The long-anticipated second album from Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings is a stunner – undoubtedly stronger than the group's fantastic debut – and a record that not only transcends the late model funk revival genre, but stands on footing as solid as the best hard funky soul of the late 60s and early 70s! If you're expecting a rehash of the heavy funk jams that burned on the Dap Dippin' album you won't be disappointed, but get ready for a deep, natural (hence the title) soulfulness that not only caught us off guard, but really forms the big, hard-beating heart of the album. The frothing, frenetic funk is as tight as ever, and in spots just as furious, but the attention to songcraft this time out is just as searing and indelible. The eight piece Dap Kings continue to be the best band in the land – with El Michels on baritone sax, Neal Sugarman on tenor, Homer Steinweiss on drums, not-so-secret weapon Bosco Mann on bass, vibes and piano. Guest appearances include fellow Daptone powerhouse vocalist Lee Fields on the the duet "Stranded In Your Love", and strings courtesy of the Bushwick Philharmonic, but make no mistake, this is the band's album. Amazing stuff from in indispensable group – an album that'll keep spinning in our circles for as many years as the great albums by the gritty soul forefathers do! Tracks include "How Do I Let A Good Man Down?", "Natural Born Lover", "My Man Is A Mean Man", a soulful reading of Woodie Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land", "Your Thing Is A Drag", "Fish In A Dish" and "All Over Again". CD

Deep funk, but with a compelling twist – bits of South American styles filtering into the mix from time to time, but in subtle ways that never lose the groove! The album's a soundtrack, but works more like a funk album on its own – and is a great full length follow-up to some of the hip 45 work we've heard from the Colemine label – showing that they may well be on the deeper path of a label like Daptone! The added elements make for some hip exotic inflections from time to time – almost echoes of El Michels, but in a different way – and titles include "Pablo's Dilemma", "High Noon", "Sigamos El Sol", "El Conquistador", "Nadie Puede Escpar", "Andean Folk Song", and "Mirror Door". LP, Vinyl record album

Loussier interprets the music of Bach, with Pierre Michelot on bass and Christian Garros on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Notable sidemen include Pierre Michelot, Kenny Clarke, Barney Wilen, Jimmy Gourley, and Clark Terry. CD

Notable sidemen include Pierre Michelot, Kenny Clarke, Barney Wilen, Jimmy Gourley, and Clark Terry. LP, Vinyl record album

A gem of a session from the European expatriot scene of the postwar years – not really a tribute to Cannonball Adderley, but a rare meeting of Bud Powell and Don Byas in the studio, produced by Cannonball in Paris in 1961! The record has a tremendous amount of fire and focus – especially on the part of Powell, who could sometimes falter in a European setting – and although Byas' horn might seem a contrasting choice for Bud, he really burns with a lot of energy here – arcing, soaring, and turning with lines that show that his talents hadn't dimmed at all out of the American limelight. As always with his few productions from the time, Cannonball shows a great deal of sensitivity and patience with the players – probably a key factor of the success of the set. Also noteworthy is the rest of the group – which includes Idrees Sulieman on trumpet, Pierre Michelot on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums. Titles include "Jeannine", "Just One Of Those Things", "All The Things You Are", "I Remember Clifford", and "Jackie My Little Cat". CD

A very unique session that features the often-modern tenor sax of Lucky Thompson in the company of bluesman Sammy Price, who plays piano and sings on a number of the tracks on the record. Amazingly, Thompson's raspy tenor tone is a perfect fit with the style of the recording – laying down lean blusey licks that really work nicely with Price's barrelhouse piano style, and which also give it a bit more of a jazz-oriented style than usual. The rest of the group features Pierre Michelot on bass, Jean-Pierre Sasson on guitar, and Gerard Pochonet on drums. Titles include "Lucky T", "Minor Blues", "Paris Blues", "Embassy Boogie", and "Up Above My Head". CD

A great little Lou Rawls album from his short-lived time at Bell Records – and like most of his smaller stints at 70s labels, work that really stands out from the rest! The album was cut in LA with smooth production from Norman Ratner – but the overall sound is still pretty darn hip – a nice update of Lou's earlier style at Capitol and MGM, and almost a precursor to his late 70s fame at Philly International. The vocals are still given strong center stage – and are as magnificent as always – and the track selection is slinky smooth at times, in ways that give a subtle sophistication to the record that's really great. Titles include a great cover of "She's Gone", plus "Feel Like Makin Love", "Now You're Coming Back Michelle", "You're A Lady", "Keep The Faith", "Baby You Don't Know How Good You Are", and "Let It Be Now". LP, Vinyl record album

