A huge step forward in music for saxophonist Jimmy Greene – an artist who's still reeling from the loss of his daughter, who was murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012 – but who's turning his grief and sorrow into some of the richest music he's ever recorded! The feel here is even deeper than the first volume dedicated to Green's daughter – original songs that burst out with so much life and energy, we're held rapt right from the very first note – almost never mired in the sort of melancholy you might expect from such an experience, and instead ready to set a new fire to light the way ahead! Greene plays tenor, soprano, alto, and baritone – and other musicians include Kevin Hayes on Rhodes and piano, Mike Moreno on guitar, Renee Rosnes on piano, Ben Williams and John Patitucci on bass, and Jeff Tain Watts and Otis Brown III on drums. Titles include "Fun Circuits", "Second Breakfast", "Flowers", "Stanky Leg", "Big Guy", "Amantes", and "Thirty Two". CD

Clifford Brown only recorded a handful of sides for Blue Note – but all of the best ones are included in this excellent album – a full length set that culls together Brown's material from the 10" years, issued as a memorial to his early death in 1956! Side one features Brown with the modernist Gigi Gryce on flute and alto sax – plus Charlie Rouse on tenor, John Lewis on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Art Blakey on drums – a lineup that has a strong sense of soul, balanced with a dose of modernism – on titles that include the classic "Hymn to the Orient" – worth the price of the album alone – plus "Easy Living", "Cherokee", "Wail Bait", and "Minor Mood". Side two features an equally sharp group – with Lou Donaldson on some excellent alto, and the great Elmo Hope on piano – on titles that include "Brownie Speaks", "De Dah", "Cookin", "You Go To My Head", and "Carving The Rock". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the funkiest records ever recorded for Impulse – and the debut set by guitarist Mel Brown! Mel has a really down-and-dirty style that's quite unusual for the label at the time – a rootsy approach to guitar that's steeped in equal parts jazz, soul, and R&B – and which comes across with a raw power and tasty feel that's perfectly summed up by titles like "Chicken Fat", "Greasy Spoon", "Home James", "Slalom", and "Shanty"! The album features some rare organ work by Gerald Wiggins, drums by Paul Humphrey, and outta-site soul arrangements by Oliver Nelson on a few tracks – but through the whole thing, Brown's the main focus – laying down some deeply funky work on guitar! LP, Vinyl record album

The Masterpiece series has been running for quite a long time – and just seems to get better and better in the process! The range of tracks here is nicely expanded past those on early volumes – not straight disco or funk, but instead this great slice of overlooked club cuts that includes some rare singles, and some material that's never been released on CD at all! If you dig 80s grooves, you'll find a lot to love here – but there's a nicely wide range of sounds, too – on titles that include "Stone In Love" by Electro, "Give Me The Time" by Michelle Gold, "Let Me Know (ext version)" by Beckie Bell, "After Tonight" by Shirley Brown, "One Love" by Tony Ransom, "Your Love Is All I Need" by BT Express, "Sweet & Sassy" by Deborah Foster, "Give It Up" by Tyrone Curry, "Can't Get Over You" by Shara, "Count On Me" by Linda Tillery, "Put Me Down" by Spur Of The Moment, and "Given Up On You" by Kevin & Benetta. CD

With Von Freeman on tenor sax, Maurice Brown on trumpet, Lloyd Wilson on organ, Gerey Johnson on guitar, Curtice Prince on drums & Kevin Patrick on percussion. CD