Eric Dolphy's second album as a leader – and already a bold step forward from the first! The format here changes from the more standard lineup of before – as Dolphy drops out other horn players, loses the piano, and brings the cello of Ron Carter into the frontline! Backing is by the bass of George Duvivier and the drums of Roy Haynes – and the mix of cello and bass creates the freely spirited sound that allows Dolphy to take off on even freer solo flights. The session has a very moody, very dark feel – especially on the tracks where Dolphy is playing B flat and bass clarinet – and titles include "The Baron", "Eclipse", "Sketch Of Melba", "Feathers", and "17 West". LP, Vinyl record album

Obscure small group work from Duke Ellington – trio sides recorded in 1953! Titles include "Janet", "B Sharp Blues", "Night Time", "Dancers In Love", "Kinda Dukish", and "Retrospection". LP, Vinyl record album

A great set of early cool jazz and bop – with cuts that include "Oo La La" by Dizzy Gillespie, "Opus 96" by Bill Harris, "Aishie" by Buddy DeFranco, "Budo" by Miles Davis, and "Overtime" by Charlie Barnet. LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of early bop singles cut for Capitol – one that includes some excellent rare material, including fantastic early work by Babs Gonzales, and some of Sonny Rollins' first work on record! Babs clocks in with some great little vocal numbers that include – "Real Crazy", "Prelude To A Nightmare", "Professor Bop", and "Capitolizing" – all gems that rank with his best offbeat vocal tunes of later years. Dizzy's in a similar format on some of his tunes – titles that include "Coast To Coast", "You Stole My Wife You Horsethief", "Say When", and "Oo La La" – and Tadd Dameron finishes up the album with some great tracks that include "Sid's Delight", "Casbah", "John's Delight", and "Heaven's Doors Are Open Wide". LP, Vinyl record album

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A great version of Ralph Burns' "Early Autumn" – and vintage 40s material from the Herman band, with Red Rodney, Ernie Royal, Conte Candoli, and Rolf Ericson on trumpets; Serge Chaloff, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, and Stan Getz on saxes! LP, Vinyl record album

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With featured soloists including Art Pepper, Shorty Rogers, Milt Bernhart, Ray Wetzel, Bob Cooper, Lennie Niehaus, Bill Holman, Lee Konitz, Kent Larsen, Bill Perkins, Jack Sheldon, Richie Kamuca, Jerry McKenzie, San Noto, Gabe Baltazar, Dick Hypde, Bud Shank, and John Lowe. LP, Vinyl record album

Nice Capitol album from the 50s, one that compiles instrumental sides by Nat King Cole and his tight little LA combo that forever changed the face of jazz and R&B. It's nice to hear Nat only on piano here – and backing by the great Oscar Moore on guitar is really a treat! Titles include "Rhumba Azul", "Prelude In C Sharp Minor", "Laugh! Cool Clown", "This Way Out", "Bop Kick", and "Easy Listenin' Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty cool record from legendary drummer Gene Krupa – filled with loads of unusual percussion, all played live for the recording – set to arrangements by George Williams that are mighty dynamic! Tunes are sometimes from classical sources, but swung in a completely different way! LP, Vinyl record album

A great document of an early all-star jazz concert – recorded at Town Hall by a young Bob Shad – who's clearly working here in the same live territory as producer Norman Granz! There's a great sense of variety going on here – and the record's maybe worth it alone for an excellent performance by a trio with Gene Krupa on drums and Charlie Ventura on tenor – with only piano, and no other instrumentation – a great mode for both players! The album also features work from a quintet led by pianist Teddy Wilson with Flip Phillips on tenor – on the tune "Sweet & Lovely"; a trio with Billy Taylor on piano and Stuff Smith on violin, on "Perdido"; a fantastic duet between Don Byas' tenor and Slam Stewart's bass on "I Got Rhythm"; and a Red Norvo group with Shorty Rogers on trumpet and Flip Phillips on tenor, on the tunes "The Man I Love" and "One Note Jive". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes three tunes from a 1945 session by the Capitol International Jazzmen, with Bill Coleman on trumpet, Buster Bailey on clarinet, Benny Carter on alto, Coleman Hawkins on tenor, Nat King Cole on piano, Oscar Moore on guitar, John Kirby on bass, Max Roach on drums, and Kay Starr on vocals; four tunes by the Metronome All Stars from 1947 and 1951, with sidemen that include Dizzy Gilletpie, Buddy DeFranco, Flip Phillips, Nat King Cole, Buddy Rich, Miles Davis, Max Roach, and others; and a side's worth of material from Louis Bellson's Just Jazz All Stars from 1952, with Clark Terry, Juan Tizol, Wardell Gray, Billy Strayhorn, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

