Esaie Cid on alto saxophone and clarinet, Benjamin Dousteyssier on baritone and soprano saxophone, Alex Gilson on bass, and Paul Morvan on drums. CD

2 of Boogaloo Joe's best and rarest albums on one CD – guitar jazz funk at its best! First up is Boogaloo Joe – a killer session of funky guitar jazz, and the record that gave Ivan "Boogaloo" Joe Jones his nickname! The set's a full-on wailer that really blows away Joe's first two on Prestige – breaking out ouf the box with a killer lineup that includes Rusty Bryant on tenor, Bernard Purdie on drums, and Sonny Phillips on organ – all working with Joe's incredibly tight guitar lines to craft some wicked tunes that take soul jazz firmly into the sound of the 70s! Titles include "Boogaloo Joe", "People Are Talking", "Dream On Little Dreamer", and "Atlantic City Soul". Right On Brother is next – and is Ivan's first truly sublime album – a set that showed the world that he was easily one of the greatest jazz guitarists of his generation – able to spin out single-note jams with a speed and dexterity that few others could match! The groove here is totally great and very righteous – heavy drums from Bernard Purdie, wailing organ from Charles Earland, and saxophone from Rusty Bryant – all cooking together in the best early 70s Prestige jazz funk mode! Titles include "Right On", "Brown Bag", "Things Ain't What They Used To Be", and "Poppin". CD

Tracks include "Movin Wes - Parts 1 & 2", "Green Peppers", "Boss City", "Impressions", "In And Out", "Willow Weep For Me", and "Bumpin" – 16 tracks in all. CD

2 funky classics from the legendary Pretty Purdie! Purdie Good is Bernard Purdie's first album as a leader for Prestige – cut right after he'd hipped up plenty of other sessions for the label with his famous funky drums! The groove here is very much in the best Prestige jazz funk mode of the early 70s – tightly vamping rhythms that draw heavily from Purdie's monstrous drums – and which also offer solo showcase space for Harold Wheeler on electric piano, Ted Dunbar on guitar, Tippy Larkin on trumpet, and Charlie Brown and Warren Daniels on tenor. Rhythm is augmented by Gordon Edwards on Fender bass and Norman Pride on congas – and the grooves hit a variety of modes that show that Purdie could sometimes be a more open-thinking rhythmatist than his funky contemporary Idris Muhammad. Titles include great instrumental versions of "Cold Sweat" and "Montego Bay", plus the originals "Wasteland", "You Turn Me On", and "Purdie Good". Shaft is a full funky session from master drummer Bernard Purdie – a set that expands out his previous Prestige vibe, and almost goes for a soundtrack scope to match the record's Shaft title! The set leads off with a great take on the Isaac Hayes hit – one that follows in the same fully-flowing, slow-building mode as Ike's – but which comes across here as an instrumental with some great solo work from Houston Person – playing here almost in a Stanley Turrentine sort of mode! Other tracks continue the hip mix of jazz and larger backings – and feature a lineup of players that includes Neal Creque on electric piano, Gerry Thomas and Danny Moore on trumpets, Willie Bridges and Houston Person on tenors, Billy Nichols and Lloyd Davis on guitars, Gordon Edwards on Fender bass, and Norman Pride on congas. The sound is warm without ever sounding too smooth – and Purdie's funky drums at the bottom ensure that most tunes are nicely lively. Titles include "Shaft", "Butterfingers", "Summer Melody", "Changes", "Way Back Home", and "Attica". CD

Features "Blues For 3+1", "Ode To Billie Joe", "Organ Grinder's Swing", "Ape Woman", "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", "Funky Broadway", "Mellow Mood", "Burning Spear", "One Mint Julep", "Hobo Flats", "Groove Drops", "TNT", "Blues In The Night", and "the Sermon". CD

Music from Dave Toop, Cleveland Watkiss, the Jason Rebello Trio, Slow Fuse, Snowboy, the Jazz Renegades, Steve Williamson, the James Taylor Quartet and the Kick Horns. (New Grooves, Jazz) CD

The title's a great one, as the album may well be the clearest musical vision we've heard from Atomic so far – a wonderful record that has the group at a level that's slightly more tuneful and straightforward, but all without losing any of their previous edge! There's still some key free moments here, but they're also mixed in with some tighter, more structured songs that really show off the jazz chops of the whole group – the quintet that includes Magnus Broo on trumpet, Frederik Ljungkvist on tenor and b flat clarinet, Havard Wiik on piano, Ingebriget Haker Flaten on bass, and Hans Hulboekmo on drums. Wiik and Ljungkvist wrote all of the songs on the album, separately – and between them, they've got a balanced musical vision that really shapes the entire record. Titles include "A New Junction", "Laterna Interfruit", "Start/Stop", "Major", "December", and "A MacGuffin's Tale". CD

