Joe Lovano and Joshua Redman on tenor sax, Mulgrew Miller on piano, Christian McBride on bass, Lewis Nash on drums, and Don Alias on percussion. CD

Includes classic 50s sides with Chet Baker, Zoot Sims, Chico Hamilton, and Bob Brookmeyer – plus more recent material recorded for GRP. CD

Featuring Nicholas Payton, Marlon Jordan, and Jamil Sharif on trumpet, Delfeayo Marsalis on trombone, Louis Ford on clarinet, Donald Harrison Jr on alto sax, Victor Goines on tenor sax, Peter Martin on piano, Elton Heron on bass, Adonis Rose on drums, and John O'Neal on vocals. CD

A collection of Bud's work for Verve – put together as a memorial album after Bud's passing in 1966. The tracks are nearly all from the 50s, but also fetaure a few numbers from 1949 – with Bud playing solo on 3 tracks, and in various trios on others – alongside players that include Max Roach, Art Taylor, Kenny Clarke, and Percy Heath. Titles include "Tempus Fugue-it", "Round Midnight", "Buttercup", "Woody N You", "Mediocre", and "Be-Bop". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the hippest projects we've heard from drummer Ben Riley in awhile – a big band project devoted to the music of Thelonious Monk, and one that gets most of its angular changes from the saxophone section! There's a great post-Monk quality to this one that makes it way more than just a copycat of the old days – a re-interpolation of the music and inspirations of Monk for a slightly different jazz idiom, presented with 4 saxophones, 1 trumpet, guitar, bass, and drums – and no piano at all! Riley's on drums, and saxophones include Bruce Williams on alto and soprano, Wayne Escoffery and Jimmy Greene on tenor, and Jay Brandford on baritone – working alongside guitar from Freddie Bryant, bass from either Kiyashi Kitagawa or Peter Washington, and trumpet from Don Sickler, who sometimes blasts out in the lead. Titles include "Gallop's Gallop", "Green Chimneys", "Shuffle Boil", "Straight No Chaser", "Rhythm-A-Ning", and "Let's Call This". CD

A stunning extended set from the great Woody Shaw – a majestic, spiritual album that almost feels more like something that you'd hear on the Strata East label than you might expect from the more straight ahead Contemporary Records imprint! The lineup is as majestic as the music – and Woody's trumpet is joined by alto and soprano sax from Gary Bartz, electric piano from Geroge Cables, tenor and flute from Benny Maupin, bass from Clint Houston, and drums from Lenny White – all very hip players who really help the record soar! If you dig the early work of Gary Bartz, or some of Shaw's more soul jazz outings of the early 70s – you'll definitely dig this one – and the double-length nature of the record gives all players plenty of room to do their thing! All the tracks are long, and the set list includes "Deed For Dolphy", "Boo Ann's Grand", and "New World". CD

A stunning extended set from the great Woody Shaw – a majestic, spiritual album that almost feels more like something that you'd hear on the Strata East label than you might expect from the more straight ahead Contemporary Records imprint! The lineup is as majestic as the music – and Woody's trumpet is joined by alto and soprano sax from Gary Bartz, electric piano from Geroge Cables, tenor and flute from Benny Maupin, bass from Clint Houston, and drums from Lenny White – all very hip players who really help the record soar! If you dig the early work of Gary Bartz, or some of Shaw's more soul jazz outings of the early 70s – you'll definitely dig this one – and the double-length nature of the record gives all players plenty of room to do their thing! All the tracks are long, and the set list includes "Deed For Dolphy", "Boo Ann's Grand", and "New World". LP, Vinyl record album

The legacy here is a strong one – given that most of the players on the set have their roots in some of the most soulful jazz of the 60s and 70s! Trumpeter Charles Tolliver's the first member listed of the ensemble, but it's hardly his group – and is more of a collective effort between players who include Gary Bartz on alto and soprano sax, Grachan Moncur on trombone, John Hicks on piano, Mickey Bass on bass, and Billy Hart on drums – all musicians who really do a lot here to recreate the soulful sound of the indie jazz scene of the 70s. Bass produced the record, and it's issued on his own Early Bird label – home to a few other great dates like this – and titles include "Brother Rick", "The Juggler", "Avotcja", "A For Pops", "Do A Funny Dance", and "Franess". CD

Features Cedar Walton on piano, Steve Turre on trombone, Philip Harper on trumpet, Javon Jackson on tenor sax, David Williams on bass, Billy Higgins on drums, and special guest Lou Donaldson on alto sax! CD

10-LP set collecting volumes from Inner City's Jazz Legacy series – with classic recordings by Clifford Brown, Roy Eldridge, Johnny Hodges, Django Reinhardt, Zoot Sims, Mary Lou Williams, Milt Jackson & JJ Johnson, Sidney Bechet & Martial Solal, Buck Clayton, and Dizzy Gillespie. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from George Shearing, Eastern Rebellion featuring Cedar Walton, Anita O'Day & Paul Smith Trio, Terry Gibbs Quartet, Pillars Of West Coast Jazz and Les McCann. CD

Collects material from Seven Steps To Heaven, Quiet Nights, Miles Davis In Europe, My Funny Valentine, Four & More, Miles In Tokyo, and Miles In Berlin – plus tracks that appeared on Directions and other compilations as well as plenty of previously unissued material. CD

One of the most formative periods of Miles Davis' career, with lots of new ideas taking shape – including Fender Rhodes from Herbie Hancock, guitar from George Benson and Joe Beck, and plenty of great tenor from Wayne Shorter, bass from Ron Carter, and drums from Tony Williams! Includes material that appeared on the albums Miles Smiles, ESP, Sorcerer, Nefertiti, Water Babies, Miles In The Sky, and Filles De Kilimanjaro – as well as unreleased tracks, alternates, and material that showed up on Directions and Circle In The Round. CD

This stunning live set has been hailed by many as one of the finest moments of Miles' mid 60s career – music played with a frenetic energy that even blows away the famous studio sessions of the time! The group here is a landmark lineup – young modernists Wayne Shorter on tenor, Herbie Hancock on piano, and Tony Williams on drums – all reaching out to really increase their craft, and work through new ideas alongside Miles' trumpet. CD

Right On! Quite possibly the heaviest, baddest music ever laid to tape, this set offers up over 6 hours of some of the deepest, darkest free jazz, afro funk, fist in the air post-modern musique concrete to sprout from Miles' horn and crew! This box closes the door on the studio side of what may be the most influential studio jams wrought at the turn of the 70s, issuing the unedited original takes of the material that Miles and Teo Macero would parse down and edit into On The Corner and Big Fun, plus some material that made it out on various compilations later issued on Columbia, and best of all, a dozen never before released tracks! The core group here is Miles, Michael Henderson, Mtume, Al Foster and Reggie Lucas, but Dave Liebman, Carlos Garnett, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Jack Dejohnette, Pete Cosey, Badal Roy, Bennie Maupin and John McLaughlin, as well as a number of other players, are all featured, which isn't surprising when you consider the ground covered here! The groove here is unstoppable funk, as on the nearly 20 minute jam that is the unedited full take of "On The Corner" and drawn out renditions of "Mtume", "Turnaround", "Ife" and "Helen Butte/Mr Freedom X", but the vibe veers in other directions too, as with the breezy "Maiysha", the multilayered "Calypso Frelimo" and the spacious "He Loved Him Madly". There's 31 tracks spread out over the 6 discs, ther unissued gems include "Hip-Skip", "Chieftain", "What They Do", "Peace" and "Mr Foster", and as you'd expect, the box is extra deluxe, with a thick booklet full of notes and some great quotes from the band, and a sweet metallic box to hold it all together! Vote Miles! CD

Includes the songs "Now's The Time", "Jeru", "Compulsion", "Tempus Fugit", "Walkin'", "'Round Midnight", "Bye Bye Blackbird", "New Rhumba", "Generique", "Summertime", "So What", "The Pan Piper", "Someday My Prince Will Come", "My Funny Valentine", "E.S.P.", "Nefertiti", "Petits Machins (Little Stuff)", "Miles Runs The Voodoo Down", "Little Church", "Black Satin", "Jean Pierre", "Time After Time", and "Portia" CD

