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One of the last classic efforts from the team of Willie Colon and Ruben Blades – a subtle but effective set of tracks that showcases both Blades' increasingly political concerns and the growing pan-Latin sound of Colon! The core approach is still mostly salsa, but you can hear plenty of other influences in the mix as well – all carried out with a sound that's simpler, and almost rootsier than some of Colon or Blades' more high-concept records at the end of the 70s. Tracks are all longish, with some good instrumental moments, and titles include "Tiburon", "Te Estan Buscando", "El Telefonito", "Y Deja", "Ligia Elena", "De Que", and "Madame Kalalu".

A beautiful, beautiful little record – as righteous and soulful as some of the best spiritual jazz classics of the 70s – and arguably even rarer, as it was only issued on a tiny label from Atlanta! Solar have a sound that uses 3 female lead vocalists in chorus formation – one that comes across with the righteousness of Roy Ayers' best use of such a style, but which is taken even further in a wave of soul jazz expression – in a mode that reminds us a lot of the work of Dee Dee Bridgewater or Jean Carn singing together on key early records by Norman Connors, Carlos Garnett, or Mtume! The vocals share equally with the instrumentation on the set – delivering a message that's rich and positive, but never cliched or hokey. Instrumentation includes flute, soprano sax, piano, and some great percussion – and playing is inside, but exploratory – definitely in a post-Coltrane vein. Titles include "Rejoice", "Vanity", "Living For The Most High", "Faith For My Mind", and "It's A New Day". Really great stuff – and right up there with the classics of spiritual soul jazz!

A beautiful, beautiful little record – as righteous and soulful as some of the best spiritual jazz classics of the 70s – and arguably even rarer, as it was only issued on a tiny label from Atlanta! Solar have a sound that uses 3 female lead vocalists in chorus formation – one that comes across with the righteousness of Roy Ayers' best use of such a style, but which is taken even further in a wave of soul jazz expression – in a mode that reminds us a lot of the work of Dee Dee Bridgewater or Jean Carn singing together on key early records by Norman Connors, Carlos Garnett, or Mtume! The vocals share equally with the instrumentation on the set – delivering a message that's rich and positive, but never cliched or hokey. Instrumentation includes flute, soprano sax, piano, and some great percussion – and playing is inside, but exploratory – definitely in a post-Coltrane vein. Titles include "Rejoice", "Vanity", "Living For The Most High", "Faith For My Mind", and "It's A New Day". Really great stuff – and right up there with the classics of spiritual soul jazz!

Group soul album with male vocals and a sound that's a bit like some of the stuff on Buddah or Philly International. The album's a mix of midtempo cuts and ballads, with the tracks "I'm The Real Thing", "Just Another Song", "Woman In My Life", and "Magic In My Mind".

2 totally great Cal Tjader electric albums – both recorded originally for the Skye label, and back to back on one CD! Cal Tjader Plugs In is a beautifully plugged-in, turned-on session from Cal Tjader – one that features the funky vibist alongside some sweet Fender Rhodes! The session was recorded live, but it's got a flowing, modal quality that rivals Tjader's best work in the studio for Verve and Fantasy at the end of the 60s – a soaring, spacious sound that comes from the interplay between Cal's ringing vibes and the Fender Rhodes and acoustic piano work of Al Zulaica – an excellent player we only know from a few of Tjader's albums. Armando Peraza provides some tight conga work on the set – and titles include "Spooky", "Tra La La Song", "Morning Mist", "Alonzo", "Nica's Dream", and "Get Out of My Way" – a great instrumental take on the Latin soul hit from Joe Torres! Solar Heat is even better – a record that features Joao Donato on organ and Gary McFarland on vibes! The record is a brilliant extension of Cal's styles at Verve – a bit of Latin, a bit of jazz, with some easily grooving numbers that have just the right dose of funk! Donato's organ sounds especially great, and there's also some added electric piano and electric harpsichord on the record, which expands the electricity even more! Loads of great numbers – including "Mambo Sangria", "Fried Bananas", "Solar Heat", "Ode to Billy Joe", and Donato's great "Amazonas".

An obscure little quartet session from Red Garland – recorded with Les Spann on both guitar and flute, caught at a time when he was just starting to make waves on the New York scene! The presence of Spann gives the record a decidedly different feel than most of Garland's work on Prestige – as the hollow-body guitar tones bring some much bluesier inflections to some of the tunes, offset by more chromatic runs that really illuminate others. Red's own piano is still wonderfully soulful, and presented here with a pointed sense of economy on some numbers – and rhythm is by Sam Jones on bass and Frank Gant on drums. Titles include "Marie's Delight", "This Can't Be Love", "Blues For News", "I Just Can't See For Looking", and "Solar".