An incredibly cool use of the koto – that stringed Japanese instrument that got some great reworking in the 70s, thanks to hip records like this! The instrument is set up here amidst some sophisticated larger arrangements – in a way that almost takes off from some of the Dorothy Ashby material on Cadet Records, but which also has a richness in sound that echoes some European soundtrack albums too – gentle grooves with warm currents that are mighty nice throughout – as keyboards, guitar, and even a bit of vibes come into the mix to really update the setting for the ancient instrument! The whole thing comes off with a sound that's surprisingly soulful at times – and titles include "Yagi Bushi", Otemoyan", "Mamuro Gawa Ondo", "Gujo Bushi", "Nishinjo Bushi", "Ume No Uta Genka", "Itsuki No Komori Uta", and "Akita Obako". LP, Vinyl record album

A deceptively groovy record – one that, like the other two in this hip series, hides some very cool sounds behind a relatively unassuming cover! Toshiko Yonekawa plays the Japanese koto, but the setting here is very different than the spare, folksy mode of earlier koto records – as arranger Kiyoshi Yamaya brings in a hip blend of jazz instrumentation and strings – using keyboards, vibes, guitar, and other instruments to update the sound, and give the whole thing a slinky 70s groove – bridging generations in Japanese music, with some great cinematic funk elements at times – on titles that include "Kariboshikiri Uta", "Tabaruzaka", "Iya No Kohiki Uta", "Takeda No Komori Uta", "Hietsuki Bushi", "Mogami Gawa Funa Uta", and "Aizu Bandai San". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest Japanese albums of the 70s to blend classic instrumentation and contemporary elements – a record that's got plenty of the koto promised in the title, but which also serves up the music with a wonderfully rich vibe throughout! The style is more in sophisticated soundtrack territory, but with an undercurrent of funk underneath the larger arrangements – ala David Axelrod – and next to the koto played on each track by Toshiko Yonekawa, you'll find some wonderful basslines, vibes, and even some occasional tenor as well – all wrapped together in these really stunning arrangements from Kiyoshi Yamaya! The whole thing's as beautiful as it is groovy – and titles include "Tanchame", "Konpira Fune Fune", "Oshima Bushi", "Kaigara Bushi", "Sado Okesa", and "Tosa No Sunayama". LP, Vinyl record album

Saxophonist Tim Berne has found a great recent home in his Snakeoil group – combo that allows him to try out many different tones and colors, really pushing his music forward with a freshness that it maybe hadn't had in previous years! Berne's sharp-edged at the head of the group on alto – alongside Oscar Noriega on clarinet and bass clarinet, Ryan Ferreira on guitar, Matt Mitchell on piano and electronics, and Ches Smith on drums, vibes, percussion, and timpani – an instrumental mix that's often used in these very unusual, very compelling ways – sometimes blocking out spaces in sound with unusual combinations of elements, often with more surprising brightness than the darker or more obtuse moments you might expect. Titles include "Hora Feliz", "Stingray Shuffle", "Incidentals Contact", "Prelude One/Sequel Too", and "Sideshow". CD

A second set of abstractions on Brazilian references from Fachada – and like his first, a record that has a lean vibe overall, and a funky blend of keyboards, percussion, and some well-chosen guest instrumentation! The set is plenty soulful, but never too smooth – and although much of the instrumentation is electric, the acoustic touches here are key – and really reference a Brazilian style of production, without ever rehashing older territory at all. Titles include "Danca Das Cadeiras", "Bebidas Frias Noites Quentes", "Busca", "Recordacao", "For a Das Sombras", "Pegue", "Segundo Tiro", and "Madrugada Anjaulada". (New Grooves, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Keyboardist Sonny Phillips was one of the lesser-known talents on the Prestige roster of jazz funk greats in the early 70s – and this nice 2-in-1 CD brings together his 2 best albums for the label, both of which feature Phillips on organ, along with giants like Ivan Boogaloo Joe Jones on guitar, Bernard Purdie on drums, and Rusty Bryant on tenor. The album Sure Nuff is probably Phillips' best for the label – a set that's done with the lean, hard funky sound of other greats working for Prestige during the same time – especially on the cuts "Sure Nuff, Sure Nuff", "The Other Blues", "Be Yourself", and "Oleo". Black On Black has a bit more of a mellow groove, but still kicks nicely, especially on the tracks "Check It Out", and "Black On Black". 10 tracks in all, with the usual "Legends Of Acid Jazz" package. CD

Amazing stuff – even if we do hate the way it's packaged! This long-overdue CD brings together 2 of the rare rare rare albums that organist Trudy Pitts cut for Prestige in the late 60s, along with her husband, drummer Bill Carney, and guitarist Pat Martino. If you don't know Trudy, she's got a totally unique approach to the organ that hovers somewhere between Jack McDuff and Walter Wanderley, but which also grooves in a way that's totally her own. On this set of 19 tracks, Trudy plays most of the lead solos, and also sings a bit in a wonderfully rich soulful voice – very much in the style you'd hear if you caught her at a small club session in her native Philly. We've been waiting for this stuff to come out on CD for years, and we've been playing this CD non-stop since it arrived in our offices! Tracks include "Steppin In Minor", "Organology", "Siete", "Man & A Woman", "Teddy Makes Three", and a very groovy version of "The Spanish Flea"! CD

