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A beautiful little record by Miles Davis – oft overlooked next to some of the better-titled Prestige sessions of the 50s, but a great one nonetheless! The session features Miles working with trio backing from Red Garland on piano, Oscar Pettford on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums –... read more

A beautiful little record by Miles Davis – oft overlooked next to some of the better-titled Prestige sessions of the 50s, but a great one nonetheless! The session features Miles working with trio backing from Red Garland on piano, Oscar Pettford on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums –... read more

A huge moment in jazz – not just for trumpeter Miles Davis, but also for saxophonist John Coltrane – who was virtually introduced to the world at large with this record! As you might guess from the title, the record's the first to feature Coltrane playing along with Davis – a... read more

One of the classic early Miles Davis & John Coltrane sessions for Prestige – a well-crafted quintet album that shows Miles finding a stronger voice than ever, and Coltrane beginning to emerge as a key force on his own! Backing is subtle and soulful – handled by the trio of Red... read more

One of the classic early Miles Davis & John Coltrane sessions for Prestige – a well-crafted quintet album that shows Miles finding a stronger voice than ever, and Coltrane beginning to emerge as a key force on his own! Backing is subtle and soulful – handled by the trio of Red... read more

An early pairing of Miles Davis & John Coltrane – one of the duo's mid 50s classics for Prestige, as you might guess from the verb in the title! And although "Steamin" might be a word that's a bit too firey to describe the action going on here, the album's got a tremendous... read more

One of the four essential quintet sides Miles Davis cut for Prestige in the mid 50s – all modern jazz classics by anyone's measure, along with Steamin', Relaxin' and Cookin'. These quintet sides established Davis and John Coltrane as a significant force to be reckoned with, and helped set... read more

An excellent album by vibist Walt Dickerson – perhaps his most adventurous work from the early days! The title track's a seventeen minute long swirling mix of vibes, piano, bass, and drums – with an excellent moody feel and a cool set of chromatic changes of the sort that characterized... read more

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Searing live work from Eric Dolphy – part of a series of recordings that set a whole new standard for live jazz recording! The record features Dolphy going even farther out than on his studio sides from the time – as the record features very long tracks performed by a crack group that... read more

Searing live work from Eric Dolphy – part of a series of recordings that set a whole new standard for live jazz recording! The record features Dolphy going even farther out than on his studio sides from the time – as the record features very long tracks performed by a crack group that... read more

Classic set of European recordings – made by Dolphy in 1961, before the fateful 1964 European tour that would later claim his life. The group features Swedish piano giant Bent Axen, plus a rhythm section that includes Erik Moseholm on bass and Jorn Elniff on drums. Like most Dolphy... read more

Eric Dolphy's first album ever as a leader – recorded almost immediately after his arrival on the New York scene! The sound here is already bolder and stronger than the Dolphy experiments on the west coast – sharp-edged and freely exploratory, in a way that pushes the playful lyricism... read more

Part 3 to the Five Spot recordings from Eric Dolphy – issued here as a "memorial" to Booker Little, even though Little was still alive for the recording! The album features especially searing work from Dolphy, and was part of a series of recordings that set a whole new standard for... read more

Eric Dolphy's first meeting in the studio with trumpeter Booker Little – a brilliant batch of modernism that's easily one of the hippest records Little ever worked on! The Dolphy heard here is Eric at his most inventive – sharp-edged and angular one minute, then spiritually lyrical the... read more

Kenny may be quiet, but he's never muted – and the record is far from the sleepy session you might guess from the title! The album's a real standout in the Dorham catalog – a set that let's Kenny's trumpet sparkle beautifully in a quartet that includes piano from Tommy Flanagan, bass... read more

Kenny may be quiet, but he's never muted – and the record is far from the sleepy session you might guess from the title! The album's a real standout in the Dorham catalog – a set that let's Kenny's trumpet sparkle beautifully in a quartet that includes piano from Tommy Flanagan, bass... read more

A monster – and Charles Earland's second album for Prestige, the follow-up to his groundbreaking Black Talk album! This set's as great as that classic set – a tight batch of groovers that features Earland's Hammond work right out front, grooving away in a soaring, exploratory style... read more

A pivotal album in the development of the use of the Hammond organ in jazz – and Charles Earland's first exposure to a large audience! Durign the 60s, Charles was bumping around the Philly scene quite a bit – and recorded some small group indie sides that first gave a glimpse of his... read more

An excellent collection of Charles Earland's early 70s work for Prestige – a great set of grooves that trace his evolution from straight organ/tenor soul jazz, into the realm of more complicated arrangements that would show up heavily in his later fusion work! Players on the tunes include... read more

