Seminal work from one of the hippest jazz singers ever – a session that showed the world that Eddie Jefferson was firmly back in business during the 60s! The set's got a really rollicking feel, and a bit more influence from soul than the bop of Eddie's roots – with elements of gospel and R&B filtering into the mix from time to time, alongside some of the more sophisticated jazz styles we've always loved in Jefferson's vocals. The group features some great tenor work from James Moody – one of Eddie's frequent musical partners – plus Dave Burns on trumpet, Barry Harris on piano, Steve Davis on bass, and Bill English on drums. Titles include "Now's The Time", "So What", "Psychedelic Sally", "Filthy McNasty", "Oh Gee", and "See If You Can Git To That" – plus a very cool spoken introduction by Ed Williams! CD

Seminal work from one of the hippest jazz singers ever – a session that showed the world that Eddie Jefferson was firmly back in business during the 60s! The set's got a really rollicking feel, and a bit more influence from soul than the bop of Eddie's roots – with elements of gospel and R&B filtering into the mix from time to time, alongside some of the more sophisticated jazz styles we've always loved in Jefferson's vocals. The group features some great tenor work from James Moody – one of Eddie's frequent musical partners – plus Dave Burns on trumpet, Barry Harris on piano, Steve Davis on bass, and Bill English on drums. Titles include "Now's The Time", "So What", "Psychedelic Sally", "Filthy McNasty", "Oh Gee", and "See If You Can Git To That" – plus a very cool spoken introduction by Ed Williams! LP, Vinyl record album

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A compelling chapter in the long and wonderful career of reedman Per Texas Johansson – a set that features a larger ensemble interpreting his ideas, and working with a really incredible combination of horns! The group perform three longer compositions under the direction of Johan Siberg, and there's an insane criss-crossing of instruments throughout – a variety of clarinets from Per, plus other reeds from Johan Horlen, Astrid Le Clercq, Fredrik Ljungkvist, Alberto Pinton, and Linus Lindblom – plus trumpets from Joakim Agnas, Emil Strandberg, and Karl Olandersson – and trombones from Mats Aleklint, Mats Agelid, and Lisa Bodelius! The horns really shape the sound here, but there are some other elements in the mix – vibes from Mattias Stahl, bass from Par Ola Landin, piano from Rasmus Borg, and drums from Konrad Agnas – but all elements that really step back at many points and let the woodwinds and brass direct the music. Titles include "Livet I Tre Delar", "Klarinet", and "Orosmoln". CD

A set that may well be the record where Elton John totally gets it together – transcending his already-brilliant previous recordings, and finding a way to the special spot that would forever make him a legend! There's a mix of well-crafted songs and soulful presentation that's completely superb here – very personal, very much that new Elton John mode that made thte approach of him and Bernie Taupin so different than so many others in this heady generation of singer/songwriters – and that's really saying a lot! Production and arrangements are great, too – up-close when needed, and never overdone – testified to by the album's classic lineup of tracks that includes "Tiny Dancer", "Levon", "Razor Face", "Madman Across The Water", "Holiday Inn", "Indian Sunset", and "All The Nasties". LP, Vinyl record album

A solid 80s set from France Joli – recorded after her initial wave of disco fame on the Canadian scene – but still with a nice sort of dancefloor groove, thanks to help from Giorgio Moroder's musical partner Pete Bellotte! The style here is kind of an 80s take on the Moroder groove of the late 70s – lots of keyboards over dancefloor rhythms – but forged with a bit more of an ear for the hooks, too – the kind of crossover styles that might well help Joli reach an even wider audience – especially with that slinky 80s sweater and eye makeup on the cover! Titles include "Walking Into A Heartache", "Nasty Love", "Dumb Blonde", "Girl In the 80s", and "Mad About The Boy". CD features bonus tracks too – "Girl In The 80s (dance mix)", "Blue Eyed Technology (dance mix)", and "Blue Eyed Technology (7" single)". CD

One of our favorite albums ever from Grace Jones – a record that has her shedding some of the disco excesses of earlier years, and moving into a great blend of sounds that really showcases the energy of the New York scene from which she sprang! The album was recorded in Nassau, with help from Sly Dunbar on drums, Robbie Shakespeare on bass, and Wally Badarou on keyboards – and most tunes have an edgier feel that makes Jones sound even darker than before. There's loads of great disco-not-disco moments – from the straight funk of "Pull Up To The Bumper" to the insane post-punk grooving of "Demolition Man" – to other tracks that include "I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)", "Art Groupie", "Walking In The Rain", "Nightclubbing", and "Use Me". CD

One of our favorite albums ever from Grace Jones – a record that has her shedding some of the disco excesses of earlier years, and moving into a great blend of sounds that really showcases the energy of the New York scene from which she sprang! The album was recorded in Nassau, with help from Sly Dunbar on drums, Robbie Shakespeare on bass, and Wally Badarou on keyboards – and most tunes have an edgier feel that makes Jones sound even darker than before. There's loads of great disco-not-disco moments – from the straight funk of "Pull Up To The Bumper" to the insane post-punk grooving of "Demolition Man" – to other tracks that include "I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)", "Art Groupie", "Walking In The Rain", "Nightclubbing", and "Use Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Rockabilly legend Billy Joy definitely rocks – hardly a household name in the 50s, but a killer figure in the rock and roll underground – and one whose fame has just grown more and more over the years! The package is a beautifully-done tribute to Benny's genius – and presents the most hard-rocking of his important 50s recordings, as well as a host of unreleased tracks from later demos too! Joy's guitar work alone is amazing, but when it's coupled with the kickass rhythms of the tunes, the music really takes off to a whole new level – burning with the power you'd expect from the classic Johnny Burnette Trio – and that's before Benny's gritty vocals even come into play! CD features 30 tracks in all – including some lost recordings from the 70s – titles that include "Rollin To The Juke Box Rock", "Dark Angel", "Miss Bobby Sox", "Little Red Book", "Button Nose", "Come Back", "Wild Wild Lover", "In Study Hall", "Crash The Party (unedited)", "Spin The Bottle (Nashville demo)", "Big John Taylor", "High High School Baby", and "Nosey Nosey Neighbors". CD

