With Butch Miles on drums, Freddie Green on guitar, John Clayton on bass; Danny Turner, Bobby Plater, Eric Dixon, Charlie Fowlkes, and Kenny Hing on saxophone; Wayman Reed, Lyn Biviano, Sonny Cohn, and Pete Minger on trumpets; and Bill Hughes, Mel Wanzo, Fred Wesley, and Dennis Wilson on trombones. Titles include "9:20 Special", "Sunny Side Of The Street", "Lena & Lenny", "Easy Does It", "Every Tub", and "Blues For Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal live set by a young Albert Ayler – an unusual one-sided record that featured only 20 minutes of music, performed with an intensity that hardly leaves room for complaints about the shortness of the album! The single track "Bells" was performed at Town Hall by Ayler with a group that includes Donald Ayler on trumpet, Charles Tyler on alto sax, Lewis Worrell on bass, and Sunny Murray on percussion – all coming together in a raw, real sense of freedom – beautifully explored here without ever getting too overindulgent. The tune may well be one of the greatest illustrations of the ESP format at its best – as Ayler and company never stray too far, but carve out some incredibly imaginative space through their starkly-blown horn solos! LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic on Verve! Back in the 60s, Wes Montgomery must have been California Dreaming – because by the time of this LP, he'd come a long way from his Indiana roots – and had used the best part of the hip west coast scene to add a lot to his style – fuller rhythms and tighter production that never dampened his sound, and instead really let him open up into a whole new range of sounds! As with some of his other albums on Verve, Montgomery plays warmly chromatic riffs over dark jazzy backings by Don Sebesky – and although tracks are short, Wes gets a lot into his solos on the set – a masterful approach that was almost better in a tighter setting than a looser one! Titles include "Sun Down", "Without You", "Sunny", "Green Peppers", "Mr Walker", and "Winds Of Barcelona". LP, Vinyl record album

An assortment of material that Wes Montgomery recorded for Verve before his too-early death – which the label then collected together as a surprisingly good posthumous release for Wes! There's a really great feel to the record – a mix of small combo and large group settings that offers up both sides of Montgomery's genius in the 60s – all without any sort of confusion of sounds or modes, thanks to a really great assemblage of material. A number of tunes that that sly, stepping groove that always made Wes so great – especially the album's great version of "Bumpin On Sunset", which is offered up here as a small group number. Other titles include "Wives & Lovers", "Sunny", "The Big Hurt", "Tequila", and "Just Walkin". LP, Vinyl record album

Although the name of George Wein is usually associated with some super un-hip trad jazz projects, this album's actually a pretty cool batch of grooves that matches Wein's older jazz tendencies with some newer styles of playing – and some good electric instrumentation on the best cuts. The album's got a super-nice version of "Sunny", plus "Blue Boy", "In A Little Spanish Town", "Topsy", and "Ja Da" – and believe it or not, Wein even plays some electric piano! Players include Red Norvo, Tal Farlow, Larry Ridley, and Barney Kessel. LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal early moment from the legendary Albert Ayler – an important session recorded overseas in Copenhagen – where enthusiasm for Ayler's music caught fire more strongly than in the US! The group's got an edge that's maybe even sharper than some of Ayler's ESP material, but no less powerful – with Don Cherry on cornet, Gary Peacock on bass, and Sunny Murray on drums – working through tremendous readings of six Ayler classics that include "Ghosts", "Children", "Holy Spirit", "Vibrations" and "Mothers". A wonderful precursor to the ESP years – and equally great! LP, Vinyl record album

Early work by Albert Ayler, recorded live in 1964 at the Cellar Cafe in New York, but not issued by ESP until years later, after his untimely early death. The performance is a trio outing – with Ayler's tenor alongside the bass of Gary Peacock and drums of Sunny Murray – all freely skirting around each other's space on the date, in a way that allows Ayler to take the bold lead with his sharp-toned solos, but which also allows for free interplay between the bass and percussion. Ayler's tone and wide swaths of sound are simply amazing – and titles include two variations on "Ghosts", plus "Spirits", "Prophecy", and "Wizard". LP, Vinyl record album

