A really wonderful album in the Verve Records catalog of the 60s – a set that's not only a fantastic meeting between two superstar jazz musicians, with Jimmy Smith on Hammond and Wes Montgomery on guitar – but one that also takes things in a whole groovy new dimension, thanks to the arrangements of Oliver Nelson! Nelson is at his soulful best here – working on hard-swinging charts that almost seem to liberate Jimmy and Wes to do even more with their solos – really stretching out, with an especially great sound from Smith on the organ – maybe at a level that makes the record one of his best of all time for Verve! Titles include "James & Wes", "Night Train", "13 (Death March)", and "Down By The Riverside". CD

With Charlie Rouse on tenor, Kenny Barron on piano, Ben Riley on drums, and Buster Williams on bass – on titles that include "Baiana", "Bittersweet", "Lunacy", and "Lupe". LP, Vinyl record album

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A jazz vocal masterpiece from Sarah Vaughn – one of her greatest albums ever, and a record that raised the bar for countless vocal sessions in years to come! Sarah's working here in an intimate group arranged by Ernie Wilkins – filled with famous trumpet solo work by Clifford Brown, during his last few years on the planet – plus tenor from Paul Quinichette, flute from Herbie Mann, and piano from Jimmy Jones. Sarah's vocals are incredible – curving, turning, and lilting with a tremendous amount of jazz-based inflection – and titles include "Lullaby Of Birdland", "April In Paris", "September Song", "He's My Guy", and "I'm Glad There Is You". CD

Very nice jazz-oriented material that has Sarah working with Jimmy Jones, one of her best accompanists, or John Malachi, who was in Billy Eckstine's band at the same time Sarah was with the group. All the tracks have nice small combo instrumentation – and Sarah keeps things nice and warm vocally, free to get a bit more intimate than usual in the album's casual setting. Titles include "All Of Me", "Lover Man", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", "Prelude To A Kiss", and "You Hit The Spot". CD

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Nice overstuffed "best of" compilation that features work by Veloso that spans from his early Tropicalia years to the stuff he did as a pseudo-new wave artist in the early 80s. 7 cuts alone are from the pivotal year of 1968 – including "Shy Moon", "Lua De Sao Jorge", "Superbacana", and "Soy Loco Por Ti America" – and others are from the mid and late 70s, like "Beleza Pura", "Trilhos Urbanos", "Odara", "O Leaozinho", and "Qualquer Coisa". Not all of this material is available on the other CDs we carry, and the set itself is a great way to begin to get into the work of Veloso, who we feel is one of the greatest musical artists of the late 20th century! CD

Original mono recordings, remastered and presented in chronological order, with 21 titles in total – includes "Calling You", "Wealth Won't Save Your Soul", "Cool Water", "Honky Tonkin", "I Saw The Light", "Battle Of Armageddon", "Tennessee Border", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

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Includes work with Larry Young, Ron Carter, Jack Bruce, John McLaughlin, Ted Dunbar, and others. Tracks include "Emergency", "Vashkar", "Sangria For Three", "Right On", "Allah Be Praised", "There Comes A Time", "Some Hip Drum Sh*t", "Mom & Dad", and "You Make It Easy" – 25 tracks total. CD

Essential stuff! This set collects all of Pres' studio sessions for Norman Granz and Verve and features John Lewis, Buddy Rich, Nat King Cole, Teddy Wilson, Roy Eldridge, Oscar Peterson, and Barney Kessel. The whole thing is comes in a cool hardbound, accordion fold package and includes a great 100 page book packed with great photos, notes, and essays. CD

