All Categories — All Formats  

Incredible work from the Jazz Crusaders – a brilliant album of longer tracks that has them working at their soulful, sophisticated best! The record's great proof that the Crusaders had a depth that many rarely gave them credit here – as they're working here in a complicated set of rhythms, tones, colors, and patterns that easily matches some of the best Blue Note mid 60s work by Hank Mobley or Lee Morgan! All tracks are recorded live, and in very long takes that show the combo effortlessly setting up the rhythms – then stepping out with extended solos that are surprisingly exploratory and modern-sounding. Titles include "Trance Dance", "Summer Madness", "Young Rabbits", and "Freedom Sound".

Seminal west coast recordings by Clifford Brown – recorded in LA in 1954, with a mixture of hard bop and lyricism, in that sparkling mode that Brownie left as his indelible imprint on the west coast scene of the 50s! Players include Bob Gordon on baritone, Stu Williamson on trombone, Zoot Sims on tenor, and Russ Freeman on piano – and Jack Montrose arranged the set. Titles include "Tiny Capers", "Bones For Jones", "Joy Spring", "Finders Keepers", and "Daahoud".

They certainly got the title right on this one – as Feldman moves from his usual staid jazz mode, to come up with a very groovy LP! In the course of the album, Vic gets his hands on conga, sand blocks, vibes, drums, organ, electric piano, tympani, tambourine, jawbone, novachord, and a lot more – creating some great little tunes with a heavily percussive groove to them. The set's a great mix of jazz and mod – with a sound that would make Verve weep! Titles include "Voce E Eu", "Do The Jake", "Geronimo", "Sunshine Superman", "In The Mood", "Have A Heart", and "This Door Swings Both Ways".

One of Chico's earliest albums for Pacific Jazz – a set of tightly arranged tracks with a cool chamber feel to them – featuring a lineup that includes Buddy Collette on reeds, Fred Katz on cello, Jim Hall on guitar, and Carson Smith on bass. Collette, Katz, and Hall are at the height of their powers here – a bit restricted, perhaps, but in the way that Hamilton was using to craft some of the more creative sounds of the 50s LA jazz scene – perfectly shaped and formed throughout! Just about every band member contributed a song and an arrangement to the album – and titles include "The Ghost", "Chrissie", "Jonalah", "Sleepy Slept Here", "Drums West", "The Squimp", and "Sleep".

The last session that The Mastersounds ever cut as a group – and a strangely compelling montage of tracks from the musical Kismet. Brothers Buddy and Monk Montgomery are joined here by brother Wes – then an emerging star on guitar, and a strong addition to the set, one who expands the sound past the usual exotic chamber groove laid down by the combo. Titles include "Fate", "Olive Tree", "This Is My Beloved", "Not Since Nineveh", and "Stranger In Paradise".

One of only two albums cut by the Four Souls group of drummer Lenny McBrowne – a really cooking combo that should have gotten greater exposure back in the day! The west coast group were clearly one of the hippest acts working on their scene at the time – as they've got a unique blend of soul jazz and modernism – one that cooks with Jazz Crusaders-like energy at points, but also has some sharper edges too – a bit in the vein of the wonderful JFK Quintet from the DC scene. Players in the group include Terry Trotter on piano, Don Sleet on trumpet, Daniel Jackson on sax, and Herbie Lewis on bass. Jackson's a real standout in the group – a player with a great edge and real sense of feeling, and one we'd love to hear more of. Titles include "Soul Sisters", "Invitation", "Dearly Beloved", "Lazinka's Tune", "Cerise", and "McBrowne's Galaxy".

Early work from Les – recording at the Jazz Workshop in SF, with his famous trio that included Herbie Lewis on bass and Ron Jefferson on drums. The album's pretty standard fare – short soul jazz piano numbers, with more than a bit of church in the grooves. Titles include "Come On & Get That Church", "We'll See Yaw'll After While, Ya Heah", "I Am In Love", "Big Jim", and "Oh Them Golden Gates".

An early vocal set from Les McCann – quite unusual, and pretty darn soulful as well! The album's done in a mode that foreshadows Les' move to soul during the 70s, and features him singing to some hip arrangements by Gerald Wilson – in a soulful, jazzy style that was common for LA of the mid 60s – somewhere in a space between Lou Rawls and Arthur Prysock – with all the hip, adult aspects you'd expect from those references! Tunes include a fair bit of standards, but swung in really fresh ways by Wilson – and McCann's got this restrained style of singing that's really great – almost as if he's hiding a broken heart beneath his groove. Tracks include "It's Way Past Suppertime", "Next Spring", "Bye Bye Black Bird", "Deed I Do", "I Cried for You", and "Wonder Why".

A pretty great set from Les McCann – and quite a bit different than some of his other work of the time! This one's sub-billed as "the ballad style of Les McCann" – but it features Les playing these laidback, mellow numbers that are way different than most jazz ballads of the time – almost darkly modern moments that draw a lot from rich tones and gentle chromes – of the sort we've hardly ever heard McCann play this way, and which almost hint at some of the gentler touch he'd use on the keys during the Fender Rhodes generation – even though this one's recorded a decade before. Backing is equally thoughtful and sensitive – with Herbie Lewis on bass and Ron Jefferson on drums – and titles include two originals – "Pretty Lady" and "Dorene Don't Cry I" – plus "Django", "Stella By Starlight", "On Green Dolphin Street", "Ill Take Romance", and "Little Girl Blue".

A quartet session that has Les playing with Leroy Vinnegar on bass, Ron Jefferson on drums, and Joe Pass on guitar. Pass' guitar opens the group up nicely – expanding Les a bit past some of the gospel drenched work of earlier yesr. Tracks include "Maichen", "Bernie's Tune", "So What", "On Time", and "Fondue".

A classic live album by Gerry – featuring one set of tracks recorded in Stockton, CA in 1954, with Chico Hamilton, Red Mitchell, and Jon Eardley; and another recorded in San Diego the same year, with Zoot Sims, Bob Brookmeyer, Larry Bunker, Red Mitchell, and Eardley. Gerry even plays a bit on the piano, despite its absence from his other work – and titles include "Western Reunion", "Little Girl Blue", "Blues Going Up", and "The Red Door".

A full LP that collects together earlier recordings by Mulligan – done in the years 1952 and 1953, with a quartet that features Chet Baker, and bass by either Carson Smith or Bob Whitlock, and drums by either Larry Bunker or Chico Hamilton. Both Mulligan and Baker recorded together a number of times after this, in a "reunion" style that hearkened back to the fame of these sides – but the originals are still the best, and feature a magical pairing of two gentle jazz talents in a laidback piano-less setting. Titles include "Frenesi", "Swinghouse", "I May Be Wrong", "Tea For Two", and "Jeru".

A beautiful album of crispy cool jazz from the LA scene of the 50s – one that features the octet of Bill Perkins recorded live in Hollywood, but in a "special hi-fi theater recording" that has sound as sublime as his studio work! The group includes Perkins on tenor, Bud Shank on alto, Jack Nimitz on baritone, Stu Williamson on trumpet, Carl Fontana on trombone, Russ Freeman on piano, Red Mitchell on bass, and Mel Lewis on drums. The live setting takes nothing away from the perfection of the group's conception, as Perkins' leadership is impeccable, bringing together the horns in a beautiful wash of sound. Titles include "Let Me See", "Zing Zang", "For Dancers Only", "One Hundred Years From Today", "Song Of The Islands", and "As They Reveled".