Breakneck live work from Miles Davis – and proof that his famous 60s quintet wasn't only just about mellow and spacious sounds! The set was recorded at the same concert as the album My Funny Valentine – and while that one's mostly ballads, this one's mostly high tempo numbers that skip along with incredible ease – crackling with modern touches on the rhythm from Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams – and featuring some really excellent work by George Coleman on tenor sax! Titles include "Four", "So What", "Joshua", and "Seven Steps To Heaven". CD

Not just Miles Davis live at Newport – but Miles at Newport over the course of 20 years, in the space of eight different live performances – almost all of which are previously unreleased! Apart from the 1958 and 1969 Newport material here, most of the 4CD set features all-new, all-great vintage Miles material – with Newport performances from 1955, 1958, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, and 1975 – the last three of which are Newport festivals in Europe and New York. And these aren't just random tracks, but full sets, too – even with some announcements at the start or end – and players include Gerry Mulligan and Zoot Sims for the 1955 concert; John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, and Bill Evans in 1958; Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams for 1966 and 1967; Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, and Chick Corea in 1969; a big electric group with Keith Jarrett, Gary Bartz, Michel Henderson, and Mtume in 1971; and Pete Cosey, Davie Liebman, Reggie Lucas, and Mtume for the 1973 and 1975 shows. A huge amount of material – 4 CDs in a great package, with detailed notes, too! CD

A wonderful live set from the Seven Steps-era Miles group – with rhythm by Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams – and tunes that are all in that transformative mode that really showed Miles hitting a new voice at the time! Tenorist George Coleman's playing with the group on the set – proving again that he's got a depth that few people ever seem to give him credit for – and that it wasn't just Wayne Shorter who made the 60s Davis quintet so great. Titles include "Autumn Leaves", "All Of You", "Walkin", and "Joshua". CD features the bonus track "I Thought About You" – and new liner notes by Harvey Pekar! CD

A really great bit of live work from Miles Davis – and the first-ever recorded appearance of the quintet with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams – even though the album was never issued in the US at the time! The set follows very strongly in the mode of the group's work at the Plugged Nickel – with a pace that's faster than usual, and bristling with freely exploratory energy. Titles include "Milestones", "So What", "Walkin", and a nicely stepped-up version of "Autumn Leaves". Shorter's solos are worth the price of the record alone, but Williams' work on the kit never ceases to amaze! CD features a bonus track – "Stella By Starlight"! CD

A really great bit of live work from Miles Davis – and the first-ever recorded appearance of the quintet with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams – even though the album was never issued in the US at the time! The set follows very strongly in the mode of the group's work at the Plugged Nickel – with a pace that's faster than usual, and bristling with freely exploratory energy. Titles include "Milestones", "So What", "Walkin", and a nicely stepped-up version of "Autumn Leaves". Shorter's solos are worth the price of the record alone, but Williams' work on the kit never ceases to amaze! CD features a bonus track – "Stella By Starlight"! CD

Miles Davis makes the electric transition – in this groundbreaking set from the late 60s! The classic mid 60s quintet is still in place here – Wayne Shorter on tenor, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums – but the sound is looser, freer, and more spacious – often echoing some of the rhythmic concerns that would dominate Miles' music in a few more years, but without as much of a bombastic sound. Williams' drums are amazing – fierce one minute, then fading the next – and Herbie Hancock's use of both electric and acoustic piano really points at his own directions in coming years. George Benson plays one one track – "Paraphernalia" – introducing electric guitar to the Miles Davis sound – and other long tracks on the set include "Stuff", "Black Comedy", and "Country Son". CD features 2 bonus alternate takes of "Black Comedy" and "Country Son". CD

