Includes 66 tracks on 3 CDs. Notable sidemen include Wallace Jones and Cootie Williams on trumpet, Rex Stewart on cornet, Tricky Sam Nanton and Lawrence Brown on trombone, Johnny Hodges on alto and soprano sax, Ben Webster on tenor sax, Fred Guy on guitar, Jimmy Blanton on bass, and Sonny Greer on drums. CD

Tracks include "Black & Tan Fantasy", "Creole Love Call", "Black Beauty", "Flaming Youth", "Cotton Club Stomp", and "Ring Dem Bells" – 22 tracks in all. CD

One of Ellington's greatest albums of the 60s – and a record tinged with Eastern themes and darkly angular modern arrangements. The group here features Ellington stalwarts Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney, Cootie Williams, Mercer Ellington, and Rufus Jones – and the players work together tightly to craft the suite of tracks based on Ellington's impressions of recent travels through the Mid and Far East during the 60s. Titles include "Tourist Point Of View", "Isfahan", "Depk", "Mount Harissa", "Amad", "Agra", and "Blue Pepper". CD

Highlights work by Johnny Hodges, Rex Stewart, and Barney Bigard. 22 tracks total. CD

... CD

With Cootie Williams, Tricky Sam Nanton, Johnny Hodges, Barney Bigard, and Harry Carney. CD

Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, Ray Nance, trumpet: Rex Stewart, cornet, Joe Nanton, Lawrence Brown, trombone, Juan Tizol, valve trombone, Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick, Ben Webster, Harry Carney. Chauncey Haughton, reeds. Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, piano, Fred Guy, guitar, Jimmie Blanton, Alvin "Junior" Raglin, bass, Sonny Greer, drums: lvie Anderson, Herb Jeffries, Ray Nance, vocals. Arrangements by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. CD

Includes all versions of the legendary Ellington Blanton duets – plus solo recordings, and duos with Billy Strayhorn and Earl Hines. 21 tracks total. CD

A pretty great 70s album from Gil Evans – a set that's got some great use of electric instrumentation, and a mighty groove on the best cuts! The overall approach is different than the early modernist sound of Gil Evans, but still very striking – a 70s equivalent to Gil's famous 60s work – and as always with Evans, the players in the ensemble are impeccably well-chosen – as the lineup includes Hannibal Marvin Peterson on trumpet, Billy Harper on tenor, Ryo Kawasaki on guitar, and a young Dave Sanborn handling the solos. Includes the odd spacey Tony Williams number "There Comes A Time", plus a cover of Hendrix's "Little Wing" – both of which have vocals by Peterson. Other tracks include "Aftermath Of The Fourth Movement Children Of The Fire", "Anita's Dance", and "Makes Her Move". CD

Notable sidemen include Benny Carter, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Milt Jackson on vibes, John Lewis, Milt Hinton, Ray Brown, and Kenny Clarke. 43 tracks total. CD

Great great 2LP set that features some of Dizzy's incredible late 40s work for Bluebird! The set not only includes some killer bop material, of the sort that made Dizzy an instant fave, even with folks who hated Bird – but it also includes some of Dizzy's early cubop recordings, which mixed jazz soloing and Latin rhythms. There's a huge amount of titles here, and nearly all of them are the stuff of legend. Tracks include "Minor Walk", "Cubana Be", "Cubana Bop", "Algo Bueno", "Night In Tunisia", "Ow!", "Two Bass Hit", and "Guarachi Guaro". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Jivin' The Vibes", "Stomp", "Rhythm, Rhythm (I Got Rhythm)", "China Stomp (Chinatown, My Chinatown)", "I Know That You Know","Drum Stomp (Crazy Rhythm)", "I Surrender, Dear", "The Object Of My Affection", "After You've Gone", "You're My Ideal", "Rock Hill Special", "High Society", "Johnny Get Your Horn And Blow It", "Sweethearts On Parade", "Shufflin' At The Hollywood, Take 1", "Wizzin' The Wizz", "Big Wig In The Wigwam", "Memories Of You", "The Jumpin' Jive", "When Lights Are Low, Take 2", "I'm On My Way From You", and "Haven't Named It Yet". CD

Features Nat King Cole, Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter, and Ziggy Elman. CD

Tom Harrell on trumpet, Jimmy Greene on tenor saxophone, Xavier Davis on piano, Ugonna Okegwo on bass & Quincy Davis on drums. CD

