Sublime solo piano work from Tete Montoliu – a set that takes off from the superb directions he'd hit on his Spanish albums of the 60s – when Tete was emerging as one of the most lyrically fluid pianists on the European scene! That legacy is greatly enhanced here – as Montoliu works without any bass or drums at all, yet has this wonderfully rhythmic quality to his music – not in the ways that Garner or Tatum might have expressed in a similar setting, but this more flowing sense of color – really illustrating some of the advances that the European jazz scene was making at the time. Titles include "Rainy Day", "Two Catlan Songs", "Gentofte 4349", "Apartment 412", "Ballad For Line", and "Little Camila". CD

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Solo piano recordings by Montoliu, with titles that include "Yesterdays", "Here's That Rainy Day", "Imagination", "Have You Met Miss Jones?", "I Feel All Alone", "Circe", "Apartment 512", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning setting for this wonderful tenorist – a record that has the great George Coleman blowing with only the piano of Tete Montoliu for accompaniment – with really wonderful results! George has all that full, deep tone we know from his bigger group recordings – and it really seems to set the record on fire from the start, and bring out these bold rhythmic lines from Montoliu, who plays with a blocky sense of power that reminds us of his sublime late 60s album for MPS! There's still plenty of the lyrical moments you'd expect from Tete, too – but even then, George comes in with these freewheeling passages that are really lovely – and which bloom brilliantly in the presence of the piano. Titles include long takes on "Meditation" and "Sophisticated Lady" – plus "Walsing At Rosa's Place", "Lisa", and "First Time Down". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare Spanish session from trumpeter Dusko Goykovich – and easily one of the most soulful albums he ever recorded! The set's got a warm, laidback vibe – very much in keeping with the title and cover image – as Dusko blows some great open-ended solos with rhythm from the trio of pianist Tete Montoliu – working here as a great accompanist to the leader, with flowing lines that perfectly match Dusko's energy! Tracks are longish, with a very relaxed vibe – and the rest of the group features Robert Langereis on bass and Joe Nay on drums – helping Gokovich hit a very different sound than on some of his more exotic albums of the time. Titles include "Blues To Line", "I Remember OP", "Old Fisherman's Daughter", and "The Child Is Born". LP, Vinyl record album

Charlie Mariano on alto saxophone, Tete Montoliu on piano, Horacio Fumero on bass, and Peer Wyboris on drums. CD

Charlie Mariano on alto saxophone, Tete Montoliu on piano, Horacio Fumero on bass, and Peer Wyboris on drums. CD

Mostly solo material from Tete Montoliu – playing piano, as well as eating lunch, on this sweet LA date from the start of the 80s! The spare setting allows Montoliu to do a lot more here than usual – really freed from rhythm on some numbers, and stretching out into territory that might almost be "out" in the hands of some other players – yet which still comes through with all the warmth and lyricism we've come to love in Tete's music over the years. Titles include "Blues After Lunch", "Sophisticated Lady", "Blues Before Lunch", "Airegin", and "I Want To Talk About You". CD also features the bonus track "Margareta". CD

With George Mraz on bass and Lewis Nash on drums. CD

Beautiful work from pianist Tete Montoliu – three full albums served up in a single package! First up is Man From Barcelona – a set cut late in Tete's career, but one that has this beautiful way of building up a tune – maybe even more lyrical and sincere than some of Montoliu's earlier music! The trio features nicely understated work from George Mraz on bass and Lewis Nash on drums – both players who often step aside and let Tete pace the tune, find his groove, and bring in all sorts of really lovely colors even before things start swinging – served up on tunes that include "Tune Up", "Stella By Starlight", "Autumn Leaves", "Django", and "Concierto De Aranjuez". On Secret Love, pianist Tete Montoliu gets some Cedar Walton backing – in a trio with Sam Jones on bass and Billy Higgins on drums – both musicians who really make the record stand out from the pack! Tete himself is at the peak of his powers – able to play with this commanding sense of majesty from the very first note – but with a style that also has plenty of room for more lyrical flourishes, too – although often with these soulful strides that we don't seem to hear that well in other trio sessions of this vintage! We're not going to credit Jones and Higgins with bringing this on – but heck, they sound wonderful here, and really make the whole thing crackle with warm imagination throughout. Titles include "Four", "Stella By Starlight", "Secret Love", and "Confirmation". The title's correct on the third album – as that's yellow dolphin street, not "Green Dolphin Street" – a very special place where Tete Montoliu unfurls a beautiful selection of solo piano numbers! Tete's really at the height of his powers here – and spins out wonderfully without any bass or drums, yet with all the complex, fluid feel that you might expect from a trio. The range of tonal colors is wonderful – and always delivered with a rhythmic impulse, even when Montoliu is flying free – on titles that include "Yellow Dolphin Street", "Napoleon", "Where Are You", "Waltz For Nicolien", and "I Hate You". CD

