Wonderful work from Zoot Sims – recorded live in Las Vegas in the mid 70s, and captured with an open-ended feel that features plenty of room for solos! Sims really dominates the record – stepping out front of the rhythm section and blowing some incredibly imaginative lines that get past the shorter mode of his studio sessions. There's a feel here that almost reminds us of Sonny Stitt at his best – Zoot blowing in a relaxedly creative mode that flows out with near-perfect choices in tone and phrasing throughout. Most tracks push the 10 minute mark, and the performance features 6 well-recorded numbers that include Zoot on soprano sax on "Flower Waltz", and back on tenor for the tracks "It Had To Be You", "Thumbs Up", "Emily", "I'll Remember April", and "If I Should Lose You". CD

Weather Report at the height of their 70s fame – captured live in a double-length set, very much the practice for jazz superstars of the time! The format is familiar – but the liveness gives the album a slightly different feel than their studio sets – a sound that echoes out strongly along with thunderous applause from the crowds, who are themselves clearly situated in some very large arenas. And while the studio Weather Report albums are easily documents of the group's power themselves, it's something extra to hear the crowd going nuts for them here – cheering on Jaco Pastorius during a frenetic bass solo, roaring with approval at a Joe Zawinul keyboard bit, or clapping with enthusiasm after Wayne Shorter finishes a snakey solo. Tracks are all longish, and titles include "Scarlet Woman", "Black Market", "Birdland", "Thanks For The Memory", "8:30", "Brown Street", "In A Silent Way", and "Slang". CD

An overdue look at the great range of sounds that came from Inner City Records at the end of the 70s – a hip American indie with a strong specialty in soulful fusion, hip vocalists, and a range of other great styles too – all brought together here by London DJ Kev Beadle! Inner City's often a bit overlooked – as the label flourished most strongly in the years after some of the better-known soulful imprints of the 70s – and the label always had a great ear for new sounds, fresh ideas, and the kind of compelling global elements that often led them to license key tracks from overseas, and bring them to the US market. This collection's heavy on singers – the kind of cool, underground jazz vocalists that Inner City captured so well – and it's also got a nice mix of funky fusion, modal numbers, and spiritual currents – on titles that include "The Other World" by Judy Roberts, "Hunt Up Wind" by Hiroshi Fukumura, "Vera Cruz" by Helen Merrill, "Lucky Southern" by Tom Lellis, "Quickie Nirvana" by Kellis Ethridge, "Samba De La Cruz" by Terumasa Hino, "So High" by Janet Lawson, "The Samba" by Jeff Lorber, "Return Of The Prodigal Son" by Joe Lee Wilson, "Shenkansen" by Urszula Dudziak, "To An Elfin Princess" by Charlie Mariano, "Pandora" by Carlos Franzetti, and "Jennine" by Eddie Jefferson. (Funky Compilations, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing music by one of our favorite saxophone players of all time – captured here at the height of his 60s genius on the European scene! The tracks here have never been issued at all – but stand as a perfect complement to the killer MPS/Saba albums by Nathan Davis – and are served up with a similar blend of soulful hardbop and modernist edges – qualities that are already present in the fantastic phrasing of Davis on tenor and flute, pushed even further by the equally great work of French piano legend Georges Arvanitas! Although Arvanitas could be out when he wanted, he could also swing like the best of them – and his pairing with Davis here is perfect, and really brings out both the soul and edge in both players – especially in the company of George's fantastic rhythm duo of Charles Saudrais on drums and Jacky Samson on bass. The set's full of other surprises, too – including a bit of organ from Arvanitas, and an appearance by Jack Dieval – and the whole thing is beautifully recorded by French Radio. Tracks are all long – and include "Mid Evil Dance", "Blues For Southeast Asia", "The Hip Walk", "Rules Of Freedom", "A5", "The Thing", "Love Ye The Neighbor", "Nathalie's Dance", and "Yesterdays" in both flute and tenor versions. LP, Vinyl record album

Long live tracks from Stan Getz – captured at one of his strongest points in the 70s, and working with a quartet that includes Richie Beirach on piano, Dave Holland on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drum s! The feel here is a great extrapolation of the sound of Getz's seminal Sweet Rain sessions – tunes that spiral out with a style that's free and open-ended, yet never "outside" – just allowing Getz to blow magically with his incredible tone, shifting sound into ever-changing shapes and many-colored jewels! Titles include "Litha", "Invitation", "Fiesta", "Lucifer's Fall", and "Spring Is Here". CD

