Soloists include Mary Halvorseon on guitar, Kris Davis on piano, Nate Wooley on trumpet, and Ingrid Laubrock on saxophone. CD

A key early entry in the "jazz meets Broadway" genre – and a record that was so successful, it went onto inspire countless imitations! Shelly Manne's working here in a lightly playful trio setting – alongside Andre Previn on piano and Leroy Vinnegar on bass, in a reading of tunes originally composed for the musical My Fair Lady. Given Manne's talent for unusual rhythms and melodic percussion, the session's got a bit of a whimsical edge that takes it way past the core compositions that most listeners already knew – into a realm that allows for much great improvisation and play with the melodies. Previn's nicely restrained on the keys, and Vinnegar adds in a good sense of bottom to the set – and titles include "Get Me To The Church On Time", "I Could Have Dance All Night", "Ascot Gavotte", "Show Me", and "With A Little Bit Of Luck". LP, Vinyl record album

A key early entry in the "jazz meets Broadway" genre – and a record that was so successful, it went onto inspire countless imitations! Shelly Manne's working here in a lightly playful trio setting – alongside Andre Previn on piano and Leroy Vinnegar on bass, in a reading of tunes originally composed for the musical My Fair Lady. Given Manne's talent for unusual rhythms and melodic percussion, the session's got a bit of a whimsical edge that takes it way past the core compositions that most listeners already knew – into a realm that allows for much great improvisation and play with the melodies. Previn's nicely restrained on the keys, and Vinnegar adds in a good sense of bottom to the set – and titles include "Get Me To The Church On Time", "I Could Have Dance All Night", "Ascot Gavotte", "Show Me", and "With A Little Bit Of Luck". CD

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A mixture of Verve regulars and early third streamers join together in this one-off session designed as a focus on the writing talents of John Lewis. Most of the material takes off from Lewis' work with the MJQ, and the band includes two of his bandmates from that group, Connie Kay & Percy Heath – as well as soloists Stan Getz, JJ Johnson, Aaron Sachs, and Lucky Thompson. Titles include "Little David's Fugue", "Sun Dance", "Django", and "Midsommer". In a great David Stone Martin cover, too! CD

A really beautiful book, and one that's very different than most other hip hop books we've ever stocked – as this well-done volume is a companion piece to a show at the Baltimore Museum of Art – one that looks at the way that hip hop has influenced different strands of art and culture in the 21st Century – presented here in a variety of ways that are sometimes very subtle, sometimes a lot more direct! The book is full color, and has a really unique design – and presents 70 different art objects, by artists who include Devin Allen, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Hank Willis Thomas, Vivienne Westwood, Pharrell Williams, Stan Douglas, Shabez Jamal, Gordon Parks, Kahlil Joseph, and many others – next to essays by Greg Tate, Lester Spence, Devin Allen, Simon Reynolds, Seph Rodney, Noriko Manabe, Ebony Haynes, and many others too! Book

Incredible work from one of the greatest groups of the New York avant scene of the 60s – the legendary New York Contemporary Five, a combo that features Archie Shepp on tenor, John Tchicai on alto, Don Cherry on cornet, Don Moore on bass, and JC Moses on drums! This 1963 recording, originally done in Copenhagen, is one of the group's most lasting statements – a bold, bracing bit of jazz that seems to pick up energy from Ornette Coleman's dimming flame, prefacing Albert Ayler inferno to come, wrapped up with some of the sensitivity of Eric Dolphy in his final years – a record that rivals the best that any of those three players had to offer. Shepp's got an intensity that almost blows away his Impulse sides, and Tchicai has hardly ever sounded better – and even Cherry seems to be unlocking a whole new side of his spirit in the process of the recording! Titles include "Mick", "The Funeral", "When Will The Blues Leave", "Crepescule With Nellie", "OC", and "Cisum". CD

Incredible work from one of the greatest groups of the New York avant scene of the 60s – the legendary New York Contemporary Five, a combo that features Archie Shepp on tenor, John Tchicai on alto, Don Cherry on cornet, Don Moore on bass, and JC Moses on drums! This 1963 recording, originally done in Copenhagen, is one of the group's most lasting statements – a bold, bracing bit of jazz that seems to pick up energy from Ornette Coleman's dimming flame, prefacing Albert Ayler inferno to come, wrapped up with some of the sensitivity of Eric Dolphy in his final years – a record that rivals the best that any of those three players had to offer. Shepp's got an intensity that almost blows away his Impulse sides, and Tchicai has hardly ever sounded better – and even Cherry seems to be unlocking a whole new side of his spirit in the process of the recording! Titles include "Mick", "The Funeral", "When Will The Blues Leave", "Crepuscule With Nellie", "OC", and "Cisum". LP, Vinyl record album