Two hip records from organist Shirley Scott – back to back on a single CD! First up is Hip Soul – early Shirley Scott at her best – working with husband Stanley Turrentine to craft a great set of soul jazz tracks! The mood is laidback and easygoing, and honestly, it's Turrentine's deeply soulful solos that really make the set crackle – bringing an edge to the record that Shirley didn't always have, even on her earlier recordings with Eddie Lockjaw Davis. Stan's tone is superb – with a subtle rasp that really breaks open the sound – and his playing is extremely well-handled – always keeping us on the edge of our seat, blowing as he goes with incredible confidence and creativity! The rest of the group features Herb Lewis on bass and Roy Brooks on drums – and titles include "Trane's Blues", "Hip Soul", "411 West", "By Myself", and "Stanley's Time". On Hip Twist, Shirley's joined by husband Stanley Turrentine, whose tenor work on any Scott album always takes it to the next level! Stan's tone is still nice and raw here – blowing out some hard and soulful lines that are the perfect complement to Shirley's more composed work on the Hammond. The rest of the group includes George Tucker on bass and Otis Finch on drums – and tracks include "Hip Twist", "Violent Blues", "That's All", "All Tore Down", and "Rippin & Runnin". CD

Funky jazz nuggets with a mighty nice lineup – one that features plenty of vibes next to the keyboards, all resonating strongly over tight rhythms on acoustic bass and drums! There's almost a sunshiney vibe to the music at times that fits the image on the cover – not polished or slick, but this sort of shimmering quality that really lets you bathe in the warmth of the music – especially as the grooves are often laidback, yet still plenty darn funky! The drums are great, and the way they kick in with the vibes is wonderful – on titles that include "Estinto Omicida", "Hydromiel 2022", "Orso Pacifico", "Bourguignon", and "Saint Emilion". (Deep Funk, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Killer work by Art Blakey from the last years of his life – and proof that the drummer still had an amazing ear for the best young talent in jazz! The session's got Art working with (then) up-and-comers Steve Davis on trombone, Brian Lynch on trumpet, Geoff Keezer on piano, and Javon Jackson on tenor sax – giving them all the same space to write, arrange, and solo freely with the same sort of limelight placement Blakey gave Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, and Bobby Timmons in earlier years! Art's still more than holding his own on drums, but as with much of his excellent later work, the real strength of the set is the way in which the younger players hold the set together with a fluid sense of soul. Titles include "Bunyip", "Logarhythms", "I'll Wait & Pray", "Green Is Mean", "Accidentally Yours", "One For All", and "Theme For Penny". CD

A sweet set of 70s spiritual jazz from Argentine tenor player Chivo Borraro – one of his best albums of the time, and a really wonderful session with lots of nice touches! The record features Borraro playing keyboard effects, in addition to his usual tenor – and it also features some additional keyboards by Fernando Gelbard, who plays both Fender Rhodes and ring modulator on the album, working things wonderfully as he did on his own albums of the time. This wealth of keyboards gives the album a spacious feel – keys soaring out into space, creating platforms for solo work on sax, and a space to showcase the talents of Stenio Mendes, who plays the 12-stringed craviola on the album. There's lots of post-Coltrane exploration to the record – and titles include "Mi Amgio Tarzan", "Cancion De Cuna Para Un Bebe Del Ano 2000", "Lineas Torcidas", and "La Invasion De Los Monjes". CD also features two bonus tracks – "Intro/Mi Amigo Tarzan" and "Mi Amigo Tarzan (alt take)". CD

Candido cut sooo many great Latin records over the years, spanning a wide range of styles, we have a hard time deciding which we love the best. We like to think this may be his best album from the early part of his career, specifically because it features the master conga player amidst a tight jazz lineup, who leave him plenty of room to solo and just plain get down doing his thing. Dick Hyman's on organ, Joe Puma's on guitar, and Ernie Royal's on trumpet, with George Duvivier and Charlie Persip in the rhythm section. 8 tracks in all, including "Afro Blue", "Caravan", "Softly But Blue", "Blue Lou", "Blue Prelude", "Bongo Baby", "Blue Dirge" and "Candido Cocktail". (Latin, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

This one will confuse the discographers out there – but it's great Blue Note material by this legendary hardbop pianist! The CD reissues a previous Japanese-only set of unreleased material – called Sonny Clark Quintets – but some of the tracks have since come out on other CDs. 2 tracks – "Royal Flush" and "Lover" – feature Clark with a group that includes Art Farmer and Jackie McLean, recorded in 1957. The other 3 tracks – "Minor Meeting", "Eastern Incident", and "Little Sonny" – are from a 1958 session that was cut with Clifford Jordan and Kenny Burrell. Both sets of tracks are great – and although Clark recorded some of these tunes in other versions, the quality on this CD's still extremely high, and is proof that Clark was one of Blue Note's greatest players, worthy of all the extra sessions that were cut in the old days! CD