A treasure trove of twelve inch singles from Solar Records – the west coast powerhouse for uptempo soul! Most of the numbers here date from the early 80s years when Solar were totally on top of their game – really dominating mainstream soul of the time in the same way Philly International did a decade before. The 2CD set features 12" mixes for all tracks – which mean that most are longer than the LP versions – and most grooves here are in a bumping, stepping, or boogie-oriented mode – post-disco with plenty of great west coast R&B touches. Titles include "Midas Touch" and "Scientific Love" by Midnight Star, "Show Me Where You're Coming From" and "Dance With You" by Carrie Lucas, "Call Me" by Bill Wolfer, "There It Is" and "Night To Remember (US ext mix)" by Shalamar, "No Pain No Gain" and "Rock Steady" by The Whispers, "I Don't Wanna Be A Freak" and "Love In The Fast Lane" by Dynasty, "It's All The Way Live" and "One Minute After Midnight" by Lakeside, "Classy Lady" by Leroy Hutson, "Romeo Where's Juliet" and "Winners & Loser" by Collage, "Street Beat" by The Deele, and "Come Back Lover" by The Sylvers.

A key album in the legendary 80s run of Shalamar – and a set that gets a tremendous amount out of a very stripped-down sound! The sound of Shalamar builds from a bit of bass, some snapping drums, waves of keyboards, and especially great vocals – warm and sweet, but never too commercial – despite the hit status of an album like this. If anything, the group have a style that's a bit more relaxed and personal than some of their contemporaries on the Solar Records scene at the time – one that matches the friendly title, and unassuming cover image of the set. Titles include "A Night To Remember", "Playing To Win", "Friends", "On Top Of The World", "Help Me", "There It Is", "I Can Make You Feel Good", and "I Don't Wanna Be The Last To Know". 2CD version is overflowing with goodness – 15 more bonus tracks that include "Talk To Me", "Good Feelings", "Sweeter As The Days Go By" – all originally left off the Friends album – plus "There It Is (12" M+M inst mix)", "A Night To Remember (12" M+M mix)", "Megamix – A Night To Remember", "Friends (single)", "Night To Remember (12" M+M inst)", and "I Can Make You Feel Good (single)".

The beginning of an empire! This was the first solo album cut by the now-famous Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds – cut after years of work in the music business that included stints in the groups Manchild and The Deele, and lots of production work for other LA soul acts. The record's kind of a rougher version of the modern R&B style that you'll know from Babyface's big hits of the early 90s – more in the style of some of the Solar Records acts of the early 80s, and some of the other big keyboard/bass pedal bands on the market at the time. The real contribution, though, is Kenny's ability to infuse the whole thing with soul – taking these tinny little tracks and making them come out kind of sweet, not only through his famous production, but through his faltering vocal style, which is about the most honest-sounding aspect of the record. Titles include "Lovers", "Marry Mack", "If We Try", "Take Your Time", and a cover of "You Make Me Feel Brand New".

Lots of musical adventures here – most of them in that tightly-romping style that made Dynasty so great back in the day – almost a fusion of older sweet group soul with some of the more bottom-driven modes forged by the Solar label! The title cut here is our favorite – a sweet stepper that bursts out with this blast of sound that's totally great – completely captivating, and filled with cascading sounds that really grab us. Other tracks include "Ice Breaker", "Something To Remember", "Day & Night", "Do Me Right", and "I've Just Begun To Love You".

Easily one of the greatest Lakeside tracks ever – a keyboard-heavy bit of funk that really helped set the sound for the west coast scene at the time! There's a strong hook to the number that really makes it stand out from Lakeside's other work – still rough on the main vocals, but supported by warmer choruses that help it glide along with the promise of the bottom! "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" is a mellower ballad.

Smooth disco grooving from Carrie Lucas – surprisingly soulful stuff, and handled with some wonderfully tight production by Dick Griffey, the genius behind the sound of Solar at the end of the 70s! Carrie's really moving past the cliches of earlier work here – stepping into a solid blend of pop, soul, and club. Titles include "Keep Smilin", "It's Not What You Got", "Lovin Is On My Mind", and "Use It Or Lose It" – plus "Just A Memory", which is a duet with the Whispers.

Titles include "Heart Repair Man", "Taking Over", "Take It To The Top", "Reach Out", "PS", and "I'm Getting Over".

Love for Love, but still a pretty groove-heavy set too – one that continues the mix of "dancin and romancin" The Whispers served up on their previous album! Side one is heavy on "dancin" – and features some bass-heavy tunes that are very much in the best mainstream LA soul modes of the time – production by the group and Leon Sylvers, all in a sound that's heavy on basslines and keyboards, but which still has harmonies that are way ahead of most of the group's younger contemporaries! These harmonies come into play even more strongly on the "romancin" side of the record – a batch of ballads that have The Whispers in the mellower territory that first got them started – updated slightly here with an early 80s soul vibe, but sung with proof that the quintet were still at the top of the harmony game. Titles include "Tonight", "Keep On Lovin Me", "This Time", "Had It Not Been For You", "Try It Again", "Lay It On Me", and "Keep Your Love Around".