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Tracks include "Smack Up", "Tin Tin Deo", "You'd Be Nice To Come Home To", "Gettin' Together", "Mambo Koyama", "Prisoner", and "Over The Rainbow". CD

Fantastic work from Riddle – a bandleader who always did great work with other singers, but who could really be sleepy on his own, until the late 60s, when he started to change his groove a lot, and really open up his sound! This album's a perfect example of that move – as it's got organ, electric guitar, and Fender bass mixed with Riddle's already well-arranged horn sextion – creating a lilting groove that really kicks the best tracks along nicely, giving them a slightly funky sound that's similar to the work that Riddle later did for MPS. Titles include "Gentle On My Mind", "Tell Someone You Love Them", "Don't Rain On My Parade", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "Where Do I Go", and a great cover of "Light My Fire". LP, Vinyl record album

Sonny Rollins on tenor saxophome with Art Blakey, Clifford Brown Ray Brown, Ray Bryant Paul Chambers, Kenny Clarke John Coltrane, Miles Davis. Kenny Drew, Kenny Dorham Tommy Flanagan, Red Garland Hampton Hawes, Percy Heath Milt Jackson, Philly Joe Jones Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne Thelonious Monk, George Morrow Oscar Pettiford, Max Roach Horace Silver, Arthur Taylor Leroy Vinnegar, Doug Watkins & oters. CD

5 CDs – all wonderful! The set brings together 8 of Sonny Rollins' classic albums from the late 50s – Brilliant Corners, Way Out West, Jazz Contrasts, The Sound Of Sonny, That's Him!, Sonny Rollins Plays, Freedom Suite and Sonny Rollins & The Contemporary Leaders. CD

Two classic albums from the great Sonny Rollins – both made during some time on the LA scene of the late 50s, and matched here with a more obscure third album that issued alternate sides from the sessions! First up is the classic Way Out West – a set that brings the east coast tenor of Sonny Rollins into contact with a west coast rhythm section of Ray Brown and Shelly Manne! Despite Rollins' silly look on the cover, and the album's overall "western" theme, the session's a brilliant one – right up there with Sonny's strongest trio sides of the late 50s, and a key link in a string of excellent recordings for Blue Note, Prestige, and Riverside! The lack of a piano really opens up the style of the set – letting Sonny explore freely on his solos, while Brown's bass and Manne's drums do more than enough to keep the rhythms going on their own. Solos aren't as "out" as on the Village Vanguard sessions, but certainly every bit as inspired – and titles include "I'm An Old Cowhand", "Solitude", "Come, Gone", "Way Out West", and "Wagon Wheels". Next is Sonny Rollins & The Contemporary Leaders – one of Sonny's brilliant west coast sessions for Contemporary – records that shouldn't sparkle as much as they do, but which actually stand with his best work of the 50s! Sonny's blowing in front of a session of "leaders" that includes Hampton Hawes, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, Shelly Manne, and Victor Feldman, who plays vibes on one track. Sonny's the real leader here, though – as his bold, proud tenor tone really takes front seat, carving lines that never get tired, bringing a sparkle into tunes like "You", "How High The Moon", "I've Found A New Baby", "The Song Is You", and "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star". Heck, even with songs like those, the album should be weak – but there's an undeniable magic that really makes it great! Last is Contemporary Alternate Takes – a great collection of alternate takes from Sonny's landmark recordings for Contemporary Records in the late 50s – material recorded in LA with an easier-swinging groove than some of his New York work, in a style that let Sonny blow in round, warm, and really open tones – almost foreseeing his work for RCA in the mid 60s. Players include Ray Brown, Shelly Manne, Victor Feldman, and Barney Kessel – and the set features alternate takes of "I'm An Old Cowhand", "Come Gone", "Way Out West", "The Song Is You", and "You". CD