A great set that brings together 2 live albums from organist Charles Earland! Live At The Lighthouse is a real killer – with that tight jazzy groove that Earland had on his first few albums for Prestige, a mix of jazz funk and soul jazz, handled with an incredible touch on the organ! The... read more

Charles Earland – really stretching things out, and sounding great in the process! The album's an important one, as it shows that Earland wasn't just a funky Hammond player leading a small group – but a visionary player who could put together a session with a larger, cosmic concept. ... read more

Charles Earland – really stretching things out, and sounding great in the process! The album's an important one, as it shows that Earland wasn't just a funky Hammond player leading a small group – but a visionary player who could put together a session with a larger, cosmic concept. ... read more

A stone cold live date from Charles Earland – recorded in Newark, at just the sort of club where he got his start! The tracks are quite long and openly grooving – even more so than Charles' killer studio sets from the time – and there's a bit of a harder edge here too, thanks... read more

One of the most far-reaching, exploratory records cut by Booker Ervin during the 60s – a set that really lives up to the "freedom" in its title! The album really takes off from some of Ervin's other work of the time – and stands along next to the equally-great Space Book as a... read more

One of the most fantastic Booker Ervin albums from the sixties – a really soulful set that combines his gutsy tenor with some crackling fresh modern touches! Booker's working here with a larger group than usual – a sextet that creates a bit more of an ensemble feel than usual –... read more

A CD of very long tracks from Booker Ervin – only 4 tunes in all, but each over 15 minutes long! First up is the album Setting The Pace – an album that's one of the most open-ended and jamming sets that Booker Ervin recorded for Prestige in the 60s! The album's a live date from... read more

Mindblowing work from Booker Ervin – one of our favorite albums ever from his years at Prestige, and a record that really earns its haunting title and cover image! Book's definitely headed out to space on this one – working in a freer mode than on some of his Texas tenor-styled albums... read more

An amazing record from the legendary Booker Ervin – and a set that really does a great job of bridging his modernist tendencies and soul jazz roots! The title track – "The Trance" – is an amazing 20 minute number that takes up all of side one of the record – and... read more

Mid 70's 2LP set that combines fantastic early work from Gil Evans and Tadd Dameron. The Gil Evans tracks are shorter and less ambitious than some of Evans' work on Impulse, but the group is excellent – and even in a shorter format, the conception of the work still contains plenty of rich... read more

2 different slices of work from Tal Farlow! First is the 1955 album Red Norvo With Strings – originally issued under Norvo's name – a "with strings" session with a difference! This one's not the sleepy orchestral jazz set that you'd expect. Instead, it's a cool modernist... read more

A great little return to form for Tal Farlow – his first recording in a decade, and a rare Prestige side that features a groovy quartet with John Scully on piano, Jack Six on bass and Alan Dawson on drums. There's a different vibe here than Tal's work for Verve – a bit more open, but... read more

One of the nice Prestige 2-fer's issued in the 70s collecting great hard bop sides by Art Farmer. While we really dig Art's contemplative playing on the Untied Artists and Argo sides, he's displaying a more fire-y approach on these sessions, recording alongside a number of other greats playing at... read more

One of Art Farmer's pivotal mid 50s sides – recorded in the company of altoist Gigi Gryce, a great player and a budding young arranger who helped Farmer really formulate the best side of his sound! The tracks are lyrically modern – but still have a nice dose of soul in them – a... read more

Gutsy tenor work from Jimmy Forrest – a player who was poised to rival Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons at the start of the 60s, and who could have easily done so, given the strength of his work for Prestige! The record's one of a few that the St Louis player got to cut for the label – and... read more

An incredible album from tenor giant Frank Foster – one of his best records ever, with an impeccable soul jazz groove that's light years beyond his earlier work! The record has a bit of the feel of Frank's album with Richard Davis for Impulse, but takes off in a slightly different direction... read more

Great later work from Bud Freeman – blowing here in a comfortable and relaxed setting that really fits the mood of the Swingville imprint – and getting equally great help from a small combo of players that includes Shorty Baker on trumpet, Claude Hopkins on piano, George Duvivier on... read more

Funky organ, hard tenor sax, and plenty of choppy guitar make this another jazz funk gem in the crown of the legendary Funk Inc! The group are still totally at the top of their game here – stepping out with a deep, soulful Indy-bred blend of jazz and funk – a groove that was easily one... read more

No hangin out here – because these guys are tighter than ever, and right on the money from the very first note of the set! A snapping drum break opens up the album – followed by a wickedly stepping bassline, a rolling conga part, and a vamping dance between Hammond and tenor sax –... read more

