Features Phil Woods on alto, Dave Grusin on keyboards, Grady Tate on drums, and Chuck Domanico on bass. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Herbie Mann rides his Memphis Underground approach over to London – where he grooves nicely in a similar jazz funk take on that scene's biggest tunes of the time! The set was recorded in the UK, and features hip help from an assortment of rockers – including Mick Taylor and Albert Lee on guitars, Ian MacDonald on alto sax, and Aynsley Dunbar on drums – plus Herbie's frequent partner Pat Rebillot on keyboards. The sound is surprisingly laidback at times – warmly soulful, and a lot less rockish than you might guess for an album with two guitarists in the mix – and titles include "Bitch", "Spin Ball", "Mellow Yellow", "Paper Sun", "Layla", and Herbie's original "Memphis Spoon Bread & Dover Sole" – plus a great Fender Rhodes-heavy take on "You Never Give Me Your Money". LP, Vinyl record album

With Wally Fawkes on clarinet, Butch Thompson on piano and clarinet, and guest Catherine Lord on violin. LP, Vinyl record album

Mellow and wonderful work from Billy Taylor – caught here in a setting that feels much more relaxed and unrestrained than some of his other 50s outings! The group's his classic trio with Percy Brice on drums and Earl May on bass – and Billy's incredibly inventive on the keys, working through a long original entitled "Midnight Piano", as well as great readings of "The London House", "Love Is Here To Stay", "Stella By Starlight", and "Gone With The Wind". LP, Vinyl record album

This session shouldn't work, but it does – and beautifully! By all means, an album that includes Diz, Art Blakey, Monk, and Sonny Stitt playing together should be a first-rate snoozer, with hackneyed performances of common-denominator material that they can all get their hooks around – but instead, it's an amazing bit of work that has all players hitting some of their best moments of the 70's! Diz has that great deep 70's funk sound in his trumpet, Stitt's solos are razor sharp, and Blakey's drums have a good snap to them, and were recorded extremely well, despite the fact that this was a live session. All tracks are long, and the record includes great versions of "Tin Tin Deo", "Night In Tunisia", "Allen's Alley", "Blue Monk", "Woody N You", and "Tour De Force". LP, Vinyl record album

The Crusaders meet BB King and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sidney Reginald Garris. LP, Vinyl record album

With the National Philharmonic Orchestra. LP, Vinyl record album

Hip 70s work from Stan Kenton – a set recorded live in the UK in 1972, in the best modern style he was using at the time! As with some of Kenton's other excellent 70s sessions, the players on the records are lesser-known than on his classic sets – but all are extremely well-suited to the Kenton groove, and are younger players that have a free-thinking approach that makes for some great solo work. Tracks are all relatively long, and have a rhythmic pulse that's really great – not really electric, but clearly informed at times by the use of electric instrumentation in bigger bands at the time. Titles include "Malaguena", "Artistry In Percussion", "Chiapas", "Bogota", "Fringe Benefit", "Walk Softly", and "Ambivalence". LP, Vinyl record album

Crackling live energy from Buddy Rich – recorded at Ronnie Scott's nightclub in London, and with a sound that recalls some of Buddy's best from the 60s! The group is plenty great – and the attraction here goes way beyond just Buddy's famous work as a leader. As with other Rich albums from the time, the album features some really searing solo work from Pat LaBarbera – clearly the second star of the set, and really bringing a lot to the session on tenor, flute, and soprano sax! Arrangements are by John LaBarbera, Mike Gibbs, and others – all very hip talents who keep things compelling throughout – and titles include "The Word", "Dancing Men", "St Mark's Square", "That's Enough", "Little Train", and "Tim Being". LP, Vinyl record album

