Wickedly funky work from the Jazz Crusaders – a pivotal set that has them electrifying their groove a bit more from the 60s, yet still not hitting the smother sound of later years! The core soul jazz mode of the group's start is still nicely in place – hard-hitting grooves from Wayne Henderson on trombone, Wilton Felder on bass, Stix Hooper on drums, and Joe Sample on keyboards – really opening up in an electric mode that's warm, but never mellow – really giving the album a strongly righteous undercurrent. Added to the mix are guitars from Arthur Adams and Freddy Robinson – both of whom really open up the groove and underscore the funkier elements – and again, in ways that have a lot more edge than on later Crusaders dates. The whole thing's great, filled with hard groovy cuts – and titles include a great version of "Golden Slumbers", plus "Jazz", "Jackson", "Rainy Night In Georgia", "Time Has No Ending", "Hard Times", and "Funny Shuffle". CD

80's reissue that brings together tracks from two different Mingus Columbia sessions – one from 1959, and one from 1971. The '71 material is the extended "Shoes of The Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers", which is one of Mingus' best works from the decade. The other tracks are shorter, and were originally presented in edited form on the Mingus Dynasty album – but they're offered here in longer versions that include the previously-edited material. Titles include "Song With Orange", "Slop", and "Gunslinging Bird". CD

Early 70s Capitol collection – includes a 50s cooker from Gerry Mulligan – working here with a real birth of the cool-styled group that includes Chet Baker and Pete Candoli on trumpets, Bud Shank on alto, John Graas on French horn, Bob Enevoldsen on trombone, and Chico Hamilton on drums – a really wonderful group that has a swing that's might lighter than you might guess from its size! The set is nicely arranged throughout – an early example of Gerry's powers in this respect – with plenty of thought in each tune, yet never so much so that the proceedings get too academic. Titles include "Rocker", "Walking Shoes", "Simbah", "Ontet", "Westwood Walk", "A Ballad", "Taking A Chance On Love", and "Flash". Also includes late 40s EPs by Stan Hasselgard & His All Star Six, and the Red Norvo Septet! LP, Vinyl record album

Features Nicholas Payton on trumpet. Tracks include "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo", "Shaw Nuff", "Whirlwind Soldier", "Milton On Ebony" and "Bernie's Tune". CD

Includes the songs "Work Song", "Stay On It", "Walkin' Shoes", "Sweet And Slow", "Blueport", "Billy Boy", "Cubana Chant", "Lorraine", "Norms Norm", and "A Night In Tunisia". CD

One of the last recordings made by Ed Blackwell before his early passing in 1992 – an Oakland live date recorded with an excellent lineup that includes Graham Haynes on cornet, Carlos Ward on alto and flute, Mark Helias on bass, and a bit of guest trumpet from Don Cherry! The style here is earthy and organic – never overly modern, and building in a way that echoes Blackwell's angular roots, but transforms that sound into more spiritually exploratory lines. Ward's work is especially great, and the absence of a piano means that the interplay between cornet and sax is the main driving force of most tunes. Titles include "Nebula", "Grandma's Shoes", "Pentahouse", "First Love", and the extended "Lito" suite in 3 parts. CD

2 obscure albums John Benson Brooks – an overlooked 50s jazz composer who often had a penchant for higher concept recordings! The first half of the CD features Folk Jazz USA – one of Brooks' most stripped down records – done with a core group of Zoot Sims on alto, Al Cohn on baritone, Nick Travis on trumpet, Barry Gailbraith on guitar, Osie Johnson on drums, and Buddy Jones on bass. The style is kind of a chamber jazz reworking of tunes from folk sources – done in a way that hangs modernist clothes on older melodies – really dressing them up with the jazz charms of mid 50s RCA! Travis is especially strong on the set – with boldly-stated lines that preserve the melodies, while other players really take off with their solos on the saxes. Titles include "Darling Corey", "Turtle Dove", "Black Is The Color", "Randall My Son", and "Venezuela". Next up is Alabama Concerto – a record based around the solo talents of Art Farmer on trumpet and Cannonbal Adderley on alto sax! The album's based on a number of historical and mythical southern themes – and although it gets a bit hokey at times, the work of Adderley and Art Farmer on the solo sections really opens up the piece and gives it a deep sense of soul. The setting is a drummer-less small group, with Barry Galbraith on guitar, Milt Hinton on bass, and Brooks on occasional piano – and themes include "The Loop", "Trampin", "Little John Shoes", "Milord's Calling", and "Rufus Playboy". CD

