A classic set of early jazz recordings by Nina Simone – one of her first albums ever, but already with an approach that's quite different from other singers of the time! Nina's singing a fair bit of standards here, but she brings a deeply personal approach to the material – inflecting the tunes with gospel-inspired soul, and showing some very slight folksy touches – of the sort that would come in more heavily on later records, but which is already shining pretty strongly here! Nina accompanies herself on some mighty soulful piano – with bass from Jimmy Bond and drums from Al Heath – on titles that include "Plain Gold Ring", "Good Bait", "He Needs Me", "Don't Smoke In Bed", and "I Loves You Porgy". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

A cool collection of classic work from the Bethlehem Records label – and one that's got a very different vibe than usual! The set's part of the excellent Cafe Apres Midi series from Japan – and like other volumes in the series, there's a special focus on groovier, more upbeat numbers from Bethlehem – with an especially strong emphasis on the kinds of vocal tracks that made the label great! There's less late night and blue numbers here than there are the kind of sprightly tracks that really stand out in the catalog – and the set's got a massive 28 tracks in all, with over 80 minutes of music – on titles that include "Night In Tunisia" by Frank Minion, "Mountain Greenery" by Paula Castle, "My Romance" by Joe Derise, "Blue Turning Grey Over You" by Audrey Morris, "The Way You Look Tonight" by Mel Torme, "That Old Black Magic" by Bobby Troup, "Lullaby Of Birdland" by Chris Connor, "Let's Fall In Love" by Teal Joy, "How About You" by Terry Morel, "Old Devil Moon" by Bob Dorough, "Gone With The Wind" by Donna Brooks, "All Of Me" by Johnny Hartman, and "This Can't Be Love" by Pat Moran. (Funky Compilations, Jazz) CD

One of Dexter Gordon's proudest moments of the 50s – a rock-solid session for Bethlehem – easily one of the best-remembered hardbop sides from the label's California years! The album's got a relaxed, free-blown sound that's quite nice – with Dex in the lead on tenor, supported by the trio of Kenny Drew on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Lawrence Marable on drums. Gordon's perhaps not as fully imaginative as he would become in the 60s, but his sound and control is still great throughout – and the rhythm section really helps knock this one out of the park. Titles include versions of "Darn That Dream", "Autumn In New York", "You Can Depend On Me", and "Confirmation", plus two originals "Number Four" and "Daddy Plays The Horn". LP, Vinyl record album

A well-titled set from Art Blakey – considering the hard-driving sound of the group! The album's one of the best from that unusual year of 1957 – almost a "lost" year for Art, when he was working away from Blue Note with a very different lineup of the Jazz Messengers than on his famous sessions for that label! The players here are all great – and include Johnny Griffin on tenor, Bill Hardman on trumpet, Junior Mance on piano, and Spanky DeBrest on bass – all working with a style that's a bit loose and open, allowing plenty of space for solos! Griffin's horn has all the sharp edges you'd expect, and Hardman's great too – and Blakey himself seems to sit back a bit more than usual in his chair, letting the soloists lead the tracks, instead of kicking things into gear from the drums. Titles include "Deo X", "Sweet Sakeena", "Late Spring", "Krafty", and "For Miles & Miles". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare material from John Coltrane – tracks that were done for Bethlehem Records at a time when he was just rising up as a leader, and still contributed work as a sideman! The album features Trane playing tenor on only four of the album's eight tracks – making it kind of surprising that they used his name in the title – but the album is a lesser-known batch of large group recordings that offer an interesting early chapter in his career! The main force behind the album is arranger Harry Tubbs – possibly not a name that's as sexy as John Coltrane, hence the billing – but a worthy leader for the date, given the quality of the music. Many of the other players here are small combo heroes who can also shine brightly in bigger groups – such as Donald Byrd and Art Farmer on trumpets, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Al Cohn on baritone sax, Eddie Costa on piano and vibes, and Oscar Pettiford on bass – plus Rolf Kuhn, making an early American appearance on clarinet. Coltrane gets in some nice, but short moments on the date – but the bigger charm is the full ensemble work – on titles that include "She Didn't Say Yes", "Turtle Walk", "At Home With The Blues", "Seabreeze", and "Love & The Weather". LP, Vinyl record album

