A trio of solo albums from Phillip Bailey – presented here with bonus material too! First up is Continuation – an 80s soul classic from Philip Bailey – stepping out here from Earth Wind & Fire in a set that has him sparkling strongly as a solo act! The vocals still have that trademark Bailey sound – a wonderful range that's never overdone, and which seems to shine especially well on the mellow and midtempo tunes in the set! Production is by George Duke, who does a lot to preserve the jazzier warmth of Bailey's previous settings – and although there's a bit more crossover potential here, the sound is still never too commercial or aimed at the charts. Titles include "It's Our Time", "Trapped", "I Know", "I'm Waitin For Your Love", "Desire", "The Good Guy's Supposed To Get The Girls", and "Your Boyfriend's Back". Next is Chinese Wall – a big breakthrough for Philip Bailey – and a record that was kind of a second-level explosion for the Earth Wind & Fire sound in the 80s! There's a definite crossover feel to the record – a style that takes Bailey's soulful vocals, and mixes them with lots of catchy hooks – in ways that push the Kalimba aesthetic even more into mainstream modes. Yet the album's still got some solid soul grounding, too – thanks to arrangements by Tom Tom and Arif Mardin – which is a nice contrast to the production by Phil Collins, who also guests on the hit "Easy Lover". Other cuts include "Time Is A Woman", "Go", "Walking On The Chinese Wall", "Photogenic Memory", "I Go Crazy", and "Children Of The Ghetto". Last is Inside Out – a set that has Philip Bailey working with Nile Rodgers, who gives him a lean, clean sound that works perfectly with his vocals! The sound is a nice change from the direction Bailey was heading in previously – a return to the focused soul of the later Earth Wind & Fire years, with his amazing lead opening up in ways that few other singers can match. Tunes are pretty well-penned too – catchy, but never cloyingly commercial – and titles include "State Of The Heart", "Welcome To The Club", "Special Effect", "Because Of You", "Take This With You", "The Day Will Come", "Back It Up", and "Echo My Heart". 3CD set features nice bonus material – "I Know (ext dance mix)", "Love Is Alive", "Easy Lover (with Phil Collins)", "Walking On The Chinese Wall (single)", "State Of The Heart (dub mix)", "Twins (with Little Richard)", "Twins (club mix)", and "Easy Lover (ext dance mix)". CD

Ruby Braff on cornet and Roger Kellaway on piano. CD

Features Steve Davis on trombone, Bruce Barth on piano, Nat Reeves on bass, and Carl Allen on drums. CD

A great post-Miles/post-Herbie space funk jam – produced by Skip Drinkwater before he got into his later, more well-known slick Jazz-funk style. Eddie's set up with some of the hippest players of his generation – including Bennie Maupin, Buster Williams, Billy Hart and Patrick Gleeson, who kicks out some amazing work in a moogy synth mode! Herbie Hancock also plays Fender Rhodes and Clavinet on the album – and titles include "Inside Out", "Dreams", "Fusion", "Discoveries", and "Moussaka". LP, Vinyl record album

Keith Jarrett on piano, Gary Peacock on double bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums. CD

Randy Sandke on trumpet, Ken Peplowski on tenor saxophone and clarinet, Scott Robinson on alto, baritone, and contrabass saxophone, clarinet, waterphone, and theremin, Marty Ehrlich on alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, and alto flute, Ray Anderson and Wycliffe Gordon on trombone, Howard Alden on guitar, Uri Caine on piano and vibraphone, Greg Cohen on bass, and Dennis Mackrel on drums and percussion. CD

Featuring Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane and Hot tuna, plus vocals from Brother John Kattke. CD

... CD

... CD

... CD

A great lineup that would make plenty of waves in the coming years – wth Kenny Garrett on alto, Ralph Bowen on tenor, Michael Philip Mossman on trumpet, Harry Pickens on bass, Bob Hurst on bass, and Ralph Peterson on drums! CD

