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

Amazing live documents of Miles Davis and his incredible mid-to-late 60s quintet – Wayne Shorter on tenor, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums – complete concert recordings from Antwerp, Copenhagen and Paris on 3CDs seeing release for the first time ever, plus a DVD featuring the only known video footage of this group from the period! CD 1 features material from 10/28/68 in Antwerp, CD 2 on 11/2/67 in Copenhagen and 11/6/67 in Paris, with the latter concert continued on CD 3. This is landmark stuff here – a surprisingly rare opportunity to hear first rate live recordings of legendary material from the ESP, Miles Smiles, Sorcerer and Nefertiti albums – as well as brilliant revisits of vital earlier material. Includes live takes on "Agitation", "Foot Prints", "No Blues", "Gingerbread Boy", "On Green Dolphin Street", "The Theme", "Footprints", "Masqualero", "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "Walkin'" and more. The DVD starts with five numbers recorded on 11/7/67 in Karlzruhe, Germany: "Agitation", "Footprints", "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "Gingerbread Boy" and "The Theme". It concludes with material in Stockholm on 10/31/67: "Agitation", "Footprints", "'Round Midnight", "Gingerbread Boy" and "The Theme". CD

Some of the finest Peruvian grooves of the 60s and 70s – served up by three different groups headed by reedman Nilo Espinosa, plus a few other combos as well! Nilo's got a way with a groove that's totally unique – a bit soul jazz a times, influenced by bossa at others, and sometimes even moving into sweet electric fusion – always with a very pronounced sense of rhythm that makes nearly all of his numbers into the kind of groovers that can easily traverse the globe far from their roots in the Peruvian scene! The package features work from the mid 60s Los Hilton's, the early 70s Bossa 70, and the mid 70s Nil's Jazz Ensemble – the last of whom have been favorites for years with crate-diggers, due to their use of electric keyboards and very tasty drums! Titles include "Here Come The Hilton's" and "Sherezade" by Los Hilton's; "El Gato", "Think", "Get Out Of My Way", and "Las Mariopsas" by Bossa 70; "Reflexiones", "Summer Love", "Hard Work", "Looking For A Blues", and "Somos Nada" by Nil's Jazz Ensemble; "El Bueno El Feo Y El Malo" by Nilo Espinosa Con Los 007; "Light My Fire" by Charlie Guerrero; "Gotas De Miel" by Nilo Espinosa Y Orquesta; and "People Got To Be Free" by Charlie & Many. CD

Bill Evans is reunited with singer Monica Zetterlund – in a live date done more than a decade after their classic Waltz For Debby album! The first side of the record features Evans in a trio mode – working instrumentally, without Monica, in a group that features the great Eddie Gomez on bass and Eliot Zigmund on drums – easily some of the better-recorded European live material by Bill from the 70s, caught in a way that really shows his new sensitivity in the later decade. Evans' piano is breathtaking here – a subtle symphony of shades and tones that delights the ears at each new twist and turn – recorded in some slightly longish takes on tunes that include "Sugar Plum", "Sareen Jurer", "Very Early", and "Gloria's Step". Bill continues the feeling of the first side wonderfully on the flip – as Zetterlund joins the group, and shows how much she's matured as well since here last meeting with Evans. Most of the tunes are standards, but they've got a sensitivity that goes way beyond familiar readings – carried off wonderfully by Monica in some beautifully dark-toned vocals. Titles include "Come Rain Or Come Shine", "The Second Time Around", "Once Upon A Summertime", "What's New", and the lovely "Samba". CD

Lovely lyrical sounds from Tommy Flanagan – a pianist who can be as deft as a bopper, but also bring in some richer currents of soul as well! Case in point is this great album from the late 70s – a time when Flanagan wasn't as much in the recording spotlight as the decade before, but a period when he'd actually matured a lot more as a player – able to step effortlessly between both his inclinations, especially when working with a group this great – a trio that features George Mraz on bass and Elvin Jones on drums! Tommy's got a touch on the keys that's subtle at times, but extremely powerful – a knowledge of notes and colors that's never overstated, but always right on the money. Titles include a great reading of the Tom McIntosh tune "Cup Bearers", plus "Maybe September", "Confirmation", "50 21", and "It Never Entered My Mind". CD

A sweetly swinging seventies set from pianist Tommy Flanagan – one of those records that's a perfect balance between the bop-inspired dexterity of his work on the keyboard, and that undeniable warmth he always brought to his best recordings! Tommy's got maybe a bit more bite on the keys, especially when moving at a quicker pace – and backing is by George Mraz on bass, whose round tones emphasize the warmer elements, and Elvin Jones on drums – who may well be part of the reason for the bite! The set features a number of bop classic tunes – like "Oleo", "Confirmation", and "Relaxin At Camarillo" – plus the great title cut "Eclypso", and a moody reading of Tom McIntosh's excellent "The Cup Bearers". 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

A wonderful Herbie Hancock session from the 60s – a Blue Note album that's sometimes overlooked, but which really shows Herbie taking off – as he adds a nice dose of lyricism into his usual soul jazz approach from the 60s! The sound's a bit farther-reaching than on some of Hancock's smaller group sessions – and the record features a sextet that includes Jerry Dodgion on flute, Thad Jones on flugelhorn, and Peter Phillips on bass trombone – an instrument that combines wonderfully with Thad's horn, to create all these cool, compressed elements. Herbie plays piano alongside Ron Carter on bass and the great Mickey Roker on drums. The harder-hitting soul jazz riffs and hooks of Herbie's first few records are nicely replaced by more thoughtful lines that get a bit deeper, soulfully – and nearly all tracks on the set are originals by Hancock! The album's filled with great moments – and tracks include "The Sorcerer", "Riot", and "Goodbye To Childhood". CD

A wonderful Herbie Hancock session from the 60s – a Blue Note album that's sometimes overlooked, but which really shows Herbie taking off – as he adds a nice dose of lyricism into his usual soul jazz approach from the 60s! The sound's a bit farther-reaching than on some of Hancock's smaller group sessions – and the record features a sextet that includes Jerry Dodgion on flute, Thad Jones on flugelhorn, and Peter Phillips on bass trombone – an instrument that combines wonderfully with Thad's horn, to create all these cool, compressed elements. Herbie plays piano alongside Ron Carter on bass and the great Mickey Roker on drums. The harder-hitting soul jazz riffs and hooks of Herbie's first few records are nicely replaced by more thoughtful lines that get a bit deeper, soulfully – and nearly all tracks on the set are originals by Hancock! The album's filled with great moments – and tracks include "The Sorcerer", "Riot", and "Goodbye To Childhood". CD features 3 bonus alternate takes! CD

