A great little record – very different than anything else that Hank Jones ever recorded! The album features arrangements by Oliver Nelson – done in that mod 60s pop-jazz style that he was using on his best work – and about half the record features Jones playing electric harpsichord, one of those groovy instruments that we can never get enough of! Needless to say, the combination of these two factors pushes the record far away from Jones' usual straight jazz piano trio approach – as does some tight added horn work, and an overall feel that's right up there with the grooviest sounds that Impulse or Verve had to offer in the 60s. Titles include "Broadwalk Samba", "Happenings", "Funky But Blues", "Fugue Time", "Jazztime USA", "Mas Que Nada", and "Cul De Sac". LP, Vinyl record album

A set of tracks recorded in the early 90s, unreleased until many years later – and an album that shows a beautifully sensitive side of the music of guitarist Calvin Keys! The title is sometimes very apt – as Calvin is often out front in the lead, crafting these warm lines built from well-chosen chords – but the album's also not just a solo set, as it features work from Jeff Chimenti on piano, Tim Haul on bass, Mark Lignell on drums, and Kenneth Nash on percussion. There's even some light strings at times – but very light, as they just shade in the edges – on titles that include "Dolphin Dance", "Quiet Now", "Isotope", "Marela", "Windows", and "What's Goin On". CD

A set of tracks recorded in the early 90s, unreleased until many years later – and an album that shows a beautifully sensitive side of the music of guitarist Calvin Keys! The title is sometimes very apt – as Calvin is often out front in the lead, crafting these warm lines built from well-chosen chords – but the album's also not just a solo set, as it features work from Jeff Chimenti on piano, Tim Haul on bass, Mark Lignell on drums, and Kenneth Nash on percussion. There's even some light strings at times – but very light, as they just shade in the edges – on titles that include "Dolphin Dance", "Isotope", "Marela", "Windows" and "What's Goin On". LP, Vinyl record album

Gidon Kremer on violin, Friedrich Lips on accordion, Per Arne Glorvigen on bandoneon, Vladimir Tonkha on cello, Michel Portal on clarinet, Alois Posch on double bass, Elisabeth Chojnacka on harpischord, Mark Pekarsky on percussion, and Vadim Sakharov on piano. CD

One of the best albums ever from Japanese pianist Masabumi Kikuchi – a set that continues his development as a wonderfully expressive player on his instrument, but one that also opens up with a bit more bite at times, too – thanks to the presence of some sharp-edged contemporaries! The group's a sextet – with contributions from Hideyuki Kikuchi on alto, Akio Nishimura on tenor, and Tetuso Fushimi on trumpet – all musicians who can lay back in a soulbop groove if needed, but also come on with a bit more fire, too – almost working in a spiritual fusion mode on a few tracks, then balancing things out nicely at other times. Masabumi plays some very cool electric harpsichord on the Sadao Watanabe tune "If I Said The Sky Was Falling" – and other titles include "Matrix", "Green Dolphin Street", "In Fourth Way", and "Little Aby". LP, Vinyl record album

The great keyboardist Mike Melvoin is at the top of his game here – getting a rare session as a leader, and working on Hammond, electric harpsichord, electric piano, and even ondoline! The small combo features Emil Richards on percussion, Don Peake on guitar, and Hal Blaine on drums – and the set features groovy versions of "Summer in the City" and "For No One", plus some originals, all played on a number of different keyboards. LP, Vinyl record album

Mindblowing! This is when Wes Montgomery really starts to get interesting to us – when he's working with a top-line arranger like Don Sebesky, crafting some incredibly compelling chords over lightly jazzy arrangements and soaring strings, in a whole new mode of expression that would go onto transform a generation of guitar players! And sure, this album sold a gazillion copies – but we'll be honest in saying that we think it's loads more complex and mature than some of Wes' straight jazz sides from earlier years – light years away from the small combo dates of the early years, both in conception and sound. Titles include "Day In The Life", "Watch What Happens", "California Nights", "Windy", "Trust In Me", and "The Joker". LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool little album from Placebo – arguably the group's most soulful session ever, and one that draws heavily from American funky jazz at the start of the 70s! The grooves are nice and tight, and keyboards are focused on the most soulful sort of riffs – not nearly as tripped out as in later years, and really doing a great job of sending home the funky rhythms – almost in a way that's sort of early CTI at the best points! Marc Moulin's genius is already firmly in place – and he handles all arrangements, plus plays Fender Rhodes, electric harpsichord, and even what sounds like a bit of moog! Titles include "Humpty Dumpty", "Aria", "Showbiz Suite", "Ball Of Eyes", "You Got Me Hummin", and "Inner City Blues". CD

A long-lost performance by Sun Ra and the Arkestra – recorded in Amsterdam at the start of the 70s, when the group were brought in by avant saxophonist Hans Dulfer for a special performance! This album marks the first-ever issue of the material, from rediscovered tapes that finally present the group on that night in all of their glory – a horn-heavy version of the Arkestra with Danny Davis, Danny Ray Thompson, Marshall Allen, Pat Patrick, and John Gilmore on reeds – as well as Kwame Hadi and Akh Tal Ebah on trumpets, June Tyson on vocals, and a surprise appearance from Alan Silva on cello, bass, viola, and violin! Ra himself plays moog, rocksichord, piano, and the Spacemaster organ – and the group has plenty of percussion, and a rich sound that really resonates strongly in the legendary venue. Titles include an early reading of "Space Is The Place" – plus "Watusa", "Walking On The Moon", "Paradiso Improviso #1", "We Travel The Spaceways", "Theme From The Stargazers", "The Solar Moog Approach", and "Second Stop Is Jupiter". CD

