The trio here is a great one – Mulgrew Miller on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Freddie Waits on drums – joined by some great alto from Oliver Lake! CD

We'll be the first to admit that David S. Ware has made some clunky records over the years – but we love this album from 1992, and think it's one of the best that he ever made! The record is tighter than most, and Ware is nicely restrained, and locked into a spiritual groove that links him in a tradition with players like Billy Harper and Pharoah Sanders. He's also playing with his excellent quartet that includes Matthew Shipp, William Parker, and Marc Edwards. Shipp and Parker lay down these amazing modal grooves, and Ware dips in, searches around, and blows out incredibly soulful solos – filled with a lot more emotion and meaning than some of his other work from the mid 90s. Titles include "Aquarian Sound", "Yesterdays", "Infi-Rhythms #1", and "Sad Eyes". CD

We'll be the first to admit that David S. Ware has made some clunky records over the years – but we love this album from 1992, and think it's one of the best that he ever made! The record is tighter than most, and Ware is nicely restrained, and locked into a spiritual groove that links him in a tradition with players like Billy Harper and Pharoah Sanders. He's also playing with his excellent quartet that includes Matthew Shipp, William Parker, and Marc Edwards. Shipp and Parker lay down these amazing modal grooves, and Ware dips in, searches around, and blows out incredibly soulful solos – filled with a lot more emotion and meaning than some of his other work from the mid 90s. Titles include "Aquarian Sound", "Yesterdays", "Infi-Rhythms #1", and "Sad Eyes". CD

Searingly spiritual work from David S Ware – a set that definitely draws on the gospel reference in the title, but in ways that are far from any sort of easy cliches! Ware blows tenor boldly here – drawing on a rich legacy from John Coltrane through Billy Harper, all focused sharply into his own dynamic musical vision – and that of his classic quartet with Matthew Shipp on piano and William Parker on bass! Ware's tones really dominate the record – especially given that the production brilliantly brings out all their sharpest edges and raspier moments – but Shipp's elliptical piano is a treat too, and nicely offsets some of Ware's sense of freedom. Susie Ibarra completes the group on drums – and titles include "Wisdomsphere", "Inner Temple", "The Stargazers", "Wisdom Through Time", and "Eternal Faces Of Braham". CD

A bold statement from the legendary David S Ware Quartet of the early 90s – one of the most powerful forces on the American scene of the time! Ware's own blowing on tenor sax is tremendous enough – a key inheritor of the energy of John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders – but when backed by pianist Matthew Shipp, bassist William Parker, and drummer Whit Dickey, his sound is at its fullest – propelled forth on waves of sound and spirit, ever-searching, but never losing itself in the heavens! Tracks are long and freely creative – and titles include "Inverse Alchemy", "Cocoana", "Earthquation", and "Ideational Blue" – as well as 2 beautiful extrapolations on "Tenderly"! CD

Michael Weiss on piano, Eric Alexander on saxophone, John Webber on bass, and Joe Farnsworth on drums. CD

Features Marcus Belgrave, James Carter, Gerald Cleaver, Kariem Riggins, and others. CD

The Saxophone Masters here are George Coleman, Joe Henderson, and Billy Pierce – who join with Williams' trio in a set of older standards and 2 originals – ranging in styles, and with plenty of space to show off the solo talents of all parties involved. Williams is the strongest force on the set – although Coleman gets in plenty of good moments too – and the whole thing's recorded in that warm DIW style of the early 90s. Titles include "Lo Joe", "Fourplay", "The Song Is You", and "Old Folks". CD

The Saxophone Masters here are George Coleman, Joe Henderson, and Billy Pierce – who join with Williams' trio in a set of older standards and 2 originals – ranging in styles, and with plenty of space to show off the solo talents of all parties involved. Williams is the strongest force on the set – although Coleman gets in plenty of good moments too – and the whole thing's recorded in that warm DIW style of the early 90s. Titles include "Lo Joe", "Fourplay", "The Song Is You", and "Old Folks". CD

James Williams on piano and organ, Christian McBride on bass, Tony Reedus on drums, Billy Pierce on tenor and soprano saxophone, Clark Terry on trumpet, vocals and flugelhorn, and Steve Nelson on vibraphone. CD

James Williams on piano and organ, Christian McBride on bass, Tony Reedus on drums, Billy Pierce on tenor and soprano saxophone, Clark Terry on trumpet, vocals and flugelhorn, and Steve Nelson on vibraphone. CD

A wonderfully soulful session from the best years of the DIW label – a set that has pianist James Williams recording with tremendous tenor work from Billy Pierce, George Coleman, and Joe Henderson! The album parcels the players out – so that 2 tracks only feature Pierce, and the others feature all 3 players, recorded with placement in different channels of the record – making for a spaciously collaborative sound that's really unique! Williams' piano is great – strong and bold, and without some of the too-traditional echoes that sometimes lose us on other records – and as with a number of the best DIW sessions from the time, there's a bit more grit in the production, which really helps deepen the sound of the music. Titles include "Common Knowledge", "Afro Centric", "Up To The Minute Blues", "Girl Talk", and "Three Card Molly". CD