Miles Davis' first-ever performance in Japan – a really unique concert that featured the quintet with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams – augmented by a young Sam Rivers on tenor! The presence of Rivers really gives the set an edge – and although Miles is holding Sam a bit more in check than on some of his "new thing" albums from the time, there's an overall quality here that's different than the other Davis quintet albums of the time. The set was one of a number of important Miles Davis live sessions from the period – including albums from Berlin, Antibes, and Chicago – and titles include "If I Were A Bell", "My Funny Valentine", "So What", "Walkin'" and "All Of You". CD

A key point in the development of the Miles Davis sound of the 60s – his first album to feature work from Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams – augmented by some equally nice work on other tracks from Victor Feldman and Frank Butler! The sound here is beautifully spare – a wonderful exploration of ideas that Miles had been putting forth on some other albums for Columbia, but crafted here with a vision that's apparent in the very first note – and which transforms both the tunes and the work of the players into a focused, near-perfect sound all the way through. Titles include "So Near So Far", "Seven Steps To Heaven", "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "Joshua", and "Basin Street Blues" – which even sounds great in this setting! CD

Another bold new direction for the legendary Miles Davis Quintet of the 60s – a set that has some of the angular styles of earlier albums, but also a bit more of the flowing grace to come in the electric years! A key illustration of this is the leadoff track "Prince Of Darkness" – which has a fluid sensibility that still never fails to floor us, even all these many decades later! The rest of the tracks are equally great – even when subtle – and by this point, the group of Davis, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams were well earning their acclaim as one of the most groundbreaking groups in jazz. Titles include "Prince Of Darkness", "Masqualero", "The Sorcerer", "Pee Wee", and "Vonetta" – plus the odd inclusion of a vocal version of "Nothing Like You" – recorded 5 years before with singer Bob Dorough and arranger Gil Evans! The tune's an odd cap to this otherwise cohesive set – but we love it plenty too, and it somehow oddly fits! CD reissue features alternate takes of the tracks "Masqualero" and "Limbo"! CD

Another bold new direction for the legendary Miles Davis Quintet of the 60s – a set that has some of the angular styles of earlier albums, but also a bit more of the flowing grace to come in the electric years! A key illustration of this is the leadoff track "Prince Of Darkness" – which has a fluid sensibility that still never fails to floor us, even all these many decades later! The rest of the tracks are equally great – even when subtle – and by this point, the group of Davis, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams were well earning their acclaim as one of the most groundbreaking groups in jazz. Titles include "Prince Of Darkness", "Masqualero", "The Sorcerer", "Pee Wee", and "Vonetta" – plus the odd inclusion of a vocal version of "Nothing Like You" – recorded 5 years before with singer Bob Dorough and arranger Gil Evans! The tune's an odd cap to this otherwise cohesive set – but we love it plenty too, and it somehow oddly fits! CD reissue features alternate takes of the tracks "Masqualero" and "Limbo"! CD

Another bold new direction for the legendary Miles Davis Quintet of the 60s – a set that has some of the angular styles of earlier albums, but also a bit more of the flowing grace to come in the electric years! A key illustration of this is the leadoff track "Prince Of Darkness" – which has a fluid sensibility that still never fails to floor us, even all these many decades later! The rest of the tracks are equally great – even when subtle – and by this point, the group of Davis, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams were well earning their acclaim as one of the most groundbreaking groups in jazz. Titles include "Prince Of Darkness", "Masqualero", "The Sorcerer", "Pee Wee", and "Vonetta" – plus the odd inclusion of a vocal version of "Nothing Like You" – recorded 5 years before with singer Bob Dorough and arranger Gil Evans! The tune's an odd cap to this otherwise cohesive set – but we love it plenty too, and it somehow oddly fits! CD reissue features alternate takes of the tracks "Masqualero" and "Limbo"! CD

Nine tracks from the box set. CD

Loads of material from this famous pair – issued on albums that include Jazz Track, Round Midnight, Milestones, Kind Of Blue, Someday My Prince Will Come, Miles & Monk At Newport – and lots of other obscure compilation tracks and unissued numbers! CD

Loads of material from this famous pair – issued on albums that include Jazz Track, Round Midnight, Milestones, Kind Of Blue, Someday My Prince Will Come, Miles & Monk At Newport – and lots of other obscure compilation tracks and unissued numbers! CD

