Mose Allison creates a very swinging machine for this classic Atlantic Records set – by adding in a few horns to his usual trio, and making for a groove that's even jazzier overall! Mose's vocals are wonderful, as always – extremely witty, with that great balance of New Orleans roots and 60s hipster jazz – served up in a host of his own wonderful compositions! But at some points, the horns step out even more strongly, and get some great solo play of their own – with excellent work from the obscure Jimmy Reider on tenor sax, a surprisingly great player we wish we knew better – plus the great Jimmy Knepper on trombone. Some tunes are instrumentals – and titles include the classic"Swingin Machine", plus "Do It", "Stop This World", "Promenade", "If You're Goin To The City", and "Saritha". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Unissued live material from a great stretch in the career of Count Basie – that time when he was turning in some excellent concert performances for Roulette Records, material that's got very similar charms to the music on this set! As with most of Roulette Basie, that revived sense of timing from Neal Hefti is very strongly in play – that magnificent sense of space between the notes that made this period of the Count's ensemble such a great one – with a rhythmic focus that's brilliant, and which opens up with even more excitement when a key soloist steps in! Players include Thad Jones and Snooky young on trumpets, Henry Coker and Benny Powell on trombones, Frank Foster and Eric Dixon on tenors, Freddie Green on guitar, Marshall Royal on alto, and Frank Wess on flute and alto – and there's a bit of vocals on a few tracks from later soul singers OC Smith and Irene Reid. Titles include "Segue In C", "Why Not", "Easy Money", "Backwater Blues", "Lil Darlin", "Easin It", "April In Paris", and "Cute". CD

Unissued live material from a great stretch in the career of Count Basie – that time when he was turning in some excellent concert performances for Roulette Records, material that's got very similar charms to the music on this set! As with most of Roulette Basie, that revived sense of timing from Neal Hefti is very strongly in play – that magnificent sense of space between the notes that made this period of the Count's ensemble such a great one – with a rhythmic focus that's brilliant, and which opens up with even more excitement when a key soloist steps in! Players include Thad Jones and Snooky young on trumpets, Henry Coker and Benny Powell on trombones, Frank Foster and Eric Dixon on tenors, Freddie Green on guitar, Marshall Royal on alto, and Frank Wess on flute and alto – and there's a bit of vocals on a few tracks from later soul singers OC Smith and Irene Reid. Titles include "Segue In C", "Why Not", "Easy Money", "Backwater Blues", "Lil Darlin", "Easin It", "April In Paris", and "Cute". CD

Sure it's not the Blue Note years, but this is an excellent late set by Byrd that shows he was still one hell of a leader! Byrd's at the head of a strong group that includes Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Joe Henderson on tenor, Donald Brown on piano, and Rufus Reid on bass – and the tracks are a blend of modal and soul jazz styles, awash with color and warmth, really stretching past earlier work by Byrd. Lorice Stevens sings soprano vocals on two tracks – "A City Called Heaven" and "Remember Me" – and the other tracks include "Del Valle", "King Arthur", "Not Necessarily The Blues", and "Buck Down In Lu Easy Anna". CD

A wonderful reunion of the team of Frank Foster and Frank Wess – caught here in an easy-going and laidback style that's miles away from their work with Count Basie! The youthful rhythm section of Kenny Barron, Rufus Reid, and Marvin Smitty Smith really adds a lot to the set – giving the record a later sort of soul jazz vibe, one that's perfect for the pair to solo over in open-ended lines. Both Franks play tenor sax, and Wess plays flute and alto as well – while Foster does some excellent work on soprano sax. Titles include "Bay Street", "Two For The Blues", "But For The Likes Of You", "Nancy With The Laughing Face", "Your Beauty Is A Song Of Love", and "A Time For Love". CD

A later session by Toots Thielemans – but also one of his greatest albums ever, thanks to a super-hip rhythm section that includes Mulgrew Miller on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums! The format here is spare and simple – Toots on harmonica, guitar, and a bit of whistling – in front of the core trio, who really help set the tone for the album. There's a warm and fluid grace here that recalls Miller's own excellent recordings of the 80s – yet also a gentleness that allows the aging Toots more than enough space to do his thing. And honestly, given the tricks, gimmicks, and overly-sentimental qualities of so many other of Thielemans' recordings, this set may well be one of his best straight jazz outings on record. Titles include "Footprints", "Blues On Time", "What Kind Of Fool Am I", "Laura", "The Windmills Of Your Mind", and "Sultry Serenade". CD