A very cool live set from the great tenorist Stan Getz, and one that really echoes some of the best styles of his Getz Au Go Go album – as it not only features guest vocals on a number of tracks from the lovely Astrud Gilberto, but also includes work from vibist Gary Burton throughout the entire performance! The combination of Burton and Getz is tremendous – one that wasn't captured nearly enough by Verve in the 60s, which makes these live recordings so essential – as Gary's modern chromatic elements really seem to unlock a fresh spirit in Stan's horn – all the fluidity of the bossa years, but with these unusual inflections that are completely mindblowing! The rest of the core group is equally hip – Chuck Israels on bass and the great Roy Haynes on drums – and Astrud Gilberto sings on seven of the album's nineteen selections. Titles include instrumental cuts "The Singing Song", "Blues Walk", "O Grande Amor", "Edelweiss", "Once Upon A Summertime", "Jive Hoot", "The Shadow Of Your Smile", and "On Green Dolphin Street" – and the vocal numbers "Voce E Eu", "Corcovado", "Telephone Song", "Girl From Ipanema", "It Might As Well Be Spring", and "Samba De Uma Nota So". CD

The sound of the trio is loud and clear on this set – captured before a very appreciative crowd at the London House in Chicago, and featuring Peterson at his inventive best! The tracks on the set stretch out longer than most of the group's studio sessions from the time, and the album's recorded in a great way that also includes Oscar's mumbling at the keys – that humming and grunting style that isn't always caught on record, but which adds a great deal of grit and humanity to the record – especially considering his fluid grace on the piano! As usual, Ray Brown is on bass and Ed Thigpen's on drums – and titles include "Tricotism", "On Green Dolphin Street", "Thag's Dance", and "Kadota's Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

5 years after they made their first set of groundbreaking Braziliany jazz tracks together, Bud Shank and Laurindo Almeida went back into the studio to record another great batch for Pacific Jazz. That second set of sessions is captured here in its entirety, and it features Shank and Almeida playing with the looser rhythm team of Gary Peacock and Chuck Flores on a number of short groovy tracks that clearly had a big influence on the bossa generation. Titles include "Frio y Color", "Sunset Baion", "Harlem Samba", "Blowing Wild", "Xana-Lyn", and "Serenade For Alto". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few ECM sides recorded by the Art Ensemble Of Chicago – easily some of the hippest work the label issued at the time, and a key way for the avant collective to get a bit of large audience exposure! The sound is still very much in the best AEC style here – and if anything, ECM's sensitivity to sound has allowed the group to explore some of the farther reaches of their sonic sensibilities – those contemplative moments that could sometimes be lost in the hands of other producers, captured beautifully here in a range of instruments far too many to mention! Some of the bolder tracks have Lester Bowie's trumpet right out front – almost hinting at his own solo association with the label – and titles include "Care Free", "Magg Zelma", "Full Force", and "Old Time Southside Street Dance". CD

One of the few ECM sides recorded by the Art Ensemble Of Chicago – easily some of the hippest work the label issued at the time, and a key way for the avant collective to get a bit of large audience exposure! The sound is still very much in the best AEC style here – and if anything, ECM's sensitivity to sound has allowed the group to explore some of the farther reaches of their sonic sensibilities – those contemplative moments that could sometimes be lost in the hands of other producers, captured beautifully here in a range of instruments far too many to mention! Some of the bolder tracks have Lester Bowie's trumpet right out front – almost hinting at his own solo association with the label – and titles include "Care Free", "Magg Zelma", "Full Force", and "Old Time Southside Street Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful 60s album from Duke Ellington – one that features some of his more popular numbers, as you'd guess by the title – but captured in these sublime, sophisticated arrangements that really reflect the genius sound of his group during the later years! The tracks are familiar, and the arrangements are maybe never too way out – but they're also these mini-masterpieces in color and tone – carried off by a fantastic group of all-stars who've matured and grown as much as the Duke himself – Cootie Williams and Cat Anderson on trumpets, Lawrence Brown and Buster Cooper on trombones, Jimmy Hamilton on clarinet, Johnny Hodges on alto, Paul Gonsalves on tenor, and Harry Carney on piano. There's a darkness in Duke's piano that's maybe missing from earlier versions of this material – that great modern undercurrent of the late years – and titles include "Black & Tan Fantasy", "The Twitch", "Perdido", "Solitude", "The Mooche", "Creole Love Call", "Take The A Train", and "Sophisticated Lady". LP, Vinyl record album