A wonderful Herbie Hancock session from the 60s – a Blue Note album that's sometimes overlooked, but which really shows Herbie taking off – as he adds a nice dose of lyricism into his usual soul jazz approach from the 60s! The sound's a bit farther-reaching than on some of Hancock's smaller group sessions – and the record features a sextet that includes Jerry Dodgion on flute, Thad Jones on flugelhorn, and Peter Phillips on bass trombone – an instrument that combines wonderfully with Thad's horn, to create all these cool, compressed elements. Herbie plays piano alongside Ron Carter on bass and the great Mickey Roker on drums. The harder-hitting soul jazz riffs and hooks of Herbie's first few records are nicely replaced by more thoughtful lines that get a bit deeper, soulfully – and nearly all tracks on the set are originals by Hancock! The album's filled with great moments – and tracks include "The Sorcerer", "Riot", and "Goodbye To Childhood". Features bonus tracks – two takes of "Riot", and an alternate of "Goodbye To Childhood". CD

A famous album – but for good reason! The set's something of a landmark in spiritual jazz from the 60s – and it features a classic live performance from Charles Lloyd, recorded at the Monterey Jazz Festival – almost as a distillation and popularization of ideas that were brewing in the music of John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, and others! The group here features a young Keith Jarrett on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums – all flowing magnificently with Lloyd's work on tenor and flute – in an open-ended groove that draws on modal rhythms for inspiration, and which features solos that stretch out, but never go "outside"! The classic performances of "Forest Flower" takes up all of side one – with a dreamy drifting quality that has Jarrett at his best – and side two features a version of his "Sorcery", plus McBee's "Song Of Her", and a version of "East Of The Sun". Soundtrack features a similar line-up with Lloyd on tenor and flute, Keith Jarrett on piano, and Jack DeJohnette on drums – adding Ron McClure in place of Cecil McBee on bass. Titles include "Forest Flower 69", "Pre-Dawn", "Sombrero Sam", and "Voice In The Night". CD

Ever-adventurous composer, arranger and coronet player Rob Mazurek teams up with similarly creative wanderer Emmett Kelly (Cairo Gang, Josh Abrams Natural Information Society and more)! Alien Flower Sutra finds the duo and their guest players crafting a pretty awesome mix of interstellar psych-jazz-folk with vocals and guitar – with lots of fuzzier, jazzier instrumental passages. Very cool stuff on International Anthem, which has quickly become one of Chicago's best indie labels for free thinking creative output! Mazurek handles the electronic treatments, synths and coronet, with Kelly's lyrics, voice and guitars, and accompanied by Guilherme Granado, Carlos Issam Thomas Rohrer and Brittany Mazurek. Includes "Back To The Ocean, Back To The Sea", "Android Love Cry", "Blackout", "Bright Nights Havoc", "I Untied My Wrists", "Of Time Wasted", "Remember Nothing", "Embryo Genesis", "We Are One" and "Overture Towards The Beginning Of The End Of Time". CD

A series of duet and trio pieces recorded live by pianist Misha Mengelberg – in the company of saxophonist Steve Potts, trumpeter Thomas Herberer, tuba player Michel Godard, and percussionist Achim Kremer – all in ways that are often spare, and graced with the strong feeling of each player staking out their individual space! The overall quality of the record is perhaps a bit more academic than some of Mengelberg's other recordings, but the overall result is still quite nice – and Misha's own piano often breaks through some of the too-contemplative moments with a stronger sense of spirit. Performance features 9 titles in all – each numbered versions of "IC Root". CD

A rare and exceptional vocal jazz LP – cut by the obscure Marilyn Moore, then the wife of Al Cohn – who's pictured in profile on the cover of the record! Marilyn's got a style that's somewhat raspy – clearly inspired by Billie Holiday at times, and not what you'd expect in comparison to some of the cooler, clearer female singers who worked on Bethlehem in the 50s. The backing is in a small group mode – with Cohn on tenor and bass clarinet, plus Don Abney on piano, Joe Wilder on trumpet, Barry Galbraith on guitar, Milt Hinton on bass, and Osie Johnson on drums – all in a nicely relaxed mode to fit the mellow, moody sound of the record. There's a nice sense of darkness throughout – a bit more edge than you might expect – and titles include "Trouble Is A Man", "Ill Wind", "Born To Blow The Blues", "Lover Come Back To Me", and "You're Driving Me Crazy". (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

The great reedman Mark Whitecage is a player who never fully got his due – a really unique talent in terms of phrasing and rhythm, finally given one last chance at the spotlight here on this final recording with The Nu Band, a group in which he played for many years! All four players here are great – Thomas Heberer on quarter tone trumpet, Joe Fonda on bass, and Lou Grassi on drums and percussion – but it also feels as if there's a special sort of focus on the very personal, very expressive sounds that Whitecage can create – as he plays here on alto, flute, and clarinet. There's a mixture of modern structure and free improvisation here – that great legacy of the group, which is there way of bringing forward some of the new thing ideas of the 60s with more personal contemporary improv modes. Titles include "Christophe & Ornette", "Five O'Clock Blues", "The Closer You Are The Further It Gets", "Prayer For The Water Protectors", and "Minor Madness". CD

A record that's as melancholic as its cover and title – definitely one of the more sensitive efforts we've ever heard from pianist Bobo Stenson – and a set that also really showcases some great contributions from bassist Anders Jormin as well! Jormin composed a few of the most beautiful tunes on the set, and also really wins us over with his solo moments on the set – in a trio that also features Jon Christensen on drums, working in his usual very open, very loose approach. Titles include "Sediment", "All My Life", "War Orphans", "Natt", "Eleventh Of January", "Bengali Blue", and "Oleo De Mujer Con Sombrero". CD

A rare and beautiful set from the Japanese scene of the 70s – a record that features tenor and soprano sax from Hideyasu Terekawa, and vibes from Hiroshi Fujii – a wonderful combination, and a pair of players who really open up in the live setting of the record! The tunes are mostly jazz numbers penned by others, but the pair really make them their own – thanks in part to some warm rhythms from drummer Aki Hiro Nakaya and bassist Tetsuo Miura, the latter of whom has this great way of wrapping around the performance and guiding it gently. Things are nice and open at times, with plenty of room for solos – and titles include "Black Nile", "Simone", "Rerev", "I Remember Clifford", and "Stella By Starlight". CD