A record with a killer combination at the core – the tenor of Jonas Kullhammar and Hammond work of Steiner Nickelsen – both players who take this familiar pairing and really find a way to make something new! Yet that's also often the point of some of the best records on Kullhammar's Moserobie label – that sense of play with older modes and ear for newer ideas – qualities that are carried forth by the work of other quartet members Havard Stubo on guitar and Johan Holmegard on drums. This isn't your father's tenor/organ record to be sure – as you'll hear on titles that include "Paris", "The Wild East", "Stratos", "Domedagen", and "Cai Shen Calypso". CD

A record with a killer combination at the core – the tenor of Jonas Kullhammar and Hammond work of Steiner Nickelsen – both players who take this familiar pairing and really find a way to make something new! Yet that's also often the point of some of the best records on Kullhammar's Moserobie label – that sense of play with older modes and ear for newer ideas – qualities that are carried forth by the work of other quartet members Havard Stubo on guitar and Johan Holmegard on drums. This isn't your father's tenor/organ record to be sure – as you'll hear on titles that include "Paris", "The Wild East", "Stratos", "Domedagen", and "Cai Shen Calypso". LP, Vinyl record album

Late 70s genius from Leon Keita, a Mandingue musician who only recorded a few albums on the scene in Mali, but really helped transform the music at the time! There's an evolution of older modes here that's great – never forced, but this kind of gentle nudge into more complexity in both the rhythms and the guitar lines – sometimes with these uplifting qualities that almost seem to echo South African jazz, but with more of the cyclical progressions that you'd expect from Keita's scene. The organ and keyboard lines are especially great, sometimes almost otherworldly – and titles include "Dalaka"," Gnanassouma", "Daka Sate Korotoumi", "Diarabi Mana", and "Ifarana". LP, Vinyl record album

"Dance To The Drummer's Beat" was real stormer in the South Bronx back in the day, and a great bit of uptempo funk with congas – the break and chorus are both great, and the single's like finding a page in the history of hip hop book! 12-inch, Vinyl record

A set of tracks recorded in the early 90s, unreleased until many years later – and an album that shows a beautifully sensitive side of the music of guitarist Calvin Keys! The title is sometimes very apt – as Calvin is often out front in the lead, crafting these warm lines built from well-chosen chords – but the album's also not just a solo set, as it features work from Jeff Chimenti on piano, Tim Haul on bass, Mark Lignell on drums, and Kenneth Nash on percussion. There's even some light strings at times – but very light, as they just shade in the edges – on titles that include "Dolphin Dance", "Quiet Now", "Isotope", "Marela", "Windows", and "What's Goin On". CD

A set of tracks recorded in the early 90s, unreleased until many years later – and an album that shows a beautifully sensitive side of the music of guitarist Calvin Keys! The title is sometimes very apt – as Calvin is often out front in the lead, crafting these warm lines built from well-chosen chords – but the album's also not just a solo set, as it features work from Jeff Chimenti on piano, Tim Haul on bass, Mark Lignell on drums, and Kenneth Nash on percussion. There's even some light strings at times – but very light, as they just shade in the edges – on titles that include "Dolphin Dance", "Isotope", "Marela", "Windows" and "What's Goin On". LP, Vinyl record album

It's definitely a computer world when you're inside the mind of Kraftwerk – the machine made man, given a wonderful showcase here for the new decade! The sound is maybe a bit leaner and even more electronic than before – with the introduction of some digital elements, and a mix of beats and keyboards that was already showing the nascent hip hop scene that the German quartet were still ahead of the pack when it came to grooves like this! Did these guys invent electro soul? Hearing a record like this it's hard not to think so – thanks to tracks that include "Computer Love", "Computer World", "Pocket Calculator", "Home Computer", "Numbers", and "It's More Fun To Compute". CD

Features Stanley Turrentine, Ray Brown, Christian McBride, and Lewis Nash. CD

The amazing debut of Kris Kristofferson as a singer – long overdue, given that his songs had been championed by others as some of the hippest in Nashville at the end of the 60s! Every track is a gem – and the record starts with the biting, decidedly non-country "Blame It On The Stones" – then rolls through classics that include "The Best Of All Possible Worlds", "To Beat The Devil", "The Law Is For The Protection Of The People", "For The Good Times", "Darby's Castle", and "Duvalier's Dream" – plus Kris' impeccable readings of "Me & Bobby McGee" and "Sunday Mornin Comin Down". CD

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A beautiful album of laidback psych from early 70s Brazil – the sort of more personal, more introspective work that some of the artists on the scene were cutting after the more experimental modes of the Tropicalia years! Guilherme Lamounier has a gentle sort of majesty in his music – very much in keeping with his image on the cover – stepping out in a trippier take on singer/songwriter modes, with his own vocals, guitar, and piano as the main focus on the tunes – touched nicely with keyboard work from Wagner Tiso, flute from Oberdan Magalhaes, and guitar from Lanny Gordin – artists used in these very sparing ways to spice up the sound, and give the record a loftier vibe than if Guilherme were just recording on his own. Lyrics are all in Portuguese, but the songs have a very universal appeal – a great sense of structure and building up energy – on titles that include "Freedom", "Mini Neila", "Patricia", "Passam Anos Passam Anas", "Amanha Nao Sei", "Capitao De Papel", and "Ols Telhados Do Mundo". LP, Vinyl record album

