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Muhal Richard Abrams with Amina Claudine Myers -- Duet . . . CD Around January 15, 2009 We really love Muhal in a sparer setting -- as it gives you the chance to hear a side of his piano playing that really doesn't come through in his large group sets. This beautiful album of duets with Amina Claudine Myers is some of the best work that either of them cut at the time -- and it gives a ...

Muhal Richard Abrams -- Mama & Daddy . . . CD Around January 15, 2009 One of Muhal's greatest albums, featuring a well conceived batch of compostions, played by a largeish group that includes Baikida Carroll, George Lewis, Thurman Barker, Andrew Cyrille, Leroy Jenkins, and Wallace McMillan. Titles include "Fafca", "Balu", "Malic", and Ab ...

Muhal Richard Abrams Featuring Malachi Favors -- Sightsong . . . CD Around December 15, 2008 (delayed) Fantastic album! Although some of Muhal's albums have a much harder edge to them, this is a warm set of pensive duets with the great Malachi Favors. Favors' bass is sweet and warm, and he brings out a side of Muhal that you rarely hear on record. We can't recommend this one highly enough, and the ...

George Adams/Don Pullen -- Don't Lose Control . . . CD Mid-December, 2008 (delayed)

Cannonball Adderley -- Cannonball Adderley Quintet In San Francisco . . . LP Around November 15, 2008 (delayed) One of the greatest Cannonball Adderley albums from the Riverside years -- a completely smoking live date recorded in San Francisco, often with long tracks that really let the group open up and do their thing! The lineup here is that classic one that first grabbed attention -- the group with brothe ...

Air -- Air Mail . . . CD Around January 5, 2009 The AACM torch is still held proud and firm in this great recording by Air from 1980. Mssrs. Threadgill, Hopkins, and McCall play in a manner that blends freeness with soulfulness and a nice dash of creative humor -- which results in a trio of tracks that are essential listening for fans of the gro ...

Air -- Air Song . . . CD Around February 17, 2009 A hard to find early album by Air, and one of the best recordings they ever did (as were many of the recordings by groups for the Why Not label!) Henry Threadgill, Fred Hopkins, and Steve McCall are all in excellent form -- and the recording has the sharp, crisp, creative feel of the best early AAC ...

Air -- Live Air . . . CD Around December 15, 2008 (delayed) A nice live document of one of the best groups working in the American free scene of the 80s, admittedly not the height of the genre, but a time when groups like this trio Henry Threadgill, Steve McCall and Fred Hopkins demonstrated that music was more than just alive and well. Their soulful and in ...

Toshiko Akioshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band -- Mosaic Select (Kogun/Long Yellow Road/Tales Of A Courtesan/Insights/March Of The Tadpoles) (3CD set) . . . CD Around January 20, 2009

Alchemist -- Chemical Warfare . . . CD Early February, 2009

Alessandro Alessandroni -- Notes From The Whistler . . . CD Winter 2009

Eric Alexander -- My Favorite Things (Japanese paper sleeve edition) . . . CD Around December 11, 2008 (delayed) A fitting title for this one -- because Eric Alexander is one of our favorite things in jazz -- and albums like this are the reason why! Alexander's tenor is in very sharp-edged formation here -- working with a familiar quartet of David Hazeltine on piano, John Webber on bass, and Joe Farnsworth on ...

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass -- Whipped Cream & Other Delights (pic disc version) . . . LP Around January 20, 2009 Trumpety magic from Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass -- a record that's known not only for its classic cover of a model dipped in whipped cream, but also for it's tremendously groovy groove! The Tijuana sound is very firmly in place by the time of this set -- Mexican-inspired, but compressed dow ...

Barry Altschul -- For Stu . . . CD Mid-December, 2008 (delayed)

Clifton Anderson -- Decade . . . CD Late January, 2009

Horace Andy/Ashley Beedle -- Inspiration Information Vol 2 . . . CD Around February 10, 2009

Anima -- Anima . . . LP Early February, 2009 Excellent early bit of out jazz and progressive playing, by this great group that featured Paul & Limpe Fuchs, Friedrich Gulda, and JA Rettenbacher. The album's got two long tracks -- "Meeting In The Studio" and "Anima Live", both of which have a haunting mix of avant garde ...

Charly Antolini -- In The Groove . . . CD Around February 15, 2009 Charly Antolini is one of the funkier drummers on the European continent, and although he sometimes gets a bit hokey with a "rat-a-tat-tat" sound on the drum kit, he also manages to pull off a lot of nice funky lines -- especially when he's playing with a group as groovy as this one, which ...

Aram Arakelian Ensemble -- Oud . . . CD Fall 2008 (delayed) Middle Eastern grooves from Aram Arakelian -- with a focus on The Oud, that enigmatic stringed instrument that we first came to love through the jazz/world experiments of Ahmed Abdul-Malik! Actually, the set's got a lot of of the flavor of Abdul-Malik's work -- or at least his more Middle Eastern s ...

India Arie -- Testimony Vol 2 -- Love & Politics . . . CD Around February 10, 2009

India Arie -- Testimony Vol 2 -- Love & Politics (Japanese pressing -- with bonus track) . . . CD Around February 10, 2009

Louis Armstrong -- Satchmo At Pasadena . . . CD Late January, 2009

Ashford & Simpson -- Real Thing . . . CD Late January, 2009

Ashford & Simpson -- Real Thing (DVD) . . . DVD Late January, 2009

Ashford & Simpson -- Solid . . . CD Around January 12, 2009

Astro Can Caravan -- Nagual Julian . . . 12-inch Around January 26, 2009

Atjazz -- Full Circle . . . CD Winter 2009

Roy Ayers -- Roy Ayers Ubiquity . . . CD Around January 27, 2009 One of the greatest Roy Ayers albums of all time -- and one of the rarest! The record is right in the same vein as Roy's groundbreaking He's Coming LP -- with a righteous mix of soul jazz, subtle funk, and some of the cosmic wisdom that Roy was spreading among the jazz funk underground. There's a ...

Azaxx -- Exotic Delight Bay . . . CD Early April, 2009

Alice Babs & The Swe-Danes -- Stockholm's Sweetheart . . . CD Summer 2008 (delayed)

Erykah Badu -- New Amerykah Part Two . . . CD Around February 17, 2009

Erykah Badu -- New Amerykah Part Two (Japanese pressing -- with bonus track) . . . CD Around February 18, 2009

Billy Bang -- Invitation . . . CD Around January 5, 2009

Billy Bang -- Rainbow Gladiator . . . CD Around December 15, 2008 (delayed) Billy Bang leads a quintet through a set of material with a solid swing based rhythm pulsing underneath the forward looking solos and serpentine arrangements. He's joined by one of our favorite avant reedsmen, Charles Tyler, with Michelle Rosewoman, Wilbur Morris and Dennis Charles in the rhythm se ...

Bar-Kays -- As One . . . CD Around February 28, 2009 The Bar-Kays definitely groove as one on this tight little set -- with amazing choppy guitar, bumping basslines, and brassy horns -- all wrapped up with some wonderfully warm production! The group have come a long way from their fuzzier funk roots by this time, but they're still sounding great -- t ...

Bar-Kays -- Nightcruising (Japanese pressing) . . . CD Around February 28, 2009 Man, these guys really know how to groove -- and even on a bigger label, with a more commercial image, they still manage to come up with a tight little set! There's a key ear for a bassline and beat that keeps The Bar-Kays standing stronger than most of their contemporaries -- a sense of rhythm sch ...

Gato Barbieri -- Chapter One -- Latin America . . . CD Around January 27, 2009 We love this record! Although Gato Barbieri has put out a few snoozers in his career, this amazing first chapter of his Latin venture for Impulse is an incredible record throughout -- one of the greatest Impulse sessions of the 70s! Gato returns to his native Argentina for the session -- and works ...

Brigitte Bardot -- Love Is My Profession/Une Parisienne . . . CD Mid-January, 2009

Ray Barretto -- Indestructible (remastered edition -- with bonus tracks) . . . CD Around February 3, 2009 By this point in his career, Ray certainly was Indestructible -- one of the biggest Latin leaders of his day, working at the forefront of new trends and new sounds! This fact is wonderfully displayed by the front cover, which shows Ray unbuttoning his shirt and taking off his Clark Kent-styled glas ...