Trombone Shorty continues to charismatically do away with genre definitions of all kinds as well as defying convential expectations New Orleans brass band jazz, soul or jazzy soul – he's been doing that for years and it's still his way on For True! Trombone Shorty is also B-3 Shorty, Drums Shorty, Piano Shorty, Bass Shorty , Singer Shorty and Percussion Shorty – the fella does it all in some cases – with some accompaniment on guitar, bass, drums, percussion and sax. Some famous admirers join, too, including Rebirth Brass Band, Warren Haynes (on a song co-written by Shorty & Lamont Dozier) and others. Includes "Buckjump", "Encore", "For True", "Do To Me", "The Craziest Thing", "Dumaine St", "Mrs. Orleans", "Nervis", "Roses", "Big 12", "There There Was You" and "Lagniappe" (Pts 1 & 2). CD

An incredible document of a key genre in 50s jazz on record – the jam session tradition, recorded beautifully for Verve records by the legendary Norman Granz! The idea of a jam session was nothing new at the time, of course, but it was mostly a live phenomenon – known to players from concerts and club dates, or presented on vinyl by Granz, in his celebrated Jazz At The Philharmonic sessions. These dates mark a move into the studio by Granz – one that captures the same sort of energy and unique pairings of musicians that went down in the live sessions, with the added benefit of studio technology to make the work sound even clearer, and more intimate. The 5CD set brings together all 9 Jam Session albums – packaged beautifully in a slipcase with original album cover art, and a full 72 page booklet on the musicians, sessions, and titles included. Players include nearly everyone who might have worked for Verve in the 50s – Benny Carter, Charlie Parker, Johnny Hodges, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Buddy DeFranco, and countless others – and titles include "Jam Blues", "Funky Blues", "Apple Jam", "Blues For The Count", "Jamming For Clef", "Rose Room", "Blue Lou", and "Lullaby In Rhythm" – all in very long versions! CD

Tremendous work from the Spanish scene of the 60s and early 70s – way more than just a batch of obscure jazz cuts, and instead a true testament to this very vibrant musical community! The package brings together some really special tracks from Spanish labels like Edigsa, Ensayo, Hispavox, and others – and really shows that in Spain at the time, there was musical growth that was every bit as strong as in better-known scenes in Germany, France, and Italy – a really rich step forward from American inspiration of the postwar years – into a world of freshly inventive rhythms, really imaginative solos, and some key local touches that really made the music sparkle! Not all players here are of Spanish origin, as the set also shows the key crossroads the scene was offering at the time – a wealth of wonderful hardbop, soul jazz, and modal numbers that include "El Cant Dels Ocells" by Catalonia Jazz Quartet, "Movimiento" by Lou Bennett, "Psique" by Juan Carlos Calderon, "Tema Per Alicia" by Jazz Group, "Asteriscs" by Nits De Jazz Al Jamboree, "Bosnia Calling" by Dusko Goykovich, "Israel" by Modern Jazz Sextet, "Rememberance To Madrid" by Elia Fleta, "Marcha De Los Dioses" by Tino Contreras, and "Laberinto (2nd part)" by Vlady Bas. (Funky Compilations, Jazz) CD

Daniel Carter on saxophones, flute, trumpet, and clarinet – with Djibril Toure on bass, Fererico Ughi on drums, and Tobias Wilner on electronics, synthesizers, piano, and guitar. CD

Features Brian Swartz on trumpet, Doug Webb on soprano sax and bass clarinet, Rob Hardt on bass clarinet and flutes, Andy Langhan on fender rhodes and mini moog, Mike Hoffman on electric guitar, "Big Tastee" Brandon Rivas and Essiet Okon Essiet on bass, "Brother" Gabriel Herrera and Dwight Trible on vocals and spoken word. CD

Great work from one of the most compelling trombonists of the 50s! Jimmy Knepper is probably best known for his excellent work on some of Charles Mingus' best records – but this set from 1957 shows that Knepper was also an extremely capable (if under-recorded) leader in his own right! The album is one of the rarest Bethlehem sides – and it features Knepper leading a crack group that includes Bill Evans, Gene Quill and drummer Dannie Richmond, making a rare non-Mingus appearance here! The tracks are shortish, and a number of them are standards, but the group swings nicely, and Knepper's tone is nice and edgey on most tracks. Titles include "Avid Admirer", "Close As Pages In A Book", "Ogling Ogre", and "Idol Of The Flies". CD

Jim McNeely on piano, Harald Rosenstein, Heiner Wiberny, Olivier Peters, Paul Peucker, and Rolf Romer on reeds, Bernt Laukamp, Dave Horler, Henning Berg, and Roy Deuvall on trombone, Andy Haderer, Klaus Osterloh, Rick Kiefer, Rob Bruynen, and Rudiger Baldauf on trumpet, John Scofield and Paul Shigihara on guitar, Rainer Bruninghaus on keyboards, Marc Johnson on bass, and Adam Nussbaum on drums. CD

Includes the songs "My Angel", "Laid Back", "Now That I've Found You", "Joy", "I Didn't Know", "Secret Admirer", "(G) Street", "Broken Promises", "Heart Like Mine", "Saleemah's Dream", "Share My World", and "I Didn't Know Instrumental)/Reprise". CD

Joshua Redman on soprano and tenor saxophone, Larry Grenadier and Timothy Cobb on bass, Ellen Westermann, Eugene Moye and Stephanie Cummins on cello, Brian Blade on drums, Pamela Sklar on flute, Robert Carlisle on French horn, Brad Mehldau on piano, vibraphone, and tubular bells, Daniel Panner, Dov Scheindlin, and Vincent Lionti on viola, and Ann Leathers, Avril Brown, Christina Courtin, Courtney Orlando, Karen Karlsrud, Katherine Livolsi-Landau, Yuri Vodovoz, and Joanna Maurer on violin. CD