There's a nice sense of urgency on this album from Michael Carvin – a sort of soulful fire and creative energy that shows that his work was still burning strongly in the 80s! The set's almost more of a 70s session at heart – a no-nonsense record that's filled with the best post-Coltrane influences, and a bit of a Wayne Shorter vibe at times – no limits in the expressions of the players, but always a strong sense of unity, and solos that are never too overindulgent. Players include John Stubblefield and Ron Bridgewater on tenor – each getting two tracks apiece – Claudio Roditi and Cecil Bridgewater on trumpets, again on different tracks – Frank Lace on trombone, Onaje Allen Gumbs on piano, and David Williams on bass – all driven strongly by Carvin's great work on drums. Titles include "Dear Trane/Dear Hippo With Green Shoes On", "Night In Tunisia", "MR", and "Caravan" – mostly all taken in long versions. LP, Vinyl record album

Barbara Dennerlein looks like she's in some fashion ad on the cover, but the organist is very much a top-shelf musician throughout – working here in all these new modes for the Hammond, at a level that made her a key force in helping to raise the instrument back to prominence in the 90s! All tracks are originals, and the sound has echoes of older soul jazz modes, but also all these new ideas from jazz of the 80s – served up with some especially nice touches from Ray Anderson on trombone, in a quintet that also includes Bob Berg on tenor, Mitch Watkins on guitar, and Dennis Chambers on drums. Titles include "Three Hearts", "That's Me", "Grandfather's Funk", "Dancing Shoes", "One For Miss D", and "Downtown NY". CD

Great middle period work from Gong – lean, jazzy, and almost fusion-based at times – without any of the indulgences of the early years! The sound here is a beautiful blend of keyboards from Patrice Lemoine, percussion from Pierre Moerlen and Mierelle Bauer, bass from Mike Howlett, and saxes from Didier Malherbe – and although there are a bit of vocals on the record, they're often compressed way down in the mix – as you might find on other Virgin progressive albums from the time. Titles include "Chandra", "Wingful Of Eyes", "Mandrake", "Shamal", "Bambooji", and "Cat In Clark's Shoes". (Rock, Jazz) CD

2 classic albums of jazz harmony vocals by The Hi Lo's! Love Nest is a warmly romantic set – one that's got the quartet singing with backings by Frank Comstock, one of their best accompanists, on a set of tracks that includes "Fairyland", "Dancing On The Ceiling", "But Beautiful", "Love Nest", and "In The Wee Small Hours". The other album's All Over The Place – a rare gem with jazzy backings by Marty Paich, and a wide range of interesting harmony numbers that include "Bali Hai", "Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square", "April In Fairbanks", "Sand In My Shoes", and "Massachusetts". (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

One of the great lost ones from Blue Note – hard to find in any pressing, and a killer hardbop session from the days when the label could crank them out with a quality unmatched by other labels! Clifford Jordan's leading an unusual group here – a septet, which is a bit of a change from his smaller combos – with Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, John Jenkins on alto, Ray Bryant on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Taylor on drums! At first glance, the lineup might look like more of an unstructured blowing session – but there's a lot more cohesion here than you'd guess – kind of an under-recognized chapter of Jordan's early musical vision, and one that marks him right away as a visionary leader as much as the tenor talent he was known for. Titles include "Not Guilty", "St. John", "Blue Shoes", and "Ju-Ba". CD

One of the great lost ones from Blue Note – hard to find in any pressing, and a killer hardbop session from the days when the label could crank them out with a quality unmatched by other labels! