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A lost batch of soulful jazz from a massively overlooked source – the mighty Theresa Records, home to some really great recordings at the end of the 70s! Theresa was a tiny company formed in Oakland, CA at the end of the 70s – a spiritual heir to the sound of Impulse, Flying Dutchman, and other 70s powerhouse soul jazz labels – with a sound that was directly encapsulated in the label's own recordings of Pharoah Sanders at the time! After a few years of inactivity on the recording scene after his seminal sides for Impulse, Pharoah made a strong re-emergence on Theresa – working in a sweet style of soul jazz that was also picked up by some of the label's other strong artists. This excellent set was compiled in collaboration with Gilles Peterson – and features some of the hippest, most soulful tracks to come out on Theresa – work that takes off from the sound of Pharoah's earlier albums, into a whole new realm of expression! Titles include "Heart Is A Melody", "Rejoice", and "You've Got To Have Freedom" by Pharoah Sanders; "Samba" and "Pippin" by Ed Kelly; "Use Your Hands" and "Levels Of Consciousness" by Babatunde & Phenomena; and "Hip Funk" by Bishop Norman Williams & The One Mind Experience. 11 tracks in all!

A cool large ensemble set from the same Teresa Record scene that gave us great albums by Pharoah Sanders and John Hicks! The group's led by trumpeter David Hardiman – and features a hip rotating lineup throughout.

A trio set with Hicks on acoustic piano, plus bass by Walter Booker and drums by Idris Muhammad – the three of them stretching out in that soulful mode of the best work on the Theresa label. Features three Hicks' originals, "Naima's Love Song", "Mind Wine", and "Peanut Butter in the Desert". Also includes "Ghost of Yesterday", "Some Other Time", "With Malice Toward None", and "Dark Side, Light Side". Produced by John Hicks.

A great little record from Rufus Reid – a light and lively soul jazz piano session (Kirk Lightsey on piano, Eddie Gladden on drums), featuring some wonderful original compositions. The best of these is "Perpetual Stroll", a slow building number with a sad lyrical melody that's incredibly compelling. Other titles include "Habiba", "One Finger Snap", and "Waltz For Doris".

A classic set of soul jazz from Chicago – a rare indie date recorded in the early 80s, but with a tight and swinging feel that's more 70s jazz funk than you might think! Corky's on Yamaha keyboards, and he's backed by a hip group of Chicago players that includes Curtis Prince on drums, Artee Duke Payne on saxes, and Stephen Harris on guitars – all working together in a tightly rhythmic sound with some slight spiritual undercurrents – almost in the same territory as James Mason on his legendary record from a few years before! As with that set, there's a bit of polish here, but never too much – a balance that makes the record a wonderfully mature record with a depth that keeps it going for years. Byron Woods sings lead vocals on the album's jazz dance classic "Searching For Soul" – and a few other tracks feature Theresa Davis on lead vocals. Other titles include "Everything Must Change", "Open Wide", "Passion", "Jive Mama T", "Off C", and "Mirror Mirror".

A classic set of soul jazz from Chicago – a rare indie date recorded in the early 80s, but with a tight and swinging feel that's more 70s jazz funk than you might think! Corky's on Yamaha keyboards, and he's backed by a hip group of Chicago players that includes Curtis Prince on drums, Artee Duke Payne on saxes, and Stephen Harris on guitars – all working together in a tightly rhythmic sound with some slight spiritual undercurrents – almost in the same territory as James Mason on his legendary record from a few years before! As with that set, there's a bit of polish here, but never too much – a balance that makes the record a wonderfully mature record with a depth that keeps it going for years. Byron Woods sings lead vocals on the album's jazz dance classic "Searching For Soul" – and a few other tracks feature Theresa Davis on lead vocals. Other titles include "Everything Must Change", "Open Wide", "Passion", "Jive Mama T", "Off C", and "Mirror Mirror".

Recent grooves, but often done with a richly classic feel – one that recalls the waning years of the Chicago Soul scene at the start of the 80s! The package is an effort from the re-activated Chi-Sound label – and it takes up where Carl Davis modern soul imprint left off – a smooth, mellow approach to contemporary R&B that's served up with plenty of class, and pointed directly at the new wave of dancefloor steppers in Chicago! Vocals here are by a variety of different singers, but there's a unified feel to most of the music – an approach that stays mostly in the mellower side of the spectrum, but still maintains a good sense of groove – one that comes from gently stepping beats, warm keyboard parts, and some slight jazzy touches to class things up a bit. Titles include "Soul" by Barry J, "Steppin All Over The World" by Gold Boy, "1st Fruit" by Stephen Dawson, "Steppin Into Darkness" by Paris, "Hang Time" by Kozii, "Better Step Up "by Theresa Davis, "High Steppin" by Sherry Scott, and "Time & Time Again" by Nicole Steel.

This one's the score to an obscure comedy that starred Shirley Maclaine, Alan Arkin, Peter Sellers, and Michael Caine – and which was directed by Vittorio DeSica, working here in a far cry from The Bicycle Thief! Despite the goofy nature of the film, most of the tracks are in the range of Ortolani's more serious work – mostly orchestral and slower numbers. However, there's a few nice groovy tracks – nothing totally wonderful, but done here with a light 60s bounce that makes them stand out from the rest of the pack! Titles include "Three For A Dance", "Lover's Funeral", "They Told Me", "Marie Theresa", and "What To Do?"

Recent grooves, but often done with a richly classic feel – one that recalls the waning years of the Chicago Soul scene at the start of the 80s! The package is an effort from the re-activated Chi-Sound label – and it takes up where Carl Davis modern soul imprint left off – a smooth, mellow approach to contemporary R&B that's served up with plenty of class, and pointed directly at the new wave of dancefloor steppers in Chicago! Vocals here are by a variety of different singers, but there's a unified feel to most of the music – an approach that stays mostly in the mellower side of the spectrum, but still maintains a good sense of groove – one that comes from gently stepping beats, warm keyboard parts, and some slight jazzy touches to class things up a bit. Titles include "Soul" by Barry J, "Steppin All Over The World" by Gold Boy, "1st Fruit" by Stephen Dawson, "Steppin Into Darkness" by Paris, "Hang Time" by Kozii, "Better Step Up "by Theresa Davis, "High Steppin" by Sherry Scott, and "Time & Time Again" by Nicole Steel. DVD is an older instructional DVD on stepping – with the original 8 count instructional video from 1999, plus more!

Sweet saxy grooves from reedman Steve Marcus – working here in a psychedelic approach to funky jazz! The album's easily one of Steve's greatest moments – and has Marcus playing both acoustic and electric saxes, in a lineup that also includes funky guitar from Larry Coryell, piano and harpsichord from Mike Nock, bass from Chris Hills, drums from Bob Moses, and even a bit of accordion from Dominic Cortese! The sound is definitely jazz, but there's plenty of influence from the rock side of the spectrum – yet never in a too-jamming rock fusion mode – always with the same sort of soulful, funky feel you'd get on records from the time by Tom Scott. Titles include "C'Est Ca", "Theresa's Blues", "Scarborough Fair", "Ooh Baby", and "Back Street Girl".