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Billed as "some of the most important jazz recordings ever made" – and for good reason, too! The set brings together all the crucial early Louis Armstrong recordings from the 78rpm era – late 20s/early 30s sides for Okey, Parlophone, RCA, and Odeon – all presented with better sound and notes than any of the cheapo, knockoff packages you'll find on the market! This 10 CD collection is overflowing with key moments in jazz – great small group recordings by Armstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven groups, some orchestra performances, and many other important sides that went onto shape the sound of jazz for decades to come. A beautiful package, with a booklet that includes new essays, and great remastering of these crucial recordings!

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".

Sweet female pop from Japan – most of it recorded in the mid 70s, and pulled together in a package that's similar to some of the soundtrack-related collections that Hotwax & Trax have done for the Ultra Vybe label! The sounds here are a bit smoother than those on the soundtrack set, but equally compelling – a blend of Western pop modes of the time with some uniquely Japanese touches – often set to instrumentation that includes lots of keyboards and some occasional funky rhythms. There's a surprisingly soulful feel to a number of the tunes, one that gets past the Japanese-only lyrics – and speaking of that, the notes and titles are all in Japanese so we can't tell you more – but the music's pretty compelling!

Includes tracks by Luke Jordan, Blind Willie McTell, Sonny Boy Williamson, Elijah Jones, Clifford Gibson, James Rachel, the Memphis Jug Band, Joe Williams, Cannons's Jug Stompers, and Walter Davis.

A really hip little session – as light and breezy at one level as it is tight and swinging! Feldman's the leader of the set on vibes, but the greatest strength of the album comes from the group – a sextet that places Victor in the company of trombonist Frank Rosolino, tenor saxophonist Harold Land, pianist Carl Perkins, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Stan Levey. The rhythm section is especially fluid on the record – very in the pocket, but without overstating that fact – and they allow for extremely open solo work from Feldman, Land, and Rosolino. Side two of the album is a real smoker – with some great ensemble numbers that open up with tremendous horn work – tight, yet free-thinking and soulful, with some slight modern touches. Titles include "Chart Of My Heart", "Wilbert's Tune", "Evening In Paris", "Fidelius", and "Bass Reflex".

Sharp-edged live work from Victor Feldman – a set that features both vibes and piano, often with a bit more bite than usual for Vic! The material was recorded live at Ronnie Scotts in 1964 – and the group's a trio on all numbers – with Feldman on vibes and piano, plus Rick Laird on bass and Ronnie Stephenson on drums. Tracks are of moderate length, but stretch out nicely – almost recalling some of Feldman's best London recordings of the late 50s – and certainly with that open, swinging sense of rhythm that made those sides so great. Overall, the album's a great revelation if you've only thought of Victor as a more staid player – and titles include "Alley Blues", "Liebestraum", "Azul Serape", "Swinging On A Star", "Fly Me To The Moon", and "Too Blue".

A buzzing, hard-hitting batch of pychedelic rock from Japan's The Mops – featuring some groovy, echoey tunes penned by the group and sung in their native language – plus a nice choice of passionate covers! The sound is a little bit like Love in their early rawness – and the Mops obviously have a great feel for psychedelia at its fuzziest and most tuneful. Great stuff! Tracks include "Asamade Matenai", "San Francisco Nights", "I Am Just A Mops", "The Letter", "Blind Bird", "Somebody To Love", "White Rabbit", "Light My Fire", "Kienai Omoi" and more – plus 2 bonus tracks "Omae No Subete O", "Atsuki Narenai"

Mad grooves from a group who's unlike anyone else we can think of – and who just get more and more compelling with each new release! This time around, Soil & Pimp still have lots of the fast-jamming jazz of their roots, but they're also expanding their rhythmic palette nicely – bringing in some earthy percussion at points, stepping forward in a flurry of horns at others, and even hitting a surprising soul vibe at some especially nice moments! If you've dug these guys before, you'll find plenty to love on this set – and you'll be very pleasantly surprised at how they've stretched out their core acoustic groove to reach for some new frontiers on the club jazz scene. Titles include "Moon At Noon", "Asa", "Tell Me A Bet Time Story", "Awesome Knowledge", "Sexual Hungry", "Movin", "Do Re Mi", and "Freedom Time".

One of Sonny Rollins' best albums of the 70s – a Japanese-only live date that features some excellent work on both tenor and soprano sax! The group has a really great feel – thanks to congas by Mtume and guitar from Yoshiaki Masuo – both of whom bring some new elements to Rollins' groove, alongside electric bass from Bob Cranshaw and drums from David Lee. Sonny's solos are all well-blown and quite extended – put together with a strong sense of fire, and a bit less of the hoke that could sometimes show up on other US domestic albums. Tracks are all long, and titles include "Powaii", "Moritat", "Alfie", and "St Thomas".

A lost treasure from Antiono Adolfo – keyboard player, arranger, and one of the greatest Brazilian talents of his generation! Adolfo's sound and style is contemporaneous with the best work of Marcos Valle, Edu Lobo, and others – and like them, he has an approach that mixes together jazz, MPB, baroque orchestrations, easy scoring, and a bit of funk – similar to the best work of the Blue Brazil generation on EMI/Odeon Records. The approach is one that's rarely been matched by any other artist – and it's a strong reason why Adolfo's records from this period are extremely sought after in the world of collectors. This beautiful album from 1970 has Adolfo working with the group A Brazuca – who bring some wonderful vocal harmonies to the set, mixing with strings, guitars, and some great electric piano work from Adolfo. Includes the breezy classic "Transamazonica", plus the cuts "Que Se Dane", "Atencao Atencao", "Claudia", "Panorama", "Tributo A Victor Manga", "Caminhada", "Grilopus No 1", and "Cotidiano".

A really special record from a really special group – one of two sublime 70s gems from Azteca – a wicked blend of jazz, funk, Latin, and soul – all put together by a young Coke Escovedo! Coke's ostensibly the leader of the group, but there's also a richly collaborative feel going on – a style that brings together jazz players like Tom Harrell on trumpet, Mel Martin on saxes, George Muribus on Fender Rhodes, and Flip Nunez on organ – and Latin players like Victor Pantoja on congas, Coke Escovedo on timbales, and Pete Escovedo on added percussion. In fact, the set's a key early example of the strength of the Escovedo family – and like their best later efforts, the set really stretches out and pushes the boundaries of conventional genres. There's also some great guest work from Lenny White on drums, Mike Nock on keyboards, and Neal Schon on guitars – and vocals are by a range of singers who really keep things fresh. Titles include "Red Onions", "Mazatlan", "Whatcha Gonna Do", "Mexicana, Mexicana", and "Love Is A Stranger".

