Features Frank Morgan on alto and McCoy Tyner on piano, with Avery Sharpe on bass and Louis Hayes on drums. Tracks include "How Deep Is The Ocean", "Emily", "Search For Peace", "Frank's Back", and "Theme From Love Story". CD

One of the best-ever documents of the young genius of tenorist Wardell Gray – exactly the kind of music that shows why he was one of the biggest and best of the bop saxophonists – before he was taken away from us all too soon! The material here was originally issued on 78s or 45s, and comes together as a great full length representation of Gray at his best – and on this first volume, Wardell plays tenor in one group with Al Haig on piano and Roy Haynes on drums – on titles that include "Easy Living", "Twisted", and "Southside". Another combo features Phil Hill on piano – on "Treadin", "Grayhound", and "Blue Gray". And the last combo is Teddy Charles' West Coasters – with Charles on vibes, Frank Morgan on alto, and Sonny Clark on piano – the last two of whom make their debut on the record! CD

Dave Carpenter on acoustic bass, Lanny Morgan on alto saxophone and flute, Bill Perkins on on alto and soprano saxophone and flute, Bob Efford on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet, Kenny Shroyer on bass trombone, Bob Leatherbarrow on drums, Doug MacDonald on guitar, Rich Eames on piano, Pete Christlieb on tenor saxophone and flute, Ray Herrmann on tenor and soprano saxophone, Andy Martin and Jack Redmond on trombone, Bob Summers), Carl Saunders, Frank Szabo and Ron Stout on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Bob Enevoldsen on valve trombone. CD

One of those fantastic later albums that really had Abbey Lincoln finding a whole new sound and spirit – a style that offers up a mature take on all that righteous energy of her younger days – nicely focused, and set up here with some superb arrangements put together by Abbey herself! Lincoln's clearly got an ear for the kind of tones that suit the spirit of the tunes just right – and works here with a great lineup that features a core trio with Marc Cary on piano, plus guest work throughout the set from a variety of giants – including Steve Coleman, Oliver Lake, and Frank Morgan on alto saxes – plus Graham Haynes on cornet, Julien Lourau on tenor, and Rodney Kendrick on piano on one track. Titles include "The River", "When Autumn Sings", "Who Used To Dance", "Love Has Gone Away", "I Sing A Song", and "Love What You Doin". CD

One of those fantastic later albums that really had Abbey Lincoln finding a whole new sound and spirit – a style that offers up a mature take on all that righteous energy of her younger days – nicely focused, and set up here with some superb arrangements put together by Abbey herself! Lincoln's clearly got an ear for the kind of tones that suit the spirit of the tunes just right – and works here with a great lineup that features a core trio with Marc Cary on piano, plus guest work throughout the set from a variety of giants – including Steve Coleman, Oliver Lake, and Frank Morgan on alto saxes – plus Graham Haynes on cornet, Julien Lourau on tenor, and Rodney Kendrick on piano on one track. Titles include "The River", "When Autumn Sings", "Who Used To Dance", "Love Has Gone Away", "I Sing A Song", and "Love What You Doin". LP, Vinyl record album