Kenny Barron -- Landscape . . . CD Around February 25, 2009 A beautiful Japanese-only album from Kenny Barron -- recorded in a warm and mellow trio format, with bass by Cecil McBee and drums from Al Foster. There's a gentleness to the set that's extremely compelling -- a style of spacious introspection that Barron first exhibited during his Muse years -- an ...

Bill Barron -- Variations In Blue . . . LP Around August 10, 2008 (delayed) Edgey moody quintet session featuring the great Bill Barron, plus brother Kenny, Jimmy Owens, Ben Riley, and Ray Drummond. Bill's writing is excellent here, and his playing is up to the usual very high standards. Tracks include "September 1979", "Swingin' In Bushnell Park", &qu ...

John Barry -- Cool Mikado . . . CD Winter 2009

John Barry -- Dove . . . CD Around January 10, 2009 John Barry soundtrack for this early seventies sailing film -- which from the cover looks very much like The Blue Lagoon! Most of the work is orchestral, in kind of a dramatic style, peppered with some exotic bits -- and titles include "The Motorbike & The Dove", "Alone On The Wi ...

Barry Sisters -- Our Way . . . CD Around November 1, 2008 (delayed)

Lars Bartkuhn -- New Continent . . . CD Around November 15, 2008 (delayed)

Count Basie -- On My Way & Shoutin Again -- Count Basie Plays Music By Neal Hefti . . . CD Around January 27, 2009 A wonderful album of 60s Basie -- one that focuses on the writing and arranging talents of the great Neal Hefti! Hefti's one of our favorite soundtrack composers of the decade, but in the years before his film fame, he was a frequent partner of Basie -- and this album marks one of their greatest co ...

Martha Bass, Fontella Bass, David Peaston -- From The Root To The Source . . . CD Mid-December, 2008 (delayed) A pretty interesting album -- one in which gospel stars Martha Bass and David Peaston join with jazz/soul diva Fontella Bass, in a rootsy exploration of gospel themes and their relation to great black music -- with backings by Malachi Favors, Phillip Wilson, and Amina Claudine Myers, who also sings ...

Gianni Basso -- Jazz Al Centro Pirelli . . . CD Mid-January, 2009 A rare 1970 set from Italian tenorist Gianni Basso -- a set that's easily one of the greatest examples of his talents we've ever heard! Basso's tone on tenor is amazing -- blown with a sense of freedom that's breathtaking, with odd phrasings and voicings that are extremely personal -- almost in the ...

Basso Valdambrini -- Conversazioni In Jazz (Plays The Music Of Armando Sciascia) . . . CD Fall 2008 (delayed)

Basso Valdambrini -- Conversazioni In Jazz (Plays The Music Of Armando Sciascia) . . . LP Fall 2008 (delayed)

Beastie Boys -- Paul's Boutique (20th Anniversary Edition -- 180 gram pressing & quadfold cover) . . . LP Around February 10, 2009

Beastie Boys -- Paul's Boutique (20th Anniversary Edition) . . . CD Around February 10, 2009

Beat Boys -- Beat Boys . . . CD Mid-January, 2009

Beat Konducta (Madlib) -- Beat Konducta Vol 5 & 6 -- Dil Cosby & Dil Withers -- A Tribute To Dilla . . . CD Around February 10, 2009

Janette Beckman -- Made In The UK -- The Music Of Attitude 1977 to 1983 (hardcover) . . . Book Around January 15, 2009 A great photographic history of some denizens of UK (and some US) agit-pop culture -- from the punk era through early 80s post-post new wave! It features many shots of artists such as The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Jam, The Undertones, The Specials, The Beat, The Police, The Ramones, The Rockats, ...

Marcus Belgrave -- Gemini . . . LP Around March 2, 2009 A lost classic of the spiritual soulful Detroit/Tribe jazz scene! Initially issued on the Gem Eye label in 1974, in a pressing of only 1000, the record's done nothing but increase in legend since. The groove picks up in the same domain as the better Art Ensemble Of Chicago records of the late 60s ...

Bell & James -- Bell & James . . . CD Around September 24, 2008 (delayed)

Jorge Ben -- Forca Bruta (180 gram pressing) . . . LP Mid-January, 2009 A fantastically soulful album from Jorge Ben -- one of his greatest records ever, and a key part of Brazilian music in the 70s! The album marks an earthier shift for Jorge -- a sound that's still rooted in the samba influences of the 60s, but which also takes on a bit more soul at the bottom -- tha ...

