before – and titles include "These Times", "Gift Of Fire", "Chor Moire", "Courage", and "Dream Theory". Features the bonus track "Ordinary Mind". CD

Features Tony Malaby on saxophones, Wadada Leo Smith on trumpet, William Parker on bass and Nasheet Waits on drums. CD