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Long tracks and plenty of room to move around – a perfect setting for the classic sound of the Red Garland Trio on Prestige! Despite the title, the album's not so much groovy as it is lyrically beautiful and filled with sensitivity – a key bridge between piano players of the mainstream... read more

Gentle genius from Red Garland – working here in classic trio formation with Sam Jones and Art Taylor – on a mellow set of late nite numbers and subtle ballads, all carried off in the best tradition of the Moodsville label! Eddie Lockjaw Davis joins the group on 3 tracks on the set... read more

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Sublime work from Benny Golson – and one of his few hard soul jazz sides from the time! The group's a heavy one all around – a quintet that includes Curtis Fuller, Ray Bryant, Tommy Bryant, and Al Harewood – all of whom push Golson past that over-arranged style of other albums,... read more

"Power" is right, as this is one of Dex's few great group sessions from the late 60's. Unlike a lot of other records from the time – in which he solos long and meanderingly with a piano trio backing him up, on standards he's played a million times – this one has him playing... read more

An overlooked US date from 1970 – a set that Dexter Gordon recorded during a quick stop home from his time abroad – really cooking away in the Prestige studios with a great little rhythm section, in ways that are quite different than his better-known European work of the time! The... read more

Dexter Gordon certainly was a tower of power by this point – as his lengthy 60s stay in Europe helped him to work work work, and season his playing considerably – to a point at which he emerged as a masterful soloist far beyond the limits of his early bop recordings! This session... read more

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Volume 1 of a 2 LP set that brings together nearly all of Wardell Gray's classic LA bop recordings for Prestige – most of which were issued originally only on 45s and 78s! The players include the cream of bebop at the time – both from LA and from New York – and artists here... read more

Volume 2 of a 2 LP set that brings together nearly all of Wardell Gray's classic LA bop recordings for Prestige – most of which were issued originally only on 45s and 78s. The players include the cream of the LA scene of the time – including Dexter Gordon, Sonny Criss, and Hampton... read more

Volume 2 of a 2 LP set that brings together nearly all of Wardell Gray's classic LA bop recordings for Prestige – most of which were issued originally only on 45s and 78s. The players include the cream of the LA scene of the time – including Dexter Gordon, Sonny Criss, and Hampton... read more

Volume 2 of a 2 LP set that brings together nearly all of Wardell Gray's classic LA bop recordings for Prestige – most of which were issued originally only on 45s and 78s. The players include the cream of the LA scene of the time – including Dexter Gordon, Sonny Criss, and Hampton... read more

An extremely striking sextet session from pianist Barry Harris – quite unlike most of his other work from the time! The group on the album features Pepper Adams on baritone, Junior Cook on tenor, and Slide Hampton on trombone – and that brace of three horns gives a really solid feel to... read more

Hampton Hawes isn't exactly the first pianist we think of when it comes to bluesy lines in his music – but there's definitely a blue-tinged undercurrent to most of the work in this set – a well-chosen batch of tracks from Hamp's early years as a leader on Contemporary Records! The... read more

One of the best David Axelrod-assisted albums from the early 70s – a sweet batch of funky cuts with arrangements and backings handled by Axe! The record really bubbles with the warm and soulful approach Axelrod was using at Fantasy – kind of a step off his stark modern sound at Capitol... read more

Gritty grooves from Coleman Hawkins – a set that has the aging tenorist still working in swing-based formation, but with a much blusier tone than on his Verve albums of the decade! The group's a small one – with Hawkins on tenor and Charlie Shavers on trumpet – plus some... read more

Great later work from this tenor giant – some of his sublime and surprisingly modern work for the Moodsville label!... read more

A great collection – one that features a side of material from the album Soul, with piano by Ray Bryant; and another side of a set recorded with the Red Garland Trio. Also features the full album At Ease – wonderful late work by Coleman Hawkins – a player who was very much "... read more

A monster! This is a stellar session that has Booker Ervin's tenor fronting a tight group led by drummer Roy Haynes – all with an amazing sense of rhythm that's made the album a standout for years! Ervin is playing in his best modernist vein, and the rhythm section features the excellent... read more

A monster! This is a stellar session that has Booker Ervin's tenor fronting a tight group led by drummer Roy Haynes – all with an amazing sense of rhythm that's made the album a standout for years! Ervin is playing in his best modernist vein, and the rhythm section features the excellent... read more