Really great solo work from Ronnie Lane – post-Faces material that really gets back to basics, and offers up a huge number of wonderful original tunes as well! Ronnie was always one of our favorite members of The Faces – one of the more unassuming members of that excellent group, and almost the sort of gentle heart of the band – a quality that really comes through strongly here in work with his relaxed Slim Chance group. The tunes often use acoustic instrumentation more than electric – at a level that recalls the first early solo sets by Rod Stewart, although with a very different, un-posturing presentation by Ronnie – and the format gives Lane's great lyrics an even greater chance to shine through. 2CD set brings together all the best moments from the group's Island albums, plus rare tracks, alternates, and live material too – and titles include "Tin & Tambourine", "Don't Try & Change My Mind", "One For The Road", "The Poacher", "Street Gang", "G'Morning", "Bottle Of Brandy", "Ain't No Lady", "Blue Monday", "Back Street Boy (jam version)", "Debris (live)", "Ooh La La (live)", and "Country Boy (alt)". CD

A very different sort of book on bebop – one that looks at the music during its key years of midcentury, but through a very different prism than the sorts of all-star players who usually get most coverage by jazz writers! Author Jonathan Leal digs very deep to uncover three obscure players who cross race, cultural, and creative lines – Raul Salinas, Harold Wing, and James Araki – figures who were not huge on the scene, but who intersected with some very big names – and whose experiences here really enrich an understanding of the social possibilities offered by jazz at the time. Leal gets past the platitudes about the music and opens up the communities and opportunities created by jazz – tracing the histories of each of these three unique and overlooked players, while also putting their individual experiences in a larger context too. The notes alone are huge – really showing the work that Leal put into the project – and the book is 238 pages, softcover, with a small amount of black and white images. Book

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An incredible 60s performance from Jerry Lee Lewis – proof that the man was always on fire when he worked overseas, even if his star had dimmed a bit back home! Jerry gets sharp, tight backings from The Nashville Teens – but the Lewis is center stage throughout – really wailing on piano, and singing in this unbridled style that maybe even blows away his early singles – especially when combined with the sense of personality he brings out in a live setting. Titles include "Money", "What'd I Say", "I Got A Woman", "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On", "Long Tall Sally", "Lewis Boogie", and "Matchbox". LP, Vinyl record album

John Lewis on piano, Howard Collins and Harold Alden on guitar, Marc Johnson and George Mraz on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums. CD

A strangely beautiful rarity from the early 80s, by a singer-songwriter billed only as Lewis – a mystery man who looks like a shirtless soap opera actor – but delivers one of the coolest pieces of period LA esoterica we've heard in a long, long time! The sound is tough to describe, but it's somewhere between haunting acoustic folk and spare synth pop – with the gentlest of piano and acoustic guitar, smoothed out synth waves and fragile solo vocals – with a surprisingly genuine sense of emotion, but that comes as a surprise only after reading the notes and considering the scant biographical tidbits available. Whoever this guy is (or was?), it's a fascinating listen – falling in some strange musical realm where it makes sense to blend spacey synth backdrops with acoustic songcraft and unashamedly romantic lyricism. Includes "I Thought The World Of You", "My Whole Life", "Like To See You Again", "Things Just Happen That Way", "Summer's Moon", "Love Showered Me", "Romance For Two", "Even Rainbows Turn Blue" and more. CD

Mel Lewis leads a big band including Kenny Werner on piano, Dennis Irwin on bass, Earl Gardner, Joe Mosello, Glen Drewes, Jim Powell, and Bill Pusey on trumpets, John Mosca, Ed Neumeister, Douglas Purviance, and Earl McIntyre on trombones, Stephanie Fauber on french horn, Dick Oats, Ted Nash, Joe Lovano, Ralph Lalama, and Gary Smulyan on saxophones, clarinet, and flute. LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful later album from Ivan Lins – recorded in that wonderfully mature style he developed in the 80s, a mixture of his earlier vocal work, with touches of jazz, and some of the Brazilian soulfulness of the Milton Nascimento generation. The backings on the tracks is relatively electric – produced with a lot of "space", in a style that helps the instruments drift around Lins' always-captivating vocals. The album's got a soaring righteousness that prevails despite a few tinnier touches here and there – and it's filled with strong tracks that include "Vieste", "Maos", "Illuminados", "Paixo Secreta", and "O Ceu Mudou". LP, Vinyl record album

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Damon Locks and Rob Mazurek are no musical strangers to each other – their paths have crossed often on the Chicago and global scenes over many years of creative activity. Yet this project is also the first they've co-led, and it's an incredible document of how much both artists have grown in recent years – especially when they let their talents flow together on a project like this! At some level, the core of the work is the voice that both artists have discovered – Locks, his own more focused message and ability to find other voices to sample in with his own – Mazurek, a way of using his own voice more directly, in addition to his well-known work on trumpets and electronics. Both Rob and Damon are in the forefront here, criss-crossing electric and acoustic elements with voices live and sampled – mixed with guest voices from others, in a swirlingly creative project that not only lives up to the current legacy of International Anthem and the Chicago scene, but also advances it a few notches too. Titles include "Breeze Of Time", "New Future", "Yes", "The Sun Returns", "Future City", "Las Ninas Estan Escuchando", "Support The Youth", "10 Mins Past The Hour", and "Polaris Radio". CD

Damon Locks and Rob Mazurek are no musical strangers to each other – their paths have crossed often on the Chicago and global scenes over many years of creative activity. Yet this project is also the first they've co-led, and it's an incredible document of how much both artists have grown in recent years – especially when they let their talents flow together on a project like this! At some level, the core of the work is the voice that both artists have discovered – Locks, his own more focused message and ability to find other voices to sample in with his own – Mazurek, a way of using his own voice more directly, in addition to his well-known work on trumpets and electronics. Both Rob and Damon are in the forefront here, criss-crossing electric and acoustic elements with voices live and sampled – mixed with guest voices from others, in a swirlingly creative project that not only lives up to the current legacy of International Anthem and the Chicago scene, but also advances it a few notches too. Titles include "Breeze Of Time", "New Future", "Yes", "The Sun Returns", "Future City", "Las Ninas Estan Escuchando", "Support The Youth", "10 Mins Past The Hour", and "Polaris Radio". LP, Vinyl record album

