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A great high-concept composition from Duke Ellington – one that rivals the earlier brilliance of his Liberian Suite! Like that one, vocals are a key part of this long-form work – a special performance done for the Century Of Negro Progress Exposition in Chicago in 1963 – with an... read more

One of the first albums ever from the team of Jackie Caine and Roy Kral – and one of the best, too! The album's got a relaxed, open-ended approach to jazz vocals that already carries all the hallmarks of the Jackie & Roy style – wordless scatting on some tunes, playful lyrical... read more

It's hard to go wrong with Jackie & Roy at this early point in their career – and the sound here is completely sublime – unlike anything else we can think of! The album has the pair coming off their seminal early work with Charlie Ventura – working in a mode that's deeply... read more

A pair of overlooked trio dates from the 70s – packaged together here as a great little set! First up is the Prime Time album from Hugh Lawson – a killer date as a leader for this Detroit pianist we first came to love through his recordings with Yusef Lateef – an artist who... read more

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Incredible work from one of the greatest groups of the New York avant scene of the 60s – the legendary New York Contemporary Five, a combo that features Archie Shepp on tenor, John Tchicai on alto, Don Cherry on cornet, Don Moore on bass, and JC Moses on drums! This 1963 recording,... read more

Incredible work from one of the greatest groups of the New York avant scene of the 60s – the legendary New York Contemporary Five, a combo that features Archie Shepp on tenor, John Tchicai on alto, Don Cherry on cornet, Don Moore on bass, and JC Moses on drums! This 1963 recording,... read more

A rare European set from one of the greatest violinists in jazz – recorded at Café Montmartre in 1965, with a nicely swinging group that includes Kenny Drew on piano, Niels Henning Orsted-Pederson on bass, and Alex Riel on drums. Tracks have a similar groove to Stuff's 50s work on Verve... read more

A great great session from reedman James Spaulding – and way more than you'd guess from the title! Sure, the tunes are all Ellington numbers – but they're swung by James and a very hip group, in ways that are more open and soulful than most readings of the tunes – given a slight... read more

Hardly a prelude – as the album's a fully-formed, fully-stated set right from the start – easily one of the best moments ever for reedman John Stubblefield – and an overlooked spiritual classic from the 70s! There's a vibe here that rivals the Strata East scene at their best... read more

A pair of very different albums from John Tchicai – both hard to find, and brought together here on a nicely priced package! Strange Brothers is overlooked brilliance from reedman John Tchicai – a late 70s session recorded for the FMP label, and easily one of the most soulful sets on... read more

Beautifully moody work from singer Milli Vernon – a rare Storyville session from the mid 50s, cut with a relaxed, late nite feel – and backing from a small combo that includes Ruby Braff on trumpet, Jimmy Raney on guitar, and Dave McKenna on piano! The sound is very much in keeping... read more

A beautiful little concept for a beautiful little album – a "duologue" in which Lee Wiley sings one track, then Ellis Larkins plays the next, and so on – making for a split LP, but one with a lot of variety along the way! Wiley sings on about two thirds of the tracks on the... read more

Features Sahib Shihab on alto, soprano sax, and flute!... read more