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Amazing work from British reedman Bob Downes – a host of previously-unissued 70s recordings, all of them trio numbers with a wonderfully stripped-down feel! Downes is possibly best known for his larger group experiments of the Open Music years – but here, he comes across as much more of a cutting-edge jazzman – blowing a variety of reeds, including flute, tenor, alto, and soprano saxes (sometimes simultaneously!) – with only just bass and drums to back him up! Yet as with most of Bob's other recordings from the time, there's a wonderful sense of rhythm to these cuts – never too free, and always with an inherent groove that hangs somewhere between the modal and the harmelodic. The drummer on all cuts is Denis Smith, and bassists include Barry Guy, Jeff Clyne, and Marc Meggido – on tracks that include "Bamboo Blaze", "Spooks", "Living It Up In Rio", "Desert Waltz", "Circus", "Moonstruck", and "Ghosts In Space".

More amazing work from the legendary Bob Downes – the British reedman/arranger/composer who's getting really rediscovered these days – represented here in a host of previously unissued tracks! Bob put together the package from his vaults, and we've got to say that the music here is every bit as wonderful as anything Downes released back in the day – and is perhaps overall maybe even more striking, as most of it is played by a trio that features Bob on flutes, tenor, alto, and soprano saxes, with Barry Guy on bass and Denis Smith on drums! There's a great groove on many numbers – kind of a modal, soulful bounce that really has us appreciating Guy's bass work from a whole new direction – especially since we've mostly known him as a more avant player. And Downes is as creatively as compelling as ever – even playing "simultaneous saxes" at one point in the record! Titles include "Seashore", "West Eleven", "Walkin Runnin Man", "Funky Groove (parts 1 & 2)", "Brasilian Beauty", and "Wavelength".

Two albums in one package – both of them featuring excellent work from groundbreaking British reedman Bob Downes! Mixed Bag is nothing like you might expect from its title – because while the set does feature a variety of different sessions from Downes, it's also got a very unified feel – thanks partly to the range of sounds and ideas that Bob expresses in each new tune! The set's easily some of the most compelling work we've ever heard from Downes on record – and features 70s and 80s recordings on a variety of different flutes and woodwinds – some solo, some in the company of other contemporaries, like Ray Russell on guitar and Harry Miller on bass. Most tunes are very open, and quite spiritual in their approach – and titles include "Shriek Out", "Lola", "Jamaican Jump Up", "Borneo Breeze", "Eruption", "The Devil", and "Seashore". CD 2 features a wonderful tribute to departed reedman Faruq Z Bey – written and recorded shortly after Bey's passing in 2012, and featuring Downes playing tenor and a bit of bass flute – on these beautifully poetic solo passages! The piece is relatively short – but it's a great bonus to this package.