Solo piano recordings by Montoliu, with titles that include "Yesterdays", "Here's That Rainy Day", "Imagination", "Have You Met Miss Jones?", "I Feel All Alone", "Circe", "Apartment 512", and more. CD

A great pianist and a great rhythm section – two factors that make this one of the best albums ever from Spanish pianist Tete Montoliu! The session's got a tightness that some of Tete's other records are missing – a style that still allows him to display his free command of the keys, but which also holds him into a structured groove that produces even more intensity. Tete's working here with Peter Trunk on bass and Albert Tootie Heath on drums – both excellent players who bring plenty of their own spirit to the session, and work well in a three-pronged approach to the tunes that has plenty of melody coming from the drums and bass – and a fair bit of rhythm coming from Montoliu's heavy left hand as well! Titles include some great originals – like Trunk's "Tranquillogy" and "Visca L'Ampurda" – as well as Montoliu's "Blues For Nuria", and versions of "Stablemates" and "I Surrender Dear". LP, Vinyl record album

Tete Montoliu on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Akira Tana on drums. CD

Late life genius from the mighty Ben Webster – a record that captures him in a live setting, and features much longer solo space than some of his other European dates of the time, which sometimes compact his work into shorter moments! The great pianist Tete Montoliu is working here on piano – with superb accompaniment from Rob Langereis on bass and Erik Ineke on drums – two players who always sound wonderful – and Webster's tone has that superb mature quality throughout – raspy, soulful, and completely charming, even in understated moments. Titles include "Set Call", "Ben's Blues", "Our Love Is Here To Stay", and "I Got It Bad". CD

Great work from French tenor genius Barney Wilen – a live festival set from 1988, a year when Wilen was really making a strong comeback to the scene – in a group that also features Spanish piano legend Tete Montoliu, plus Riccardo Del Fra on bass and Aaron Scott on drums! The setting is a great reminder of how much Wilen can adapt in different groups – especially from this stretch, when he was often playing with more familiar lineups. Montoliu really opens up Barney in a different way than other pianists – and gets in plenty of great solo work of his own – on long tracks that include "Summertime", "L'Ame Des Poetes", "La Valse Des Lilas", "It Never Entered My Mind/Invitation", "Blues For DN", "Someday My Prince Will Come", "Billie's Bounce", "Round Midnight", "All The Things You Are", and "Sous Le Ciel De Paris/Autumn Leaves". CD

Great work from French tenor genius Barney Wilen – a live festival set from 1988, a year when Wilen was really making a strong comeback to the scene – in a group that also features Spanish piano legend Tete Montoliu, plus Riccardo Del Fra on bass and Aaron Scott on drums! The setting is a great reminder of how much Wilen can adapt in different groups – especially from this stretch, when he was often playing with more familiar lineups. Montoliu really opens up Barney in a different way than other pianists – and gets in plenty of great solo work of his own – on long tracks that include "Summertime", "L'Ame Des Poetes", "La Valse Des Lilas", "It Never Entered My Mind/Invitation", "Blues For DN", "Someday My Prince Will Come", "Billie's Bounce", "Round Midnight", "All The Things You Are", and "Sous Le Ciel De Paris/Autumn Leaves". CD