A long-lost performance by Sun Ra and the Arkestra – recorded in Amsterdam at the start of the 70s, when the group were brought in by avant saxophonist Hans Dulfer for a special performance! This album marks the first-ever issue of the material, from rediscovered tapes that finally present the group on that night in all of their glory – a horn-heavy version of the Arkestra with Danny Davis, Danny Ray Thompson, Marshall Allen, Pat Patrick, and John Gilmore on reeds – as well as Kwame Hadi and Akh Tal Ebah on trumpets, June Tyson on vocals, and a surprise appearance from Alan Silva on cello, bass, viola, and violin! Ra himself plays moog, rocksichord, piano, and the Spacemaster organ – and the group has plenty of percussion, and a rich sound that really resonates strongly in the legendary venue. Titles include an early reading of "Space Is The Place" – plus "Watusa", "Walking On The Moon", "Paradiso Improviso #1", "We Travel The Spaceways", "Theme From The Stargazers", "The Solar Moog Approach", and "Second Stop Is Jupiter". LP, Vinyl record album

God, we love this record – and we're not ashamed to admit it! Sure, it sold a gazillion copies – and sure, for some folks it showed the true demise of the Crusaders ensemble. But for us, it's a masterpiece of smooth fusion, and a landmark album of easy jazz that spawned countless imitators that could never hope to match Sample's simple and elegant use of funky riffing and lyrical chords – coming in with just the right dash of darkness when the record's in danger of sounding too light. Most of the rest of the Crusaders had a hand in the record, and the set's got the smooth west coast sound you'd expect from the title. Tracks include "Carmel", "Cannery Row", "Sunrise", and "More Beautiful Each Day". LP, Vinyl record album

Four hands, and plenty of power – a stunning set of improvisations between these two longtime avant greats – and a set that may well be one of the boldest we've heard from either player in years! Maybe it's the quality that the Trost label seems to get from musicians, or maybe it's just a special fire that's burning as Aki Takase meets with Alexander Von Schlippenbach – but whatever the case, the record explodes with these incredibly inventive attacks on the piano – energy on the keys that's simply mindblowing, at a level that definitely lives up to Schlippenbach's strongest recordings, and which has us opening up our ears to Takase all over again! Titles include "Stoneblock 2", "Blade", "Apple Of Dischord", "Jumping Jack", "N Dance", "Nearly Yours", "Allegro Agitato", and "Exit O". LP, Vinyl record album

Stanley Turrentine meets Bob James – on a record that's one of the 70s classics on CTI! Bob James handles the arrangements – with that laidback, mellowfunky approach to jazz that he helped pioneer at the time – lots of modal chords in the rhythms, and these wonderfully soulful solos by the great Stan himself! James plays keyboards on the set – and Harold Mabern adds some piano too – and the lineup also includes the mighty Eric Gale on guitar, and Idris Muhammad on drums. Titles include the great title cut – a remake of Marvin Gaye's "Don't Mess With Mister T", plus "Too Blue", "Two For T", and "I Could Never Repay Your Love". LP, Vinyl record album

With Paul Keller on bass and Chuck McPherson on drums. CD

Larry Vuckovich on piano with Larry Grenadier on bass & Akira Tana on bass. CD

Milestone 2-fer combining two of our favorite late 60s soul jazz LPs, that practically defined the genre – Work Song and That's Right! "Work Song" was a whopping hit for Nat, plus Cannonball's killer "Sack O Woe", played here by a firey group that includes the great Bobby Timmons on piano, and Wes Montgomery on guitar, making a rare non-leader group appearance. On the second set Nat's trumpet is backed up by a "big sax section" – a trio of reed players that includes Yusef Lateef, Jimmy Heath, and Charlie Rouse, plus some additional baritone work by Tate Houston. The groove's pretty swinging – kind of in the mode of early work with Cannonball Adderley in that it's not as "in the pocket" soul jazz wise, but still quite strong overall. Heath and Jimmy Jones did the arrangements, and the rhythm section features Wynton Kelly, Sam Jones, and Jimmy Cobb. 17 tracks in all, including "Tadd", "The Old Country", "Chordnation", "ESP", "Scrambled Eggs", "Pretty Memory", and "Fallout". LP, Vinyl record album

A lost treasure from the glory days of the LA soul jazz bop scene of the early 60s! Alto player Earl Anderza has this crazy tone that's unlike anything we've ever heard – and he plays with a calculated approach to atonality that hints at later work by Ayler and others – but which comes across here a lot more straight ahead. Unlike Ayler, Anderza is backed by a tight soul jazz combo that includes stunning work by pianist Jack Wilson, one of our all-time favorite players – working here on both straight piano and electric harpsichord – which has a very crazy sound! Other players include George Morrow and Jimmy Bond on bass, plus Donald Dean on drums – and titles include "Blues Baroque", "Freeway", "Benign", and a great version of Wilson's modal classic "Outa Sight"! LP, Vinyl record album

Another fine effort from the Chicago Underground Duo – multi-instrumentalists Chad Talyor and Rob Mazurek – and like the duo's earlier work on Thrill Jockey, it's a wonderful listen, that traipses through elements of Don Cherry-like jazz experimentation, and percussive, minimalist avant rock! The sound is uncategorizable in the best sense, and the duo has chops that devour most of their contempories. Another great one! Mazurek works on cornet, organ, celest, piano, harpsichord and more, and Taylor is drums, perussion, gongs vibe and more. Tracks include "In Praise Of Shadows", "Falling Awake", "The Glass House", "Cities Without Citadels", "Pangea", "Funeral Of Dreams" and "The Light Between". CD