Kind of a gimmicky session, but a great one nonetheless! It was Leonard Feather who first thought of rounding up all the "Jones" in jazz he could find, bringing them together for this unique date for the Period label – but fortunately, the quality of the work and strength of the players goes way past the goofy strategy of the date! The record's an especially great chance to hear Thad Jones in small group mode – blowing with that sweet, warm tone that we love in his Blue Note work, captured here in a slightly more informal setting. Also noteworthy is the piano of Jimmy Jones, the drums of Jo Jones, and the flugelhorn playing of Quincy Jones, who appears on 3 of the album's 9 tracks. Titles include "No Other Love", "The Jones Bash", "Jones Beach", "You've Changed", "Montego Bay", and "Salute To The Blue Bird". LP, Vinyl record album

Original pressing of one of this legendary series that pulled together lost Jelly Roll Morton sessions from the Library Of Congress. Alan Lomax captured Morton's genius in 1938, in a special session of intimate recordings, done exclusively for the Library – and which stand today as some of the best recorded examples of Morton's genius. This original 50s recording features great cover art, and very very heavy vinyl. Tracks include "Ancestry & Boyhood", "Hyena Stomp", "Tiger Rag", and "Mr Jelly Lord". LP, Vinyl record album

Original pressing of one of this legendary series that pulled together lost Jelly Roll Morton sessions from the Library Of Congress. Alan Lomax captured Morton's genius in 1938, in a special session of intimate recordings, done exclusively for the Library – and which stand today as some of the best recorded examples of Morton's genius. This original 50s recording features great cover art, and very very heavy vinyl. Tracks include "The Pearls", "Pep", "Jungle Blues", and "Ain't Misbehavin". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent jazz soundtrack from Piero Piccioni – captured at a great early point in his film career, when he was still mixing in lots of elements from his work in jazz as well! The style here echoes some of the French jazz soundtracks of the new wave – and the tunes often sport breakout solos with plenty of fire – tenor, trumpet, and lots of piano – the latter of which has an especially great feel on some of the more mellow, moody tunes. Rhythms are great too – sometimes slow and loose, sometimes more vibrant and boppish – and together, the tunes work together to offer up a vibrant version of the movie that's almost as striking as the images on the screen! CD features a total of 26 tracks in all – over 70 minutes of music, including a number of unreleased tracks. (Soundtracks, Jazz) CD

Guitarist Bola Sete made some of his most important American recordings of the 60s on the San Francisco scene – but this huge set of unreleased tracks captures the Brazilian player farther up north, as he works in a sweet set of trio recordings captured at a small club in Seattle! The music is a great counterpart to some of Bola's recordings for Fantasy Records during the same time, but also captures the guitarist with a bit more complexity too – some of the qualities that he wouldn't always show on record at this level until the 70s, but which were clearly part of his sound right from the start! The group's a trio – with Sebastiao Neto on bass and Paulinho Magalhaes on drums – and titles include "Soul Samba", "Deve Ser Amor", "Malaguena", "Garota De Ipanema", "Astrurias", "Consolacao", "Tristeza", "A Feliciade", "Prelude No 3", "Spanish Dance No 5", "Shadow Of Your Smile", "Satin Doll", "One Note Samba", and "Corcovado". (Brazil, Jazz) CD

French bassist Henri Texier has given us some really amazing music over the decades – but this rare gem from the late 70s may be one of his grooviest records overall – and has this criss-crossing of styles that's really fantastic! Texier doesn't just play acoustic bass, but also electric, percussion, and even a bit of oud – which he uses to create this cool global jazz sound, but in a way that's very unique – partly because a number of the tracks have wordless vocals from Henri, kind of floating over the top and really bringing a sense of majesty to the music! If you love Texier's work on acoustic bass, don't worry – as the record also still features plenty of superb work on that instrument too, really captured here with a strong yet subtle sonic quality. Titles include "L'Elephant", "Quand Le Blues S'En Ira", "Les La Bas", "Angele", "Mr Donald Cerise", "L'Ultime Danse", and "Varech". LP, Vinyl record album