Bold, beautiful piano work from the mighty Tete Montoliu – working here at the height of his powers, in a killer trio with Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass and Albert Tootie Heath on drums! The record soars right from the start – thanks to a sublime reading of "Giant Steps" that brings in all the sheets of sound that Coltrane intended for the tune, but also a freewheeling, highly punctuated groove that really sets fire to the piano! Other tunes are equally important jazz standards – like "Body & Soul", "Solar", and "Hot House" – all handled with Tete's amazing approach to the keys. 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

Rock-solid overseas work from the mighty Dexter Gordon – a studio set instead of one of his live dates from the Danish scene of the time – and a record that seems to have Dex coming across with even more focus and power than ever! The tracks are long, and his solos have this wonderful bite – driven strongly by work from Tete Montoliu on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – all moving sharply and tightly, with maybe an especially sharp crackle in the drums of Higgins, which really seems to energize even the mellower numbers! Titles include the great originals "Catalonian Nights" and "Benji's Bounce" – plus "Easy Living", "Four", and "Billie's Bounce". LP, Vinyl record album

A mindblowing little record – one of those jazz meetings you might never have thought possible, and every bit as great as you'd expect! By the time of this set, Lars Gullin had already reached the heights of jazz in Scandinavia – one of the hippest players of the 50s, ready to branch out into even new ideas and expressions in the 60s! Enter Archie Shepp, quite young at the time, but already a fiercely creative talent on the tenor – blowing here alongside Gullin in the relaxed, open format of a live date at the Club Montmartre in Copenhagen – a well-recorded performance that was done for Swedish radio, and which has both players taking very long solos. It's great to hear Lars really stretch out – sounding looser and grittier than on some of his studio work – and Shepp's really on fire blowing through the standards on the date – almost hinting at that approach he'd use in the late 70s, but with all the burning quality of his youth! Other players include Tete Montoliu on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Alex Riel on drums – and titles include "You Stepped Out Of A Dream", "The House I Live In", "I Should Care", and "Sweet Georgia Brown". LP, Vinyl record album

Strong later work from the great Ben Webster – three albums in a single set! On the first record, Ben Webster plays live in Harlem – not the uptown scene in New York, but the Dutch city that became a surprisingly strong showcase for American players overseas! The date's got that easygoing style of some of Webster's best late live performances – a laidback rhythm trio, and Ben himself blowing these raspy, blue-tinged notes that are full of feeling – even when in a familiar setting – that quality that can make even subtle handling of a standard pop out with such Webster-like charm! The group features Tete Montoliu on piano, Rob Langereis on bass, and Tony Inzalaco on drums – and titles include "Stardust", "How Long Has This Been Going On", "Sunday", "For All We Know", and "Perdido". Live In Stockholm is a posthumous release of live material recorded in Sweden, during a time when tenor genius Ben Webster was doing some of his best work overseas! The tracks here feature Ben in a few different settings – with piano from Teddy Wilson or Lasse Sjosten, bass from Red Mitchell or Sture Nordin, and drums from Ed Thigpen and Frederik Noren. But maybe best of all is the trumpet work on most tracks – played by either Arne Ryskog or Rolf Ericson, both players whose presence really brings a lot – and makes the record a bit different than some of those other "older American soloists with a European rhythm section" dates of the time. Titles include "Indiana", "C Jam Blues", "The Theme", "Satin Doll", "I Got Rhythm", and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore". The last album is a late live set from Ben Webster – recorded in Norway with an unusual rhythm section that really lets Ben open up and do his thing, always with that fantastic twist on his tone he developed later in life! The group features Tore Sandnaes on piano, Bjorn Alterhaug on bass, and Kjell Johansen on drums – and titles include "In A Mllotone", "Sunday", "Satin Doll", "Perdido", "I Got Rhythm", and "Stardust". CD

A rare meeting of these two American giants of the tenor sax – brought together at the end of the 60s in Europe, both recording late in their careers, but with a laidback and open approach that's really wonderful! The format here is quite loose – a bit like some of the late hours, swing-based sides on Prestige at the end of the 50s – with longish tracks that let both players state their solos in clean, well-recorded phrasings – with gentle support from a trio that includes Tete Montoliu on piano, Peter Trunk on bass, and Albert Tootie Heath on drums. There's a few faltering moments at times, but they also add a nice degree of humanity to the record – kind of a dimming genius that might not have been allowed on an American session by either player, but which speaks volumes here for the time and distance both players had travelled! Titles include "Caravan", "Sundae", "Blues For Dottie Mae", and "Perdido". LP, Vinyl record album