With Benny Carter, Bud Freeman, and Willie The Lion Smith! LP, Vinyl record album

A great late 60s album that brings together earlier bop sides recorded for Blue Note – key material from two of the biggest modernists in the early days of the label! The James Moody tracks are from an early 10" session – recorded in 1948 with Dave Burns on trumpet, Art Blakey on drums, James Forman on piano, and Cecil Payne on baritone – all working under the name James Moody & His Modernists, on tracks that include "Oh Henry", "Tropicana", "The Fuller Bop Man", and "Moodamorphis" – all penned by Gil Fuller. Side two features a 1954 session led by pianist George Wallington with Burns on trumpet, Jimmy Cleveland on trombone, and Frank Foster on tenor – on titles that include "Festival", "Bumpkins", "Frankie & Johnny", and "Baby Grand". LP, Vinyl record album

Early 70s Capitol collection – includes a 50s cooker from Gerry Mulligan – working here with a real birth of the cool-styled group that includes Chet Baker and Pete Candoli on trumpets, Bud Shank on alto, John Graas on French horn, Bob Enevoldsen on trombone, and Chico Hamilton on drums – a really wonderful group that has a swing that's might lighter than you might guess from its size! The set is nicely arranged throughout – an early example of Gerry's powers in this respect – with plenty of thought in each tune, yet never so much so that the proceedings get too academic. Titles include "Rocker", "Walking Shoes", "Simbah", "Ontet", "Westwood Walk", "A Ballad", "Taking A Chance On Love", and "Flash". Also includes late 40s EPs by Stan Hasselgard & His All Star Six, and the Red Norvo Septet! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the only albums of jazz we've seen from the Korean scene of the 70s – and a really special little record that aims to echo some of the most spiritual modes from the US scene of the time! The record's the brainchild of arranger Lee Pan Guen – who doesn't play on the record, but leaves the music to a hip lineup that features trumpet, tenor or soprano sax, piano, bass, and drums plus percussion – often used in a way that's either modal or slightly lyrical, depending on the tunes. A few tracks are remakes of American numbers, but done at a level that's very personal and fluid – echoing the spiritual currents of the original tunes on the set – and titles include "Han O Baek Nyun", "My Favorite Things", "Gasiri", "Bin Ba Da", "Arirang", and "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the only albums of jazz we've seen from the Korean scene of the 70s – and a really special little record that aims to echo some of the most spiritual modes from the US scene of the time! The record's the brainchild of arranger Lee Pan Guen – who doesn't play on the record, but leaves the music to a hip lineup that features trumpet, tenor or soprano sax, piano, bass, and drums plus percussion – often used in a way that's either modal or slightly lyrical, depending on the tunes. A few tracks are remakes of American numbers, but done at a level that's very personal and fluid – echoing the spiritual currents of the original tunes on the set – and titles include "Han O Baek Nyun", "My Favorite Things", "Gasiri", "Bin Ba Da", "Arirang", and "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". CD

3 years' of music spread out on 5 different CDs – some of the best albums recorded by Sonny Rollins in the 60s! The package is a great look at the key sides that Sonny recorded for RCA in the years right after his return to playing in the early 60s – and every record here is a treasure, each different in its own way! Sonny Meets Hawk features a landmark live meeting with Coleman Hawkins; Our Man In Jazz is an extended live workout, with some of his most adventurous blowing to date; What's New has a great inflection of Latin and Caribbean rhythms in the music; Now's The Time is a wonderful quartet date with Herbie Hancock on piano, and guest cornet from Thad Jones; and Standard Sonny Rollins is a return to inside playing, but with key evidence of the modern lessons from previous records. Each album comes packaged in a tiny 5" record sleeve – just like the original – and all are contained in a larger slipcase too. A few records feature bonus tracks – and the set includes 38 tracks in all, including bonus cuts! CD