Weather Report at the height of their 70s fame – captured live in a double-length set, very much the practice for jazz superstars of the time! The format is familiar – but the liveness gives the album a slightly different feel than their studio sets – a sound that echoes out strongly along with thunderous applause from the crowds, who are themselves clearly situated in some very large arenas. And while the studio Weather Report albums are easily documents of the group's power themselves, it's something extra to hear the crowd going nuts for them here – cheering on Jaco Pastorius during a frenetic bass solo, roaring with approval at a Joe Zawinul keyboard bit, or clapping with enthusiasm after Wayne Shorter finishes a snakey solo. Tracks are all longish, and titles include "Black Market", "Birdland", "Thanks For The Memory", "8:30", "Brown Street", "In A Silent Way", and "Slang". Due to the length of the CD, the track "Scarlet Woman" has been omitted. CD

Weather Report at the height of their 70s fame – captured live in a double-length set, very much the practice for jazz superstars of the time! The format is familiar – but the liveness gives the album a slightly different feel than their studio sets – a sound that echoes out strongly along with thunderous applause from the crowds, who are themselves clearly situated in some very large arenas. And while the studio Weather Report albums are easily documents of the group's power themselves, it's something extra to hear the crowd going nuts for them here – cheering on Jaco Pastorius during a frenetic bass solo, roaring with approval at a Joe Zawinul keyboard bit, or clapping with enthusiasm after Wayne Shorter finishes a snakey solo. Tracks are all longish, and titles include "Scarlet Woman", "Black Market", "Birdland", "Thanks For The Memory", "8:30", "Brown Street", "In A Silent Way", and "Slang". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that not only features an amazing and well-recorded live set by the early version of Weather Report – but one that also features them joined by a few great European jazz musicians as well! The core of the album has the quintet at their finest – playing in the TV studio featured on the cover, with incredible sound that's captured beautifully – as the group stretch out on really long takes that move past their studio genius of the time – served up by Wayne Shorter on soprano sax and tenor, Joe Zawinul on electric and acoustic piano, Miroslav Vitous on bass, Alphonse Mouzon on drums, and Dom Um Romao on percussion. And on three very long tracks, the group are joined by some amazing additional players – John Surman on soprano sax and bass clarinet, Alan Skidmore on flute and tenor, and Eje Thelin on trombone – really helping the group open up the tunes "Sunrise", "Moto Grosso Feio", and "Directions". Other titles include "Eurydice", "Morning Lake", "Orange Lady", "Dr Honoris Causa", "I Would Like To Tell", and "Early Minor". CD

Frank Wess captured live with his quartet and special guests Frank Foster, Jimmy Heath, and Flip Phillips. Tracks are a mix of standards and Wess originals including "Estoril Sol", "My Funny Valentine", "Nada Mas", "It Could Happen To You", "Cottontail", and "Surprise, Surprise". CD

If there's one thing we know about funk legend Dennis Coffey, it's that we can never get enough of his early work – especially when he's working in his trio with the mighty Lyman Woodard on Hammond! The pair together are fantastic – and have this Detroit-bred version of jazz funk that's even grittier than anything coming out on Prestige Records in the 60s – a vibe that reflects the ties both musicians had to the local soul scene, and also hits at Coffey's great wave of records to come on Sussex in the 70s! But the groove here is even deeper and more open – captured live on long tracks that really take off – so that even if the trio is playing familiar songs, they come out completely unique in the hard-jamming style of the group. The mighty Melvin Davis is on drums – and tracks include very long takes on "Eleanor Rigby", "Cissy Strut", and the great Richard Evans' tune "Burning Spear" – plus "Groovin", "It's Your Thing/Union Station", "Big City Lights", "Mindbender", and "I'm A Midnight Mover" – all previously unreleased! (Soul, Jazz) CD

Back in the 90s, the DKV trio were one of the strongest forces in the Chicago improvising scene – a great group that featured Ken Vandermark on reeds, Kent Kessler on bass, and Hamid Drake on drums – working together with a really boundless sense of energy! This set has the group making a great appearance at the Wels Music Festival in 1998 – stepping out in a way that's a bit different than some of their previous recordings. At the festival, the trio played their incredibly haunting version of Don Cherry's "Complete Communion", drawn out into an extended suite, with the addition of the group's "Memory Sketch", in homage to Cherry. That set is paired here with some material captured on the group's home turf in Chicago – featuring 3 long improvised tracks recorded at Fred Anderson's Velvet Lounge. The Chicago material comprises a second disc in this 2CD set, and it includes the titles "Blues For Tomorrow", "Open Door", and "Burning Sky". CD