A great set of tracks that represents some of Chris Connor's first recordings as a solo act – culled from earlier ep and 10" releases, and issued here on a full LP with a total of 14 tracks. Backing is by three groups – the Ellis Larkin Trio, Vinnie Burke's Quartet, and Sy Oliver's Orchestra – and Chris is in fine fine form, vocalizing with that icy tone we love so much, a bit sad, and a bit mellow, but always heartfelt, without the forced emotion of other singers of her generation. Titles include "Stella By Starlight", "Goodbye", "Spring Is Here", "Ask Me", "Lullaby Of Birdland", "Try A Little Tenderness", and "He's Coming Home". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Beautifully icy vocals from the amazing Chris Connor – the kind of record that set a new standard for vocal jazz back in the 50s! The session's a small group one – with Chris singing intimately alongside backing from Herbie Mann on flute and tenor, Kai Winding and JJ Johnson on trombones, Joe Puma on guitar, and Ralph Sharon on piano – all lightly arranged to allow Connor's vocals prime placement in the record, while shading in the spaces with some nicely modern colors. Titles are mostly familiar, but wonderfully transformed into Connor's own personal statements – and tracks include "Ridin High", "It's All Right With Me", "Someone To Watch Over Me", "All Dressed Up With A Broken Heart", "All This & Heaven Too", "Trouble Is a Man", "Blame It On My Youth", and "The Thrill Is Gone". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent and oft-overlooked 50s session from Duke – recorded in Chicago as a one-off for the Bethlehem label, and done with a lush, rich sound that's really tremendous! The group's nicely restrained and very moody – playing here in a mellow late nite mode that offers a good focus on the best horn soloists in the group, yet which also really hangs together perfectly from the slow-moving and eerie tone of the rest of the group. Jimmy Grissom sings a bit on the set, and other players include Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Cat Anderson, and Ray Nance – on tracks that include "Day Dream", "Blues", "Frustration", "My Funny Valentine", and "Laura". CD

One of the greatest albums on the Bethlehem label – and one of the first albums as a leader by the legendary Booker Ervin! At the time of the set, Ervin had come off a great stint with the Charles Mingus group – one that inflected his rootsy Texas tenor tones with a sharper modern edge – heard to perfection on this great little session, which is equal parts hard swinging soul jazz and dark-tinged early 60s modern! Zoot Sims joins Booker in the front line, and the two of them trade tenor solos throughout on the album's long compositions – grooving with a great sextet that includes Tommy Turrentine on trumpet, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Mingus' drummer Dannie Richmond on the kit! Cuts include "Largo", "The Book Cooks", "The Blue Book", and "Git It". CD

One of Dexter Gordon's proudest moments of the 50s – a rock-solid session for Bethlehem – easily one of the best-remembered hardbop sides from the label's California years! The album's got a relaxed, free-blown sound that's quite nice – with Dex in the lead on tenor, supported by the trio of Kenny Drew on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Lawrence Marable on drums. Gordon's perhaps not as fully imaginative as he would become in the 60s, but his sound and control is still great throughout – and the rhythm section really helps knock this one out of the park. Titles include versions of "Darn That Dream", "Autumn In New York", "You Can Depend On Me", and "Confirmation", plus two originals "Number Four" and "Daddy Plays The Horn". CD