Not as sublime as some of the group's earlier efforts, but still with a strong harmony sound that keeps things moving nicely ahead. The arrangements are in a smooth soul mode – still uptempo on a number of tracks, in the same style that they were using with the Philly crew. The difference is that there's a bit more of a modern LA soul sound in the mix – although not as much as you'd expect from some of the other albums on the Solar label. Includes the nice midtempo groover "Can't Stop Loving You Baby", plus "World Of A Thousand Dreams", "What Will I Do", "This Kind Of Lovin", and the retro jazzy "The Bright Lights & You Girl".

A legendary lost album from Brazilian songwriters/multi-instrumentalists Lula Cortes and Ze Ramalho – recorded in Brazil in the mid 70s – blending avant psychedelia, rugged acoustic rhythms, and an enormous free spirit with delicate melodic touches and lilting jazzy elements! As is the case with the work of the best, most adventurous Brazilian artists of the time, it's a difficult sound to describe. It's a very atmospheric blend – sung and chanted vocals are no more or less important than any of the other elements – which include classical acoustic and fuzzy electric guitar, piano, organ, flute, sax and a range of percussion. It's free and psychedelic, but just reigned in enough to keep it tense and exciting. Pure greatness – hopefully bound to achieve some long overdue recognition! Tracks include "Trilha De Sume", "Culto A Terra", "Bailado Das Muscarias", "Nao Existe Molhado Igua; Ao Pranto", "Raga Dos Raios", "Nas Paredes Da Pedra Encantada", "Regato Da Montanha", Trilha De Sume" and more! New reissue version has way better sound than before – and reproduces all the cool graphics of the original cover.

A legendary lost album from Brazilian songwriters/multi-instrumentalists Lula Cortes and Ze Ramalho – recorded in Brazil in the mid 70s – blending avant psychedelia, rugged acoustic rhythms, and an enormous free spirit with delicate melodic touches and lilting jazzy elements! As is the case with the work of the best, most adventurous Brazilian artists of the time, it's a difficult sound to describe. It's a very atmospheric blend – sung and chanted vocals are no more or less important than any of the other elements – which include classical acoustic and fuzzy electric guitar, piano, organ, flute, sax and a range of percussion. It's free and psychedelic, but just reigned in enough to keep it tense and exciting. Pure greatness – hopefully bound to achieve some long overdue recognition! Tracks include "Trilha De Sume", "Culto A Terra", "Bailado Das Muscarias", "Nao Existe Molhado Igua; Ao Pranto", "Raga Dos Raios", "Nas Paredes Da Pedra Encantada", "Regato Da Montanha", Trilha De Sume" and more! New special edition 2 x LP pressing, finished to match the original specifications, now including the 8 page booklet.

A crowning achievement from Lakeside – one of the key albums to link Ohio funk roots with a smoother LA groove – all served up in a way that had limitless influence for years to come! Bass is definitely at the head of these arrangements, but there's plenty of great guitar too – riffing and scratching in a way that percolates the tunes wonderfully – keeping plenty of funk in the mix without falling into the too-uptight traps that sometimes mired other groups. But almost even better are the vocals – which are tight and well-placed – never an afterthought, but always a key part of the groove, thanks to plenty of great hooks that really send the tunes home! Titles include "Eveready Man", "Say Yes", "Strung Out", "Fantastic Voyage", "I Need You", and "Your Love Is On The One".

Shalamar were one of the best combos on the Solar label during the late 70s, and their trademark jazzy groovy sound was a winner back in the day, thanks to some killer club cuts! This new 30 track set brings together some of the band's best work in a very handsome package, and includes a lot of their best cuts in 12" mixes. Titles include "Take that To The Bank", "The Second Time Around", "Sweeter As The Days Go By", "Uptown Festival", "Night To Remember", "Girl", "Amnesia", "Ooh Baby, Baby", "Games", "Circumstantial Evidence", "This Is For The Lover In You", and "Dead Giveaway".

Classic work from Brick – a group who went onto become surprisingly successful during the 70s with a hot Atlanta blend of funky soul and uptempo club grooves. The group has a feel that would be taken up heavily a few years later by LA funk combos – particularly those on the Solar label – and their style of slicking up funky licks into a tightly compressed sound was obviously a bit hit with the kids of their generation, and hip hop sample heads in years to come. This 12 track greatest hits set includes the classic g-funk number "Dusic", plus "Music Magic", "Dazz", "Good High", "Free Happy", "We Don't Wanna Sit Down, We Wanna Get Down", and "Living From The Mind".