James Williams on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. Tracks include "Sonnymoon For Two", "Sweet And Lovely", "Time After Time", "Go Tell It On The Mountain", and Mary Lou Williams' "Lonely Moments". CD

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Beautiful recent work from one of our favorite pianists ever – the lovely, lyrical Jack Wilson – an artist we first came to love for his classic 60s work with Roy Ayers on the LA scene, and a player who's continued to grow tremendously over the years! The setting here is a relatively traditional one – in the mode of some of the other DIW trio albums from the time – but Jack's free and open approach to the keys makes for an inventive approach to even familiar numbers – touched with that classic Wilson style that's openly emotive, yet never overdone or saccharine. There's a sense of years passed here that gives the record a wonderful depth – like catching up with Wilson in the time since we'd last heard him record (was it for Discovery Records, at the start of the 80s?) – and letting him tell us the story of those intervening years through his magic at the keys. The group's a quartet with Leon Maleson on bass, Jimmy Cobb on drums, and James Chirillo on guitar – but the production by Mickey Bass makes sure that Wilson's work on the keys is very much at the forefront of the set! Titles include "Sandie My Love", "This Heart Of Mine", "That Sunday That Summer", "How Soon", "Long Ago & Far Away", "Moon Mist", and "If She Walked Into My Life". CD

Gently lyrical work from pianist Richard Wyands – supported here by Lisle Atkinson on bass and Leroy Williams on drums. Wyands' voice on the piano has always been a bit more subtle than that of his contemporaries, but in a set like this – recorded in the fluid and open DIW style of the time – he really gets a chance to stretch out nicely, and play in a voice that draws on his many years in jazz. Titles include "Dee's Den", "The Juggler", "The Pawnbroker", "The Arrival", and "Sweetest Sounds". CD

Unreleased live material from this legendary Japanese artist from the 70s – working here with his Lamp Manufacturing Factory group, which also includes lead guitar from Takashi Asayama! The recording is nice and intimate – a laidback set that shows the way that Daisaku Yoshino could bring some of the roots rock mode of the American scene into play with Japanese rock at the time. The first 7 tracks on the set are all live from 1974 – then the CD concludes with 8 more titles recorded in 2021, showing Daisaku still going strong! CD

A solo piano performance recorded live at Pit Inn – titles include "Mt. Senba", "Hamp's Blues", "Jamaican Parrot – Little Question", "My Funny Valentine", and Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean A Thing". CD

A sweet neo soul set from Brazil – one that uses the raspy qualities of the vocals in ways that make the whole record completely sublime! Even if you can't understand the lyrics, you'll be captivated immediately – as the record has this warm swirl of keyboards that's fantastic – wrapped up warmly in this magical musical swirl, and set off by the way the vocals crackle crisply alongside – all in a mode that echoes plenty of underground American soul modes, but with a vibe that's really fresh! Titles include "Jazz", "Follow Me", "Meu Grande Amor", "Inebrio", "Nova York", "Cores E Peles", "Welcome", and "Se Foi". CD

With Dave Douglas on trumpet, Greg Cohen on bass, and Joey Baron on drums. CD

Pure genius from Andrew Cyrille – a record that's got a bit more of a soaring, spiritual vibe than some of his more freely improvised work of the past – a set that marks a key chapter in this stretch of the drummer's career, similar to his album on DIW at the same time! The group is excellent – with David Murray on tenor and bass clarinet, Oliver Lake on alto, Fred Hopkins on bass, and Steve Colson on electric piano – stretching out on long tracks that are filled with modal changes! The album includes a very nice 20 minute remake of "A Love Supreme", plus the originals "Ode To The Living Tree" and "So That Life Can Endure". CD

Wow, the title definitely gets it right here – as the set's verging on perfection, and is maybe one of the best records we've heard from David Murray in years! The reedman is fantastic throughout – and the album really hits the sort of deeper soul of some of his DIW or Black Saint sessions from the mid and late 80s – a more straight head style of jazz tenor that instantly links Murray to a John Coltrane tradition, while still giving a nod to his more adventurous roots! The group's a trio – with beautiful work from Geri Allen on piano, whose sound is key to the success of the record – plus drums from Terri Lyne Carrington – on titles that include "Perfection", "Samsara", "Cycles & Seasons", "Barbara Allen", "Mirror Of Youth", and "Geri-Rigged". CD