Two classic albums from the great Sonny Rollins – both made during some time on the LA scene of the late 50s, and matched here with a more obscure third album that issued alternate sides from the sessions! First up is the classic Way Out West – a set that brings the east coast tenor of Sonny Rollins into contact with a west coast rhythm section of Ray Brown and Shelly Manne! Despite Rollins' silly look on the cover, and the album's overall "western" theme, the session's a brilliant one – right up there with Sonny's strongest trio sides of the late 50s, and a key link in a string of excellent recordings for Blue Note, Prestige, and Riverside! The lack of a piano really opens up the style of the set – letting Sonny explore freely on his solos, while Brown's bass and Manne's drums do more than enough to keep the rhythms going on their own. Solos aren't as "out" as on the Village Vanguard sessions, but certainly every bit as inspired – and titles include "I'm An Old Cowhand", "Solitude", "Come, Gone", "Way Out West", and "Wagon Wheels". Next is Sonny Rollins & The Contemporary Leaders – one of Sonny's brilliant west coast sessions for Contemporary – records that shouldn't sparkle as much as they do, but which actually stand with his best work of the 50s! Sonny's blowing in front of a session of "leaders" that includes Hampton Hawes, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, Shelly Manne, and Victor Feldman, who plays vibes on one track. Sonny's the real leader here, though – as his bold, proud tenor tone really takes front seat, carving lines that never get tired, bringing a sparkle into tunes like "You", "How High The Moon", "I've Found A New Baby", "The Song Is You", and "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star". Heck, even with songs like those, the album should be weak – but there's an undeniable magic that really makes it great! Last is Contemporary Alternate Takes – a great collection of alternate takes from Sonny's landmark recordings for Contemporary Records in the late 50s – material recorded in LA with an easier-swinging groove than some of his New York work, in a style that let Sonny blow in round, warm, and really open tones – almost foreseeing his work for RCA in the mid 60s. Players include Ray Brown, Shelly Manne, Victor Feldman, and Barney Kessel – and the set features alternate takes of "I'm An Old Cowhand", "Come Gone", "Way Out West", "The Song Is You", and "You". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Sonny's brilliant west coast sessions for Contemporary – records that shouldn't sparkle as much as they do, but which actually stand with his best work of the 50s! Sonny's blowing in front of a session of "leaders" that includes Hampton Hawes, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, Shelly Manne, and Victor Feldman, who plays vibes on one track. Sonny's the real leader here, though – as his bold, proud tenor tone really takes front seat, carving lines that never get tired, bringing a sparkle into tunes like "You", "How High The Moon", "I've Found A New Baby", "The Song Is You", and "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star". Heck, even with songs like those, the album should be weak – but there's an undeniable magic that really makes it great! CD

One of Sonny's brilliant west coast sessions for Contemporary – records that shouldn't sparkle as much as they do, but which actually stand with his best work of the 50s! Sonny's blowing in front of a session of "leaders" that includes Hampton Hawes, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, Shelly Manne, and Victor Feldman, who plays vibes on one track. Sonny's the real leader here, though – as his bold, proud tenor tone really takes front seat, carving lines that never get tired, bringing a sparkle into tunes like "You", "How High The Moon", "I've Found A New Baby", "The Song Is You", and "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star". Heck, even with songs like those, the album should be weak – but there's an undeniable magic that really makes it great! LP, Vinyl record album

One of Sonny's brilliant west coast sessions for Contemporary – records that shouldn't sparkle as much as they do, but which actually stand with his best work of the 50s! Sonny's blowing in front of a session of "leaders" that includes Hampton Hawes, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, Shelly Manne, and Victor Feldman, who plays vibes on one track. Sonny's the real leader here, though – as his bold, proud tenor tone really takes front seat, carving lines that never get tired, bringing a sparkle into tunes like "You", "How High The Moon", "I've Found A New Baby", "The Song Is You", and "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star". Heck, even with songs like those, the album should be weak – but there's an undeniable magic that really makes it great! CD

One of Sonny's brilliant west coast sessions for Contemporary – records that shouldn't sparkle as much as they do, but which actually stand with his best work of the 50s! Sonny's blowing in front of a session of "leaders" that includes Hampton Hawes, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, Shelly Manne, and Victor Feldman, who plays vibes on one track. Sonny's the real leader here, though – as his bold, proud tenor tone really takes front seat, carving lines that never get tired, bringing a sparkle into tunes like "You", "How High The Moon", "I've Found A New Baby", "The Song Is You", and "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star". Heck, even with songs like those, the album should be weak – but there's an undeniable magic that really makes it great! Includes alternate versions of "You", "The Song Is You", and "I've Found A New Baby". CD

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Incredible work from one of the greatest groups of the New York avant scene of the 60s! This French set (probably from the late 60s or early 70s) brings live tracks recorded in Copenhagen in 1963 – and which rarely every show up in any form, even on reissue. The group features Shepp, Don Cherry, John Tchicai, Don Moore, and JC Moses – and the work ranks with some of Shepp's best-ever, and has that dark well-managed "new thing" sound of his best early work on Impulse. In fact, we'd rank these two LPs right up there with some of the best avant garde jazz of the 60s – which is a shame when you consider how rare it is to find. Titles include "Mik", "The Funeral", "Cisum", and "When Will The Blues Leave". US issue of the original recording by Polydor. LP, Vinyl record album

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A jazz mass, but unlike any other variation on the theme that's ever been recorded – thanks to a very righteous performance from James Tatum – who makes the whole thing feel much more like an organic spiritual jazz set than anything you'd ever find in a church! James himself plays both Fender Rhodes and piano – at the helm of a progressive combo from the Detroit underground of the early 70s – a group that features soprano sax from Theodore Buckner, trumpet from Judge Gray, tenor and alto from Louis Barnett, and trombone from Norman O'Gara – all lesser-known players, but who work beautifully alongside James' lead! The Fender Rhodes work is wonderful – as great as you'll find on any other record of the time – and there's also two singers who add to the sound – but step out at all the right moments to let the solos open up. Titles include "Gloria", "Offertory", "Holy Holy Holy", "Amen", "Lamb Of God", and "Communion" – but the overall sound is way more than you'd expect from those titles! LP, Vinyl record album

A groovy 60s session from vibist Cal Tjader – and an excellent little Latin set, with a mixture of bossa nova and Latin jazz that goes way beyond the promise of the title! The great Clare Fischer arranged the set – and if you know his work with Cal, you know that he's got a wonderful approach to jazz that works perfectly with Tjader's unique phrasing – a spacious sensibility, and a great sense of timing – one that always ensures the tunes sparkle with a sweetly stepping groove. Fischer plays piano on the record – and other players include Laurindo Almeida on guitar, Paul Horn on reeds, Johnny Rae on timbales, and Milt Holland on percussion. Titles include "Choro E Batuque", "Nao Diga Nada", "Elizete", "Imagen", "Vai Querer", and "Que Tristeza". LP, Vinyl record album

Some orchestral instrumental stuff, and some of Varese's early compositions from the twenties and thirties. Played by The Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, with Jan De Gaetani mezzo-soprano, and Thomas Paul bass. LP, Vinyl record album

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An incredibly cool use of the koto – that stringed Japanese instrument that got some great reworking in the 70s, thanks to hip records like this! The instrument is set up here amidst some sophisticated larger arrangements – in a way that almost takes off from some of the Dorothy Ashby material on Cadet Records, but which also has a richness in sound that echoes some European soundtrack albums too – gentle grooves with warm currents that are mighty nice throughout – as keyboards, guitar, and even a bit of vibes come into the mix to really update the setting for the ancient instrument! The whole thing comes off with a sound that's surprisingly soulful at times – and titles include "Yagi Bushi", Otemoyan", "Mamuro Gawa Ondo", "Gujo Bushi", "Nishinjo Bushi", "Ume No Uta Genka", "Itsuki No Komori Uta", and "Akita Obako". LP, Vinyl record album

