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A really cool spy soundtrack from the Italian 60s scene – put together by Piero Umiliani with lots of jazzy touches! The music here is a nice change from the more obvious, more familiar American spy modes of the time – and often uses some cool vibes mixed with horns, to create this blend of tension and action that flows together wonderfully! The tunes are really evocative – almost little mini-movies on their own, even without the film – and there's a core theme that's very catchy – never dominating the soundtrack, but showing up in little bursts to tie the whole thing together. 20 tracks in all, great sound, and the package includes a little fold-out movie poster!

Killer early work from Freda Payne – an early album recorded for MGM many years before her later hit "Band Of Gold" – and a set with a great mix of soul and jazz modes, all arranged by the mighty Benny Golson! The record's got a really classy feel – one that has a lot more poise than some of Freda's later soul, and shows elements of the jazz she'd bring more to the forefront on Impulse Records. Yet Golson's backings also still keep plenty of soul in the mix too – using full arrangements to almost give Payne an uptown soul sound, with a heavy groove on some of the album's most memorable numbers. Titles include "San Juan", "I Don't Love You Anymore", "Too Late", "You Never Should Have Loved Me", "Feeling Good", "It's Here For You", "If You Loved Me", and "Sad Sad September".

Spy themes galore – a full CD of famous James Bond tunes, paired with a whole bonus CD of additional work from Brit maestro Roland Shaw! Back in the 60s, Shaw recorded a host of great spy-styled sets for Decca – two albums of work with Bond on the cover and in the title, and two more with additional spy and secret agent themes! The best of that work's packaged together here, in an ultra-cool 2CD set that features 37 tracks in all – a good number of which were penned by John Barry for original Bond films, then redone by Roland in ways that are swinging 60s, with lots of mod instrumental moments – including some great guitar amidst all the horns. Titles include "Twisting With James", "You Only Live Twice", "Chateau Fight", "Pussy Galore's Flying Circus", "Thunderball", "Dawn Raid On Fort Knox", "Dr No's Fantasy", "James Bond Theme", "Diamonds Are Forever", "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang", "Bond Below Disco Volante", "The Saint", "I Spy", "The Avengers", "Theme From The Man From Uncle", "Casino Royale", and "Mission Impossible".

A wealth of great work from vocalist Ethel Ennis – her full This Is Ethel Ennis album for RCA, plus a host of additional bonus tracks as well! The full album features Ethel's great vocals alongside dynamic backings from Sid Bass – music that's certainly jazz at the core, but which also has some of the more inventive flourishes that Sid was bringing to his own instrumental sides for RCA – not really tricks or gimmicks, but these great little touches that help keep things interesting throughout! Ethel's vocals are straightforward, but have a nice undercurrent of soul – more so than the usual RCA singers of the time – and titles include "Dear Friend", "An Occasional Man", "He Loves Me", "As You Desire Me", "Who Will Buy", "Night Club", "Love Don't Turn Away", and "When Did I Fall In Love". CD also features 10 more bonus tracks – additional RCA singles cut by Ennis with backings from Dick Hyman, Claus Ogerman, Marty Manning, and others. Titles include "Matchmaker Matchmaker", "I've Got That Feeling", "About Love", "We Could Learn Together", "San Juan", and "The Boy From Ipanema".

Clean, clear, and incredibly soulful – a wonderful rare live performance that's way more than just another muddy concert record – and instead a key addition to the Oscar Peterson catalog that stands proudly with his best Verve albums of the time! This 1960 performance features Ray Brown on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums – a pair who've already reached rhythmic vitality in the company of Peterson, and fill the album's long tracks with loads of creative interplay – shifting sounds that move way past the obvious, and create grooves that really set Oscar's piano lines on fire! Titles include "Jordu", "Cubano Chant", "Con Alma", "Daahoud", and "Politics & Poker".

The soul underground of today – proof that there's still some amazingly deep music being made in the 21st Century, as long as you know where to look! The groups here are all contemporary, but they work strongly in the sounds of the 60s and 70s – the best funk and soul modes from that classic generation, put together faithfully, but with a fresh approach too – given the youthful energy that most of these artists bring to their recordings! There's just a few contemporary touches here and there, but overall most of the production and instrumentation is very much in the best vintage mode – on these cuts pulled from hard to find imports and rare 7" single releases of the past few years. But hardly just take our word for it – there's plenty to please your ears the moment you jump into the set – cuts that include "You What" by The Andy Tolman Cartel, "Poker Nights Theme" by The Delicious Allstars, "Shaft In Africa" by The Mighty Showstoppers, "Put Leg To Road" by Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra, "Mr G" by Jessica Lauren Four, "Cockroach Grind" by The Haggis Horns, "Kekfeny" by The Qualitons, "Cramp Your Style" by The Killer Meters, "Cascade" by Renegades Of Jazz, "Hey Girl" by Jo Stance, and "Something's Gotta Give" by Nick Van Gelder.

A modern jazz combo, with an equally modern vocalist too – a rare four track EP that has the Danish Radio Jazz Group fronted by singer Lise Ringheim! Given the offbeat tones that the group's known for, you can bet that the record's way more than just a torch singer running through familiar numbers – and Ringheim's unusual phrasing and Danish lyrics are a perfect blend for the sharp sounds coming from the lineup that includes Bent Jaedig on tenor, Palle Mikkelborg on trumpet, Bent Axen on piano, and Louis Hjulmand on vibes! The record's got a feel that's like some of the best early work from Monica Zetterlund – and titles include "Maske", "Pokerfjaes", "Det Danske Grin", and "Regnvejr Og Blaest".