Live recording from 1964 in Copenhagen, with Tete Montoliu on piano, Niels-Henning Orstred Pedersen on bass, and Alex Riel on drums. CD

A rare slice of work by Roland Kirk from his early years – a great live set recorded in Europe in the mid 60's – done in a looser mode than his studio sessions from the time! Kirk's playing his usual array of incredible horns – tenor, stritch, flute, nose flute, and manzello – with an international group that features Tete Montoliu on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pederson on bass, and J.C. Moses on drums. In the setting, there's more of a hardbop feel to the material than on some of Kirk's studio sets – but given Roland's penchant for unusual phrasing, twin-reed blowing, and general free-thinking overall, the sound is pretty unique overall! Titles include "Mingus-Griff Song", "The Monkey Thing", and "On the Corner of King and Scott Streets". CD

Great live work from Kenny Dorham – wonderfully recorded by Danish Radio from an early 60s performance in Copehagen – one that also features flugelhorn from Allan Botschinsky as well! The mix of trumpet and flugelhorn is totally great – a shifting, shimmering palette of colors and sound that steps right out with a bold, righteous energy – that sense of force that Dorham was beginning to show in some of his American recordings too – before his studio appearances were cut down all too quickly. Rhythms are extremely tight too – with Tete Montoliu on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Alex Riel on drums – and the tracks are nice and long, with versions of "Short Story", "Bye Bye Blackbird", "Manha De Carnival", and "The Touch of Your Lips". CD

Rock-solid overseas work from the mighty Dexter Gordon – a studio set instead of one of his live dates from the Danish scene of the time – and a record that seems to have Dex coming across with even more focus and power than ever! The tracks are long, and his solos have this wonderful bite – driven strongly by work from Tete Montoliu on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – all moving sharply and tightly, with maybe an especially sharp crackle in the drums of Higgins, which really seems to energize even the mellower numbers! Titles include the great originals "Catalonian Nights" and "Benji's Bounce" – plus "Easy Living", "Four", and "Billie's Bounce". CD

Rock-solid overseas work from the mighty Dexter Gordon – a studio set instead of one of his live dates from the Danish scene of the time – and a record that seems to have Dex coming across with even more focus and power than ever! The tracks are long, and his solos have this wonderful bite – driven strongly by work from Tete Montoliu on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – all moving sharply and tightly, with maybe an especially sharp crackle in the drums of Higgins, which really seems to energize even the mellower numbers! Titles include the great originals "Catalonian Nights" and "Benji's Bounce" – plus "Easy Living", "Four", and "Billie's Bounce". LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual early Danish date – with Tete Montoliu on piano! CD

Dexter Gordon soars on tenor in this great 1964 date with Tete Montoliu on piano, Benny Nielsen on bass, and Alex Riel on drums – and he also vocalizes a bit on a version of the Benny Green tune "I Want To Blow Now" – next to other tunes that include long takes on "Body & Soul", "Satin Doll", and "King Neptune". Dex also introduces the set with a bit of patter too! LP, Vinyl record album

A date that has Buddy working with a strong rhythm section that includes Tete Montoliu on piano, Bo Steif on bass, and Sven Erik Norregaard on drums – plus a bit of guest violin from Finn Ziegler on two tracks. Most numbers are long, and really focus on Tate's bold, classic tone on the tenor – and titles include "Buddy's Blues", "Just You Just Me", "I Surrender Dear", "Broadway", and "In A Mellotone" – done at a long 17 minute run! LP, Vinyl record album