... CD

Quite possibly the freshest vibist we've heard in years – a player whose records are always exploding with amazing sounds on his instrument – and the kind of intensity we'd reserve for a rare few on the vibes – maybe Bobby Hutcherson, Walt Dickerson, or Steve Nelson! Jason Adasiewicz has a talent that's been building and building for the past few years – and here, he really knocks it out of the park – showing a melodic conception that's as bold as his rhythmic inspiration – and control enough to get free, yet swing inside beautifully at just the right moment! The balance is one that's really been bringing some great sounds to the Chicago scene in recent years – and Jason's trio here features very like-minded cats – Mike Reed on drums and Nate McBride on bass, both players who ensure that the record is far more compelling than most other vibes trio sets you'll hope to find. Titles include "Stake", "Life", "Rose Garden", "Overtones Of China", "Warm Valley", and "Off My Back Jack". CD

One of Cannonball Adderley's late funky sessions for Fantasy – and a record that still features some mighty heavy production from David Axelrod! The album's got that core groove that Axe and Cannon first crafted together at Capitol in the 60s – but the sound here has some definite 70s touches too – a bit more emphasis on electric piano, played here by Hal Galper – and rhythms that are even funkier than before! Other players include Nat Adderley on cornet, Walter Booker on bass, Roy McCurdy on drums, and King Errison on percussion – and titles include the excellent "Snakin' the Grass", which is just ripe for samplin', plus some other good grooves like "Second Son", "Saudade", "Five Of A Kind", and "Inside Straight". CD

A record that has The Animals at the crossroads – working without the piano and organ of Alan Price, but with an even more rising sense of power from Eric Burdon – who's really coming into his own as a singer, and turning out to be a surprisingly great songwriter too! The group still bring in tunes that are from some of their blues and R&B inspirations – but Burdon's phrasing is very personal, and really transforms the material and makes it work wonderfully with the original tunes – on titles that include "Cheating", "She'll Return It", "See See Rider", "Inside Looking Out", "Gin House Blues", "What Am I Living For", "I Put A Spell On You", "Don't Bring Me Down", and "One Monkey Won't Stop The Show". LP, Vinyl record album

Atlantic Starr definitely get straight to the point on this set – bursting out strongly with an upbeat groove from the very first note – all produced to perfection by maestro Bobby Eli, in the same manner as some of his other great late 70s work for other artists! The group's a big one, but they've got a lean focus here – a groove that has plenty of space for both male and female vocals, as well as a lot of instrumentation – yet never gets bogged down at all. Rhythms have a bit of boogie, and some older ensemble funk modes – and the vocals of Sharon Bryant are especially nice, cutting with a slight feminine edge against the more masculine leanings of the combo. Titles include "Kissin Power", "Straight To The Point", "Bullseye", "What'Cha Feel Inside", "Losin You", "Fallin In Love With You", and "Let The Spirit Move Ya". LP, Vinyl record album

A really raw recording of the guitar genius of Derek Bailey – still as revolutionary here in late life as it was back in the 70s – and paired with some stunning improvisational work on bass from Simon H Fell! Fell's got the same way of turning his instrument inside out as Bailey, but also sometimes goes for these more human, textural approaches – almost as if he's hugging the bass, and urging it to life with his arms and fingers – while Bailey's approach is more pointed. The set was performed live, and has a great sense of room in the recording, with the elements echoing out nicely – on the titles "Pre-Tea 1", "Pre-Tea 2", "Post-Tea 1", and "Post-Tea 2". LP, Vinyl record album

A really cool 60s session from the great Chet Baker – one that moves away from the standard sound of his 50s work, and shows that unusual sense of careful sonic energy that would mark his further development over the decades! Chet's got a great sound here – blowing flugelhorn instead of trumpet, with a cool compressed vibe that's augmented by work from a very hip group that includes Frank Strozier on alto and flute, Phil Urso on tenor sax, and piano work by either Bob James or Hal Galper – both at a very early point in their careers! Titles include "Baby Breeze", "This Is The Thing", "I Wish You Love", "Pamela's Passion", and "Comin Down". CD

Pretty cheesy stuff from Barrabas – not that they weren't always cheesy to begin with, but this one's going over the top! The record is in a tinny 80s dance mode – still with the jungle/tropical themes of earlier records, but also with a kind of Miami Vice-ish style on the guitars and keyboards. We suppose it represents sort of a sophistication for the ensemble – but we'd make this the last one to buy of all their records. Titles include "Sex Surprise Big Surprise", "Lovers In The Rain", "Stop The Horse", "Inside Of Me", and "Hollywood Ten O'Clock At Night" – and those titles should say it all! CD