A trio date with Kenny Davis on bass and Gene Jackson on drums. CD

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Diana and the ladies recorded live at London's Talk Of The Town nitespot – with arrangements conducted by Jimmy Garrett, and a set of tracks that includes a number of medleys of standards and late 60s pop tunes. Titles include "Mame", "Reflections", "In & Out Of Love", "Without A Song", "Baby Love", "Come See About Me", "Michelle", "You Keep Me Hangin On", "The Lady Is a Tramp", and "The Happening". LP, Vinyl record album

The debut album of the legendary pianist Masahiko Sato – a musician who's got a way with a piano that's unlike anyone else we can think of – almost creating these sinister moments at times, which are balanced by occasional moments of warmth, amidst a very groundbreaking sense of freedom! At this point in his career, Sato is so different than American or European avant pianists – and there's a clarity to the performance here that really demonstrates his unique approach – supported by superb work from Yasuo Arakawa on bass and Masahiko Togashi on drums – both players who have these deeper, organic qualities that balance the sharper edges of the piano. All titles are originals – save for an unusual version of "Michelle" – and tracks include "Der Zweig Von Salzburg", "Palladium", and "Closing". LP, Vinyl record album

Bud Shank takes on the sounds of The Beatles – and a whole host of other 60s pop stars as well – all with results that are as jazzy as they are groovy! The album's one of a few that Bud cut for Liberty in this format – alto and flute spread out over fuller backings from Bob Florence, a great arranger who knows how to make things swing by bringing in some wonderful 60s touches! There's a bit of guitar at times, some compressed horns – ala A&M – and some overall mod rhythms that help change things up nicely from tune to tune. Titles include "Michelle", "Yesterday", "Blue On Blue", "Sounds Of Silence", "Turn Turn Turn", "As Tears Go By", and "Girl". LP, Vinyl record album

Zoot Sims on tewnor saxophone, Gerry Wiggins and Henri Renaud on piano, Pierre Michelot and Don Bagley on bass, Kenny Clarke and Jean-Louis Viale on drums, Fdrank Rosolino on trombone, and Jimmy Gourley on guitar. CD

Heavily grooving Italian jazz from 1960 – featuring the piano of Amedo Tommasi, and the twin-horn team of Cicci Santucci and Enzo Scoppa! Santucci plays trumpet and Scoppa plays tenor, and together, the pair were one of the tightest front lines working south of the Alps. We've stocked sets that include some of their funky work from the 70s – but this little gem is a rare early appearance in a straight bop mode, grooving nicely all the way through with the soulfulness of a rare side on Blue Note or Prestige from the same time! Titles include "Mulatto", "Zamboni 22", "Ballad For Micheline", "Coltrane", and "Auto Strada Del Sole". CD

A far-reaching album by Caetano – with a wide scope of sounds and influences, from tribal/ethnic percussion, to subtle jazzy backdrops, to guitar-driven numbers that hint at a brief return to rock music. The rich tapestry of themes and images are perfectly linked by Veloso's always-wonderful voice – impeccably rich-toned, with a sound that only seems to get better with age. To us, the record's his first really striking album since 1997's Livro – although it's got a lot more subtlety, in the manner of some of his mid 70s work, like Bicho or Joia. Titles include "Michelangelo Antonioni", "Zera A Reza", "13 De Maio", "Zumbi", "Meu Rio", and "Sou Seu Sabia". CD

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An intriguing little set from drummer Tony Williams – and a set that shows him still very much in command of his talents well into the 80s! Tony's playing here with all the bold, open energy of his classic recordings – and although he picks up a bit of electric percussion at points, he still plays it all "live" – and really seems to defer to the richer acoustic sounds of the group's great lineup – an all-star setting that includes Wallace Roney on trumpet, Donald Harrison on alto, Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Ron Carter on bass, and Mulgrew Miller on piano! The richness of the alto and trumpet are tremendous – and Hutcherson's vibes ring out beautifully, a perfect balance of tone and timing. Titles include "Foreign Intrigue", "My Michele", "Takin My Time", "Sister Cheryl", and "Arboretum". LP, Vinyl record album