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Nice double-length CD that brings together tuff soul jazz tenor tracks culled from some mid 60s sessions that Red Holloway cut with Brother Jack McDuff. Some of the tracks appeared on the albums Cookin' Together and The Dynamic Jack McDuff, and the material is a mix of quartet sides and larger... read more

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2 late 60s sides by Groove Holmes – back to back on one CD! The Groover is a nice one from the days when Groove was playing with guitarist George Freeman! The core of the tracks on here feature a trio of Holmes, Freeman, and drummer Billy Jackson – and the trio knows how to cook nice... read more

A key album in the career of Richard Groove Holmes – his first session ever for Prestige Records, and the one that yielded the monster crossover hit version of "Misty"! The sound here is much leaner and cleaner than Groove in his Pacific Jazz years – a tight trio approach... read more

Great stuff from Groove – a tight, no-nonsense set of hard grooves featuring a quartet that includes Rusty Bryant, Billy Butler, and Herbie Lovelle. There's a strong bottom sound to the session – picking up from the Misty days, when Groove learned that he could take just about any... read more

Beautiful trio work by Elmo Hope – one of his first sessions as a leader, and while still quite modern, also a record that's done with a warmer, mellower feel than some of his other work – as you might guess from the cover image and the Meditations title! The group on the set features... read more

Classic bop material from the great Elmo Hope – recorded here before he'd had his spirit broken down entirely, and when he was working in a much more bop-heavy style than on later sessions. The group on the album features Frank Foster on tenor – doing some excellent early work similar... read more

A fantastic lost album on Prestige! This record features a very young Sonny Fortune, blowing hard, soulfully, and spiritually in the amazing organ combo of Stan Hunter. Hunter's a little-known player, but he's got an amazing talent on the organ – sometimes hitting a freeness that recalls... read more

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A slightly different take on the Modern Jazz Quartet sound of the early years – as the album features Milt Jackson's vibes in the company of MJQ bandmates Percy Heath and Connie Kay, but also includes Horace Silver on piano – in the spot normally reserved for John Lewis! The presence... read more

A 70s double LP issue of a variety of sides Milt cut as a leader for Prestige and Riverside. The first batch of numbers were originally released as a couple of 10"s, then repackaged under various guises in LP format, and feature a slightly different take on the Modern Jazz Quartet sound of... read more

A repackaged version of the album Shuckin – titled this way in the mid 60s to cash in on the bossa craze! The early 60's session takes Willis' mean tenor sound, and adds a nice bossa groove to it – in a style that's similar to Ike Quebec's Samba Soul LP. There's lots of extra... read more

A collection of Willis Jackson ballad work pulled from early 60s Prestige albums that include Neapolitan Nights, Really Groovin, Shuckin, and In My Solitude – not really as "gentle" as the title might imply, and instead some great soulful tenor numbers, done in the laidback late... read more

Seminal early work from Willis Jackson – two classics back to back on a single CD! Blue Gator is a massive early Prestige set from tenorist Willis – and just the kind of record that set him firmly in the soul jazz camp for the 60s! By the time of the set, Jackson had already won... read more

Seminal early work from Willis Jackson – two classics back to back on a single CD! Blue Gator is a massive early Prestige set from tenorist Willis – and just the kind of record that set him firmly in the soul jazz camp for the 60s! By the time of the set, Jackson had already won... read more

Smoking tenor work from the legendary Willis Jackson – and a key record in Jackson's transition from 50s R&B to 60s soul jazz! Willis gets some great help on the session from Jack McDuff on organ and Wild Bill Jennings on guitar – both of whom craft some rootsy grooves that further... read more

Hard grooving with Willis – recorded during his incredible mid 60s years, when he had a great tone, a crack band, and an approach to the grooves that blew away most of his other work! Willis at this point is like Jack McDuff with his classic quartet – totally capable, working with all... read more

A classic set of soul jazz tracks from Gator Tail and Brother Jack McDuff – recorded in a raw grooving style, very similar to that used on some of their live recordings from the same time. The core of the group features Bill Jennings on guitar and Wendell Marshall on bass, but some of the... read more

A classic set of soul jazz tracks from Gator Tail and Brother Jack McDuff – recorded in a raw grooving style, very similar to that used on some of their live recordings at the time! The tracks on the disc are lifted from the first Together Again album cut by the pair, and the second set... read more

A classic set of soul jazz tracks from Gator Tail and Brother Jack McDuff – recorded in a raw grooving style, very similar to that used on some of their live recordings at the time! The tracks on the disc are lifted from the first Together Again album cut by the pair, and the second set... read more