Amazing sounds from Robert Glasper – easily one of our favorite fresh jazz talents of the past decade or so! There's really nobody like Glasper, and you'll hear that from the very first notes of this set – a flurry of marvelously blocky chords – wrapped together in these waves of sound that are completely seductive – complex at one point, but perfectly organic at another – almost to the piano what Coltrane was to the tenor – although Glasper's sound is nothing like Coltrane – if that won't confuse you enough! The rhythms leap along with Robert's piano in an equally joyous way – stretching out, finding new space, and taking the music into rich new territory – more than enough to make this record one of Blue Note's best so far of the 21st Century. Titles include "G & B", "Of Dreams To Come", "FTB", "One For Grew", "Tribute", and "Maiden Voyage/Everything Is In The Right Place". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest Bobby Hutcherson albums for Blue Note – a classic session recorded in quartet form, with a style that seems to set a whole new standard for the vibes in modern jazz! The group here is sublime – Herbie Hancock on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums – all working with Bobby in cool, blocky chords, with a sound that lies somewhere on the road to "out", but has more of a swing than Hutcherson's "new thing" recordings! The balance is a perfect one – exciting and fresh, but still always soulfully grooving – and titles include a sublime version of Herbie's "Maiden Voyage" – plus originals by Hutcherson that include "The Omen", "Aquarian Moon", "Rojo", and "Head Start". LP, Vinyl record album

Very groovy stuff – with Joanne Grauer on organ, Victor Feldman on percussion, Plas Johnson on saxes, and Mayorga on piano and harpsichord! LP, Vinyl record album

The music of Misha Panfilov just gets deeper and deeper with each new release – and here, he's light years away from the funk of his earlier sets, and much more in the realm of spiritual jazz! The set's got a vibe that's almost in the Carlos Nino side of the spectrum, but which also resonates strongly with Misha's amazing sense of sound – served up by a group that features Misha on guitars, keyboards, organs, harpsichord, ngoni, and a whole host of other elements – joined by the trumpet of Rafael Andrade, tenor of Francisco Aguilar, bass of Ricardo Dias, and drums of Francisco Coelho. Tunes are long and carry elements of Brazilian and other global styles – but often in a way that evokes cinematic modes too, although things are much deeper than any sort of easy soundtrack reference to such styles. The whole album's a masterpiece of beauty that we never would have expected from Panfilov a few years back – and titles include "Vertical", "Alegria Em Movimento", "Caleidoscpopio", "Domingo Magico" and "Para O Sol". (Deep Funk, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

2CDs worth of previously unissued material! Both records – Cymbals and Crystal Spears – were originally due to be released on Impulse during the same stretch that the label was repackaging older Saturn albums, but were never issued because of all the messed up relations that quickly terminated what should have been a much longer deal. (Some of this is nicely outlined in the good set of notes that go with the set.) Cymbals features 3 tracks that did appear on a Saturn album called Deep Purple, plus 2 titles that were never issued before – and the set features Ra on organ Rocksichord, vibes, and organ – playing very out and raucously with a group that includes Danny Davis, John Gilmore, and Akh Tal Ebah. Crystal Spears is a lot more introspective, and takes us back to earlier years of the Arkestra. Ra's on organ, marimba, mini moog, and vibes – and the rest of the group's playing a variety of horns and percussion. Tracks include "Crystal Spears", "Sunrise In The Western Sky", "The Embassy Of The Living God", "Thoughts Under A Dark Blue Light", and "The Mystery Of Two". CD

A great little album from Ben Webster – perhaps not his most sophisticated, jazz-wise, but done up in a cool cover that has him standing in front of the steel globe at the 1964 World's Fair in New York. The music on the disc has a similar optimistic approach – as Ben solos lightly over rhythms by either Hank Jones or Roger Kellaway on piano (and a bit of harpsichord), plus bass and drums backing by Richard Davis and Osie Johnson. The album's got a great rolling soul jazz number called "See You At The Fair", and a very odd crashing harpsichord number called "Lullaby Of Jazzland" – plus the tunes "Fall Of Love", "While We're Dancing", and "Our Love Is Here To Stay". CD

Nat's trumpet is backed up by the "big sax section" here – a trio of reed players that includes Yusef Lateef, Jimmy Heath, and Charlie Rouse, plus some additional baritone work by Tate Houston. The groove's pretty swinging – kind of in the mode of early work with Cannonball Adderley in that it's not as "in the pocket" soul jazz wise, but still quite strong overall. Heath and Jimmy Jones did the arrangements, and the rhythm section features Wynton Kelly, Sam Jones, and Jimmy Cobb. Tracks include "Tadd", "The Old Country", "Chordnation", and "ESP". CD

Brilliant late work from spiritual saxophone genius Albert Ayler – one of his last truly great albums! The session has none of the jazz-meets-other music feel of some of the other Impulse albums – and is more in the straight expressive style of the ESP recordings. Tracks are more reined in here – with some short themes that are almost a distillation of the freedom Ayler had been expressing for a few years, summed up beautifully in tunes that have a plaintive cry, filled with as much soul and love as Ayler could muster into his horn! Players include Donald Ayler on trumpet, Cal Cobbs on harpsichord, Alan Silva on bass, and Milford Graves on drums – and titles include "Zion Hill", "Love Flower", "Love Cry", "Ghosts", "Omega", and "Dancing Flowers". CD also includes some extra bonus material! CD

