Beautifully spiritual work from Palestinian pianist Faraj Suleiman – an artist we love in a solo mode, but one who really expands his sound here in a variety of different formations! The album features duo, trio, quartet, and quintet performances – with the haunting piano sound of Sulieman at the core, playing those long-running lines that echo music of his roots, while also spinning out these beautiful extended improvisations – augmented here by work from Louis Matute on guitar, Jules Martinet on bass, and Albert Malo on drums – plus guest work from trumpeter Erik Truffaz on two tracks, and oud players on some others! The music is a wonderful recasting of spiritual jazz styles in more of a Mid East mode – and titles include "Single Mother", "Oriental Melody", "Rama Village", "Midnight Delivery", "Unsolved Cube", "Akka Safad", "Dal'Ouna In The Galilean Wedding", "Have You Eaten", and "Single Mother". CD

Stunning solo piano work from Faraj Suleiman – served up in a style that seems to evoke both the longform creations of Keith Jarrett and some of the more mystical currents of the music of VI Gurdjieff – all while staying in a jazz-based mode that fits the Montreux Jazz Festival setting of the whole performance! The sound here is beautiful, and instantly captivating – rich in ideas and feeling that are completely unique, and delivered up with a beautiful sense of tone, timing, and color that mark Suleiman as one of the most unique talents to emerge on piano in recent years! The whole thing is completely hypnotic – and titles include "Naughty Boy", "Oriental Melody", "Boy On A Bicycle 7pm", "As A First Step", "Arabic Improv", and "First Night". CD

Beautifully spiritual work from Palestinian pianist Faraj Suleiman – an artist we love in a solo mode, but one who really expands his sound here in a variety of different formations! The album features duo, trio, quartet, and quintet performances – with the haunting piano sound of Sulieman at the core, playing those long-running lines that echo music of his roots, while also spinning out these beautiful extended improvisations – augmented here by work from Louis Matute on guitar, Jules Martinet on bass, and Albert Malo on drums – plus guest work from trumpeter Erik Truffaz on two tracks, and oud players on some others! The music is a wonderful recasting of spiritual jazz styles in more of a Mid East mode – and titles include "Single Mother", "Oriental Melody", "Rama Village", "Midnight Delivery", "Unsolved Cube", "Akka Safad", "Dal'Ouna In The Galilean Wedding", "Have You Eaten", and "Single Mother". LP, Vinyl record album

Two Charles Mingus stalwarts come together here as co-leaders – drummer Dannie Richmond and tenorist George Adams, who also plays a bit of flute – in a quintet with Hugh Lawson on piano,j Mike Richmond on bass, and Jimmy Knepper on trombone – also a key Mingus sideman! CD

The meeting of two key modern jazz talents in the late 50s third stream of jazz – heard on material pulled from three different Atlantic albums recorded at the Music Inn during 1956! The core of the set features the clarinet of Jimmy Giuffre blowing alongside the Modern Jazz Quartet – in a spacious style that's very much in the spirit of Jimmy's own loosely-crafted groups of the time, and which makes surprisingly gentle use of piano, drums, and vibes next to his own gentle phrasing on clarinet. 2 of the 5 tracks with the MJQ add in Giuffre trio members Jim Hall and Ralph Pena – and titles for all include "A Fugue For Music Inn", "Serenade", "Fun",j "Da Capo", and "Fine". Added to these are 4 more titles that have Giuffre in the shifting company of other all-star players on tunes that take on a more traditional nature overall – longer jamming tracks that feature Rex Stewart, Pee Wee Russell, Teddy Charles, and Herbie Mann on titles that include "Blues In E Flat", "In A Mellotone", "The Quiet Time", and "Body & Soul". The last 3 tracks on the set return us to the Modern Jazz Quartet – working here on their own – on tracks that include "2 Degrees East 3 Degrees West", "Variation No 1 On God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", and "Oh Bess Where's My Bess". CD

Killer French pop – both old and new, but with an especially strong focus on that magical 60s generation that really made the music shine so strongly – which is then followed through with later work that still continues a vintage spirit! The set's got an ear for tunes that have had famous use in films and TV in recent years – so although not all of these numbers are French hits from the time, you may well know them as songs that have had a new life and new discovery in the 21st Century – brought together with a wonderfully groovy sound throughout! Titles include "La Fille A La Moto" by Dani, "Tu Fais Parti Du Passe" by Zouzou, "Requiem Pour Un C" by Serge Gainsbourg, "I'm Gonna Haunt You" by Fabienne DelSol, "Si Ti Reviens Chez Moi" by Les 5 Gentlemen, "Roller Girl" by Anna Karina, "Migas 2000" by The Liminanas, "Dreams" by L'Epee, "Les Cornichons" by Nino Ferrer, "Cybele's Reverie" by Stereolabl, "Psyche Rock (malpaso mix)" by Pierre Henry, "Contact" by Brigitte Bardot, "Tut Tut Tut Tut" by Gillian Hills, and "Poupee De Cire Poupee De Son" by France Gall. LP, Vinyl record album