Although Buddy's always been a bit laughable, he was always trying to keep his bag moving, and his band of the late 60s included some pretty darn nice players. The group on this session includes Ernie Watts and Bobby Shew, and the band wails hard and fast in a live setting with lots of tight little numbers. Tracks include "Wack Wack", "Norwegian Wood", "The Beat Goes On", and "Mexicali Nose".

Although Buddy's always been a bit laughable, he was always trying to keep his bag moving, and his band of the late 60s included some pretty darn nice players. The group on this session includes Ernie Watts and Bobby Shew, and the band wails hard and fast in a live setting with lots of tight little numbers. Tracks include "Wack Wack", "Norwegian Wood", "The Beat Goes On", and "Mexicali Nose".

Very hip stuff from Gerald Wilson – about as tight and hard as you can get for 60s big band work! The players on the set aren't listed clearly, but we can be sure that they're some of Gerald's usual contemporaries – the best of the mid 60s LA soul jazz and avant bop scene, all working together to craft some incredibly groovy tunes with a high degree of soul. The album has lots of nice instrumental touches, from electric harpsichord to vibes to guitar, all woven through the mostly original tunes that make up the set. Tracks include "M Capetillo", "Del Olivar", "Little Bit Of Soul", "Do I Love You", and "Mini Waltz".

A crazy collection of poetry and jazz – but one that doesn't come from as much of the sort of hipster/beat angle as one would expect from this sort of project! Instead, the interpreters take the high art road – with John Carradine, Hoagy Carmichael, Ben Wright, Roy Glenn and Bob Dorough all reading selections penned by Walt Whitman, Dylan Thomas, William Carlos Williams, Langston Hughes, Lawrence Lipton, Philip Whalen, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. The music is very progressive and expressionistic for the period – performed by the Chico Hamilton Quintet, the Gerry Mulligan Quartet, the Ralph Pena-Bob Dorough Quintet, or a special group put together for this recording called the Jazz Canto Ensemble – which features Jack Montrose, Larry Bunker, Paul Horn, Buddy Collette and other west coast players from the LA scene. The sound is a bit more serious than some of the Fantasy Records jazz-meets-poetry experiments of the same time – and titles include "Poets To Come", "Tract", "In My Craft Or Sullen Art", "Night Song For The Sleepless", "Lament", "Dog", "Young Sycamore", "Three Songs", and "Big High Song For Somebody".

A great little compilation – with exclusive material! This looks like a Pacific Jazz best of – but it's actually a special collection that features some tunes that never appeared on other records, played by some of the label's hippest soul jazz artists. Titles include "One More Hamhock Please" by a group that includes Les McCann, Curtis Amy, and Bobby Hutcherson; "Blowin The Blues" by Harold Land, Jackie Davis, and Gerald Wilson; Red Shirt" by Teddy Edwards, Hampton Hawes, and Jimmy Allen; and "Oatmeal" by Bobby Hutcherson, Les McCann, and Ron Jefferson.

A classic Pacific Jazz album, one that features Chet Baker laying back in three different ensembles – a quartet (with Russ Freeman), sextet (with Bud Shank and Bob Brookmeyer), and septet (with Jack Montrose, Herb Geller, and Bob Gordon). Arrangements are by Freeman, Montrose, and Johnny Mandel – and the set list includes a few strong originals, plus other familiar numbers, all done in the warmly intimate style of Baker's best early work. Titles include "Tommy Hawk", "All The Things You Are", "No Ties", "Russ Job", "Bea's Flat", "Goodbye", "Moonlight Becomes You", and "Little Man You've Had A Busy Day".

Fresh and modern big band work – with a nice dash of soul, and some of the early traces of funk that would later show up heavily in Ellis' 70s work! Tracks are long, and in compelling time structures – as indicated by the titles – and groove with an MPS-like approach to the work – strong solos bursting out from the larger band, and very strong rhythms pushing most of the tracks nicely over the top! Players include Ira Schulman, Ruben Leon, Dave Mackay, and Ron Starr – and titles include "Barnum's Revenge", "Upstart", "Thetis", "Orientation", and "Freedom Jazz Dance".

An excellent no-nonsense session from Groove and a cast of all-stars that includes Gene Ammons, Ben Webster, Les McCann, and Joe Pass. Larry Marable and Ron Jefferson also play drums, and George Freeman sneaks in a few licks on guitar – always a treat for us – but the real charm is Groove's light lively organ work, and the strong blowing of the tenor stars. The whole thing grooves like one of those hip Prestige sides from 1963 or 1964 – and is much more in the pocket than some of the other Pacific Jazz sides that Groove cut during the 60s. Titles include "This Here", "Hittin The Jug", "Denice", "Later", and "Licks A Plenty".

Killer work from the late 50's by Chet! Although Baker's trumpet playing in the early part of the decade became known as one of the trademark "cool" sounds of the west coast, he started to move towards a sound that was a lot more hardbop at the end of the decade – as you'll hear on this tasty album. The session's got a great (and unlikely) batch of players accompanying Chet – like firey young soul jazz pianist Bobby Timmons, modal grooving bassist Jimmy Bond, and cool tenorist Phil Urso. The set's a great one, and pushes Chet's sound way past the usual stereotypes. Titles include "Medium Rock", "Lucius Lu", "Revelation", and "To Mickey's Memory". Plus, this excellent reissue CD also adds a number of bonus tracks recorded by the same group, but not issued with the original album. Added titles include "Chippyin", "Line For Lyons (vocal version!)", and "Jumpin Off A Clef".

A classic Pacific Jazz album, one that features Chet Baker laying back in three different ensembles – a quartet (with Russ Freeman), sextet (with Bud Shank and Bob Brookmeyer), and septet (with Jack Montrose, Herb Geller, and Bob Gordon). Arrangements are by Freeman, Montrose, and Johnny Mandel – and the set list includes a few strong originals, plus other familiar numbers, all done in the warmly intimate style of Baker's best early work. Titles include "Tommy Hawk", "All The Things You Are", "No Ties", "Russ Job", "Bea's Flat", "Goodbye", "Moonlight Becomes You", and "Little Man You've Had A Busy Day".

Beautiful work from the legendary Hoagy Carmichael – and one of the few albums to feature him singing his own work! Hoagy's name is one that you're more likely to see in the songwriting credits than in the artist slot for a record – but he's actually got a wonderful voice, one that's filled with honest, personal charms – and which has a sometimes broken-down quality that's perfect for the gentle words of his tunes. This wonderful set features Carmichael working with sublime small combo backing – players who include Harry Edison, Jimmy Rowles, and Art Pepper – working with arrangements penned by Johnny Mandel. Titles include "Rocking Chair", "Georgia On My Mind", "Skylark", "Two Sleepy People", and "Baltimore Oriole".

Great early work from Joao Donato – the US issue of some recordings that (we think) made up the Polygram album Muito A Vontade. The tracks were recorded in Brazil, with Donato on piano, and rhythm by Milton Banana drums, Sebastian Neto bass, and Amaury Rodrigues on bongos and pandiero. The tracks are simple and beautiful, with that well-pronounced sense of grace and space that Donato has always brought to his best work – especially that in the bossa mode. Titles include "Tim Dom Dom", "Vamos Nessa", "Sambou Sambou", "Jodel", "So Se For Agora", "Tema Teimosa", and "Muito A Vontade".