A nice overview of Coleman Hawkins' career in a great 2LP set, containing material recorded between 1939 and 1947, and later work recorded in 1956. Most of the early work is in a wonderful small group format that lets Hawkins' tenor really come to the forefront. Other players on the sessions include Benny Carter, JC Higginbotham, Allen Eager, Peter Brown, and Budd Johnson – and titles include "Half Step Down Please", "Bouncing With Bean", "Meet Doctor Foo", "Spotlite", "Low Flame", and "Jumping For Jane". The later work features the orchestra of Billy Byers, including soloists Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, and Hank Jones. Coleman's the main blower, though – and the arrangements have a solid base that lets him open up in that exploratory tone he was crafting during the time. And although tracks are short, there's a heck of a lot of soul packed into them – recorded with impeccable quality, much more so than earlier sides. Titles include "I Never Knew", "Bean & The Boys", "The Essence of You", "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Dinner For One Please, James", and "I'm Shooting High". LP, Vinyl record album

Collects 20 tracks including "Hello Lola", "Bouncing With The Bean", "Dinah", "Say It Isn't So", "Hocus Pocus", "April In Paris", two versions of "Body & Soul", and some rare television performances which are included on the DVD! CD

A wonderful late album from Coleman Hawkins – recorded in 1956 with the orchestra of Billy Byers, including soloists Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, and Hank Jones. Coleman's the main blower, though – and the arrangements have a solid base that lets him open up in that exploratory tone he was crafting during the time. And although tracks are short, there's a heck of a lot of soul packed into them – recorded with impeccable quality, much more so than earlier sides. Titles include "I Never Knew", "Bean & The Boys", "The Essence of You", "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Dinner For One Please, James", and "I'm Shooting High". Plus, the CD features 8 bonus tracks – all unreleased extra takes! CD

Well, Hawk isn't really in Paris on this one – as the album was recorded in New York, with backings by Manny Albam – but the spirit of Paris is very much alive on the tunes, which are a mixture of postwar French favorites, and others that have a similar sound. Albam's backings are light and gentle, and Hawkins tenor dominates all tracks, blowing easily and soulfully on well-placed solos. Titles include "La Chnouf", "April In Paris", "Mon Homme", "Under Paris Skies", "I Love Paris", and "La Mer". CD

(78 RPM, Jazz) 78 RPM, Vinyl record

(78 RPM, Jazz) 78 RPM, Vinyl record

Includes the tracks "Day Dream", " Good Queen Bess (take 1 & 2)", "That's The Blues", "Old Man", "Junior Hop", "Squaty Roo", " Passion Flower", "Things Ain't What They Used To Be", "Going Out The Back Way", " Never No Lament (Don't Get Around Much Anymore)", "Blue Goose", "In A Mellowtone", "Warm Valley", "After All", "The Giddybug Gallop", "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)", "Clementine", "Moon Mist", "Sentimental Lady", "Come Sunday", " Mood To Be Woo'd", and "Rockaby River (Hop, Skip, Jump)". CD

Great 60s RCA work from JJ Johnson – featuring some of his sublime arrangements for big band! CD

With Benny Carter on clarinet and alto saxophone, Coleman Hawkins on tenor saxophone, Fats Waller on piano, and John Nesbitt on trumpet! CD

Incredible work from Carmen – one of her last great albums! The set was recorded in 1988 – but it's got an "instant classic" feel that makes it one of the best vocal jazz albums of its generation. Carmen's working with a small group that includes Charlie Rouse, Larry Willis, George Mraz, and Clifford Jordan – singing vocal versions of Monk classics like "I Mean You", "Blue Monk", "Well You Needn't", "Ruby My Dear", and "Ugly Beauty" – most of which have lyrics written by Jon Hendricks! This CD makes the original album even better – and throws in some bonus alternate versions of tracks on the album! (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

Oh how we love this one! This killer 2LP set takes one of Mingus' best-ever records, and makes it even better! The original Tijuana Moods album was recorded in 1957 but not released until 1962 – and the record features one of Mingus' strongest groups ever, with Shafi Hadi on alto and Clarence (aka Gene) Shaw on trumpet. If you've ever had any doubts about Mingus, this album will blow your mind! This great double set features original takes and alternate ones for every track on the album, including "Dizzy Moods", "Ysabel's Tabel Dance", and "Tijuana Gift Shop". 10 tracks in all – and one of the best bunches of Mingus you can buy! CD