The rarest of all of Art Blakey's percussion group projects – and quite possibly the best, too! The session features Blakey at the head of a strong mix of jazz and percussion players – with Art Taylor and Philly Joe Jones on the regular drum kit, Donald Byrd on trumpet and Ray Bryant on piano, and a host of assorted percussion work by the likes of Ray Barretto, Sabu Martinez, Victor Gonzalez, Julio Martinez, and others. The resultant sound is incredible – very full, rich, and earthy – and done in a way that interweaves African and Latin percussion styles with straighter American jazz! A few cuts have chanting by Blakey and Sabu – and titles include "The Feast", "Mirage", "Lamento Africano", "O'Tinde", "Swingin Kilts", "Dinga", "Reflection", and "Aghano".

A beautiful tribute to the genius of trombonist/arranger Melba Liston – and a set that doesn't just copy her music, but really opens up a whole new spirit from its inspiration! Reedman Geof Bradfield composed all the tracks in the set, and puts things together with a spirit that's not unlike some of Melba's best arrangements for middle-sized groups – that way she had of making things tight, and rhythmically soulful – yet still allowing plenty of room for improvisation and individuality amidst the fuller picture of the tunes. Bradfield gets in plenty of great moments on tenor, soprano sax, and bass clarinet – and the rest of the group features Victor Garcia on trumpet and flugelhorn, Joel Adams on trombone, Jeff Parker on guitar, Ryan Cohan on piano, Clark Sommers on bass, and George Fludas on drums. Titles include "Central Avenue", "Dizzy Gillespie", "Detroit/Kingston", "Randy Weston", and "Homecoming" – and the set ends with vocals by Maggie Burrell on the tune "Let Me Not Lose My Dream".

Stellar sounds from pianist George Cables – the kind of fluid, soulful set he's been serving up for years – but one with a bittersweet undercurrent too! The "muse" in the title is Cables' late partner – for whom he wrote a few key tracks on the set, showing us that his skills as a composer are richer than ever – and really on a par with his majestic playing on the date as well. There's a lyricism that we haven't heard this strongly from George in a number of years – and the trio's beautifully balanced, with bass from Essiet Essiet and drums from Victor Lewis – both partners sensitive to the needs of the songs. Cables brackets the record with two solo performances – and titles include "My Muse", "Helen's Song", "But He Knows", "You're My Everything", "He It's Me You're Talking To", and "My Old Flame".

Bold work from saxophonist James Carter – soulful one minute, modern the next – and definitely the sort of session that shows the full range of his mighty powers! Carter's possibly best known for his work on tenor, but the date also has him playing flute, baritone, soprano, and bass clarinet – all in ways that really shifts the mood of the record from track to track, yet never with a too-schizophrenic feel. Producer Michael Cuscuna's got a great ear for the most classic tones in Carter's horn – or horns – and the other players here include Dwight Adams on trumpet, DD Jackson on piano, Rodney Jones on guitar, and Victor Lewis on bass. Titles include "Bro Dolphy", "Sussa Nita", "Rapid Shave", "Bossa JC", "Tenderly", "Hymn Of The Orient", "Shadowy Sands", and "Dodo's Bounce".

A sublime mid 70s soundtrack from Stelvio Cipriani – quite upbeat and playful grooves, with timeless Italo soundtrack styles mixed with some 70s dancefloor sounds! Due Cuori Una Cappella is a romantic comedy, which you might deduce pretty quickly from the upbeat groove. The title them has the feel of a mini-suite, touching on the sounds you'll get throughout: string-buildup, playful piano, modern dancefloor-ready percussion, and a very catchy melody. This first ever CD release features the the original album in stereo and a massive number of bonus tracks. 35 tracks in all! Includes "Luna Park", "Picnic", "Parking", "Abhanera", "Bidon Ville", "Castel S. Angelo Nuit", "Aristide's S March", "Kidnapping", "La Confessione", "Scapricciata D'Amore", "Victor's Tango", "Abhanera", "Colpo De Fulmine" and many more.

A real lost treasure – and an incredible session that offers a real meeting of minds that's far more than you'd expect from the simple cover and title! The set is a later one for Vee Jay, and it brings together half of the Jazz Messengers with a batch of west coast players – in a groove that wonderfully mixes together different traditions and rhythms in jazz – and which steps out with a sound that's far more than the sum of its parts! Art Blakey, Lee Morgan, and Curtis Fuller join a group headed by Buddy De Franco, and featuring Victor Feldman on piano and vibes, plus Victor Sproles on bass and Freddie Hill on trumpet. The sound of the group is quite unusual – and a lot lighter than you'd guess – giving Buddy plenty of room to solo in a breezy style that's grown tremendously since his 50s recordings – pushed along by some heavier soul from Art and the group. Titles include "Rain Dance", "Blues Bag", "Twelve Tone Blues", "Kush", and "Cousin Mary".

A wonderful soundtrack from Georges Delerue – and proof that, no matter what the setting, his musical work is always top-shelf! The film's a less-remembered Catherine Deneuve vehicle from the early 80s, but Delerue handles the music with a really timeless feel – a beautifully balanced set of orchestrations that move slowly, and with great feeling – unfolding gently as the set moves on – with that almost flower-like style he brought to some of his best arrangements of this nature. Some tracks are short, and together the music works wonderfully as an evocative sound piece, even away from the film. Titles include "Face To Face", sung by Vivian Reed – plus instrumentals "Nostalgie De Victor", "Marche Militaire", "Le Bar De L'Hotel", "Voltige Aerienne", "A Bientot Charlotte", and "L'Espoir". CD also features a great bonus – a 17 minute "Suite Symphonie De Philippe Broca"!

Amazing, simply amazing – and light years ahead of the staid sounds that Chico Hamilton was cutting in the 50s! Hamilton's one of those players who has an amazing range to his music – almost all of it really incredible, as Chico always shifts things up over time – continually trying new things, and new modes of expression – even though, given his popularity, he could have just kept recording the same things year after year. This album is true testament to that propensity for growth in Hamilton's music – a wonderfully unbridled set that's filled with unusual rhythms, odd instrumentation, and even some of the first touches of psychedelic jazz to appear in the 60s! Players include Sadao Watanabe on alto and flute, Gabor Szabo on guitar, Jimmy Cheatham on trombone, and Willie Bobo and Victor Pantoja on percussion – all working together in a really wonderful range of modes from track to track – always groovy, but also pretty far-reaching and exploratory too! Titles include "El Moors", "Helena", "Strange", "Marcheta", "El Chico", and "Conquistadores".

A great trio – with Curtis Lundy on bass and Victor Lewis on drums!

A beautiful little session from John Hicks – recorded in 1988, but with a spiritual edge that reminds us of some of the best indie soul jazz sides of the 70s. Although Hicks often recorded around the time leading a trio, this set features the great altoist Bobby Watson sitting in with a group completed by Curtis Lundy on bass and Victor Lewis on drums. Watson contributed 2 tunes to the set – "Someday Soon", and "On The One" – Lundy wrote "Elementary My Dear", and Hicks penned the beautiful Coltrane-esque "Naima's Love Song".