A newly majestic setting for James Moody in the 60s – thanks to the mighty arranging talents of Gil Fuller! The album's similar to one that Fuller did with Dizzy Gillespie at the same time – a blend of large ensemble backings and soulful work by the solo star – which in this case is James Moody on alto, tenor, and flute! Moody's work here is kind of an extension of his 60s recordings with Tom McIntosh – an amazing array of colors, tones, and emotions that would never have been heard in his music a decade or two before – played with sophistication that's simply stunning, and a sense of swing and soul that makes the whole thing move nicely. The ensemble has a great rhythm section that features Mike Wofford on piano, Chuck Berghofer on bass, and Chuck Flores on drums – plus percussion from Francisco Aquabella – and titles include "Latin Lady", "Tin Tin Deo", "Our Man Flint", "A Patch Of Blue", "Night Flight", and "17 Mile Drive".

Groove and Jug wail away in this classic set of tenor/organ tracks recorded for Pacific Jazz in the early 60s. The backing is spare, with only Gene Edwards on guitar and Leroy Henderson on drums, and tracks include "Morris The Minor", "Good Vibrations", "Hey You, What's That?", and "Groovin' With Jug".

Killer Jazz Crusaders material! The record captures the group at a perfect time – a point when they were breaking past the tighter shorter formula of earlier material, and moving into a slightly more spiritual conception – yet one that still had a hard swing and a deeply soulful vibe! The record's a prime example of the never-ending energy held by the band – near-perfect on every track, and played with a sense of creative expression that easily puts them at the top of the soul jazz scene in the late 60s! Titles include "Night Theme", "Air Waves", "Uh Huh", "Watts Happening", and "Ice Water".

A classic album in the mode of soul jazz piano grooviness that put Les on the map, even back in the early days! The album was recorded live at The Bit, on the Sunset Strip, in LA – and it features Les' classic group with Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Ron Jefferson on drums. Tracks are short and groovy – and titles include "The Shout", "Set Call", "Jubilation", and "Night In Tunisia".

In a mode that foreshadows his move to soul during the 70s, this one features Les singing to some hip arrangements by Gerald Wilson – in kind of a pop soul jazz style that was common for LA of the mid 60s. Most of the tracks are standards, done with a bit of a kick, and some of that down-home grooving that folks were used to from Les' piano albums. Les still plays piano on this one while he's singing – and titles include "Bye Bye Black Bird", "Deed I Do", "On The Street Where You Live", "Sweet Georgia Brown", "But Not For Me", and "Wonder Why".

A great Latin groove from the mighty Les McCann – a smoking set that adds in extra percussion from Willie Correa – who gives the record a sound that's quite a change from the usual McCann groove! The percussion is wonderful throughout – and given that the great Paul Humphrey is already playing drums in the trio, the whole thing's got a rhythmic zest that never lets up – way different than just the usual "with conga" style you'd hear on a Prestige Records piano trio record – and instead a groove that's definitely dedicated to the boldest Latin piano modes of the time! The track list includes a lot of originals, such as "McCanna", "Zulu", "Bastuto Baby", "Shaam-Pu II", and "Narobi Nights" – plus versions of "Que Rico" and "It Had Better Be Tonight".

A really hard-hitting groover from the great 60s trio of Les McCann – a set that adds in some extra guitar from Joe Pass, who definitely sounds his most soulful on the set! Joe grooves perfectly with Les' piano – and has almost a Kenny Burrell-like depth in tone throughout – one that we're not as likely to hear on other Pass sessions of this vintage, possibly because of the excellent rhythms from Paul Chambers on bass and Paul Humphrey on drums! Tunes are definitely the soul hits promised in the title – mostly numbers that were brimming up big in the soul jazz generation of the time, but given a particular Les McCann twist. Titles include "Sister Sadie", "Bag's Groove", "Back At The Chicken Shack", "Work Song", "Sonnymoon For Two", "Groove Yard", and "Sack O Woe".

A stellar set from one of the most underrated reed players of all time – a brilliant bit of searching soul jazz, cut at a time when Curtis Amy was leaving behind his Texas roots for the new sounds of the Coltrane generation! The album's quite different than the organ and tenor dates that Amy had previously cut with Paul Bryant – and instead, is put together with a nascent spiritualism that's really wonderful – a sound that definitely lives up to the bold title and cover image, with lots of modal moments in the rhythms! The group features some equally under-acknowledge geniuses – including trumpeter Dupree Bolton, pianist Jack Wilson, and guitarist Ray Crawford – all coming together perfectly with Amy's work on tenor and soprano sax. The best tunes here are originals by the group members – including "Lonely Woman" (not by Ornette), "Katanga", "Native Land", and "Amyable".

One of the best-ever Chet Baker albums! The material is divided up into two sides – one featuring some of the last-ever work by pianist Richard Twardziak, one of Baker's best-ever accompanists, playing here in a tight little quartet with the great Jimmy Bond on bass and Peter Littman on drums. Bond returns on the second side, which features piano work by Gerard Gustin and drums by Bert Dahlander. Either side is excellent, though – and the record features some of the best no-nonsense blowing ever by Baker. Way more soulful than some of his other work, with a sound that moves past the early west coast years in a perfect way! Titles include "Rondette", "Piece Caprice", "Sad Walk", "Pomp", and "Summertime". Beautiful cover, too!

One of the best records we've ever heard by The Montgomery Brothers – an album that's combined from 2 different sessions, but which has quite a unified feel! Monk Montgomery plays Fender bass – and both groups feature work by Buddy and Wes Montgomery – Buddy on piano and Wes on guitar, of course! But almost even more exciting are the horn players – as one of the sessions features Pony Poindexter on alto, the other Harold Land on tenor – and both of them add a nice depth to the tracks that you don't always hear on other of the horn-less Montgomery Brothers sides – an edge, or "bite" that makes the album one of the most soulful Montgomery outings ever recorded. Tracks include "Renie", "Far Wes", "Lelia", "Wes Tune", and "Monk's Shop".

A beautiful pairing of players – one that makes for a wonderful album! Shank's at the height of his early powers here – working in a fluid west coast mode that less in keeping with the "blowin" of the title, than the magic he was known for crafting on his other sides from the time. Bud plays alto, tenor, and flute on the session – and he's paired with Bob Cooper, whose round tones on tenor and bass clarinet are a nice match for Shank's slightly edgier sound. Claude Williamson is on piano, Don Prell plays bass, and Chuck Flores is on drums – 10 tracks in all: "Two Lost Souls", "Dinah", "Mutual Admiration Society", "Love Nest", "Just In Time", "Steve Allen Theme", "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face", "As Long As There's Music", Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Blowin Country".