Sweet early work by organist Shirley Scott – some of the first trio sides she recorded when stepping out as a leader! Shirley had first come to fame as the organist in the Eddie Lockjaw Davis combo, but here she shows an even more versatile approach than on those groundbreaking sides – really stepping out on the keys, with a freedom that's clearly inspired by the early Jimmy Smith recordings on Blue Note, and which is somehow even more powerful than some of her later work. Possibly one of the core ingredients here is the fact that Shirley's working in more of a piano trio mode than other organists at the time – going without a guitarist, and using both bass and drums for rhythm – so that the organ is the main solo vehicle on the tunes, really dominating the proceedings, even on the shorter numbers. Tracks are mostly standards and familiar numbers, but they're soulfully done by Shirley in a style that glides nicely throughout! The 16 track set features material from 2 full albums – with titles that include "The Scott", "Four", "Brazil", "Baby Won't You Please Come Home", "Trees", "Summertime", "There Will Never Be Another You", and "I Can't See For Lookin". CD

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Titles include "Willow Weep For Me", "I Cover The Waterfront", "Dardanella", "Sweet Lorraine", "My Heart Stood Still", "Blue Skies", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest things about Ken Vandermark – and one of the reasons why we think he's one of our favorite players in the Chicago underground – is the way that he's completely open about his roots and influences, never failing to give credit where credit is due, and let folks know about the music that's inspired him over the years. And although Ken's recorded more than a few tracks by these influences on his own albums in years past, this set goes that one better – by acting as a 2CD set that's almost a "primer" in avant jazz of the late 20th century. There's a great batch of material on the set – works by Ornette Coleman, Anthony Braxton, Lester Bowie, Joe McPhee, Sun Ra, Don Cherry, Frank Wright, Archie Shepp, and others – all recorded live at Chicago's Empty Bottle, by a very well-honed Vandermark 5. Titles include "Saturn", "Goodbye Tom B", "Happy House", "69L", "Wherever Junebugs Go", "King Korn", "The Earth", and "Scootin About". CD

Ken Vandermark's a hell of a genius on his own – but he's also pretty darn generous as well! Vandermark is easily one of the greatest living saxophonists working today, yet he's never one to toot his own horn (no pun intended) – and instead goes out of his way to credit the artists who've helped him shape his style over the years – in this case Sonny Rollins and Roland Kirk, both of whom are the focus of this set! CD 1 features Six For Rollins – a set of tracks that mixes Sonny Rollins compositions with Vandermark's own, in the tradition of Impulse classics Four For Trane or Three For Shepp – all in the spirit of Rollins, but pushing farther too! CD 2 features Free Kings – The Music Of Roland Kirk – a beautiful exploration of Kirk's compositions from the 60s and early 70s, played with great intensity by the Vandermark 5 lineup of Ken Vandermark on reeds, Jeb Bishop on trombone, Kent Kessler on bass, Dave Rempis on alto and tenor, and Tim Daisy on drums. Titles include "The Bridge", "Strode Rode", "John S", "East Broadway Rundown", "Alfie Suite", "Free Kings Suite", "Black & Crazy Blues", "Inflated Tear", "Handful Of Fives", "Rip Rig & Panic", and "No Tonic Press". CD

Features tracks by Memphis Jug Band, Washboard Sam, Washboard Rhythm Kings & more! (Blues, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Features Billie Holiday, Lee Wiley, Chu Berry, Coleman Hawkins, Sidney Bechet, Eddie Heywood, and more! LP, Vinyl record album

With Muggsy Spanier, Max Kaminsky, Joe Bushkin, Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Condon, Bob Haggart, and more! LP, Vinyl record album

Rare 78 rpm recordings from Fess Williams, Taylor's Dixie Orchestra, Ross Deluxe Syncopators, Eddie Johnson's Crackerjacks, Williamson's Beale Street Frolics Orchestra, Jimmie Lunceford & his Chickensaw Syncopators, Mart Britt, Blue Steele, Andy Kirk & his Twelve Clouds of Joy, and Slatz Randall. CD

Music from Jeri Southern, Peggy Lee, Chris Connor, Mildred Bailey And Her Orchestra, Gloria Lynne, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Lena Horne With Lou Bring And His Orchestra, Etta Jones, Billie Holiday, and more - 18 songs in all. (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