A rare meeting of these two American giants of the tenor sax – brought together at the end of the 60s in Europe, both recording late in their careers, but with a laidback and open approach that's really wonderful! The format here is quite loose – a bit like some of the late hours, swing-based sides on Prestige at the end of the 50s – with longish tracks that let both players state their solos in clean, well-recorded phrasings – with gentle support from a trio that includes Tete Montoliu on piano, Peter Trunk on bass, and Albert Tootie Heath on drums. There's a few faltering moments at times, but they also add a nice degree of humanity to the record – kind of a dimming genius that might not have been allowed on an American session by either player, but which speaks volumes here for the time and distance both players had travelled! Titles include "Caravan", "Sundae", "Blues For Dottie Mae", and "Perdido". CD

Late work by Webster and Byas – playing here with backing by a European rhythm section that includes Tete Montoliu on piano and Peter Trunk on bass, plus American Albert Heath on drums. The tracks are mostly long and open – with the main focus on letting the two tenor giants solo as much as possible. Tracks include "Caravan", "Sundae", "Blues For Dottie Mae", and "Perdido". LP, Vinyl record album

A massive overview of work from the Barcelona scene of the mid 20th century – most of it music we'd never heard before! The package was done in conjunction with the book of the same name – and it's divided up into 3 different sections – trad jazz from the 20s and 30s, mainstream jazz from the years after the Spanish Civil War, and modern jazz from the late 50s and early 60s! That last segment is our favorite here – as you might guess – and the CD features rare early material from pianist Tete Montoliu, often in groups with horn players, plus other tracks from saxophonist Mantequilla. Modern titles include "The High & The Mighty", "Bernie's Tune", "Delaunay's Dream", "Home Cookin", and "Laverne Walk" by Montoliu; and "Blue Note", "Vat 69", "Balada", "Whisky Jazz", and "La Tuna Club" by Mantequilla. Trad jazz CD features a total of 27 tracks by assorted groups – and "posguerra" CD features an additional 31, mostly from the 40s and early 50s. CD

Kenny Dorham in Scandinavia – playing on a set of extended live numbers that are all a fair bit different than his studio work in the US at the time! The date features twin trumpets, too – those of Dorham and Rolf Ericson, blowing together in a bold frontline, then breaking out for beautiful long solos that each have their own sort of voice – driven on nicely by rhythms from Tete Montoliu on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Alex Riel on drums! The recording quality is excellent, and there's a sharpness here that matches Dorham's hardbop best – but a freewheeling energy that really takes things even further. Titles include "Manha De Carnival", "Scandia Skies", "Solar", and "Woody N You". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare and long unavailable performance of the Kenny Dorham-Barry Harris Quartet captured in action in NYC in 1964! Dorham's trumpet is full and very strongly in the lead in this set – with Barry Harris's piano work provide a loose swagger underneath – reminding us quite a bit of Bud Powell! Julian Ewell is on bass with Albert "Tootie" Heath at the kit. Titles include "Confirmation", "Ma, He's Makin' Eyes At Me", Monk's "Around Midnight", "The Theme", "Tin Tin Deo" plus the bonus tracks "Scandia Skies", and "Manha De Carnaval" – featuring Dorham's quartet recorded live in Copenhagen in December of '63 with Tete Montoliu on piano, Neils-Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass and Alex Riel on drums. CD

Never-heard studio work from the great Bill Evans – not another one of those many (and great) live performances from overseas – but a well-conceived, beautifully recorded set of tracks that were done for MPS Records in their famous studios in the Black Forest! The group here is Evans sublime trio with the great Eddie Gomez on bass and a young Jack DeJohnette on drums – perfect players for completely reworking the sound of the jazz piano trio, with all the new ideas that Bill had bursting forth at the time – and this material is the only studio session by the group, recorded right after their famous live appearance at Montreux in 1968 (documented on a well-known album on Verve.) The set's a double-length outing – recorded with the kind of crisp, clear sound that MPS brought to its other classic piano albums of the time by artists like Hampton Hawes or Tete Montoliu. The whole thing's wonderful – and Gomez has a wonderful presence in the mix – as the trio really shines on titles that include "Wonder Why", "Green Dolphin Street", "These Foolish Things", "Walkin Up", "Turn Out The Stars", "Very Early", "You Go To My Head", "Lover Man", and "Baubles Bangles & Beads". CD