Sweet soundtrack grooves from Brit maestro Geoff Love – two late 70s albums back to back in a single package! First up is Star Wars & Other Space Themes – a set that has Love really cashing in on the sci-fi cinema boom of the mid 70s – leaping off with the lead theme to Star Wars, but then sounding even groovier on a host of other cuts from previous years – a sweet range of numbers that's often heavy on Brit influences – arranged with some nice funky touches by Nick Ingman, with almost a KPM vibe at times! Titles include "UFO", "Barbarella", "Space 1999", "March", "Thunderbirds", "Dr Who", "Mars The Bringer Of War", and "Star Trek". Nick Ingman's the arranger on Close Encounters – and helps give the record a disco vibe that's quite different than the usual sci fi set – a groove that clearly stems from Ingman's great sound library work of the 70s – touched here with plenty of clubby rhythms and some especially great keyboards at times. The whole thing's funkier than you might expect – and titles include "Close Encounters", "Flight Fantastic", "Space Patrol", "Solar Sailor", "The Omega Man", "Star Wars", "Time Machine", and "Blake's 7".

We have to admit we've passed this album up for years and years, as it seems to be rather ubiquitous in these parts, and boy were we mistaken! Side one is mostly instrumental, and sounds like a lost Dexter Wansel album, with sophisticated, spacey post-fusion arrangements and a quasi-futuristic vibe. Side two changes up the vibe a bit, with vocals and a slightly slicker approach, with a kind of Bootsy-esque funk vibe creeping in just a bit. 9 tracks in all, including the sublime "Solar Flight (Opus I)" and "Third World Calling (Opus II)", plus "Keep Tryin", "Masked Music Man" and "Masked Marauder".

The first collaboration between Dieter Moebius and Conny Plank – and one of the best! The pair come together here in modes that are a lot more playful than some of the other German projects of this nature at the time – not as spare and sensitive as some of the others, and with a bolder sense of rhythm, and willingness to drop lots of odd elements into the mix – a style that almost makes the record come across with similar tones to the Brian Eno/David Byrne collaborations of the early 80s! Each tune has a basic structure, and a few key elements – fuzzy guitar, odd electronics, offbeat rhythms – and they each state their existence quickly, laying out a basic concept right away, then playing with it in cool ways as the tunes roll on. Apart from some found spoken bits, the whole thing's instrumental – and titles include "News", "Feedback 66", "Landebahn", "Solar Plexus", "Two Oldtimers", and "Missi Cacadou".

Live set recorded in 1983, with large arrangements by Wagner Tiso that feature a string section behind a smaller rock group that includes Tiso, Robertinho Silva, and Helio Delmiro. Milton plays guitar, and his voice is still in fine form. Gal Costa sings a tiny bit – and the record includes "Para Lennon E McCartney", "Maria Maria", "Brasil", "Solar", and "Paisagem Na Janela".

Early work by Dave Pike – one of his first albums ever, recorded with an all-star lineup that includes Barry Harris on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. Pike's got less of the groovy and fuzzed-out sound of his later work – but even at this young age, he's a heck of a vibes player, and working here with such a great group, he can't help but sparkle. Tracks include "Cheryl", "On Green Dolphin Street", "Forward", "Tendin To Business", "Solar", and "Hot House".

A lost Sun Ra classic – from the early days of the Arkestra! This 1966 release on Saturn features music that was recorded by The Arkestra in Chicago in 1957 and 1958. Some of the tracks are from the same session as the Sound Of Joy LP, and a few others were from sessions later in the year. Ra plays piano and "solar piano", and the group's got some added percussion and tympani. Along with the usual suspects, James Spaulding also sits in with the group on a few tracks, playing both alto and flute. Titles include "Eve", "Overtones Of China", "Two Tones", and "El Viktor". Cool cover, too, with a colorful painting of a surrealistic space scene!

A should-be private press classic from Detroit's Rich Ristagno – a record he had pressed up, but didn't see through to release – and a wild, but pretty amazing mix of murky post disco funk, soul and rock! Recorded quickly and on the cheap, you can sort of hear an aspiration to make a late 70s style groove rock record – something along the lines of the Steve Miller – but the threadbare production and instrumental accompaniement courtesy of area funk band Solar Flight gives it oddball, but compelling feel all its own. There's some primitive electronic touches, too, that bear unintended, but real similarities to groups like Suicide. A cool discovery from Drag City! Includes "God's In The Chips", "I'm The Poorest", "Women Thinkin'", "Eye Of Love", "Not Good Enough", "There Are People", "Coming From", "England", "Eileen Reach", "Richman Poorman", "Never At The Top", "What Is A Man", "See Me Hear Me" and "Trace It Down".

A great batch of lost funky club tracks – heavy moog in the mix, making some great wikki-wikki sounds over the album's smoothly grooving tunes! The group's got Gregg Phillinganes and Roger Smith in the frontline on keyboards – they also play Arp and Fender Rhodes next to moog – and Dick Griffey helped with the vocal arrangements, giving the record the smooth sophisticated feel of a classic LA Solar release from the late 70s, mixed with some of the jazzier grooving on Fantasy records from the same time. Titles include "Mood I Love Love", "Don't Overlook The Feelings", "So Long", "Let Love Flow For Peace", and "Fantasy". CD also features the bonus track "Erika (ext mix)".