Stravinsky's Ebony Concerto is dedicated to Woody Herman – and played here by Herman's orchestra. (Classical, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Basie was getting all over the place during the 50s – and this set's a great little concert recorded in London! The album's classic Basie for Verve – with Joe Williams on vocals on 3 tracks, and a tight group that includes Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Benny Powell, Matthew Gee, and Frank Foster. Titles include "Flute Juice", "Nails", "Blues Backstage", "Corner Pocket", "Roll Em Pete", and "Well All Right Okay You Win". LP, Vinyl record album

With Ken Colyer on trumpet, Monty Sunshine on clarinet, Chris Barber on on trombone, Tony Donnegan on banjo, Jim Bray on bass, and Ron Bowden on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

With Bob Fahlsing on vocals and bass, JJ Murphy on drums, and Frankie Raye on guitar. LP, Vinyl record album

(Now Sound, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A cool sextet session from Benny Goodman – one that recalls the best fluid groove of his late 30s small combo sides! The setting here is live, but the recording features excellent sound – all to capture a mix of Benny's clarinet, Zoot Sims' tenor, Bill McGuffie's piano, Bucky Pizzarelli's guitar, and some especially nice vibes from Peter Appleyard – ringing out to really color the sound of the entire record. There's a leanness here that gets past any hoke that you might expect – and the presence of such good musicians in the small combo means that the record offers plenty more than Goodman's already great solo work. Titles include "Where Or When", "I Want To Be Happy", "A Smooth One", "Shine", "Flying Home", "I've Found A New Baby", "The Sheik Of Araby", and "Too Close For Comfort". LP, Vinyl record album

Not as great as some of Keating's other work – which can be wonderfully goofy, or arranged in a hip swinging manner that pushes it way past the usual big band groove. Still, the record's not bad, and has some pretty tight playing by a well-selected group of Brit Easy players. Titles include "The Preacher", "Ticket To Ride", "Chihuahua", "My Kind Of Girl", and "Bee Bom". LP, Vinyl record album

Loussier interprets the music of Bach, with Pierre Michelot on bass and Christian Garros on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Includes recordings with a thirteen-piece combo led by Don Rendell and featuring Jimmy Skidmore; with Lyttleton's Paseo Band; and in a smaller group with Johnny Picard on trombone, Kathleen Stobart on tenor, Tony Coe on alto, Ian Armit on piano, Brian Brocklehurst on bass, and Eddie Taylor on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

A live set from this Brazilian pianist – spinning out non-stop performances on each side, and one tune slides into the next with an old school jazzy vibe. Very late nite, small club! (Brazil, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Jazzy musings, lots of weird instrumental touches, and players who include Tony Coe on tenor, Pete King on flute and alto, Henry Lowther on trumpet, Frank Rocotti on congas, and Rubert Hine on Arp! (Rock, Jazz) 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

The Aldrich feeling is certainly in place here – that beautiful twin-piano approach that almost has Ronnie's keys "answering" themselves as they move from speaker to speaker on the record! The orchestrations here are light and often a bit groovy – not the hippest of 60s easy, but certainly hipper than Aldrich sometimes got – and the recording quality of the session is really wonderful, with fluid notes on the Steinway floating out and drifting in the air, really making the best use of stereo in the way things are juxtaposed from track to track! Titles include "Moonglow", "My Favorite Things", "Magic Moments", "The Sweetest Sounds", "If Ever I Should Leave You", "If The Rain's Got To Fall",a nd "Spanish Harlem". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A real gem from the great Dick Farney – no vocals, just his talents on piano – in a tight trio with bass and drums! Titles include "Brandenburg Gate", "Our Love Is Here To Stay", "Three To Get Ready", and "Besame Mucho" – all played with a surprising amount of drive! (Brazil, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

With Tim Shea on banjo, Peter Vrionides on tuba, Barry Miller on drums, Charlie Martin on trumpet, and Jack London on trombone. LP, Vinyl record album