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A killer full length set from this Zambian group of the 70s – a smaller combo made up of members from some of the bigger hotel bands of the time – coming together with a lean groove that's really wonderful throughout! Core elements include the guitar of Zacks Gwaze, the keyboards of Tony Maonde, and the saxophone of Simanga Tutani – and vocals are usually sung by one or a few members of the group together, often in these lightly lilting ways that roll along with the rhythms and instrumentation, rather than stand apart from them. Songs are short and tight – and the set includes the instrumentals "Matteo" and "Nifyo Fine", plus vocal numbers "Amalume", "Kayuni", "Mr Music Maker", "Pimu Chinanga", "Akana Ndiwo", and "Change Your Mind". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful, wonderful, wonderful "new thing" jazz session from Blue Note – and proof that the avant garde in the 60s didn't necessarily have to resort to blowing their heads off to make fantastic music! Trombonist Grachan Moncur III organized the session – but like other key Blue Note dates of this type, including work from Tony Williams and Jackie McLean, the album's a very evenly-weighted date that features equal contributions from all members involved! The lineup's a dream – and features Wayne Shorter on tenor, Herbie Hancock on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Tony Williams on drums – and the set's very much in the vein of Williams' Life Time album for Blue Note – with lots of dark, moody, and extremely complex compositions – and beautifully restrained modern solos. Moncur wrote all the tracks, and titles include "The Twins", "Nomadic", "Gnostic", and "Thandiwa". CD

A wonderful, wonderful, wonderful "new thing" jazz session from Blue Note – and proof that the avant garde in the 60s didn't necessarily have to resort to blowing their heads off to make fantastic music! Trombonist Grachan Moncur III organized the session – but like other key Blue Note dates of this type, including work from Tony Williams and Jackie McLean, the album's a very evenly-weighted date that features equal contributions from all members involved! The lineup's a dream – and features Wayne Shorter on tenor, Herbie Hancock on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Tony Williams on drums – and the set's very much in the vein of Williams' Life Time album for Blue Note – with lots of dark, moody, and extremely complex compositions – and beautifully restrained modern solos. Moncur wrote all the tracks, and titles include "The Twins", "Nomadic", "Gnostic", and "Thandiwa". CD

Guitars from the desert by Tinariwen – a group with Malian roots, and a sound that's all their own – certainly one of the most distinct approaches in the global music scene of the early 21st Century! The album's got production that's tighter than some of their previous efforts, but a feel that's far from slick – just a haunting, hypnotic blend of the band's many guitars – built up into wonderful rhythms that start slow, then really take off – which then seems to have the guitars sounding even more wonderful than at the start! Almost all numbers have vocals, which slide into the blend beautifully – and titles include "Assouf", "Mano Dayak", "Cler Achel", "Soixante Trois", "Awa Didjen", "Imidiwan Winakalin", and "Izarharh Tenere". CD

Guitars from the desert by Tinariwen – a group with Malian roots, and a sound that's all their own – certainly one of the most distinct approaches in the global music scene of the early 21st Century! The album's got production that's tighter than some of their previous efforts, but a feel that's far from slick – just a haunting, hypnotic blend of the band's many guitars – built up into wonderful rhythms that start slow, then really take off – which then seems to have the guitars sounding even more wonderful than at the start! Almost all numbers have vocals, which slide into the blend beautifully – and titles include "Assouf", "Mano Dayak", "Cler Achel", "Soixante Trois", "Awa Didjen", "Imidiwan Winakalin", and "Izarharh Tenere". LP, Vinyl record album

A funky psychedelic kaliedoscope of grooves from India – killer numbers from the 70s and into the early 80s – Psych Funk Sa-Re-Ga, from the folks who put together the equally heavy Psych-Funk 101 and Brazilian Guitar Fuzz Bananas compilations! Most of cuts here have a raw, fuzzed out undercurrent of psychedelia – guitars that buzz or lead searingly, depending on the needs of the number – with heavy, funk-based drums and/or hand percussion with rumbling bass rhythms. From that core, they bust out mightily with more furious percussion, rhythms, mad horn arrangements, and vocals that work as either a sweetener or for even more wild-eyed excitement! In short, global psychedelic funk rhythms with regional Indian folk and classical flourishes, blended with mod, soul, garage and soundtrack influences from around the globe. It's a funky, psychedelic fusion of east and west that's billed as a seminar, but this is no academic endeavor – it's a psych funk party all the way! Includes "The Mod Trade" by The Black Beats, "Psychedelia" by X'Lents, "Somebody To Love – Edit" and "Gairaag Dance Music – Edit" by Kalyanji Anandji, "Dance Music From Hare Rama Hare Krishna" by RD Burman, "Lekar Ham Diwana Dil" by RD Burman feat Asha Bhosle & Kishore Kumar, "Mary Long" by Atomic Forest, "Dharmatma Theme Music" by Kalyanji Anandji, "Phir Teri Yaad" by Hemant Bhosle feat Asha Bhosle, "Thanimayil" by Ilaiyaraaja fet Vani Jairam & Chorus and more. 20 tracks in all – with a thick booklet of notes on each track, plus loads of photos, original album & poster art, and more. CD