A very compelling set from Japanese bassist Isao Suzuki – one that draws on the electric traditions being forged at the time by artists like Miles and Joe Henderson – but which is also graced by the warm lyricism that was running through other Japanese jazz sessions of the 70s! Suzuki plays a surprising range of instruments – electric piano, cello, and bass – and his group displays an amazing ability to move into freely flowing numbers, then shift abruptly into sparer, subtler territory. The vibe of the record is quite unique – and group members include Kenji Mori on alto and flute, Kazumi Watanabe on guitar, Samu Kawakami on bass, and Shinji Mori on drums – and one title features vocals from Mari Nakamoto. The tracks are on the longish side – and the titles include "Blue Road", "Where Are You Going?", "My One And Only Love" and "Orang-Utan". Great cover, too! CD

Wolfgang Pushcing on saxophone and flutes, Linda Sharrock on vocals, and Uli Scherer on piano and keyboards. CD

Two excellent vocal albums that Louis cut for Verve – some of the best of his career, and both graced with amazing arrangements by Russ Garcia! The sound's a lot purer than some of the pop vocal albums that Louis cut for other labels, like Decca – and he both sings and plays trumpet on tracks like "When Your Lover Has Gone", "We'll Be Together Again", "You Turned The Tables On Me", "I've Got The World On A String", "Top Hat White Tie & Tails", "Home", "East Of The Sun", "Stormy Weather", and "Have You Met Miss Jones". CD

A great CD that features 2 of the Art Ensemble's best French recordings! The first part of the CD features the stunning album Les Stances A Sophie – probably the greatest album ever by the Art Ensemble of Chicago – and also one of their rarest! The group's never been finer – and plays with a creative tightness that you'll be hard pressed to find on other records. Some tracks are almost straight jazz – but there's all these wonderful little breakdowns and burst of creative energy that keep the AACM spirit alive and true. The centerpiece of the album is the massive "Theme De Yoyo", a righteous powerful groover that features vocals by Fontella Bass (wife of Lester Bowie of the group), and which has become an all-time jazz dance classic! Other tracks have a sparer soundtracky feel, and a few more are in the experimental vein of the Art Ensemble's other Paris work at the time. Wonderful overall though – and an incredibly righteous album filled with power and imagination! Titles include "Theme De Celine", "Proverbes", "Theme Libra", and "Variations Sur Un Theme De Monteverdi". People In Sorrow is quite a different record – and features one long track, the title cut, with very spare music, and lots of isolated bass work, horn solos, and percussion – played by the quartet of Roscoe Mitchell, Joseph Jarman, Lester Bowie, and Malachi Favors. The track's a nice counterpart to the music on the first part of the disc – long, moody, and almost chillout in nature! CD

A rare treasure from the Art Ensemble Of Chicago – recorded as a supposed third album for Atlantic records in 1974, but unissued for years until the group released it on their own! The session is a live one, recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival – and features the unique addition of Muhal Richard Abrams on piano, making for the group's first session ever with the instrument! Muhal's work nicely colors in the spare spaces on the set – giving a soaring, lyrical quality to a few of the numbers – and really standing in stark contrast to the freer solo work of the other players. At times, Abrams is playing these longer lines that almost have a McCoy Tyner sort of energy – directing the set with a tremendous searching vibe – and at other times, he joins the group in their sparer exploration of sound and space – in a mode that's similar to some of their Parisian recordings. Titles include "Sun Precondition One", "Kabalaba", "Kaba Song", "Mal's Delight", and "Improvization A2". CD

Probably the greatest album ever by the Art Ensemble of Chicago – and also one of their rarest! The album was cut for Pathe Marconi in Paris in 1970, and was the soundtrack to a film that was as obscure as the album. The group's never been finer – and plays with a creative tightness that you'll be hard pressed to find on other records. Some tracks are almost straight jazz – but there's all these wonderful little breakdowns and burst of creative energy that keep the AACM spirit alive and true. The lead track of the album is the massive "Theme De Yoyo", a righteous powerful groover that features vocals by Fontella Bass (wife of Lester Bowie of the group), and which has become an all-time jazz dance classic! Other tracks have a sparer soundtracky feel, and a few more are in the experimental vein of the Art Ensemble's other Paris work at the time. Wonderful overall though – and an incredibly righteous album filled with power and imagination! Titles include "Theme De Celine", "Proverbes", "Theme Libre", and "Variations Sur Un Theme De Monteverdi". CD

A great compilation of tracks by Roy Ayers – one that feels quite different than some of his other collections, as it goes past the hits to show a warm and uniquely mellow side of his career! The 18 track package is drawn from some of his best work on Polydor during the 70s – and instead of uptempo club tracks, or Roy's few famous hits, it goes for laidback numbers that offer a strong focus on his mellow vibes and wonderful production styles. The set grooves along with some of our favorite lesser-known tracks by Roy – occasionally stepping into a hit, but mostly sticking to obscurer album cuts, and a few favorites that have grown in fame over the years, thanks to the sample crowd. Titles include "The Black Five", "Feel Like Making Love", "The River Niger", "And Don't You Say No", "Can't You See Me", "Time & Space", "Vibrations", "Searching", "We Live In Brooklyn Baby", "The Boogie Back", and "Sweet Tears". (Soul, Jazz) CD

A great second pairing of this hip team – further proof that Tony Bennett was a hell of a jazz singer when he wanted to be! Titles include "You're Nearer", "Lonely Girl", "You Must Believe In Spring", "Two Lonely People", and "The Bad & The Beautiful". (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

One of the best sessions as a leader ever cut by Lester Bowie – and one of the few to really share the warmth and imagination of his work with the Art Ensemble! The session features Bowie on trumpet, Arthur Blyteh on alto, Amina Myers on piano and voice, Malachi Favors on bass, and Phillip Wilson on drums – working in a set of modes that replicates the sparer and more creative passages of Art Ensemble work of the early 70s. Some of the tunes are introspective, some are freer, and one number features a gospelly approach. Titles include "The 5th Power", "God Has Smiled On Me", "Sardegna Amore", and "BBB". CD

A great quartet date from guitarist Larry Coryell – quite laidback at times, but pretty darn soulful too – thanks to a rhythm section that features Kenny Barron on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums! Coryell's not as dynamic with his guitar lines as in years back, but that's ok with us – because he takes on a fluid groove next to Kenny's piano almost making the album feel like a Barron album at times, with added guitar. Titles include "The Duke", "Nefertiti", "Floyd Gets A Gig", "The Sorcerer", "Yesterdays", and "Apathy Rains", which is a duet between Kenny and Larry. Includes the bouns track "All The Things You Are". CD

