A beautiful swan song from the late, great John Hicks – sadly no longer with us on earth, but still making our richer with albums like this! Even in his later years, Hicks continued to evolve tremendously as a player – and this final album shows facets of his talents never expected in the early days – a solo sensitivity on quieter ballads, a pulsating rhythmic quality on Latin-tinged numbers, and still the powerful voice that emerged on his first dates as a sideman back in the 60s. Although the record offers a few different modes – three solo piano tracks, one duet with tenor, and some added percussion – the session's still a really unified one, all recorded on the same day with the intention of this full album always in mind – and not just scattered tracks put together after Hicks' death. The core quartet features Javon Jackson on tenor, Curtis Lundy on bass, and Victor Jones on drums – and 4 tracks feature Ray Mantilla on percussion and Elis Wood on flute. Titles include "One Peaceful Moment", "Sunset Blues", "Peanut Butter Two", "I Remember Clifford", "Sweet Love Of Mine", "Mambo Influenciado", "Hold It Down", and "Once I Loved". CD

David Murray on tenor sax, John Hicks on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Andrew Cyrille on drums. CD

With Ray Drummond on bass and Victor Lewis in drums. CD

One of David Murray's straighter sides from the early 80s – and exactly the kind of record to prove to the world that he could be a strong tenor traditionalist while still bringing an inventive sound to play! Murray's tone is deep and soulful, and often quite lyrical – set nicely in a quartet that features warm piano from John Hicks, bass from Reggie Workman, and drums from Ed Blackwell. The Workman/Blackwell component ensure that things still have an edge at times, even when swinging – and the tunes are a mix of Murray originals and a few standards. Titles include "Morning Song", "Light Blue Frolic", "Off Season", "Duet", "Body and Soul", and "Jitterbug Waltz". LP, Vinyl record album

Features David Murray on tenor saxophone, John Hicks on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums – plus guest tenor Branford Marsalis on "Fast Life" and "Crucificado". CD

A brilliant 80s set from Pharoah Sanders – a record that has him a much more understated setting than some of his other albums from the time – but one that's maybe even more soulful and searching overall! The great one plays blistering tenor right from the start – in a quartet with John Hicks on piano, Curtis Lundy on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums – all players who have this way of doing a lot with a little, especially in the rhythm department – where they seem to give Sanders some of his strongest sense of groove since the key albums for Theresa. Muhammad's got this tight sense of timekeeping, but with a looseness that we love – and Lundy's warm soulful bass does more than enough to give the set a sound bottom – and Hicks' free lyrical piano works nicely with Sanders' spiritual horn. Titles include a remake of "You've Got To Have Freedom", plus "Naima", "Origin", "Speak Low", "After The Morning", and "Africa". Also features the tracks "Duo" and "Heart To Heart" – not on the vinyl release! CD

A brilliant 80s set from Pharoah Sanders – a record that has him a much more understated setting than some of his other albums from the time – but one that's maybe even more soulful and searching overall! The great one plays blistering tenor right from the start – in a quartet with John Hicks on piano, Curtis Lundy on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums – all players who have this way of doing a lot with a little, especially in the rhythm department – where they seem to give Sanders some of his strongest sense of groove since the key albums for Theresa. Muhammad's got this tight sense of timekeeping, but with a looseness that we love – and Lundy's warm soulful bass does more than enough to give the set a sound bottom – and Hicks' free lyrical piano works nicely with Sanders' spiritual horn. Titles include a remake of "You've Got To Have Freedom", plus "Naima", "Origin", "Speak Low", "After The Morning", and "Africa". Also features the tracks "Duo" and "Heart To Heart" – not on the vinyl release! CD

Stunning live work from the great Pharoah Sanders – a set that's right up there with his best for the Teresa label in the 80s, but which also has some of the bite of his later Impulse material too! Tracks are long and modal – that groove that always seems to unlock the most soulful, mystical currents in Sanders' tenor – and the group is superb, with this beautiful work on bass from the young Curtis Lundy, plus John Hicks on piano and Idris Muhammad on drums – the latter of whom is in that looser mode he reopened in the 80s, and very different than his 70s funk years. Tracks are all nice and long – and titles include "Dr Pitt", "Greetings To Idris", "You Gotta Have Freedom", "It's Easy To Remember", and "The Creator Has A Masterplan". CD