A deceptively groovy record – one that, like the other two in this hip series, hides some very cool sounds behind a relatively unassuming cover! Toshiko Yonekawa plays the Japanese koto, but the setting here is very different than the spare, folksy mode of earlier koto records – as arranger Kiyoshi Yamaya brings in a hip blend of jazz instrumentation and strings – using keyboards, vibes, guitar, and other instruments to update the sound, and give the whole thing a slinky 70s groove – bridging generations in Japanese music, with some great cinematic funk elements at times – on titles that include "Kariboshikiri Uta", "Tabaruzaka", "Iya No Kohiki Uta", "Takeda No Komori Uta", "Hietsuki Bushi", "Mogami Gawa Funa Uta", and "Aizu Bandai San". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest Japanese albums of the 70s to blend classic instrumentation and contemporary elements – a record that's got plenty of the koto promised in the title, but which also serves up the music with a wonderfully rich vibe throughout! The style is more in sophisticated soundtrack territory, but with an undercurrent of funk underneath the larger arrangements – ala David Axelrod – and next to the koto played on each track by Toshiko Yonekawa, you'll find some wonderful basslines, vibes, and even some occasional tenor as well – all wrapped together in these really stunning arrangements from Kiyoshi Yamaya! The whole thing's as beautiful as it is groovy – and titles include "Tanchame", "Konpira Fune Fune", "Oshima Bushi", "Kaigara Bushi", "Sado Okesa", and "Tosa No Sunayama". LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Paul Horn, Azymuth, Marcio Montarroyos, Walton Ornato, Phil Manzanera & Sergio Dias, Paul Horn and Egberto Gismonti. CD

Includes music by Demon Ritchie, Twin Pink, Laid, Alistair Colling, Freaks, Felka, and Nor Elle. CD

Includes 11 tracks from Carl Simms, Randy Brown, Bobby McClure, Marshall & Babb, Main Ingredient, Jimmy Bo Horn, Bobby Marchan, David Dee, and J Blackfoot. CD

New music by Wendell Whalum, Eugene Hancock, Adolphus Hailstork, Leslie Adams, and Valerie Capers. CD

A seminal session of LA hardbop – featuring a great group that includes Gerald Wilson, Jack Sheldon, Harold Land, Frank Butler, and pianist Carl Perkins, the unique talent who had a strange way of playing the keys (sideways!), and who died shortly after the recording of this set. As the title might imply, the album's dedicated to Perkins – and titles include "Nica's Dream", "Pink Lady","Carl's Blues", and "Larue". LP, Vinyl record album

An album with a sexy cover, but a set that's one of the more soulful from the LA scene of the 50s – thanks to a tight, sharp group working under the leadership of bassist Curtis Counce! Counce didn't cut many albums as a leader, but all of them are pretty darn great – and done with a bit more edge than the cool jazz of the LA scene – a bit more open, with a strong focus on the solos on some of the album's longer tracks too! Solos include great work on tenor by Harold Land – who's really coming into his own here – plus Jack Sheldon on trumpet, and Carl Perkins on piano – a player who would pass away not long after this set. Frank Butler completes the group on drums – and titles include "Complete", "Big Foot", "Counceltation", and "Mean To Me". LP, Vinyl record album

An album with a sexy cover, but a set that's one of the more soulful from the LA scene of the 50s – thanks to a tight, sharp group working under the leadership of bassist Curtis Counce! Counce didn't cut many albums as a leader, but all of them are pretty darn great – and done with a bit more edge than the cool jazz of the LA scene – a bit more open, with a strong focus on the solos on some of the album's longer tracks too! Solos include great work on tenor by Harold Land – who's really coming into his own here – plus Jack Sheldon on trumpet, and Carl Perkins on piano – a player who would pass away not long after this set. Frank Butler completes the group on drums – and titles include "Complete", "Big Foot", "Counceltation", and "Mean To Me". LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite albums by Teddy Edwards – and one with some organ in the group! This obscure quartet side has Gerry Wiggins playing a rare bit of Hammond – grooving the group with a lean and open-ended soul jazz approach that really has Edwards blowing at his best! The style sits right up there next to Gene Ammons' best albums of the time, and the rest of the group features Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Milt Turner on drums. Titles include "Smokin", "No Regrets", "A Bag Of Blues", "Wiggin", and "Little Steddy" – all originals that get Edwards past the usual bag of soulful standards! LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent set of LA hardbop tracks by the great tenor player Teddy Edwards, with a group that includes Joe Castro, Leroy Vinnegar, and Billy Higgins. Edwards' tone is fantastic, and the tracks give him a chance to show off his soloing talent in a way that he didn't always reach on other recordings. Tracks include "Blues In G", "You Name it", "Higgins' Hideaway", and "The Sermon". CD