A lovely side by Chris Connor for Atlantic, recorded not too long after her stint at Bethlehem – where she'd perfected an icy cool style of singing that's still to be matched to this day! The album features larger arrangements by Richard Wess – but still has a light jazzy feel, intimate in approach, despite the larger musical backings. Chris' voice is at once personal and removed – a razor's edge of emotion, repressing some impulses, and opening up surprisingly at other moments. Titles include "Skyscraper Blues", "The Lady Sings The Blues", "Come Rain Or Come Shine", "When Sunny Gets Blue", "Just In Time", "Baltimore Oriole", and "How Little We Know". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

A rare bit of Chicago jazz, cut back when Atlantic had a brief relationship with the Dunwich imprint, which was mostly a garage-rock operation. This one, though, is a prime bit of Cadet/Argo jazz – as Higgins plays piano with pop/jazz backings by Richard Evans, done very much in the style of some of his work for Chess. The tracks are mostly pop tunes, but they have a very groovy sound – and in a way, Higgins piano actually seems to work harder with the larger backing behind him. Titles include "Sunny", "Miko San", "Taste Of Honey", "I Live To Love", "Shadow Of Your Smile", and "What Is A Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

Guitarist Stanley Jordan takes on a set of standards – not just older tunes from the American songbook, but also some gorovy soul and pop numbers as well! Jordan plays solo throughout – in that open, lyrical style that we loved on his debut – and titles include "Sunny", "The Sound Of Silence", "Send One Your Love", "Moon River", "Guitar Man", and "My Favorite Things". LP, Vinyl record album

A short detour in the 60s career of Chet Baker – one that we sure like a heck of a lot! This side is one of a couple that were recorded as an answer to the big success of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass – with Chet's trumpet was backed by jaunty, brassy arrangements penned by Jack Nitzsche, and George Tipton. And while it might be easy to dismiss the tunes as copycat sound-a-likes, they're really not – as Nitszche brings in a much fuller groove to most of the numbers than Herb Alpert ever did – more of a sunny LA pop feel that has the whole group really gliding along on bold waves of sound all topped off by Baker's horn – sounding stronger and more confident here than on many of his other recordings of the 60s! Some numbers have a Latin undercurrent while others lean towards mainstream pop – a style that's bolder than A&M's approach to Tijuana – and one that explodes with some youthful LA energies! 12 tracks in all, including "Happiness Is", "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)", "The Phoenix Love Theme (Senza Fine)", "On The Street Where You Live", 'Armen's Theme", "You Baby" and "It's Too Late". (Now Sound, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

A strange 60s chapter in the career of trumpeter Chet Baker – but one that we sure like a heck of a lot! These sides were recorded as an answer to the big success of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass over at A&M Records – and for the sessions, Chet's trumpet was backed by jaunty, brassy arrangements penned by Jack Nitzsche. And while it might be easy to dismiss the tunes as copycat sound-a-likes, they're really not – as Nitszche brings in a much fuller groove to most of the numbers than Herb Alpert ever did – more of a sunny LA pop feel that has the whole group really gliding along on bold waves of sound all topped off by Baker's horn – sounding stronger and more confident here than on most of his other recordings of the 60s! There's a definite Latin undercurrent to most of the numbers, but also a fair bit of mainstream pop instrumentation as well – a style that's bolder and not nearly as compressed as the A&M approach to Tijuana – and one that explodes with some youthful LA energies! 10 numbers in all, including "Flowers On The Wall", "Mexico", "Hot Toddy", "El Paso", "Come A Little Bit Closer", "Speedy Gonzales", "Cuando Calienta El Sol", and "24 Hours To Tulsa". (Now Sound, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked gem from Joe Mooney – a singer/pianist best known from the 50s, but who works here with some sweet Hammond as well! The group's a nice one – with Mundell Lowe on guitar, Joe Venuto on vibes, and Jerry Dodgion on flute – and tracks include "Cute", "When I Fall In Love", "You Irritate Me So", "She's Not For You", "I Wanna Be Around", "When Sunny Gets Blue" and more. (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

A really groovy little record – lots of tight guitars from Tony Rizzi – but served up in this sunny style that's almost an update of earlier A&M Records modes! The group features four more guitars – true Tony Rizzi style – plus sweet Fender Rhodes from Tom Rainer, and backing vocals on a few cuts too – almost Brasil 66-style! Titles include "Wave", "Music To Watch Girls By", "Summer Samba", "Sunny", and "Huntington Beach". LP, Vinyl record album