Stunning live work from the great Pharoah Sanders – a set that's right up there with his best for the Teresa label in the 80s, but which also has some of the bite of his later Impulse material too! Tracks are long and modal – that groove that always seems to unlock the most soulful, mystical currents in Sanders' tenor – and the group is superb, with this beautiful work on bass from the young Curtis Lundy, plus John Hicks on piano and Idris Muhammad on drums – the latter of whom is in that looser mode he reopened in the 80s, and very different than his 70s funk years. Tracks are all nice and long – and titles include "Dr Pitt", "Greetings To Idris", "You Gotta Have Freedom", "It's Easy To Remember", and "The Creator Has A Masterplan". CD

Wonderful live material from Pharoah Sanders – a key record in a time when the tenor genius was really coming back into his own in the 80s – finding a new level of soul and spiritualism after his early run of albums on Impulse Records! The group here are a well-matched array of players who would accompany Pharoah on other key musical journeys at the time – John Hicks on piano, Walter Booker on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums – the last of whom is also going through a righteous transformation as he gets past some of his funk and club modes of the 70s. The centerpiece of the album is a long quartet version of "You've Got To Have Freedom" – one that's nice and grooving, but in a very different way than the more famous studio version. Another real winner is "Pharomba", a 13 minute long track that has a gentle groove and some extremely nice work on tenor from Pharoah! LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic 80s work from Pharoah Sanders – with a vibe that's a perfect extension of his classic work for the Impulse label! The album has Pharoah working with an amazing group – Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, John Hicks and Joe Bonner on piano, Art Davis on bass, and either Elvin Jones or Billy Higgins on drums. The sound is remarkably fresh – soaring and spiritual, but also more focused than in earlier years, with a great amount of soulful warmth. And although extra elements are added – like vocals, vibes, and added percussion – Pharoah's solos still dominate the whole album beautifully. Titles include "Rejoice", "Origin", "Moments Notice", "Central Park West", "Farah", "Ntjilo Ntjilo/Bird Song", and "Nigerian Juju Hilife". LP, Vinyl record album

Dave Young with Oscar Peterson, Cedar Walton, Tommy Flanagan, John Hicks, and Mulgrew Miller. CD

Gary Bartz plays live at Birdland – and the results are quite different than both other famous albums at the club, and most of Gary's other work of the time! There's a tightly swinging feel to most of the set – a style that's more hardbop than we remember from Gary's roots, but which still has all the open, exploratory tones we've always loved in Bartz's horn. The group features Claudio Roditi on trumpet, John Hicks on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Al Foster on drums – a rhythm section who really bring a lot to the set, and provide just the sort of leaping, loping energy to drive the horn players strongly. 4 of the album's 5 tracks are over 10 minutes long – and titles include "Cousins", "It's Easy To Remember", "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes", "West 42nd Street", and "Speak Low". CD

One of the excellent avant sides for Muse from the early 70's, and a record that features Lester Bowie playing in a number of different settings – all with a sound that's different from his Art Ensemble recordings, and from his work for ECM. One track has him playing a duet with pianist John Hicks, another has him in a percussion quartet with Philip Wilson, Jerome Cooper, and Charles Shaw, and some have him in a larger group with players like Cecil McBee, Hicks, Julius Hemphill, and brother Joseph Bowie. Tracks include "Fast Last", "F Troop Rides Again", and "Lonely Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

A great pairing of these two inventive reedmen – recorded in wonderfully warm company at Ronnie Scott's in London, with a fluid, open feel that marks the album as a standout in the 80s work of both players! Freeman's on tenor and soprano, and Blythe is on alto sax – and together, they blow these interwoven lines at the start of most tracks – then break out in free-thinking, soul drenched solos – urged on by the rhythmic work of John Hicks on piano, Donald Pate on bass, Norman Hedman on percussion, and Victor Jones on drums. Hicks brings in a lyrical touch that seems to shape the work of both players – and titles include "Naima's Love Song", "Avotja", "Footprints", "Luminous", and "You Are Too Beautiful". CD

John Hicks on piano, George Mraz on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums! CD