(78 RPM, Jazz) 78 RPM, Vinyl record

Excellent early work from Roland Kirk – not as groundbreaking as later sessions, but still filled with fire and imagination, and proof that the famous blind player was a genius even at an early age! Kirk plays alto, tenor, and soprano – and on all tracks, he plays them in his unique "3-in-1" style, in which he's actually blowing all horns at the same time! The result is an incredible sound, unlike anyone else we can think of – and it's an amazingly raw tone that still swings very hard. Players include Jimmy Madison on piano, Carl Pruitt on bass, and Hank Duncan on drums – a really rootsy quartet that helps Roland hit a really gutbuckety sound on the record. Titles include "Triple Threat", "Slow Groove", "Roland's Theme", "Easy Living", "The Nearness Of You", and "A La Carte". CD

A fantastic sextet session recorded in 1961, shortly before Booker Little's death – and filled with all the promise and power he ever packed into his playing! There's a sharp, angular groove to many of the numbers here – that mix of modern and hardbop that was cresting best in the early 60s Blue Note generation – and which echoes some of the work that Little had done with Max Roach in the years before this date. The lineup's filled with great players to help Book realize his strongest musical vision – Julian Priester on trombone, George Coleman on tenor, Don Friedman on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Pete LaRoca on drums – and although the set's issued on the sometimes-staid Bethlehem label, it's got all the sharper edges of an early 60s date on a label like Impulse or Candid! Titles include "Matilde", "Booker's Blues", "Forward Flight", and "Victory and Sorrow". CD features two bonus tracks – alternate versions of "Looking Ahead". CD

A fantastic sextet session recorded in 1961, shortly before Booker Little's death – and filled with all the promise and power he ever packed into his playing! There's a sharp, angular groove to many of the numbers here – that mix of modern and hardbop that was cresting best in the early 60s Blue Note generation – and which echoes some of the work that Little had done with Max Roach in the years before this date. The lineup's filled with great players to help Book realize his strongest musical vision – Julian Priester on trombone, George Coleman on tenor, Don Friedman on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Pete LaRoca on drums – and although the set's issued on the sometimes-staid Bethlehem label, it's got all the sharper edges of an early 60s date on a label like Impulse or Candid! Titles include "Matilde", "Booker's Blues", "Forward Flight", and "Victory and Sorrow". LP, Vinyl record album

Twin-flute magic from the quintet of Herbie Mann and Sam Most – both of whom play the long, thin instrument here – in intertwining lines of sound that are totally great! There's a style here that's often a bit more frenetic than usual for Herbie – one that's possibly picked up from Most, as might be heard on some of his later sides from the 60s. Whatever the case, even when things are gentle, there's some nice little interplay – a lot of action from both flute players, supported by guitar from Joe Puma, bass from Jimmy Gannon, and drums from Lee Kleinman. Arrangements are by Russ Garcia, and titles include "It's Only Sunshine", "Fascinating Rhythm", "Empathy", "Seven Come Eleven", "Just One Of Those Things", and "Flying Home". LP, Vinyl record album

Easily one of the best albums ever cut by this oft-overlooked bop trumpeter – and a clean, clear, no-nonsense session played in the company of a crack group that includes Sahib Shihab, Duke Jordan, Percy Heath, and Philly Joe Jones. Maggie's in the lead on firey solos, and tracks are short, but economical enough to get plenty across! Titles include "Tweedles", "Tahitian Lullaby", "Rifftide", "Oo Wee But I Do", "Transpicious", and "Don't Blame Me". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Charles Mingus' excellent albums for the Bethlehem label – recorded during that magical year of 1957, a real turning point in his career! There's a sharpness here to Mingus' musical vision that hadn't shown up in previous years – a refinement of ideas expressed for Savoy and Prestige on previous sessions, drawn with tighter tension, and a bolder sense of spirit and emotion throughout. The group's a well-chosen batch of modernists – with Shafi Hadi on alto and tenor, Jimmy Knepper on trombone, Clarence Shaw on trumpet, and the surprising addition of Bill Evans on piano – sounding a fair bit bolder here than elsewhere. Titles are almost all Mingus originals with a great balance of modern structures and freer solo moments – and tracks include "Conversation", "West Coast Ghost", "Fifty First Street Blues", "East Coasting", and the sublime "Celia", which Mingus and Hadi performed in the film Shadows by John Cassavettes. LP, Vinyl record album