Binario -- Jazzhole . . . 7-inch Winter 2009

Mario Biondi -- Mario Biondi Live -- I Love You More . . . LP Around December 1, 2008 (delayed) A double-length live set from Mario Biondi -- a hip Italian jazz singer we first discovered through his work on Schema Records, and one who sounds equally great here in a live big band setting! Biondi's got a really raspy style on his vocals -- one that's instantly captivating, and which sounds esp ...

Mario Biondi & The High Five Quintet -- This Is What You Are (Dim's housing the jazz rmx, Dim's housing the jazz radio, Dim's hipster jazz, M Midnight Monti & G Gotta Soul restyle) . . . 12-inch Fall 2008 (delayed)

Mario Biondi & High Five Quintet -- This Is What You Are/I Can't Keep From Crying . . . 7-inch Late January, 2009

Walter Bishop Jr -- Live In Paris . . . CD Late January, 2009

Art Blakey -- Caravan (1983) . . . CD Around February 25, 2009 A smoker from Blakey's later years -- a killer session that features a reunion of past Jazz Messengers, with a cast that includes Freddie Hubbard, Curtis Fuller, Benny Golson, and Walter Davis Jr. Buster Williams is on bass, and he brings a nice degree of soul to the set -- rounding and warming thi ...

Art Blakey -- Night In Tunisia (Blue Note) (45rpm -- 180gram pressing) . . . LP Around October 20, 2008 (delayed) One of a number of Art Blakey albums titled after "Night In Tunisia" -- and most likely the best! The tune is a perfect fit for the Blakey Jazz Messengers format -- long, rhythmic, really stretching out, yet allowing plenty of space for the horn players to solo. Players include Bobby Tim ...

Bloodstone -- Don't Stop! . . . CD Around January 28, 2009 A great later album from Bloodstone -- recorded after their initial classics for London, but in a sweet and mellow soul mode that's totally outta site! Part of the strength of the set is the mighty Al Johnson -- who provides arrangements here that push the group firmly into a more modern take on ha ...

Blue Note 7 -- Mosaic -- A Celebration Of Blue Note Records . . . CD Mid-January, 2009 A brilliant celebration of Blue Note Records -- one that features some key songs from the label's classic years, interpreted by a sharp-edged group of younger players! The lineup here is wonderful -- Nicholas Payton on trumpet, Steve Wilson on alto and flute, Ravi Coltrane on tenor, Peter Bernstein ...

Hamiet Bluiett -- Dangerously Suite . . . CD Around December 15, 2008 (delayed) Soulful tracks from Hamiet -- with some guest vocals by Irene Datcher, percussion by Chief Bey, bass by Buster Williams, and drums by Billy Hart. The tracks have that tender expressive style that we always love in Bluiett's work -- and titles include "Ballad of Eddie Jefferson", "Bet ...

Hamiet Bluiett -- Resolution . . . CD Mid-December, 2008 (delayed) Searingly soulful work from Hamiet Bluiett -- easily one of his greatest sessions of the late 70s, and a record that has a sense of focus that's sometimes missing from his other work! The group on the set includes Don Pullen, Fred Hopkins, Billy Hart, and Don Moye -- coming together with a real coh ...

Bocconi Jazz Business Unit -- Jazz & Movies . . . CD Late December, 2008 (delayed)

Dupree Bolton -- Fireball . . . CD Mid-January, 2009

Bond & Brown -- Two Heads Are Better Than One . . . CD Winter 2009

Booker T & The MGs -- Booker T Set (Japanese paper sleeve edition) . . . CD Around January 21, 2009 Later work from Booker T and crew -- an album that always gets lost in the shuffle, but which also includes lots of great moments, and a bit more funk than in earlier years! The rhythm section's loosening up a bit on the set -- led by the mighty Al Jackson, and working past that tight Memphis slam- ...

Booker T & The MGs -- McLemore Avenue (Japanese paper sleeve edition) . . . CD Around January 21, 2009 The Beatles had Abbey Road -- and Booker T & The MGs had McLemore Ave, the main street running outside the Stax studios, and a fitting title for the album that has them playing tunes from The Beatles' incredible Abbey Road album. If you've ever thought that Abbey Road was a soft-rock lowpoint i ...