Includes music from Ella Fitzgerald, Lester Young, John Coltrane, Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, Oscar Peterson, Louis Bellson, Benny Carter and more – 15 tracks in all. CD

Really classic jazz grooves from the vaults of Prestige Records – the kind of cuts that first broke big on the London scene of the 80s, at a time when diggers were setting fire to the rare groove scene too! The cuts here are proof that some of the best work doesn't need to come from completely obscure groups or super-tiny labels – as the music here is exactly the kind of work that made huge waves in the US jazz scene when first released, then went underground for many years – until later collectors and diggers brought it back to the limelight! The great thing is how many of these cuts are all acoustic – no need for electricity to make things funky – as you'll hear on tracks that include "Hiyo Silver" by Bennie Green, "Grease Monkey" by Kenny Burrell with Jack McDuff, "Mau Mau" by Art Farmer, "Mambo Inn" by Billy Taylor with Candido, "Manteca" by Red Garland, "Blue Stompin" by Hal Singer, "Spider Man" by Freddie McCoy, "Filthy McNasty" by Eddie Jefferson, "Flatjacks" by Willie Rodriguez, "Blue Gator" by Willis Jackson, and "Pedro Stroller" by Johnny Lytle. (Funky Compilations, Jazz) CD

Includes performances by composer Thelonious Monk, plus recordings by Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Wes Montgomery, Bill Evans, Art Pepper, and Ron Carter. LP, Vinyl record album

With Julia Lee, Nat Cole, Red Nichols, Buddy De Franco, Hollywood Hucksters, and Big Sid Catlett's Band. LP, Vinyl record album

A great collection of early South African jazz and other grooves! Featuers work by Four Yanks, Skylarks, Kippie Moeketsi, Spokes Mashiyane, Jazz Dazzlers, Royal Players, and others! (Global Grooves, Jazz) CD

The Duke takes his famous orchestra – including Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, Barney Bigard, and Jimmy Blanton – to Fargo, North Dakota. The complete concert features performances of "Stompy Jones", "Ferryboat Serenade", "Sepia Panorama", "Slap Happy", "Sidewalks Of New York", "Caravan", and "Congo Brava". 50 tracks total. CD

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Collects material recorded for Okeh, Parlophone, and Commodore – with Bunny Berigan, Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Condon, Jess Stacy, Bobby Hackett, Floyd O Brien, Cozy Cole, and George Welting. CD

Bluebird, Columbia, and Decca recordings – with Jack Teagarden, Max Kaminsky, Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Condon, and Dave Bowman. Tracks include "The Eel", "Satanic Blues", "I've Found A New Baby", "I Need Some Pettin", "Tia Juana", "Prince Of Wails", and "Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble". 24 tracks total. CD

Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet and vocals, Jimmy Powell and Phil Woods on alto saxophone, Billy Root and Marty Flax on baritone saxophone, Nelson Boyd and Paul West on bass, Rod Levitt on bass trombone, Charlie Persip on drums, Walter Davis Jr and Wynton Kelly on piano, Benny Golson, Billy Mitchell, and Ernie Wilkins on tenor saxophone, Al Grey, Frank Rehak, and Melba Liston on trombone, and Ermet Perry, Joe Gordon, Lee Morgan, and Quincy Jones on trumpet. CD

Dizzy Gillespie caught live at Monterey – recorded with a great group during one of our favorite stretches in his career! The combo's kind of a post-Lalo Schifrin quintet, but still shares plenty of the bossa-inspired elements of his tenure with Diz – long tracks, bits of Latin rhythms, and a hip swing that's just right for the 60s! James Moody's in the group on alto, flute, and tenor, Kenny Barron plays piano, Chris White is on bass, and Rudy Collins is on drums – and Jon Hendricks joins the group on vocals for one cut too! Titles include "Morning Of The Carnival", "Dizzy Atmosphere", "Vote Dizzy", "Desafinado", "No More Blues", and "The Cup Bearers". CD

Massively mellow funk – played by a cool Chicago trio that's heavy on the electric keys! The group's led by the team of keyboardist Gregory Bibb and guitarist James Norris – with the former working through a set of tasty keys that include Fender Rhodes, clavinet, and farfisa! Rhythms are lean, laidback, and nicely stripped-down – funky, but chilled out – in a kind of a groove that was years ahead of its time, and which is now only finally getting its due. There's some really heavy drums on the best cuts – hard, but with rhythms that are slightly off-kilter, in a way that makes for a really refreshing groove, even when the group's covering work by other artists. The whole thing's instrumental – with the original tracks "Brother Marcus" and "Changing Things" – plus great covers of "Love & Happiness", "Shaft", and a great version of "Ain't No Sunshine". Nice laidback funk, with a super-dope sound that's as a hip as the cover! CD