Don't let the Another One title make you think this is some passable record that repeats earlier ideas – because the set is a real gem in the 50s catalog of bassist Oscar Pettiford, and one of his strongest dates as a leader! Pettiford really sparkles here – leading a great group that features key 50s modernists like Gigi Gryce on alto, Jerome Richardson on tenor, Bob Brookmeyer on trombone, and Donald Byrd on trumpet – all tightly arranged at most moments, but given enough space on the set to strike out and state their own ideas. Pettiford's bass is wonderfully upfront in the mix, leading off most tunes with a nice sense of force – and titles include some really wonderful original material – like "Oscalypso", "Don't Squawk", "Bohemia After Dark", "Minor Seventh Heaven", and "Kamman's A Comin". CD

A classic collection of work from Bethlehem Records – a package that brings together some of their strongest jazz singers of the time, under a cover image that's similar to the first album by Nina Simone! The difference here is that the record features a killer non-LP track by Nina – the stunning "African Mailman" – a righteous groover that points the way towards some of her work to come in the 60s – alongside versions of "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands", "I Loves You Porgy", and "For All We Know". The set also features the great Chris Connor singing "Cottage For Sale", "What Is There To Say", "Try a Little Tenderness", and "Good Bye" – plus Carmen McRae delivering nice takes on "Old Devil Moon", "You Made Me Care", "Last Time For Love", and "Too Much In Love To Care". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

One of the better of Bethlehem's west coast sessions from the 50's, and a split LP that brings together 2 different sessions – one by trumpeter Conte Candoli, and one by drummer Stan Levey (both sessions, we think, were issued on 10" originally). The Candoli session features a quartet that has Candoli as the main soloist on tracks like "Night Flight", "Tune For Tex", and "On the Alamo". The Levey session features a sextet with Candoli, Zoot Sims, and Jimmy Giuffre, and swings a bit harder than the quartet side. Tracks on this one are mostly originals, and include "Drum Sticks", "West Coasting", "Fast Clip", and "Extraversion". 15 tracks in all – which is a bit longer than usual! CD

A killer of an album from one of the best hardbop trombonists of the 50s! This original's always been wickedly hard to find, and it comes from that later period when the Bethlehem label was cutting records that had a lot more of a soulful groove than earlier years. Bennie's playing with a hip group of underground players that includes Jimmy Forrest on tenor, Lem Davis on alto, and Skip Hall on organ – and although the tracks are short, they've got a fire that gets the job done in double-time, and which makes you think you're hearing some session on Prestige. Titles include "Catwalk", "Dee Dee", "Dibblin & Dabblin", and "Groove One". LP, Vinyl record album

A well-titled set from Art Blakey – considering the hard-driving sound of the group! The album's one of the best from that unusual year of 1957 – almost a "lost" year for Art, when he was working away from Blue Note with a very different lineup of the Jazz Messengers than on his famous sessions for that label! The players here are all great – and include Johnny Griffin on tenor, Bill Hardman on trumpet, Junior Mance on piano, and Spanky DeBrest on bass – all working with a style that's a bit loose and open, allowing plenty of space for solos! Griffin's horn has all the sharp edges you'd expect, and Hardman's great too – and Blakey himself seems to sit back a bit more than usual in his chair, letting the soloists lead the tracks, instead of kicking things into gear from the drums. Titles include "Deo X", "Sweet Sakeena", "Late Spring", "Krafty", and "For Miles & Miles". CD

A well-titled set from Art Blakey – considering the hard-driving sound of the group! The album's one of the best from that unusual year of 1957 – almost a "lost" year for Art, when he was working away from Blue Note with a very different lineup of the Jazz Messengers than on his famous sessions for that label! The players here are all great – and include Johnny Griffin on tenor, Bill Hardman on trumpet, Junior Mance on piano, and Spanky DeBrest on bass – all working with a style that's a bit loose and open, allowing plenty of space for solos! Griffin's horn has all the sharp edges you'd expect, and Hardman's great too – and Blakey himself seems to sit back a bit more than usual in his chair, letting the soloists lead the tracks, instead of kicking things into gear from the drums. Titles include "Deo X", "Sweet Sakeena", "Late Spring", "Krafty", and "For Miles & Miles". LP, Vinyl record album