An extended suite for a large ensemble conducted by Gunther Schuller and featuring 30 (!) musicians including Randy Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, John Handy, Bobby Watson, John Hicks, Sir Roland Hanna, John Abercrombie and Victor Lewis. CD

Murray's tenor and bass clarinet are nicely set in a warm lyrical quartet with John Hicks, Ray Drummond, and Ed Blackwell. The record features some nice long tracks that have Murray playing mostly inside, but with enough soul and raw talent to keep things moving nicely. Titles include "Walter's Waltz", "Ming's Samba", and "Spooning". CD

One of David Murray's straighter sides from the early 80s – and exactly the kind of record to prove to the world that he could be a strong tenor traditionalist while still bringing an inventive sound to play! Murray's tone is deep and soulful, and often quite lyrical – set nicely in a quartet that features warm piano from John Hicks, bass from Reggie Workman, and drums from Ed Blackwell. The Workman/Blackwell component ensure that things still have an edge at times, even when swinging – and the tunes are a mix of Murray originals and a few standards. Titles include "Morning Song", "Light Blue Frolic", "Off Season", "Duet", "Body and Soul", and "Jitterbug Waltz". CD

A brilliant 80s set from Pharoah Sanders – a record that has him a much more understated setting than some of his other albums from the time – but one that's maybe even more soulful and searching overall! The great one plays blistering tenor right from the start – in a quartet with John Hicks on piano, Curtis Lundy on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums – all players who have this way of doing a lot with a little, especially in the rhythm department – where they seem to give Sanders some of his strongest sense of groove since the key albums for Theresa. Muhammad's got this tight sense of timekeeping, but with a looseness that we love – and Lundy's warm soulful bass does more than enough to give the set a sound bottom – and Hicks' free lyrical piano works nicely with Sanders' spiritual horn. Titles include a remake of "You've Got To Have Freedom", plus "Naima", "Origin", "Speak Low", "After The Morning", and "Africa". Also features the tracks "Duo" and "Heart To Heart" – not on the vinyl release! Great 2CD version – with a bonus CD that features two alternates of "Speak Low", and one more of "After The Morning". CD

A stunning little record from Pharoah Sanders – a double-length set that has all the soul and spirit of his Impulse Records classics, but with a very different vibe! There's a sense of focus here that's tremendous – as if Sanders has found a way to take the energy of his side-long performances and hone them to a level that's maybe even more expressive in its economy – maybe a streamlining of spiritual jazz for the new decade, but not at a level that tries to sound commercial or mainstream at all. Sanders is joined here by a host of equally well-voiced players who really match his energy – Joe Bonner and John Hicks on piano, Eddie Henderson on flugelhorn, Ray Drummond on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums – and the set also features a bit of great work on koto from Yoko Ito Gates as well. Titles include the classic "You've Got To Have Freedom" – a fantastic soaring anthem of joy – plus "After The Rain", "Soledad", "Greetings To Idris", "Doktor Pitt", "Think About The One", "Bedria", and "Yemenja". CD

Fantastic 80s work from Pharoah Sanders – with a vibe that's a perfect extension of his classic work for the Impulse label! The album has Pharoah working with an amazing group – Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, John Hicks and Joe Bonner on piano, Art Davis on bass, and either Elvin Jones or Billy Higgins on drums. The sound is remarkably fresh – soaring and spiritual, but also more focused than in earlier years, with a great amount of soulful warmth. And although extra elements are added – like vocals, vibes, and added percussion – Pharoah's solos still dominate the whole album beautifully. Titles include "Rejoice", "Origin", "Moments Notice", "Central Park West", "Farah", "Ntjilo Ntjilo/Bird Song", and "Nigerian Juju Hilife". CD

A lost classic from Art Blakey – quite different from some of his Blue Note work! The album's a very swinging mid 60s session, noteworthy for the presence of John Gilmore, recording here in one of his few appearances away from Sun Ra. Gilmore wails on tenor, and he sounds great next to Lee Morgan, who had, at this point, briefly returned to play with Blakey, and fit in with the group beautifully. John Hicks is on piano, and contributes a few nice tracks – and Curtis Fuller rounds out the sextet nicely, hitting some of those great gutbuckety notes that he only ever seemed to manage when he worked with Blakey! The whole album's great – and tracks include "Little Hughie", "Olympia", "One For Gamal", and "Faith". Also has cool design with replica of original inside LP booklet! CD

