Nice 2LP set that brings together some of his most striking sessions of the early 60s recorded for Emarcy. This set includes pieces composed and arranged by Lalo Schifrin played by a large ensemble led by Benny Carter – with Dizzy as the main soloist, and work by players that include James Moody, Phil Woods, Emil Richards, Francisco Aguabella, and Schifrin himself. Tracks are long, and have complicated introductions – then easily give way to the sort of flowing grooves that Schifrin was penning often at the time. Titles include "The Conquerors", "The Chains", "The Swords", "The Empire", and "The Legend Of Atlantis". The set also features Diz playing tracks from Tom McIntosh, one of the scene's brightest arrangers at the time, and a talent who was looming large, thanks to support from folks like Diz and James Moody. Moody's in the group – blowing tenor with a quintet that includes Kenny Barron on piano, Chris White on bass, and Rudy Collins on drums – and his tone is incredible, with a darkness that he'd rarely had before, and the whole group has a mixture of modern tones and soulful grooves that's beyond compare! Titles include "November Afternoon", "The Cup Bearers", "The Day After". Also included are songs from the soundtrack for the lost Shirley Clarke verite drama The Cool World. Mal Waldron wrote the material for the score, and Diz plays the music with a moody emotionality that you don't often hear in his other 60's work. The recording was made by his great group that included Kenny Barron and James Moody, and the titles include "The Pushers", "Duke's Fantasy", "Coney Island", and "Street Music". LP, Vinyl record album

Produced by Betty Carter with Javon Jackson on tenor, Jacky Terrasson on piano and a rotating rhythm section that includes Carl Allen, Peter Washington, Chris Thomas, and Clarence Penn – plus guest vocals from Dianne Reeves and two tracks with Kenny Garrett on alto. CD

Features Regina Carter on violin, Chris Potter on saxophone, Brian Blade on drums, Luistio Quintero and Ricuarte Villareal on percussion, and vocals from Luciana Souza. CD

An obscure jazzy soundtrack by Oscar Peterson, and one of his nicest albums from the late 70s! The record moves past the usual Peterson trio format – and includes extra horn players like Benny Carter, Zoot Sims, and Clark Terry, as well as the vibes of Milt Jackson. All this makes for a nicer than usual set of original jazzy tracks, many with a strident groove that's very different than Peterson's other work from the time. Titles include "Theme For Celine", "Party Time USA", "Theme For Susannah", "Elliot", and "Blues For Chris". LP, Vinyl record album

With Buster Williams, Christian McBride, Ira Coleman, Peter Washington, Ron Carter, Scott Colley, Al Foster, Billy Drummond, Jack DeJohnette, Lewis Nash, Don Alias, Steve Wilson, Wayne Shorter, Chris Potter, Branford Marsalis, Chris Potter, Joe Henderson, and Walt Weiskopf. CD

A really great document of a unique musical moment – one that happened overseas, but which started a wave of protest that's continued to this day! In the late 50s, London was a hotbed of nuclear protest – one of the first cities to express a strong resistance to the arms race that was building up at a global level – in a movement that not only drew political forces, but artists and musicians as well! This well-done set looks at some of the latter – a mix of folk and jazz singers and musicians who joined together to protest atomic weapons – some with songs that outwardly anti-nuclear, some a bit more subtle – brought together here in a massive 54 track collection! The range of material varies, and maybe the most surprising are some of the trad jazz artists who we might not have expected to be working next to more political folkies – in a lineup that features material from Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger, Fred & Betty Dallas, Margaret McKeown, Kenny Ball, Humphrey Lyttleton, Sheila Hancock, Sydney Carter, Chris Barber, George Melly, Kenny Ball, and The Alberts. CD

With selections by Nina Simone, Chris Norman and Suzi Quatro, Chico Hamilton, Sonny & Cher, Chuck Berry, The Doors, David Bowie, Clarence Carter, Seals & Crofts, James Gang, Blood Sweat & Tears, Taj Majal, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

A key force in the development of New Orleans soul – the homegrown Ric & Ron Records label – home to some of the best early productions from the Crescent City! The roster of talent here is really amazing – a host of artists who'd go onto develop the New Orleans style even more strongly in the 60s, mixed with some lesser-knowns who really sparkle in this setting – sharp, tight, damn soulful singles that are all delivered without any overproduction, and nicely free of all those cliches that would later overwhelm music from the Big Easy. The rhythms alone are worth the price of the record – hard-romping piano, bass, and drums that really set an instrumental fire right from the start – then pave the way for searing lead performances from the singers and instrumental stars. The set's the best we've ever seen of these early days of the label – and features 24 tracks that include "Tell It Like It Is" by Eddie Bo, "Easy Rockin" by Eddie Lang, "I Love You Still" by Joe Jones, "Come On" by Johnny Adams, "Don't Lie To Me" by Mercy Adams, "Don't Mess With My Man" by Irma Thomas, "Carnival Time" by Al Johnson, "Nobody Knows" by Martha Carter, "All Nite Long (parts 1 & 2)" by Robert Parker, "Cuttin Out" by Professor Longhair, "Let's Get It" by Edgar Blanchard, and "Rocket To The Moon" by Chris Kenner. CD