A really great overview of the career of Eddie Jefferson – one that begins with his first few vocal singles of the 50s, and follows him through album work for Riverside and Prestige in the 60s! Jefferson's contribution to jazz is tremendous – as he was one of the first to set lyrics to... read more

Killer funkiness from Boogaloo Joe Jones! Grover Washington Jr makes an incredible appearance here – sounding much harder and heavier than on some of his Kudu recordings – more of a gritty soul jazz player, working beautifully alongside the sharp guitar of Boogaloo Joe Jones, and the... read more

Killer funkiness from Boogaloo Joe Jones! Grover Washington Jr makes an incredible appearance here – sounding much harder and heavier than on some of his Kudu recordings – more of a gritty soul jazz player, working beautifully alongside the sharp guitar of Boogaloo Joe Jones, and the... read more

Great stuff – the US issue of some very rare tracks that were recorded for MPS in Germany under the leadership of either Carmell Jones or Nathan Davis. One group on the record features Davis and Jones, along with a rhythm section of Francy Boland, Kenny Clarke, and Jimmy Woode. They swing... read more

A great record by one of our favorite trumpet players – and one of those albums on Prestige that are darn hard to track down! Carmell Jones recorded this album after playing with Horace Silver and before leaving for exile in Europe (where he later recorded some great music with Nathan Davis)... read more

Amazing stuff from Ivan Boogaloo Joe Jones! Unlike some of the other players on Prestige during the early 70s – who often got a bit weaker as the decade moved on, thanks to the departure of some of the better forces arranging and producing the records – Jones kept on playing hard,... read more

A tasty batch of funky jazz cuts from Ivan Boogaloo Joe Jones – working here in a tight guitar groove that's actually better than that heard on his early albums for Prestige! The group's a good one – with Rusty Bryant on tenor, Butch Cornell on organ, and Grady Tate on drums –... read more

Forgive Roger Kellaway for all the other snoozy work he's ever done – because this album's a treasure! Kellaway's working with a jazz trio that includes drummer Dave Bailey – and the set's a hip one with a mix of straight soul jazz grooving and some more experimental twists that... read more

A nice 70s reissue two-fer that brings together two sides of jazz King Curtis cut for Prestige. The first set, The New Scene Of King Curtis finds him accompanied by Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Oliver Jackson – plus trumpet from Nat Adderley, billed on the back as "Little... read more

A strange and tasty little album that Roland Kirk made with organist Jack McDuff in the early 60s – one of his few outings in such a format, and a smoking little session that almost makes us wish he'd cut more of them! The format is relatively simple – with lots of interplay between... read more

2 Eric Kloss albums back to back on a single CD – both under-discovered, and both totally great! Sky Shadows is one of the late 60s killers for Prestige by reedman Kloss – sublime material that was every bit as great as some of the bigger-name work for the label, but never really got... read more

One of THE key records in the Konitz school – a full length Prestige album that brings together important material from sessions originally issued on 10" LPs! The lineup here is virtually the Konitz school – with shifting lineups that include Billy Bauer on guitar, Lenny Tristano... read more

Two excellent sides of funky Hammond jazz – courtesy of Charles Kynard, one of the greatest organists west of the Mississippi! Soul Brotherhood is one of Kynard's rarest sessions – and one of his best, too! The group on the album has a very tight lead line with David Newman, Blue... read more

The title says it all – as Yusef Lateef works here in that wonderful mixture of hardbop, soul jazz, and Eastern stylings that he brought to all of his best early sessions as a leader! Lateef himself is playing tenor, flute, and oboe – which he uses to craft these eerie snakecharmer... read more

The title says it all – as Yusef Lateef works here in that wonderful mixture of hardbop, soul jazz, and Eastern stylings that he brought to all of his best early sessions as a leader! Lateef himself is playing tenor, flute, and oboe – which he uses to craft these eerie snakecharmer... read more

The title says it all – as Yusef Lateef works here in that wonderful mixture of hardbop, soul jazz, and Eastern stylings that he brought to all of his best early sessions as a leader! Lateef himself is playing tenor, flute, and oboe – which he uses to craft these eerie snakecharmer... read more

A real classic from Yusef Lateef – and like the rest of his best albums from the time, an incredible blend of hardbop, soul jazz, and some really wonderful exotic touches! Lateef plays a bit of oboe on the album – sounding really weird and snakey over laidback orientalist rhythms on... read more

A lost treasure – one of the few albums ever cut by this fantastic Latin Jazz ensemble, an ultra-hip group led by congolero Juan Amalbert, with a modal vibes/piano groove that's simply wonderful! The combo were one of the hippest early 60s Latin acts – and took equal part inspiration... read more