Three albums from reedman Arthur Blythe – served up in one nicely-priced set! Retroflection is a great showcase for the alto talents of Arthur Blythe – a set that's maybe a bit more stripped-down than some of his bigger label albums of the 80s, but in a way that really lets you focus on his strength of tone and phrasing! The group's a quartet, working in an open live setting – John Hicks on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Bobby Battle on drums – and while all players certainly know how to go inside, they keep things swinging and relatively straight at the core – while Blythe waxes beautifully on the alto, with these sharp edges that mix nicely with more lyrical moments. Titles include "Jana's Delight", "JB Blues", "Lenox Avenue Breakdown", "Faceless Woman", and "Peacemaker". Calling Card is a great little record from Arthur Blythe – mostly straight ahead, but pretty darn freewheeling too – thanks to a selection of long tracks that really let him open up on alto sax! The setting is a quartet – nicely put-together with John Hicks on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Bobby Battle on drums – a rhythm trio who do equally well on the album's spiritual tracks and its more soulful groovers. The performance was recorded live, but with a nice degree of intimacy, especially on Blythe's horn – and titles include "Hip Dripper", "Naima's Love Song", "As Of Yet", "Blue Blues", "Break Tune", and "Elaborations". On Hipmotism, there's a really hypnotic blend of sounds – the always-strong alto work of Arthur Blythe, whose solos are a key part of the strength of the set – matched with a super-strong lineup that includes Hamiet Bluiett on baritone sax, Kelvin Bell on guitar, Gust William Tsilis on vibes, Arto Tuncboyaci on percussion, and Famoudou Don Moye on drums! There's a slight crackle of electricity at times, but never in a way that dampens the soul, especially that of a leader – and while earlier efforts of this sort might have gotten mired in too much criss-crossing of modes, this set comes off perfectly – a fresh entry in Blythe's wonderfully storied career. Titles include "Miss Eugie", "Hipmotism", "My Son Ra", "Bush Baby", "Dear Dessa", "Cousin Sidney", "Shadows", and "Dance Benita Dance". CD

Drummer Cecil Brooks III leads a tight New York soul jazz combo through a set of tracks that remind us a lot of his strong work for Muse Records in years past. The group features Don Braden on tenor and John Hicks on piano – and Hicks gets a fair bit of space to work out on a few of the album's gentler numbers, offset nicely by some of the angular numbers composed by Brooks. Titles include "Swamp Run", "Sweet Summer Breeze", "Dreamy", "The Voice Of The Saxophone", "Yvette", "Hill District", and "Spontaneous Percussion". CD

Unreleased material from a really wonderful group – one that features killer alto work from the great Sonny Red – working here in the same kind of small group setting he brought to late 60s performances with Donald Byrd! Yet this time around, the trumpeter is Blue Mitchell – who blows with a lot more bite than on some of his records of the time – really taking his time to craft out long solos on the very extended tracks from this live performance – reminding us that he can be a hell of a creative soloist when not caught up in some of the larger arrangements that would mark some points of his career! Red is wonderful too – with that raspy tone that often makes his alto feel more like a tenor – and the group's also got killer piano work from John Hicks – just starting out here, and full of fire. The rest of the quintet features Joe Chambers on drums and Gene Taylor on bass – and the material has never been issued, and includes the tracks "Fungi Mama", "A Portrait Of Jenny", "Blue Spring Variation", "If I Should Lose You", and "All Members". CD

An extremely well-titled set from the legendary Hank Mobley – one of his key Blue Notes of the 60s, and an album that glides along with an undeniable sense of joy, life, and soul! Mobley's really opening up his groove at this point – moving way beyond standard hard bop and soul jazz riffs, into a field of complicated rhythms – and a flurry of sound that features his mighty tenor atop a crack sextet that includes Blue Mitchell and Jackie McLean. John Hicks handles piano on the session – and brings in a beautiful range of colors and tones – and rhythm's handled by the skipping drums of Billy Higgins and the always-solid bass of Bob Cranshaw. Titles include "Two & One", "High Voltage", "No More Goodbyes", "Advance Notion", and "Bossa De Luxe". CD