Includes lots of Brunswick, Commodore, and Melrose big band material – plus a trio version of "The Man I Love" – just trumpet, piano, and drums – recorded for V-Disc. CD

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Classic material from Fletcher Henderson featuring early work by Benny Carter and Coleman Hawkins. CD

With Johnny Hodges, Ray Nance, Wardell Gray, Betty Roche, Rene Hall, Billy Douglas, Oscar Petiford, and Charlie Shavers. CD

With Hilton Jefferson, Snub Mosley, Ovie Alston, Albert Snaer, Fernando Arbello, Bobby Sands, Edmond Hall, and Gene Johnson. CD

A fantastic soul jazz set from the 60s – one of the few ever cut by pianist Harold Johnson, and a record that brims over with youthful power and new ideas! The Harold Johnson Sextet were an incredible little LA soul jazz combo during the late 60s. Johnson was a very soulful pianist, and he had a heavy soul style that was similar to Ramsey Lewis' Cadet work – but which was also tinged with the lyricism of Horace Silver, and the emerging modal sound of Stanley Cowell. This first session by the group was originally issued on a small label, became a local hit, and was picked up by the Revue label for national distribution. It's got an incredible sound, and is very very catchy. The band features Johnson's piano in a very strong lead – plus flute, alto, and tenor. Billy Jackson plays a hard rolling conga behind the whole thing – and tracks include "House On Elm Street", "Watts '67", "Something Mellow", and "Yeah Uh Huh". CD

Lots of solo piano material, plus four rare quartet tracks by Nick & His Creole Serenaders! Titles include "Daintiness Rag", "Mama And Papa Blues", "Blues For Jimmy", "Jungle Drums", "Liza", "Aunt Hagar's Blues", "The Dream", "Woman Blues", and "Mo Pas Lemme Ca" – 22 tracks total. CD

With Ike Quebec, Eddie Condon, Edgar Sampson, JC Heard, Buster Harding, Tyree Glenn, Dave Rivera, and Hilton Jefferson. CD

Overlooked recordings from the Chicago via New Orleans pianist Richard M Jones. This is the second of two volumes and collects work with his groups the Jazz Wizards and the Chicago Cosmopolitans. Tracks include "Canal Street Blues", "29th & Dearborn", "Hot & Ready", "Joe Louis Chant", "Trouble In Mind", "Blue Reefer Blues", and "Tickle Britches Blues". (Blues, Jazz) CD

Includes two complete Jazzland LPs, a Riverside album, and excerpts from two 1961 live radio broadcasts from Birdland in NYC! CD

Vocalion and Bluebird sides cut by trumpeter and bandleader Wingy Manone. With Bud Freeman, Jack Teagarden, Joe Marsala, Matty Matlock, Ray Bauduck, George Brunies, Carmen Mastren, and Eddie Miller. CD

20 songs. CD

Notable sidemen include Buddy Tate, Earl Bostic, Skip Hall, Chips Outcalt, Walter Page, Joe Evans, George Nicholas, andJuimmy Buxton. CD

Pre-war Bluebird recordings featuring Tony Pastor, Georgie Auld, Buddy Rich, and Helen Forrest. Tracks include "My Heart Stood Still", "Rosalie", "The Man I Love", "It's All Yours", "Any Old Time", and "Carioca". 22 tracks total. CD

Rare Brunswick sides recorded by from Jabbo Smith and his group the Rhythm Aces right here in Chicago! Tracks include "Weird & Blue", "Lina Blues", "Take Your Time", "Little Willie Blues", "Let's Get Together", "Decatur Street Tutti", and "Michigander Blues". CD

With Joe Bushkin, Sidney De Paris, Joe Turner, Jess Stacy, Perry Smith, Bernard Addison, and Naomi Price. CD

Rare 78s for Mercury, Decca, and Jazz Limited – with work by Truck Parham, Red Richards, and George Brunies! CD

Two early sixties albums on one CD! CD

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