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A stellar set from one of the most underrated reed players of all time – a brilliant bit of searching soul jazz, cut at a time when Curtis Amy was leaving behind his Texas roots for the new sounds of the Coltrane generation! The album's quite different than the organ and tenor dates that Amy... read more

Killer work from the late 50's by Chet! Although Baker's trumpet playing in the early part of the decade became known as one of the trademark "cool" sounds of the west coast, he started to move towards a sound that was a lot more hardbop at the end of the decade – as you'll hear on... read more

One of the best-ever Chet Baker albums! The material is divided up into two sides – one featuring some of the last-ever work by pianist Richard Twardziak, one of Baker's best-ever accompanists, playing here in a tight little quartet with the great Jimmy Bond on bass and Peter Littman on... read more

A classic Pacific Jazz album, one that features Chet Baker laying back in three different ensembles – a quartet (with Russ Freeman), sextet (with Bud Shank and Bob Brookmeyer), and septet (with Jack Montrose, Herb Geller, and Bob Gordon). Arrangements are by Freeman, Montrose, and Johnny... read more

A classic Pacific Jazz album, one that features Chet Baker laying back in three different ensembles – a quartet (with Russ Freeman), sextet (with Bud Shank and Bob Brookmeyer), and septet (with Jack Montrose, Herb Geller, and Bob Gordon). Arrangements are by Freeman, Montrose, and Johnny... read more

Seminal west coast recordings by Clifford Brown – recorded in LA in 1954, with a mixture of hard bop and lyricism, in that sparkling mode that Brownie left as his indelible imprint on the west coast scene of the 50s! Players include Bob Gordon on baritone, Stu Williamson on trombone, Zoot... read more

Beautiful work from the legendary Hoagy Carmichael – and one of the few albums to feature him singing his own work! Hoagy's name is one that you're more likely to see in the songwriting credits than in the artist slot for a record – but he's actually got a wonderful voice, one that's... read more

Great early work from Joao Donato – the US issue of some recordings that (we think) made up the Polygram album Muito A Vontade. The tracks were recorded in Brazil, with Donato on piano, and rhythm by Milton Banana drums, Sebastian Neto bass, and Amaury Rodrigues on bongos and pandiero. The... read more

Fresh and modern big band work – with a nice dash of soul, and some of the early traces of funk that would later show up heavily in Ellis' 70s work! Tracks are long, and in compelling time structures – as indicated by the titles – and groove with an MPS-like approach to the work... read more

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... read more

An early moment of genius from the young Clare Fischer – one of his first sets for a larger ensemble, and the start of years of great work to come! Previous Pacific Jazz sessions featured Fischer in a piano trio – but this album lets Clare loose on a host of his own inventive... read more

An amazing debut from pianist Clare Fischer – an artist who went onto have a subtle, but immediate influence upon both the American and Brazilian jazz scenes of the time! Fischer's got a lyrical approach to rhythm that's simply amazing – modern, but never cold and academic – and... read more

Perhaps the best album ever by the fantastic arranger and keyboard player who did a lot of Latin work with Cal Tjader. This album's extra great because it's got him playing organ, which he does with totally cool effects on his own composition "Morning". Also has great versions of "M... read more

A newly majestic setting for James Moody in the 60s – thanks to the mighty arranging talents of Gil Fuller! The album's similar to one that Fuller did with Dizzy Gillespie at the same time – a blend of large ensemble backings and soulful work by the solo star – which in this case... read more

One of Chico's earliest albums for Pacific Jazz – a set of tightly arranged tracks with a cool chamber feel to them – featuring a lineup that includes Buddy Collette on reeds, Fred Katz on cello, Jim Hall on guitar, and Carson Smith on bass. Collette, Katz, and Hall are at the height... read more

An excellent no-nonsense session from Groove and a cast of all-stars that includes Gene Ammons, Ben Webster, Les McCann, and Joe Pass. Larry Marable and Ron Jefferson also play drums, and George Freeman sneaks in a few licks on guitar – always a treat for us – but the real charm is... read more

Groove and Jug wail away in this classic set of tenor/organ tracks recorded for Pacific Jazz in the early 60s. The backing is spare, with only Gene Edwards on guitar and Leroy Henderson on drums, and tracks include "Morris The Minor", "Good Vibrations", "Hey You, What's... read more

Two of LA's leading soul jazz luminaries – playing head to head in an interesting session that mixes lines on piano and organ! McCann gives the set a good rollicking rhythm, and Holmes' increasing skill on the Hammond makes the set blow out over the top – and the pair get backing by... read more

Incredible work from the Jazz Crusaders – a brilliant album of longer tracks that has them working at their soulful, sophisticated best! The record's great proof that the Crusaders had a depth that many rarely gave them credit here – as they're working here in a complicated set of... read more

Killer Jazz Crusaders material! The record captures the group at a perfect time – a point when they were breaking past the tighter shorter formula of earlier material, and moving into a slightly more spiritual conception – yet one that still had a hard swing and a deeply soulful vibe! ... read more

The last session that The Mastersounds ever cut as a group – and a strangely compelling montage of tracks from the musical Kismet. Brothers Buddy and Monk Montgomery are joined here by brother Wes – then an emerging star on guitar, and a strong addition to the set, one who expands the... read more