Mature, mellow, and totally wonderful – clear proof that Julie London was still making great music well into the 60s! The album's got a simple, unassuming charm – very much in the late nite mode you'd guess from the title, with spare backings from Don Bagley that often have a key guitar line in the mix – working along with London's vocals in the same style as the mid 50s – but with a different feel overall – a bit more mature and world-wise, which makes for a perfect fit for tunes that include "I Got It Bad", "Here's That Rainy Day", "Am I Blue", "I'll Never Smile Again", "Can't Get Out Of This Mood", and "When The Sun Comes Out". CD

The lasting legacy of Screaming Lord Sutch – and an album that's almost equally well-known for its work by a host of famous guests – including Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, and others! Page is perhaps the most involved here – as he produced the set with Sutch, co-wrote some tracks, and plays some mighty searing guitar – as does Beck, which makes the album almost worth it alone for all the wonderful solos! But Sutch himself is pretty great too – kind of a mish-mash of late 60s nasty camp references, with the same sinister vibe as Kim Fowley – and an equally freewheeling approach to a tune that makes the album a heck of a lot of fun. Titles include "Gutty Guitar", "Flashing Lights", "Wailing Sounds", "Thumping Beat", "Union Jack Car", and "London". CD

Features Joe Lovano, Ralph Lalama, George Garzone, Steve Slagle, and Gary Smulyan on saxophones – plus Conrad Herwig on trombone, Tim Hagans on trumpet, John Hicks on piano, Dennis Irwin on bass,and Lewis Nash on drums. CD

A contemporary set, but one that's unlike any other recent Brazilian recording we can think of – given the very unique vibe that Mauricio Maestro is going for! You might know Mauricio from his mid 70s work with Joyce on Visions Of Dawn – and although this set is a recent recording, it has a same sort of classic feel overall. The sound here has deep rhythms and folksy touches – a warm acoustic mode, but topped with some slight electricity and larger arrangements – a bit like some of the more creative sounds in the Brazilian underground during the post-Tropicalia years – yet with a richness that takes it much farther too! Maestro handled the arrangements, and he brings in a jazz-tinged quality that's not unlike the Milton Nascimento generation – yet the overall approach is earthier too, and vocals are handled by Mauricio, percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, and Kay Lyra – swirled up with a bit of light string backings that really help the record soar to the skies! We'd rank this one right up there with classics from the 70s by Joyce or Edu Lobo – but we also recognize that it's very much it's own record too. Titles include "Jungle Bells", "Agua Clara", "Canto Do Paje", "Todos Os Santos", "Ciclo Da Vida", "Ouvindo Estrelas", "Upside Down", and "Horizonte". CD

A great new issue of Maggot Brain – including wide-ranging interviews with artist Raymond Pettibon and underground culture renaissance man John Waters that both go way deeper than their most iconic works – and equally deep insight-fueled pieces from cover-to-cover! Includes a look at the legacy-to-date of Detroit vocalist John Brannon from Negative Approach to the Laughing Hyenas and beyond, a photo journal on tour with noise rock lifers The Melvins, experimental pop veteran Cheri Knight, sax player & composer Patrick Shiroishi on Japanese folk-blues guitarist & visionary Kan Mikami, zine writer/publisher/outsider musician Seymour Glass and lots more. Each feature, column and article is greatly enriched by photos and illustrations, too – the visual side of Maggot Brain gets more vivid with each new issue! Magazine

One of the greatest Henry Mancini soundtracks of the 60s – and a record that showed the world that he could do a lot more than just crime jazz and groovy tunes! The title track is a well-known gem from the Mancini songbook – perfect for the bittersweet, melancholy of the film – and a great start for Mancini's music – which first shows some of the joy of the couple in the narrative, then moves into much bluer, deeper territory. There's an undercurrent of sadness that haunts even the more sprightly numbers – and some of the best instrumentation is handled by west coast jazzmen who include Pete Candoli and Don Fagerquist on trumpet, Harry Klee and Ted Nash on reeds, Bob Bain on guitar, and Larry Bunker on percussion. The music was never properly issued on record at the time – and this CD features very detailed notes, lots of images, and 27 tracks that include "Cocktail Hour", "No Guts", "A Sad Pop", "I Want To Go Home", "Man Meets Girl", and "Hi Fi". CD

Henry Mancini's second album of stuff for the Peter Gunn TV show, and arguably better than the first one! The album's straight-ahead crime jazz – performed by a great set of players that includes Plas Johnson, Shelly Manne, Ted Nash, Paul Horn, and other west coasters. Tracks include "My Manne Shelly", "Timothy", "Goofin At The Coffee House", "Odd Ball", "Walkin' Bass", and "Spook!". LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant modern jazz from German trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff – recording here in 1964, but sounding years ahead of his time, with an amazing a blend of jazz and Asian styles! The album's one of Mangelsdorff's best ever – a set of rhythmic tunes that seem clearly informed by the work of Ornette and Joe Harriott, but also based along eastern themes picked up by the group on a tour of the Orient – and performed by a sharp-edged quintet that includes Heinz Sauer on tenor and soprano sax, Gunter Kronberg on alto, Gunter Lenz on bass, and Ralph Hubner on drums. There's some nice traces of MPS/Saba modal and Jazz Meets the World styles – and overall, the rhythmic pulse keeps things from getting as free and out as on Mangelsdorff's 70s sides – really soaring, but never too far out – and always with a cool exotic groove. The whole thing's great – instantly striking, and always a treasure – and titles include "Sakura Waltz", "Now Jazz Ramwong", "Raknash", "Theme From Vietnam", and "Burungkaka". LP, Vinyl record album