Uri Caine on Hammond organ, Forte piano, harpsichord, and keyboards, Greg Osby on alto saxophone, Don Byron on clarinet, Josh Roseman on trombone, Ralph Alessi and Paul Plunkett on trumpet, Bob Stewart on tuba, Arno Jochem on viola da gamba, Annegret Siedel on violin, Reggie Washington on electric bass, Drew Gress, James Genus, and Reid Anderson on bass, Ralph Peterson on drums, vocals from Davis Moss with the Kettwiger Bach Ensemble choir, Kettwinger Bach Ensemble, the Koln String Quartet, and Quartetto Italiano. CD

Buddy DeFranco plays tunes associated with Artie Shaw – but in a completely different way than before – with a wider-open swing for the 50s! The work here is all small combo, not big band – and there's a free-flowing groove that's totally great – a sound that carries echoes of the earlier years, but which comes across with that modern inflection to swing that made Buddy's years at Verve so great. Few players could come up with a balance of modes as great as this – and DeFranco's clarinet is caught alongside trumpet from Ray Linn, guitar from Barney Kessel, and piano and harpsichord from Jimmy Rowles! LP, Vinyl record album

A wicked album that's one of Stan Getz's best from the 70s! The record features Stan reunited with Chick Corea, whose warm lyricism was the lynchpin in Getz's landmark Sweet Rain – the stunning session from 1968 that is perhaps our favorite-ever Getz album. Corea plays electric piano here, but with none of the indulgence that he was lapsing into at the time. His blocky chords stake out a stark new territory, into which Getz solos beautifully, into a range yet untapped at that time in his career. Tony Williams augments the group on drums, giving the whole thing a sense of freedom, but also a nice tight swing. Tracks include "La Fiesta", "Five Hundred Miles High", "Times Lie", and "Day Waves". LP, Vinyl record album

Beatles Back & Bacharach presents the Ted Heath group in some very groovy territory – playing a fair bit of the first and third "B" in the title, plus a little bit of the second! Heath's instrumentation is quite far from the brassier horns used on his earlier records – and Johnny Keating's sensitive arrangements for the date bring in a fair bit of groovier elements – electric bass, guitar, flute, and even some electric harpsichord! In a way, the record's much more of a Keating album than a Heath one – right down to the subtle dose of funk that Johnny was bringing to his music at this time – and titles include "This Guy's In Love With You", "Norwegian Wood", "B B & B", "Air On The G String", "Let It Be", "You'll Never Get To Heaven", and "I'll Never Fall In Love Again". LP, Vinyl record album

A real moment of genius for Joe Henderson from the 80s – a spare trio session, recorded live at the Village Vanguard, in a mode that recalls Sonny Rollins classic sets there for Blue Note! And while Sonny often performed heavily in a trio setting, unfettered by chords in the rhythm section – this is a unique date for Joe, and he sounds brilliant throughout! Ron Carter and Al Foster provide a crisp but elastic foundation for Henderson's burnished melodies and solos in a very spacious setting – and this first volume features the tracks "Beatrice", "Friday The Thirteenth", "Happy Reunion", "Loose Change", "Ask Me Now", and "Isotope". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest Bobby Hutcherson albums for Blue Note – a classic session recorded in quartet form, with a style that seems to set a whole new standard for the vibes in modern jazz! The group here is sublime – Herbie Hancock on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums – all working with Bobby in cool, blocky chords, with a sound that lies somewhere on the road to "out", but has more of a swing than Hutcherson's "new thing" recordings! The balance is a perfect one – exciting and fresh, but still always soulfully grooving – and titles include a sublime version of Herbie's "Maiden Voyage" – plus originals by Hutcherson that include "The Omen", "Aquarian Moon", "Rojo", and "Head Start". CD

David Lacey on percussion and e-bowed monochord, Paul Vogel on clarinet and computer, and Mark Wastell on cymbals and electronics. (Out Sound, Jazz) CD

A quadruple-header from Ramsey Lewis – four albums from his great 70s electric period on Columbia Records! First up is Funky Serenity – sweet electric funk from Ramsey Lewis! The album's one of his best from the 70s – and it's got Ramsey on Fender Rhodes, electric harpsichord, and other keyboards, grooving away in an open-ended 70s mode that still retains all the heavy soul of his classic work for Chess. Morris Jennings adds in some very nice percussion with his drum work, and Cleveland Eaton's on funky bass, giving the set a strong bottom groove. Features the sublime sample cut "My Love For You", a great version of "Knights In White Satin" that's done with a weird spacey groove, plus the tracks "Kufany Mapenzi (Making Love)", "Serene Funk", "What It Is!", and "Dreams". Golden Hits isn't a "best of", but instead has Ramsey and his funky mid 70s trio with Morris Jennings and Cleveland Eaton revisiting some of his best loved material from the Cadet years, but with the groovy Rhodes and wah wah sound that we dig so much about his CBS recordings. Unlike some of the other records from this period, the group's nice and stripped down, just the electric piano, bass and drums, so the groove's nice and wide open, Ramsey and company popping along with the sanctified soulful vibe of his 60s work, but updating their sound with some nice electric touches. 9 numbers in all: "Hang On Sloopy", "Blues For The Night Owl", "Hi-Heel Sneakers", "Carmen", "Delilah", "Wade In The Water", "Slippin' Into Darkness", "Somethin' You Got", and "The In Crowd". Solar Wind was cut smack dab in the middle of Ramsey's glory days at Columbia Records – with great production help and work on bass from the mighty Cleveland Eaton! The style is nice and lean, with just some occasional fuller touches – and Ramsey plays plenty of Fender Rhodes, in addition to bits of Arp and moog too – in a setting that's mostly trio, with a few guest players stepping into the mix from track to track! There's a nice degree of fuzz at points, thanks to added help from Steve Cropper – and titles include a great funky version of "Summer Breeze", plus "Solar Wind", "Come Down In Time", "Love for A Day", "Hummingbird", "Jamaican Marketplace", and "Sweet & Tender You". Sun Goddess is one of our favorite Ramsey Lewis albums ever – and a perfect summation of the genius that was brewing on the Chicago scene in the late 60s and early 70s! The album has Ramsey working strongly with Earth Wind & Fire – no surprise, given his close ties to Maurice White, who was the drummer in Ramsey's trio before starting his own group – and the shared relationship both artists had with producer Charles Stepney! The three were all key parts of the late 60s sound at Chess Records – but here, they've brought the same soulful energy to Columbia – working in a wider, more mature groove for the 70s – one that has Lewis' wicked Fender Rhodes lines stretching out strongly over tight, compressed, funky lines from EWF! The centerpiece of the set is the massive 7 minute "Sun Goddess", but there's lots of other nice ones like "Living For The City", "Gemini Rising", and "Jungle Strut". Funky, electric, and sublimely wonderful all the way through! CD