A wonderful session by Andrew Hill – recorded in 1968, but issued only briefly in 1981 – and out of print for years! The session is a key one in understanding Hill's work – as it's a bridge between the arch modernism of his early Blue Note sides, and the more soul-oriented playing of the Grass Roots album. The group features Joe Farrell and Charles Tolliver on horns – both of whom open up the sound at the same time they're giving it a nice bottom – and the rest of the combo includes Victor Sproles on bass and Billy Higgins on drums. The album's an enchanting one – lighter than earlier years, but still with a compelling vision that's all Hill's own. Titles include "Dance With Death", "Love Nocturne", "Black Sabbath", "Partitions", and "Fish N Rice". CD features a bonus alternate take of the title cut.

A very interesting early session for Elvin, and one that's filled with lots of warm lyrical moments – nicely laid down by Thad Jones, Frank Wess, Hank Jones, and Frank Foster. These four came together often during the late 50s on some sessions, but the addition of Elvin opens things up nicely, and creates a rhythm sound that's a bit freer than some of those old Savoy sessions or Prestige blowing sides. Titles include "Ray El", "Lady Luck", "Pretty Brown", "Shadowland", and "Buzz-at".

An unusual little record – a set that's a bit "fake" in its pedigree, but which still comes across with some wonderfully vivid results! Fred Kaz is a Chicago pianist, but he works here on a set of original compositions based on his readings on Near Eastern cultures – dubbed by Fred as "Turkish experiments" in the liner notes – and a compelling blend of Eastern modes and modern jazz piano – maybe not as all-out as later experiments of the type on MPS/Saba, but still pretty darn great! The group's a trio – with Victor Sproles on bass and Roger Wanderscheid on drums – and titles include "Sand", "Ameer", "Salaam", "Turkish Blues", "Fez", "Muezzin", and "Tassel".

An odd choice for material, but a surprisingly nice record – and just the kind of session needed to break Barney Kessel out of some of his too-familiar trio modes of the 50s! The record here features jazz takes on tunes from the opera Carmen – in case you didn't figure that out from the title – all adapted by Barney himself, on charts that feature Buddy Collette on flute, Ray Linn on trumpet, Victor Feldman on vibes, and Andre Previn on piano – a lineup that helps keep things creative and playful without sounding too gimmicky. Titles include "Free As A Bird", "If You Dig Me", "A Pad On The Edge Of Town", "The Gypsy's Hip", and "Carmen's Cool".

A wonderful wonderful set from Barney Kessel – bossa-inflected jazz, and a wonderful setting for Barney to hit some very groovy lines on electric guitar! The group on the date is part of the strength of the record – with Conte Candoli on trumpet, Emil Richards on vibes, Paul Horn on flute, and Victor Feldman on piano – with loads of great percussion and guitar interplay on the set, plus some excellent use of flute and vibes – all of which makes for the sort of session that really translates the Brazilian groove into the best sort of sound the LA scene was cutting at the time! Nice, light, and dancing rhythms – and titles that include "Love", "Days Of Wine & Roses", "Latin Dance #1", "Lady Byrd", and "One Note Samba".

A late date for Brit bandleader Vic Lewis – but a great one too, thanks to a strong focus on the bossa nova sounds of the 60s! The mode's a real change for Lewis, who could sometimes be a bit stiff – and the new groove definitely opens things up nicely – as does the album's work from a top-shelf of jazz soloists, both British and American! Side one has Lewis leading a combo that features a stellar lineup – tenor and flute from Tubby Hayes, more tenor from Ronnie Scott, trumpet from Jimmy Deuchar, flugelhorn from Shake Keane, and piano from Terry Shannon – all players who get plenty of chance to solo, and really make the music magical with just a few subtle touches. The flipside features Lewis leading a group of West Coast luminaries – Bud Shank on tenor and flute, Bob Cooper on tenor, Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Shorty Rogers on flugelhorn, and Victor Feldman both on piano and vibes. The groove is just as great as on the first side – and the whole thing's a real standout for Brit jazz at the time. Titles include "Bossa Nova Scotia", "Bossa Nova Blues", "Two Note Samba", "Last Minute Bossa Nova", "Danielle", and "Vic's Tune".

Very groovy stuff – with Joanne Grauer on organ, Victor Feldman on percussion, Plas Johnson on saxes, and Mayorga on piano and harpsichord!

Beautiful late work from Lee Morgan! The last five years of Lee's life saw him really stretching out to do some fantastic writing, playing, and leading – and this record stands today as one of the best examples of that period – a pure act of genius, with a sound that really takes off from Lee's earlier Blue Note albums. The styles are a unique blend of soulful hardbop and the more stretched-out spiritualism that would later emerge in the early 70s soul jazz scene – and players include the lesser-known Frank Mitchell on tenor, plus Jackie McLean on alto, Cedar Walton on piano, Victor Sproles on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – the last of whom provides an amazingly lyrical approach to rhythm, the sort that was key to some of Lee Morgan's best work of the time! Titles include "Afreaka", "Short Count", "The Cry Of My People", "Anti Climax", and "Psychedelic".

A monstrous bit of jazz funk from drummer Alphonse Mouzon – spacey tracks in a choppy style that reminds us a bit of some of the best European fusion albums from the period, but with a harder groove overall! Mini Moog and ARP trip out the sound throughout, but the underlying rhythms are nice and heavy. Lee Ritenour's on guitar, and he gets a lot of play on the record – but the main groove is Alphonse's heavy funky snakefoot! Al's drums and percussion are furiously frenetic, and he also plays a lot of keyboards – and other players include Tom Scott on tenor, Dave Grusin on clavinet, Victor Feldman on bongos and congas, and Charles Meeks on bass. A few tracks have vocals – by Marty McCall, Jackie Ward, and Caroline Willis – as well as Alphonse himself and the album's also got two very nice break-oriented tracks – "Snake Walk" and "New York City" – both with nice hard drums! Titles include a number of other good fusion groovers, like "Without A Reason", "Just Like the Sun", "Before You Leave", "Just Like The Sun", and "Mouzon Moves On".

A monstrous bit of jazz funk from drummer Alphonse Mouzon – spacey tracks in a choppy style that reminds us a bit of some of the best European fusion albums from the period, but with a harder groove overall! Mini Moog and ARP trip out the sound throughout, but the underlying rhythms are nice and heavy. Lee Ritenour's on guitar, and he gets a lot of play on the record – but the main groove is Alphonse's heavy funky snakefoot! Al's drums and percussion are furiously frenetic, and he also plays a lot of keyboards – and other players include Tom Scott on tenor, Dave Grusin on clavinet, Victor Feldman on bongos and congas, and Charles Meeks on bass. A few tracks have vocals – by Marty McCall, Jackie Ward, and Caroline Willis – as well as Alphonse himself and the album's also got two very nice break-oriented tracks – "Snake Walk" and "New York City" – both with nice hard drums! Titles include a number of other good fusion groovers, like "Without A Reason", "Just Like the Sun", "Before You Leave", "Just Like The Sun", and "Mouzon Moves On".