Stanley Turrentine's no spoiler here – as his tenor sax soars out over the top of some sweet larger group arrangements from Duke Pearson – all awash in a great sense of soul, joy, and life! The album's got a much brighter feel than you might guess from the cover – a vibe that's a bit similar to Stan's classic Joyride album, but a bit more open and free – thanks to the lyrical touches of Pearson on the charts. Other players include Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Julian Priester on trombone, James Spaulding on alto and flute, and Pepper Adams on baritone sax – plus rhythm from McCoy Tyner on piano, Bob Cranshaw on electric bass, Mickey Roker on drums, and Joseph Rivera on percussion. As on some of the other Pearson dates from the time – particularly those with Donald Byrd – the use of electric bass really opens things up, by creating a subtle rhythmic pulse that really drives most numbers along. And also in the Pearson mode, the added players aren't really a horn section in the conventional way – just a group of like-minded, top-shelf jazz players who egg on the main soloist with a great sense of enthusiasm for the music! Titles include "La Fiesta", "The Magilla", "Sunny", "Maybe September", "You're Gonna Hear From Me", and "When The Sun Comes Out". LP, Vinyl record album

Great early work from Lester Young – an Imperial Records collection of early material from the 78rpm days of Aladdin Records! The work is a great bridge between swing and pop – and Lester Young's tone is superb throughout – on titles that include "One O'Clock Jump", "Easy Does It", "East Of The Sun", "No Eyes Blues", "The Sheik Of Araby", "Confessin' That I Love You", "Something To Remember You By", "On The Sunny Side Of The Street", "Jumpin' At Mesners", "It's Only A Paper Moon", "Lover Come Back To Me" and "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid". LP, Vinyl record album

Always brilliant work from the great June Christy – an album that's got a lot more darkness than you might think from the title and the bright-colored cover! The style is very booze-soaked and sad – with plenty of echoes of the classic Something Cool album – and like that set, this one features sublime arrangements from the great Pete Rugolo – who has a perfect way of shading things in with the dark tones and modern elements that always work best for Christy's vocals! One of our favorite-ever records from June – with titles that include "Let There Be Love", "When Sunny Gets Blue", "I Want To Be Happy", "Imagination", "No More", "Better Luck Next Time", and "The Best Thing For You". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Great 70s work from Paul Desmond – a sweet little quartet date that easily rivals his genius live album for A&M from the same stretch! The record's done in the simple, unadorned style that made the short-lived Artist House label so great – a real back to basics setting that's free from any gimmicks, and which has that sublime Desmond alto sound out front, in a quartet that features Ed Bickert on guitar, Don Thompson on bass, and Jerry Fuller on drums. Titles include the original "Audrey", plus "Line For Lyons", "Too Marvelous For Words", "When Sunny Gets Blue", and "Darn That Dream" – all nice and long! LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning 70s set from the great Paul Desmond – one that has the tremendous alto player finding an even fresher groove than before – yet all without losing any of the class and control that made him so great in the 50s and 60s! Don Sebesky arranged the set, but most of the instrumentation is nice and lean – small group modes that allow Paul's alto to soar out in the lead, often alongside some excellent guitar work from Gabor Szabo and Gene Bertoncini – the latter of whom provides accompaniment that takes us back to some of Jim Hall's music with Desmond. Bob James plays a bit of piano on the record, and rhythm is by Ron Carter on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and Ralph MacDonald on percussion – plus a bit of cello from George Ricci, who shades tunes in with a mighty nice sound. But as you'd guess, the main focus is on Desmond's sublime alto sax – on titles that include "Was A Sunny Day", "Take Ten", "Music For A While", and of course, "Skylark". LP, Vinyl record album

Tubby Hayes – we love you! You're a big ol' white guy from England, but you're one of our favorite-ever tenor players – and this set of tracks features some pivotal work from your late 50s years! The set features Tubby on tenor and vibes, Terry Shannon on piano, Jeff Clyne on bass, and Phil Seamen on drums – and although the tunes are simply done, Tubby's wonderfully well-crafted solos remind us of the best of Sonny Rollins or Gene Ammons, with slight touches of early John Handy. Titles include "Tin Tin Deo", "Embers", "Blue Hayes", "Sunny Monday", and "Like Someone In Love". LP, Vinyl record album