James Moody's definitely feelin it here – stepping back into a straighter hardbop mode after some funkier sets of the early 70s – really sounding great on tenor, alto, and flute – and working with a very hip quartet for the date! Kenny Barron's in the group on both electric and acoustic piano (plus a bit of harpsichord) – and given his previous work with Moody in Dizzy Gillespie's group, the players already have a well-established repoire that shows clearly on the record – at at times, Barron nicely sets the scene with some of his moodier 70s playing, which really suits James' flute work well. Bass is by Larry Ridley and drums are by Freddie Waits – two more key players in this very hip quartet – and titles include "Anthropolgy", "Dreams", "Autumn Leaves", 'Wave", "Morning Glory", and "Kriss Kross". CD

Beautiful stuff from one of the most soulful avant players of his generation! Pullen cut this rare set for the Why Not label during the mid 80s, and it's a wonderfully introspective session that has him paying homage to Monk on 4 classics ("Well You Needn't", "Round Midnight", "Trinkle Tinkle", and "In Walked Bud") plus 2 originals ("Monkin Around" and "Gratitude") which have a very Monkish feel. The angular lines of Monk are a nice juxtaposition with the warmer chords of Pullen's playing – and the whole set's recorded with that stunning fidelity you get from the Japanese piano sessions of the mid 70s. Plus, the CD reissue features 2 bonus alternate takes of "Gratitude" and "In Walked Bud". CD

Invisible threads of sound from reedman John Surman – heard here in a group that's got an especially great sound – as it features piano from Nelson Ayres and a mixture of vibes and marimba from Rob Waring! Surman's always great, but he's sometimes got an icier edge on ECM – which is definitely not the case here, as he blows between the ringing tones of the vibes and piano – a really unusual mix for a trio date like this, and one that fills the music with these warm chords that are wonderful. Surman blows soprano, baritone, and bass clarinet – and there seems to be a beautifully equal balance between the players in the creative process – on titles that include "On Still Waters", "Within The Clouds", "Autumn Nocturne", "At First Sight", "The Admiral", "Pitanga Pitomba", "Summer Song", and "Stoke Damerel". CD

A fantastic guitarist from the Japanese scene, and a player with a tone that's unlike anyone else we can think of – the great Masayuki Takayanagi, heard here in an early session done years before his work on the Three Blind Mice label! Masayuki has a raw edge on the strings – a rasp that's very different from what you might expect on the Japanese scene at the time, which often has guitarists who are much more polished in tone. At times, he's almost sounding as if he's trying to ply the instrument with the inflections of an acoustic guitar – although the more chromatic moments are definitely more electric – and the whole thing is set up with great arrangements from pianist Takeshi Shibuya, whose contributions really make the record shine! Titles include "Say It", "That Old Feeling", "My Foolish Heart", "Moritat", "Prelude In Chords", and "Who Can I Turn To" – all sounding very different than you might expect! LP, Vinyl record album

With some great vibes and marimba from Bobby Hutcherson! CD

The saxophone work of Tim Berne never fails to amaze us – and even after decades, he's got a presence and sense of individuality that really makes his music stand out! And that's definitely the case here – as Berne blows alto in a set of spare duets with guitarist Greg Belisle-Chi – a player who often uses these open chords with plenty of color – never overwhelming, but also never too mellow either – just a tonal contrast to the sharper edges of Tim's horn, which makes for a really great sound throughout! Titles include "Rose Bowl Charade", "Microtuna", "Purdy", "Big Belly", "Rabbit Girl", "Palm Sweat", and "Not What You Think They Are". CD

Wonderfully moody piano work from Joe Bonner – working here in spare solo space on one of his most evocative albums of the 70s! The album's filled with swirling piano lines, played in the usual sensitive Bonner style – stark single-note melodies standing out, couched by fuller chords that are dripping with color. The piano's acoustic throughout, but as with Kenny Barron at this time, there's a slight hint of electricity in the phrasing – and titles include "Tattoo", "Little Chocolate Boy", "Native Son", "The Lifesaver", and "The Observer". LP, Vinyl record album

John Escreet on piano, Fender Rhodes, and harpsichord – with David Binny on alto and soprano, Chris Potter on tenor, Matt Brewer on bass, and Jim Black on drums. CD