Two unusual Herbie Mann albums – back to back in a single set! The first Reggae album has a surprisingly strong mix of 70s modes – as the funky flute of Herbie Mann takes on some of the nascent reggae grooves of the time – with results that are a lot nicer than you might expect! There's some core rhythms on the record from Tommy McCook, but Herbie's regular keyboardist Pat Rebillot also adds in some surprisingly nice lines too – making the whole thing way more than just another session cut down in Kingston. One real surprise is a very extended take on "My Girl", which runs for over 18 minutes and takes up all of side two – and other cuts include "Rivers Of Babylon", "Swinging Shepherd Blues", and "Ob La Di". Reggae II is a lesser-known follow-up to Herbie Mann's first album of reggae-styled instrumental grooves – and one that's every bit as sweet as the first! Like that record, the approach here is one that has Mann working with Kingston-bred rhythms from a lineup that includes Winston Wright on organ, Jackie Jackson bass, and Michael Richard on drums – mixed with tenor from Tommy McCook and trumpet from Bobby Ellis – then given a slight fusion vibe from Mann's frequent 70s musical partner Pat Rebillot on a variety of keyboards! Herbie's flute snakes into the groove in this warm, easygoing way – very open in tone, and a surprisingly good fit for an instrument that isn't often used in such a setting. Titles include "Down On The Corner", "Cecilia", "I Know", "Stoned By You", "Bend Down Low", and "So Get It While You Can". CD

Michael Marcus on saxophone, Rahn Burton on organ, Nasheet Waits on drums, and Carlos Patato Valdes on congas. CD

Angular and modern work from guitarist Pat Martino – working here in a field of dark tones and colors that recalls some of his best moments of the 70s! The album's got Pat playing with a quintet that includes Joe Lovano, Gonzalo Rubacalba, Christian McBride, and Lewis Nash – and the tracks effortlessly bend around complicated rhythms while still managing a nice degree of swing. Titles include "Africa", "Dozen Down", "Think Tank", "The Phineas Trane", "Earthlings", "Before You Ask", and "Quatessence". CD

A split album – one side live, one in the studio – one that features guest work from Graham Nash, Spencer Davis, and Rita Coolidge – on titles that include "Pearly Queen", "Just A Song", "To Be Free", "Headkeeper", "World In Changes", and "Feelin Alright". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible treasure of Brazilian music – an obscure but landmark set from the great Jose Mauro, and one of the few records ever issued on the legendary Quartin label! There's a soaring brilliance here that easily matches the best early 70s work from Milton Nascimento and Edu Lobo – with perhaps some of the more complicated styles that Marcos Valle was also bringing to his music at the time too – all wrapped up with just the right mix of full orchestrations, acoustic guitar, and lead vocals from Jose. Production is amazing – possibly one of the best studio efforts ever from Roberto Quartin – and although issued on a tiny label, the record stands head and shoulders with the giants of MPB in the early 70s. Titles include "Obnoxius", "Memoria", "Ponto De Chamada", "Talisma", "Apocalipse", "Ancoradouro", "As Aventuras Sentimentais De Espiroqueta Camargo", and "Tarde De Nupcias". LP, Vinyl record album

The debut album from Maxayn – a funky female talent who deserves to be mentioned in the same territory as Betty Davis and Yvonne Fair! Like both of those artists, Maxayn isn't afraid to use an electric guitar when she wants – which puts her music somewhere in the territory of groups like The Bar-Kays and Black Nasty, and the way they could blend rock influences with funk and soul! No surprise, Maxayn's bandmates here include two members of Buddy Miles' group – who really help keep things deep – providing a massive foundation for the lady's incredible vocals. Titles include covers of the Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Gimme Shelter" – plus the original tunes "Trying For Days", "Jam For Jack", "Song", and "Doing Nothing Nothing Doing". LP, Vinyl record album

Mighty bold work from bassist Christian McBride – heading up the wonderful New Jawn quartet, a pianoless combo that really allows all players to shine with an unexpected sense of freedom! Drummer Nasheet Waits is helping McBride out with the rhythms – often with a touch that's nice and loose, and very open – a fluid way of moving around that seems to really encourage strong work from the trumpet of Josh Evans and tenor and bass clarinet of Marcus Strickland – both players who have a sense of structure, but are nicely loose too – really working with a sort of energy we never would have expected on a Christian McBride record many years back. Titles include "Moonchild", "Lurkers", "Dolphy Dust", "Obsequious", and "Head Bedlam". CD

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Features Jackie McLean on alto sax, Rene McLean on saxophones and flute, Hotep Idris Galeta on piano, Nat Reeves on bass, and Carl Allen on drums. CD

Charles McPherson on alto saxophone – with Mulgrew Miller on piano, Santi Debriano on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums. CD

A British group, but one who also bring in a bit of American straightforwardness as well – mostly in the way they strip down the vibe of the record, harmonize their vocals, and go for an approach that avoids some of the overblown modes of their contemporaries! There's definitely some great hard rock guitar in the mix – played by Les Nicol, who can really tear it up – yet the whole thing also has a way of sounding nicely different than late psych or nascent prog, maybe in part because of the American production and the album's initial release only in the US. Titles include "My Poor Mary", "Matthew", "Mark", "Luke", "John", "High In The Tower Of Coombe", and "Methuselah". CD reissue features seven more bonus tracks from the original sessions – including "Don't Ask Me & I Won't Lie", "Put Me Down Woman", "You Are My Sunshine", and other mixes of tunes on the album! CD