Includes 20 tracks on 2 CDs and features work with Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Airto Moreira, George Mraz, Joe Lovano, Christian McBride, and others. CD

A collection of 60s recordings for Atlantic, starting in 1965 with Cedar Walton on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums, and later in 1967 with Jodie Christian on piano, Melvin Jackson on bass, Richard Smith on drums, and Ray Barretto on percussion, and a 1968 date with Heywood Henry on baritone, Jimmy Owens on trumpet, Charles Rainey on bass, and Grady Tate on drums. Titles include "Listen Here", "Theme In Search Of A Movie", "Freedom Jazz Dance", "Live Right Now", "Love Theme From The Sandpiper", "and "Movin' On Out". LP, Vinyl record album

With Ron Blake on saxophones, Shedrick Mitchell on piano and Fender Rhodes, and Rodney Green on drums – plus special guests Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, and James Carter. CD

Flip was one of the earliest stars on the Verve/Clef/Norgran labels – a true original, with a hard swinging tenor sound that really found its place with producer Norman Granz. The pair drifted apart as the 50s wore on, but Flip's returned to Verve for this recent session – a pretty tasty outing with a traditional feel, backed by great younger players like James Carter, Benny Green, Christian McBride, and Kenny Washington. The feel of the set recalls the best relaxed swing sessions of mid 50s Verve – and Phillips' tone on the tenor is as right on the money as ever! Titles include "Where Or When", "The Mark Of Zorro", "Grand Rose", "Susan's Dream", "Flip The Whip", and "Swing Is The Thing". CD

Two great 90s sessions from Cedar Walton – back to back in a single set! Composer is a record that not only shows off the great skills of pianist Cedar Walton as a composer, but one that also shows how he can really work a special sort of magic when he lets some horns into his group, and shifts from his usual mode in a trio! Walton's always wonderful on the keys – and works here with Christian McBride on bass and Victor Lewis on drums – but it's the presence of the hornmen on the record who really shade things wonderfully – the presence of Vincent Herring on alto, Ralph Moore on tenor, and Roy Hargrove on trumpet – all really bringing out some great qualities in Walton's original tunes. Titles include "Martha's Prize", "Minor Controversy", "Hindsight", "Groove Passage", "Theme For Jobim", and "Groundwork". Roots is a masterpiece of color from pianist Cedar Walton – a set that has all the right elements and instruments really opening up his sound! The core trio is excellent – Cedar on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and the great Lewis Nash on drums – at his crackling 90s best – yet these players are expanded in all these great tonal ways – with rich tenor from Joshua Redman, sparkling trumpet from Terence Blanchard, and great guitar from Mark Whitfield – who really seems to echo Cedar's sense of color on his strings. Titles include "Mode For Joe", "Bolivia", "Fiesta Espanol", "Firm Roots", "I'll Let You Know", and "When Love Is New". CD

Nice covers from Chrissie Hynde & Adam Seymour, Hank III, Crooked Fingers, Los Lobos, Dar Williams, Deana Carter, Ani DiFranco, Son Volt, Ben Harper, Aimee Mann & Michael Penn, Johnny Cash, Raul Malo Of The Mavericks, and Damien Jurado & Rosie Thomas. CD

Classic singers take on the sound of the season – in the kind of collection that really takes aim at those years when the world of Christmas records really started to explode! The tunes here mix some of the paternalistic voices of TV Christmas specials with some that are more in the world of jazz and rock – mixing things up in a nice way, and offering up plenty of classics along the way! Titles include "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Frank Sinatra, "Christmas Time All Over The World" by Sammy Davis Jr, "Let It Snow" by Dean Martin, "Winter Wonderland" by Paul Anka, "Christmas Night In Harlem" by Louis Armstrong, "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby, "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" by Perry Como, "The Christmas Song" by Mel Torme, "Baby It's Cold Outside" by Ray Charles & Betty Carter, "I'll Be Home For Christmas" by Frank Sinatra, and "Blue Christmas" by Elvis Presley. LP, Vinyl record album