Oh how we love this one! This killer 2LP set takes one of Mingus' best-ever records, and makes it even better! The original Tijuana Moods album was recorded in 1957 but not released until 1962 – and the record features one of Mingus' strongest groups ever, with Shafi Hadi on alto and Clarence (aka Gene) Shaw on trumpet. If you've ever had any doubts about Mingus, this album will blow your mind! This great double set features original takes and alternate ones for every track on the album, including "Dizzy Moods", "Ysabel's Tabel Dance", and "Tijuana Gift Shop". 10 tracks in all – and one of the best bunches of Mingus you can buy! LP, Vinyl record album

Oh how we love this album – and we think it may well be the best album ever from Charles Mingus! The set was recorded in that magical Mingus year of 1957, but oddly not released until 1962 – missing some of the initial frenzy of his discovery during the Atlantic and Columbia years. But the album's actually a treasure that predates the better-known latter sides – with a sharpness and intensity that Mingus hardly ever matched again! The group is one of his strongest ever – with Shafi Hadi on alto, Clarence Shaw on trumpet, Jimmy Knepper on trombone, and Bill Triglia on piano. There's a slight Latin vibe, as you might expect from the title – but it's very slight overall, and most of the tunes are in that sharply angular, fully expressive style that flowered most strongly for Mingus in the late 50s. There's not a wasted moment of music on the whole album – with tight solos and incredible rhythms that dominate every second of the extended tracks – and titles include "Dizzy Moods", "Flamingo", "Los Mariachis", "Ysabel's Tabel Dance", and "Tijuana Gift Shop". Plus, this 2CD set features a whopping 19 tracks added to the original album – with the bonus "A Colloquial Dream (aka Scenes In The City)", plus many alternates, breakdowns, and partial takes. A fitting tribute to this amazing album! CD

80s collection of early 60s work as a leader from Joe Morello – Dave Brubeck's hip drummer, with players who include Phil Woods on alto and Gary Burton on vibes! LP, Vinyl record album

Jelly Roll Morton on piano with George Mitchell, Ward Pinkett, Ed Anderson, Edwin Swayzee,Red Rossiter, Barclay "horsecollar" Draper, Walter Briscoe & Sidney De Paris on trumpet, Kid Ory, Gerald Reeves, Geechy Fields, William Cato, Charlie Irvis & Claude Jones on trombone, Quinn Wilson, Bill Benford, Bass Moore & Harry Prather on tu, Omer Simeon, Barney Bigard, Darnell Howard, Johnny Dodds, Russell Procope, George Bacquet, Albert Nicholas on clarinet, Stump Evans, Paul Barnes, Joe Garland, Paul "polo" Barnes, Joe Thomas, Walter "foots" Thomas, Sidney Bechet & Happy Cauldwell on saxophone, Rod Rodriguez on ensemble piano, Johnny St. Cyr, Bud Scott, Lee Blair, Barney Alexander, Lawrence Lucie on banjo & guitar, John Lindsey & Wellman Braud on bass, Andrew Hilaire, Baby Dodds, Tommy Benford, Manzie Johnson, William Laws, Zutty Singleton on drums & Marty Bloom on effects. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Classic recordings by Moten's Kansas City Orchestra, featuring a young Count Basie on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

(78 RPM, Jazz) 78 RPM, Vinyl record

A great collection of late 40s work from this legendary guitarist – recorded in Rome, with Stephane Grappelli and the Hot Club! Titles include "Swing 42", "After You've Gone", "Minor Swing", "Beyond The Sea", "Brick Top", and "Heavy Artillery". CD

Great late 40s material from Django Reinhardt – originally recorded in Paris in 1949, with the Quintette Of The Hot Club Of France, and longtime partner Stephane Grappelli on violin! CD

A 31 track collection pulled from sessions in 1953 and 1954, featuring Shorty Rogers with His Giants and His Orchestra, with personnel that includes Art Pepper, Jimmy Giuffre, Hanpton Hawes, Shelly Manne, Pete Candoli, Bob Cooper, Marty Paich, Curtis Counce, Bud Shank, Herb Geller, Zoot Sims, and many more! LP, Vinyl record album

Features Coleman Hawkins on tenor, Herbie Hancock on piano, and Jim Hall on guitar. Tracks include "Yesterdays", "Summertime", "Now's The Time", and "My One And Only Love". CD

Includes some rare alternate takes from Sonny Rollins' years on RCA! CD

Some of Rollins' more adventurous work for RCA – with Don Cherry's trumpet on some key tracks! CD