A gorgeous album of Brazilian vocal jazz – a set that blends bossa roots, Brazilian jazz, and some of the sunnier touches you might find coming from Bay Area interpretations of the music in the late 70s/early 80s – such as work by Joyce Cooling or Viva Brasil! Patricia King handles the lead vocals and piano – and she's got this wonderfully soaring style that's also a bit like some of the hipper European vocalists who emerged in the wake of Tania Maria's important 70s recordings in Paris. Orlando handles guitars and a bit of vocals too – and the group has great basslines, flute, and plenty of percussion to really keep things lively – all of which makes for one of the best examples we've ever heard of this sort of style. Titles include "Sambawalk", "Choro Sambaiao", "Cancao Da Chuva", "Calma Mulher", "Num Dia Azul", and "Sinal Verde". CD

A gorgeous album of Brazilian vocal jazz – a set that blends bossa roots, Brazilian jazz, and some of the sunnier touches you might find coming from Bay Area interpretations of the music in the late 70s/early 80s – such as work by Joyce Cooling or Viva Brasil! Patricia King handles the lead vocals and piano – and she's got this wonderfully soaring style that's also a bit like some of the hipper European vocalists who emerged in the wake of Tania Maria's important 70s recordings in Paris. Orlando handles guitars and a bit of vocals too – and the group has great basslines, flute, and plenty of percussion to really keep things lively – all of which makes for one of the best examples we've ever heard of this sort of style. Titles include "Sambawalk", "Choro Sambaiao", "Cancao Da Chuva", "Calma Mulher", "Num Dia Azul", and "Sinal Verde". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet guitar lines from Dom Minasi – a player who knows how to hit just the right sort of fluid vibe for this session! The album's got Dom soloing strongly over arrangements from Roger Kellaway, Byron Olson, and Bernard Ighner – all of whom bring some strong charts to the session, and give Minasi plenty of strong tones and colors to work with. The style shifts a bit throughout the record, but things are quite unified overall, with lots of compelling original tunes – and titles include "Moroccan Copper", "RK Bossa", "You've Been Away Too Long", "Sometime Boogie", "Bitzy", "Free", and "Theme From Prisoner Of Second Avenue". LP, Vinyl record album

A compelling little record from guitarist Dom Minasi – a player we only know from these few Blue Note albums cut right toward's the label's initial run – sweet albums that might have pushed Dom further, had they gotten better exposure! Minasi's a pretty talented guitarist – with a style that's somewhere between the quirkiness of Sonny Greenwich, and the smooth sound of Earl Klugh – and while the style here might show some of the elements of Klugh's initial work for Blue Note, the overall presentation is a lot more stripped down – never too smooth, and with plenty of focus on the jazz elements in Dom's music. Titles include "On Green Dolphin Street", "Spinning Wheel", "When Joanna Loved Me", and "With A Little Help From My Friends". LP, Vinyl record album

80's reissue that brings together tracks from two different Mingus Columbia sessions – one from 1959, and one from 1971. The '71 material is the extended "Shoes of The Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers", which is one of Mingus' best works from the decade. The other tracks are shorter, and were originally presented in edited form on the Mingus Dynasty album – but they're offered here in longer versions that include the previously-edited material. Titles include "Song With Orange", "Slop", and "Gunslinging Bird". CD

The Mingus Dynasty is a mighty great one – a lineup of players who both worked with Charles Mingus, and who were shaped by his genius – working together here in a septet format that recalls all the sharp, vibrant energy of Mingus in his classic years! Most tunes are originals by Charles – and the group features bold horn lines from Joe Farrell on tenor, Randy Brecker on trumpet, and Jimmy Knepper on drums – plus piano from Roland Hanna, drums from Billy Hart, and two different bassists – Aladar Pege and Mike Richmond – both working at once, to rival the power of Mingus on his own! Tracks are all longish – and titles include great versions of "Haitian Fight Song", "Ysabel's Table Dance", "Better Git Hit In Your Soul", "Fables Of Faubus", and "Consider Me Oh Lord". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that definitely lives up to its title – as alums from the Mingus band work together here in a set of fresh changes on classics from the master - titles that include "Celia", "Ysabel's Table Dance", "Caroline", and "Sue's Changes". Group includes Randy Brecker on trumpet, Jimmy Knepper on trombone, James Newton and Craig Handy on reeds, and Roland Hanna on piano. CD

With Ray Drummond on bass, Marvin "Smitty" Smith and Victor Lewis on drums, Craig Handy and Alex Foster on flutes and saxophones, George Adams on tenor saxophone, and Jack Walrath on trumpet. CD

Maybe the most compelling volume in this excellent series – a set that unearths all sorts of unusual moments from Joni Mitchell's years on Asylum Records – a stunningly creative period when she was really opening up her music, and also bringing in a lot of inspiration from jazz as well! All the material here has never been issued – and the set features a long live 1974 set with Tom Scott & The LA Express, plus other live performances from the time – and tracks from rare sessions done with James Taylor, Neil Young, Graham Nash and David Crosby too! But maybe the best material here is the huge array of session tracks and demos – for the albums For The Roses, Court & Spark, and Hissing Of Summer Lawns – really letting you hear Joni's creative process at work as she explores early versions of dozens of tunes, some very different than the famous recordings. The whole thing comes with a big booklet of notes and images – and includes Joni discussing her music with Cameron Crowe! CD

Great work from this blue-eyed soul group of the 70s – one who've been picked and kept alive by some key underground scenes over the years – like the Northern Soul world of the UK, and the beach music scene in the Carolinas! The group here have some key jazz contributions from Mike Melvoin on piano, Dennis Budimir on guitar, and Tom Scott on tenor – and as with their first record, there's a nice current of soul running through the music – a way of using soulful elements in subtle ways, which is really the appeal of these guys – as they really know how to slide in with a compelling style and a warm vocal approach! Titles include "Get It Up For Love", "I Can't Stop This Love Song", "When You Get Right Down To It", "Who's Foolin' Who", and "Magical Lady". CD features four bonus tracks, all singles – "Skysurf", "Can't Let You Down", "Gemini Lady", and "Love Connection". CD

