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Nothing fancy, but a great back to basics session from Byrd – very solidly played, with a tight group, in a style that recalls his best mid 60s work for Blue Note! Players include Kenny Garrett, Joe Henderson, Donald Brown, Peter Washington, and the great Al Foster on drums – and the... read more

A beautifully sensitive album from Donald Byrd – quite a change from his better-known jazz funk work of the 70s and early 80s – and part of a back-to-basics move he made in part of that latter decade! The album's very much in the best straight mode of the Landmark Records label scene... read more

A beautifully sensitive album from Donald Byrd – quite a change from his better-known jazz funk work of the 70s and early 80s – and part of a back-to-basics move he made in part of that latter decade! The album's very much in the best straight mode of the Landmark Records label scene... read more

Jack DeJohnette's best known as a drummer, but he's also played a bit of piano too – and this album focuses nicely on that side of his talents, in case you couldn't guess from the title! The trio lineup is a great one – with Eddie Gomez on bass and Freddie Waits on drums – both... read more

Jack DeJohnette's best known as a drummer, but he's also played a bit of piano too – and this album focuses nicely on that side of his talents, in case you couldn't guess from the title! The trio lineup is a great one – with Eddie Gomez on bass and Freddie Waits on drums – both... read more

The title's a bit obtuse, but the music is warm and soulful throughout – a really tremendous session that carries on the strong legacy of solo work that Jimmy Heath was doing in the 70s! The feel here is a lot like some of Heath's dates for the Muse or Xanadu labels – and Jimmy's... read more

A fantastic session by Jimmy Heath – cut right at the time of his best 70s soul jazz work! This obscure set was recorded in New York in 1974, but not issued in this form until the mid 90s – and it features Heath with a stellar group that includes Curtis Fuller, Stanley Cowell, Mtume,... read more

Solid, soulful work from Vincent Herring – blowing here wonderfully on alto and soprano sax, with a sense of feeling and creative energy that really makes him one of the key players of his generation! The proceedings are relatively straight, but they're also totally great – open,... read more

A wonderful album by pianist John Hicks – which, despite a stupid title that makes it sound like a techno record, is a brilliant batch of easily soulful tunes that ranks with his best work of recent years! The album features Hicks in some fantastic company – most notably bassist Curtis... read more

A warm and soulful set of tracks by John Hicks – a wonderful album that moves past his more familiar trio modes, and shows how great he can sound with some horn players in the mix! The lineup here is wonderful – with a core combo that features Curtis Lundy's bass and Cecil Brooks'... read more

A tasty Latin-tinged set by Bobby Hutcherson – one that recalls his classic Montara album for Blue Note, but handled here with perhaps a bit less electricity overall! Hutcherson's got a wonderful way with colors and tones on the set – extremely evocative, and bursting out with a sunny,... read more

A great title for this album from Bobby Hutcherson – given the way he commands such great tones from his work on the vibes! The album's a real gem from his Landmark Records years – that great back-to-basics point when Bobby was almost doing more by doing less – especially in a... read more

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... read more

A subtle gem from Bobby Hutcherson's wonderful years on Landmark Records – a point when he was really getting back to basics, and cutting some great straight work that almost hearkened back to his 60s gems on Blue Note! The set's recorded live at the Village Vanguard – and Bobby swings... read more

A subtle gem from Bobby Hutcherson's wonderful years on Landmark Records – a point when he was really getting back to basics, and cutting some great straight work that almost hearkened back to his 60s gems on Blue Note! The set's recorded live at the Village Vanguard – and Bobby swings... read more

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A later date from drummer Mel Lewis – and a great reminder that he could still make some wonderful music when away from his big band with Thad Jones! The set's a quintet outing, with a surprisingly fluid feel for rhythm – one that almost has Mel coming across like some of the hip young... read more

The great Joe Henderson joins pianist Mulgrew Miller for this wonderful album – lending his sharp-edged tenor tone to really make the session stand out from Miller's more common trio dates! Henderson and Miller both have a great ear for the darker side of the spectrum – hitting notes... read more

Mulgrew Miller's one of those pianists who can always make a simple session sparkle with magic – and this early 90s album is no exception! The vibe here is laidback and open – done in that ever-searching style that makes Miller such a rich talent on the keyboard – never content... read more

A beautiful set from Mulgrew Miller – one of his greatest albums as a leader, and exemplary of the kind of underground jazz that was still bubbling strong in the 80s! The set features Miller's quintet with Kenny Garrett on alto and flute, Steve Nelson on vibes, Charnett Moffett on bass, and... read more

A key recording from one of our favorite tenor talents of the 80s – the amazing Ralph Moore, a player who really carries on a strong legacy from the 60s work of Hank Mobley! Like Mobley, Moore's got a very rich-voiced sound that's steeped in tradition, but which is also never afraid to take... read more