Musical greatness from around the globe!

One of the first groups to bring back the sound of the classic Italian scene of the 70s – and still one of the best! Orgasmo Sonore spent their previous two records working through classic tracks from Italian soundtracks of the 70s – and this time around, they turn their ear towards ... CD (Soundtracks)

A funky soul compilation, and a sweet TV show as well – presented here in an ultra-cool collection that offers both audio and video work from this short-lived Chicago dance show! The Chicago Party was a very local UHF program in the Windy City – one that was kind of a homegrown version ... LP, Vinyl record album (Funky Compilations)

Wild electric work from Les McCann – an album of free, open sounds that's quite a change from his styles of the 60s – and from most of his other work of the 70s too! Side one features an extended 26 minute track titled "The Lovers" – a slow-building number that has Les ... CD (Jazz)

A sweet funky combo from the Montreal scene of the 70s – working here in a killer set of never-issued material! Quintonal have an approach that's tight and right on the money – electric, but never in a too-fusiony style – and instead kind of a step forward for 60s soul jazz or ... CD (Jazz)

Wayne Escoffery really takes off here in the vibrant setting of the Smalls Live series – blowing with a fire and intensity we don't always hear – really stretching out on a lot of very long tracks! The group's a quartet – with tremendous piano from Dave Kikoski, who really seems ... CD (Jazz)

Beautifully groovy work from mid 60s France – all by a singer who's every bit as great as France Gall, Francoise Hardy, or other French greats of the time – but not nearly as well known! This cool collection should correct that fact, as it finally gives worldwide exposure to this ... CD (French)

Loads of rare tracks from one of the greatest indies on the west coast – the legendary Kent/Modern label, a company that started during the indie heyday of R&B in California, but continued to put out some really strong soul records in the 60s and 70s! This side of the label's output isn't ... CD (Soul)

A really unusual album from the mighty Ohio Players – their first full length set, and a record that's very different than their better-known work on Westbound and Mercury – but every bit as great! The band is tight and funky, but in a sort of deep soul 60s way – with ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul)

Beautiful solo work from Anthony Braxton – recorded live in Paris at the start of the 70s, and a fair bit more sensitive than some of his earlier work on that scene! Side one features a beautiful take on Duke Ellington's "Come Sunday" – one that runs for 25 minutes, and which ... CD (Jazz)

Rare work from an artist who was born in Ghana, spent time in Germany, and recorded this underground cassette-only release in Toronto during the early 90s! The music has this very odd pan-national style that references Ata Kak's Ghanian roots, but also brings in some cool electronics that must ... CD (Global Grooves)

One of the fullest, richest collections of work we've ever seen from the great Lee Dorsey – a massive 2CD set that spans all his best early soul and funk years – with some unreleased material and live tracks too! The New Orleans groove is in full effect throughout – and the ... CD (Soul)

A sweet modern take on post-disco funky soul from Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One, working together as Tuxedo! It's a pretty remarkable creative step for both parties, and classy enough to make the Tuxedo moniker fit. We've known for years to expect the unexpected from Mayer Hawthorne – we ... CD (Deep Funk)

Excellent work from Chris Woods – a genius reed player on alto sax and flute! Chris had a similar history to Nathan Davis, another richly talented American reed player from the same era – in that he was an American, but moved to Europe and achieved greater fame by becoming a seminal ... CD (Jazz)

Great gritty grooves from this wonderful series – a sublime set of R&B tracks, but all chosen from the perspective of later soul music too! The tracks are a nice change from the older style R&B compilations – as they all have a great little groove, and plenty of elements that ... CD (Soul)

It's been way way too long since we last heard from Carmen Rodgers (her debut was over a decade ago) – but it's really great to have her back, and sounding better than ever! Carmen's really grown up a lot over the past few years – and she's got this tight, sophisticated groove that ... CD (Neo Soul)

A great late 70s chapter in the career of funky drummer Idris Muhammad – moving into very different territory here than his early soul jazz with Lou Donaldson, and even his earliest solo material too! David Matthews arranged the tracks, and he's given them a slick but soulful sound, with lots ... CD (Jazz)

An amazing little record from the Uruguay scene of the 70s – not as much as a hotbed of activity as some other South American nations, but still home to a few key geniuses – like the brilliant Eduardo Mateo! Mateo works here alongside musical partner Jorge Trasante – who mixes a ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)

One of the most compelling albums ever recorded by British alto genius Joe Harriott – a very unusual record that has him working with guitarist Amanico D'Silva, in a style that's got some wonderful modal undertones! The feel here is a bit like Harriott's work with Michael Garrick – ... CD (Jazz)

A really compelling little trio – and one of the best late-life projects we've heard from legendary drummer Albert Tootie Heath! Heath's always been a fluid, inventive musician – but this group really lets him hit some of the more interesting modes he reached during his glory days of ... CD (Jazz)

At this point, space seemed to be a logical direction for Lenny White to go – since his high-powered fusion drumming style is enough to power him right out of the galaxy! This album's a hard heavy batch of funky fusion tunes – with lots of hard drums by Lenny, and spacey spacey ... CD (Jazz)