A great set from the always-soulful Kenny Barron – stepping out here with a sense of soulful interplay that recalls his best recordings of the 70s! The group on the album's a quintet, graced by some extremely strong work on vibes by Stefon Harris – who brings an almost Bobby Hutcherson-like feel to the album, working in rich tones and colors next to Barron's keys, edged in by some sharper flute and alto work by Anne Drummond. The set's awash in great originals, plus a few well-chosen covers – and titles include "Song For Abdullah", "Images", "Miss Missy", "Inside Out", "Jasmine Flower", "The Lost Ones", "So It Seems", and "Footprints". CD

Includes the hits "Tragedy", "Too Much Heaven", and "Love You Inside Out". LP, Vinyl record album

Socking soul from the 60s – a record with American roots and a very groovy British sound! The set was the second full length album from Madeline Bell – an American singer transplanted to the mod UK scene of the 60s, where she really flourished in a rich career of hit singles, endless session work, and later fame with the group Blue Mink. The tunes on this set are a wonderful bridge between Madeline's two worlds – and have a sound that's a lot like the uptown soul coming out of the US at the time – sweet and smooth arrangements, topped by deeper soul vocals that make for a wonderful juxtaposition. Arrangements are by British talents Arthur Greenslade, Ian Green, and Keith Mansfield – and titles include "Step Inside Love", "Hold It", "Help Yourself", "After All Is Said & Done", "For Your Pleasure", and "It's Up To You". LP, Vinyl record album

A lost classic from Art Blakey – quite different from some of his Blue Note work! The album's a very swinging mid 60s session, noteworthy for the presence of John Gilmore, recording here in one of his few appearances away from Sun Ra. Gilmore wails on tenor, and he sounds great next to Lee Morgan, who had, at this point, briefly returned to play with Blakey, and fit in with the group beautifully. John Hicks is on piano, and contributes a few nice tracks – and Curtis Fuller rounds out the sextet nicely, hitting some of those great gutbuckety notes that he only ever seemed to manage when he worked with Blakey! The whole album's great – and tracks include "Little Hughie", "Olympia", "One For Gamal", and "Faith". Also has cool design with replica of original inside LP booklet! CD

A long-overdue look at one of the most important groups to grace the British jazz scene of the 60s and 70s – the legendary Blue Notes, a group of South African expatriates with an undeniably huge influence on the music of their new homeland! The ensemble featured key players who went onto do some amazing work on their own, but first came together in this group – trumpeter Mongezi Feza, saxophonist Dudu Pukwana, pianist Chris McGregor, bassist Johnny Dyani, and drummer Louis Moholo – all players as dynamic together and important on their own as the members of the Art Emsemble of Chicago from the US. The set finally brings out all of the group's key albums for the Ogun label, plus some great bonus material too – a rich tapestry of work that shows the combo's evolution from African-tinged jazz of the 60s to some much more farther-reaching sounds in the 70s – all beautifully packaged, with each album presented on its own inside a larger slipcase! The set features The Blue Notes Legacy, a live date in South Africa from 1964; Blue Notes For Mongezi, a double-length set recorded after the passing of group trumpeter Mongezi Feza; Blue Notes For Johnny, a date recorded after the passing of bassist Johnny Dyani; and Blue Notes In Concert, a great live date recorded in 1977. There's a wealth of wonderful music here – and along with the bonus tracks, the set also features a great booklet of remembrances and vintage photos! CD

A great showcase for the alto talents of Arthur Blythe – a set that's maybe a bit more stripped-down than some of his bigger label albums of the 80s, but in a way that really lets you focus on his strength of tone and phrasing! The group's a quartet, working in an open live setting – John Hicks on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Bobby Battle on drums – and while all players certainly know how to go inside, they keep things swinging and relatively straight at the core – while Blythe waxes beautifully on the alto, with these sharp edges that mix nicely with more lyrical moments. Titles include "Jana's Delight", "JB Blues", "Lenox Avenue Breakdown", "Faceless Woman", and "Peacemaker". CD

