Cuneiform, 1974/1975. New Copy 2 CDs
Incredible sounds from this important Brit trio of the 70s – a wonderful combination of the reeds of Mike Osborne, Alan Skidmore, and John Surman! There's some wonderful use of electronics by Surman, who mixes sounds in sparingly, in a way that sounds beautiful with the saxes of Skidmore and
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Columbia/Think (Japan), Late 60s/1970s. New Copy
An amazing dip into the best years of Japanese jazz – that special time when the nation was really finding its own musical voice – and turning out some sounds that are still pretty darn incredible all these many years later! Despite the dates in the title, most of these tracks hail
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Okeh, 2013. New Copy
Acoustic sounds from two players who made their mark during the fusion generation – and a wonderful illustration that at their core, both Bob James and David Sanborn are pretty darn great jazz musicians! The album's got a laidback vibe that's wonderful – these flowing lines on acoustic
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Prestige/BGP (UK), 1972. New Copy (reissue)
A full funky session from master drummer Bernard Purdie – a set that expands out his previous Prestige vibe, and almost goes for a soundtrack scope to match the record's Shaft title! The set leads off with a great take on the Isaac Hayes hit – one that follows in the same fully-flowing
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CTI/Wounded Bird, 1970. New Copy
One of Joe Farrell's first LPs as a leader – and a stellar session that's easily one of the early high points for the legendary CTI label! Farrell had been making some great noise in the underground during the late 60s – but here, he bursts forth as one heck of a soulful cat –
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Warner/Wounded Bird, 1974. New Copy
Seminal sides from Herbie Hancock – amazing material recorded for Warner Brothers in the years between his time at Blue Note and his big fame at Columbia Records – all sides that definitely show Hancock as one mighty righteous cat! Herbie's really stretching past his more conventional
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Concord, 2009. New Copy
Core grooves from trumpeter Terence Blanchard and combo – but mixed with some compelling words from Cornel West and Bilal! The record's a jazz album at its core, but the presence of West and Bilal makes for a bit of a change, too – kind of an added level of consciousness on top of
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RCA/Ogun (UK), 1975. New Copy
Quite an unusual project from pianist Keith Tippett – a group that works in sparing, sensitive sounds – all at a level much gentler than other Tippett recordings of the time! There's a meditative, contemplative feel to the record – but one that's also inflected with some of the
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Pacific Jazz, 1955. Very Good (pic cover)
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Hall Of Fame Jazz Greats, Early 50s. Very Good+
Wonderful early work by Stan – originally recorded for the Roost label, then compiled here for the Jazztone LP series. The sides are by Getz's quartet or quintet, the groundbreaking assemblage that featured Jimmy Raney on guitar, whose icy clear tone was a perfect counterpart for Getz's
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Pacific Jazz/PA USA, 1954. Very Good+
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
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Roulette, 1959. Very Good
A compelling little record from pianist Phineas Newborn – and we don't just mean that because of it's bizarre image of "instrument love" on the cover! Newborn's got a touch on the piano that's unlike anyone else – kind of a key link between a number of different 50s modes
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Mark, Late 70s. Very Good
A groovy vanity jazz album – with lots of electric piano and Hammond, and a bit of synth, too! Features a version of "Shaft", plus a seven minuted "Stevie Wonder Medley".
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Jubilee, 1955. Very Good
One of Jackie McLean's earliest dates as a leader – a stone cooker that already shows an edge that sets him apart from other artists! The feel here is similar to McLean's albums for Prestige at the same time – a mixture of bop and some of the modernist themes that often surfaced in
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Hat Hut (Switzerland), 1981. Near Mint- Gatefold
With Kuhn on tenor, alto, and bass clarinet – plus William Parker on tuba, Phillip Wilson on percussion, Bill Horvitz on guitar, Wayne Horvitz on electro-acoustic piano, and Mark Miller on vibes.
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RCA (France), 1967. Near Mint-
A beautiful bit of hardbop that often gets overlooked because of the "leaderless" quality of the session. One batch of tracks on the record has Jackie McLean playing some beautiful rough interpretations of Bird on the standards "Old Folks" and "Embraceable You". The
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Soul Note (Italy), 1984. Near Mint-
An unlikely pairing, but a great one too – quite an unusual chapter in the career of pianist Ran Blake – but in a way, a great set to unlock the soulful undercurrents that have always been in his music! About half the tracks feature the tenor of Houston Person joining in –
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King, Late 50s. Good
Nicely grooving work from organist Bill Doggett – in a stepping R&B mode that's in the style of his more famous work on tracks like "Hold It" or "Honky Tonk" (neither of which are on this album.) The group's a quartet, with Percy France on tenor, Shep Shepherd on
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Atlantic, 1955. Very Good
One of the most ambitious recordings ever from Bill Russo – the composer/arranger who first rose to fame with Stan Kenton, and who's working here in an even more modern extension of Kentonite ideals! Side one of the record features Russo's beautiful composition "The World Of Alcina"
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RCA, 1935/1940. Very Good+
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