One of the greatest soul albums of the past 20 years – an instant classic the day it was released! When this killer came out in the UK in 1991, it was one of the best soul records we'd heard in years. Carleen Anderson, the then-unknown daughter of Bobby Byrd & Vicki Anderson, sung some of the deepest vocals we'd heard in years – and she was backed by funky soundscapes filled with references and homages to greats like Roy Ayers, Leroy Hutson, Leon Ware, 24-Carat Black, and many others – all now well-remembered artists from the rare groove years of the 70s, but at the time just barely-remembered echoes from the past who were being kept alive in the British soul scene. The record was (and is) impeccable – a wondrous treat for fans of the kind of rare groove material we stock at Dusty Groove – and it features stellar performances by the likes of Carleen Anderson, Master Ace, Johnny Lytle, Maceo Parker, and others! This US version features a few remixes from the original UK album – and titles include "All I Have (Young Ideas mix)", "Funky Yeh Funki (Mek It)", "Talkin What I Feel", "Move On", "Apparently Nothin (Soul River)", "Get Yourself Together (parts 1 & 2)", "Freedom Suite", "Step Right On (original mix)", and "As We Come (To Be)". CD

Music from Vikki Carr, Tania Libertad, Laureano Brizuela, Angeles Ochoa, Emmanuel, Manoella Torres, Mauro Calderon, Yuri, Pedro Fernandez, Maria Conchita Alonso, Mijares, and Dulce. CD

A landmark album – not just in Brazilian music, but in all modern music in general! The set's a legendary manifesto for the Tropicalia movement in Brazil – and features key works by all the leading musical luminaries in the movement – including a few later stars who are heard here at their most edgey! The work is as groundbreaking today as it was at the end of the 60s – a brilliant testament to the power of artists to really break down boundaries in art and music, and find a way to mix the political with the popular at the same time. Titles include a fantastic version of Gal Costa and Caetano Veloso singing "Baby", the "Tres Caravelas" duet between Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, Gil's great reading of "Bat Macumba" with Costa and Veloso, Nara Leao singing "Lindoneia", Os Mutantes performing "Panis Et Circenses", Gilberto on "Geleia Geral, Caetano doing "Coracao Materno, and Rita Lee, Gal Costa, and Caetano Veloso singing "Enquanto Seu Lobo Nao Vem". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes "Cruel Summer", "Robert De Niro's Waiting...", "Rough Justice", "Hot Line to Heaven", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

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A seminal criss-crossing of styles from the late 60s Cali scene – served up by a group who were steeped in blues, but a big part of the psychedelic scene at the time – and somehow managed to merge both of their worlds effortlessly, at a level that was even more powerful and effective than most of their contemporaries! Leigh Stephen is a monster on guitar – already using lots more freak and fuzz than the earlier generations who inspired him – and bassist Dick Peterson also sings, almost as if he's channeling his instrument to give him the same soulful depth that would later come from Phil Lynott – all supported by the driving drums of Paul Whaley. The whole thing's got a nice freaky sound, thanks to production from Abe Voco Kesh – and titles include the great long original "Doctor Please", plus takes on "Summertime Blues" and "Parchment Farm" – and the titles "Out Of Focus", "Rock Me Baby", and "Second Time Around". CD

James Brown really opens up on this early 70s classic – really showing the world the amazing groove he was crafting with his band – who were let loose to jam in the studio, spinning out some really long grooves – which were then cut down to make this sweet little record! The title cut was a big single for James at the time, but it's presented here in its full 9 minute version – a monstrous jam that's equal to anything on the Payback record, or the JBs albums too – and the album also includes the long two-part take of "Escapism", and another funky gem – "Blues & Pants", which snaps along for a solid 9 minutes too! The album's filled with heavy funk, and the longer tracks allow for plenty of instrumental flourishes from Fred, Maceo, and the other JBs – and honestly, the record is more of a People Records session than a Polydor record from James. Includes a monster of a bonus track: the 19+ minute complete take of "Escape-ism". CD

