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An odd title, but a really wonderful album from Mark Murphy – an 80s session for Muse that easily matches some of his most creative moments for the label in the 70s! There's some wonderful versions of soulful jazz tracks here – takes on "Effendi" by McCoy Tyner, "Beauty & The Beast" by Wayne Shorter, and "Along Came Betty" by Benny Golson – the first two of which feature new lyrics by Mark that are totally great! "Betty" is always a treat done vocally, and Murphy scats the tune here with just the right sort of sadness for the number. Other cuts include "Vocalise" and "Doxy" – and the group is led by keyboardist Bill Mays, who also handled arrangements.

The richest album we've heard so far from vocalist Tom Lellis – a well-done set that has the overlooked singer backed strongly by the Metropole Orchestra! Given the setting, the album reminds us a bit of recent Verve dates from Mark Murphy – a sound that's timeless, yet not in any sort of easy too-standard way – very fresh charts for the orchestral backings, and heartfelt lyrics from Lellis that are never lost in the larger setting. Some tunes sparkle with creative changes in the vocals, while others are delivered in straighter ballad modes – both forms that Tom handles perfectly – and titles include "Mountain Flight", "Milton's Moment", "Tell Me A Bedtime Story", "Love Is", "Straight Up & Down", and "Taken To Heart".

A wonderful collaboration between vocalist Tom Lellis and guitarist Toninho Horta – a set that's easily one of the best that Lellis has ever recorded! We've always been big fans of Tom's work, and even though he's never fully gotten his due, he's a singer who's been working for decades – with a rich-toned, openly fluid style that's a lot like Mark Murphy at his best – but guided nicely by Lellis with some deeply personal expressions of his own. Horta's guitar really opens up his music a lot – and Toninho sings a bit on the record too – usually just a bit of backing vocals, but in the lead on a few numbers, with that sweetly cracking style he first brought to records in the 70s. The album's a real treasure from the Adventure Music label, and a set that really brings together some of the best aspects of the label's work. Titles include "Maybe September", "Dreamwalking", "Summertime", "I Love You", "Let's Face The Music & Dance", and "Fly Me To The Moon".

Genius work from a singer who makes us proud to live in the Windy City – vocalist Milton Suggs, who emerges here as a hell of a writer and arranger too! Milton's easily one of the best new voices in jazz we've heard in years – filled with a rich sense of imagination on his lyrics and phrasing, and a depth of soul that makes sure that his music and movements are always right on the money – a sound and style that puts him the company of a rare few in jazz – a short list that might include Jon Hendricks, Gregory Porter, Kurt Elling, and Mark Murphy! Yet like all those talents, Suggs has a sound that's uniquely his own – a way of putting over a tune that's tremendous – especially when he takes musical inspiration from others, and makes it something all his own – as he does here with core compositions by Wayne Shorter, Belly Golson, and Roy Hargrove. The Shorter inspiration is especially strong – which is great with us – and the album also features great instrumental accompaniment as well. Titles include "Jayme's Song", "Walking Out", "Only A Memory", "Side By Side", "Die Laughing", "Will You Fly With Me", and "Joy Enough To Spare".

Some of the funkiest, grooviest tunes ever from the MPS label – all brought together in one double-length set at an incredible price! These are the tracks that first got MPS re-noticed by a younger generation of groovers a decade or more ago – tunes that offer up an amazing blend of soul jazz, Brazilian, modal, and vocal styles – all done with genre-crossing genius, and some of the best production an artist could ever hope for in the studio! The collection's sort of an amalgamation of the essential (and now-deleted) compilations by Gilles Peterson that appeared on the Talkin Loud label – a filtering down of all the best bits into a 19-track CD that runs for over 75 minutes in length. Titles include "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Ella Fitzgerald, "Color" by Erwin Lehn, "Just Give Me Time" by Mark Murphy, "Little Bird" by Elsie Bianchi, "Waldmadchen" by Gustav Brom, "Espresso Loco" by Francy Boland, "That Ol Bus Smell" by Peter Herbholzheimer, "Get Out Of My Life Woman" by Dee Dee Barry & The Movements, "Big Schlepp" by Dave Pike, "Carmell's Black Forest Waltz" by Nathan Davis, "Upa Neguinho" by Edu Lobo, "Hold Me I've Got To Leave You" by Johnny Teupen, "Volcano's Daughter" by Nelson Riddle, "Monticello" by Monty Alexander, "Scratches" by Charly Antolini, and "Speech Craft" by Horst Jankowski.

Don't let the Euro-looking guys on the cover put you off, because this is one massively soulful set – filled with jazzy grooves that are mostly from the good ol' US of A! Most of the work here is from the super-deep Fantasy Records catalog – and much of it is from the 70s too – pulled from that great time when Fantasy labels were mixing up a variety of different influences with older soul jazz modes – touches of Brazilian and Latin rhythms, heavy styles of funk, and even some deeper soul too. CD features 17 tracks in all – including "Welcome To The Basement" by Merl Saunders, "You're So Vain" by David Axelrod, "Goodbye So Long" by Funk Inc, "From The Bottom" by Bobby Timmons, "Boogalooin" by Charles Kynard, "The Riot" by Ed Bogas, "Escravos De Jo" by Dom Um Romao, "Milestones" by Mark Murphy, "Scarborough Street Fair" by Merl Saunders, "Agua Dulce" by Cal Tjader, "Forever & A Day" by Mel & Tim, and "Aye Ma Ma" by Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers.