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Charles Lloyd in the Soviet Union – blowing beautifully on an open-ended set that must have really loosened things up in Red Square! The album features Lloyd at his freewheeling 60s best – working in his group with Keith Jarrett on piano, Ron McClure on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on... read more

A classic set from reedman Charles Lloyd – a set that really pushes forward all the experiments he'd begun in the Chico Hamilton group – and shows a bold move forward for rhythms in 60s jazz! The tracks are long, and spiral out wonderfully – but in ways that are different than... read more

A great title for this one – as the set really features reedman Charles Lloyd flowering strongly – blooming into a richer expression of his talents than any one might have expected a few short years before! The album features Lloyd working with his groundbreaking quartet of Keith... read more

A great 60s moment not just for reedman Charles Lloyd, but also for pianist Keith Jarrett – who was a key part of Charles' group for a few years at the time – and who really opens up on this classic set! Tracks are long and very open – reaching in a spiritual sort of way with... read more

A classic batch of modal grooves from Charles Lloyd – recorded during the height of his mind-expanding years, with his famous quartet that included Keith Jarrett on piano and Jack DeJohnette on drums! The tracks are long and magical, done with that spiritual spiraling sound that Lloyd was... read more

A killer from the Charles Lloyd group of the late 60s – a set that still stretches out with all the spiritual energy of Lloyd's other Atlantic albums, yet also seems to have a bit more of a groove, too! The setting is live, and the tracks are nice and long – allowing ample room for... read more

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A fantastic album of soul from Barbara Lynn – an oft-overlooked gem in the crown of Atlantic during their glory soul days in the 60s, and a singer with a raw soulful style that really deserved greater exploration! The album's filled with wonderful original tunes, written either by Barbara or... read more

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One of the richest albums that Junior Mance ever cut for Atlantic Records – a smoking soul jazz set that seems to have a bit of a gospel influence too – at least in the deep, soulful bottom that comes from the feel of the group! Junior's piano is right on the money – as sharp and... read more

A stone cooker from Junior Mance – quite possibly his most freewheeling album of the time – thanks to an open-ended live setting that really lets him take off! All tracks are nice and long – and Mance really stretches out on piano, working with a tight trio that features Wilbur... read more

Funky breaking piano! Although Junior Mance has made some pretty mellow albums in his time, this is a great record of funky piano tracks – with a nice groove that puts it in a Three Sounds/Young Holt camp! The highlight of the record is the great "Well, I'll Be White Black", which... read more

Titles include "Agua", "Soul Food To Go", "Capim", "Notes From The Underground", "Jungle Pioneer", and "The Zoo Blues".... read more

Herbie Mann's really getting interesting here – stepping out from straight jazz flute, and moving into some more exotic territory that's mighty nice! There's a definite Latin bent to the album at times – thanks to conga work by Ray Barretto – but the tunes also bring in some... read more

Herbie Mann's at the Village Gate – really wailing away in a set of extended numbers that not only set a whole new standard for live recording in jazz, but which also pushed forward the role of the flute in the music as well! There's a heck of a lot of soul in the grooves here – served... read more

A sweet early 60s set by Herbie Mann! After cutting a very successful side at the Gate in 1962, Herbie returns with an even broader approach to the groove – working here with players that include Ahmed Abdul-Malik, Dave Pike, Ray Mantilla, and Ray Barretto, on a set of long tracks that have... read more

Great early 70s work from Herbie Mann! By this point in his career, Herbie must have had a fleet of cars, a harem of ladies, and a golden flute. You can hear his success in the live material that makes up the album – recorded before very enthusiastic audiences at the New York and Montreux... read more

Very groovy stuff – and one of Herbie Mann's best records from the 60s! In a way, this album's very similar to some of the best Verve "groovy experimental" albums from the same period – like some of Cal Tjader's Eastern/Latin work – and it features Herbie playing with a... read more

Grooviness from Herbie! The Inspiration I Feel is a pretty nice little set – more in a R&Bish mode, as Herbie plays groovy 60s interpretations of tunes by Ray Charles, Henry Glover, and other R&B songwriters. Titles include "Lonely Avenue", "I Got A Woman", "... read more

Herbie Mann's got Latin fever – and it makes for one heck of a great 60s album! The vibe here is more bossa nova than the New York Latin of the time – but that's OK with us, because Mann's flute is perfect in the setting – and really sparkles here on the album's tracks that were... read more

2 groovy 60s sides by Herbie – back to back on one CD! A Mann & A Woman is a surprisingly groovy groovy batch of tracks that has Herbie joined by soul singer Tamiko Jones, for a nice set of tracks that have flute and female vocals in the lead. The groove is somewhat pop-bossa, and the... read more

This album was such a big hit for Herbie that it's easy to forget the sheer raw power of the group – a mighty quartet that included Roy Ayers on vibes, and both Sonny Sharrock and Larry Coryell on guitars – jamming with a hard but ragged edge, and getting some tighter backing here by a... read more

Herbie makes one more trip back to the Village Gate – site of some of his most successful live recordings of the 60s, and a place where he always feels at home with a Latiny groove! But somehow, this album's even better than before – and has a hard Latin feel throughout, thanks to an... read more

If you know Herbie's groove, you know his kinda groove is pretty darn groovy – especially on a record like this, where he's playing with a group that includes Dave Pike on vibes, Atilla Zoller on guitar, and added percussion by Willie Bobo and Patato Valdez! Titles include "Vikki",... read more

Hit stuff from Herbie – recorded back at the Newport Jazz Fest, where he'd cut some other strong-selling albums for Atlantic. This one features a soulful group that shows Herbie's strong talent for picking hip players – with Jimmy Owens on trumpet, Reggie Workman on bass, and Carlos... read more

Herbie hits kind of a campy Now Sound groove on this one – in a style that actually works pretty darn well for his pop jazz flute stylings! The arrangements are by Jimmy Wisner, Arif Mardin, Oliver Nelson, and Richard Wess – and the tunes work best as swingin' 60s instrumentals,... read more

Herbie got a standing ovation for this performance – at least if the title is to be believed – and considering the grooves on the set, it was all for very good reason! The album's one of the few to feature Mann in the company of pianist Chick Corea – who steps out here with some... read more

Herbie Mann's opening plenty of windows with this one – and plenty of doors too – really letting some new influences come to his music, thanks to the presence of Sonny Sharrock on guitar and Roy Ayers on vibes! The album's one of Herbie's wildest from the 60s – and the mix of... read more

One of the best Herbie Mann albums from the 60s, and a very cool live set that features some great guest work by Rufus Harley – playing his usual crazy soul jazz bagpipes – plus nice work by Roy Ayers and Reggie Workman. Added to the mix are some crazy Middle Eastern percussionists... read more

A surprisingly groovy groovy batch of tracks that has Herbie joined by soul singer Tamiko Jones, for a nice set of tracks that have flute and female vocals in the lead. The groove is somewhat pop-bossa, and the album has great versions of "A Man & A Woman", "O Barquinho",... read more

A great little record, filled with loads of cross-cultural influences – and certainly a patronizing colonialist tone – but done in a way that yields some very groovy results! The Afro-Jazz sextet features a host of percussionists, including Ray Barretto, Olatunjii, and Ray Mantilla... read more

One of Shelly Manne's best records of the 60s – largely because the group's so great! Altoist Frank Strozier was playing with Shelly at the time, and his rich talents on the alto make the record almost worth seeking out for him alone – because here, Strozier's opening up his sound a... read more

A seminal electric session from Charlie Mariano – one recorded after his shift from bop-based work into trippier, more psychedelic influences – and one of his few American dates from the time! The record has Charlie working on soprano and alto sax, with a group that includes Pat... read more

The birth of the Memphis instrumental sound – a classic album from The Mar-Keys, who were one of the leading early groups on Stax! The group was a unique assemblage of musicians from both sides of the Memphis tracks – coming together in the studio with a hard-wailing mix of soul, rock,... read more

We're always hard-pressed to define that certain something that makes Bruno Mars so great – that unusual quality that isn't quite soul, isn't quite pop, and which almost takes us back to some of our favorite crossover moments of the early 80s. Bruno's got this classic raspy voice, but... read more

Genius, pure genius – and one of the few key sides by Warne Marsh as a leader! The album follows on Marsh's appearance with Lee Konitz on an earlier Atlantic album, but it really breaks free from the Konitz mode – and has an open, laidback sound that is instantly captivating –... read more

A very hip record of vocal tracks – done in the same sort of spiritual soul style that Les introduced on Roberta Flack's first album, and which was also showing up on some of Donny Hathaway's work for Atlantic. While the record is not on of McCann's funkiest, it more than makes up for that... read more

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... read more

Seminal 80s groove from 70s Miami soul star Gwen McCrae – reinventing herself here for the new decade with a totally different sound! The album's best known for the amazing club track "Funky Sensation" – one of those tracks that crossed over big, and had a huge influence in... read more

A stone killer from Gwen McCrae – a set that's light years past the deep soul of Gwen's Miami roots – and which is given a tight, modern spin by the great Webster Lewis! Lewis produced, and plays plenty of keyboards here – and his fusion-inspired groove really helps unlock a... read more

A monster album that's gone on to influence a generation – but which was barely recognized at the time! Singer Eugene McDaniels had scored big with some pop hits in the 60s under the name Gene McDaniels – but here, he steps out in a righteous batch of offbeat funk tunes – filled... read more

An incredible step forward for 60s soul singer Gene McDaniels – so much so, that most folks hearing this album can't believe he's the same guy who recorded for Liberty Records a few years before! The album's incredibly righteous right from the start – and has a genre-busting quality... read more

A sweet Atlantic soul groover from Brother Jack McDuff – and a set that has him tightening up his Hammond sound from his earlier years at Prestige Records! The tunes here are short and punched-up – almost instrumental soul numbers in their construction, but still filled with plenty of... read more

2 of Brother Jack's best albums for Atlantic on one CD! Both records have a groovy 60's soul jazz organ sound, and the kind of amazing arrangements that make Jack's albums way better than most of his contemporaries. Change Is Gonna Come has lots of short soulful instrumentals, Joe Dukes or Pretty... read more

Tight funky instrumentals from Brother Jack McDuff – an Atlantic groover that's probably closer to his late 60s gems for Cadet Records than it is his earlier work for Prestige! The solos are shorter, but they're packed nicely around the rhythms – played by a combo that features a young... read more

A monster record by Brother Jack McDuff, and one of his best-ever – in our humble opinion! At first glance, the album appears to be just a bunch of jazz covers of standards and pop tracks – like "Tobacco Road", "Shadow Of Your Smile", "This Bitter Earth",... read more

One of the most obscure 50s vocal sessions on Atlantic Records – a sophisticated set of material set to beautifully shaded arrangements from Thomas Talbert! Patty McGovern's vocals are somewhat fragile and soft – but in a really nice way that mixes beautifully with Talbert's slightly... read more

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Arranged and produced by Arif Mardin – with tracks that include "Goodbye Joe", "I Love The Life I Live", "Carry That Weight", "Something", "I Want You", "More Today Than Yesterday", and "Just A Little Lovin".... read more

An excellent album from Carmen McRae – one of her hippest records ever, and a great set of vocal gems that often gets overlooked! Arrangements are by Benny Carter, Shorty Rogers, and Oliver Nelson – and the album's got a swinging groovy style that pushes Carmen past her straighter jazz... read more

One of Carmen McRae's great 60s albums for Atlantic Records – a set that's still strongly jazz-based overall, but which seems to have an extra dose of soul at the bottom! The approach is a bit like the best late 60s sides by Nancy Wilson or Marlena Shaw – rooted in jazz, but hipper... read more

A 70s album, but one that features very early sides from Atlantic Records – raw acoustic blues from Willie McTell, recorded on a 12 string guitar down in Atlanta! The album's not just a great example of McTell at his best – witty vocals, and really sharp lines on the acoustic guitar... read more

Early bossa jazz from Sergio Mendes – recorded with his famous Bossa Rio combo, in the years before he moved to America! The album's a classic in Brazilian jazz – a tight album of bossa-inflected jazz tunes played with razor-sharp precision, handled with a style that went on to... read more

One of Sergio Mendes' most dreamy albums – quite different than both his vocal work with Brasil 66, and his smaller combo sides from Brazil! There's still a strong bossa component to the record – but the setting has Sergio's piano lines laid out over larger arrangements with a good... read more

A sweet little pairing of the keyboards of Sergio Mendes and the early arranging styles of Dave Grusin – and a set that's quite different than some of Sergio's vocal albums with Brasil 66! The style here is all instrumental – and Mendes plays both piano and electric piano, plus a bit... read more

A great little live set from Sergio Mendes and his Brasil 65 group – a pre-Brasil 66 combo that features Wanda De Sah on vocals and Rosinha De Valenca on guitar! The style here is more traditionally Brazilian bossa than Sergio's later work on A&M – a fluidly jazzy groove captured... read more

Quite an unusual album from Helen Merrill – but a set that also shows that quite early on, she was a singer with a keen ear for working on larger concepts too! Merrill first rose to fame as a cool-voiced singer in the 50s, but she does a surprisingly great job here with country tunes as well... read more

One of Mingus' classic sessions from the middle period – a legendary blending of jazz with bluesy gospel touches, in a mode that seemed to move away from the politics of some of the late 50s years, and open up his work to a whole new audience! The band is an all-star ensemble all the way... read more

A great little 70s session from Mingus – the first in the 2-part Changes set – and whether you collect those jointly or separately, they contain some of his best work from the period The sessions were recorded with a small group that includes George Adams, Don Pullen, and Jack Walrath.... read more

A great little 70s session from Mingus – the second part of the Changes set, some of his best work from the time, and recorded with a small group that includes George Adams, Don Pullen, and Jack Walrath. Tracks are long, with that late love of Ellington that Mingus was developing – and... read more

Stunning stuff – and one of the greatest Charles Mingus albums of all time – a true treasure recorded in that magical year of 1957, when Mingus was finally finding his strongest voice in modern music! The album's near-perfect from start to finish – as bold a statement in jazz as... read more

Complicated later work from Charles Mingus – a great illustration of the way his power to command a large ensemble never wavered as the years went on! The album features two different large groups of players – filled with modernists young and old – including Ricky Ford, George... read more

A searing live set by Charles Mingus – a double-length performance recorded in Antibes during his classic years for Atlantic Records, but not issued by the label until many years later! The album's a great extrapolation of the sound that Mingus had forged on sessions for Columbia, Atlantic,... read more

Quite a crazy little record from Charles Mingus! Mingus plays piano and sings (yes, you read that right!) in a tight sextet with Booker Ervin and Roland Kirk on reeds, and Jimmy Knepper on trombone. Mingus is trying out a kind of messed-up, blues-inspired sound here – but for some reason... read more

Quite a crazy little record from Charles Mingus! Mingus plays piano and sings (yes, you read that right!) in a tight sextet with Booker Ervin and Roland Kirk on reeds, and Jimmy Knepper on trombone. Mingus is trying out a kind of messed-up, blues-inspired sound here – but for some reason... read more

An amazing record – quite possibly one of the greatest jazz albums of all time, and a session that has Charles Mingus stepping boldly forward in a whole new direction! The album shakes loose the sometimes too-academic modern tones of Mingus albums from the previous year or two – and... read more

One of the last albums Charles Mingus ever gave us – before departing this planet way way too soon! The set shows the increasing sophistication of Mingus' music in these later years – a mode that almost echoes the path that Duke Ellington would take in his final decade – a move... read more

One of the great Mingus albums for Atlantic – and a record that brings together material from 2 different sessions: one from 1957, with Shafi Hadi on alto; and another from 1961, with Roland Kirk and Booker Ervin on saxes. The '57 session has a raw quintet sound, and features some haunting... read more

The long-overdue full length debut from Phillip Mitchell – an artist who cut some great singles over the course of the 70s, and also wrote a fair bit of classics for other, bigger name acts! Phillip did some of his earlier work of the decade in both Memphis and Muscle Shoals – but he... read more

A classic set of smooth 70s soul from an under-recognized genius! Phillip Mitchell is a bit like his Atlantic Records contemporary Sam Dees – in that he wrote a lot of material for other singers, recorded a handful of singles, and worked mostly in the southern scene – but he also had a... read more

A great early 60s set from Modern Jazz Quartet! This one marked the then growing sophistication in the sound of the Modern Jazz Quartet – a concept album based on themes and characters from the Italian tradition of commedia dell'arte. The music is served up in gentle sound poems that have a... read more

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A double-length live set from the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet – recorded in Scandinavia in 1960, almost as a summation of the group's growing genius in the 50s! The tunes are a mix of John Lewis and Milt Jackson originals, plus other songs all given the wonderful MJQ twist –... read more

A double-length live set from the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet – recorded in Scandinavia in 1960, almost as a summation of the group's growing genius in the 50s! The tunes are a mix of John Lewis and Milt Jackson originals, plus other songs all given the wonderful MJQ twist –... read more

Truly one of the Modern Jazz Quartet's greatest albums – and a set that has an edge and a darkness that's missing from some of their other Atlantic records! Part of the reason for this may be the group's fantastic reading of Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman" – a killer moody... read more

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The MJQ always manage to sound especially great when working on music for film – and this album's a great illustration of that fact! The work here is written by John Lewis, for a movie that never lasted the test of time as much as the record – and it's some of John's most evocative... read more

The MJQ always manage to sound especially great when working on music for film – and this album's a great illustration of that fact! The work here is written by John Lewis, for a movie that never lasted the test of time as much as the record – and it's some of John's most evocative... read more

One of the groovier albums the Modern Jazz Quartet ever recorded – as you might expect, given the cover and title! In addition to the group's usual cool sound from Milt Jackson's vibes, the set also features John Lewis playing a bit of harpsichord in addition to his usual piano – and... read more