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A classic bit of jazzy fusion from Chick Corea and the legendary Return To Forever group that included Flora Purim and Airto! The sound of the album influenced a generation, and although the album was overlooked by groovers for years, partly due to its success, it still sounds surprisingly fresh – skipping along with an amazing mix of fusion, Brazilian rhythms, and free-thinking solos! The album's overflowing with great-grooving goodies – and titles include the great original version of "Captain Marvel", plus "Light As A Feather", "Spain", and "500 Miles High". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most mindblowing albums ever recorded – anywhere, anytime! This 1969 set stands as one of the greatest records ever cut by Gal Costa – done at the height of the Tropicalia movement, and featuring a sublime mix of styles that really gets the spirit of the movement right. Arrangements are by the legendary Rogerio Duprat – who effortlessly shifts the backings between stark electronics, sweet bossa, gliding strings, jazzy piano, and baroque orchestrations that dance around with a surprising amount of grooves! Tunes include some classics by Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben, and Gilberto Gil – served up in amazing new versions by Gal and Duprat! Titles include "Nao Identificado", "Lost in the Paradise", "Que Pena", "Sebastiana", "Namorinho De Portao", "Divino Maravilhoso", and "Deus E O Amor". CD

Kind of a painful movie, but a pretty sweet soundtrack! The set features a number of new works produced by Deodato, very much in the spirit of his Inutil Paisagem 60s bossa recordings – with wonderfully complex airy melodies, and a touch so light you can't believe there's actually a conscious act behind the music. The new titles feature vocals by Barbara Mendes and Carol Rogers – and include "Samba De Uma Nota So", "Mary Ann's Theme", "Suddenly", "Soul Mates", "Amor Em Paz", and "Juan's Theme". Most of the rest of the CD features older work from Jobim's years at Verve and CTI – including the tracks "Wave", "Aguas De Marco", "Chega De Saudade", and "Inutil Paisagem". Also features a semi-painful duet between Jobim and Sting – ouch! CD

A great little blowing session for Verve – one that has Dizzy Gillespie working here with two different "Sonnys" – Sonny Stitt and Sonny Rollins, both of whom play tenor on the set! The tracks here are all quite long and open – more loose vehicles for extended soloing than the usual sort of Verve tracks – almost a mini-jam session with the three horn giants in the lead. Rhythm is from the trio of Ray Bryant on piano, Tommy Bryant on bass, and Charlie Persip on drums – but the real stars are the horn players – not just Diz, who cuts some of his hippest lines of the late 50s here, but also Rollins and Stitt, who seem to get a bit more care in recording than they did over at Prestige earlier in the decade. Album features 4 long tracks – "On The Sunny Side Of The Street", "After Hours", "I Know That You Know", and "The Eternal Triangle". CD

A full set of Louis Jordan's excellent work for Mercury Records in the mid 50s – material that often reworks his older songs, but with a lean, mean vibe that's got a lot more early rock and R&B touches! The instrumentation is razor-sharp – often with searing sax solos from the man himself, and a groove that has all the other players hitting hard on the rhythms – romping in a way that definitely lives up to the rock and roll of the title, but with a quality that reminds us that Jordan was one of the originators, and not just some older talent trying to cash in on the new scene! CD features 21 tracks in all – and titles include "Run Joe", "Salt Pork West Virginia", "Beware Brother Beware", "Knock Me A Kiss", "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens", "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying", "The Jamp", "Ella Mae", "Saturday Night Fish Fry", and "Morning Light". CD

A super-huge album for Kool & The Gang – and for good reason too! The set features their massive hit "Celebration" – a cut that firmly planted the group in the mainstream, and which keeps getting countless play over the decades – probably still earning them a fortune in royalties year after year from wedding bands alone! The group's got some great help on the record from Deodato – the Brazilian keyboardist who scored big with his own records in the 70s – and who's working here to arrange, conduct, and produced the album with a sweet jazzy finish! In a way, it's Deodato's ear for a great warm groove that really seems to make the set sparkle – giving it a strong soul sound, even with tighter production – still somewhat down to earth, despite its hit status – that core quality that's always made Kool & The Gang so great! Apart from "Celebration", other tracks include "Jones Vs Jones", "Love Festival", "Love Affair", "Night People", and "Morning Star". LP, Vinyl record album

With Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, Don Pullen, Bootsy Collins, and others. CD