Murray's tenor and bass clarinet are nicely set in a warm lyrical quartet with John Hicks, Ray Drummond, and Ed Blackwell. The record features some nice long tracks that have Murray playing mostly inside, but with enough soul and raw talent to keep things moving nicely. Titles include "Walter's Waltz", "Ming's Samba", and "Spooning". LP, Vinyl record album

A tribute to the late Ray Charles, who gave David Fathead Newman his start back in 50s, where he emerged as a key soloist before breaking out on his own. The album features Newman on tenor, plus Steve Nelson on vibes, John Hicks on piano, John Menegon on bass, and Winard Harper on drums! CD

A soul jazz gem from drummer Alvin Queen – one of the overlooked treasures on his own Nilva Records label from the 80s! The set's a monster all the way through – a cut above so many other sides like this from the time, and put together with a sock-solid energy that almost recalls earlier brilliance on labels like Blue Note or Prestige! Queen's at the head of the group on drums – pushing the lineup with Blakey-like intensity, yet in a slightly looser, more open feel overall – especially when it comes to the structure of the solos. Players include Manny Boyd on saxes, Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Robin Eubanks on trombone, John Hicks on piano, and Ray Drummond on bass – the last of whom produced the record with a very jazz-sensitive ear! Titles include "Hassan", "Europia", "Jammin Uptown", "After Liberation", and "Mind Wine". CD also features the bonus track "Hear Me Drummin". CD

A great amalgamation of players – and a quintet with powers far beyond their hokey name! The group's working in a polished approach to post-bop – a bit like styles heard on some of the Timeless and Steeplechase sessions of the late 70s, but with a more directive approach that really pushes the strong tunes on the set. The quintet features Charlie Rouse on tenor, Benny Bailey on trumpet, Albert Dailey on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Keith Copeland on drums – all working their way through longish tunes by composers that include John Hicks and Fritz Pauer, as well as Rouse and Dailey. The album features a beautiful take on Hicks' great tune "Naima's Love Song", plus the tracks "After The Morning", "Spelunke", "Lil Sherry", and "Mr McGhee". CD

Stunning live work from the great Pharoah Sanders – a set that's right up there with his best for the Teresa label in the 80s, but which also has some of the bite of his later Impulse material too! Tracks are long and modal – that groove that always seems to unlock the most soulful, mystical currents in Sanders' tenor – and the group is superb, with this beautiful work on bass from the young Curtis Lundy, plus John Hicks on piano and Idris Muhammad on drums – the latter of whom is in that looser mode he reopened in the 80s, and very different than his 70s funk years. Tracks are all nice and long – and titles include "Dr Pitt", "Greetings To Idris", "You Gotta Have Freedom", "It's Easy To Remember", and "The Creator Has A Masterplan". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful live material from Pharoah Sanders – a key record in a time when the tenor genius was really coming back into his own in the 80s – finding a new level of soul and spiritualism after his early run of albums on Impulse Records! The group here are a well-matched array of players who would accompany Pharoah on other key musical journeys at the time – John Hicks on piano, Walter Booker on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums – the last of whom is also going through a righteous transformation as he gets past some of his funk and club modes of the 70s. The centerpiece of the album is a long quartet version of "You've Got To Have Freedom" – one that's nice and grooving, but in a very different way than the more famous studio version. Another real winner is "Pharomba", a 13 minute long track that has a gentle groove and some extremely nice work on tenor from Pharoah! This 2LP version also features a great bonus track – "Doktor Pitt", nice and long, and not on the original LP release! LP, Vinyl record album

Blue blowing from Archie Shepp – a great set of ballads from later years, recorded at a time when Shepp had stepped back inside considerably from his styles of the past – but still brought a great depth of soul to his recordings! The tunes here are mostly familiar numbers, but Archie blows them with a tone and timing that's amazing – an approach that's almost comparable to the late years of Coleman Hawkins, at least for its understated brilliance. Other group members are great too – and include John Hicks on piano, George Mraz on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums – the last of whom is wonderfully restrained on the date. Titles include "More Than You Know", "Little Girl Blue", "Blue & Sentimental", "If I Should Lose You", and "Alone Together". CD