A rare and long unavailable performance of the Kenny Dorham-Barry Harris Quartet captured in action in NYC in 1964! Dorham's trumpet is full and very strongly in the lead in this set – with Barry Harris's piano work provide a loose swagger underneath – reminding us quite a bit of Bud Powell! Julian Ewell is on bass with Albert "Tootie" Heath at the kit. Titles include "Confirmation", "Ma, He's Makin' Eyes At Me", Monk's "Around Midnight", "The Theme", "Tin Tin Deo" plus the bonus tracks "Scandia Skies", and "Manha De Carnaval" – featuring Dorham's quartet recorded live in Copenhagen in December of '63 with Tete Montoliu on piano, Neils-Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass and Alex Riel on drums. CD

An amazing jam session set – of the sort that was rarely issued in the 60s, and hardly ever on labels like Solid State Records! The album features a small group of all-star players recorded live at the Village Vanguard in 1967 – all blowing on long, unstructured tunes that offer amazing solo space, and the kind of spontaneity that's rarely captured so well in a live jazz setting. Players include Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet, Pepper Adams on baritone sax, Chick Corea on piano, Ray Nance on violin, Richard Davis on bass, and either Elvin Jones or Mel Lewis on drums – and the unusual mix of players really comes together beautifully for the record, in a rare spirit that recalls the best of the Norman Granz JATP sessions, but with a hipper sort of 60s feel. Titles include "Birk's Works", "Blues For Max", "Lover Come Back To Me", and "Lullaby At The Leaves" – all presented in very long versions, 2 of which are longer here than ever before! The second disc in this series that captures the fire and spontaneity of the famous late 60s Sunday afternoon sessions at the Village Vanguard – recorded when that club was an important site for criss-crossing of styles and traditions, as you'll hear wonderfully in this set! The album features a sextet that includes Pepper Adams, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, Richard Davis, Mel Lewis, and Garnet Brown – playing in an easy, open format that has them really stretching out on 3 long tracks. The focus here is on the solo work of the players, but there's also a surprisingly great sense of cohesiveness and lyrical interplay as well. Titles include "Tour De Force", "On The Trail", and "Sweet Gorgia Brown" – 2 of which are here in tracks that have never been issued in this longer format! CD

A previously unreleased live date from west coast vocalist Bev Kelly – captured here at the end of the 70s in a great small club setting! The album's quite different than Bev's earlier work of the 60s – more dynamic, but never too over the top – just enough sense of freedom and presence to show a great evolution in her music over the course of the 70s. A number of the album's best tracks are originals penned by Kelly – and as before, she shows a lot more of a jazz-based sensibility in her music – a style that's not content to just sing standards in traditional torch modes, and which instead really takes off with the tunes – in the way you might expect from a more dynamic horn player! The group's great too – a combo headed by drummer Al Williams, who also happened to own the club the set was recorded in – with piano and electric piano by Dwight Dickerson, tenor by Rudy Johnson, guitar by Richard Madariaga, and bass by Leroy Vinnegar. Titles include "Lament", "One Day", "Welcome To My Heart", "Nonchalantly", "Drinking Again", "Reflections", "Our Time To Love", "Bein Green", and "Soul Eyes". (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

The complete recordings – both master and alternate takes – of the famous Charles Mingus session recorded in Paris in October of 1970! The work here was originally issued on two different albums by the America label, but it was all recorded on a single day – and features some of the best later Mingus work in the studio! The tracks here are all relatively long, and captured with an intensity that's similar to some of Charles' amazing live work from the same period – really cut loose and unfettered, with long solos that build up from a tremendous sense of imagination and creativity. The group's relatively small – a sextet with Mingus on bass, Jaki Byard on piano, Bobby Jones on tenor, Charles McPherson on alto, Eddie Preston on trumpet, and Dannie Richmond on drums – all coming together in classic Mingus small group formation, with the kind of drive you'd expect more from the late 50s or early 60s. Titles include "Reincarnation Of A Lovebird", "Love Is A Dangerous Necessity", "Blue Bird", "Pithecanthropus Erectus", "Peggy's Blue Skylight", and a wonderful remake of "I Left My Heart In San Francisco". CD 1 features all the master takes – and CD 2 features alternates and false starts, all of which are previously unissued! CD