Early live work from Baden Powell – a set recorded for Elenco in Brazil, but done with some of the best stripped-down, intimate modes of his later European recordings! Baden's acoustic guitar is firmly in the lead on most tracks, and the sound is almost solo, in a way – as the added piano of Oscar Castro Neves and drums of Victor Manga are really just used to color in the spare lines on Powell's guitar. There's a warmly jazzy sensibility to some of the tunes – and titles include "Astronauta", "Tempo Feliz", "Preludio Em Re Menor", "Valsa De Euridice", "Samba De Uma Nota So", "Berimbau/Choro Para Metronomo", and "Lamento".

The third in a really great run from Rhythm Heritage – a group who continued to hold up a strong level of instrumental quality, despite the fact that they'd topped the charts, and were smack right in the middle of the LA studio scene at the time! Part of the credit goes to producer/arranger Michael Omartin – who also plays keyboards on the album, giving it one of its best characteristics – but the whole assortment of talents is pretty darn great too, and includes work by Victor Feldman, Ray Parker, and The Waters – who bring in some nice soulful vocals on a few cuts. Keeping their success with TV themes, the group do a great job with "Theme From Starsky & Hutch" on this one – taking the tune in a nice moogy sort of way – and other cuts include "Float On By", "Hedge Hog", "Skippin", "Language Of Love", "Holdin Out", and "Sail Away With Me".

One of Sonny's brilliant west coast sessions for Contemporary – records that shouldn't sparkle as much as they do, but which actually stand with his best work of the 50s! Sonny's blowing in front of a session of "leaders" that includes Hampton Hawes, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, Shelly Manne, and Victor Feldman, who plays vibes on one track. Sonny's the real leader here, though – as his bold, proud tenor tone really takes front seat, carving lines that never get tired, bringing a sparkle into tunes like "You", "How High The Moon", "I've Found A New Baby", "The Song Is You", and "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star". Heck, even with songs like those, the album should be weak – but there's an undeniable magic that really makes it great! CD features 3 bonus tracks!

Wallace Roney is one of those players who never lets us down – and here on this recent set, he's every bit as soaringly soulful as on his early albums from the 80s! The trumpeter's got a fluid groove right from the start – sweeping forward with these notes that have a beautiful balance between sharp punctuation and long runs of sound – that well-crafted approach to his horn that's always made Roney a real standout in his generation. The album's filled with plenty of soul – and the supporting players include Ben Solomon on tenor, Arnold Lee on alto, Victor Gould and Eden Ladin on piano, Daryl Johns on bass, and Kush Abadey on drums. Titles include a great version of the Duke Pearson gem "Is That So" – plus "Kotra", "Red Lantern", "Gaslight", "Search For Peace", and "You Taught My Heart To Sing".

One of the rarest albums by Frank Rosolino – and a surprisingly great vocal set as well! The tunes are short, but Frank manages to both sing and turn in his usual trombone solo work here – and while the latter is great, we especially love the former! Frank's vocals have a raspy, playful quality that's a bit like Jack Sheldon's singing – and as with some of the later Sheldon albums, this one's a great illustration of the under-recorded side of some of the talents of players on the LA scene – their "entertainer" personas that were often used when working the bandstand in a live environment. And if you're suspicious about the vocals, don't be – because Frank is really great here, and manages to transform the tunes heavily – taking old standards and playfully inflecting them with new life and a rough edge – a bit similar to work by Bob Dorough or Johnny Watson (for his Chess session) on similar material. The rest of the group is a quartet that features Charles Berghofer on bass, Victor Feldman on piano, and Irv Cottler on drums – and titles include "It Had To Be You", "I Cover The Waterfront", "Whatcha Gonna Do On Monday", "Come Rain Or Come Shine", "It Had To Be You", and "Please Don't Bug Me".

An unusual albums from the west coast scene of the 50s – recorded under the name of the Lighthouse All Stars, but featuring arrangements and compositions by Bob Cooper – who was the real driving force behind the set. Conte Candoli's in the group on trumpet – and other players include Buddy Colette and Bud Shank on alto and flute, Frank Rosolino on trombone, Victor Feldman on vibes and percussion, Stan Levey on drums, and Cooper himself on tenor. The overall sound is relatively tightly constrained, in a "jazz suite" mode – but there's plenty of room for solo space on the set, and Cooper's writing is as fluid as his ability is strong to bring these players together as conductor. The set's got a really great feel that gets way past some of the more academic west coast work of its sort – with a lot more soul than you'd expect. Titles include "Rain Blues", "Genesis (pt II)", "Architectonics", "Directional Suite", and "The Worker".

Wicked jazzy bossa from 60s Brazil – a crackling early classic from pianist Dom Salvador! The group here is super-tight – a tremendous triangle of piano, bass, and drums – all grooving at equal pace, with a great deal of energy – and given a heck of a lot of soul from Dom's bold lines on the piano! There's a slight lyrical vibe at points, too – making for music that's mighty sweet, and very seductive – and the whole thing's right up there with some of the best bossa trio dates of the time. Trio features bass by Edson Lobo and drums by Victor Manga – and titles include "Arrastao", "Promessa", "Pro Batera", "Santarem", and "Tematrio".

Warm mellow soul from David Sanborn – a surprisingly nice early album, recorded without all the schmaltz of his later work! The style is still quite full and professional, but there's also somehow a more earnest feel to the work – as Sanborn plays with a core group that includes Victor Lewis, Jumma Santos, and Hiram Bullock – blowing alto, but also singing a bit as well! Guest vocalists on the set include Hamish Stuart of Average White Band, plus Lani Groves and Kat McCord – and the whole thing's got an easygoing LA studio sort of groove. Titles include "Promise Me The Moon", "Stranger's Arms", "We Fool Ourselves", "Morning Salsa" and "Legend Of The Cheops".

An early 80s set from Tom Scott, and proof that he could still make an electric jazz album sound more soulful than most of his mainstream contemporaries! There's a really great sense of balance here – production that's certainly polished, but instrumentation that's never sleepy at all – those always-sharp reeds we love from Tom, especially on alto and soprano sax – plus some great keyboard work from Victor Feldman, who has a similar sense of space and timing ot match Scott's groove! The set's got a feel that's a bit like some of the few really great albums from Dave Grusin – and some cuts have vocals, although mostly of the backup type. Titles include "Desire", "Sure Enough", "The Only One", "Stride", "Chunk O Funk", and "Meet Somebody".

Really rich sounds from Woody Shaw – one of his sublime studio sessions for Columbia Records – a major label, but one who really let Woody explore some new ideas in his music! There's a depth here that surpasses some of Shaw's straight small group sessions – really magnificent sounds that push the boundaries of soulful jazz at the end of the 70s, yet still hold onto all the best aspects of Woody's roots – kind of a distillation of all the soulful, spiritual experiments of the past 10 years – delivered in ways that really help them reach out to new ears! The core group features Woody on trumpet and flugelhorn, Larry Willis on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums – but each track features some key guest appearance too – by artists who include Gary Bartz on alto, Curtis Fuller and Steve Turre on trombones, Carter Jefferson on tenor and soprano sax, James Spaulding on flute, Nana Vasconcelos on percussion, and Judi Singh on vocals – singing beautifully on the cuts "Time Is Right" and "Why" – alongside other instrumental numbers that include "Opec", "Josua C", "Isabel The Liberator", and "Ginseng People".