An early moment of genius from the young Clare Fischer – one of his first sets for a larger ensemble, and the start of years of great work to come! Previous Pacific Jazz sessions featured Fischer in a piano trio – but this album lets Clare loose on a host of his own inventive arrangements – a set of charts and compositions that easily move between the modern and the groovy – sometimes using offbeat tones and sounds that rival the best that Ellington or Gil Evans had to offer – other times coming across with this fluidity that's a perfect summation of the way that Fischer pulled together all of the California cool of the 50s, and managed to come up with something completely fresh for the 60s! The modern edges will come as a real surprise to those who only know Fischer's more easygoing work – and in addition to Clare's own work on piano and organ, the record also features Jerry Coker on tenor, Gary Foster on tenor and clarinet, Jack Nimitz on bass clarinet and baritone, Sam Most and John Lowe on flutes, and Don Shelton on alto – all working with reed interplay that's completely sublime. Titles include "Bittersweet", "Igor", "Canto Africano", "Extension", "Passacaglia", and "Ornithardy".

An amazing debut from pianist Clare Fischer – an artist who went onto have a subtle, but immediate influence upon both the American and Brazilian jazz scenes of the time! Fischer's got a lyrical approach to rhythm that's simply amazing – modern, but never cold and academic – and instead always freely dancing around, in a way that gives equal melodic roles to the bass and drums in his trio. There's a clear bossa nova inspiration here, but keep in mind that Fischer's sensibility was also a big influence on the bossa players of the time. The whole session sparkles with a fresh genius that still beats the work of most players still recording today – and Fischer's piano is accompanied by equally free-thinking work on bass by Gary Peacock and drums by Gene Stone. Most titles are originals, and tunes include "Toddler", "Stranger", "Nigerian Walk", "Afterfact", "Free Too Long", "Piece For Scotty", and "Blues For Home".

A soulful smoker from the west coast scene – and some of the only work as a leader we've ever seen from pianist Joe Castro – a player with just the right sense of rhythm and soul to live up to the title! In addition to this rare appearance by Joe, the set's also noteworthy for some great tenor from Teddy Edwards – working here in a setting that's maybe even looser than some of his Contemporary Records dates of the same time – with great rhythmic help from the team of Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. The record's more like a soul jazz side for Pacific Jazz, than a typical Atlantic Records date from this time – and it's got some tasty mellow groovers, like "Groove Funk Soul", "That's All", "Yesterdays", and "Play Me The Blues".

A groovy set of instrumentals – based on hits made big by Petula Clark, but given a cool Cali jazz feel from Bob Florence!

A powerful set of free jazz that definitely lives up to its title – a hell-bent session of unbridled energy from this west coast quartet! Vinny Golia contributes some wonderful tenor, soprano sax, sopranino, and bass clarinet to the record – these deft, deep tones that really give the album a heck of a lot of soul – especially on some of the sparer moments, which have the spiritual feel of a 70s loft jazz session. Lisa Mezzacappa's basslines are often a key complement to Golia's reedwork – and the set also features some equally nice alto sax lines from Marco Eneidi, who definitely has the right feel for the record. Vijay Anderson completes the group on drums – and titles include "Lop-Sided Heels & Frayed Shoes", "Meteorites", "Inessential Melancholies", "Pendulum", "Deformities & Dischords", and "Everything Imaginable Can Be Dreamed".

Unusual material from Chico Hamilton – recorded around the same time as his groundbreaking work for Pacific Jazz – but for the smaller Crown/Modern label in LA! The format's a bit unusual, and changes a bit throughout the record – showing Chico's already-strong ear for creative formats that go way beyond conventional jazz. There are 2 numbers at the end of side 2 featuring Chico in the familiar chamber jazz lineup, with Fred Katz on cello and Paul Horn on reeds – "Crazy Cats" and "Lord Randall". The rest of the tracks feature the stringed instruments handling most of the melody, in a free floating style that's got the same "modern yet swinging" approach of some of Jimmy Giuffre's best late 50s recordings, which ultimately places it in a similar context to the chamber jazz numbers. Titles include "Porch Light", "Autumn Landscape", "Uyawda", "Lolly Pop", "Pluck It", "Katz Up", "Crazy Cats", and "Lord Randall".

Quite possibly the best album to feature the talents of Chico Hamilton and Eric Dolphy – a set recorded at a time when Dolphy was an up-and-coming player on the west coast scene! Although Chico Hamilton had recorded with unusual reed players before, Dolphy brings a depth of soul and spirit to this album that's missing from a lot of Chico's earlier work at the time – a style that still holds onto some of the measured qualities of the Pacific Jazz work by the Hamilton group, yet which also opens up into some of the darker corners that Dolphy would explore more on his own recordings of the 60s. The group also features some great guitar by Dennis Budimir and cello by Nathan Gershman – but the real standout aspects of the set come from Dolphy's work on flute, alto, and bass clarinet. Titles include "Where I Live", "Passion Flower", "Tuesday At Two", "Nature by Emerson", "Far East", and "Good Grief, Dennis".

An obscure release by Chico Hamilton – but with some really great moments that more than rival his famous sides for Pacific Jazz in the 50s! The set was issued on the obscure Crown label, and is a bit short on notes – but side one features work by Chico's early trio – a cool group with either Howard Roberts or Jim Hall on guitar, and George Duvivier on bass – really sounding open and airy, yet swinging too – on titles that include "Nutty", "Skinned Strings", "Street Of Drums", and "Blues On The Rocks" – played by a group that seems to feature bass, drums, and guitar. Even better, though, is side two, which features the more complicated "Suite For Horn" – a long piece built around the flute work of Paul Horn – presented here with a shorter track called "Montuna", which is mostly just heavy percussion, bass, and very noisy cello from Fred Katz!

A wonderful bit of cinematic jazz from the 50s – played by the Chico Hamilton group as part of the soundtrack! The combo was a key part of the LA scene at the time, but are oddly featured as a regular club act in the movie's New York setting – but we'll gladly forgive that geographic error, given that the music on the set is so great. The quality's a bit like some of the Hamilton Quintet work on World Pacific – but there's a slightly freer, more urgent feel here too – work that's sometimes somewhat driving, and beautifully blended from the guitar of John Pisano, clarinet of Paul Horn, cello of Fred Katz, piano of Carson Smith, and drums from Chico. Side one features a lot of short incidental cuts – like "Susan", "Cheek To Chico", "Jam", and "Night Beat" – and side 2 is an extended "Concerto Of Jazz Themes From The Soundtrack Of Sweet Smell Of Success".

Killer work from Chico Hamilton – and a key batch of sides recorded between his 50s quintet sessions for Pacific Jazz and his later modal magic at Impulse! The work here was originally done for the Navy Swings series of radio shows – and features a Chico with the group that included Charles Lloyd on flute, tenor, and alto sax, Gabor Szabo on guitar, George Bohannon on trombone, and Albert Stinson on bass. The lack of piano and presence of trombone makes for a really unique feel to the group – one that's almost got extra bass at moments, thanks to the work of Bohannon – and which allows for some especially creative flourishes from Lloyd on sax – clearly opening up here, even at an early date. Tracks are short, but extremely creative throughout – and the 16 track set is filled with great originals by Lloyd that include "Vulture", "A Rose For Booker", "Transfusion", "Tales", "CL Blues", "One For Joan", "Homeward", and "Sun Yen Sen".