Great jazzy work from keyboardist Jorge Dalto – a set that's got a warmer, more acoustic feel than some of his other fusion-based material from the time! Jorge still plays both electric and acoustic keyboards for the date – but the overall format is a lot more stripped down, and strongly rooted in Latin jazz – with great work from Nicky Marrero on timbales, Carlos Patato Valdez on congas, and Art Webb on flute! Adela sings a bit on the record, but things are mostly instrumental – and other guests include Jose Mangual on bongos and Jose Neto on guitar – on titles that include "Killer Joe", "Samba All Day Long", "Ease My Pain", "Skydive", and "La Costa". CD

Includes the songs "ESP", "Blue, Too - The Shepherd", "Tune Up", "Take It Slow","Telstar","To Know You Is To Love You","Like Late","Major","Minor","G" For Groove", "The Lonely Ones", "Monk's Dream", "Frere Monk", "Cordon Bleu", "New Concerto For Cootie", and "September 12th". CD

An 80s classic from one of the hippest Latin jazz ensembles of its time – the wonderful Fort Apache band of trumpeter/percussionist Jerry Gonzalez! As with other albums from the group, the key strength here is Jerry's choice of compadres – a great lineup of jazzmen who understand both Latin rhythms and more open, expressive soloing – which really allows them to stretch way way past any sort of obvious cliches for their genre. Some of the tunes get quite modern at points – and players include John Stubblfield on tenor, Angel Papo Vasquez on trombone, Larry Willis on piano, Edgardo Miranda on guitar, and Steve Berrios, Nicky Marrero, and Milton Cardona on percussion. Titles include "Nefertiti", "Eighty One", "Siempre Junto A Ti", "Evidence", and "Jackie-ing". 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

A near-forgotten gem from Coleman Hawkins excellent late 50s period – recorded for the short-lived Felsted label, and done in a beautifully relaxed way! The tracks here are long and easy-going – at times even more open than Hawkins' work for Verve, and in the style he'd explore even more deeply for Prestige on some albums recorded right after this set. Hawk is playing in a quintet with Buck Clayton on trumpet, Hank Jones on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Mickey Sheen on drums – and titles include "My One & Only Love", "Bird Of Prey Blues", "Get Set", "Ooh Wee Miss GP", and "You've Changed". Added to that set are 3 bonus tracks from the Verve album Coleman Hawkins & Confreres – featuring a group with Roy Eldridge, on the titles "Hanid", "Honey Flower", and "Nabob". And last up are 2 more live recordings from a show in New York at the Phytian Temple – MC'd by All Jazzbo Collins, and featuring a solo performance of "Foolin Around", plus a take on "The Man I Love", played by a group with Hank Jones. CD

A brilliant album from the overlooked reedman Rudolph Johnson – his second session for the Black Jazz label, and even better than the first! There's a soaring, searching quality to the record that Johnson never had before – a way of handling his tenor with a tone that Coltrane would have envied, and which sparkles with some of Rudolph's most soulful 70s contemporaries – like Sonny Fortune or Andrew White! The tunes are almost all originals, and have this depth of vision that really holds us rapt throughout – a way of digging in and continuing to find new meaning throughout the course of Johnson's solos – with superb rhythm backing from the trio of Kirk Lightsey on piano, Kent Brinkley on bass, and Doug Sides on drums. Lightsey is wonderful too – maybe his best performance on record – and titles include the sublime numbers "The Highest Pleasure", "The Traveler", "Time and Space", and "The Water Bearer". CD

Two great sets from reedman Charles Lloyd! Dream Weaver really pushes forward all the experiments he'd begun in the Chico Hamilton group – and shows a bold move forward for rhythms in 60s jazz! The tracks are long, and spiral out wonderfully – but in ways that are different than those used by other creators of the time – like Eric Dolphy or John Coltrane. Even though leading the group on tenor and flute, Lloyd's got a real sense of rhythm to his playing – echoes of the Hamilton group – but set loose with a stellar quartet of younger players – including Keith Jarrett on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums – all perfect choices for inventive music like this! The standout cut is the amazing "Sombrero Sam", a tight little groover that we never tire of – and one that has Jarrett sounding much more in the pocket than you'd ever imagine – and other tracks include "Dream Weaver", "Autumn Sequence", and "Bird Flight". Love-In features a classic batch of modal grooves from Charles Lloyd – recorded during the height of his mind-expanding years, with his famous quartet that included Keith Jarrett on piano and Jack DeJohnette on drums! The tracks are long and magical, done with that spiritual spiraling sound that Lloyd was wowing the hippies with at the time – and considering that this set was recorded live at the Fillmore, there were an awful lot of hippies present to be wowed! But the set's also got a charm that lives long past its time – thanks to an expansive vision from Lloyd on flute and tenor, and from Jarrett on piano too. Titles include "Sunday Morning", "Love-in", "Tribal Dance", and "Temple Bells". CD

Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, Wycliffe Gordon on trombone, Wessell "Warmdaddy" Anderson on alto saxophone, Victor Goines on tenor and soprano saxophone and bass clarinet, Cyrus Chestnut, Eric Lewis, Farid Barron, and Marthaniel Roberts on piano, Rodney Whitaker on bass, Herlin Riley on drums, and Roland Guerrero on percussion. CD

Includes the beautiful long "Afro Cuban Jazz Suite"! Composed, arranged, and conducted by Arturo (Chico) O'Farrill the Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Big Band. Arturo O'Farrill, piano and musical director with John Benitez, Steve Berrios, Peter Brainin, Sam Burtis, Jimmy Cozier, Andy Gonzalez, Joe Gonzalez, Graciela, Roland Guerrero, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Matt Hilgenberg, Jack Jeffers, Victor Jones, Marshall McDonald, Mike Migliore, Michael Mossman, Mario Rivera, Jon Owens, Jim Seeley, Max Schsweiger, Gary Valente, and Papo Vasquez. (Latin, Jazz) CD

Persip plays with Superband, including Tony Barrero, Jack Walrath, Ambrose Jackson, and Genghis Nor on trumpets, Matt Haviland, Jason Forsythe, Herb Hubel, and Nathan Durham on trombones, Marcus Rojas on tuba, Sue Terry, Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr on alto and flute, Craig Rivers and Orpheus Gaitanopoulos on tenor and flute, Pablo Calajero on baritone, Darrel Grant on piano, Melissa Slocum on bass, and Eli Fountain on percussion. CD