Soulful brilliance from Woody Shaw – a searing live set that matches the power of earlier classics like Moontrane and Blackstone Legacy! The album's got Woody working with a heck of a great group – Carter Jefferson on tenor and soprano sax, Onaje Allan Gumbs on piano, Clint Houston on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums – all of whom come together with just the right mix of earthy grooving and spiritual searching that puts Woody in his best light. Jefferson is especially great – as it's his soaring work on reeds that really give the album a sense of spirit – but credit should also be giving to the well-knit rhythm team, whose ability to push out in flowing lines of power really raises the energy of the performance. Titles include "Stepping Stone", "In A Capricornian Way", "Seventh Avenue", and "Theme For Maxine". CD features 3 bonus tracks, 2 unissued – "Blues For Ball", "All Things Being Equal Are Not", and "Escape Velocity".

Badass organ funk from the mighty Leon Spencer – a set that's got a bit of a fuller feel than some of his previous albums for Prestige – but a groove that's also equally great! The style here is somewhere between blacksploitation funk and some of the grooves from the CTI/Kudu camp – with a bit more horns than before on some of the titles, arranged tightly to provide a great foil for Leon's leaner lines on Hammond! Arrangements are by Ed Bogas on the fuller tracks, and players on the album include Hubert Laws on flute, Frank Wess on baritone, Victor Paz and Virgil Jones on trumpet, Joe Beck on guitar, Melvin Sparks on guitar, and Grady Tate on drums. One track features Leon working in a smaller trio format – and titles include "Superstition", "Give Me Your Love", "The Price A Po Man's Got To Pay", "Where I'm Coming From", and "Trouble Man".

A great idea for a session – and one of our favorite albums from the legendary America free jazz series! Mal Waldron is working here with the legendary Steve Lacy French quintet of the 70s – the ensemble that featured Steve Potts on alto, Kent Carter on bass, Noel McGhee on drums, and Irene Aebi on cello (not vocals!) Waldron's soulful and introspective work on piano provides a perfect grounding for the sometimes flighty group – and his gently-placed work on the keys acts as a strong foil for Lacy's more unbridled work on soprano sax. Side one of the record features a 20 minute version of Waldron's "Vio" – and side 2 features two Lacy compositions, "Jump For Victor" and "Blue Wee".

One of the coolest collections of Beatles work by Brazilian artists in this hip series from Discobertas – a set that features groundbreaking material penned by the group in 1968 – a few tracks from famous albums, but also some real obscurities too – including some key compositions from emerging solo projects too! The range of songs here is great – way more than just Beatles' hits covered by other artists – and instead that deep contemplation of the greatness of the fab four that held Brazilian music fast in the years of the big MPB boom – which makes the album almost a return to the influence that the group had on Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and others. These recordings are all new, and the set is a huge batch of 21 titles that include "Cosmically Conscious" by Alexandre Crof, "Not Guilty" by Alvin L, "Badge" by Ramirez, "Sour Milk Sea" by Paulo Ricardo, "Lady Madonna" by A Bolha, "Singalong Junk" by Jullie, "Thingumybob" by Victor Biglione Trio, "Pepperland" by Robertino De Recife, "Step Inside Love" by Zelia Duncan, "Junk" by Regina Machado, and "Across The Universe" by Raimundo Fagner.

A sweet little collection that goes way beyond basic bossa nova – as it offers up tunes from a host of different vintages, in different styles of the genre – including some surprising gems from recent years too! Vintage material is blended nicely with cuts from Far Out and a few other current labels – and together, the tracks show the strong evolution of bossa nova into the 21st Century – way past the basic sounds at the start. There's a number of tracks on here we've never heard before – and titles include "The Girl From Ipanema" by Paula Santoro, "O Nosso Amor" by Vanja Orico, "Agua De Beber" by Xavier Osmir, "Meu Samba Torto" by Clara Moreno, "How Insensitive" by Simao Morto, "Rio Bahia" by Joyce, "Wave" by Victor Assis Brasil, "Mas Que Nada" by Rio Combo, "Dindi" by Paula Santoro with Hugh Burns, "So Danco Samba" by Gustavo Marques, and "Salve Dom" by Armando Marcal. 32 tracks on 2CDs – quite a deal!

Music from June Christy, Andre Previn, Johnny Green, Victor Young & others.

A stellar batch of Afro funk and native groove from Lagos! Strains of western funk and soulful sounds work their way into the material – thanks again to Fela's mighty influence – but there's a lot more to it! Simmering along with the Afro funk and soul are some truly riveting native folk sounds – filtered through many of the modern influence that make the funk stuff so compelling – but providing a much more natively learned groove. It's a totally fresh perspectived – focused on the Lagos territory – but an incredible listen to anyone, anywhere, with a pair of ears! 15 tracks in all: "Eyi Yato/Elere Ni Wa" by Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey And His Inter-Reformers Band, "Joromi" by Sir Victor Uwaifo, "Sowambe" by Sagbeni Aragbada, "Professional Super Bantous" by Super Negro Bantopus, "Ole Obinrin" by Ambali Adedeji, "Da Wa Lohun" by Harbors Band, "Moonlight Highlife" by Dr Victor Olaiya and more!

A stellar batch of Afro funk and native groove from Lagos! Strains of western funk and soulful sounds work their way into the material – thanks again to Fela's mighty influence – but there's a lot more to it! Simmering along with the Afro funk and soul are some truly riveting native folk sounds – filtered through many of the modern influence that make the funk stuff so compelling – but providing a much more natively learned groove. It's a totally fresh perspectived – focused on the Lagos territory – but an incredible listen to anyone, anywhere, with a pair of ears! 15 tracks in all: "Eyi Yato/Elere Ni Wa" by Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey And His Inter-Reformers Band, "Joromi" by Sir Victor Uwaifo, "Sowambe" by Sagbeni Aragbada, "Professional Super Bantous" by Super Negro Bantopus, "Ole Obinrin" by Ambali Adedeji, "Da Wa Lohun" by Harbors Band, "Moonlight Highlife" by Dr Victor Olaiya and more!

The 4th entry in the amazing London Is The Place for me – a collection of incredible work from the postwar, post-colonial years in the UK! As with other volumes, there's an array of Carribean and African influences at work here – often highly rhythmic and performed with lots of percussion, but also served up in ways that has the original modes coming into contact with more contemporary UK styles! Most of the work here was recorded in London, but overflowing with global styles that include mentos, high life, calypso, Latin, and even a bit of jazz – played by an array of artists who all found new means of expression in the capital. Titles include "Mambo Indio" by Shake Keane, "Alphonso In Town" by Lord Kitchener, "Give Her The No 1" by Eric Hayden, "Khauleza" by Dorothy Masuka, "Chicken & Rice" by Young Tiger, "Egyptian Bint Al Cha Cha" by Ginger Johnson, "Don't You Go Away" by Cab Kaye, "Highlife Piccadilly" by The African Messengers, "Darling Don't Say No" by Nat Akins, "African Jazz Cha Cha" by Ginger Johnson, "Piccadilly Folk" by Lord Kitchener, and "Ilu Oyinbo Dara" by Victor Coker.