One of the best records that Chico Hamilton cut during the 50s – and one that features Eric Dolphy, who was with Chico's group for a short while! The record's got the quintet (which also includes the excellent Dennis Budimir on guitar) fronting larger string arrangements by Fred Katz (no longer their cellist, but still a key force here) – and the approach is a great expansion on the earlier styles that Chico forged for Pacific Jazz. The strings here are never sleepy, and instead have a dark and modern feel overall – similar to Ralph Burns' best work of the time, but a bit more restrained – and Eric Dolphy's reed work really keeps things interesting, with sharp-edged notes give most of the tracks a fair bit of depth. Titles include "Modes", "Strange", "Don's Delight", "Andante", "Fair Weather", "Something To Live For", and "Pottsville USA".

A jazz soundtrack double-header – one that features both the small combo and larger band version of the soundtrack to The Sweet Smell Of Success! The first half of the CD features the Chico Hamilton Quintet's album of music – a wonderful bit of cinematic jazz from the 50s. The combo was a key part of the LA scene at the time, but are oddly featured as a regular club act in the movie's New York setting – but we'll gladly forgive that geographic error, given that the music on the set is so great. The quality's a bit like some of the Hamilton Quintet work on World Pacific – but there's a slightly freer, more urgent feel here too – work that's sometimes somewhat driving, and beautifully blended from the guitar of John Pisano, clarinet of Paul Horn, cello of Fred Katz, piano of Carson Smith, and drums from Chico. Side one features a lot of short incidental cuts – like "Susan", "Cheek To Chico", "Jam", and "Night Beat" – and side 2 is an extended "Concerto Of Jazz Themes From The Soundtrack Of Sweet Smell Of Success". The second half of the CD features the full orchestral version of the Sweet Smell Of Success soundtrack – but done in a style that's almost as jazzy and swinging as the small combo one! Elmer Bernstein's at the helm here – and the music's a wonderful pastiche of modes that's right up there with his sublime score for The Man With The Golden Arm – done in a similar blend of driving jazz, somber moments, and some slightly more raucous touches! As with that album, the players are all great – and soloists on the album include Pete Candoli, Ted Nash, and Shelly Manne – west coast players despite the New York setting of the film, and playing here with a fair bit of grit in their groove. Titles include "The Street", "Hot Dogs & Juice", "Toots Shor's Blues", "Nite Spot Rock", "Love Scene", and "Out Of Darkness".

Groovy set of soul jazz organ tracks that has Groove playing with a large-ish group that includes George Freeman, Tom Scott, Anthony Ortega, Wilton Felder, and Paul Humphrey. The set's not totally hard and funky, but it's got a nice soulful swinging groove, with a tight LA 60s sound to it. Includes a nice version of "Madison Time", plus "Groovin Time", "Oklahoma Toad", "Upward Bound", and "The Odd Couple".

A beautiful set of jazz album cover art from the 50s and 60s – hardcover, in full color, and packed with hundreds of classic images! The title's a reflection of the strong scope of material – work from both the east and west coast scenes, pulled from labels like Prestige, Atlantic, Riverside, Pacific Jazz, and Contemporary – all known for their great sense of cover design – as well as amazing music! In many cases, the covers are grouped together to show thematic elements from a specific designer – and in others, they show the different labels each reflecting the others with some very cool trends for representation. Images are all shot from original copies of LPs – including some UK issues which belie the British origins of the compilers (also known for their famous Blue Note volume) – and the hefty book is 10" square, which will nestle nicely next to your collection of rare early jazz albums! 222 pages, hardcover, in full color.

A standout session from Jack Montrose – one of the most overlooked players on the west coast scene of the 50s! Montrose's tenor work is always a treat, but here, he's playing in an unusual setting that includes Red Norvo on vibes, Joe Maini on alto sax, and Jim Hall on guitar – all working with Jack on a set of tunes that have the tight arrangements of his work on Atlantic and Pacific Jazz – yet which also open up with some interesting instrumental twists that break the mold a bit! Side one of the set features the 18 minute tune "Concertino Do Camera" – a nicely extended track that offers plenty of room for solo work – and the other shorter tracks still offer up strong solos too – on titles that include "Bernie's Tune", "A Dandy Line", "Bockhanal", and "For The Fairest".

Gerry Mulligan's still far from the mainstream of jazz on this sweet little set – a great date that expands nicely from the mellower styles of the Pacific Jazz years – expanding the group a bit, with some really great results! In addition to Mulligan's usual baritone sax, Gerry also plays a bit of piano on one track – reconciling himself with the instrument, and using it in surprisingly soulful ways. Other players include Zoot Sims on tenor, Bob Brookmeyer on trombone, either Don Ferrara or Jon Eardley on trumpet, and Dave Bailey on drums. Tracks are long and nicely open – a bit less tightly arranged than some of Mulligan's work on Pacific Jazz – and titles include "Lollypop", "Igloo", "Blue At The Roots", "Elevation", and "Mainstream".

A great double-header – one that features 2 classic Jean-Luc Ponty albums from the 60s! Record one presents the album King Kong – an album that features Ponty, who was working with Frank Zappa at the time, playing a set of electric jazz takes on Zappa tunes – with lots of added help from George Duke, who was also working with Zappa too! The set's almost a "birth of fusion" one – with Zappa arrangements that are clearly in a jazz-rock mode – and lots of electric bass, electric piano, and electric violin in the set. Tracks are long, and riff-heavy – and other players include Ernie Watts, Wilton Felder, Buell Neidlinger, and Ian Underwood. Titles include "America Drinks & Goes Home", "Music For Electric Violin & Low Budget Orchestra", "King Kong", and "Twenty Small Cigars". Record two features The Jean Luc Ponty Experience With The George Duke Trio – a much better album than you'd expect, without any of the noodling of the players' later albums! At the time of this set, Duke and Ponty are breaking out of the hippie weirdness of the Zappa records, and get a bit more serious – working through some long, extended modal grooves that rank with the best MPS work by either player. Duke's on electric piano, ringing out in a weird spacy sound, and Ponty's violin is mostly restrained, used to cast waves of sound over the top of the tracks, in a way that works well with Duke's soulful resonant approach. Titles include "Foosh", "Cantaloupe Island", and "Starlight Starbright".

An obscure one from Annie Ross – recording here as a solo act back in England after leaving her famous group with Dave Lambert and John Hendricks! The style here is a bit like some of the solo work that Ross cut in the US at the end of the 50s – particularly her sides for Pacific Jazz – not as vocalese and solo-oriented as the sort of recordings that first got her noticed, but still a lot more dynamic than most straighter jazz singers of the time! Arrangements are pretty groovy overall – nicely jazzy, and penned by Johnnie Spence – also produced by John Barry, who really helps keep the right sort of "punch" in the set. Titles include "Fly Me To The Moon", "Nature Boy", "A Lot Of Livin To Do", "Like Someone In Love", "A Handful Of Songs", and "All Of You".

The band may be riding in a carriage on the cover, but there's nothing old-timey about this set – as the record represents some of the best modern jazz on the Danish scene at the start of the 60s! The album's a rare gem from drummer Bjarne Rostvold – one of the key exponents of his scene at the time, working here in both trio and quartet formation – the former with Bent Axen on piano and Erik Moseholm on bass, the latter featuring the same group with the addition of trumpeter Allan Botschinsky! The quartet tracks lead off the set, and really sparkle nicely, thanks to Botschinsky's presence – a trumpet sound that's sharp-edged, but never too modern – muted at times, and blowing with echoes of the Pacific Jazz years of the LA scene. Trio tracks follow on the second half of the record, and showcase both the well-crafted piano lines of Axen and the round-toned bass of Moseholm – one of those players who contributed a lot to key sides back in the day, but who only now finally seems to be getting his due. Titles include "Mister Man", "Fluted Columns", "Autumn Leaves", "No Problem", and "Mister PC".