One of the best of the Schema/Rearward reissues of lost Italian jazz – and a sparkling session that features the work of a young Gato Barbieri, plus trumpeter Franco Ambrosetti, pianist Franco D'Andrea, and bassist Giovanni Tommaso. Drummer Franco Tonani leads the session – but the best work is by Ambrosetti, who's got a lot of Miles Davis in his horn at this point, and by D'Andrea, who's warm and lyrical, with none of the self-indulgence of later years. Barbieri lacks the fire of his great recordings, but his tenor's also nice and strong – and he adds some of the rougher edges to the session, in a nice counterpoint to Ambrosetti's sweeter horn. Titles include "Solar", "Vamos", "U Boat", "Drum Ding", and "Hard Mode", done in 2 takes. Great package, with a nice cover, and excellent attention to good sound!

The Movements series is back for a third volume and it's moving much deeper – the raw, smoldering funk of the previous sets is accompanied this time with groovy rare soul and jazz – and it's probably the best of the three Movements to date! Compiler Tobias Kirmayer has long showed a tremendous ear for funk & jazz rarities and this compilation is totally top notch – focus for the most part on 60s & 70s nuggets, many privately released and never really introduced to a large audience – featuring combos from around the US, a couple cuts born of the German jazz scene, a rare Italian soundtrack number and more! Titles include "Something Else" by The Iris Bell Trio featuring Butch Miles, "Backlash" by The Fats Gains Orchestra, "Let's Get Together" by The Echomen, "Angel Food" by The Port Angels (the lone recent recording and a tune that fits perfectly with the old school funky soul), "Grito Pidiendo" by Ernesto Cardenal, "Hello, Quincey" by Orchestra Luis Enriquez, "Song For My Father" by The Joe Viera Sextett, "The Serpent Speaks" by Solar Plexus and more. 11 tracks in all.

Great post-Gong work from Steve Hillage – an album of gently progressive tracks that really makes some wonderful use of his talents on guitar! The record's got a slightly shimmering quality that's a bit in keeping with the spirit of the title – and the sound is something of a refinement of British progressive modes from a few years back – reigned in slightly, and given a bit more focus on some of the album's most tuneful numbers. But there's also still a nice sense of sonic playfulness throughout, too – the slightly experimental qualities that were one of Virgin's best contributions at the time – as shorter tracks are interspersed with the longer ones – allowing Hillage to create a rich tapestry of sound. Titles include "Solar Music Suite", "Fish", "Mediatation Of The Snake", "The Salmon Song", and "Aftaglid". CD also features the bonus tracks "Pentagrammaspin (2006 rmx)" and "Aftaglid (original power trio backing track)".

Essential Afro reggaefrom Ivory Coast pioneer great Alpha Blondy – 1984's standard bearing Cocody Rock! The title track and defining anthem "Cocody Rock" was cut at Tuff Gong and sort of paved the way for African reggae to come. A number of the tracks feature backing by the group Solar System and the whole thing is great. Titles include "Cocody Rock", "Tere", "Super Powers", "Interplanetary Revolution", "Fangandan Kameleba", Bory Samory" and dub versions of "Cocody Rock" and "Tere".

Some of the most soulful jazz recorded in Europe during the 1960s – and the complete Philips recordings of German saxophonist Klaus Doldinger! Doldinger's probably best remembered for the more dynamic fusion he cut with the Passport group in the 70s, but back in his early years he was full on soul jazz player, steeped in the tradition of Gene Ammons, Lou Donaldson, Sonny Stitt, and others before him – all players that we'd easily rank Doldinger with during these years, given the ultra-high level of his work for Philips! But given his German orientation, Doldinger also picked up on some of the freer influences that were running around the European scene of the 60s – and the tracks here don't just sparkle with American soul jazz sounds, but also show a bit of Brazilian and more progressive jazz influences as well. And alongside Doldinger's tremendous tenor and soprano sax, the recordings here are equally noteworthy for the organ lines of Ingrfried Hoffmann – an ultra-cool player on the Hammond, with the mixture of rhythmic energy and playfulness you might find in the work of Jack McDuff for Prestige at the same time! Doldinger and Hoffmann cook tremendously throughout – so much so, you can easily forget their country of origin, and just put these sides on equally next to your favorites from Prestige or Cadet. 4CD package features material from 4 full albums, plus rare singles – and also includes a full CD of other rare Doldinger recordings from the same time! Tremendous stuff throughout, and easily one of the greatest discoveries in jazz you may make this year. 51 tracks in all – with titles that include "Delilah", "Signal", "Blues For George", "Solar", "Viva Brasilia", "Waltz Of The Jive Cats", "Blue Note Samba", "Negra Sin Sandalia", "Shakin The Blues", "Just A Little Bit Of Soul", "Run Baby Run", "Quartenwalzer", "Praeludium No 3", "That Bluesy Sound", "Watch It", "Pavana The Earl Of Salisbury", "Midnight Session", and "Joe's Blues".

