One of the grooviest albums recorded by trombonist Kai Winding in the 60s – a set that follows the larger ensemble mode he moved to after parting ways with trombonist JJ Johnson, yet one that also has some surprisingly groovy elements in the mix! The album was recorded in Nashville, and features the "modern country" promised in the title – as Kai takes on tunes from the Nashville songbook, with help from Bill McElhiney and Grady Martin on the larger charts – the latter of who also plays guitar on record, alongside Nashville legend Harold Bradley! There's some great use of organ at times, which really emphasizes a more soulful vibe in the music – and the Anita Kerr singers come in on a few tracks, with those wonderful harmonies that sound even better in a non-country setting than they do on their standard work for RCA. Titles include "Wolverton Mountain", "Busted", "I Really Don't Want To Know", "Detroit City", "I Walk The Line", "Dang Me", and "Slippin Around". LP, Vinyl record album

Like so many Milestone 2-fers from the 70s, this set combines two excellent 60s hard bop LPs into one nice set! Both sides feature Adderley's trademark soul jazz hard bop hybrid, but in contexts that add a twist to the settings you might otherwise have heard Cannonball in. The first album's a quintet side featuring brother Nat, Wynton Kelly, Victor Feldman, Sam Jones and Louis Hayes with Feldman playing vibes on the tracks that feature Kelly, piano on the ones that don't – and includes "Arriving Soon", "New Delhi", "Winetone", and "Lisa". Cannonball's soulful alto meets the cerebral piano of Bill Evans in a more stripped down setting, with the group filled out by Percy Heath and Connie Kay, for a set that's filled with surprises, and some nice modal moments. The set includes versions of two of Evans' tracks – "Waltz For Debby" and "Know What I Mean?" – plus nice moody takes on other material, like John Lewis' "Venice", Clifford Jordan's "Toy", and Gordon Jenkins' "Goodbye". LP, Vinyl record album

An all-star set from Cannonball Adderley – a hip standout in his pre-Capitol years for Riverside! The "plus" in the title is pianist Wynton Kelly – who works with the group wonderfully on 4 of the album's 6 tracks – bringing in a slightly different feel on the keys than you might get from some of Cannon's other albums – slightly lyrical at points, in a really great way. Rhythm is from the rock-solid team of Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums – and of course Nat Adderley's also in the group on cornet, and Victor Feldman rounds out the ensemble on vibes, but also plays piano on the tracks that don't feature Kelly. There's a strong undercurrent of Adderley's Riverside soul jazz vibe on the set – and titles include "Arriving Soon", "New Delhi", "Winetone", "Well You Needn't", "Star Eyes", and "Lisa". CD

Fantastic stuff – and one of the greatest records ever by Brazilian keyboardist Antonio Adolfo! The album was recorded at the end of the 70s, and has a sound that's a lot like the best fusion work by Azymuth – a great mix of jazz and funk, plus more dynamic Brazilian elements – all wrapped together in a way that a rare few hybrids do this well! There's great keyboards right up front in the mix – and the backing has some tight percussion that crackles along and gives the album a heavy bottom and a great groove. The album was originally only issued on the tiny Artezanal label – but it feels like a lost gem from the classic funk years at Fantasy Records – internationally funky, far past just a Brazilian music gem. Titles include the massive break cut "Cascavel", plus other nice tracks like "Viralata", "A Marcha", "Assanhada", "Vermelhinho", and "Brincadeira Em Mi Bemol". (Brazil, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Bob Berg on tenor & soprano saxophone, David Kikoski on piano, Ed Howard on bass, Gary Novak on drums, Randy Brecker on trumpet & flugelhirn & Mike Stern on guitar. CD