A beautiful live set from the legendary Thelonious Monk Quartet – that magical lineup you'll know from Monk's early 60s albums on Columbia Records, captured here in a concert performance that really opens up so many different currents of the group's sound! Monk is crucial, of course, on piano – but the group also moves with a perfect sense of timing for his music, thanks to the work of John Ore on bass and Frankie Dunlop on drums – a group who are then topped by some fantastic tenor work from the amazing Charlie Rouse – a hell of player at many levels, but one who always seemed to hit new heights with Monk! The double-length package really gives the group a lot of room to open up – and tracks move nicely between extended numbers and a few nice shorter bits – on titles that include "Just A Gigolo", "Well You Needn't", "Round Midnight", "Bemsha Swing", "Balu Bolivar Balues Are", "Crepuscule With Nellie", "Jackie-Ing", and "Blue Monk". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic full length set from Verve Records – one of those key late 50s albums that helped piece together the scattered legacy of Charlie Parker for the label! This set has a focus on small combo work from Bird – all quartet sessions, captured by Verve with a crispness that really shows his maturing early 50s style at its best, and with a few alternates of some tracks, which also illustrate that way that Parker could effortlessly change a solo from recording to recording! The group features Al Haig on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Max Roach on drums – and titles include "Kim", "Cosmic Rays", "Laird Baird", "Chi Chi", and "Confirmation". CD

A pretty wonderful set of tracks led by guitarist Jeff Parker, one of the most enormously talented, and one of the busiest guys in Chicago! Jeff spends time working with a number of avant garde jazz and rock combos like the Chicago Underground Quartet, Aesop Quartet, New Horizons Ensemble and Tortoise – but steps into a pretty straight up bop-learned jazz mode for his first full length as leader. He's leading a trio with Chad Taylor on drums and some light guitar, and Chris Lopes on bass and a little flute. Parker's sprays warm, fluid guitar lines throughout that really light the thing up. It's really warmly captured by producer John McEntire, too. Tracks include "Like-Coping", "Miriam", "Days Fly By", "Holiday For A Despot", "Omega Sci Fi", "Roundabout" and more. CD

A rare live performance from the legendary Lyman Woodard Organization – captured here at the height of their powers in the 70s! The Organization has a really unique approach to their groove – one that starts in jazz, but moves quickly into funk – with a spirit that you'd find in other 70s groups like Funk Inc or The Nineteenth Whole – both of which have the same soulful local spirit as Lyman's mighty group! Woodard himself is a wonderful organist – playing with these freewheeling lines that open the Hammond up strongly way past the Jimmy Smith generation, with a groove that's often soaring, but still tightly rhythmic too – a hypnotic vamp that's perfect for jamming tracks like these. Other group members are great too – and include Ron English on guitar, Norma Bell on alto sax, Lorenzo Brown on percussion, and Sundiata on congas – a very hip lineup that makes things really cook on the set! The recording was originally done for radio, and there's a few announcer bits – but that professional setting also makes the album sound way better than just a dodgy ol' local tape might. Titles include "Organ Interlude", "Kimba", "On Your Mind", "Last Tango In Paris", "You Make Me Feel Brand New", and "Cheeba". CD

The roots of modern jazz never sounded this great before – and this is the first time ever that all the early bop recordings by Savoy have been properly brought together in one place! Savoy was one of the most important labels to record the early bop pioneers – and had a dedication to the music that begin in 1945, and moved well into the 50s – as the label captured some of the brightest young stars who'd go onto shape a generation! Almost all of this material was originally issued just as 78rpm singles – then later scattered and repackaged in a confusing way – although many tracks here also never made it into the LP or CD generation, either. The folks at Mosaic have worked incredible magic to correct that error – and have pulled together a stunning 10CD package that finally presents this amazing legacy of music in its proper form – complete with notes and session details that were never given in later years, too. There's way too much here to list in this space – but the set features dates recorded under the name of Dexter Gordon, Fats Navarro, Stan Getz, JJ Johnson, Sonny Stitt & Kenny Dorham's Bebop Boys, Allen Eager, Kai Winding, Ray Brown, Eddie Davis, Serge Chaloff, Kenny Hagood, Leo Parker, Tadd Dameron, Teddy Reig, Brew Moore, Milt Jackson, Kenny Clarke, and Gil Fuller – all with groups that are filled with equally hip and important musicians too. We love Mosaic all the time – but with a collection of 78rpm material, they really knock it out of the park – and do us, and the jazz history books, a mighty big favor! CD