They got the "jazz date" right in the title on this one – as Chris Connor works here with some exceptional small combo backing – all in a mode that almost takes her back to the earliest sound of her first few records on Bethlehem! Ralph Sharon's the maestro here – handling all the arrangements for a few small combos with players who include Oscar Pettiford on bass, Sam Most on flute, Eddie Costa on vibes, Joe Puma on guitar, and Lucky Thompson and Al Cohn on tenor – all modern-minded players who turn out to be a really great fit for Connor on the date. A few numbers even feature added Latin percussion from Mongo Santamaria – and titles include "All I Need Is You", "Driftwood", "Fancy Free", "It Only Happens When I Dance With You", and "Lonely Town". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

One of Charles Mingus' true classics – and an essential album in any jazz collection! This 1959 gem was recorded by Mingus at a key point in his career – when he was rising from the jazz underground into the ranks of America's elite jazzmen, penning some of the most challenging work of his career, and working with incredible younger players that interpreted his work with a great deal of fire! The tracks are a bit more tightly arranged than work on some of Mingus' previous work for labels like Atlantic and Bethlehem, but that also gives them a razor-sharp emotional edge that's carried off perfectly by players who include John Handy and Shafi Hadi on alto saxes, Booker Ervin on tenor, Willie Dennis and Jimmy Knepper on trombones, Horace Parlan on piano, and Dannie Richmond on drums. The album is filled with key Mingus classics – like "Better Git It In Your Soul", "Boogie Stop Shuffle", "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", and "Fables of Faubus" – plus "Self Portrait In Three Colors", "Open Letter To Duke", and "Bird Call". 2CD set also features the full Mingus Dynasty album – plus bonus tracks from both records, and a few alternates from Ah Um! There's a whopping 25 tracks on the whole set – beautifully packaged, with great notes too. CD

One of the first albums ever cut as a leader by trombonist Frank Rosolino – a hip set issued under the Stan Kenton Presents banner for Capitol in the mid 50s – but done in a smaller combo mode than you'd hear with Stan! The setting provides a great showcase for the emerging solo talents of Rosolino on trombone – a player with a soulful swing that get way past his goofy image on the cover – and which is set up here in the company of some great collaborators who include Charlie Mariano on alto sax – playing so strongly, the album might well include him as a co-leader – plus piano from either Claude Williamson or Pete Jolly, trumpet from Sam Noto, bass from Max Bennett or Curtis Counce, and drums from Mel Lewis or Stan Levey. There's not only a lot of Kenton influence in the players, but a lot of Bethlehem Records styles as well – a reference that definitely shapes the sound of this set, and makes it a strong one for any fan of 50s work on that label – or Mode Records as well. Titles are a mix of standards and originals – and include "Ragamuffin", "Linda", "Carioca", "Besame Mucho", "Yo Yo", and "Freckles". CD

Mel Torme takes on the sound of Broadway at the start of the 60s – but he does so in a very groovy way, thanks to hip backings from the amazing Marty Paich! The style here is as swinging and jazzy as the work that Mel and Marty cut together on the Bethlehem label in the late 50s – and the tracks have a nice sort of groove, and an overall lean feel – a sound that takes the music far from its Broadway roots! Players include Art Pepper on alto, Stu Williamson on trumpet, Bill Perkins on tenor, and Frank Rosolino on trombone – all bringing a nice sense of themselves to the set. Titles include "Lonely Town", "Whatever Lola Wants", "Old Devil Moon", "Hello Young Lovers", "Too Close For Comfort", and "Just In Time". (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