Booker T & The MGs -- Melting Pot (Japanese paper sleeve edition) . . . CD Around January 21, 2009 One of the greatest albums ever from Booker T & The MGs -- and very different than their early work! The record has Book & Co taking off with a stretched-out jazzy sound -- carving expanded grooves that are filled with sweet organ solos, choppy guitar riffs, and some incredibly tight rhythm ...

Booker T & The MGs -- Soul Limbo (Japanese paper sleeve edition) . . . CD Around January 21, 2009 Very hip work from Booker T & The MGs -- an album that has them standing out under a pier by the ocean on the cover -- clearly a long way from their Memphis roots! The sound here still has a good dose of those roots, though -- but it also shows them picking up some hipper rhythmic touches too - ...

Booker T & The MGs -- Uptight (Japanese paper sleeve edition) . . . CD Around January 21, 2009 A wonderful soundtrack from Booker T & The MGs -- a record that's probably much better remembered than the film for which it was written! The tunes show a whole new depth for the group -- a style that still has some of the charm of their previous hits, but which also takes off in whole new dire ...

Lester Bowie -- Numbers 1 & 2 . . . CD Around January 30, 2009 Early work from Bowie -- and essentially an Art Ensemble record. The session was cut in 1967 by Chuck Nessa, and it features performances of the tracks "Number 1" and "Number 2" by Bowie -- played by an ensemble that features him, Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors, and Joseph Jarm ...

Jesse Boykins -- Beauty Created . . . CD Late December, 2008 (delayed)

Bobby Bradford with John Stevens & The Spontaneous -- Bobby Bradford With John Stevens & The Spontaneous Music Ensemble -- Vols 1 & 2 . . . CD Around February 5, 2009

Dollar Brand -- Memories . . . CD Around December 30, 2008 (delayed) One of the better records to be released on the short-lived West 54 label, and a US issue of a Japanese session in which Dollar Brand plays solo on a number of tracks of his own composition. Titles include "Township Sunday", "Love Song For Bea", "Carnival", and "G ...

Anthony Braxton -- Recital Paris 74 . . . CD Around November 25, 2008 (delayed) A rare one from Braxton -- a record that features a side apiece of solo performances! Side one has Braxton performing a beautiful solo alto version of Duke Ellington's "Come Sunday" -- one that runs for 25 minutes, and which is almost in that Konitz-inspired mode of alto work that he was ...

Quincy Bright -- My Ghetto Looked Like This EP 2 . . . 7-inch Early January, 2009

Tina Brooks -- Back To The Tracks (45rpm -- 180gram pressing) . . . LP Around January 25, 2009 One of those rare Blue Note sessions from tenorist Tina Brooks -- originally recorded for the label in 1960, but never issued at the time -- yet easily on a par with their more famous work of the period! Brooks' horn has a nice hard edge here -- that sharp-edged modernism you'd hear with Jackie McL ...

Brian Brown Quintet -- Carlton Streets . . . CD Around January 1, 2009 (delayed) One of the best albums ever recorded by Brian Brown -- an Australian sax player with roots in the country's late 50s hardbop scene, and who here is continuing to grow tremendously, stretching out in a post-Coltrane mode that's touched with electric keyboards and bass, and a very free-wheeling approa ...

James Brown -- James Brown Singles Vol 6 -- 1969/1970 . . . CD Around January 27, 2009

James Brown -- Live At The Boston Garden -- April 5, 1968 (DVD) . . . DVD Late January, 2009

James Brown -- Night James Brown Saved Boston (DVD) . . . DVD Late January, 2009

Polly Browne -- Bewitched -- The Polly Browne Story . . . CD Winter 2009

Bubble Puppy -- Gathering Of Promises . . . CD Around January 26, 2009

Ann Burton -- New York State Of Mind . . . CD Around January 25, 2009 Wonderfully laidback vocal work from Ann Burton -- a richly talented singer who really sounds best in a setting like this! The album's got Burton working with a trio -- Grady Tate on drums, Buster Williams on bass, and sweet acoustic and electric piano from Michael Renzi. Tracks are nothing fancy, ...