A slightly misleading record – but a great one nonetheless! From the title and cover, you might imagine that Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis were sharing the stage together at the Newport Jazz Festival – but instead, the album actually features separate performances by each artist – actually even recorded 5 years apart! The Miles Davis recording is from 1958 – a great year that has John Coltrane working with the group, alongside Wynton Kelly on piano, Cannonball Adderley on alto, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums – performing lively versions of "Ah Leu Cha", "Straight No Chaser", "Fran Dance" and "Two Bass Hit". The Monk material is even more unique – recorded in 1963, with Monk's usual quartet of Charlie Rouse on tenor, Butch Warren on bass, and Frankie Dunlop on drums – joined by the legendary Pee Wee Russell on clarinet – recently revived in jazz at the time, and displaying surprisingly modernist tendencies! Both Monk tracks are long – and include versions of "Nutty" and "Blue Monk". CD

... CD

Deep and bluesy work from the all-star Ellington group of the late 50s – a beautifully recorded album that moves way past the simple cliche of its title! The set features a host of original tunes from Duke Ellington and other members of the group – and players include Jimmy Hamilton on tenor, Ray Nance on trumpet, Matthew Gee on trombone, and the wonderful Johnny Hodges on alto – playing here at the peak of his later powers. Titles include "Three J's Blues", "Smada", "C Jam Blues", "Sweet & Pungent", "Blues In Blueprint", "The Swinger's Jump", and "Blues In Orbit". CD features 8 bonus tracks too – including "Track 360", "Brown Penny", "Sweet & Pungent (alternate)", and "Pie Eye's Blues (alternate)". CD

Deep and bluesy work from the all-star Ellington group of the late 50s – a beautifully recorded album that moves way past the simple cliche of its title! The set features a host of original tunes from Duke Ellington and other members of the group – and players include Jimmy Hamilton on tenor, Ray Nance on trumpet, Matthew Gee on trombone, and the wonderful Johnny Hodges on alto – playing here at the peak of his later powers. Titles include "Three J's Blues", "Smada", "C Jam Blues", "Sweet & Pungent", "Blues In Blueprint", "The Swinger's Jump", and "Blues In Orbit". CD features 8 bonus tracks too – including "Track 360", "Brown Penny", "Sweet & Pungent (alternate)", and "Pie Eye's Blues (alternate)". CD

Tracks include "Satin Doll", "Take The A Train", "Solitude", "C Jam Blues", "Perdido", "Prelude To A Kiss", and more. CD

Titles include "Satin Doll", "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", "Take The A Train", "C Jam Blues", "Mood Indigo", "Prelude To A Kiss", "Perdido", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of small group recordings with Duke Ellington's sidemen – tracks recorded by groups led by Rex Stewart on cornet, Barney Bigard on clarinet, Cootie Williams on trumpet, and Johnny Hodges on alto. CD

One of Duke Ellington's standout sides for Columbia – a strong recording that revisits many of the best elements of his earlier work, and offers up some more sophisticated scoring for the 50s – thanks to extended track length in the LP generation! The tunes here are older ones, but they're taken to some nicely hip territory – thanks to Duke's strong ear for modern changes, and a line up of players that includes Billy Strayhorn on piano, Paul Gonsalves on tenor, Clark Terry and Ray Nance on trumpets, Juan Tizol on trombone, and Louis Bellson on drums. Bellson does a great job on the classic "Skin Deep" – a real showcase for his talents in this recording – and other titles include "The Mooche", "Take The A Train", and "Perdido" – plus a 13 minute reading of "A Tone Parallel To Harlem (aka The Harlem Suite)". CD

Duke Ellington with Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmie Blanton, Rosemary Clooney, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane, Sathima Bea Benjamin, Ray Brown, Mahalia Jackson, and Billy Strayhorn. CD