Sir Lord Baltimore may have a British-sounding name – but the group are a trio from Brooklyn, and serve up a blistering pre-metal version of hard rock that maybe blows away some of their English contemporaries at the time! There's a tremendous amount of power going on here – heavy bass from Gary Justin, searing guitars from Louis Dampier, and monstrous drums from John Garner, who somehow manages to also give out these raw, eerie vocals while also completely destroying the drum kit – all with energy that really prefaces a metal generation to come – but with a stripped-down vibe that's completely free of hoke. On the second album the group expands to a quartet, which makes for an even heavier sound than their first album – and the whole thing is one of those lost gems from a group who got a great shot in the studio from a big label – who then let the record languish, as they never knew how to promote it! Titles include "Man From Manhattan" plus "Where Are We Going", "Chicago Lives", "Loe And Behold", "Woman Tamer" and "Caesar LXXI". CD

With Charlie Rouse on tenor, Kenny Barron on piano, Ben Riley on drums, and Buster Williams on bass – on titles that include "Baiana", "Bittersweet", "Lunacy", and "Lupe". CD

An excellent group! Features Kenny Barron on piano, Gary Bartz on soprano and alto, Ben Riley on drums, and Buster Williams on bass. CD

The great first album from Ten Years After – recorded at a time when the group were maybe more strongly linked to the bluesy sounds of the beat group generation than in later years – although still with a hint of some of the trippy touches to come! There's a surprisingly strong dedication to American blues roots at many moments – not just on some of the songs by Sonny Boy Williamson or Willie Dixon – but, maybe thanks to producer Mike Vernon, or more likely the genius of Alvin Lee, the guitars are already getting a bit fuzzy at times, and the keyboards have some unusual tones that you never would have heard on the south side of Chicago. Titles include "I Can't Keep From Crying Sometimes", "Spoonful", "Feel It For Me", "Help Me", "Adventures Of A Young Organ", "I Want To Know", and "Losing The Dogs". CD

Music from The Platters, Sil Austin, Ricky Nelson, Bill Justis, The Diamonds, Connie Francis, Sheb Wooley, Tommy Edwards, Big Bopper, Brook Benton, Phil Phillips With The Twilights, Johnny Preston, Mark Dinning, Conway Twitty, and Jimmy Jones. CD

Music from Brook Benton & Dinah Washington, Jimmy Jones, Dickey Lee, the Angels, the Hondells, Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders, Sam The Sham & the Pharoahs, Roy Orbison, Lou Christie, the Walker Brothers, and more. CD

An amazing slice of music from the legendary David Axelrod – quite different than his better-known sides for Capitol and Reprise Records – and plenty darn funky overall! Axelrod is at his studio best here – stepping off the funky jazz modes he produced for Cannonball Adderley, and taking a shot at that territory on his own! In a reversal of modes, Cannonball actually handles the production – with help from Jimmy Bowen – which leaves Axelrod alone to compose, arrange, and direct the group on the set. The album's got a fair bit of electricity in the mix – heavy keyboards from Joe Sample, and some really fuzzy guitars – plus lots of choppy reed work from Joe Sample and Ernie Watts, all wrapped up with some monstrously funky drums from Ndugu Chancler. There's a very bottom-heavy groove to the record – one that makes for a few completely amazing breaks, and a very funky sound overall – and Axelrod does an amazing job of controlling the players here – so that nobody jams too much, and the grooves are always right on the money! The whole thing's great – a sublime symphony of instrumental funk all the way through – and titles include "Reverie", "Miles Away", "Go For It", "Ken Russell", "1000 Rads", and "One". First time ever on CD – a seminal reissue from Dusty Groove! CD

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A mid-80s classic from Cameo – one that showed the world that the group was still very much in the funky music game, even if their lineup had been reduced to a trio! Larry Blackmon's still at the head of the group – singing, drumming, and playing bass throughout – with plenty of support on keyboards and a variety of instruments from an army of session players called in for the record. The style's a bit less on the heavy funk tip of earlier Cameo records, but also steps along nicely in that mellower, midtempo groove that proved to be a great refuge for funk bands as the 80s wore on – a mode that's slightly romantic at times, but always handled with a bit of bounce at the bottom. Titles include "Word Up", "Candy", "She's Mine", "Don't Be Lonely", "Back & Forth", and "You Can Have The World". LP, Vinyl record album

A mid-80s classic from Cameo – one that showed the world that the group was still very much in the funky music game, even if their lineup had been reduced to a trio! 12-inch, Vinyl record

A slightly gentler album than the first Captain Beyond outing – but one that really has the group stretching out their wings wonderfully! The set's recorded both in Macon and Sausalito – and really has a vibe that indicates that mix – a core southern rock element, handled with the soulful undercurrents of early 70s Capricorn Records – but given some freer-thinking elements at times from the Bay Area scene! The drums power through nicely at some of the best points – but even the laidback tunes are pretty darn great – and we honestly never can understand why Captain Beyond weren't as big as some of their contemporaries from the southern scene. Titles include "Starglow Energy", "Evil Men", "Drifting In Space", "Bright Blue Tango", "Everything's A Circle", and "Voyages Of Past Travelers". CD

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Oft-overlooked album that's actually one of Getz's most far-reaching of the 60s! Recorded in the year before he got caught up in his bossa pop frenzy, the record shows Getz as a darkly toned modernist, weaving out complex solos over the album's extended suite "Focus", written and arranged by the great Eddie Sauter, with whom Stan worked on the Mickey One soundtrack. The album's a surprisingly refreshing one, and shows yet another complex side of Getz's endlessly compelling career. Titles include "I'm Late, I'm Late", "I Remember When", "Pan", "Her", "Night Rider", and "Once Upon A Time", plus bonus single versions of "I'm Late, I'm Late" and "I Remember When"! CD

Way more than just the promised tribute to Charlie Parker – and the group features Johnny Griffin on tenor, Jackie McLean on alto, Cecil Payne on baritone, Duke Jordan on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums – all directed by Don Sickler! CD

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Includes the hits, "Crumblin' Down", "Pink Houses", and "Authority Song". LP, Vinyl record album

The single's a stunning house remix of the tune "Higher", lifted from Monday's Optimista album, and redone here as a monster dancefloor track with a bucketfull of soul! Joe Clausell handled the mixes, and he brings out the best side of Monday's songwriting – and blends some warm deep house grooves with a nice spare acoustic breakdown in the middle of the track. Excellent stuff – and super-soulful! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Crucial postpunk neo-psyche from Julian Cope and The Teardrop Explodes – a pretty incredible mix of pop eccentricity, with some of catchiest songs of Cope's wild ouvre, but still wholly unique – a creative high point for early 80s rock! Tight, insistent rhythms clearly inform the 80s indie scene to come, particularly with the drenching washes of keyboards and spindly guitar – with Cope's vocals as fun and charismatic as ever. Titles include "Ha Ha I'm Drowning", "Sleeping Gas", "Treason", "Second Hand", "Brave Boys Keep Their Promises", "Bouncing Babies", "Books", "When I Dream" and more. CD

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A jazz vocal masterpiece from Sarah Vaughn – one of her greatest albums ever, and a record that raised the bar for countless vocal sessions in years to come! Sarah's working here in an intimate group arranged by Ernie Wilkins – filled with famous trumpet solo work by Clifford Brown, during his last few years on the planet - plus tenor from Paul Quinichette, flute from Herbie Mann, and piano from Jimmy Jones. Sarah's vocals are incredible – curving, turning, and lilting with a tremendous amount of jazz-based inflection – and titles include "Lullaby Of Birdland", "April In Paris", "September Song", "He's My Guy", and "I'm Glad There Is You". CD

One of the building blocks of the late 60s Tropicalia scene in Brazil – and a standout solo debut from the young Caetano Veloso! The album's got an approach that's as dynamic and trippy as its cover image might imply – the same amazing blend of sounds and styles you'd hear on contemporaneous records by Gal Costa or Os Mutantes – served up with similar wit, wisdom, and charm! Caetano's vocals are amazing throughout – filled with raspy power that goes beyond the barriers of language – and the production has loads of surprising elements tripping through the mix – some rootsy, some slightly orchestrated – but with a softer approach that resonates strongly with more psychedelic use of organ and guitar. The album's as powerful today as it was decades ago – an essential recording that holds up beautifully year after year! The kickoff track is "Tropicalia" (surprisingly enough!), and the album is a non-stop ride through gems like "Alegria, Alegria", "Onde Andaras", "Paisagem Util", "Ave Maria", and the groovy "Soy Loco Por Ti America", written by Gilberto Gil. CD