Rare work by Cannonball Adderley – recorded in the early 60s, but not issued until after his death! The album features live material – recorded in Tokyo and San Francisco – performed by Cannon's amazing sextet that includes Joe Zawinul on piano, Yusef Lateef on reeds, Nat Adderley on cornet, and the rhythm section of Sam Jones in bass and Louis Hayes on drums. Tracks are all long and grooving – with a sublime mix of the earlier soul jazz that Adderley forge in the late 50s, with some of the more exotic traces that were coming into the group through the work of Lateef. Titles include "New Delhi", "Peter & The Goats", "This Here", "Jive Samba", "Primitivo", "Autumn Leaves", "Dizzy's Business", and "Never Say Yes". CD

An all-star set from Cannonball Adderley – a hip standout in his pre-Capitol years for Riverside! The "plus" in the title is pianist Wynton Kelly – who works with the group wonderfully on 4 of the album's 6 tracks – bringing in a slightly different feel on the keys than you might get from some of Cannon's other albums – slightly lyrical at points, in a really great way. Rhythm is from the rock-solid team of Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums – and of course Nat Adderley's also in the group on cornet, and Victor Feldman rounds out the ensemble on vibes, but also plays piano on the tracks that don't feature Kelly. There's a strong undercurrent of Adderley's Riverside soul jazz vibe on the set – and titles include "Arriving Soon", "New Delhi", "Winetone", "Well You Needn't", "Star Eyes", and "Lisa". CD also features a bonus alternate take on "Lisa". CD

An all-star set from Cannonball Adderley – a hip standout in his pre-Capitol years for Riverside! The "plus" in the title is pianist Wynton Kelly – who works with the group wonderfully on 4 of the album's 6 tracks – bringing in a slightly different feel on the keys than you might get from some of Cannon's other albums – slightly lyrical at points, in a really great way. Rhythm is from the rock-solid team of Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums – and of course Nat Adderley's also in the group on cornet, and Victor Feldman rounds out the ensemble on vibes, but also plays piano on the tracks that don't feature Kelly. There's a strong undercurrent of Adderley's Riverside soul jazz vibe on the set – and titles include "Arriving Soon", "New Delhi", "Winetone", "Well You Needn't", "Star Eyes", and "Lisa". CD

Long live tracks from a fantastic performance by the Cannonball Adderley Quintet – stretching out and soaring, in the manner of some of their best material done for the Riverside label at the time! The recordings appear here for the first time ever, and they've got a clarity that matches the best of the famous Adderley live albums on Riverside – Cannonball on alto and brother Nat on trumpet – in a quintet that also features Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums, a superb rhythm duo – plus work from Victor Feldman on both piano and vibes! If you know Feldman with Adderley, you know he sounds a lot hipper than usual – and he even contributed four really great tunes to the lineup – "New Delhi", "Serenity", "Lisa", and "Exodus" – next to other takes on "Our Delight", "Hi Fly", "Sack O Woe", and "This Here". CD

The title says "jazz", but there's a lot more going on here – a range of groundbreaking sounds and styles from the 70s, with some sweet electric modes, occasional Latin rhythms, currents of soul, and even a bit of Brazilian too! The package really takes us back to the kind of rare tracks we first started digging decades ago – when collectors from London and Tokyo were really helping us appreciate the kinds of records we might have passed by in the racks – the lesser names, the smaller labels, and even the more globally expansive range of releases that could sometimes be missed if you were only digging for American jazz! That range of music is really represented here in a great way – with tunes that soar strongly and bristle with energy throughout – sometimes in modes that might echo a label like MPS or Strata East, but often in very unique styles of their own. Titles include "Maryke" by John Thomas & Lifeforce, "La Em Guayaquil" by Banda Metalurgia, "Samba For A Cold Warrior" by Belair, "Samba De Amor" by Francisco Mora Catlett, "Little Sunflower" by Louis Hayes with Leon Thomas, "The World Is A Ghetto" by Lee Willhite, "No Other Love But You" by Clarice Labbe & Charlie Hampton, "Misturada" by Finn Savery Trio, "Kingdom Within You" by Ira Sullivan, and "Latinetta" by Ronald Snijders. (Funky Compilations, Jazz) CD