Two MPS gems from this unusual 70s ensemble – back to back on the same CD! Chasin The Bird features classic bop modes, updated strongly for the 70s – and played by a hip group of older players who really know how to cook! Supersax is led by Med Flory on alto, who also did the arrangements – and works here with great reed help from Warne Marsh and Jay Migliori on tenor, Joe Lopes on alto, and Jack Nimitz on baritone – plus soaring sounds from Conte Candoli and Blue Mitchell on trumpets, Frank Rosolino on trombone, and Lou Levy on piano – all of whom really help the reed players find their groove! Charts are large, as is the ensemble, but there's a nice sense of individual personalities too – even when all the saxophonists are taking a solo together at once. Titles include "Shaw Nuff", "Drifting On A Reed", "Oop Bop Sh'Bam", "Now's The Time", and "The Song Is You". Dynamite is a looser, more free-swinging album than usual for Supersax – one that still has the group working with some key contributions from west coast jazz luminaries, but in a vibe that's almost more small combo than larger ensemble! The tracks here include a fair bit of Bud Powell and Charlie Parker numbers, but the arrangements are mighty fresh – open, and swinging with some hipper 70s touches, thanks to rhythms from a trio that features Lou Levy on piano, Fred Atwood on bass, and John Dentz on drums – players that are never locked into a strict bop mode. As with other Supersax albums, there's a brace of reed players working together at the front – Lanny Morgan on alto, Jack Nimitz on baritone, and both Jay Migliori and Don Menza on tenors – coming together as one voice on the solos, and getting some key help from Conte Candoli on trumpet and Frank Rosolino on trombone. Titles include "The Fruit", "Bambu", "Blues For Alice", "Tempus Fugit", "Parker's Mood", and a surprising, but great take on Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Wave". CD

A sweet set from those great psych years on MGM – a trio that features Tony Romeo on arrangements and songwriting, trading vocals with Frank Romeo and Cassandra Morgan – on titles that include "The End", "Sunrise Highway", "Yeah Yeah Yeah", "You Can't Hang On", "Worse Day I've Been To", "Carnival Girl", "Arizona Two Thoughts", "Hushabye Wee Bobby", and "Crazy Billy". LP, Vinyl record album

A sublime album by one of our favorite talents in 60s jazz – pianist Jack Wilson, making his second Blue Note appearance here amidst a group of other more likely label players that include Lee Morgan on trumpet, Jackie McLean on alto, and Billy Higgins on drums! Despite the presence of those superstars, though, the album's still very much Wilson's own – featuring 4 tracks penned and played in his modally soulful vision, plus a great version of one tune by Frank Strozier – a player we'd find to be a very good companion to Wilson's style! The group's also noteworthy in that it features some excellent work from trombonist Garnett Brown – a player with a deeply soulful approach that adds in new dimensions to the tunes, and offsets the lightly lyrical touch of Wilson on the keys. The whole set's great – and titles include "Do It", "On Children", "Easterly Winds", "Nirvana", and "Frank's Tune". CD

Charlie Parker classics in a variety of flavors – a great collection of material from the 50s, 60s, and 70s – all showing the huge influence of Bird's songwriting on the sound of modern jazz! The recordings here offer up a variety of formats, in a variety of different settings – piano jazz, guitar work, and hardbop horns – all pulled from the mighty vaults of Fantasy Records. Titles include "Parker's Mood" by Eddie Jefferson, "Scrapple From The Apple" by Blue Mitchell, "Yardbird Suite" by Art Pepper, "Confirmation" by Gene Ammons, "Now's The Time" by Frank Morgan, "Steeplechase" by Hampton Hawes, "Repetition" by Wes Montgomery, and "Billie's Bounce" by Johnny Griffin. LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning look at the early years of the Jamaican music scene – tracks from the years before ska, rocksteady, and reggae really took over – but which really helped set the scene for years to come! All the work here is from the hands of Duke Reid – soon to be known for his famous mid 60s productions on the Treasure Isle label – already here with his ear to the ground, capturing the unique shifts in the island's culture – some in mento and calypso, some in jazz, and others in modes that are very similar to the sounds to come! You'll recognize more than a few names here from important later work – and the huge 84 track package features dozens of titles that appear here on CD for the first time ever – countless great gems from artists who include Derrick Morgan, Roland Alphonso, Cosmo & Dennis, The Prodigals, Derrick & Patsy, Laurel Aitken, Chuck & Dobby, Basil Gabbidon, Hortense Ellis, The Moonlighters, Eric Morris, Frank Cosmo, Monty & Roy, Rico Rodriguez, Jiving Juniors, Alvin & Cecil, Lord Power, Laurel Aitken, and even Duke Reid himself. CD