The legacy here is a strong one – given that most of the players on the set have their roots in some of the most soulful jazz of the 60s and 70s! Trumpeter Charles Tolliver's the first member listed of the ensemble, but it's hardly his group – and is more of a collective effort between players who include Gary Bartz on alto and soprano sax, Grachan Moncur on trombone, John Hicks on piano, Mickey Bass on bass, and Billy Hart on drums – all musicians who really do a lot here to recreate the soulful sound of the indie jazz scene of the 70s. Bass produced the record, and it's issued on his own Early Bird label – home to a few other great dates like this – and titles include "Brother Rick", "The Juggler", "Avotcja", "A For Pops", "Do A Funny Dance", and "Franess". CD

A classic Bobby Watson set from the early solo years of his career – just the sort of standout set that shows why he was one of the brightest new jazz voices of the 80s! The album's got a sound that's even more open-ended and exploratory than some of Watson's US releases – cuts that often stretch out a bit more than usual, still with the tight rhythms that make Bobby's music so great – courtesy of Curtis Lundy on bass and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums – but changed up a bit too, with some complexity that really matches Watson's inventive lines on alto sax. John Hicks completes the group on piano, bringing in a nice sense of warmth – and titles include "Dark Days", "Love Remains", "Blues For Alto", "The Mistery Of Ebop", "One For Aaron", and "Sho Thang". CD

Early work from Memphis pianist James Williams – already playing like a master at this point, working with a quartet for this strong outing for Concord! The set's a simple one – a mix of standards and originals played by a quartet that includes Bill Pierce on reeds, Billy Hart on drums, and Dennis Irwin on bass – but Williams has an expansive quality to his work on piano, almost like John Hicks, in that he manages to fill in spaces with tones and colors that illuminate all the corners of the record with a wonderful light. Titles include "That's All", "For My Nephews", "Thoughts", "Dedicated To You", and "Everything I Love". LP, Vinyl record album

With Oscar Peterson, Cedar Walton, Tommy Flanagan, John Hicks, Mulgrew Miller, Ellis Marsalis, Cyrus Chestnut, Oliver Jones, Kenny Barron, Barry Harris, and Renee Rosnes. CD

A beautiful follow-up to Billy Bang's Vietnam: The Aftermath – one that revisits Bang's experience in Vietnam with an even more thoughtful, more introspective approach! The scope of the work is really wonderful – a rich array of colors and tones, arranged by Bang and woven out of his own compositions and a few traditional Vietnamese numbers. Players on the set include James Spaulding on alto and flute, Henry Threadgill on flute, John Hicks on piano, Curtis Lundy on bass, and Michael Carvin on drums – and the set also features some beautiful Vietnamese vocals on a few numbers too. Titles include "Ru Con", "Lock & Load", "Waltz Of The Water Puppets", "Trong Comb", "Reconciliation", "Doi Moi", and "Reflections". CD

Maybe the boldest of Arthur Blythe's albums for Columbia Records – as the set bristles with newly creative energy right from the start, and provides a great showcase for some of the criss-crossings of styles and rhythms that were taking place on the New York scene at the time! The lineup alone announces something special – a cool combination of James Blood Ulmer on guitar, John Hicks on piano, Fred Hopkins on bass, Abdul Wadud on cello, Bob Stewart on tuba, and Steve McCall on drums – working together in some slight variations at times, often with these angular edges that are perfectly sharpened by Arthur's amazing work on alto sax. The music's never too free, but quite outside for a major label at the time – balanced out so that it's never overindulgent at all. Titles include "Bush Baby", "Miss Nancy", "My Son Ra", and "Carespin With Mamie". LP, Vinyl record album