A wicked album that's one of Stan Getz's best from the 70s! The record features Stan reunited with Chick Corea, whose warm lyricism was the lynchpin in Getz's landmark Sweet Rain – the stunning session from 1968 that is perhaps our favorite-ever Getz album. Corea plays electric piano here, but with none of the indulgence that he was lapsing into at the time. His blocky chords stake out a stark new territory, into which Getz solos beautifully, into a range yet untapped at that time in his career. Tony Williams augments the group on drums, giving the whole thing a sense of freedom, but also a nice tight swing. Tracks include "La Fiesta", "Five Hundred Miles High", "Times Lie", and "Day Waves". Great stuff – and expanded here with the new track "Crystal Silence", plus bonus alternates of "Five Hundred Miles High" and "Captain Marvel". CD

A gem of a record from the great Sonny Greenwich – an open-toned guitarist with a style that's unlike anyone else we can think of – a Canadian player who never got much exposure down here in the US, but who really stands apart from most of the jazz guitarists of his generation! There's this unusual sense of color and phrasing that really makes Sonny stand out – chords that almost feel as if they're broken open and exposed from a Wes Montgomery sort of tightness – able to move with a sense of fluidity, but a unique sense of rhythm that's definitely Greenwich's own. The rest of the group here really match the spirit of his music – maybe more so than on any other record of his as a leader – a great lineup that includes Don Thompson on electric and acoustic piano, Rick Homme on bass, Terry Clarke on drums, and Clayton Johnson on percussion. All tracks are nice and long – and titles include "Peace Chant", "Lilly Lotus", "Parting", and "Starlight". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest, grooviest albums that pianist Vince Guaraldi ever recorded – a set that's got the same Peanuts theme as his earlier dates for Fantasy Records, but which also features some sweet electric touches that only make things even better than before! In addition to his warmly vamping piano, with all those lyrical touches we love so much, Vince is playing an electric harpsichord too – which makes for some very groovy moments – in a cool quartet that features guitar from Eddie Duran, bass from Stanley Gilbert, and drums from the great Carl Burnett! All tunes are Peanut-themed – the music that Guaraldi wrote for the TV specials – but they're sometimes taken at a looser style that's even jazzier overall – as you'll hear on the classic "Linus & Lucy", plus "Red Baron", "Peppermint Patty", "Great Pumpkin Waltz", and "Rain Rain Go Away". CD

One of the greatest Bobby Hutcherson albums for Blue Note – a classic session recorded in quartet form, with a style that seems to set a whole new standard for the vibes in modern jazz! The group here is sublime – Herbie Hancock on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums – all working with Bobby in cool, blocky chords, with a sound that lies somewhere on the road to "out", but has more of a swing than Hutcherson's "new thing" recordings! The balance is a perfect one – exciting and fresh, but still always soulfully grooving – and titles include a sublime version of Herbie's "Maiden Voyage" – plus originals by Hutcherson that include "The Omen", "Aquarian Moon", "Rojo", and "Head Start". CD

One of the greatest Bobby Hutcherson albums for Blue Note – a classic session recorded in quartet form, with a style that seems to set a whole new standard for the vibes in modern jazz! The group here is sublime – Herbie Hancock on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums – all working with Bobby in cool, blocky chords, with a sound that lies somewhere on the road to "out", but has more of a swing than Hutcherson's "new thing" recordings! The balance is a perfect one – exciting and fresh, but still always soulfully grooving – and titles include a sublime version of Herbie's "Maiden Voyage" – plus originals by Hutcherson that include "The Omen", "Aquarian Moon", "Rojo", and "Head Start". CD

A large, ambitious early 70s experiment in "chamber jazz" from pianist/composer Roger Kellaway – a really haunting set with the sweep you'd be much more in store for on a classical or chamber orchestra record, but with an earthbound core, chords and tonal shifts of a piano jazz album! Kellaway leads on piano, with a group that includes Emil Richards on percussion, Ed Lustgarten on cello and string arrangements, and the A&M Records staff symphony orchestra! Tracks include "Saturnia", "Sunrise", "Esque", "Invasion Of The Forest", "Morning Song" and more. CD

A stone classic on the Black Jazz label – and one of the most unique guitar albums ever! We're not sure what the title meant originally – but over the past few decades, it's come to stand for some heavy heavy guitar work from the legendary Calvin Keys – a record that's really stood the test of the time, continually rediscovered by new generations of diggers! Keys has a very unique touch here – a mix of open chords and tighter lines – beautifully wrapping up a history of soul jazz guitar that stretches back to the early 60s – then propelling things forward with loads of righteous 70s spiritual jazz energy. The set also features loads of sweet keyboards – played by Larry Nash, and mixed with flute and "hose-a-phone" from Owen Marshall – set to grooves from Lawrence Evans on bass and Bob Braye on drums. A stone classic from the Black Jazz label – and titles include "Gee Gee", "BK.", "BE", and "Shawn-Neeq". CD

Sweet electric funk from Ramsey Lewis! The album's one of his best from the 70s – and it's got Ramsey on Fender Rhodes, electric harpsichord, and other keyboards, grooving away in an open-ended 70s mode that still retains all the heavy soul of his classic work for Chess. Morris Jennings adds in some very nice percussion with his drum work, and Cleveland Eaton's on funky bass, giving the set a strong bottom groove. Features the sublime sample cut "My Love For You", a great version of "Knights In White Satin" that's done with a weird spacey groove, plus the tracks "Kufany Mapenzi (Making Love)", "Serene Funk", "What It Is!", and "Dreams". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album ever by Steve Marcus – a key player trying to mix rock and jazz at the end of the 60s! Marcus plays some really wild sax on the set – a bit of soprano and tenor, mixed with guitar and electric keys in a wonderfully fuzzy sound! The approach has lots of funk in the mix – thanks to drums from Bob Moses – and the whole set's got that really nice trippy psychedelic jazz feel that was used a lot on titles (like this one) done for Herbie Mann's hip Vortex records label! Years ahead of its time, with a sound that's only being appreciated fully today – and featuring some great jazz versions of psyche rock classics – like "Mellow Yellow", "Eight Miles High", "Rain", and "Tomorrow Never Knows" – all taken to electric jamming versions that work off of a modal groove and a Coltrane-esque approach to soloing! Also features a nice version of Gary Burton's "Half A Heart", which is one of the funkiest tunes on the record, and done with some cool electric Harpsichord! CD