A beautiful tribute to the spiritual genius of Laraaji – a set that features both his debut album and six more extended tracks that were never issued at the time! That debut album is his legendary Celestial Vibrations – a beautifully trippy set of tracks from Edward Larry Gordon – an artist who's probably better known for his later Laraaji album recorded with Brian Eno, but one who sounds even better here on this debut set! The sound is very spiritual and meditative – long, drawn-out, side-long tracks that feature Gordon playing a weird, electrified zither – an instrument that's hardly the hokey, European-sounding one from mid-century – and instead a very tripped-out, abstracted one here – very spacey, with some great phase shifting employed in the studio, which creates an almost electronic pulse out of the acoustic instrumentation. The album features two very long tracks – "All Pervading" and "Bethlehem" – done in a way that would make Alice Coltrane proud! Added to that record are six side-long titles on the other three records in the set – all originally pressed only as acetates, and recorded around the same time – making for a hugely expanded set of early work from Laraaji. Titles include "Kalimba", "Ocean", "Koto", "Segue To Infinity", "Kalimba 2", and "Kalimba 4" – and the set also features a big booklet of notes, with dozens of rare photos. (New Age, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

One of Charles Mingus' true classics – and an essential album in any jazz collection! This 1959 gem was recorded by Mingus at a key point in his career – when he was rising from the jazz underground into the ranks of America's elite jazzmen, penning some of the most challenging work of his career, and working with incredible younger players that interpreted his work with a great deal of fire! The tracks are a bit more tightly arranged than work on some of Mingus' previous work for labels like Atlantic and Bethlehem, but that also gives them a razor-sharp emotional edge that's carried off perfectly by players who include John Handy and Shafi Hadi on alto saxes, Booker Ervin on tenor, Willie Dennis and Jimmy Knepper on trombones, Horace Parlan on piano, and Dannie Richmond on drums. The album is filled with key Mingus classics – like "Better Git It In Your Soul", "Boogie Stop Shuffle", "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", and "Fables of Faubus" – plus "Self Portrait In Three Colors", "Open Letter To Duke", and "Bird Call". CD features 3 rare bonus tracks – "GG Train", "Girl Of My Dreams", and "Pedal Point Blues" – and also features 4 tracks presented here in their full versions, not the edited ones that appeared on the original LP. CD

The first album in a legendary run of vocal jazz classics on Atlantic Records – and a set that really helped Chris Connor move to a new level of expression in her music! The sound here is much richer than Connor's previous recordings for Bethlehem – and the small combo jazz backings have been replaced by fuller orchestrations by Ralph Burns – done in a cool, edgey sort of way that really pushes Chris into newly sophisticated territory! The sound's on a par with the best June Christy/Pete Rugolo collaborations on Capitol – and the group's filled with some great jazz players, including Zoot Sims, John Lewis, Milt Hinton, and Oscar Pettiford. Titles include "I Get A Kick Out Of You", "My April Heart", "He Was Good to Me", "Where Are You", and "Get Out Of Town". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Two albums on one CD. First up is Roland Kirk's Triple Threat, which features James Madison on piano, Carl Pruitt on bass, and Henry Duncan on drums. Next is Booker Ervin's The Book Cooks – one of the greatest albums on the Bethlehem label – and one of the first albums as a leader by the legendary Booker Ervin! At the time of the set, Ervin had come off a great stint with the Charles Mingus group – one that inflected his rootsy Texas tenor tones with a sharper modern edge – heard to perfection on this great little session, which is equal parts hard swinging soul jazz and dark-tinged early 60s modern! Zoot Sims joins Booker in the front line, and the two of them trade tenor solos throughout on the album's long compositions – grooving with a great sextet that includes Tommy Turrentine on trumpet, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Mingus' drummer Dannie Richmond on the kit! Cuts include "Largo", "The Book Cooks", "The Blue Book", and "Git It". CD