Four great albums from reedman Arthur Blythe – all together in one collection! First up is Lenox Avenue Breakdown – a stunning Columbia Records debut from Blythe! At the time of the date, Blythe had already spent years working in the jazz undergrounds on both coasts – developing a searing sound on alto sax that's perfect for the focused structure of this album – almost a tone poem of sorts, offering up a portrait of the Harlem scene that was a key part of Arthur's life at the time. The sounds are sharp, but also have a sense of energy that really holds them together – guiding the players through long readings of well-penned tunes by Blythe that are filled with loads of energy and life! Players include James Newton on flute, James Blood Ulmer on guitar, Bob Stewart on tuba, Cecil McBee on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and Guillermo Franco on percussion – and titles include "Odessa", "Slidin Through", "Down San Diego Way", and "Lenox Avenue Breakdown". In The Tradition is a gem – as the set represents the modern musician taking on a host of older jazz currents, while carving things out with his own special sort of soul! Half the tunes are familiar favorites, the other half originals – and Blythe moves far past his avant roots, to showcase his deep understanding of so many different shades of jazz – blowing alto beautifully throughout, in a very hip quartet that features Stanley Cowell on piano, Fred Hopkins on bass, and Steve McCall on drums! Titles include great takes on "Naima", "Jitterbug Waltz", "Caravan", and "In A Sentimental Mood" – plus the originals "Break Tune" and "Hip Dipper". Illusions is maybe the boldest of Arthur Blythe's albums for Columbia Records – as the set bristles with newly creative energy right from the start, and provides a great showcase for some of the criss-crossings of styles and rhythms that were taking place on the New York scene at the time! The lineup alone announces something special – a cool combination of James Blood Ulmer on guitar, John Hicks on piano, Fred Hopkins on bass, Abdul Wadud on cello, Bob Stewart on tuba, and Steve McCall on drums – working together in some slight variations at times, often with these angular edges that are perfectly sharpened by Arthur's amazing work on alto sax. The music's never too free, but quite outside for a major label at the time – balanced out so that it's never overindulgent at all. Titles include "Bush Baby", "Miss Nancy", "My Son Ra", and "Carespin With Mamie". Blythe Spirit is a set that showcases the never-ending growth and imagination of reedman Arthur Blythe during this fruitful period of his career – and his ability to effortlessly blend together different elements in his music – especially sides of the New York loft jazz scene, and the Chicago-based AACM! The tunes are beautiful – mostly originals, and showing a richer spirituality than even a year before – while still working in that compellingly rhythmic mode that Arthur was hitting during these years – in a lineup that features Blythe on alto, Abdul Wadud on cello, Kelvyn Bell on guitar, Steve McCall and Bobby Battle on drums, John Hicks on piano, Amina Claudine Myers on organ, and Fred Hopkins on bass. The mix of electric and acoustic elements is fantastic – very fresh, even all these many years later – and titles include "Misty", "Spirits In The Field", "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", "Reverence", and "Contemplation". CD

Features John Hicks on piano! CD

Features Nick Brignola on reeds, Claudio Roditi on trumpet and flugelhorn, John Hicks on piano, Geroge Mraz on bass, and Dick Berk on drums. CD

Bassist Paul Brusger leads a group with Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax and George Allgaier on tenor – plus the always wonderful John Hicks on piano – backed by John Jenkins on drums. Tracks include "Don't Stop Now", "Peaceful Moments", "Is What It Is", "Ponta Grossa", and "Waltz For Lady Nancy". CD

Features guest piano from John Hicks on four tracks. CD

One of Booker Ervin's last sessions – quite different than some of his earlier work, and a great indication of the way that he was stretching his style in the years before his untimely death. The group's a committed band of modernists, and includes a young Charles Tolliver on trumpet, plus John Hicks on piano and Lennie McBrownie on drums. The tracks are short, but they're a compelling mix of Booker's searching tenor lines with warm lyrical accompaniment. Titles include "Boo's Blues", "Franess", "Stolen Moments", "Berkshire Blues", and a great reading of "Dancing In The Dark". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the number of great, post-Coltrane sides Chico would cut for India Navigation, with a searching quality that you might anticipate from the title. The group includes John Hicks, Cecil McBee, Billy Hart and fellow former AACM member Famoudou Don Moye. Titles include Horace Silver's "Peace", McBee's "Close to You Alone", plus "A Child is Born", "Autumn in New York", and "It Never Entered My Mind". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Hargrove on trumpet and Antonio Hart on saxophone, with John Hicks and Geoffrey Keezer taking turns on piano, and Ralph Peterson and Al Foster on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Peter Leitch on guitar, Pepper Adams on baritone saxophone, John Hicks on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. CD