One of the greatest albums ever from Caetano Veloso – a rare all-English language set, recorded in London during the years of his exile! The post-Tropicalia set is a fair bit different than any other Veloso album we can think of – not just because of the English language, but also because the approach is somewhat gentle, and almost folksy at times – a real change from his experimental modes of the late 60s, and easily his most personal statement to date. The tunes are incredibly beautiful – filled with themes of loss and longing that no doubt come from his separation from Brazil – and although a few tunes feature light strings from Phil Ryan, most of the backings are relatively light, and almost acoustic. Titles include the classics "Shoot Me Dead", "If You Hold a Stone", "Maria Bethania", "In The Hot Sun Of A Christmas Day", and "London, London" – plus a cover of "Asa Branca". LP, Vinyl record album

A really wonderful album of polished 80s soul – a key effort from Angela Winbush after the breakup of Rene & Angela! Angela was one of the artists who reminded us throughout the 80s that underneath the gloss of the reigning production style of the day, solid songwriting still wins out – and here, in the years before she went on to help the Isleys revive their careers, she's stepping out as a proud solo act on her own. The more laid back numbers are the ones we're going for here, but Angela also does a respectable job with some of the more radio oriented material too. Titles include "It's The Real Thing", "Thank You Love", "Lay Your troubles Down", 'Please Bring Your Love Back", "Menage A Trois", "I've Learned To Respect (The Power Of Love)" and "I'll Never Be The Same". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest albums ever cut by Swedish vocalist Monica Zetterlund – a landmark album that has her singing with the Bill Evans Trio! The album was recorded in 1964, with a spare sound that's quite different from most of Monica's other work. As usual, her vocals are wonderfully cool and icy, and she runs through a strong set of material that includes a few jazz standards, a few jazz versions of traditional Swedish material, and a remake of "Waltz for Debby". Other cuts include "Once Upon a Summertime", "It Could Happen to You", "So Long Big Time", and "Lucky To Be Me". Sophisticated jazz vocals by one of the biggest talents of the continent, and a rare recording by Bill Evans from the classic years! CD

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Polygram's totally cool 2 CD anthology of some of Roy's best work for the label, featuring tracks that run from the early 70's through the early 80's, with such stellar cuts as "We Live In Brooklyn Baby", "Coffy is The Color", "Pretty Brown Skin", "Africa, Center Of The World", "Freaky Deaky", "2000 Black", "Vibrations", "Searching", "Gotta Find A Lover", "You Send Me", and lots lots more! 31 cuts in all, with a nice set of notes, and discographical information. CD

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James Brown really opens up on this early 70s classic – really showing the world the amazing groove he was crafting with his band – who were let loose to jam in the studio, spinning out some really long grooves – which were then cut down to make this sweet little record! The title cut was a big single for James at the time, but it's presented here in its full 9 minute version – a monstrous jam that's equal to anything on the Payback record, or the JBs albums too – and the album also includes the long two-part take of "Escapism", and another funky gem – "Blues & Pants", which snaps along for a solid 9 minutes too! The album's filled with heavy funk, and the longer tracks allow for plenty of instrumental flourishes from Fred, Maceo, and the other JBs – and honestly, the record is more of a People Records session than a Polydor record from James. Even more amazing – this CD reissue features the full 19 minute version of "Hot Pants" – the unedited jam from the session! CD

Sure, it's a greatest hits set – but it's a damn good one! This 2LP set was always an essential part of our crates back in the 80s, because it includes an excellent range of James Brown work from the 60s and 70s – including a number of strong funky cuts, presented here in the original single versions. Titles include "Give It Up Or Turn It Loose", "There Was A Time", "I Got The Feelin", "Mother Popcorn", "Sex Machine", "Make It Funky", "Talkin Loud & Sayin Nothin", "Payback", "Get On The Good Foot", "My Thang", "Papa Don't Take No Mess", and "Funky President". LP, Vinyl record album