A totally essential 2 CD set that brings together a huge amount of singles that were recorded by Sun Ra and others for his legendary Saturn label! As you probably know, the albums that were recorded for Saturn were rare enough – but the singles on the label were even rarer, and some of them were pressed in batches as small as 75 copies! The material is a very strange mix of jazz, soul, doo wop, and R&B – but it's all got the off-kilter Sun Ra twist to it, and the music is a key slice in the independent history of underground jazz pioneered by Ra & The Arkestra. You'll hear plenty of stuff by Ra (including the legendary "I'm Gonna Unmask The Batman") – and you'll also get stuff by Lacy Gibson, The Cosmic Rays, The Nu Sounds, Yochannan, and The Qualities. Annotated with 36 pages of detailed notes, written by 4 different Ra experts – and a treat for collectors and novices alike! CD

A very groovy set from guitar genius Gabor Szabo – one that features all those cool tones and elements he'd developed on his late 60s albums for Impulse and Skye Records, given a tighter LA groove here, with almost an A&M Records vibe! There's loads of great solos throughout, played in a combo that also features Lynn Blessing on vibes, Richard Thompson and Nick DeCaro on keyboards, and Sandra Crouch on percussion – all set to some backings handled by DeCaro, who really helps shape the sound of the set! The tunes are a really nice mix of material – and while this might not be Gabor's most way-out album, it's still full of lots of his great groovy guitar – on titles that include "Love Theme From Spartacus", "Country Illusion", "Sombrero Sam", "Lady With Child", "Pretty Girl Why", "Hum A Song", "Magical Connection", and "Fred & Betty". CD

Brilliant work as a leader from McCoy Tyner – and easily one of his most righteous albums ever – a true batch of spiritual gems that really takes the John Coltrane legacy one step further! Most numbers build with a modal vibe that's more Impulse Records than Blue Note – and players on the set include Alice Coltrane on harp, Gary Bartz on alto, Wayne Shorter on tenor and soprano sax, Ron Carter on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – a wonderful lineup that really holds tightly to the soaring, soulful energy that Tyner spins from his piano – a mode that's never too far out or avant, yet which stretches to the skies with a heavenly vision. The whole thing's wonderful – and tracks include "Message From The Nile", "The Wanderer", "Survival Blues", and "His Blessings". CD

Featuring Manuel Valera, Yosvany Terry on saxaphones and chekere, Tom Guarna on guitar, Hans Glawischnig on bass, Ludwig Afonso on drums and Mauricio Herrera on percussion. CD

Features Andrew D'Angelo and Jeff Lederer on reeds, plus special guests Felicia Wilson on violin and Curtis Hasselbring on trombone. CD

It's definitely a bossa nova world when Laurindo Almeida's around – given that the player first got the whole sound going in the 50s, then returned the favor in the 60s with some great albums like this for Capitol Records! The set's a bright blend of LA jazz and bossa rhythms – played by a group that also features Howard Roberts on electric guitar, Jimmy Rowles on organ, Don Fagerquist on trumpet, Bob Cooper on tenor, and Shelly Manne, Victor Feldman, and Chico Guererro on lots of percussion! Almeida plays guitar and cavaquinho on the session – and titles include "Rio Bonito", "Lisbon Antigua", "More", "Danke Shoen", "Till Then", "Say Wonderful Things", and "Sukiyaki". (Now Sound, Jazz) CD

Probably the greatest album ever by the Art Ensemble of Chicago – and also one of their rarest! The album was cut for Pathe Marconi in Paris in 1970, and was the soundtrack to a film that was as obscure as the album. The group's never been finer – and plays with a creative tightness that you'll be hard pressed to find on other records. Some tracks are almost straight jazz – but there's all these wonderful little breakdowns and burst of creative energy that keep the AACM spirit alive and true. The centerpiece of the album is the massive "Theme De Yoyo", a righteous powerful groover that features vocals by Fontella Bass (wife of Lester Bowie of the group), and which has become an all-time jazz dance classic! Other tracks have a sparer soundtracky feel, and a few more are in the experimental vein of the Art Ensemble's other Paris work at the time. Wonderful overall though – and an incredibly righteous album filled with power and imagination! Titles include "Theme De Celine", "Proverbes", "Theme Libra", and "Variations Sur Un Theme De Monteverdi". CD

Also features Freddie Green on guitar, Charlie Fowlkes and Eric Dixon on saxophones, Sonny Cohn and Ray Brown on trumpet, and Butch Miles and Mickey Roker on drums. Tracks include "Oleo", "Good Mileage", "I Cover The Waterfront", and "In Your Own Sweet Way". CD

A very trippy album from the enigmatic Brother Ah – aka Robert Northern, former member of Sun Ra's Arkestra, and also a lecturer on the east coast. This album's his first, originally issued on the Strata East label – and a space mixture of other-worldly sounds. The first long track on the album is entitled "Beyond Yourself (The Midnight Confession)", and features a group with Ah on flutes and "natural" sounds, plus cello by Pat Dixon, percussion by Barbara Burton, and soprano voice by Barbara Grant. The track's a "sound journey in 7 parts" – floating across space with a mystical feel that slowly unfurls. The other long track on the set is "Love Piece", a tune in which Ah plays flute along with percussion by Max Roach and the M'Boom percussion ensemble – plus a 90-voice chorus, and a short rap by Roach. Very spiritual stuff! CD

Junior Cook on tenor sax, Mickey Tucker on piano Wayne Dockery on bass, and Leroy Williams on drums. Tracks include "Cedar's Blues", "I Should Have Known", "This Is The Place To Be", "Cup Bearer", and "Over The Rainbow". 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

A great 70s comeback album from tenorist Teddy Edwards – done after a number of years away from the studio, but with a rock-solid sound that may well be his classics from the 60s! Teddy's tone is amazing on the record – more laidback and confident than on his earlier albums, and a lot more soulful as well – stepping out right from the start with a quality that's boldly personal, and free from some of the 70s cliches that others might have attempted in a set like this. Instead, Edwards is very much his own man – and very much in charge of an excellent group that includes Conte Candoli on trumpet, Dolo Coker on piano, Ray Brown on bass, Frank Butler drums, and Jerry Steinholz conga and percussion – players who come together with this warmly soulful quality that's surprisingly more than the sum of its already-great parts. Titles include "The Blue Sombrero", "Bear Tracks", "Ritta Ditta Blues", and "Eleven Twenty Three". CD