Don't let the title put you off, because this certainly isn't a session of background music – and the name simply refers to the fact that the arrangements on the set really showcase the strong horn work of the Ellington orchestra! Duke's still on piano for the session, but the real strength of the album's carried by classic Ellington players that include Ray Nance, Willie Cook, Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Hamilton, Harry Carney, and Lawrence Brown. Arrangements are by Bill Mathieu and Gerald Wilson – and although many of the tunes are older Ellington numbers, they've got a tight groove (and excellent recording quality) – which updates the material nicely. Titles include "Midriff", "Main Stem", "Happy Go Lucky Local", "What Am I Here For", "Kinda Dukish", and "Perdido". CD features 5 bonus tracks – "Lullaby Of Birdland" (in 2 versions), "The Wailer", "Dreamy Sort Of Thing", and "Harlem Air Shaft". CD

One of the Duke's greatest jazz recordings – and an album that features some incredible solo work on piano – at a level with other modernist small group sessions in the Ellington catalog, like Money Jungle or Live at the Whitney! As the title says, Duke's piano is very much in the foreground – working in spare trio format that includes Aaron Bell on bass and Sam Woodyard on drums, both plucked from the larger orchestra, and given some great space to work on the set! Duke's the real star, though, and he sparkles tremendously on tunes that include "Summertime", "A Hundred Dreams Ago", "So", "Springtime In Africa", "Blues For Jerry", and "Fontainebleau Forest". CD also features the bonus tracks "Lotus Blossom", "All The Things You Are" (in 2 versions), and 4 different "Piano Improvisations"! CD

One of the Duke's greatest jazz recordings – and an album that features some incredible solo work on piano – at a level with other modernist small group sessions in the Ellington catalog, like Money Jungle or Live at the Whitney! As the title says, Duke's piano is very much in the foreground – working in spare trio format that includes Aaron Bell on bass and Sam Woodyard on drums, both plucked from the larger orchestra, and given some great space to work on the set! Duke's the real star, though, and he sparkles tremendously on tunes that include "Summertime", "A Hundred Dreams Ago", "So", "Springtime In Africa", "Blues For Jerry", and "Fontainebleau Forest". CD also features the bonus tracks "Lotus Blossom", "All The Things You Are" (in 2 versions), and 4 different "Piano Improvisations"! CD

Tracks include "St. Louis Blues", "Autumn Leaves", "Stormy Weather", "Sophisticated Lady", "Body and Soul", and "Willow Weep For Me". CD

Includes the songs "East St. Louis Toodle-O", "In A Sentimental Mood", "Stompy Jones", "Prelude To A Kiss", "C Jam Blues", "Sentimental Lady", "Take The "A" Train", "Satin Doll", "In A Mellow Tone", "Solitude", "Mood Indigo", and "Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue". CD

True masterpieces from Duke Ellington – some of his greatest compositions, presented here in an early Columbia LP that offers up "uncut concert arrangements" – clearly grooming a new side of Duke for the long-playing audience! The recordings were made in 1950, with players who include Johnny Hodges and Paul Gonzalves on saxes, Ray Nance and Cat Anderson on trumpets, and Tyree Glenn and Quentin Jackson on trombones. The tracks include "Mood Indigo", "Sophisticated Lady", "The Tattooed Bride" and "Solitude". Includes 3 bonus tracks – shorter numbers, but great ones – "Vagabonds", "Smada", and "Rock Skippin At The Blue Note". CD

Includes the songs "Night In Tunisia", "52nd Street Theme (Take 2)", "Anthropology (Take 1)", "Oop-Pop-A-Da", "Two Bass Hit", "Stay On It", "Algo Bueno (Woody'n You)", "Cubana Be", "Cubana Bop", "Manteca", "Good Bait", "Ool-Ya-Koo", "Guarachi Guaro",and "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid". CD

Benny Goodman's famous 1938 live date at Carnegie Hall – with Teddy Wilson and Count Basie on piano, Lionel Hampton on vibes, Johnny Hodges on alto, Cootie Williams and Buck Clayton on trumpet, and Lester Young on tenor – plus Gene Krupa on drums, on his famous reading of "Sing Sing Sing". CD

With George Cables on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Eddie Gladden on drums. CD includes three non-LP bonus tracks, including lengthy readings of "More Than You Know" and "The End Of A Love Affair". CD