Two groundbreaking collections in one cool package! Volume 3 is one of our favorite volumes in the London Is The Place For Me collection – and a brilliant batch of work that criss-crosses West African, West Indian, and postwar jazz styles! Most of the recordings here were done under the leadership of Ambrose Adekoya Campbell – a transplant to London from Lagos in the postwar year, and an artist who had a huge influence on the changing rhythms of his scene. Campbell mixed styles of his roots with those of the larger London community around him – in a way that let in more Latin and Caribbean influences to more traditional African styles – often using guitar in a high-life styled way, but also bringing in some key jazz phrasings as well. Titles include "We Have It In Africa", "Iku Koni Payin", "I Am A Stranger", "Lagos Mambo", "Ela Da Awa", "and "Calabar-O" by West African Rhythm Brothers; "The Wind In A Frolic" and "Unity" by Nigerian Union Rhythm Group; "Ibikunle Alakija" by Ayinde Bakare & His Meranda Orchestra; and "Late Ojo Davies" and "Geneva Conference" by West African Rhythm Stars. Volume 4 features a collection of incredible work from the postwar, post-colonial years in the UK! As with other volumes, there's an array of Carribean and African influences at work here – often highly rhythmic and performed with lots of percussion, but also served up in ways that has the original modes coming into contact with more contemporary UK styles! Most of the work here was recorded in London, but overflowing with global styles that include mentos, high life, calypso, Latin, and even a bit of jazz – played by an array of artists who all found new means of expression in the capital. Titles include "Mambo Indio" by Shake Keane, "Alphonso In Town" by Lord Kitchener, "Give Her The No 1" by Eric Hayden, "Khauleza" by Dorothy Masuka, "Chicken & Rice" by Young Tiger, "Egyptian Bint Al Cha Cha" by Ginger Johnson, "Don't You Go Away" by Cab Kaye, "Highlife Piccadilly" by The African Messengers, "Darling Don't Say No" by Nat Akins, "African Jazz Cha Cha" by Ginger Johnson, "Piccadilly Folk" by Lord Kitchener, and "Ilu Oyinbo Dara" by Victor Coker.

There's a heck of a lot of great music here – a whopping 35 tracks of contemporary and vintage soul, all put together for the price of a regular single CD! The package is the latest in the excellent Luxury Soul series – based around artists who have worked the UK series of the same name – and who really come together here in a warm array of the best contemporary soul styles! There's plenty of Neo Soul numbers, a handful of classics, and a few more modern elements too – and titles include "I'm Not That Tough" by Ashford & Simpson, "Rubber Soul" by Live Tropical Fish with Omar, "Things That I Do" by Gianna, "Enough Is Enough" by Dennis Taylor, "Music & Love" by Victor Haynes, "Just A Simple Love" by Sheree Brown, "In The Meantime" by Johnny Britt, "Crystal Clear" by Howard Hewett, "Just Let Me Be Close To You" by Valentine Brothers, "I'll Come Running Back To You" by June Yamagishi with Bobby Womack, "So In Love" by Chapter 8, "Slow Down" by Al Olive, "Priority" by Kloud 9, "It's Just One Of Those Things" by Incognito, "I Want It" by Soul Talk, "Wake Up Everybody" by Eric Benet, and "Anything" by Angela Johnson.

A profoundly funky Message – a smoking set of early 70s funky jazz & heavy soul from the Mainstream Records vaults – a diverse set of incredible recordings from the label that may be fairly sprawling in style, yet holds together thanks to shared funky urgency! It's filled with Bob Shad productions for his stellar Mainstream roster, which at the time included a host of far reaching jazz veterans, soulful chanteuses, and killer funky combos – including Afrique, Blue Mitchell, Sarah Vaughn, Alice Clark, Charles Kynard and many more! The session players reads like a heavyweight jazz title card itself, with Don Pullen, Stanley Clarke, George Cables, Joe Sample, Victor Feldman and more. The set features a very well chosen 18 tracks, with solid notes on each by Dean Rudand. Titles include "House Of Rising Funk" by Chubukos, "Soul Makossa" by Afrique, "The Message" by Blue Mitchell, "Funky Butt" by The Delegates", "Never Did I Stop Loving You" by Alice Clark, "I Want You Back" by Bobby Shad & The Bad Men, "Grits Ain't Groceries" by Maxine Weldon, "The Spirit" by Curtis Fuller", "Bacon Butt Fat" by Charles Williams and more.

Essential work from the African scene of the 70s – a collection of tracks that goes way beyond the more familiar grooves of Fela Kuti and Manu Dibango! The set may well be the deepest so far we've heard from the always-amazing Soundway Records – a package that digs into a wealth of under-heard music from early 70s Nigeria, all of it beyond simple stylistic definitions and overplayed world music cliches! Many of the grooves here are wonderfully unique – odd fusions of styles that include highlife, jazz, soul, Afrobeat, and other regional influences – sifted and shaken together, and spilled out in the studio with a really fresh sort of feel. Rhythms are at the core of most numbers here, but even those are often unfamiliar – skittish, soulful, and often somewhat playful – and the other instrumentation on the tracks is great too, and often resonates with some of the odd sounds and tunings we love in work on the Ethiopiques series. 2CD set features 26 tracks that include "Okwuke Na Nchekwube" by Celestine Ukwu & His Philosophers National, "Nekwaha Semi Colon" by The Semi Colon, "Osalobua Rekpama" by Sir Victor Owaifo & His Melody Maestros, "Onwu Ama Dike" by St Augustine & His Rovers Dance Band, "Feso Jaiye" by The Sahara All Stars Of Jos, "To Whom It May Concern" by Tunji Oyelana & The Benders, "Akula Owu Onyeara" by The Funkees, "Koma Mosi" by The Harbours Band, "Belema" by Opotopo, "Asiko Mi Ni" by Nigerian Police Force Band, "Alabeke" by Dan Satch & His Atomic 8 Dance Band, "Blak Sound" by Leo Fadaka & The Heroes, "Arraino" by Popular Cooper & His All Beats Band, "Ugali" by Tony Benson Sextet, "Akpaisong" by Etubom Rex Williams & His Nigerian Allstars, "Eguae Oba" by Osayomore Joseph & The Creative 7, "Torri Wowo" by Godwin Ezike & The Ambassadors, "Buroda Mase" by Bola Johnson & His Easy Life Top Beats, "I Want A Break Thru" by The Hykkers, and "Eguae Oba" by Osayomore Joseph & The Creative 7.