An incredible blend of jazz and traditional Japanese instrumentation – done in a style that even has some nice funky touches from time to time! The work's a really ambitious one – taking simple musical patterns at its core, but then building them up and jamming over the top as the tracks progress – using unusual elements like koto, electric harpsichord, Fender Rhodes, and wordless vocals to make for some wonderful moments that seem to pop out of nowhere and really light up the tracks! Most of the record has a jazzy approach overall, but the sound is also far from the ordinary – making for an extremely unique session that really seems to define itself on its own terms! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the groovier albums the Modern Jazz Quartet ever recorded – as you might expect, given the cover and title! In addition to the group's usual cool sound from Milt Jackson's vibes, the set also features John Lewis playing a bit of harpsichord in addition to his usual piano – and the group's also augmented on a few tracks with some great horns from Snookie Young and Joe Newman on trumpets, Garnett Brown on trombone, Jim Buffington on French horn, and Don Butterfield on tuba – a change that really gives the record a nicely different flavor from other MJQ albums. John Lewis composed all of the tracks – and titles include "Walkin Stomp", "Dancing", "Plastic Dreams", "Variations On A Christmas Theme", "Travlin", "Piazza Novona", and "England's Carol". LP, Vinyl record album

Mindblowing! This is when Wes Montgomery really starts to get interesting to us – when he's working with a top-line arranger like Don Sebesky, crafting some incredibly compelling chords over lightly jazzy arrangements and soaring strings, in a whole new mode of expression that would go onto transform a generation of guitar players! And sure, this album sold a gazillion copies – but we'll be honest in saying that we think it's loads more complex and mature than some of Wes' straight jazz sides from earlier years – light years away from the small combo dates of the early years, both in conception and sound. Titles include "Day In The Life", "Watch What Happens", "California Nights", "Windy", "Trust In Me", and "The Joker". CD

A killer set from an amazing quintet made up of some of the best players to ever grace the Blue Note label! Horace Parlan leads a tight tight tight combo that includes Grant Green on guitar and Booker Ervin on tenor sax – and the three of them fit together beautifully, with a dark moody edge that's unlike anything we can think of – loads of sharp, downturning notes, deeply soulful solo moments, and this raw sound that's totally great! Ervin's tone is razor-sharp, Green's guitar is unbelievably precise, and Parlan keeps on laying out these beautiful blocky chords that have a deeply resonant bottom – supported wonderfully by rhythms from Al Harewood on drums and George Tucker on bass. Tracks include "The Book's Beat", "The Other Part Of Town", "Fugee", and "Up & Down". CD contains a bonus alternate of "Fugee". CD

A killer set from an amazing quintet made up of some of the best players to ever grace the Blue Note label! Horace Parlan leads a tight tight tight combo that includes Grant Green on guitar and Booker Ervin on tenor sax – and the three of them fit together beautifully, with a dark moody edge that's unlike anything we can think of – loads of sharp, downturning notes, deeply soulful solo moments, and this raw sound that's totally great! Ervin's tone is razor-sharp, Green's guitar is unbelievably precise, and Parlan keeps on laying out these beautiful blocky chords that have a deeply resonant bottom – supported wonderfully by rhythms from Al Harewood on drums and George Tucker on bass. Tracks include "The Book's Beat", "The Other Part Of Town", "Fugee", and "Up & Down". CD

A set of jazz standards, but tunes that are nicely remade in the hands of guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel – really given that warm, raspy sound that he gets while effortlessly spinning out chords on his instrument – grooving gently, and with a voice that's become one of the most distinct on jazz guitar in recent decades! The rest of the group features Michael Kanan on piano, Joe Martin on bass, and Tim Pleasant on drums – players who lay back very strongly on the ballads, yet swing when needed – on titles that include "Darn That Dream", "Epiphany", "Summertime", "Sippin At Bells", "When Sunny Gets Blue", and "Dewey Square". CD

A great little set from the precursor to Steps Ahead – heard here on a Japanese-only album that's got a really wonderful sound! The group's a quintet that includes Michael Brecker on tenor, Mike Maineri on vibes, Don Grolnick on keyboards, Eddie Gomez on bass, and Peter Erskine on drums – working together in a style that's mostly acoustic, but which has some slight electric touches on the bottom – expanding the sound ever so slightly, but still letting the jazz colors and tones of the players dominate the set. Tracks are all originals, and all quite long – and the bass of Gomez and vibes of Maineri really give the whole thing a sense of soul that pushes it ahead of the pack. Titles include "The Aleph", "NL4", "Patch Of Blue", "Four Chords", and "Nichka". CD