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A great early album from Con Funk Shun – a mix of funkier tunes and some excellent smooth modern ones in step with the mellower work by Cameo or Maze – done with more soaringly emotional sounds that moves beyond their peers! A love for earlier 70s styles might be what pushes Secrets above and beyond – honest, intimate, and at times just more focused in the vocals department than both the funky soul groups of the time and the quiet storm singers of the approaching early 80s – and still doesn't spare the bass, horns and funky interplay! High points include the closing instrumental "Indian Summer Love" and funky centerpiece "Ffun" –plus "Doowhachawannadoo", "Who Has The Time", "Secrets", "Tear In My Eye" and "I'll Set You Out OK". CD

A classic bit of jazzy fusion from Chick Corea and the legendary Return To Forever group that included Flora Purim and Airto! The sound of the album influenced a generation, and although the album was overlooked by groovers for years, partly due to its success, it still sounds surprisingly fresh – skipping along with an amazing mix of fusion, Brazilian rhythms, and free-thinking solos! The album's overflowing with great-grooving goodies – and titles include the great original version of "Captain Marvel", plus "Light As A Feather", "Spain", and "500 Miles High". This expanded 2CD reissue features 10 previously unreleased tunes from the same session, plus loads of extra notes, photos, and more! CD

Gal's always been one of Brazil's greatest artists – whether she was singing strange raw tunes during her Tropicalia period, or moving into nice jazzy material during her later years. This set's a good introduction to her work, and it includes a lot of nice tracks that we don't always turn up on vinyl anymore. The range of the material stretches from 1970 to 1983, and there's a total of 14 cuts in the set. Titles include "London London", "Azul", "Olhes Verdes", "Dom De Iludir", "Canta Brasil", "Meu Bem, Meu Mal", "Baby", "O Amor", "Olha", "Estrada Do Sol", and "Festa Do Interior". CD

One of Blossom Dearie's fantastic albums for Verve – all of which stand as some of the best recorded work she ever did! The album features Blossom in a warm intimate group, which gives great focus to her endearing voice, and lively piano. She's backed by Ray Brown and Herb Ellis, and she sings some nice groovy numbers that hearken back to her days in France – including "The Riviera", "Plus Je T'Embrasse", and "Give Him The Ooh-La-La", plus an alternate take of "Give Him The Ooh-La-La". Nice stuff, and with a groovy cover to boot! CD

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A portrait of Duke, done by Dizzy – and one that's got a whole different feel than you might think! Gillespie's working here with arrangements by a young Clare Fischer – who takes Ellington's themes and recasts them with an even deeper sense of color and tone – one that pushes the already-modern themes of the numbers into a whole new realm of sound, and uses the horn passages to carve things out a lot differently than Duke might have done! The result is a wonderfully striking session – one with familiar melodies that unfold in a whole new way – and which showcases some great phrasing from Dizzy, over rhythms by a combo that features Hank Jones, George Duvivier, and Charlie Persip – playing alongside a group of larger horns. Titles include "Perdido", "Caravan", "Upper Manhattan Medical Group", and "Chelsea Bridge". CD

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A very unusual concert from Billie Holiday – one that features narration by Gilbert Millstein, telling the story of Billie's life! The format is quite unusual – almost a live documentary, with the subject of the documentary there in person herself! Millstein narrates from the start, and Billie emerges with songs throughout – using Millstein's narration to bracket portions of her career, then delivering the tunes associated with that portion. Backing is by an all-hip group that includes Coleman Hawkins, Kenny Burrell, Chico Hamilton, Roy Eldridge, and Buck Clayton – and titles include "I Cried For You", "My Man", "Don't Explain", "Lady Sings The Blues", "Body & Soul", "I Love My Man", and "Yesterdays". CD