An early Atlantic set from the Modern Jazz Quartet – and a bit of an odd one, in which the crack MJQ crew recruit a rich slate guests! The first two numbers, "Da Capo" and "Fine" bring in Jimmy Giuffre's trio, nicely stretching out the vibe with expected, but no less... read more

A great addition to the Modern Jazz Quartet – as the clarinet of Jimmy Giuffre brings a sharp modern edge to the record! The album's similar to the other MJQ Music Inn date with Sonny Rollins – and shows how the addition of a reed player can really unlock new colors, tones, and... read more

A wonderfully moody vocal outing from Joe Mooney – a lesser-remembered singer from the 50s, but one of our favorite talents from that generation! Joe's got a style of singing that's in the more fragile mode of male vocalizing – similar to Matt Dennis, but a bit more boozy overall... read more

A classic set of 70s crossover deep soul – recorded in the mode of similar work by Betty Wright or Laura Lee, and done with a similar mix of raw southern vocals and tighter production! About half the work was handled by the team of Dave Crawford and Brad Shapiro – working in the... read more

One of David Newman's grooviest albums of the 60s – a stripped-down set that features a quartet with Hammond and guitar – all in a vibe that's a bit more relaxed than some of Newman's other sessions for Atlantic! There's a gritty edge to the record – with organ by the obscure... read more

A nice lost bit of funky soul jazz from this obscure drummer! The album's a stone groove, very much in the Blue Note mid 60s mode – and it features Big John Patton, Grant Green, and Harold Ousley. Includes the great groovers by Patton & Green, "The Yodel" and "Soul... read more

A very different record than Oliphant's other one for Atlantic, which was a funky organ/guitar album with a famous breakbeat – but equally fantastic! This one (which we actually like a lot more) is a moody set of tracks played by a small group that includes Harold Ousley on tenor and Bobby... read more

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An oft-overlooked and surprisingly soulful session on Atlantic – a sublime pairing of the talents of trumpeter Jimmy Owens and pianist Kenny Barron! The set's got a groove that's pretty unique – not really Blue Note or Prestige – but not like other Atlantic Records jazz as well... read more

An excellent Duke Pearson album – and (dare we say it?) better than any of his Blue Note LPs! The record features a very tight lineup with Johnny Coles on trumpet, Garnett Brown on trombone, Les Spann on flute, James Spaulding on alto, and George Coleman on tenor – all players who are... read more

Dark genius from Duke Pearson – quite possibly one of his hippest records ever, and an album that's filled with surprising twists and turns! At one level, the set seems to be a simple batch of soul jazz tunes – in the mode of Pearson's mid-60s classics on Blue Note – but at... read more

Jazz in romantic places, but some pretty groovy ones too – a host of global destinations all referenced in the track selection for the set! Dave Pell's tenor is at the lead on most numbers, but the octet's in fine formation too – arranged by Jack Montrose, Marty Paich, Johnny Mandel,... read more

A landmark album – one of the greatest harmony soul albums of the early 70s! The title cut is one you'll know instantly – as "Thin Line Between Love & Hate" is one of those soul classics that never gets old – and the rest of the album's equally great, with a sublime... read more

A key moment in the career of Esther Phillips – and a record that really has her shaking off the rougher bluesy styles of the earlier years, and pointing the way towards strong jazz success in the 70s! The album's definitely burnin, but with a sophisticated vibe too – as Esther works... read more

One of the biggest 70s moments from underground club maestro Patrick Adams – an amazing talent who's best known for his work on his own P&P family of record labels – but who steps out here with an even tighter sound! The album's brimming with the sorts of sweet moogy touches that... read more

Five classic Wilson Pickett albums from the 60s, all in a single set – a heck of a lot of Atlantic soul in one sweet little package! All of the records here have The Wicked Pickett in classic form – hitting hard with a gritty, nitty, socking soul style that never lets up all the way... read more

Damn funky work from Wilson Pickett – maybe his hardest-hitting album for Atlantic Records in the early years – and that's saying a lot, given the punch of his other records! The set's sharp and tight right from the start – mostly recorded in Miami with that new approach to... read more

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The Wicked Pickett takes his groove up to Philly – and comes up with a whole new sound in the process – a raw new style for the 70s, and one that's almost even more compelling than his Muscle Shoals groove! The album was recorded at the early Sigma Sound studios in Philly – and... read more

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A classic little album that's every bit as groovy as its cover – served up by vibist Dave Pike, and one of the first true expressions of his talents! The set's a standout early American date that predates Pike's later experiments for MPS – done in a great blend of soul jazz and some... read more