Wonderfully spare early jazz sides by Peggy, and the kind of material that's not easy to find amidst the bulk of her pop-oriented work. The album's a moving set of ballads and torchy numbers, recorded in small-combo fashion, in a style that's similar to some of Chris Connor's later Bethlehem work. The combo includes Cootie Chesterfield on trumpet, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Max Wayne on bass, and Ed Shaughnessy on drums. A real treasure – with titles like "A Woman Alone With The Blues", "Love Me Or Leave Me", "Easy Living", and "Black Coffee". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked gem from Mel Torme – a great early album for Verve, one that's every bit as nice as his stellar work for the Bethlehem label! The set's got Mel singing with the Marty Paich orchestra – a good thing, too – as Marty's always been the best arranger for Mel's unique way of putting over a jazz vocal. Tunes are all pretty nicely swinging, and at times expand the sound a bit past Mel's earlier work – with titles that include "House Is Haunted By The Echo Of Your Last Goodbye", "Gloomy Sunday", "That Old Feeling", "I'm Gonna Laugh You Out Of My Life", "Nobody's Heart", "How Did She Look", and "Where Can I Go Without You". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

A very groovy mid 60s set from Chris Connor – quite different than her famous 50s sides for Bethlehem, thanks to some hip arrangements by Don Costa! Don never goes to over the top here, but he does add in some nice groovy touches – things like bossa rhythms and electric harpsichord, used sparingly, but to very nice effect – and all in ways that help Connor hit some new ground for the times! Vocals are still totally top-shelf – as you'd expect from Chris – and tracks include "Love Life", "You're Gonna Hear From Me", "Who's Afraid", "Nowhere Man", and "Goin Out Of My Head". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

2 lovely sides by Chris Conner – early albums she recorded for Atlantic, right after her years at Bethlehem, where she'd perfected an icy cool style of singing that's still to be matched to this day! Both albums feature larger arrangements – I Miss You So by Ray Ellis, and Witchcraft by Richard Wess – but they also have 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. There's a total of 24 tracks in all, and titles include "Skyscraper Blues", "Mixed Emotions", "I Miss You So", "Go Way From My Window", "I Love You Yes I Do", "Baltimore Oriole", and "How Little We Know". (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

2 classic Atlantic sides from Chris! Chris Connor In Person is a nice little live set – recorded at the Village Vanguard with a group that includes Kenny Burrell on guitar, Eddie De Haas on bass, Bill Rubenstein on piano, and Lex Humphries on drums. The setting of the album is similar to some of Chris' work at Bethlehem – save for the fact that there's a bit more "room" in the recording than on the very close-miked Bethlehem sets. Titles include "Round Midnight", "All About Ronnie", "Fine & Dandy", "Misty", "Senor Blues", and "Angel Eyes". Sings George Gershwin is pretty much what it says – versions of Gershwin tunes, done in a more arranged style than the live set – but still pretty nice. Titles include "Love Walked In", "I Loves You Porgy", "Love Is Here To Stay", "A Foggy Day", and "Summertime". (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

Seminal modern work from trombonist Urbie Green – a collection that features him at the head of a largeish group on three different sessions! First up is material from a 10" Blue Note album titled New Faces New Sounds – a beautiful set of modernist bop tracks has GReen leading a septet with some other lively, lesser-known young players, including Jimmy Lyon on piano, Doug Mettome on trumpet, John Murtaugh on tenor, and Sam Staff on baritone. This is killer stuff from the days when the Blue Note image wasn't so clearly formed as it was in the late 50s – with titles like "Johnbo Mambo", "La Salle", and "Incubator". Next up are 4 more titles from a rare 10" LP – Urbie Green & His Band, featuring Freddie Green on guitar (instead of Raney), Ruby Braff on trumpet, Med Flory on alto, Frank Wess on tenor and flute, and Sir Charles Thompson on piano. The sound is somewhat more traditional, but never too much so – and tracks include "Med's Tune", "Lullaby Of Birdland", "Old Time Modern", and "I Got It Bad". Last up is the full Bethlehem album Urbie – one of the strongest albums ever cut by trombonist Urbie Green – a player who had a heck of a lot of talent, but who unfortunately could sometimes end up in some schmaltzy settings. Fortunately, this isn't one of them – as the group includes players like Jimmy Lyon on piano, Oscar Pettiford on bass, Osie Johnson on drums, and Ike Horowitz on tenor – actually a nom-du-date for Al Cohn! The arrangements are tight, but never too much so – and there's a good degree of spirit in both the playing, and the compositions – some of which are by arranger Marion Evans. Titles include "Sneaky Pete", "Sassafras", "Melody In Bb", "How About You", and "Mutation". CD features 19 tracks in all. CD