Lost work from Quincy – recorded live in Switzerland around the same time as his Great Wide World album, but featuring a slightly different group – and a sound that's a lot more open! Players on the set include Les Spann on flute and guitar, Patti Brown on piano, Benny Bailey and Freddie Hubbard on trumpets, Curtis Fuller and Melba Liston on trombones, and Sahib Shihab on baritone sax – and the tracks are long, with some nice solo space throughout. Includes great versions of "Stolen Moments", "Moanin", "Banjaluka", and "Air Mail Special". CD

Although Nara Leao has always been one of the more important singers to come out of the bossa era, and continue to grow within the music scene of Brazil, her work is always darn tough to find. This 20 track compilation features tracks from the full range of her career – from 1964 to 1984 – with titles that include "A Banda", "Outra Vez", "Wave", "Joao E Maria", "Ole, Ola", "A Rita", "Diz Que Fui Por Ai", "Sabe Voce", and "14 Anos". CD

An EP release – but one that offers up a great standout moment in the career of Monday Michiru – and a record that has the power to knock away most other contemporary soul of the time! Monday's picking up a bit more of a clubby vibe than her earlier years – getting great help from Masters At Work on a remix of "Sunshine After The Rain" – which was one of our favorite tracks from the Jazz Brat album! She also serves up a uniquely rhythmic take on the Minnie Riperton classic "Lovin You" – alongside other good cuts that include "Love Flow", "Far To Go", "Where Is The Passion", and the instrumental track "Mermaid". LP, Vinyl record album

A gospel set, but one with plenty of 80s soul touches too – sung by this cool female group who remind us a lot of The Clark Sisters, especially in the way they can crossover with their sound! The themes are spiritual, but the tunes are mighty soulful – orchestrated with styles that are more 80s modern soul than gospel – nice and warm, and really never overdone. Titles include "Sunshine", "Behold", "I'll Fly Away", "Can't You See The Light", and "One Always". LP, Vinyl record album

Notable sidemen include Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Red Rodney, Thelonious Monk and Lester Young. CD

11 tracks from one of George Clinton's loveliest groups! Parlet were clearly George's most disco-oriented group – featuring a trio of female voices in the lead (ala First Choice or Three Degrees), with backing by Parliament and the rest of the P-Funk crew. The tracks tend to be a bit longer and faster than your usual Parliament record, but there's still plenty of funk – and the overall feel of the work is very much in the P-Funk party ensemble mode. Titles include "No Rump To Bump", "Pleasure Principle", "Wolf Tickets", "Love Amnesia", "Play Me Or Trade Me", "Ridin High", and "Cookie Jar". CD

An overlooked 60s gem from Oscar Peterson – one of his great sides for Limelight Records, and possibly the most soulful of the bunch! The group's a trio – with either Sam Jones or Ray Brown on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums – and they've got a really great feel, one that's a bit different than some of Oscar's earlier groups of the 60s. Hayes' work on drums is nicely sensitive, and almost takes backseat to Peterson's rhythmic piano lines at times – and Jones' work on bass is always a treat, and kicks some of the best tracks here into a really great groove! The record's got a few great original titles, too – like the midtempo groover "Bossa Beguine", and the groovy "L'Impossible", a cool little instrumental that sounds like it was from a soundtrack by Francis Lai or Michel Legrand, and the title track "Blues Etude". Other titles include "Let's Fall In Love", "Shelley's World", "I Know You Oh So Well", and "Stella By Starlight". CD

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Titles include "Lovedrive", "Holiday", "Can't Get Enough", "Is There Anybody There", "Coast To Coast", "Always Somewhere", "Loving You Sunday Morning", and their classic "Another Piece Of Meat". CD

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A hip album from Sarah Vaughan – one recorded with great jazz backings from Ernie Wilkins, and featuring a young Cannonball Adderley as the main soloist! The addition of Adderley's alto definitely brings a swinging sound to the set – a sense of soul that's even deeper than usual for Vaughan, and which helps the album live up to its hi-fi promise! Wilkins arrangements have a bit of a Basie bounce at times, but never overwhelm Sarah's vocals – and Jimmy Jones is also on the set, handling the piano lines. Titles include "An Occasional Man", "Oh My", "Soon", "How High The Moon", "It Shouldn't Happen To A Dream", and "Maybe". CD