Never-heard music from the legendary team of Bobby Bradford and John Carter – a live California performance from the years after their groundbreaking albums for the Revelation and Flying Dutchman labels – a time when both musicians were at the height of their creative powers! The group has this wonderful double-bass approach – with Roberto Miranda in one channel, and Stanley Carter in the other – as William Jeffrey drives the group on drums – and both Bradford's cornet and Carter's soprano sax and clarinet stretch out with amazing energy! The set begins with the very long "Love's Dream" – one of the freest passages we've ever heard from the players – then comes back inside to pick up a bit more rhythmic structure on other numbers, which definitely make the best of the dual bass players on hand. Titles include "Come Softly", "Comin On", "She", "Circle", and "Love's Dream". CD

Wonderful work from Anthony Braxton – an album that has him playing straight ahead jazz – but at a time when he was also making some of his most complex recordings of the 70s! The approach here is sublime – as Braxton's reputation has ears already anticipating some far-out playing, but then marvel at his restraint – his care for keeping alto and bass clarinet work inside a straight jazz tradition, yet always hinting at the modern inflections he can bring to his music! Tunes are almost all jazz standards, blown beautifully – with a tone that's crisp, cool, and very inviting – surprisingly soulful, and never cold at all – matched well with the rhythm trio of Tete Montoliu on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Albert Tootie Heath on drums. Titles include "Goodbye Porkpie Hat", "Ornithology", and "Marshmallow". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from Anthony Braxton – an album that has him playing straight ahead jazz – but at a time when he was also making some of his most complex recordings of the 70s! The approach here is sublime – as Braxton's reputation has ears already anticipating some far-out playing, but then marvel at his restraint – his care for keeping alto and bass clarinet work inside a straight jazz tradition, yet always hinting at the modern inflections he can bring to his music! Tunes are almost all jazz standards, blown beautifully – with a tone that's crisp, cool, and very inviting – surprisingly soulful, and never cold at all – matched well with the rhythm trio of Tete Montoliu on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Albert Tootie Heath on drums. Titles include "Body & Soul", "Donna Lee", "My Funny Valentine" and "Half Nelson". LP, Vinyl record album

No heavy metal here – just tight and funky jamming from the mighty Brecker Brothers! There's a bit more guitar here than on some of their other records – hence, possibly, the title – but the whole thing's still very much in that mix of soulful fusion and jazzy soloing that the pair forged strongly in the mid 70s. Keyboards and guitar jam strongly, but Randy and Michael still get in plenty of space for their solos – pushing their jazz licks with the jamming intensity that might normally be relegated to guitar heroes in the rock world. Tracks include "Inside Out", "Some Skunk Funk", "Sponge", "East River", "Funky Sea Funky Dew", and "Squids". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice rare one from the late 70s! Like his mentor Archie Shepp, Marion Brown came inside a bit in the late seventies, perhaps to prove that he could still play that way. On this Japanese-only recording, he's joined by Kenny Barron, Cecil McBee, and Philly Joe Jones. Some nice moody originals, plus well selected jazz standards like "Soul Eyes" and "Blue Monk". Inside – but with an edge. CD

Long hair, jazzy riffing, and all the best hope that the early years of prog had to offer – all coming together on a record that's years ahead of its time! It's really hard to put a label on Pete Brown's sounds with Piblokto – music that's maybe more poetic than most of its contemporaries, but also has more of a bite, too – definitely that wit of Brown's that never dimmed at all, and instrumentation that's super-sharp, and super-smart – but never too full of itself to be overly indulgent. The songs are longer than on the previous Piblokto record, but in ways that only flesh out the ideas even more fully – on titles that include "Highland Song", "Aeroplane Head Woman", "Got A Letter From A Computer", "Thousands On A Raft", and "Station Song Platform Two". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest albums by this super-stylized funkster from Chicago! Captain Sky followed very firmly in the P-Funk footsteps – using lots of bass and rocking rhythms to carve out a space-themed groove that had plenty of cool touches! And more than that, the Captain's style was equally well suited to the emerging 80s groove era – and worked well with a nice dose of slight electric touches – not totally wikki-wikki, but certainly setting the stage for that sound! Titles include "Elementary School Of Funk", "Sir Jam A Lot", "Trace Of Love", "Bubble Gum (I Chewz You)", "Tootsie Rock", and "Let Me Come Inside". LP, Vinyl record album