Essential work from the African scene of the 70s – a collection of tracks that goes way beyond the more familiar grooves of Fela Kuti and Manu Dibango! The set may well be the deepest so far we've heard from the always-amazing Soundway Records – a package that digs into a wealth of under-heard music from early 70s Nigeria, all of it beyond simple stylistic definitions and overplayed world music cliches! Many of the grooves here are wonderfully unique – odd fusions of styles that include highlife, jazz, soul, Afrobeat, and other regional influences – sifted and shaken together, and spilled out in the studio with a really fresh sort of feel. Rhythms are at the core of most numbers here, but even those are often unfamiliar – skittish, soulful, and often somewhat playful – and the other instrumentation on the tracks is great too, and often resonates with some of the odd sounds and tunings we love in work on the Ethiopiques series. Vinyl part 1 features 12 tracks that include "Okwuke Na Nchekwube" by Celestine Ukwu & His Philosophers National, "Nekwaha Semi Colon" by The Semi Colon, "Osalobua Rekpama" by Sir Victor Owaifo & His Melody Maestros, "Onwu Ama Dike" by St Augustine & His Rovers Dance Band, "Feso Jaiye" by The Sahara All Stars Of Jos, "To Whom It May Concern" by Tunji Oyelana & The Benders, "Akula Owu Onyeara" by The Funkees, and "Koma Mosi" by The Harbours Band.

A great take on the sound of Philadelphia International – a double-length set of re-edits of Philly gems from years back – but all done in ways that are completely respectful to the originals! The approach here is wonderful – as warm and soulful as the Philly grooves from back in the day – but often extended and reworked slightly – the way you might have heard on a vintage 12" promo – which is even more impressive once you consider that some of these tracks never came out in that format! The choice of tracks is totally right on the money – and a great demonstration of that old school edit mode that never tried to mess with the track at all – just increase the pleasure it brought to the dancefloor – and the set features 21 very long tracks, including "Satisfaction Guaranteed (Morning Star re-edit)" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, "Only The Strong Survive (J*Ski re-edit)" by Billy Paul, "Free Love (Victor Rosado re-edit)" by Jean Carn, "Life On Mars (DJ Mila re-edit)" by Dexter Wansel, "Ain't No Stoppin Us Now (The Noodleman re-work)" by McFadden & Whitehead, "Nights Over Egypt (Womack & TOT re-edit) by The Jones Girls, "Strategy (Touchsoul re-edit)" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "Let The Dollar Circulate (Scratch N Sniff's ext re-reub)" by Billy Paul, "Darlin Darlin Baby (Deep & Disco re-work)" by The O'Jays, and "Be For Real (Tim McAllister re-edit)" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes.

The debut compilation from Hugo Mendez and the Sofrito collective on Strut – tropical dancefloor grooves from Africa, the Caribbean and South American – featuring Banda Los Hijos De La Nina Luz, Frente Cumbiero, Fair Nick Stars, Victor Uwaifo, "Dany Play", Quantic Y Su Conjunto Los Miticos Del Ritmo, Roaring Lion and more! The basis is the Sofrito parties that began in East London in the mid 80s, where lovers of vintage Latin and African dance music got together and brought tropical grooves to an appreciative British club scene. It's great stuff all the way! Titles include "Quiero Amanacer" by Banda Los Hikos De La Nina Luz, "Je Ne Bois Pas Beaucomp" by Les Ya Toupas Du Zaire, "Arrete Mal Parle" by Fair Nick Stars, "Descarga Bontempi" by El Timba, "Fa'Waka (Pt 1)" by Dany Play, "Cumbia De Mochilla" by Quantic Y Su Conjunto Los Miticos Del Ritmo, "Yiri Yiri Boum" by Gnonnas Pedro" and more. 15 tracks in all.

Japan's Globe Trotter crew hits the Munich scene – and comes back with a tasty little package of tracks from Compost Records! The set's a Japanese-only one, and features some really wonderful tunes from Compost – one of the best underground labels currently in business. Titles include "Snowblind (Zimpala rmx)" by Minus 8, "Different Place (Universal Funk rmx)" by Daniel Magg, "Lady Luck (Misa Negra rmx)" by Victor Davies, "Futuristic (Grand Unified House Not House rmx)" by Joseph Malik, "Light" by Wei Chi, "The Empiricist" by Ben Mono, "Universal Love" by Truby Trio with Marcus Begg, and "Let It Go (Rima house mix)" by Rima with Julie Dexter.

A groovy set of late 60s soul jazz piano tunes – played by Les McCann in a swinging style that pre-dates his 70s funk work – and which also features him playing in a strictly instrumental setting! The core of the material is by Les' trio with Leroy Vinnegar on bass – but most tracks feature an expanded sound, either by adding Willie Bobo and Victor Pantoja on Latin percussion, or by backing the group with off-beat arrangements by the great William Fischer, whose talents had graced some of the best Atlantic jazz albums at the time! Titles include "Burnin Coal", "Doin That Thing", "Roberta", and a groovy version of "Love For Sale".

One of the few records ever cut by bassist Ben Tucker – known to most as the composer of 60s jazz hit "Comin' Home Baby", which was riding very high in the charts at the time of this session! The album's a very rhythmic one – with Ben in the lead on bass, working with a combo that includes Larry Bunker on vibes, Victor Feldman on piano, Ray Crawford on guitar, and Carlos Valdez on Latin percussion. Tracks are short, groovy, and have plenty of Latin touches – and titles include "The Message", "Baby You Should Know It", "For Heaven's Sake", and "One for The Woofer".

A stone classic from Cannonball Adderley – and a pivotal set that has him continuing the live recording setting of some of his best 60s albums, while also stretching forward to some of the more inventive ideas of the latter part of the decade! David Axelrod produced, and the album's definitely got his ear firmly in place – a great way of bringing together the album's hip instrumentation – Cannon's alto, Nat Adderley's cornet, and the wicked electric piano of Joe Zawinul – played here in a style that would go onto have a huge influence on countless other musicians on the instrument. Rhythm is by Victor Gaskin on bass and Roy McCurdy on drums – and as with other Axelrod live albums, there's some great spoken bits left in the mix – Cannon's charming conversation with the audience, which really opens up the tunes. Titles include the 2 title hits – "Walk Tall" and "74 Miles Away" – plus "I Remember Bird", "Oh Babe", and "Do Do Do".

Fantastic work from the Cannonball Adderley Quintet – one of their greatest performances from the seminal early 60s years! The band at this time includes Cannon on alto, Nat on cornet, Victor Feldman on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums – and although Feldman's not as strong of a soul jazz player as Bobby Timmons or Joe Zawinul, both of whom also played with the group, his playing on this set is great, thanks to a really lively rhythm section! Includes an 11 minute version of "Sack O Woe", plus "Blue Daniel", "Azule Serape", and "Big P". CD also includes a bonus track – "Our Delight".