Includes the tracks "Watermelon Man", "'Round Midnight", "Cantaloupe Island", "Maiden Voyage", "Circle", "The Sorcerer", "Tell Me A Bedtime Story", "Hidden Shadows", "Chameleon", "Joanna's Theme", "Butterfly", "People Music", "Milestones", "4 A.M.", "Come Running To Me", "Finger Painting", "Stars In Your Eyes", "Rockit", "St. Louis Blues", and "Manhattan". CD

An incredible record – and virtually the blueprint for countless other keyboard records to come! At the height of his 70s powers, Herbie really takes off into space with this set – moving away from more commercial music, and hitting a groove that's totally righteous, totally electric, and completely mindblowing! The album's got a bit of a Headhunters vibe, but it also veers off into some very wild analogue electronics too – a mix of Fender Rhodes, clavinet, melotron, and echoplex processing – augmented by additional work on Arp from Patrick Gleeson. Other players on the set include Bennie Maupin on reeds, Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Julian Priester on trombone, Buster Williams on bass, and Billy Hart on drums – and the great Buck Clarke rounds out the combo on percussion. The album only features three long tracks – "Rain Dance", "Hidden Shadows", and "Hornets" – but all of them are killers! CD

An incredible record – and virtually the blueprint for countless other keyboard records to come! At the height of his 70s powers, Herbie really takes off into space with this set – moving away from more commercial music, and hitting a groove that's totally righteous, totally electric, and completely mindblowing! The album's got a bit of a Headhunters vibe, but it also veers off into some very wild analogue electronics too – a mix of Fender Rhodes, clavinet, melotron, and echoplex processing – augmented by additional work on Arp from Patrick Gleeson. Other players on the set include Bennie Maupin on reeds, Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Julian Priester on trombone, Buster Williams on bass, and Billy Hart on drums – and the great Buck Clarke rounds out the combo on percussion. The album only features three long tracks – "Rain Dance", "Hidden Shadows", and "Hornets" – but all of them are killers! CD

Includes 16 tracks with Lester Young on tenor sax, Teddy Wilson on piano, Buck Clayton on trumpet, and others. (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

Titles include "The Man I Love", "Mean To Me", "Time On My Hands", "He's Funny That Way", "Fine And Mellow", and "I Must Have That Man" – 16 tracks total. (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

The long-overdue reissue of some of Ahmad Jamal's first recordings – early sides for the Okeh and Columbia labels, all tunes that would go on to have a huge influence on the use of the piano in jazz! All tracks on the set were recorded in the early 50s with Jamal's great drumless trio that featured Ray Crawford on guitar and either Eddie Calhoun or Israel Crosby on bass – the latter of whom is tremendous here, working as a player who really helped set his instrument free from its traditional role in jazz. The trio's blend of guitar, bass, and piano is completely unique – extremely inventive at both a rhythmic and melodic level, as each instrument often fills both roles equally well – dancing around with an internal groove that emerges outwardly as an especially fluid approach to the tune. If you've never heard Jamal at his early best like this, the CD's gotta be one of the best places we can think of to start – as it features 21 titles in all, all beautifully remastered with impeccable sound that goes far beyond even our original albums! Titles include "Poinciana", "Black Beauty", "Something To Remember You By", "Pavanne", "Perfida", "Rica Pulpa", "Old Devil Moon", "Autumn Leaves", "Ahmad's Blues", and "Aki & Ukthay". CD

A totally wonderful album from the young Keith Jarrett – and a set that's different than most of the pianist's other well-known modes – not his solo improvisations, not his successful trio material, and not even his more outside quartet modes of the 70s – but instead this incredible criss-crossing of sounds that really stands apart from most of his other records! The album features Keith on piano and soprano sax – an instrument he played more early on – in open, freewheeling tracks that often mix tuneful passages with more rhythmic pulsations – handled with a core group that includes Charlie Haden on bass and Paul Motian on drums, working with guitar from Sam Brown, tenor from Dewey Redman, percussion from Airto, and some larger string and brass arrangements too! Jarrett also plays electric piano at times, and the album has some of the lyricism of Treasure Island, but with a very different vibe – spun out beautifully over the space of the double-length set. Titles include "Take Me Back", "Expectations", "Vision", "Common Mama", "The Magician In You", "Sundance", "Nomads", and "Bring Back The Time When". CD