A groovy soundtrack to this hip surf film directed by Bruce Brown – filled with great little instrumentals that go way past the obvious! Brown had previously used jazz players for some of his films – including Bud Shank, who cut some great stuff for earlier soundtracks – but this set's got him working with The Sandals, a younger guitar-driven group with a cool style of scoring – partly surf instrumentals, but partly mod and groovy too! The Sandals move way past the stock surf riffs of chart surf groups – and they really do a great job with the changing moods and scenes of the film – fitting the many scenes of surfing on the screen. Titles include "Jet Black", "TR 6", "Scrambler", "6 Pak", "Driftin", "Good Greeves", and "Decoy".

Sublime early work from Bud Shank – one of our favorite west coast players ever – captured here away from some of his better-known work on Pacific Jazz! There's a nicely rough edge to some of the material – with Bud really blowing alto strongly on some of the leadoff tracks – which feature a trio of trombones from Bob Enevoldsen, Maynard Ferguson, and Stu Williamson! These players get in a few solo licks – and rhythm is by Claude Williamson on piano, Joe Mondragon on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums – all working with Bob Cooper arrangements, on titles that include "Valve In Head", "Cool Fool", and "Mobile". A few more tracks feature the more playful side of Shank's horns – both alto and flute – in a cool quartet with Williamson on both piano and celeste, Don Prell on bass, and Chuck Flores on drums – on the titles "Tertia", "Theme", and "Have Blues Will Travel". One last track is especially great – "Blues In The Surf", which features a group with Billy Bean on guitar and Gary Peacock on bass – really opening up into some of the most creative modes Shank would showcase in the early 60s, before hiding out in larger arrangements.

Hip hop legend, soundtrack composer, actor/director and straight-up modern day Renaissance Man RZA graces the front cover of Wax Poetics – with the ascendant future soul guru Jesse Boykins III covering the back! This excellent and eclectic issue of Wax Po also has features on Detroit drummer/producer Karriem Riggins, William Hart of The Delfonics, Pacific Northwest jazz funk legends Pleasure, Bryan Ferry, Nite Jewel, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Gaslamp Killer, Bay Area hip hop boss Mac Dre and much more!

One of Gerald Wilson's hippest albums for World Pacific – and all of them are pretty darn hip! This set is one of Gerald's last for the label – cut in a run of very successful, and very strong big band soul jazz albums that brought together the cream of the crop of the LA underground. Like the other sets, this one's got a great lineup – with players that include Anthony Ortega, Hadley Caliman, Harold Land, Ernie Watts, and Bobby Hutcherson – but the real strength of the album lies with Groove Holmes, who cuts some pretty fantastic solos on the album's best tracks – bubbling his Hammond through the larger arrangements with the space and expression that Wilson allowed his individual players on these sessions. Titles include great versions of "Aquarius" and Coltrane's "Equinox" – plus the original tunes "Celestial Soul", "Scorpio Rising", "Pisces", and "Bluesnee".

Despite the "primitivist" sort of leanings you might expect from the "roots" in the title, this is actually a nice batch of tracks from the catalogs of Blue Note and World Pacific during the 60's – and they're all jazz tracks that have a slight Africanist influence, but which are certainly not African tracks themselves. The 13 tracks include loads of nice hard to find ones, including "Blue Dashiki" by Blue Mitchell, "Appointment in Ghana" by the Jazz Crusaders, "Marabi" by Cannonball Adderley, "Ghana Spice" Candido, "Zulu" by Randy Weston, "Zambia" by Lee Morgan, and "Follow Me To Africa" by Solomon Ilori & His Afro Drum Ensemble.

Not so much an introduction to Latin jazz, as it a wonderful collection of Latin-tinged tunes from the mighty catalog of Blue Note Records – and not just New York and Cuban Latin grooves, but also a fair bit of bossa nova and Brazilian sounds too! The 3CD package is overflowing with goodness – and titles include a range of killer Blue Note gems from the 60s – plus related cuts from labels like Capitol, Liberty, and World Pacific. The groove changes nicely throughout the set, and the instrumentation is superb – as you'll hear on cuts that include "Sandalia Dela" by Duke Pearson, "Chitlins Con Carne" by Kenny Burrell, "Loie" by Ike Quebec, "Samba De Orfeu" by Charlie Rouse, "Bossa For Baby" by Hank Mobley, "South Of The Border" by Lou Donaldson, "Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso" by Sabu Martinez, "Minors Holiday" by Kenny Dorham, "Congalere" by Horace Parlan, "Ghana" by Donald Byrd, "Latin Fever" by Jack Costanzo, "No Problem" by Jerome Richardson, "Girl From Ipanema" by Lou Rawls, "Rojo" by Bobby Hutcherson, and "Thousand Finger Man" by Candido. 38 tracks in all!

Great Pacific Jazz material – with work by Chet Baker, Bob Brookmeyer, Harry Edison, Phil Ursu, Bill Perkins, James Clay, and Art Pepper!

A 2LP 70s set on Blue Note – one that reissues 2 Paul Horn albums for World Pacific in the 60s – Paul Horn In India and Paul Horn In Kashmir. Both are two of the best of Paul Horn's albums of this nature – largely because at this point, he's still coming off of his jazz years, and manages to make the record still swing a bit! The title tells the story – as Paul records with a host of Indian musicians – adding his flute to tabla, tamboura, and violin to create a set of short and groovy ragas. Titles include "Raga Vibhas", "Raga Tilang", "Alap", "Manj Khamaj", "Arti", "Alap In Raga Bhairav", and "Raga Desh".

Really wonderful stuff – a collection of totally unique grooves that won't cross over with any of your other African funk compilations! The focus here is on jazz, not funk or soul – and the set features a wealth of great tracks pulled from obscure South African records of the late 70s and early 80s. Funky fusion is definitely in command here – and the overall feel of the tracks is similar to some of the best European funky fusion of the 70s, fused with elements of African percussion and instrumentation – creating a true crossover of styles that crackles with a freshness that will have you coming back to this one again and again! Most tracks are instrumental – and the grooves here are a lot more complicated than on your average James Brown-inspired African funk tracks, a mix of strident modal modes, and other choppier funkier riff-heavy tunes. Plus, the whole thing's put together with the righteous intelligence of all the other Counterpoint titles – with great notes, incredible sound, and an approach that will easily take you to a whole new musical world! Titles include "I Remember You" by Mike Makahalemele, "Half N Half" by Zacks Nkosi, "Chapita" by Dick Khoza, "Lament" by Movement In The City, "Blues For Yusef" by Lionel Pillay, "The Way It Used To Be" by Pacific Express, and "La I La I La" by George Lee Larnyoh.