A crowning moment for the west coast Latin scene in the 70s – a wonderful Bay Area set that brings together some of the best talents working on that scene at the time! The set's got a great blend of modes – Latin soul, touches of funk, and plenty of the jazzy inflections you'd expect from a lineup that includes Coke Escovedo on timbales, Paul Jackson on bass, Lenny White on drums, George Muribus on Fender Rhodes, Tom Harrell on trumpet, and Victor Pantoja on congas! Vocals are by Pete Escovedo – who brings in a heady soulful sound to the set – and the vibe is a bit like work by Malo or El Chicano, but even more jazz-based overall! Titles include "Peace Everybody", "Empty Prophet", "Can't Take The Funk Out Of Me", "Azteca", "Ah! Ah!", and "Mamita Linda". CD features two bonus tracks – single versions of "Mamita Linda" and "Ain't Got No Special Woman".

A really special record from a really special group – one of two sublime 70s gems from Azteca – a wicked blend of jazz, funk, Latin, and soul – all put together by a young Coke Escovedo! Coke's ostensibly the leader of the group, but there's also a richly collaborative feel going on – a style that brings together jazz players like Tom Harrell on trumpet, Mel Martin on saxes, George Muribus on Fender Rhodes, and Flip Nunez on organ – and Latin players like Victor Pantoja on congas, Coke Escovedo on timbales, and Pete Escovedo on added percussion. In fact, the set's a key early example of the strength of the Escovedo family – and like their best later efforts, the set really stretches out and pushes the boundaries of conventional genres. There's also some great guest work from Lenny White on drums, Mike Nock on keyboards, and Neal Schon on guitars – and vocals are by a range of singers who really keep things fresh. Titles include "Red Onions", "Mazatlan", "Whatcha Gonna Do", "Mexicana, Mexicana", and "Love Is A Stranger". CD also features a bonus single mix of "Whatcha Gonna Do".

A beautiful tribute to the genius of trombonist/arranger Melba Liston – and a set that doesn't just copy her music, but really opens up a whole new spirit from its inspiration! Reedman Geof Bradfield composed all the tracks in the set, and puts things together with a spirit that's not unlike some of Melba's best arrangements for middle-sized groups – that way she had of making things tight, and rhythmically soulful – yet still allowing plenty of room for improvisation and individuality amidst the fuller picture of the tunes. Bradfield gets in plenty of great moments on tenor, soprano sax, and bass clarinet – and the rest of the group features Victor Garcia on trumpet and flugelhorn, Joel Adams on trombone, Jeff Parker on guitar, Ryan Cohan on piano, Clark Sommers on bass, and George Fludas on drums. Titles include "Central Avenue", "Dizzy Gillespie", "Detroit/Kingston", "Randy Weston", and "Homecoming" – and the set ends with vocals by Maggie Burrell on the tune "Let Me Not Lose My Dream".

One of the most revelatory albums ever cut by reedman James Clay – a player who's often lumped into the "hard blowing" camp because of his Texas roots, but one who emerges here with a great deal of sensitivity and imagination! The record features Clay playing both tenor and flute – clearly a "double dose of soul" – and on the latter instrument, he's got a really wonderful style that's a bit like Yusef Lateef, still hardbop and swinging, but touched with a sense of exoticism that really makes for a unique sound to the record. And even on tenor, Clay's got a looser, more introspective sound here – one that catches the mood set by the rest of the group – with Victor Feldman on vibes, Gene Harris on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums – plus a bit of extra cornet from Nat Adderley on a few tracks. The album has a good modal feel in parts, and a stronger soul jazz groove in others – and it's one of the great sets put together as part of the "Cannonball Presents" series for Riverside in the early 60s. Tracks include "Lost Tears", "Pockets", "New Delhi", and "Linda Serene".

Surf guitar hits the drag strip – as Dick Dale makes the same move as most of his Cali contemporaries of the 60s – shifting his groove from waxed boards and woodies over to the world of hot rods! The sound's still pretty much the same, though – smoking instrumentals filled with Dale's amazing lines on guitar – a way of hitting the instrument that was a lot harder, heavier, and more frenetic than most other surf/instro players of the period – with a raw bite that arguably sets the scene for hard rock in the part of the decade to come! Vinyl version features 14 tracks rom Dale's hot rod recordings for Capitol – with cuts that include "50 Miles To Go", "Nitro Fuel", "Surf Buggy", "Firing Up", "Taco Wagon", "The Victor", "Mag Wheels", "Wild Wild Mustang", and "Night Rider".

A key point in the development of the Miles Davis sound of the 60s – his first album to feature work from Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams – augmented by some equally nice work on other tracks from Victor Feldman and Frank Butler! The sound here is beautifully spare – a wonderful exploration of ideas that Miles had been putting forth on some other albums for Columbia, but crafted here with a vision that's apparent in the very first note – and which transforms both the tunes and the work of the players into a focused, near-perfect sound all the way through. Titles include "So Near So Far", "Seven Steps To Heaven", "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "Joshua", and "Basin Street Blues" – which even sounds great in this setting!

A key point in the development of the Miles Davis sound of the 60s – his first album to feature work from Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams – augmented by some equally nice work on other tracks from Victor Feldman and Frank Butler! The sound here is beautifully spare – a wonderful exploration of ideas that Miles had been putting forth on some other albums for Columbia, but crafted here with a vision that's apparent in the very first note – and which transforms both the tunes and the work of the players into a focused, near-perfect sound all the way through. Titles include "So Near So Far", "Seven Steps To Heaven", "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "Joshua", and "Basin Street Blues" – which even sounds great in this setting!

A wonderful session by Andrew Hill – recorded in 1968, but issued only briefly in 1981 – and out of print for years! The session is a key one in understanding Hill's work – as it's a bridge between the arch modernism of his early Blue Note sides, and the more soul-oriented playing of the Grass Roots album. The group features Joe Farrell and Charles Tolliver on horns – both of whom open up the sound at the same time they're giving it a nice bottom – and the rest of the combo includes Victor Sproles on bass and Billy Higgins on drums. The album's an enchanting one – lighter than earlier years, but still with a compelling vision that's all Hill's own. Titles include "Dance With Death", "Love Nocturne", "Black Sabbath", "Partitions", and "Fish N Rice".

An incredible record from Bobby Hutcherson – easily one of his best of the 80s, and with some great touches that recall his best 70s work! The album title might fool you into thinking that Bobby's working in Charlier Parker territory here – but he's not, and is instead grooving in a mellow and soulful west coast mode – working with a totally great group that includes Ralph Moore on tenor and soprano sax, Buddy Montgomery on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. The whole album's a magical picture of tone, color, and light – but the especially standout track is "Sierra" – a totally killer number that has these arch angles and edges that rival the best sounds heard on Hutcherson's Montara album! Other titles include "On The Delta", "Crusisin The Bird", "Imminent Treasures", and "All Or Nothing At All".

A smooth, clean-toned example of early 80s fusion from John Klemmer! Klemmer is backed by Dean Parks, John Tropea, Don Grusin, Victor Feldman, Abe Laboriel, and Harvey Mason, with some spacial synths here and there and even some vocalising by John! Tracks include "Magnificent Madness", "Don't Take Your Love Away", "Deja Vu", "Lifesong", "Adventures In Paradise", "I Can't Help It", "Don't Take Your Love Away", and more.