Heavy-jamming fusion from Billy Cobham – done at a time when he was already cutting plenty of heavy-jamming fusion! The album was recorded live in Switzerland and London – all very much in a post Bitches Brew approach to jazz that has all players going pedal to the metal in pursuit of their ends – thankfully working together well here, and really propelled into the cosmos by Billy's mighty work on the drums! Players include John Abercrombie, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, and Milcho Leviv – and the tracks are all long, with titles that include "Red Baron (Revisited)", "Tenth Pinn", "Shabazz", and "Tauranian Matador (revisited)". LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant large ensemble work from Ornette Coleman – ambitious material recorded with full orchestra, in a haunting sound that's light years from any of his smaller group recordings of the 60s and 70s! There's an incredible feel to the strings used here – played by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Measham – all tied up and dark, with swirling sounds that run up beautifully from the bottom, then take off to the skies promised in the title – opening the door for Ornette to come in and solo freely over the top – in a magical mix that easily makes the record a standout in his long and mighty career! Harmolodic theory is definitely a part of Coleman's conception here – but in very different ways than his quartet or quintet recordings. Tracks include "The Men Who Live In The White House", "Sunday In America", "Dreams", "Native Americans", "Silver Screen", and "The Artist In America". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the rare mid 50s treasures from the team of tenorist Jack Montrose and baritonist Bob Gordon – a great pairing from the LA scene of the mid century! Although both players were steeped in the sounds of their scene at the time, they also have a way of moving past cliche and common expectations – offering up music that's filled with surprise and delight, and which is always arranged with a great balance between tightness of execution and open personality of the players. Montrose arranged the album, and wrote a good number of the tunes – and other players include Paul Moer on piano, Shelly Manne on drums, and Bob Gordon on baritone – on titles that include "April's Fool", "I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town", "A Little Duet", "The News & The Weather", "Dot's Groovy", "Cecilia", and "Paradox". LP, Vinyl record album

Early genius from British saxophonist Mike Osborne – his first session as a leader, recorded in the company of some of the greatest players on his scene! Osborne's got a strong vision here that's apparent from the first note of the set – a mixture of freedom and cohesive energy that resonates with the best modes of the ESP albums cut a few years before this one – stretching out with the new imagination that was setting the London jazz scene on fire at the start of the 70s. Osborne's alto is at the lead of a quintet that also includes Harry Beckett on trumpet, Chris McGregor on piano, Harry Miller on bass, and Louis Moholo on drums – and the sound is a mixture of some of the post-Blue Notes work of McGregor with bolder-blown trumpet/sax lines from Beckett and Osborne. The album features 2 long tracks – the stark, angular "So It Is", and the slower-building "Outback", which features some especially nice solos from Beckett. LP, Vinyl record album

Oscar Peterson's living the vida bueno here – returning to the London House in Chicago, over a decade after his famous recording date in the early 60s – and working with a very different style overall! The tracks are long, and quite open – a great way to hear Peterson working out some inventive ideas on the keys, with, arguably, a lot less "trademark" moments than usual for the 70s – and the trio also features Joe Pass on guitar and Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass. The set features a great version of "Wave", plus "Wheatland", "The Good Life", "On A Clear Day", and "For Count". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer quartet session by Brit trumpeter Dizzy Reece, recorded as one of his three American albums for Blue Note during the late 50s! Unlike the other records, which featured larger groups, this album's done with a quartet – which gives Reece a chance to really take over on his solos – blowing with a sense of warm and lyricism that's not heard as strongly on the other records – really getting some great support from a rhythm trio that includes Walter Bishop Jr on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Taylor on drums. Quite different from some of Dizzy's London work of the time – and with tracks that include "A Ghost Of A Chance", "Our Love Is Here To Stay", "Blue Streak", "Eb Pob", and a nice version of "Yesterdays". LP, Vinyl record album