Obscure late work from Lee Morgan – the bulk of a live concert recorded in Baltimore in 1968, and featuring a group co-led with the great Clifford Jordan! The recording is one of many taped by Baltimore's Left Bank Jazz Society at the time – and like others you might have heard on disc, it's a rough-hewn effort that shows a very different side of the artists than you'd guess from their studio work of the time. Tracks are all quite long – 15 minutes or more, mostly – and both Jordan and Morgan are playing in a more open, improvised style. Rhythm is by a trio of Reggie Workman, John Hicks, and Ed Blackwell – and the album features a great 21 minute take on Hank Mobley's "The Vamp", plus versions of "Solar", "Straight No Chaser", "Like Someone In Love", and "The Theme".

An incredible record from Sun Ra! The session was recorded in New York in the late 60s – and it features Ra playing the "solar sound instrument", which is actually a modified Hohner Clavinet, used here with some really spooky sounds! The setting of the album is spare and moody – with Ra striking out first on the "solar sound instrument" – laying down a groove that's filled in by John Gilmore on tenor, plus additional percussion by Robert Barry (who plays a bit of the "lightning drum"), Clifford Jarvis, Marshall Allen, and Pat Patrick. Titles include "Mu", "Lemuria", "Atlantis", "Bimini", and "Yucatan".

One of Sun Ra's best non-Saturn live sets of the 70s – a nice little record that shows the group mixing it up with equal parts avant garde and straight ahead jazz, all handled in that ever-growing large group style that made them a real force to be reckoned with in a concert setting! The album was recorded during the 1976 Montreux Jazz Festival, and has a bit more focus and polish than some of the other Arkestra live material from the time – a mature, coherent sound that almost points the way towards some of their work to come in the 80s – when Ra and the group were finally reaching the wider audience they deserved. The set's a double-length one, and features players who include John Gilmore on tenor, Marshall Allen and Danny Davis on alto and flute, Pat Patrick on baritone, Ahmed Abdullah on trumpet, Craig Harris on trombone, and James Jackson on Ancient Egyptian Infinity drum – which is always a treat. Ra plays solar organ and moog, as well as piano – and titles include "Of The Other Tomorrow", "On Sound Infinity Spheres", "El Is The Sound Of Joy", "Gods Of The Thunder Realm", "Gods Of A Thunder Realm", "The House Of Eternal Being", and "Lights On a Satellite".

One of Sun Ra's best non-Saturn live sets of the 70s – a nice little record that shows the group mixing it up with equal parts avant garde and straight ahead jazz, all handled in that ever-growing large group style that made them a real force to be reckoned with in a concert setting! The album was recorded during the 1976 Montreux Jazz Festival, and has a bit more focus and polish than some of the other Arkestra live material from the time – a mature, coherent sound that almost points the way towards some of their work to come in the 80s – when Ra and the group were finally reaching the wider audience they deserved. The set's a double-length one, and features players who include John Gilmore on tenor, Marshall Allen and Danny Davis on alto and flute, Pat Patrick on baritone, Ahmed Abdullah on trumpet, Craig Harris on trombone, and James Jackson on Ancient Egyptian Infinity drum – which is always a treat. Ra plays solar organ and moog, as well as piano – and titles include "Of The Other Tomorrow", "On Sound Infinity Spheres", "El Is The Sound Of Joy", "Gods Of The Thunder Realm", "Gods Of A Thunder Realm", "The House Of Eternal Being", and "Lights On a Satellite".

Leave it to Soul Jazz to assemble another fine selection of grooves, bringing together a great batch of slick, jazz-inflected British disco tracks! It's the mid 70s and disco's four on the floor beat is starting to invade every part of the world, including the UK. The set's a wonderful cross section of songs, with nice less-heard nuggets by groups that hit it big in the charts like Heatwave's "Put The Word Out" and Imagination's "Burning Up", to loft classics like Atmosfear's "Dancing In Outerspace" and smooth soulful cuts like the Real Thing's "Children Of The Ghetto/Stanhope Street". A baker's dozen of crisp, modern jazz funk is included, with Soul Jazz's great attention to detail in every aspect of the package, including a nice set of liner notes that really puts everything in perspective. Other tracks include Hi Tension "British Hustle", the Olympic Runners "Solar Heat", Kandidate "What Are You Gonna Do?", a pre-Arthur Baker track from Freeez, "Southern Freeez", Central Line "Don't Tell Me", Gonzalez's fusion-y "Saocco", Light Of The World "London Town", Beggar & Co "Somebody Help Me Out" and FbI's "Talking About Love" with a few nice disco breaks in it!

Toshiko Akiyoshi plays with two different sets of musicians on this trio side. Side 1 features Bob Daugherty on bass and Jimmy Smith on drums, while side 2 has Andrew Simpkins on bass and Peter Donald on drums. The set's largely standards, with 7 numbers in all, including "Swinging Till The Girls Come Home", "Solar", "Two Bass Hit", "In Your Own Sweet Way", and "Tempus Fugit".

