Passin' Thru, 2013. New Copy
A great large group project from reedman Oliver Lake – and a great reminder of his mighty strengths as a writer and arranger too! Right from the start, Lake's had a great ability to move between smaller, intimate settings and more ensemble-based music – and here, he's at the helm of a
...
|
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
...
|
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
...
|
Prestige, Late 50s. New Copy 5CD
John Coltrane made plenty of great music during his late 50s time at the Prestige Records label – some of it under his own name, and a lot more while working with other leaders! This package presents the full recordings from that second half of Coltrane's Prestige performances –
...
|
BYG/Charly (UK), 1969. New Copy
A tremendous bit of jazz history – 2 classic Archie Shepp albums on 1 CD! Yasmina features Archie Shepp at his spiritual best – recording in Paris in 1969, and absorbing a heck of a lot of pan-African influences! The centerpiece of the album is the amazing "Yasmina" –
...
|
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
...
|
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 –
...
|
Columbia/Wounded Bird, 1978. New Copy
An overlooked gem from Ramsey's 70s years at Columbia – a record that has him grooving over larger arrangements, sweeping along in a great blend of soul and class that makes for some really great numbers! Side one of the album features Ramsey playing keyboards on the extended "Legacy&quo
...
|
Blue Note/Jazz FM (UK), 1977/1978. New Copy
Two stone classics from Ronnie Laws – back to back on a single CD! Friends & Strangers is a stone classic from reedman Ronnie Laws – and an album that really helped set a whole new standard for funky fusion in the 70s! Laws works here with great Wayne Henderson production –
...
|
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
...
|
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
...
|
Bethlehem, Mid 50s. Very Good+
A warm and laidback date that has Puma's ringing tones alongside additional guitar from Barry Galbraith, vibes from Don Elliott, bass from Vinnie Burke, and drums from Ted Sommer. The mix of vibes and two guitars is about as heavenly as you can imagine – light and fluid, but still with
...
|
American Music, Mid 40s. Very Good+
...
|
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
...
|
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
...
|
Riverside, 1939. Very Good+
Eight piano improvisations – recorded in 1939, issued here for the first time!
...
|
Capitol, Mid 40s. Very Good+
40s recordings by Leadbelly, Nappy Lamare, Zutty Singleton, and Eddy Miller.
...
|
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".
...
|
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
...
|
Saturn, 1978. Very Good+
If this is disco, point us in the direction of Studio 54! The album's one of Ra's greatest from the 70s – recorded in Italy in 1978, and featuring some incredibly otherworldly keyboards. The track "Disco 3000" is an incredible workout on synthesizer, with a tiny bit of drum
...
|
|