Donald Byrd -- Cat Walk (45rpm -- 180gram pressing) . . . LP Around December 25, 2008 (delayed) Classic soul jazz material from trumpeter Donald Byrd -- one of his most sinister (and most rare) albums for Blue Note! The group's a quintet, with frequent bandmate Pepper Adams on baritone, Duke Pearson on piano, and Philly Joe Jones on drums -- all grooving with some of the tightness heard on ot ...

George Cables -- Why Not . . . CD Around February 17, 2009 If you've ever been dissatisfied with any of George Cables' so-so US sessions -- grab this Japanese-only set from the 70s, and prepare to have your mind blown! Cables is working in a trio with Carl Burnett on drums and Tony Dumas on bass -- but the overall scope of the album makes you feel as if th ...

Captain Beefheart -- Safe As Milk . . . CD Around January 26, 2009 The album that started it all. Don Van Vliet and the first Magic Band get loose on some messed up, raw white boy blues, filterede through a fish eye lens with an unbridled energy and the good Captain's unique approach that just begins to hint at the sublime weirdness he'd unleash on future LPs. Wi ...

Dante Carfagna & Josh Davis, Eds -- See Label For Contents -- A Survey Of 45 RPM Label Art In America 1955 to 1980 . . . Book April, 2009

Carlos Nino -- High With A Little Help From My Friends . . . LP Around January 20, 2009

Baikida Carroll -- Shadows & Reflections . . . CD Around January 15, 2009 Searching spiritual avant tunes -- in the manner of some of Carroll's work of the 70s, handled here with a relaxed easy feel, by a quintet that includes Anthony Davis on bass, Julius Hemphill on saxes, Pharoan Ak Laff on drums, and Dave Hollad on bass. Tracks include "Left Jab", "Kak ...

Anita Carter -- Songbird . . . CD Early February, 2009

Cem Karaca -- Kardaslar . . . LP Winter 2009

Paul Chambers -- Paul Chambers Quintet (Japanese pressing) . . . CD Around January 21, 2009 Great stuff -- most likely the most hardbop oriented of all Paul Chambers' sessions for Blue Note, and a great little album that has the famous bassist fronting a group that includes Donald Byrd, Clifford Jordan, Tommy Flanagan, and Elvin Jones! Chambers' basslines ring out nice and clear, adding a ...

Paul Chambers -- Paul Chambers Quintet (with bonus track) . . . CD Around February 10, 2009 Great stuff -- most likely the most hardbop oriented of all Paul Chambers' sessions for Blue Note, and a great little album that has the famous bassist fronting a group that includes Donald Byrd, Clifford Jordan, Tommy Flanagan, and Elvin Jones! Chambers' basslines ring out nice and clear, adding a ...

Mayrina Chebel -- Ailleurs . . . CD Early December, 2008 (delayed)

Don Cherry/Nana Vasconcelos/Collin Walcott -- Codona Trilogy (3CD set) . . . CD Around January 13, 2009 Three groundbreaking albums from this ethereal ECM ensemble -- a very hip trio that features Don Cherry, Nana Vasconcelos, and Collin Wolcott -- all coming together in a beautiful blend of jazz, world music, and a touch of ECM atmospherics! The instrumentation is quite compelling with Cherry on tru ...

Don Cherry/Dewey Redman/Ed Blackwell/Charlie Haden -- Old & New Dreams (Black Saint) . . . CD Around December 15, 2008 (delayed) Debut set by this group made up of Ornette Coleman alumnus. Charlie Haden and Ed Blackwell build the sturdy but flexible rhythms for Don Cherry and Dewey Redman to wax harmolodically over on this set of Coleman tunes and originals by the group in the same spirit. Six numbers in all, "Handwove ...

Cherry People -- Cherry People . . . CD Early December, 2008 (delayed)

Circle Research -- Who? . . . CD Late January, 2009

Circle Research -- Who? . . . LP Late January, 2009

Ablaye Cissoko & Volker Goetze -- Sira . . . CD Mid-December, 2008 (delayed)

Mike Clark -- Blueprints Of Jazz Vol 1 . . . CD Early February, 2009

Sonny Clark -- Cool Struttin' (45rpm -- 180gram pressing) . . . LP Around November 25, 2008 (delayed) One of the all-time classic Blue Note albums -- from the hip looking cover, right down to the excellent hardbop in the grooves! Pianist Sonny Clark leads an incredible lineup that includes Art Farmer on trumpet, Jackie McLean on alto, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums -- all comi ...