Two of the best west coast boppers of the postwar years – back together again in a killer revival date cut by Contemporary Records! As the title implies, the set's got a backward-looking sort of feel – at least for the early 60s recording date – but from the perspective of our generation, the whole thing merges nicely into the classic sound of LA bop – perhaps extending out the original Central Ave groove a bit more, thanks to the generous recording spirit of Contemporary, and the longer tracks on the date. Edwards plays tenor, McGhee plays trumpet, and other players include Phineas Newborn on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Ed Thigpen on drums. Titles include "Together Again", "You Stepped Out Of A Dream", "Up There", "Perhaps", "Misty" and "Sandy". LP, Vinyl record album

Two of the best west coast boppers of the postwar years – back together again in a killer revival date cut by Contemporary Records! As the title implies, the set's got a backward-looking sort of feel – at least for the early 60s recording date – but from the perspective of our generation, the whole thing merges nicely into the classic sound of LA bop – perhaps extending out the original Central Ave groove a bit more, thanks to the generous recording spirit of Contemporary, and the longer tracks on the date. Edwards plays tenor, McGhee plays trumpet, and other players include Phineas Newborn on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Ed Thigpen on drums. Titles include "Together Again", "You Stepped Out Of A Dream", "Up There", "Perhaps", "Misty" and "Sandy". CD

A great bit of soulful fusion from drummer Peter Erskine – one of the few albums he made as a leader of this nature, even though his playing graced lots of other wonderful records at the time! The approach here is tight, but never too much so – smooth, but never slick – a warmly electric groove that's really a lot more in a mid-70s sort of style than you'd expect from the early 80s date of the album. Other players here are all well-suited for the set – and include Randy Brecker on trumpet, Michael Brecker on tenor, Bob Mintzer on tenor, Don Grolnick on electric piano, Eddie Gomez on bass, Don Alias on percussion, and Mike Mainieri on vibes – and titles include "Leroy Street", "In Statu Nascendi", "All's Well That Ends", "My Ship", and "ESP". CD

A great group – with Clifford Jordan on tenor and soprano sax, plus James Williams on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. CD

One of Farmer's best sessions of the 70s – recorded in a mode that's a bit freer than usual, with a group that includes Hampton Hawes, Ray Brown, and either Steve Ellington or Shelly Manne on drums. Art Pepper sits in on 4 of the album's 6 tracks – and it's his tone and edgieness that really opens things up, casting Farmer's work on flugelhorn in a light that's darker than usual, filled with shadows that haven't crept into his playing for years, creating a depth to the record that really keeps us listening. Titles include "Downwind", "Namely You", "What Am I Here For?", and "Will You Still Be Mine?" CD

One of Farmer's best sessions of the 70s – recorded in a mode that's a bit freer than usual, with a group that includes Hampton Hawes, Ray Brown, and either Steve Ellington or Shelly Manne on drums. Art Pepper sits in on 4 of the album's 6 tracks – and it's his tone and edgieness that really opens things up, casting Farmer's work on flugelhorn in a light that's darker than usual, filled with shadows that haven't crept into his playing for years, creating a depth to the record that really keeps us listening. Titles include "Downwind", "Namely You", "What Am I Here For?", and "Will You Still Be Mine?" LP, Vinyl record album

A really pivotal album from the great Art Farmer – a late 50s session that has him finding that sense of tone and timing that would dominate his work in years to come! Art was already great by the time of this set, but he's also got maybe a more personal, almost poetic vibe at times – starting to realize that the space between the notes is as important as the notes themselves, while still maybe holding onto a slight bit of the bite of his earliest recordings too. The group is a very well-matched trio of easygoing modernists – Hank Jones on piano, Addison Farmer on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums – on titles that include "Too Late Now", "Back In The Cage", "And Now", "Stablemates", "Earth", and "Nita". LP, Vinyl record album

A really pivotal album from the great Art Farmer – a late 50s session that has him finding that sense of tone and timing that would dominate his work in years to come! Art was already great by the time of this set, but he's also got maybe a more personal, almost poetic vibe at times – starting to realize that the space between the notes is as important as the notes themselves, while still maybe holding onto a slight bit of the bite of his earliest recordings too. The group is a very well-matched trio of easygoing modernists – Hank Jones on piano, Addison Farmer on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums – on titles that include "Too Late Now", "Back In The Cage", "And Now", "Stablemates", "Earth", and "Nita". LP, Vinyl record album