A very different sound here than the first volume in the series – one that goes strongly for a later take on R&B influenced soul jazz! There's a strong groove here for the steppers on the Windy City scene – a blend of jazzy soul and smoother jazz that's set together nicely without the too-slick spots that always clutter up other collections – and which represents the few modern tracks that were able to penetrate the mostly-dusty steppers scene back in the day. Production and overall instrumentation is relatively electric, even in the percussion, but there's always a few nice acoustic touches to round things out on the best tracks. Titles include "Mama Dadu" and "L'Amour" by Vodu 155, "Piano Groove" by Piano Negro, "Can We Try Again" by Braxton Brothers, "Soul Manifesto" by Rodney Jones, "Tik Tok (inst)" by Lorenzo Smith, "Laid Back" by Jerald Daemyon, "Modern Life" by Tom Saviano, "Pacific Love" by David Patterson, "Cycles Of Re-Elevation" by Michael McEvoy, "Forever's A Long Long Time" by Orquestra Wax, "Groovin In The Midnight (inst)" by Maxi Priest, and "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is" by Grant Green.

A great collection of some of the less-collected work by Clifford Brown – 1953 recordings done in Europe for the Metronome and Vogue labels, plus a date for Prestige with Tadd Dameron's band! Although Brown's work for Blue Note and Pacific Jazz has been well documented and presented over the years, this set is the first to do such a good job with some of these other sides – bringing to light some impeccable work from a key point in Brownie's career! Sides feature Brown working with the Swedish All-Stars led by Quincy Jones, Gigi Gryce & Orchestra, the Gigi Gryce-Clifford Brown octet, and a Parisian quartet with Henri Renaud, Pierre Michelot, and Benny Bennett. The set features 31 tracks in all – and titles include "Scuse These Blues", "Brown Skins", "Goofin With Me", "Choose Now", "Theme Of No Repeat", "Hello", "All Weird", "Strictly Romantic", "Baby", "No Start No End", "I Can't Dream Can't I", and "Conception".

A real lost slice of work from the career of Chico Hamilton – recorded for the short-lived Dig label, owned by R&B artist Johnny Otis in the mid 50s! The group here is slightly different than Hamilton's quintet that recorded for Pacific Jazz – in that it's got a sound that's a bit less arranged, and which often opens up into some more freewheeling jazz styles at times. Buddy Collette and Jim Hall are on the session from Chico's regular group – and Buddy's really the co-leader of the set, and contributed some fantastic original tunes that are perfect for his colorful work on reeds. And the group's also got Curtis Counce on bass and Gerald Wiggins on piano – bringing a decidedly heavier groove to the record than on most 50s Hamilton work – one that's topped off by the trumpet of John Anderson, often muted but still powerful enough to make its presence known on the set. Titles include the Collette originals "It's You", "Green Dream", "Jungle Pogo Stick", "Tanganyika", and "A Walk On The Veldt" – plus other session originals "And So Is Love", "Wagnervous", and "The Blindfold Test".

A key album in the career of Richard Groove Holmes – his first session ever for Prestige Records, and the one that yielded the monster crossover hit version of "Misty"! The sound here is much leaner and cleaner than Groove in his Pacific Jazz years – a tight trio approach that brings plenty focus on Holmes' soaring style on the Hammond – that way of holding a note that made his organ work instantly recognizable in the 60s, in a groove that really set the tone for plenty of spacious keyboard work to come from others who would cop his style! Players include Gene Edwards on guitar and Jimmie Smith on drums – but Groove's organ dominates the records, and clearly sets the tone for the rhythm with his amazing sense of space and timing! Titles include a 5 minute version of Groove's "Misty", plus "Groove's Groove", "Song For My Father", and "Soul Message".

Tight funky organ work from Billy Larkin and his hard-swingin Delegates combo! This stuff was the west coast equivalent of New Jersey organ combos – and you can bet your bippy that Billy & Co were blasting loud out of every jukebox on Central Ave during the 60s. This album's still got the group working in a straight soul jazz mode – and the original trio's been expanded to include Fats Theus on tenor and Leon Flowers on trumpet. Titles include "Next Time You See Me", "Red Wine", "Love For Sale", "Don't Stop", "Unit Seven", and a groovy version of "Sunny".

A trio of early 60s gems from pianist Les McCann – all wrapped up here in a single set! First up is The Gospel Truth – a solid 60s smoker in which Les McCann really gets back to the roots of soul jazz – serving up the gospel-tinged truth promised in the title – and really linking his piano back to the pulpit in the process! Les has a wonderfully firm touch on the left end of the keyboard – which makes for a rollicking groove on just about every track, augmented by super-tight drum work from the great Paul Humphrey, who almost gets a tambourine vibe out of his snare and cymbal! Stanley Gilbert plays bass, and Charles Kynard plays guest Hammond on a few tracks – and titles include "Get That Soul", "The Preacher", "The Gospel Truth", "Oh The Joy", and "Didn't It Rain". Soul Hits is a really hard-hitting groover from the great 60s trio of Les McCann – a set that adds in some extra guitar from Joe Pass, who definitely sounds his most soulful on the set! Joe grooves perfectly with Les' piano – and has almost a Kenny Burrell-like depth in tone throughout – one that we're not as likely to hear on other Pass sessions of this vintage, possibly because of the excellent rhythms from Paul Chambers on bass and Paul Humphrey on drums! Tunes are definitely the soul hits promised in the title – mostly numbers that were brimming up big in the soul jazz generation of the time, but given a particular Les McCann twist. Titles include "Sister Sadie", "Bag's Groove", "Back At The Chicken Shack", "Work Song", "Sonnymoon For Two", "Groove Yard", and "Sack O Woe". McCanna is filled with a great Latin groove from the mighty Les McCann – a smoking set that adds in extra percussion from Willie Correa – who gives the record a sound that's quite a change from the usual McCann groove! The percussion is wonderful throughout – and given that the great Paul Humphrey is already playing drums in the trio, the whole thing's got a rhythmic zest that never lets up – way different than just the usual "with conga" style you'd hear on a Prestige Records piano trio record – and instead a groove that's definitely dedicated to the boldest Latin piano modes of the time! The track list includes a lot of originals, such as "McCanna", "Zulu", "Bastuto Baby", "Shaam-Pu II", and "Narobi Nights" – plus versions of "Que Rico" and "It Had Better Be Tonight".

2 brilliant albums back to back on one CD – the complete recordings of the quintet co-led by trumpeter Kenny Dorham and alto saxophonist Jackie McLean! First up is Matador – an obscure United Artists album from 1962. The set is billed under the name of Kenny Dorham – and is one of his more far-reaching efforts, with the expansive compositional style that he started bringing to some of his Blue Note work of the early 60s. The record features a group with Jackie McLean on alto, Bobby Timmons on piano, Teddy Smith on bass, and JC Moses on drums – all working with Kenny in a slightly Latin tinged mode that features some really shimmering trumpet work! The record features a stunning 3 part reading of McLean's haunting tune "Melanie" (done under his name on the album A Fickle Sonance) – plus the tracks "Prelude", "El Matador", "Smile", and "There Goes My Heart". Inta Somethin is from a year earlier – 1961 – and was first issued on Pacific Jazz – and the set is some of the most interesting early 60s work by both of the players! The group's co-led by Kenny Dorham and Jackie McLean, with rhythm backing by Walter Bishop Jr, Leroy Vinnegar, and Art Taylor. The quintet play a fiercely modernist approach to hardbop, in a style that's slightly more unbridled than some of their studio recordings, thanks to the live setting of the album – which was recorded at the Jazz Workshop in San Francisco. Titles include "Us", "San Francisco Beat", "Lover Man", and "No Two People".