A double album collecting Newk's excellent quartet recordings with Jim Hall for RCA. As such it contains work from The Bridge and What's New?, plus a few numbers that got tacked onto the Standard Sonny Rollins. Given Hall's gentleness and spare modernity on the guitar, a fan of Rollins' hard-blowing late 50s sessions might not expect the album to work – but instead, it sets up his playing in a whole new mode that brings out a leaner, more confident, more sophisticated solo mode that shows that his time woodshedding in retirement was well spent. 13 numbers in all, including "John S.", "The Bridge", "You Do Something To Me", "Where Are You", "Without A Song", "If Ever I Would Leave You", "Brownskin Girl", "Don't Swtop The Carnival", "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes", "My Ship", "Love Letters", "Long Ago (An Far Away)" and "God Bless the Child". CD

Fantastic work from Sonny Rollins – a strong batch of sessions from 1964, with work from Herbie Hancock on piano, Jim Hall on guitar, and Ron Carter on bass! The set includes unissued material from the year – and titles include "Django", "My Ship", "Three Little Words", "Night & Day", "When You Wish Upon A Star" and "Now's The Time". CD

A very unique album from Sonny Rollins – one that features him blowing tenor over some Latin-based rhythms that have a tight uptempo feel. The core group on the album features Jim Hall on guitar, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Ben Riley on drums – but they're augmented by larger arrangements that mix together bossa nova and calypso rhythms, which forge a surprisingly great background for Rollins' gutsy tenor. Although it's easy to dismiss the record as a throwaway cash-in affair on the Latin boom of the early 60s – Rollins actually handles himself wonderfully, and the longer-than-usual tracks on the album show a whole new side of his talents that were later reprised on Latin sessions during the 70s. Titles include "Bluesongo", "Jungoso", "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes", and "Brownskin Girl". CD

(78 RPM, Jazz) 78 RPM, Vinyl record

Tracks include "I Surrender, Dear", "Chantez Les Bas", "My Blue Heaven", "Star Dust", "Diga, Diga Doo", and "Concerto For Clarinet" – 18 tracks total. CD

Includes 95 tracks on 5 CDs, plus a nice 79 page book with discography, rare photos, and liner notes from historian Richard Sudhalter and Artie Shaw himself! CD

One of Lonnie Liston Smith's most spiritual sessions, and the record that most clearly shows his roots with Pharoah Sanders! The vibe here is much more jazz-based than on some of Lonnie's other records for Flying Dutchman – with Smith playing as much acoustic piano as he does electric, using the former in long-spiralling lines that have a beautifully meditative quality, and which give the album a real Strata East-like sound. Mtume and Sonny Morgan play percussion, Cecil McBee plays bass, and the real star of the album may well be George Barron – who turns in some beautiful Sonny Fortune-like work on tenor and soprano sax! Titles include "Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord", "Rejuvenation", "Astral Traveling", "I Mani", "Aspirations", and "In Search Of Truth". CD includes alternate takes of "Astral Traveling", "Rejuvenation", "Imani", and "In Search Of Truth". CD

A whopping 33 track compilation over 2 LPs, with titles including "Ain't Misbehavin", "St Louis Blues", "E Flat Blues", "Stardust", and many more! LP, Vinyl record album

Features music from Dizzy Gillespie and his Orchestra, 52nd Street All Stars, Kenny Clarke and his 52nd Street Boys, Lucky Thompson and his Lucky Seven, and Coleman Hawkins and his Orchestra – 21 tracks in all. CD

Esquire All-Star jazz sessions from the mid 40s – with work from Charlie Shavers, Louis Armstrong, Don Byas, Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Hamilton, Colemank Hawkins, Lucky Thompson, and many others! CD

Music from Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks, Artie Shaw & his Orchestra, Lennie Hayton & his Orchestra, Sonny Rollins, Shorty Rogers & his Giants, Frank Sinatra, Irving Aaronson & his Commanders, Roy Rogers, Dinah Shore, Manny Albam & his Orchestra, Ray Noble & his Orchestra, Lennie Hayton & his Orchestra, Leo Reisman & his Orchestra, Paul Desmond, Tommy Dorsey & his Orchestra, Leo Reisman & his Orchestra, Perez Prado & his Orchestra, and Esquivel & his Orchestra. (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

Features vintage Bluebird 78 rpm material – a few tracks each by Red Nichols, Phil Napoleon, Ben Pollack, and the duo of Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang! CD