8 Bold Souls have been one of the most consistent (and compelling!) jazz units working in Chicago over the past 20 years – and thanks to the notable leadership of reed player Ed Wilkerson, the group has continued to grow and flourish, bridging a gap between an older AACM south side tradition, and the younger underground players on the north side. No surprise, then, that this album came out on the indie/post-rock stronghold Thrill Jockey – but don't let that put you off if you're a real jazz fan, because Wilkerson's vision is clearer and purer than ever, and the set bristles with excitement through a batch of sparkling original compositions written in a vaguely Mingus-y style. Titles include "Pachinko", "Gang Of Four", "Brown Town", and "Odyssey". CD

A really really wonderful little record – one that's far more than you might guess from it's slightly gimmicky title! The session's clearly done in a mode to resonate with the Charlie Byrd or Stan Getz bossa work of the early 60s, but it's also got a slightly offbeat quality that makes it really unique – a sound that partly comes from the use of three guitars by three relatively different players, and from the way that the tunes themselves are put together. There's almost a jam session feel at times here – with the guitars coming together in a tension of different voices, hardly the sort of thing you'd hear in a regular bossa album. But equally great is the tenor sax work of Bob Enevoldsen – which comes in with a sharper edge and a bit more soul than his 50s sides – creating a deeper quality to the tunes that's really great. Percussion is by a trio that includes Milt Holland, Bob Neel, and Chico Guerrero – and Donn Trenner plays piano and Bob Bertaux is on bass. Titles include "I Told Ya I Love Ya Now Get Out", "Sweet Dreams", "Bossa Nova #2", "Bossa Nova Samba", and "Leave It To Me". CD

Bill Evans on pinao, Eddie Gomez on bass, and Marty Morell on drums. Titles include "Very Early", "Waltz For Debby", "Quiet Now", "Elsa", "Someday My Prince Will Come", "Sareen Jurer", and "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life". CD

An excellent follow-up to the legendary Two Trumpets session on Prestige – and even rarer than that one! The lineup features Farmer, Byrd, and Sulieman on the horns in the title – with hip rhythm from Hod O'Brien on piano, Addison Farmer on bass, and Ed Thigpen on drums. Titles include "Diffusion Of Beauty", "You Gotta Dig It To Dig It", "Who's Who", and "Palm Court Alley". CD

Jerry Gonzalez on trumpet, flugelhorn and congas, Javier Masso "Caramelo" on piano, Kiki Ferrer on drums, Alberto "Chele" Cobo on claves, and Alain Perez on bass. CD

Incredible work from composer/arranger George Handy – a brilliant set of inventive tunes that easily place him on a level with better-known 50s arrangers like Ralph Burns, Gil Evans, and George Russell! There's as much modernism here as in the work of any the three above – but also a style that's a bit more swinging, and sometimes playful too – not as filled with tricks as Pete Rugolo, but still very open to a broad flourish from a key soloist. The instrumentation's quite unique too – mixing bits of oboe and violin with saxes and trumpets at odd moments – creating an interplay that's almost other-worldly in sound, but which still swings nicely throughout! Players include Dick Sherman and Gene Orloff on trumpets, Frank Rehack on trombone, Dave Schildkraut on alto, Tommy Mace on tenor, and Tony Aless on piano – and titles include "Heavy Hands", "Pulse", "Tender Touch", "Pensive", "Maretet", "The Flatterer", and "Knobby Knees". CD

A brilliant album from the overlooked reedman Rudolph Johnson – his second session for the Black Jazz label, and even better than the first! There's a soaring, searching quality to the record that Johnson never had before – a way of handling his tenor with a tone that Coltrane would have envied, and which sparkles with some of Rudolph's most soulful 70s contemporaries – like Sonny Fortune or Andrew White! The tunes are almost all originals, and have this depth of vision that really holds us rapt throughout – a way of digging in and continuing to find new meaning throughout the course of Johnson's solos – with superb rhythm backing from the trio of Kirk Lightsey on piano, Kent Brinkley on bass, and Doug Sides on drums. Lightsey is wonderful too – maybe his best performance on record – and titles include the sublime numbers "The Highest Pleasure", "The Traveler", "Time and Space", and "The Water Bearer". CD

Ever-adventurous composer, arranger and coronet player Rob Mazurek teams up with similarly creative wanderer Emmett Kelly (Cairo Gang, Josh Abrams Natural Information Society and more)! Alien Flower Sutra finds the duo and their guest players crafting a pretty awesome mix of interstellar psych-jazz-folk with vocals and guitar – with lots of fuzzier, jazzier instrumental passages. Very cool stuff on International Anthem, which has quickly become one of Chicago's best indie labels for free thinking creative output! Mazurek handles the electronic treatments, synths and coronet, with Kelly's lyrics, voice and guitars, and accompanied by Guilherme Granado, Carlos Issam Thomas Rohrer and Brittany Mazurek. Includes "Back To The Ocean, Back To The Sea", "Android Love Cry", "Blackout", "Bright Nights Havoc", "I Untied My Wrists", "Of Time Wasted", "Remember Nothing", "Embryo Genesis", "We Are One" and "Overture Towards The Beginning Of The End Of Time". CD

A wonderful follow-up to Sam Rivers Purple Violets album – and like that one, a record that has Rivers back at the top of his game, and sounding better than he has in years! The format for this set's a bit different – in that Sam's blowing in a sparer trio, with only bass and drums to support his work on flute open up a bit more on a few numbers, while nicely stepping back inside on others – mixing together the freedom of earlier years with a newfound soulfulness that really gives the album a lot of depth. Titles include "Nature Calls", "Chianti Blues", "Lace", "No Time Toulouse", "Invisible", "I Forgot To Remember", and "Horatio". CD

Gonzalo Rubalcaba on piano, Reynaldo Melian on trumpet, Felipe Cabrera on electric bass, Jack DeJohnette & Julio Barreto on drums & Charlie Haden on bass. CD

A second great solo album from trumpeter Malcolm Strachan – much more jazz-based than his work in the Haggis Horns, and his backings for a number of other soul artists – delivered with a depth of feeling that would have been missed in a larger ensemble! Strachan's a great soloist throughout – whether working in a small combo mode with a soul jazz vibe, or soaring out over some mellower midtempo arrangements – ala Freddie Hubbard or Art Farmer in a similar mode – and although Strachan's background is in funk, his sense of soloing is pure jazz throughout! Titles include "Nossa Danca", "Elaine", "The Wanderer", "Soul Trip", "Cut To The Chase", and "The Last Goodbye". (Deep Funk, Jazz) CD