A sweet album of funky guitar tracks, with Freddy Robinson out front over a bunch of tight LA Monk Higgins arrangements. Kind of a sleeper that hasn't really gotten as many props in the groove scene as it ought to, with a great sunny west coast 60s soul jazz vibe running throughout. Joe Sample provides warm keys, Paul Humphrey is snapping nicely on the drums, and the group kicks on tracks like "Before Six", "Black Fox", and "Monkin Around".

The band may be riding in a carriage on the cover, but there's nothing old-timey about this set – as the record represents some of the best modern jazz on the Danish scene at the start of the 60s! The album's a rare gem from drummer Bjarne Rostvold – one of the key exponents of his scene at the time, working here in both trio and quartet formation – the former with Bent Axen on piano and Erik Moseholm on bass, the latter featuring the same group with the addition of trumpeter Allan Botschinsky! The quartet tracks lead off the set, and really sparkle nicely, thanks to Botschinsky's presence – a trumpet sound that's sharp-edged, but never too modern – muted at times, and blowing with echoes of the Pacific Jazz years of the LA scene. Trio tracks follow on the second half of the record, and showcase both the well-crafted piano lines of Axen and the round-toned bass of Moseholm – one of those players who contributed a lot to key sides back in the day, but who only now finally seems to be getting his due. Titles include "Mister Man", "Fluted Columns", "Autumn Leaves", "No Problem", and "Mister PC".

A heck of a great Latin Soul album – one of the best of the 60s, and pretty darn rare as well! The set's the only one we've ever seen from leader Joe Torres – and it's an incredible blend of soul jazz and Latin rhythms that was one of the few west coast sessions of its type! Normally, a groove like this would only have been coming out of the smaller labels on the New York scene – but Joe and combo really manage to smoke the LA studio with an east coast flair – effortlessly blending timbales and conga with soulful solos on trumpet and tenor. Plus, there's an English-language vocalist on a few tracks, singing in a style that reminds us a lot of Joe Bataan in his glory days, giving the album a whole new dimension! Includes the classic groover "Get Out Of My Way", plus "Sunny", "Night Walk", "Oba!", "Soul Cha", and "In A Greasy Bag".

Japanese grooves galore – and a great way to dip into these overseas goodies before spending a fortune on full length albums! The collection is wonderful – filled with funky jazz nuggets from the 70s that you'd never hope to find on this side of the Pacific – given that even back in the day, very few Japanese records of this nature ever got exported. Many of the tunes are electric – with at least a bit of guitar, bass, or keyboards – but there's also some brilliant acoustic soloing too, especially the horn parts. Titles include "No More Apple" by Takeo Moriyama, "Movement" by Ryusei Tomoyose, "Great Harvest" by Makoto Terashita, "Jumping Cats" by George Otsuka, "Dawn" by Mabumi Yamaguchi Quartet, "Wolf's Theme" by Seiichi Nakamura, "Soran-Bushi" by Norio Maeda, and "Moki" by Ryojiro Furusawa.

A pair of great albums from Overton Berry – 1972's TOBE and 1970's Live At The Doubletree Inn – 2LPs in a double vinyl set from Light In The Attic! TOBE is an amazing little groover from the combo of pianist Overton Berry – and one of THE 70s funk classics from the Pacific Northwest! The record's really just a simple trio outing, but other elements drift into the mix as the record grooves on – including vibes, guitar, and even a bit of vocals on a few tracks! The core sound is a bit like that of the Monty Alexander group at their MPS funkiest – but the bottom here is a lot heavier, and the production really maximizes the sound of the bass on the record – taking full advantage of both the acoustic and electric uses of the instrument! Highlights include a gritty take on Nat Adderley's "Black Bottom", a famous drum break in a take on "Jesus Christ Superstar", a loping rendition of "Compared To What", and a great laidback version of Roland Haynes' cut "Eglise" – one we like almost as much as his original on the Black Jazz label! The other LP is The Overton Berry Trio At Seattle's Doubletree Inn – The funky piano trio's captured live at the start of the decade. Berry's got a nice groovy style on the piano here, andthe drummer and bassist play with a nice round sound that keeps the whole thing cooking nicely. This set's a mix of covers and originals by Berry, and includes the cuts "Oden", "Guacamolian Shuffle", "Aquarius", "Waterboy", "MB Blues", "Feeling Good", and "Hey Jude".

A soulful smoker from the west coast scene – and some of the only work as a leader we've ever seen from pianist Joe Castro – a player with just the right sense of rhythm and soul to live up to the title! In addition to this rare appearance by Joe, the set's also noteworthy for some great tenor from Teddy Edwards – working here in a setting that's maybe even looser than some of his Contemporary Records dates of the same time – with great rhythmic help from the team of Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. The record's more like a soul jazz side for Pacific Jazz, than a typical Atlantic Records date from this time – and it's got some tasty mellow groovers, like "Groove Funk Soul", "That's All", "Yesterdays", and "Play Me The Blues".

A really obscure little set from late 50s Brazil – and a record that's a key link between jazz and bossa nova! Singer Paulinho's got a style that's definitely rooted in jazz – as is the Pacifico Mascarenhas combo, which uses great piano lines to underscore the light rhythms on drums and percussion – but there's also an early bossa vibe going on here – one that borrows a bit from Latin piano combos from New York and Havana, but tunes them down and mellows them out – creating a sense of spaciousness that's perfect for the vocals. Paulinho's also got this light style that's more bossa than most Brazilian singers of the time – and titles include "Foi Assim", "Em Teus Bracos", "Vieram Me Contar", "Pam Pam Pam", "Por Favor Amor", and "Juras De Amor".

An incredible gem from Walter Wanderley's years in Brazil – a Quarteto Bossamba recording that features Wanderley on both piano and organ, often overdubbed at the same time for a very cool sound! The style is quite different from most of Wanderley's better-known records in the US – and the heavier bossa tones on piano provide a nicely soulful counterpoint to lighter grooves on Hammond – really fleshing out the tunes with an array of jazzy sounds and colors! Wanderley's work on the piano is almost far more expressive than his more familiar organ – as he hits the acoustic keys with a sense of lyrical grace and depth of feeling that's really striking. Titles include an excellent version of "Canto De Ossanha", plus "Chuva", "Cheganca", "Vivo Sonhando", "Maria Moita", and "Verdade Em Paz".

Nobody creates beats that roll along under waves of electronics, samples and lush gentle acoustic instrumentation. This album finds Nobody a happier cat, more playful than his previous down tempo darker releases. This isn't cheerful rainbows and unicorns, but there are definitely elements of 60s pop blending perfectly with his jazzy organ manipulations, exploring different dynamics and emotions. Through the whole set there are wonderful dubby moments pushing through underneath his psychedelic breezes. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon drive or a late night at the bar sandwiched between Lee Perry and a starry evening. Tracks include "What Fall Brings", "This Will Be Our Year", "Electro-Acoustic", "White Folding Sky (Into Blue rmx)", "After The Summer Hits", "Images Of April", "Headspace", "I Won't Hurt You", "The Beaches On Neptune" and more.