The first Riverside album by Bev Kelly – an obscure ice-blond singer from the late 50s, with a sound that's much more in keeping with some of the vocalists on the Bethlehem label, than the few singers who cut sides for Riverside. Bev's got the great fortune to be working here with Jimmy Jones, who's done some great work for Sarah Vaughn over the years – and the small group backing on the album includes strong players like Kenny Burrell, Jerome Richardson, Milt Hinton, Roy Haynes, and Jones himself. Titles include "My Ship", "Lonelyville", "Lost April", "Love Look Away", "Thursday's Child", "Love Locked Out", and "Gloomy Sunday". A nice sad one – in case you couldn't guess by the titles! (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure Howard McGhee session, but a great one! The 1961 session was recorded during Maggie's great comeback years – at a time when he was doing some great work for labels that included Bethlehem, Contemporary, and United Artists. The spirit of this set is similar to those – sort of an easy-going blend of light bop with some of the gentler swinging tones that McGhee was putting into his horn at the time. The quintet on the set features George Coleman on tenor, Junior Mance on piano, George Tucker on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums – and the whole thing's got an easygoing mellow feel that we really like a lot. Titles include "The Sharp Edge", "Cool", "Shades Of Blue", "Arabee", and "My Delight". CD features some bonus alternate takes, too! CD

Bethlehem material that Mingus recorded earlier in the 50s with his pivotal group that included the great John La Porta on alto and clarinet, plus Teo Macero on tenor, Thad Jones on trumpet, and Clem DeRosa on drums. The tracks show Mingus' early experiments with modernist arrangements – and have the kind of raw power and emotion that made all of the experiments from this time work so well, no matter what direction Mingus wanted to take them. Titles include "Four Hands", "Spur Of The Moment", "Minor Intrusion", and "Thrice Upon A Theme". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few great records that alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano cut with Shelly Manne – and a heck of a wonderful record that really set a new tone for Shelly's groove at the time! Things here are a bit looser and freer than before – longer tracks with more room for solos to really take flight – yet still a sense of modern arrangement that marked the Manne sound from its inception. The group's a quintet with Stu Williamson on trumpet, Russ Freeman on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Mariano on some especially nice alto solos – and the interplay between Charlie and Stu easily rivals the best Bethlehem recordings by the pair at the time. Titles include the excellent 10 minute "Pint Of Blues", an original by Charlie – plus Bill Holman's extended "Quartet", and versions of "The Wind", "Moose The Mooche", and "Tommyhawk". CD

70s repackaging of one of Mingus's great Bethlehem sessions from the 50s, originally released as The Jazz Experiments Of Charlie Mingus. The great one's playing here in the company of John LaPorta, Teo Macero, Thad Jones, Jackson Wiley, and Clem De Rosa. Only 3 of the orignal tracks are included here, all Mingus originals: "Four Hands", "Minor Intrusion" and "The Spur Of The Moment". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs Frosty the Snowman, Winter Wonderland, Christmas Time Is Here, The Christmas Song, The Little Drummer Boy, Deck the Halls, O Little Town of Bethlehem/Joy to the World, It's a Marshmallow World, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear/Silent Night, River, Silent Night, When Love Came Down, Away in a Manger, Sleigh Ride, and Warm and Fuzzy Time of the Year. (Holiday Music, Jazz) CD