One of the best-ever Hank Mobley albums on Blue Note – and a killer batch of soulful hardbop that was cut right around the same time as the classic No Room For Squares LP. In fact, the album contains work from 2 different sessions that filtered over to the Squares album – one that featured Mobley with Freddie Hubbard, Barry Harris, Paul Chambers, and Billy Higgins; and another that included Herbie Hancock, Donald Byrd, Butch Warren, and Philly Joe Jones. The work is incredibly sharp – with that wonderful mix of soul jazz, hardbop, and nascent spiritualism that Mobley brought to his best work of the 60s. Titles include "My Sin", "Straight Ahead", "The Turnaround", and "Pat N Chat". CD

Bitches Brew is the club, not the sound of the music – a night spot in Yokohama where European reedman Liudas Mockunas improvised these performances in the company of a range of different Japanese players! The lineup shifts with each track, as do the horns handled by Mockunas – who blows tenor and soprano sax – plus a very cool "water prepared soprano sax" – in the company of Akira Sakata on clarinet and alto, Masayo Koketsu on alto, Eiichi Hayashi on alto, Yoshihide Otomo on guitar, and Kazutoki Umezu on bass clarinet, alto, and soprano! All tracks are nice and long, and filled with the sort of sharp reed interplay you'd know from both the music of Mockunas or Sakata – on titles that include "Brown Line", "Green Line", "Red Line", "Blue Line", and "Yellow Line". CD

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Titles include "Perdi La Fe", "Caricas Cubanas", "Dolor Y Pena", "Por Un Madre", "Mulata Con Cola", "Rezo En La Noche", and "El Conde Negro". LP, Vinyl record album

With George Cables on piano, David Williams on bass, Lewis Nash on Drums, and Roy Hargrove on trumpet, – plus Abbey Lincoln on guest vocals. CD

An imagined bit of rootsiness from Tracy Nelson and Mother Earth – recorded with a nicely countrified setting at the Jack Clement studios in Nashville, then given a sweeter mixdown back in LA! As with other Mother Earth albums, Nelson's strong lead presence is what really makes the record work – slightly folksy, but really coming across here with a surprising degree of soul that moves the simple country rock mode into a deeper sound than we might have guessed. Titles include "Tonight The Sky's About To Cry", "Temptation Took Control Of Me & I Fell", "Soul Of Sadness", "I'll Be Long Gone", "Bring Me Home", and "There Is No End". LP, Vinyl record album

A great 70s album from this excellent Brazilian harmony group! Their sound is a different from that of Quarteto Em Cy or Tamba Trio, and their singing is less filled with straight jazzy harmonies than it is some off-kilter vocal lines that weave together and challenge each other throughout the tracks – in a really beautiful way. While they're best known for their groundbreaking work from the 60's, this LP's a good batch of tracks from the 70's that still retains the feel of the group. Cuts include "Fantasia", "Angelica", "Nascente", and a cover of Caetano Veloso's "Tropicalia"! LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful! This is perhaps one of the greatest records ever by this legendary Brazilian vocal group – and the album's a stunning mix of post-bossa arrangements, and the more baroque sort that some Brazilian groups were using at the time. Roberto Menescal produced the album – and one of the highlights is the group's incredible version of Milton Nascimento's "Cravo E Canela", and an amazing take on Marcos Valle's "O Cafona". Other tracks include "Valsinha", "Confirmacao", "Maria Das Dores", "Minha Historia", and "Mudei De Ideia". LP, Vinyl record album

Tremendous work from the great Mark Murphy – a great reminder that he's still one of the greatest jazz vocalists to come our way in the past 50 years! The short set's a loving tribute to the late Shirley Horn – delivered by Mark in some of his most personal, poetic modes in years – with backing from a trio that features Alex Minasian on piano and Curtis Lundy on bass – plus guest trumpet from Til Bronner on two of the album's tracks! Bronner's trumpet rings out warmly alongside Murphy's vocals – which have the same edge we've loved for so many years. The pairing is one that would definitely make Shirley Horn smile – and titles include "A Beautiful Friendship", "Get Out Of Town", "Here's To Life", and "But Beautiful". LP, Vinyl record album

Tremendous work from the great Mark Murphy – a great reminder that he's still one of the greatest jazz vocalists to come our way in the past 50 years! The short set's a loving tribute to the late Shirley Horn – delivered by Mark in some of his most personal, poetic modes in years – with backing from a trio that features Alex Minasian on piano and Curtis Lundy on bass – plus guest trumpet from Til Bronner on two of the album's tracks! Bronner's trumpet rings out warmly alongside Murphy's vocals – which have the same edge we've loved for so many years. The pairing is one that would definitely make Shirley Horn smile – and titles include "A Beautiful Friendship", "Get Out Of Town", "Here's To Life", and "But Beautiful". CD

Classic-styled soul from Musiq Soulchild – his debut set for Def Soul, and the start of a great run of mellow grooves! As you might guess from the compressed wording of the title, the tunes here have a great set of flow – a laidback, kicked-back sort of sound that's not nearly as full-on or swaggering as other male soul of the time. Musiq's even more relaxed than D'Angelo here – and the tunes are awash in warm keyboard lines and mellow bubbling beats – all with plenty of room for Musiq to stretch out in some sweeeeeet vocal lines. Titles include "Speechless", "You & Me", "Just Friends (Sunny)", "Girl Next Door", "Mary Go Round", "Love", "Poparatzi", and "You Be Alright". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that's mostly solo from guitarist Fabiano Do Nascimento – yet one that's not like the solo Brazilian guitar records from years back, as Fabiano handles a range of different instruments, often overlaying them during the course of a performance – so that he works here with a wonderful array of sounds, tones, and colors, spun out in a really beautiful way! The guitarist's previous records have always had a careful sense of sound – but here, his ear for performance and recording has really taken off – with a sonic depth that's almost at an ECM level at times, but a lot warmer too – as Fabiano serves up sounds on 6, 7, and 10 string guitars – plus E baritone guitar, Oktav guitar, bass, percussion, keyboards, and pedals. There's some very slight guest work on the set – drums on one track, percussion on another, and bass on a third – but almost all the sounds come from Fabiano, on titles that include "Bari", "Abertura", "Paperstrings", "Agua De Estrellas", "Meianoite", "Reflections", and "Coisa 2". CD