One of Bill Evans' landmark sessions with the young bassist Scott LaFaro – a player who made key contributions on every record he touched, then left this earth far too soon in his career! The live session's a perfect demonstration of the way that the Evans trio format not only re-worked the use of the piano in jazz, but also the bass and drums as well – as LaFaro's deeply evocative playing is paired with the equally fresh drum work of Paul Motian – heard here at his youthful early best, before some of his contributions to jazz had become cliche in the hands of other players. The session was caught live at the Village Vanguard on the night of June 25, 1961 – and titles include longish takes on "Solar", "Jade Visions", "Gloria's Step", and "Alice In Wonderland".

One of JJ's nicer-grooving albums for Columbia from the 50s – recorded without Kai Winding, and with a quartet that includes Bobby Jaspar on tenor, either Tommy Flanagan or Hank Jones on piano, Percy Heath or Wilbur Little on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. Tracks are short, with a sharp-edged solo approach – and titles include "Overdrive", "Cube Steak", "Chasin The Bird", and "Solar".

The rare Space Probe sent out to the cosmos by Sun Ra in the mid 70s – with material recorded from the early 60s onward – the heart of it being Sun Ra's first ever recordings on a moog synthesizer in 1969, and it's one heck of a trip! This excellent edition on Art Yard includes the material from the original Saturn release – the epic, nearly 18 minute interstellar trip that is the title track – with Sun Ra crafting hallucinatory moog magic throughout it. He shifts gears on "Earth Primitive Earth" (the complete version), an earlier recording, as much influenced by ancient sounds as futuristic ones, with hand drums for the beat and bass clarinet by John Gilmore. The closing "Conversion Of JP" is the other holdover from the earlier Space Probe LP and it's another gem steeped in primitivism, believed to feature Marshall Allen on flute (sure sounds like him to us). Art Yard includes some really incredible unissued material here from sessions that produced the Secrets Of The Sun and When Sun Comes Out sets – titles including "Solar Symbols II", "Dance Of The Wind", "Recollections Of There" and "Destiny". Other players include James Jacson on log drums, Nimrod Hunt on hand drums and vocalist Thea Barbara.

Underground grooving from trumpeter Wallace Roney – one of the excellent albums he recorded for the Muse label in the 90s – a wonderfully well-rounded set that's a tremendous tribute to his tone! The group here is every bit as great as Wallace's work in the frontline – Ravi Coltrane on tenor, Geri Allen on piano, Christian McBride on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums – an especially sympathetic rhythm section who bring out some nice warmer touches to offset Roney's occasionally bold tones on trumpet. Tracks are strongly in a traditional soulbop mode – and titles include "Smooch", "Whims Of Chambers", "Lost", "Bemsha Swing", and "Solar".

Beautiful west coast vocal group soul by The Whispers! Although the material they had recorded for Solar and Epic around the time this compilation of earlier material was issued had earned them bigger fame, we just love this early stuff – and this album's pulls together many our favorites by them from their days recording for Soul Clock and Janus, darn tough records to find! The tracks have a soaring harmony sound, and titles include "A Mother For My Children", "Your Love Is So Doggone Good", "If You Feel Like Coming Home", "Can't Help But Love You", "Planets Of Life", "Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong" and "I Only Meant To Wet My Feet".

If the supermarket still sounded this funky, they'd never have any trouble getting us to do the shopping – thanks to the wonderfully groovy sound library tunes served up on this CD! The collection's a great reminder of the days when Muzak could still sound plenty darn wonderful – an instrumental soundtrack to shopping that was very much in line with the best film and TV themes of the period – fuzzy guitar, burning Hammond, and more – all set to subtly funky rhythms that were more than enough to help keep the mood bright as the shoppers moved down the aisles with their carts! All tracks here are from the UK Rediffusion sound library – an under-tapped source of great bits that's similar to DeWolfe or KPM, but much less familiar. Most numbers are by the cream of the crop of the Brit Easy scene – and although most tracks are originals, there's also a few surprising covers too. Titles include "Take Eight" by Pete Moore, "The Cutter" by Vic Flick Sound, "Some Other Time" by Alan Moorehouse, "Hold Tight" by Howard Blaikley Orchestra, "Flash" by Val Merrall, "Next Of Kingsleigh" by Harry Stoneham, "Cat Walk" by Pete Moore, "Spoofin" by Tony Evans, "John & Paul" by Tony Osborne, "Cubanana" by Vic Flick Sound, "Friendship Train" by Rosetta Hightower, "Solar Wind" by Pete Moore, and "Soul In Space" by Harry Stoneham. 25 tracks in all – and great notes too!

Classic work from Brick – a group who went onto become surprisingly successful during the 70s with a hot Atlanta blend of funky soul and uptempo club grooves – absolutely killing it early on with this self-titled second album! Brick has a feel that would be taken up heavily a few years later by LA funk combos – particularly those on the Solar label – and their style of slicking up funky licks into a tightly compressed sound was obviously a big hit with the kids of their generation. Includes the sample classic "Dusic", plus "Living From The Mind", "Happy", "Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody", "Honey Chile", Fun", "Hello" and more. This CD edition on Wounded Bird has 2 bonus tracks: "Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody (Single Version)" and "Dusic (Short Version)".