A really cool collection of vintage country music Christmas tunes – not just hits, but some excellent obscure material – all pulled together in a way that really lives up to the high standards we expect from the Bear Family label! These tracks are pulled together from a variety of labels and sources, and don't just include cowboy numbers you might guess from the "range" in the title – but also western swing, honky tonk, and maybe a few countrypolitan gems as well! The set features 26 titles in all – with great graphics and notes throughout – to accompany titles that include "Santa Claus Is Coming" by Skeeter Davis, "Santa's On His Way" by Bob Wills, "North Pole Boogie" by Billy Briggs, "Christmas Can't Be Far Away" by Eddie Arnold, "Christmas Time's A-Coming" by Bill Monroe, "Jolly Old St Nicholas" by Wilf Carter, "I Wish Everyday Was Christmas" by Ray Salter, "New Baby For Christmas" by George Jones, "Blue Snowfall" by George Morgan, "White Christmas" by Ernest Tubb, "Christmas Carols By The Old Corral" by Tex Ritter, "No Place Like Home On Christmas" by Little Jimmy Dickens, "It's Christmas Time" by The Louvin Brothers, "Home At Christmas" by Nelson Young, "I'm Gonna Lasso Santa" by Brenda Lee, and "We Wanna See Santa Do The Mambo" by Terry Fell. CD

A set issued relatively early in the history of rap music – yet one that's still maybe one of the greatest-ever Christmas collection of hip hop tracks for the season! The album's from the glory days of Profile Records – from a time when the label was repping the New York scene strongly in the mainstream – thanks to the success of Run DMC, which let the label bring together some other top shelf-talent from the time! The set list here features some less-remembered acts, but all in top-shelf Holiday work – and titles include the classic "Christmas In Hollis" by Run DMC, which uses that perfect Clarence Carter "Back Door Santa" sample behind slice-of-life yet knowingly funny Run-DMC rhymes in their prime – plus other cuts that include Let The Jingle Bells Rock" by Sweet Tee, "Christmas In The City" by King Sun-D Moet, "Chillin With Santa" by Derek B, "He's Santa Claus" by Disco 4, That's What I Want For Christmas" by The Showboys, "Ghetto Santa" by Spyder-D, and "Dana Dan Is Coming To Town" by Dana Dane. The only clunker here might by "A Surf MC New Year" by Surf MCs – but that cut's the last, so you can easily pick up the needle before it starts! LP, Vinyl record album

With Kenny Barron, James Carter, Roy Hargrove, Barry Harris, Charles McPherson, and Christian McBride. CD

Includes tracks by Leadbelly, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Burl Ives, Flatt & Scruggs, the Carter Family, Pete Seeger, Leon Bibb, Carolun Hester, Malvina Reynolds, and the New Christy Minstrels – 19 tracks total. CD

One of the craziest collections of Christmas music you'll ever hope to own – a fantastic assortment of rare and obscure Holiday singles from the record collection of The Cramps! The music is mostly from the end of the 50s and start of the 60s – a heyday not just for the 45rpm format, but also for mad experimentation in many styles of mainstream music – moments that could sometimes have the wit of a novelty single, or the searing power of a sonic powerhouse punch – all of which you'll get here on a hip assortment of 31 unusual songs of the season! Titles include "Santa Done Got Hip" by The Marquees, "Jingle Bell Hop" by Jackson Trio, "Santa Claus" by Bo Carter, "Did You Spend Christmas Day In Jail" by The Reverend JM Gates, "Eskimo Pie" by George Jones, "Swingin Santa" by Sandy Baron, "Christmas Boogie" by Sugarchile Robinson, "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas" by Gayla Peevey, "Cool Yule" by Tony Rodelle Larson, "I Want A Man For Christmas" by Joan Shaw, and "Bring That Cadillac Back" by Harry Crafton. CD

Christmas is funky here, and in more ways than you might expect – as the package covers a great range of sources and styles, and even includes a few funky gospel numbers from the season! There's plenty here that we haven't seen on other Holiday sets – and the 25 track collection features tunes that include "Sleigh Ride" by Lord Invincible & The Tropical Spades, "Merry Christmas Baby" by The C-Quents, "Black Christmas" by Rose Graham, "Every Year We Say Merry Christmas" by Salem Travelers, "The Christmas Song" by John Edwards, "Christmas Time Again" by Tiny Powell, "Back Door Santa" by Clarence Carter, "I'll Be Home For Christmas" by Willis Jackson, "Blue Christmas" by The Meditation Singers, "Silent Night (live)" by Solomon Burke, "Christmas Is Gone" by Al King, "Merry Christmas Baby" by The Poets, "Old Fashioned Christmas" by Kenny Williams, "Xmas Done Got Funky" by Jimmy Jules & The Nuclear Soul System, "Christmas Greeting" by The Velvelettes, and "Silent Night" by Brother Joe May. CD