Tracks include "Land Of Make Believe", "Bellavia", "Main Squeeze", "Children Of Sanchez (Overture)", "Fun And Games" and "Feels So Good". CD

The electric years of Miles Davis have left a huge legacy in music – one that's referenced again and again, and continually revisited by generations of musicians, both young and old! Here, that legacy gets some especially nice treatment – by a group of artists who include some key collaborators with Miles in years back, plus other musicians too – in a project that even features two unreleased solo performance by Davis himself! Vince Wilburn Jr is the leader of the project, and players are almost far too many to mention here – so we'll just list a few – including Wallace Roney, Bernard Wright, Vernon Reid, Stanley Clarke, Ron Carter, Donald Harrison, Marcus Miller, Jeremy Pelt, John Scofield, and Lenny White – all working in deeply layered territory that definitely pushes the older electric mode forward. Titles include "Over My Shoulder", "Hail To The Real Chief (long version)", "Mellow Kisses", "That You Dare Not To Forget", and "Bitches Are Back". LP, Vinyl record album

The electric years of Miles Davis have left a huge legacy in music – one that's referenced again and again, and continually revisited by generations of musicians, both young and old! Here, that legacy gets some especially nice treatment – by a group of artists who include some key collaborators with Miles in years back, plus other musicians too – in a project that even features two unreleased solo performance by Davis himself! Vince Wilburn Jr is the leader of the project, and players are almost far too many to mention here – so we'll just list a few – including Wallace Roney, Bernard Wright, Vernon Reid, Stanley Clarke, Ron Carter, Donald Harrison, Marcus Miller, Jeremy Pelt, John Scofield, and Lenny White – all working in deeply layered territory that definitely pushes the older electric mode forward. Titles include "Over My Shoulder", "Hail To The Real Chief (long version)", "Mellow Kisses", "That You Dare Not To Forget", and "Bitches Are Back". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the last great records by Charles Mingus – a set of extremely compelling original compositions, played by a fresh group of younger players, plus a few older masters! The record's got a fire and sense of emotion that's missing from a number of other 70s Mingus sessions – and it's one of the few later albums we'd easily rank right up there with his late 50s and early 60s classics! Orchestrations were partially arranged and conducted with help from Sy Johnson – and soloists include James Moody and Bobby Jones on tenor, Charles McPherson on alto, Snookie Young and Lonnie Hillyer on trumpet, and Roland Hanna on piano. Titles include "The Shoes Of The Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers", "Adagio Ma Non Troppo", "The Chill of Death", and "The I Of Hurricane Sue". CD features the bonus track "Taurus In The Arena Of Life". CD

A Columbia Records classic by the great Charles Mingus – his follow-up to the seminal Mingus Ah-Um, and a set that's got a very similar flavor! As with some of Mingus' best material for Columbia, the album has him working with a slightly larger ensemble, but still holding onto the intensity of his smaller groups from a few years before – a way of merging the voices of saxophonists like Booker Ervin, John Handy, Benny Goldson, and Jerome Richardson – yet still allowing them space to break out with moments of pride and power that really send the whole thing home! This mix of the individual and ensemble is key to the Mingus genius of the period – and is also heard in the work of Roland Hanna on piano, Donald Ellis on trumpet, Jimmy Knepper on trombone, and Theodore Cohen on vibes – all of whom work alongside Charles' key drummer of the time, the great Dannie Richmond. Titles include "Diane", "Song With Orange", "Gunslinging Bird", and "Far Wells Mill Valley" – and a haunting take on "Mood Indigo". CD includes the bonus track "Strollin" and unedited versions of "Slop", "Song With Orange", "Gunslinging Bird", and "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" – all of which were originallly shaved down for release on the original album, now here in their proper form for the first time! CD