One of the hippest albums ever from Chicago reedman/trumpeter Ira Sullivan – a set that takes on a really different feel than his previous bop-styled records – and which shows a whole new side of the musician! Ira's clearly inspired here by the changes in jazz in the 60s – particularly the work of John Coltrane – and he reaches forward in a wonderfully expressive way that's filled with joy, life, and a spiritual sensibility we never heard this strongly again in Sullivan's music. There's a definite modal jazz vibe to most of the record – played beautifully by an obscure rhythm section that features Dolphe Castellano on piano and electric harpsichord, William Fry on bass, and Jose Cigno on drums – players with a wonderfully refreshing conception that really makes the album sparkle. Yet Sullivan's the clear star of the show, too – really shining on a range of horns that includes trumpet, tenor, and soprano sax – sometimes played together on the same tune. Lon Norman plays a bit of trombone on the record – and the set's got some great eastern numbers like "Ninevah", "Horizons", and "Adah" – plus the tracks "Oh G", "Norwegian Wood", and "E Flat Tuba G". LP, Vinyl record album

Four hands, and plenty of power – a stunning set of improvisations between these two longtime avant greats – and a set that may well be one of the boldest we've heard from either player in years! Maybe it's the quality that the Trost label seems to get from musicians, or maybe it's just a special fire that's burning as Aki Takase meets with Alexander Von Schlippenbach – but whatever the case, the record explodes with these incredibly inventive attacks on the piano – energy on the keys that's simply mindblowing, at a level that definitely lives up to Schlippenbach's strongest recordings, and which has us opening up our ears to Takase all over again! Titles include "Stoneblock 2", "Blade", "Apple Of Dischord", "Jumping Jack", "N Dance", "Nearly Yours", "Allegro Agitato", and "Exit O". CD

Totally great work from a young Mike Nock – a pianist that most folks know for his electric and experimental sounds of the 70s, but who's appearing here on record for the first time ever – at the head of a totally cooking soul jazz combo! Nock's command of the piano is tremendous right from the start – both hands flying freely, but with a very rhythmic vibe – one that's underscored by the strong work of Freddy Logan on bass and Chris Karan on drums – both musicians we don't know at all, but who really know how to make the record groove – especially in comparison to other Aussie jazz dates from the time. The bass is especially great – a key part of the album's sound, and explored by Nock with these bluesy chords on the piano – and titles include "Move", "Way Back", "Primitive", "Little Niles", "Freshwater", and "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". LP, Vinyl record album

Stanley Turrentine meets Bob James – on a record that's one of the 70s classics on CTI! Bob James handles the arrangements – with that laidback, mellowfunky approach to jazz that he helped pioneer at the time – lots of modal chords in the rhythms, and these wonderfully soulful solos by the great Stan himself! James plays keyboards on the set – and Harold Mabern adds some piano too – and the lineup also includes the mighty Eric Gale on guitar, and Idris Muhammad on drums. Titles include the great title cut – a remake of Marvin Gaye's "Don't Mess With Mister T", plus "Too Blue", "Two For T", and "I Could Never Repay Your Love". CD

A strong live set from the end of the 70s – one that shows the culmination of McCoy Tyner's work within larger concept settings, a format that he'd been exploring thoroughly since the passing of his old leader, John Coltrane. The ensemble here is quite strong – with George Adams and Joe Ford on flute and saxes, Woody Theus on drums and bells, Guilherme Franco on percussion, and Charles Fambrough on bass – and with Tyner, they work out some majestic tracks that soar with a spirituality supported by strong, blocky, piano chords. The highlight of the set is a 15 minute reading of Tyner's "Fly With The Wind", and other tracks include "Hand In Hand", "The Greeting", "Pictures", and a version of Coltrane's "Naima", done as a solo piano work. LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual album from 1973 – one that has Italian guitarist Franco Cerri working with larger backings, in a style that's almost a bit like soundtrack work of the time! Franco's guitar lines are clean and clear – right up front in the mix, over a range of strings, plus bits of organ, harpsichord, and flutes too – all directed by the great Nando De Luca, with a feel that's warm and sweet, but never too mellow! The guitar glides nicely over the top – making for a really light sort of groove, and a change from Cerri's straighter work of previous years – on titles that include "Miss Iva", "Bostrizione", "Toilette", "Lady Stinta", "Penelope Jane", and "Vado E Tornio". LP, Vinyl record album

Groundbreaking early work from Stan Getz – a 12" LP that compiles earlier recordings made for Prestige at the end of the 40s – all of which are a perfect exercise in tone, timing, and balance! The setting is simple – quartets with either Al Haig or Tony Aless on piano – but Getz makes magic from the start, flowering the tunes with inventive twists and turns in his horn – not in a simple boppish copycat mode, but in a style that's dripping with soul and feeling all the way through! The record won't hit you over the head as much as some of Stan's later Verve work, but it's almost even better because of that – as even in the simplest of settings, Getz really manages to grab our ear right away, and amaze us with his deft command and personal direction of his instrument! Titles include "Long Island Sound", "Mar-Cia", "Indian Summer", "Crazy Chords", "There's A Small Hotel", "The Lady In Red", "My Old Flame", "What's New", and "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams". LP, Vinyl record album

A real moment of genius for Joe Henderson from the 80s – a spare trio session, recorded live at the Village Vanguard, in a mode that recalls Sonny Rollins classic sets there for Blue Note! And while Sonny often performed heavily in a trio setting, unfettered by chords in the rhythm section – this is a unique date for Joe, and he sounds brilliant throughout! Ron Carter and Al Foster provide a crisp but elastic foundation for Henderson's burnished melodies and solos in a very spacious setting – and this first volume features the tracks "Beatrice", "Friday The Thirteenth", "Happy Reunion", "Loose Change", "Ask Me Now", and "Isotope". CD