An unexpected treasure – like so many of Art Farmer's later albums! The record is ostensibly a tribute to the music of Billy Strayhorn – which might make us expect some soporific Ellington cliches – but the session's really just a small group one, played by Art with a quintet that includes Clifford Jordan, James Williams, Rufus Reid, and Marvin Smitty Smith – all coming together in a fluidly soulful style that's really great. Farmer's work on flugelhorn seems even more inventive than ever – and titles include "Bloodcount", "Johnny Come Lately", "Isfahan", "Raincheck", and "Upper Manhattan Medical Group". LP, Vinyl record album

An unexpected treasure – like so many of Art Farmer's later albums! The record is ostensibly a tribute to the music of Billy Strayhorn – which might make us expect some soporific Ellington cliches – but the session's really just a small group one, played by Art with a quintet that includes Clifford Jordan, James Williams, Rufus Reid, and Marvin Smitty Smith – all coming together in a fluidly soulful style that's really great. Farmer's work on flugelhorn seems even more inventive than ever – and titles include "Bloodcount", "Johnny Come Lately", "Isfahan", "Raincheck", and "Upper Manhattan Medical Group". CD features a bonus track – "Daydream". CD

A tremendous comeback for the Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet – recording here in the mid 80s with original members Farmer, Golson, and Curtis Fuller – plus tremendous rhythm support from the trio of Mickey Tucker, Ray Drummon, and Marvin Smitty Smith! The session has less of the tightly snapping groove that was the initial Jazztet calling card in the 60s – and comes across with some of the warmer, more chromatic tones that showed up on the group's last few recordings – and even more so in Art Farmer's work for many years to come. Tracks are all longish, and filled with many interesting twists and turns – and overall the album recalls the brilliant economy of Farmer's best work from the period, with some of the subtle soul that made Golson a player to keep an ear on strongly during the 80s. Titles include "From Dream To Dream", "Back To The City", "Vas Simeon", "Write Soon", and "Without Delay/Time Speaks". LP, Vinyl record album

A great quintet date – featuring mostly players who were part of the postwar scene on LA's Central Avenue – Art Farmer on trumpet, Frank Morgan on alto, and Lou Levy on piano – plus Eric Von Essen on bass and Albert Tootie Heath on drums! CD

Beautiful post-CTI work from Joe Farrell – a record that has him stretching out in the kind of long, flowing, and open tunes that have always been the strongest side of his work! The setting is mostly acoustic – save for a bit of electric piano on a few tracks – and players include Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, George Cables on piano, Tony Dumas on bass, and Peter Erskine on drums – hitting some nice chunky rhythms on some of the album's best tracks, and keeping up the funky undercurrent that we always love in Farrell's work. Farrell himself plays tenor, soprano, and flute – and titles include "Sonic Text", "If I Knew Where You're At", "Sweet Rita Suite", "When You're Awake", and "The Jazz Crunch". LP, Vinyl record album

A US album, but with work by Brit jazz greats like Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott on tenor, Dizzy Reece on trumpet, and Phil Seamen on drums! LP, Vinyl record album

Features Chico Freeman on tenor, Arthur Blythe on alto, George Cables on piano, Santi Debriano on bass, and Yoron Israel on drums! CD

With Chico on reeds, James Newton on flute, Kenny Kirkland on piano, Jay Hoggard on vibes, and Buster Williams on bass. Titles include "Freedom Swing Song", "Nia's Song Dance", "Morning Prayer", and "Look Up". LP, Vinyl record album

Just Russ Freeman on piano and Shelly Manne on drums! Tracks include "Prime Time", "Loose As A Goose", "Blue Monk", "On A Green Dolphin Street", and "Lullaby Of The Leaves". CD

Terry's vibes lead a group that fetaures Conte Candoli and Stu Williamson on trumpet, Bob Enevoldsen on trombone, Jack Schwartz on baritone, Bill Holman on tenor, and Joe Maini on alto! CD

With Frank Morgan on alto, Sonny Bravo on piano, Bobby Rodriguez on bass, Tito Puente and Orestes Vilato on timbales, Johnny Rodriguez on bongos and percussion, and Joe Madera on congas and percussion. LP, Vinyl record album

A large group session – tracks include "Song Is You", "Dancing In The Dark", "Blue Lou", "Fat Man", and "My Reverie". CD