A sharp EP from the MF Grimm – with strong production by Draser Monumental! Grimm is as tight as ever here, spitting grim, though passionately penned over some nice production by Monumental – giving it the apocalyptic funk backdrop it needs. Includes "Good Morning Vietnam", "Tangerine", "If You Don't Know", "Be Noble", "Solar Soul Controller", "Grand Opening" and "Mater Matuta". Side B features the instrumentals.

An excellent compilation of rare funky jazz tunes – issued here supposedly as a lost soundtrack, but really just a collection of tunes from other sources, all with a nice soundtrack-y jazz feel! There's a few familiar names here, but most of the material is from rare European and American indie jazz LPs, and sound library sources of late 60s/early 70s vintage, with a nice mix of electric and acoustic playing. Titles include "Troublemaker" by John Cameron, "Voodoo Love Dance" by Melvyn Price, "Do Whatever Sets You Free" by Gus Giordano, "Chili Mac" by Preston Love, "La Folla" by Solar Plexus, "A New Generation" by Oscar Brown Jr & Jean Pace, "Dancer" by Gregory Charles Royal, "Zazueira" by Meta Roos, and "Jody's Freeze" by James Reese & The Progressors.

Maybe the deepest set so far in the excellent Funk Experience collection – and one that's got a surprising amount of great grooves we've never heard before! We've dug the 60s and 70s Scandia scene for years – as there's some massive gems from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark that often get overlooked by US crate diggers – rare jazz, funk, and soul numbers that are often some of the most unusual European grooves of the time! But we've honestly never heard most of the cuts here – a great surprise to our ears, and a rich treasure trove of musical gems that really stand out – even in a world of other great compilations. All tracks are from the vaults of EMI Records – and are brought together here with a great ear for the way they sound next to each other – a massive lineup that includes "Taboo" by Max Leth, "Memphis Underground" by Modern Sound Quintet, "Mr Minor" by Staffan Abeleen Quintet, "Mas Que Nada" by Bob Azzam, "Big Band Felicidade" by Bernt Rosengren, "La Folia" by Solar Plexus, "Stone Free" by Claes Goran Fagerstedt, "Horrorscope" by Ralph Lundsten, "Bubble Sex" by Tommy Seebach, "Standing In The Way" by Charles Williams, "Ari's Tune" by Ted Curson, "Naat Vain Silmin" by Carita Holmstrom, and "Nica's Dream" by Bo Warmell – plus the classic "You Never Come Closer" by Doris, maybe the one track here you will already know.

Full throttle fusion from Billy Cobham, the kind of stuff we once winced at because of the really over the top moments of heavy, heavy jamming, but that we find ourselves more sympathetic to these days, probably for the more sublime moments that poke through the onslaught here and there, including some nice spacey tracks. The Brecker brothers are up front, and the group has the tight electric approach you'd guess, with some easier grooves sliding in between the full on moments, and even a bit of funk, too. Includes "Solarization", "Lunarputians", "Total Eclipse", "Bandits", "Moon Germs","The Moon Ain't Made Of Green Cheese", "Sea Of tranquility" and "Last Frontier"

Some of the hippest work we've ever heard from German clarinetist Rolf Kuhn – a beautiful set from the 60s, and one that's filled with modern touches, but never goes too far out! Rolf's clarinet is definitely sharper here than in the decade before – informed by much of the modern jazz changes around him, and stretching out in space that's nicely open, and often moved along with some modal rhythms on the bottom. As with some of his other European contemporaries, Kuhn manages to use the instrument in completely new ways than before – no trad jazz clarinet lines that echo Benny Goodman's generation – and instead, an extremely evocative sound that often carries some nicely exotic overtones. The rest of the group's great too – and includes brother Joachim Kuhn on piano, Michal Urbaniak on tenor and soprano sax, and Czeslaw Bartkowski on drums. Titles include "Lady Orsina", "Mountain Jump", "Minor Impressions", "Solarius", and "Soldat Tadeusz".

Some of the hippest work we've ever heard from German clarinetist Rolf Kuhn – a beautiful set from the 60s, and one that's filled with modern touches, but never goes too far out! Rolf's clarinet is definitely sharper here than in the decade before – informed by much of the modern jazz changes around him, and stretching out in space that's nicely open, and often moved along with some modal rhythms on the bottom. As with some of his other European contemporaries, Kuhn manages to use the instrument in completely new ways than before – no trad jazz clarinet lines that echo Benny Goodman's generation – and instead, an extremely evocative sound that often carries some nicely exotic overtones. The rest of the group's great too – and includes brother Joachim Kuhn on piano, Michal Urbaniak on tenor and soprano sax, and Czeslaw Bartkowski on drums. Titles include "Lady Orsina", "Mountain Jump", "Minor Impressions", "Solarius", and "Soldat Tadeusz".