One of only two albums cut by the Four Souls group of drummer Lenny McBrowne – a really cooking combo that should have gotten greater exposure back in the day! The west coast group were clearly one of the hippest acts working on their scene at the time – as they've got a unique blend... read more

Early work from Les – recording at the Jazz Workshop in SF, with his famous trio that included Herbie Lewis on bass and Ron Jefferson on drums. The album's pretty standard fare – short soul jazz piano numbers, with more than a bit of church in the grooves. Titles include "Come On... read more

A classic album in the mode of soul jazz piano grooviness that put Les on the map, even back in the early days! The album was recorded live at The Bit, on the Sunset Strip, in LA – and it features Les' classic group with Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Ron Jefferson on drums. Tracks are short... read more

An early vocal set from Les McCann – quite unusual, and pretty darn soulful as well! The album's done in a mode that foreshadows Les' move to soul during the 70s, and features him singing to some hip arrangements by Gerald Wilson – in a soulful, jazzy style that was common for LA of... read more

In a mode that foreshadows his move to soul during the 70s, this one features Les singing to some hip arrangements by Gerald Wilson – in kind of a pop soul jazz style that was common for LA of the mid 60s. Most of the tracks are standards, done with a bit of a kick, and some of that down-home... read more

A great Latin groove from the mighty Les McCann – a smoking set that adds in extra percussion from Willie Correa – who gives the record a sound that's quite a change from the usual McCann groove! The percussion is wonderful throughout – and given that the great Paul Humphrey is... read more

A pretty great set from Les McCann – and quite a bit different than some of his other work of the time! This one's sub-billed as "the ballad style of Les McCann" – but it features Les playing these laidback, mellow numbers that are way different than most jazz ballads of the... read more

A really hard-hitting groover from the great 60s trio of Les McCann – a set that adds in some extra guitar from Joe Pass, who definitely sounds his most soulful on the set! Joe grooves perfectly with Les' piano – and has almost a Kenny Burrell-like depth in tone throughout – one... read more

A quartet session that has Les playing with Leroy Vinnegar on bass, Ron Jefferson on drums, and Joe Pass on guitar. Pass' guitar opens the group up nicely – expanding Les a bit past some of the gospel drenched work of earlier yesr. Tracks include "Maichen", "Bernie's... read more

One of the best records we've ever heard by The Montgomery Brothers – an album that's combined from 2 different sessions, but which has quite a unified feel! Monk Montgomery plays Fender bass – and both groups feature work by Buddy and Wes Montgomery – Buddy on piano and Wes on... read more

A classic live album by Gerry – featuring one set of tracks recorded in Stockton, CA in 1954, with Chico Hamilton, Red Mitchell, and Jon Eardley; and another recorded in San Diego the same year, with Zoot Sims, Bob Brookmeyer, Larry Bunker, Red Mitchell, and Eardley. Gerry even plays a bit... read more

A full LP that collects together earlier recordings by Mulligan – done in the years 1952 and 1953, with a quartet that features Chet Baker, and bass by either Carson Smith or Bob Whitlock, and drums by either Larry Bunker or Chico Hamilton. Both Mulligan and Baker recorded together a number... read more

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A beautiful album of crispy cool jazz from the LA scene of the 50s – one that features the octet of Bill Perkins recorded live in Hollywood, but in a "special hi-fi theater recording" that has sound as sublime as his studio work! The group includes Perkins on tenor, Bud Shank on... read more

Although Buddy's always been a bit laughable, he was always trying to keep his bag moving, and his band of the late 60s included some pretty darn nice players. The group on this session includes Ernie Watts and Bobby Shew, and the band wails hard and fast in a live setting with lots of tight... read more

Although Buddy's always been a bit laughable, he was always trying to keep his bag moving, and his band of the late 60s included some pretty darn nice players. The group on this session includes Ernie Watts and Bobby Shew, and the band wails hard and fast in a live setting with lots of tight... read more

One of the greatest albums of Brazilian jazz that Bud Shank ever recorded – cut with a great group that includes Clare Fischer on piano, Larry Bunker on vibes and drums, Joe Pass on guitar, and Milt Holland and Chuck Flores on percussion. The added percussion really brings a lot to the set... read more

A beautiful pairing of players – one that makes for a wonderful album! Shank's at the height of his early powers here – working in a fluid west coast mode that less in keeping with the "blowin" of the title, than the magic he was known for crafting on his other sides from the... read more

Sublime – all the way through! Bud Shank's work in the Brazilian jazz field has always been noted strongly in our comments – but never so much as when he's working with pianist Clare Fischer, a genius west coast talent who had a hand in some of Cal Tjader's best Latin recordings from... read more

Very hip stuff from Gerald Wilson – about as tight and hard as you can get for 60s big band work! The players on the set aren't listed clearly, but we can be sure that they're some of Gerald's usual contemporaries – the best of the mid 60s LA soul jazz and avant bop scene, all working... read more

A great little compilation – with exclusive material! This looks like a Pacific Jazz best of – but it's actually a special collection that features some tunes that never appeared on other records, played by some of the label's hippest soul jazz artists. Titles include "One More... read more