A breezy jazz vocal classic from the San Francisco scene of the 80s! Joyce Cooling plays guitar in a mellow jazzy way – a bit influenced by Brazilian fusion, and a bit by the CTI/Kudu styles of the mid 70s – warm and soulful, with a flowing, glowing kind of style that actually even reminds us a bit of Brazilian singer Joyce during the same period. And although Cooling's sounded a bit smooth in recent years, this album's got a nicely indie feel – a stripped-down set of grooves that's held up wonderfully over the years – and which still may be the best thing she ever recorded! Other instrumentation includes keyboards and lots of percussion – and titles include "It's You", "Ve", "The Way Out", "It's On You", and "It's Time I Do". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Two great albums from a time when Maynard Ferguson was really hitting his stride – back to back on one CD! New Sounds is a really nice set, and very much in the best spirit of the excellent early 60s albums that Maynard cut for Roulette! As with those, there's some great players working in the group – a lineup that includes Willie Maiden on tenor sax, Dusko Goykovich (horribly misspelled in the notes) on trumpet, Ronnie Cuber on Baritone, and Lanny Morgan on alto – all of whom get to step out in short but soulful solos that make the tracks bristle with more excitement than you'd think. And as with other Cameo jazz sides from the time, Rufus Jones is on drums – bringing in a nice little punch to the tracks that kicks them up in just the right sort of way. Titles include the originals "Bossa Nova De Funk", "Maine Bone", and "At The Sound Of The Trumpet" – plus a version of "Watermelon Man", and the bonus track "The Song Is You". Come Blow Your Horn is a surprisingly nice album of big band material from Maynard – recorded at a time when he was just getting his start as a big name, and still handling some hip enough players to make the groove swing! One track claims to have a "Dusan Goykovich" as a soloist – who we can only imagine to be our man Dusko Goykovich – and the record has plenty other nice solos by Lanny Morgan. Arrangements are by Don Sebesky, Al Cohn, Willie Maiden, and Oliver Nelson – and tracks include "Groove", "Whisper Not", "Blues For A Four String Guitar", "New Hope", and "Naked City Theme". CD

An obscure session that Clark Terry cut for the mostly-pop Cameo label during the early 60s – and some of the better recording that Terry did during the decade. The group is relatively small – filled with soul jazz players like Buddy Lucas, Seldon Powell, Willie Rodriguez, and Dave Bailey – and Terry's soloing is nice and tight, with a measured economical quality that works will with the tightness of the backing. Titles include "Tread Ye Lightly", "Free & Oozy", "Sweet Juke", and "Sapphire Blue". LP, Vinyl record album

The final recordings of Miles Davis – and music that shows that the legendary trumpeter was still continuing to grow strongly in his later years! The set features a great scope of sounds – from soundtrack projects with Marcus Miller and Michel Legrand, a live tribute to Gil Evans recorded with Quincy Jones, other excellent live material, and some important records that show the late Davis embracing new rhythms of the 80s, in the same way he worked with funk, soul, and rock styles in the 70s! Includes the albums Tutu, Music From Siesta, Amandla, Dingo, Doo Bop, Miles & Quincy Live At Montreux, and Live Around The World – plus a final CD collecting rarities and guest appearances with Cameo, Kenny Garrett, Chaka Khan, Shirley Horn, and others. CD

Features Sir Roland Hanna on piano , who also contributes the songs "Cameo" and "4M". Other titles include "Acrobop", "Brazilian Breeze", "Ellingtone Poem - Duet", and "Bubba's Movement". CD

Nicely complicated work from Scottish jazz composer David Mack and one of the original Lansdowne Series recordings – a set that almost has some of the same sharp changes and breakout solos of the best Mingus music from the time! The ensemble here is a British one – with some great trumpet and flugelhorn from the legendary Shake Keane, plus tenor from Gordon Lewin, alto from Al Baum, and soprano sax from Ralph Bruce – all of whom come together beautifully in some well-crafted sound patterns. All tunes are originals, and titles include "Ralph's Mead", "Cameo", "Chiquita Moderne", "Altona", and "Johnnie's Door". LP, Vinyl record album

Michal Urbaniak's third Fusion set for Columbia – very fittingly titled, considering what a huge influence his playing had on the genre! The album's a very tight batch of groovers – soaring and spacious, but never overindulgent – sometimes featuring scatting vocals by wife Urszula Dudziak, and also sporting strong rhythms from drummers Gerald Brown and Steve Gadd – both of whom really bring a nice solid bottom to the set, and help keep things focused! Yet then again, Urbaniak's always been one of the more focused players of his generation – especially on American recordings like this. There's lots of keyboards and electric grooving in the mix – and titles include "Chinatown", "Bloody Kishka", "Cameo", "Stretch", "Metroliner", "Roskana", and "Kuyaviak Goes Funky". LP, Vinyl record album