Reedman John Stubblefield made some of his best records as a leader for Enja – and this is definitely one of them! The set has Stubblefield coming across with maturity and focus that you might not have found a few years before – that kind of ebullient, soulful style that some of his best contemporaries were hitting in the late 80s – new modes of expression that were maybe less righteous than previous years, but a lot more powerful in their positive energy and subtle sense of care! John plays both tenor and soprano sax with this easygoing, soulful vibe – and the group also includes Hamiet Bluiett on baritone, Mulgrew Miller on piano, Charnett Moffett on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums – a well-matched lineup, as all players are at similar points in their musical conceptions. Stubblefield plays a bit of keyboards on one last track, but even that comes across well – with almost a Lonnie Liston Smith vibe – and titles include "Remembrance", "For Those Who Didn't Know", "Montauk", "The Wanderer", and "Going Home". CD

" A rerelease of two CDs in a budget box". Gold disc copies of "Mujicain: The Bristol Concert" and " Couple in Spirit II". CD

Features Dave Valentin on flute, Ronnie Cuber on baritone, Bill O'Connell on piano, Ruben Rodriguez on bass, Robby Ameen on drums, and Milton Cardona, Nicky Marrero, and Richie Flores on percussion! CD

The colors here are plenty darn funky – a rich array of amazing sounds from the archives of Golden Ring and Happy Records – two rare German sound library labels! The records may be rare, but they've got an instant appeal – especially if you're a fan of funky soundtrack work from the late 60s and early 70s – sounds and styles from folks like Lalo Schifrin or Quincy Jones, who both would be a good starting point in comparison to these grooves! There's a few key tracks here from Peter Thomas – one of our favorite German composers of the time – and other numbers are by funky drummer Klaus Weiss, plus some lesser-known cats who groove equally well. Titles include "Flash Point" and "Power Boost" by Peter Thomas, "Porto Allegre" and "Beach Bunny" by Juan Demonio, "Bubble & Squeak" by Elmar Steingarden, "Explorer" and "Space Drums" by Klaus Weiss, "Satin Eyes" by Mladen Franco, "Again Please" by Al Tacoma, "Get Across" by Ken Aldin, "Rock City" by Harry Winkler, "Blue Riff" by Peter Mellini, "Night Clipper" by Peter Look, and "Easy Action" by Peter Thomas. (Funky Compilations, Jazz) CD

Musicians include 'Kid Shots' Madison, John Marrero, Abby Foster, Paul Barnes, Earl Pierson, Ricard Alexis, Guy Kelly and Narvin Kimball on Oscar Celestin's recordings. Sam Morgan's band features Jim Robinson, and Earl Fouche – 24 tracks in all! CD

Al Cohn, Hermann Martireiter, and Petri Kral on tenor saxophone, Al Porcino, Claus Reichstaller, Franz Weyerer, and Peter Tuscher on trumpet, Otto Staniloi and Thomas Faist on alto saxophone, Thomas Zoller on baritone saxophone, Auwi Geyer, Erwin Gregg, Gerd Fink, and Jon Welch on trombone, Robert di Gioia on piano, Paulo Cardoso on bass, and Wolfgang Hafner on drums. CD

An excellent LP that brings together a dozen tracks from some of Chris Connor's lesser-known recordings for the Bethlehem label – originally released as eps and early 10" LPs. Backing on the set is by The Ellis Larkins Trio, The Vinnie Burke Quartet, The Ralph Sharon combo, and Sy Oliver's orchestra – and the set features tracks that include "All About Ronnie", "In Other Words", "A Good Man Is A Seldom Thing", "I Hear Music", "Out Of This World", and "Lush Life". Chris herself is singing in that moody, icy style that we love so much – sounding especially nice on the sparer tunes, which seem to wallow in lost love and distant longing. (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

The second album recorded by altoist Jesse Davis at Smalls in New York, and a set that's every bit as great as the first – like that one, a record in a setting that really seems to set Davis on fire at a level that's different than some of his studio recordings! Tracks are long, and Davis is wonderful on his solos – very expressive, almost blowing the instrument like some tenorist from years back – and getting superb accompaniment from Spike Wilner on piano, Peter Washington bass, and Joe Farnsworth on drums – all great players too. Titles include "Ceora", "Cup Bearers", "Gingerbread Boy", "Juicy Lucy", "Love For Sale", and "Rhythm N Ning". CD

Sublime live material from pianist Bill Evans – recorded in the very familiar setting of the Village Vanguard, with work from Eddie Gomez on bass and Marty Morrell on drums! Titles include "Since We Met", "See Saw", "Sareen Jurer", "Time Remembered", and "Midnight Mood". CD

Charlie Haden and Hank Jones reunite as a duo – working through a set of songs with spiritual sources, in ways that really seem to unlock the warmest elements of both players! Jones is no stranger to this sort of mode, especially in later years – and his gentle, spacious touch on the keys of the piano is a real change from some of the heavier modes you might have heard when these tunes were played along with a choir. But the real revelation is possibly Haden – who hits some of his most evocative, sentimental sounds in years – a great reminder of the ways that he could always paint such a pretty picture with his basslines when he wanted. Titles include "Deep River", "The Old Rugged Cross", "Down By The Riverside", "Going Home", "Blessed Assurance", "Come Sunday", and "Nearer My God To Thee". CD

A brilliant album from the overlooked reedman Rudolph Johnson – his second session for the Black Jazz label, and even better than the first! There's a soaring, searching quality to the record that Johnson never had before – a way of handling his tenor with a tone that Coltrane would have envied, and which sparkles with some of Rudolph's most soulful 70s contemporaries – like Sonny Fortune or Andrew White! The tunes are almost all originals, and have this depth of vision that really holds us rapt throughout – a way of digging in and continuing to find new meaning throughout the course of Johnson's solos – with superb rhythm backing from the trio of Kirk Lightsey on piano, Kent Brinkley on bass, and Doug Sides on drums. Lightsey is wonderful too – maybe his best performance on record – and titles include the sublime numbers "The Highest Pleasure", "The Traveler", "Time and Space", and "The Water Bearer". CD