Heavenly work by one of the greatest vocal jazz combos ever! The Singers Unlimited cut many mighty albums for MPS with arrangements by some of the label's best bandleaders – but this one features them all alone, with only their voices to hold them up, which they do wonderfully, thanks to some crack arrangements by Gene Puerling of the group! The approach is natural – given that their vocal interplay was always the group's strongest calling card – and thanks to sublime MPS production, acapella vocals have never sounded so amazing. Titles include "The Fool On The Hill", "Emily", "Since You Asked", "Lullaby", and "London By Night". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic meeting between pianist Pat Thomas and alto saxophonist Matana Roberts – recorded live in London, and showing an amazing sense of sympathy between the two improvisers – even though they're normally separated by the space of an ocean! Thomas has these really dark, moody tones on the piano at times – almost as if he's playing with a prepared version of the instrument, although we're guessing that he's showing more of a Cecil Taylor-like understanding of the full tonal possibilities of the piano – even though his approach is very different than Cecil. Matana has this crispy soulfulness and depth – almost as if she's bringing the best modern traditions on the alto into play with the richer currents of the tenor – with results that are breathtaking throughout! The set features one long track – "The Truth". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album by British bandleader Mike Westbrook – and a searing session that crackles with energy that's missing from much of his later work! The album features Westbrook unlocking a whole new chapter in British jazz – bringing together a host of top-shelf London players that include John Surman on baritone and soprano saxes, Mike Osborne on alto, and Harry Miller on bass – all working in an array of rich colors, tones, and musical shapes – swinging all the time, but also managing to explore some pretty heady space! The whole thing's amazing – never bogged down in its own sense of self – and simply a fresh, bold statement by a young talent ready to set the world on fire! Tracks include "Pastoral", "Awakening", "Image", "Dirge", and "Portrait". LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant showcase for the best of the London scene in recent years – a special live recording done in Studio Two at Abbey Road – put together by the Jazz Refreshed label, and featuring some of its best artists in a set of exclusive recordings! The work here bristles with the kind of new energy that's made the London scene so amazing in recent years – and the live performance means that these cuts have less of programmed elements of some of their studio recordings – just fresh, spontaneous performances on titles that include "This Too" by Doom Cannon, "Ekpe" by Camilla George, These Days" by Daniel Casimir & Tess Hirst, "Panda Village"b y Theon Cross, "Red" by Noya Rao, and "Helsinki Trio" by Richard Spaven. LP, Vinyl record album

Joe Armon Jones sings and plays lots of cool Wurlitzer electric piano on this gem of an album – but the whole thing is maybe even more of a tribute to the warmly collaborative spirit of the contemporary London scene, as it is to the talents of the man himself! There's a nicely fluid sense of stardom here – as differing artists get their time to shine in the spotlight while others recede a bit from track to track – but not in the kind of "leader with guests" version of older soundsystem albums – and instead maybe more as a cosmic vision for the future. Other singers include Asheber, Big Sharer, Ego Ella May, and Oscar Jerome – and musicians include Dylan Jones on trumpet, Moses Boyd on drums, and Nubya Garcia and James Mollison on tenor. Titles include "Starting Today", "Almost Went Too Far", "London's Face", "Ragify", "Outro", and "Mollison Dub". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic second set from keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones – a musician we first came to love in the UK-based Ezra Collective, and one who's now effortlessly bridging a space between jazz and soul! The record's got a vibe that's as cosmic as its cover – but one that comes not just through creative keyboard work, but from a great overall conception of the songs – so that Joe's music flows out with a warm style that embraces our ears, then takes us on a journey to the heavens! This isn't the usual keyboard jazz, with references heavy on the past – as Armon-Jones is as forward-thinking as his best contemporaries on the London scene. The set features great guest vocals from Georgia Anne Muldrow on the tune "Yellow Dandelion" – and other guest appearances by Nubya Garcia, Jehst, and Obongjayar – on titles that include "Try Walk With Me", "Gnawa Sweet", "Icy Roads", "To Know Where You're Coming From", "The Leo & The Aquarius", and "Self Love". LP, Vinyl record album