A set that's mostly solo from guitarist Fabiano Do Nascimento – yet one that's not like the solo Brazilian guitar records from years back, as Fabiano handles a range of different instruments, often overlaying them during the course of a performance – so that he works here with a wonderful array of sounds, tones, and colors, spun out in a really beautiful way! The guitarist's previous records have always had a careful sense of sound – but here, his ear for performance and recording has really taken off – with a sonic depth that's almost at an ECM level at times, but a lot warmer too – as Fabiano serves up sounds on 6, 7, and 10 string guitars – plus E baritone guitar, Oktav guitar, bass, percussion, keyboards, and pedals. There's some very slight guest work on the set – drums on one track, percussion on another, and bass on a third – but almost all the sounds come from Fabiano, on titles that include "Bari", "Abertura", "Paperstrings", "Agua De Estrellas", "Meianoite", "Reflections", and "Coisa 2". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful record – one that takes off from the spare sound of earlier albums by guitarist Fabiano Do Nascimento, and adds in some smaller group instrumentation that really sends things over the top! Fabiano's still got all the amazing touches on his instrument – played at a level that's in a legacy of Brazilian acoustic right up there with Baden Powell or Luiz Bonfa – mixed this time around with a shifting palette of instrumentation that includes percussion, flutes, violin, cello, and tenor – all elements used in ways that are still spare, yet shade the music in wonderfully! While we've loved Fabiano's airy explorations in the past, we love him even more here – as the album's as full of color and scope as you'd guess from the image on the cover, or its evocative reference to Rio Bonito – on titles that include "Strings For My Guitar", "Coletivo Universal", "Kaleidoscope", "Retratos", "Theme In C", and "Emotivo". CD

Soaring, spacious work from Milton Nascimento – an album done with musical backings from frequent partner Wagner Tiso, and songwriting help from Fernando Brant – all in the best sophisticated mode of their Minas Geraes generation! The sound is occasionally a bit more mellow than some of Nascimento's other albums – but that also enforces the depth and ambition of the compositions too – as there's a quality here that's extremely thoughtful, and almost visionary – Milton pausing a bit to look towards new horizons, then reaching out beautifully with his soulful vocals. Other guests include Flavio Venturini and Ney Matogrosso – and titles include "Amor Amigo", "De Magia De Danca E Pes", "Noticias Do Brasil", "Vida", "Cacador De Mim", "Sonho De Moco", and "Nos Bailes Da Vida". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album from Milton Nascimento – not only a set that really marked his growth as a singer, songwriter, and overall musical visionary – but also a record that really showcased the collaborative spirit that would be a part of his music for years to come! The album features Milton with his "corner club" – an elite group of musicians and songwriters from the early days of his career – including greats like Lo Borges and Wagner Tiso – who'd already contributed to his music, but really get a chance to stand in the spotlight here. Borges is particularly fantastic, and shines on the massively beautiful cut "Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser", which begins the album – and which is still one of the best Nascimento cuts all these many years later! The sound of the record is impossible to describe adequately – but it's got a fantastically soulful vibe, soaring and joyous, and really expanded through the participation of the other rich talents. The vocals are mixed perfectly, and the songwriting's brilliant all the way through – and titles include "San Vincete", "Lila", "Paisagem Da Janela", "Cravo E Canela", "Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser", "Os Povos", "Nada Sera Como Antes", "Um Gosto De Sol", and "O Trem Azul". CD

An important American album for the great Milton Nascimento – his first recorded in the US since the earlier Courage set for A&M – and like that record, a perfect bridge between the sound of his work in Brazil and the global modes that he had to offer! A key part of the set is the participation of Wayne Shorter on saxes – an artist that Milton had recorded with on the Native Dancer record – and the group also features work from Herbie Hancock on piano, Raul De Souza on trombone, Toninho Horta on guitar, and Airto on percussion – all jazzy talents who really keep things lean and groovy – in a style that's different than some of Nascimento's 70s work in Brazil. Tracks include "Raca", "The Call", "Os Povos", "Fairy Tale Song", "Francisco", "One Coin",and a nice remake of the classic "Cravo E Canela". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the more ambitious projects put together by Milton Nascimento – a soaring work that takes the previous sense of majesty in his music even further than before! The tracks were all arranged and directed by Milton, with writing help from Pedro Casaldaliga and Petro Tierra – on titles that include "Em Nome Do Deus", "Offertorio", "Rito Da Paz", "O Senhor E Santo", and "Louvacao A Mariama". CD

A beautiful Milton Nascimento collection from the early 80s – one that almost returns to some of the more intimate modes of his earliest years, while still holding onto the sense of majesty that he picked up during the 70s too! Milton's vocals are wonderful, as always – filled with a raspy sense of charm that really grabs us, no matter what the setting – and the instrumentation ranges from smaller, intimate acoustic backings, to a few tunes that bring in some touches of strings or larger arrangements – yet usually never too overpolished at all. CD brings together material from the albums Cacador De Mim and Anima – and titles include "Anima", "De Magica De Danca E Pes", "Filho", "Evocacao Das Montanhas", "Noticias Do Brasil", and "No Analices". LP, Vinyl record album

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