Peter Leitch on guitar – with Gary Bartz on alto, John Hicks on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums! CD

Peter Leitch on guitar, John Hicks on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Marvin Smith on drums. CD

A strong outing from the Joe Lovano nonet – recorded live at the Village Vanguard, with the feel of other classic work recorded in the legendary club! The album's stepped in traditions of large group work of the 50s and 60s – albums by artists like Tadd Dameron, Dizzy Gillespie, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra – with Lovano on tenor, working as a key part of 8 other musicians that include Steve Slagle on alto, Larry Farrell on trombone, and John Hicks on piano. Orchestrations are by Lovano, Slagle, and Willie Smith – and titles include "After The Rain", "Good Bait", "Laura", "On This Day", "At The Vanguard", and "My Little Brown Book". CD

Features Randy Brecker, Bobby Watson, Conrad Herwig, John Hicks, and others. Tracks include "It Was A Lonely Day In Selma, Alabama", "Haitian Fight Song", "Don't Let It Happen Here", and "Meditations For A Pair Of Wire-Cutters". CD

Features Randy Brecker on trumpet, Robin Eubanks on trombone, Gary Smulyan on baritone sax, Gary Bartz on alto, Kenny Drew and John Hicks on piano, and others! CD

Obscure late work from Lee Morgan – the bulk of a live concert recorded in Baltimore in 1968, and featuring a group co-led with the great Clifford Jordan! The recording is one of many taped by Baltimore's Left Bank Jazz Society at the time – and like others you might have heard on disc, it's a rough-hewn effort that shows a very different side of the artists than you'd guess from their studio work of the time. Tracks are all quite long – 15 minutes or more, mostly – and both Jordan and Morgan are playing in a more open, improvised style. Rhythm is by an unusual and compelling trio of Reggie Workman on bass, John Hicks on piano, and Ed Blackwell on drums – who really make for a different groove than usual for either player. The album features a great 21 minute take on Hank Mobley's "The Vamp", plus versions of "Solar", "Straight No Chaser", "Like Someone In Love", and "The Theme". CD

Features Bryan Carrott on vibes, John Hicks on piano, Steve Novosel on bass, Winard Harper on drums, and guest vocals from Cadino Newman. CD

Features Steve Turre on trombone and John Hicks on piano! CD

David "Fathead" Newman on tenor saxophone, Curtis Fuller on trombone, John Hicks on piano, John Menegon on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. CD

A brilliant 80s set from Pharoah Sanders – a record that has him a much more understated setting than some of his other albums from the time – but one that's maybe even more soulful and searching overall! The great one plays blistering tenor right from the start – in a quartet with John Hicks on piano, Curtis Lundy on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums – all players who have this way of doing a lot with a little, especially in the rhythm department – where they seem to give Sanders some of his strongest sense of groove since the key albums for Theresa. Muhammad's got this tight sense of timekeeping, but with a looseness that we love – and Lundy's warm soulful bass does more than enough to give the set a sound bottom – and Hicks' free lyrical piano works nicely with Sanders' spiritual horn. Titles include a remake of "You've Got To Have Freedom", plus "Naima", "Origin", "Speak Low", "After The Morning", and "Africa". Also features the tracks "Duo" and "Heart To Heart" – not on the original vinyl release! LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning little record from Pharoah Sanders – a double-length set that has all the soul and spirit of his Impulse Records classics, but with a very different vibe! There's a sense of focus here that's tremendous – as if Sanders has found a way to take the energy of his side-long performances and hone them to a level that's maybe even more expressive in its economy – maybe a streamlining of spiritual jazz for the new decade, but not at a level that tries to sound commercial or mainstream at all. Sanders is joined here by a host of equally well-voiced players who really match his energy – Joe Bonner and John Hicks on piano, Eddie Henderson on flugelhorn, Ray Drummond on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums – and the set also features a bit of great work on koto from Yoko Ito Gates as well. Titles include the classic "You've Got To Have Freedom" – a fantastic soaring anthem of joy – plus "After The Rain", "Soledad", "Greetings To Idris", "Doktor Pitt", "Think About The One", "Bedria", and "Yemenja". LP, Vinyl record album