The sound of the trio is loud and clear on this set – captured before a very appreciative crowd at the London House in Chicago, and featuring Peterson at his inventive best! The tracks on the set stretch out longer than most of the group's studio sessions from the time, and the album's recorded in a great way that also includes Oscar's mumbling at the keys – that humming and grunting style that isn't always caught on record, but which adds a great deal of grit and humanity to the record – especially considering his fluid grace on the piano! As usual, Ray Brown is on bass and Ed Thigpen's on drums – and titles include "Tricotism", "On Green Dolphin Street", "Thag's Dance", and "Kadota's Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

The debut of a legendary British jazz group – one who not only gave that nation's scene a fresh voice in music, but who also really set the tone for many other acts to come! After a stretch when the London scene was doing a great job of matching American efforts in bop and swing, players like Don Rendell and Ian Carr found a way to really carve out some bold space of their own – here, by matching their own strong sense of writing and arranging, always filled with beautiful tone and color, with some of the more modern phrasing and styles that were just creeping up around town. The set's not nearly as experimental as the work of Joe Harriott, but has all the hallmarks of that generation's openness to new ways of expression – often given a surprisingly soulful swing, and captured perfectly as one of the early entries in the famous Lansdowne Series recordings. The rest of the group is equally great – and in addition to Rendell on tenor and soprano sax, and Carr on trumpet and flugelhorn – the combo includes Colin Purbrook on piano, Dave Green on bass, and Trevor Tompkin on drums. Titles include "Garrison 64", "Blue Mosque", "Just Blue", "Latin Blue", "Sailin", and "Big City Strut". LP, Vinyl record album

If you've ever needed a record to convince you of the genius of Don Byas, this is it – because the set sparkles with warmth and tone that's simply amazing – a sound that will grab you from the very first note! The focus of the album is clearly Byas' tenor – not just because that's the way the title bills it, but also because the other players really lay back, and let Don start the tune, set the tone, and keep things going strongly throughout. Most titles are ballads, blown beautifully – and titles include "Cynthia's In Love", "London Donnie", "September Song", "To Each His Own", "Living My Life For You", and "They Say It's Wonderful". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare work as a leader from baritone saxophonist Harry Carney – working here in a swinging smaller group of players from the larger Ellington ensemble – including Paul Gonsalves on tenor, Willie Cook and Ray Nance on trumpets, Booty Wood on trombone, and Rollins Griffith on piano. The set's got a very different feel than the usual Ellingtonian outing like this – as it features songs and arrangements from Kenny Graham – the inventive British leader of the 50s who really knew how to work some fresh sounds from players like these. There's definitely a London modern vibe going on – and tracks include "Mabulala", "Five O'Clock Drag", "Tree Of Hope", "Blues For Blokes", "Baby Blue", and "Rock Me Gently". LP, Vinyl record album

A really great record from the Melbourne scene – a record that's got kind of a "jazz plus" vibe – in that it mixes live jazz instrumentation with some work on edits and a few electric touches – all in a style that's very much like some of our favorite London work in recent years! Don Glori heads the group on bass and keyboards – but the sound is served up in a really well-crafted blend of saxophones, Fender Rhodes, and lots of great percussion – sometimes with vocals, but often used more like an instrument than a lyrical delivery system – on tracks that are nice and long, and resonate with a mix of soulful and spiritual touches! Titles include "Voyager", "Fly Low, "Dawn Calling", "Pachinko King", and "After Hours". (New Grooves, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Rare late work from Thelonious Monk – recorded in London, with Al McKibbon on bass and Art Blakey on drums – mostly trio material, but with some piano solos too! LP, Vinyl record album

Monk plays solo piano and is joined on some of the tracks by Art Blakey on drums and Al McKibbon on bass. The songs are all originals except for "Nice Work If You Can Get It" and they include "Blue Sphere", "Hackensack", "Criss Cross", "Something In Blue", "Evidence", "Jackie-ing", and "Nutty". The album was recorded in London and produced by Alan Bates. LP, Vinyl record album