A previously-unknown recording of two giant Verve Records stars of the 50s – captured here in a European performance, but not as part of the regular Jazz At The Philharmonic touring package! The set begins with two long tracks that are a superb showcase for the trumpet of Roy Eldridge – as Roy blows with a crisp muted style that has plenty of room to open up – with backing from the quartet of Herb Ellis on guitar, Lou Levy on piano, Wilfred Middlebrooks on bass, and Gus Johnson on drums – players who continue to then back up Ella Fitzgerald for the remaining nine tracks on the album! There's a nicely intimate, less iconic presentation of Fitzgerald here – still as great as her famous Verve dates, but maybe slightly more relaxed too. Eldridge blows "Soft Winds" and "Roy's Riff" – and Ella's tracks include "Whatever Lola Wants", "All I Need Is You", "I Loves You Porgy", "Lady Be Good", "How High The Moon", and a nice take on "Alright Okay You Win". CD

A real standout in the Stan Getz catalog of the 70s – a session of mostly spare duets with pianist Jimmy Rowles, done in a way that really breaks from the format of Stan's other work of the time! Rowles here has a raspy warmth that brings out new voicings in Getz's tenor – an earthiness that comes through especially well on the half of the album that features only Stan and Jimmy playing together alone, but which still shines on the few other tracks that feature the bass of Buster Williams and drums of Elvin Jones expanding the group. 2 short tracks feature only solo piano, and Rowles also sings on a number of the album's tracks, in that breathy mode of his that rarely got captured this well on record – and one other track features Jon Hendricks leading a vocal quartet through a rendition of "The Chess Players". Other titles include "It'll Never Be The Same", "Body & Soul", "What Am I Here For", "The Hour Of Parting", "The Peacocks", "Rose Marie", and "Serenade To Sweden". CD

An amazing package – and a dream come true for all of us at Dusty Groove – as the set features a ton of never-issued material from one of our favorite albums ever, by one of our favorite trumpet players of all time! Lee Morgan was really on a run when he stepped into the Lighthouse club in July of 1970 – soaring with a new sense of spirit that was captured on his final records before his too-early death – set loose here in a live setting that has Morgan and the group bristling with a new sort imagination on all sorts of extended performances! The Lighthouse was the home of cool jazz performances back in the 50s – but here, the locale is completely transformed – thanks to work from Lee on trumpet, Harold Mabern on piano, Jymie Merritt on electric bass, Mickey Roker on drums, and the great Bennie Maupin on tenor, flute, and bass clarinet – all rolling out with energy that's a lot more Strata East than Blue Note! The original 2LP set was expanded to a 3CD version in the 90s – but this massive collection brings together all the tremendous work from the performances – all of it completely essential, thanks to the sense of variety and inventiveness on the long solos that make up the tracks. Titles include versions of "Speedball", "Yunjana", "I Remember Britt", "Absolutions", "Something Like This", "The Beehive", "Neophilia", "Pyeote", "Aon", "416 East 10th Street", "Nommo", and the coolest version of "Sidewinder" you'll ever hope to hear. Newly remastered – with over four hours of never-heard music! CD

The title tells the tale on this one – as the session's a studio meeting of players all associated with Count Basie over the years – captured here in a style that's much more laidback and relaxed than the usual Basie set! Originally issued as 2 separate LPs a year apart, and both have the feel of Prestige's best work in the Swingville series. The set has an approach more in the blowing session mode, with long tracks on the album that really let each player step out in their own voice. Players include Paul Quinichette, Shad Collins, Buck Clayton, Jack Washington, Nat Pierce, Freddie Greene, Walter Page, Eddie Jones and Jo Jones. 10 numbers in all including "Rock-A-Bye Basie", "Texas Shuffle", "Out The Window", "Jive At Five", "Diggin' For Dex", "Blues I Love To Hear", "Love Jumped Out", "John's Idea", "Roseland Shuffle" and "Baby Don't Tell On Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A mid-90's trio date captured in Portland, Oregon with Jessica Williams on piano and Mel Brown on drums. Tracks include "Sunny Side Of The Street", "Cold Duck Time", "Makin' Whoopee", and "Birks Works". CD