Sonny Clark -- Sonny Clark Trio (Time) (Japanese pressing) . . . LP Around December 17, 2008 (delayed) A trio treasure from the incredible Sonny Clark -- a rare non-Blue Note date from the late 50s, and a wonderful illustration of his powers on the piano! The setting is spare, but the sound is never sleepy -- as Sonny's working here with Max Roach on drums and George Duvivier on bass -- both of whom ...

Kenny Clarke & Francy Boland -- Golden Eight . . . CD Fall 2008 (delayed) A fantastic session from the early days of the Clarke-Boland Big Band! The record was cut in 1961, under the aegis of Gigi Campi -- and it features a core group that would later grow into the much-respected CBBB unit during the MPS years -- working here as a smaller combo on a rare date for Blue No ...

Kenny Clarke & Francy Boland -- Golden Eight . . . LP Fall 2008 (delayed) A fantastic session from the early days of the Clarke-Boland Big Band! The record was cut in 1961, under the aegis of Gigi Campi -- and it features a core group that would later grow into the much-respected CBBB unit during the MPS years -- working here as a smaller combo on a rare date for Blue No ...

Clarke Boland Big Band -- Handle With Care . . . CD Fall 2008 (delayed) Great work by this legendary hard swinging band -- an early 60s American album issued on Atlantic Records, in the years before the Clark Boland Band's legendary run on MPS! Despite the early date, the album's got all the core elements of the band's sound in place -- soaring rhythms, sharp-edged fro ...

Clarke Boland Big Band -- Handle With Care . . . LP Fall 2008 (delayed) Great work by this legendary hard swinging band -- an early 60s American album issued on Atlantic Records, in the years before the Clark Boland Band's legendary run on MPS! Despite the early date, the album's got all the core elements of the band's sound in place -- soaring rhythms, sharp-edged fro ...

Clarke Boland Big Band -- Jazz Is Universal . . . CD Fall 2008 (delayed) One of the killer early albums by the CBBB! Jazz Is Universal is one of the best pre-MPS sides by the Clarke-Boland outfit, and it features a slightly more stripped down version of the group than you'll hear on later records. The swing's still nicely in place, though -- and the record features the ...

Clarke Boland Big Band -- Jazz Is Universal . . . LP Fall 2008 (delayed) One of the killer early albums by the CBBB! Jazz Is Universal is one of the best pre-MPS sides by the Clarke-Boland outfit, and it features a slightly more stripped down version of the group than you'll hear on later records. The swing's still nicely in place, though -- and the record features the ...

Jimmy Cliff & Others -- Harder They Come (180 gram vinyl) . . . LP Around January 13, 2009 A landmark in Jamaican soul and one of the albums that helped break reggae onto the world stage. A nice, nice selection of early '70's reggae, mostly performed by Jimmy Cliff, but with a few equally wonderful numbers the Maytals & Desmond Dekker, too. Includes classics like the Maytals' " ...

Clover/Crockett -- Glorious Day/Easin Back . . . 7-inch Early August, 2008 (delayed)

Cluster -- Grosses Wasser . . . CD Around January 20, 2009

Codebreaker -- Fire (voc, inst)/RIML (orig, DDR ext mix) . . . 12-inch Around December 15, 2008 (delayed)

Richie Cole -- Some Things Speak For Themselves . . . LP Around August 10, 2008 (delayed)

George Coleman & The Rob Agerbeek Trio -- On Green Dolphin Street . . . CD Early September, 2008 (delayed)

John Coltrane -- Ascension (versions 1 & 2) . . . CD Around March 24, 2009 One of the freest, most exploratory albums ever recorded by John Coltrane -- and a unique session done with an expanded group of some of the most important avant jazz players of his generation! The format here is similar to Ornette Coleman's Free Jazz album -- in that the music is freely improvised ...

John Coltrane -- Coltrane (Prestige) . . . LP Around November 15, 2008 (delayed) Classic early John Coltrane for Prestige -- less a bold statement as a leader than a strong batch of blowing session-styled tracks that show how well Coltrane could hold his own with more established players! The groups on the set vary from track to track -- and feature players that include Sahib S ...

John Coltrane -- John Coltrane Quartet Plays . . . CD Around March 24, 2009 Modal Coltrane at its finest -- a record that almost returns the great one to the territory explored at the end of his years at Atlantic Records, but which still incorporates all of the new ideas learned afterwards! The album's actually one of the straightest that John Coltrane cut after 1964 -- an ...

John Coltrane -- Kulu Se Mama . . . CD Around March 24, 2009 One of our favorite ever albums by John Coltrane -- but a record that's sometimes eclipsed by the genius of A Love Supreme! The feel here is very similar to that one -- long tracks that introduce a new mode of searching, spiritual jazz for the 60s -- one that's performed by a core quintet with Colt ...

John Coltrane -- Last Trane . . . LP Around November 15, 2008 (delayed) A nice set -- despite being kind of a put-together batch of tunes! The album's titled "The Last Trane" because it represents the last material that Prestige Records had in its vault from the time that John Coltrane was recording for the label in the late 50s. Titles were recorded on 3 di ...

John Coltrane -- Meditations . . . CD Around March 24, 2009 An album that's quite different than you might expect from the title -- one of the most adventurous records issued on Impulse during the life of John Coltrane! The tracks here are all quite free and far-reaching -- hardly the mellow "meditations you might expect -- and more the new unbridled s ...

John Coltrane/Archie Shepp -- New Thing At Newport . . . CD Around March 24, 2009 An essential piece of 60's avant garde jazz that often gets overlooked because the album is split between two different leaders -- but with John Coltrane and Archie Shepp at the helm, what leaders they be! Shepp leads a quartet that includes Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Barre Phillips on bass, and Jo ...

Norman Connors -- Star Power . . . CD Late February, 2009

Cool Kids -- Bake Sale (2 LPs plus 2 12-inch singles) . . . LP Late September, 2008 (delayed)

John Corbett, Anthony Elms & Teri Kapsalis (eds) -- Traveling the Spaceways -- Sun Ra, the Astro Black and other Solar Myths . . . Book Winter 2009

Cortex -- Troupeau Bleu . . . LP Around February 1, 2009 A legendary bit of funky fusion from the French scene of the 70s -- the standout set from Cortex, a combo who's very heavy on the keyboards! The tunes have a feel that's quite different than American electric work of the time -- funky, but also a bit breezy too -- with a strong Brazilian influence ...

Larry Coryell -- Shining Hour . . . LP Early August, 2008 (delayed)

Larry Coryell -- Toku Do . . . LP Early August, 2008 (delayed)

Gal Costa -- Gal Costa (1969) (180 gram pressing) . . . LP Around January 13, 2009 One of the most mindblowing albums ever recorded -- anywhere, anytime! This 1969 set stands as one of the greatest records ever cut by Gal Costa -- done at the height of the Tropicalia movement, and featuring a sublime mix of styles that really gets the spirit of the movement right. Arrangements a ...

Cowsills -- Captain Sad & His Ship Of Fools . . . CD Late January, 2009

Cravo E Canela -- Preco De Cada Um . . . LP Around November 1, 2008 (delayed) 'A great little Brazilian group from the 70s -- one who continues the harmony styles of Sergio Mendes in the 60s, but takes the music into some groovy new directions! The sounds here are more samba than bossa -- with guitar and percussion dancing nicely together in the rhythms as group members sing ...

Cro-Magnon -- III . . . LP December, 2008 (delayed)

Cro-Magnon -- Mellow Out & Acoustic EP 1 . . . LP Late September, 2008 (delayed)

Cro-Magnon -- Mellow Out & Acoustic EP 2 . . . LP Late September, 2008 (delayed)

Steve Cropper -- With A Little Help From My Friends (Japanese paper sleeve edition) . . . CD Around January 21, 2009 An obscure bit of late 60s Stax! Steve Cropper's working away from the MG's here, in a mode that's slightly similar, but which has his guitar upfront in the mix on a batch of Memphis-style instrumentals. There's no mad funk on here, but the whole album's pretty nice -- and proof that Cropper was t ...

Thea Crudi -- Star Eyes . . . CD Early December, 2008 (delayed)

Ted Curson -- Cattin' Curson . . . CD Early January, 2009 An excellentTed Curson session, recorded in Paris in the early 70's. Ted's playing with hard, hot fire, and he's joined by the great American reed player Chris Woods, who plays alt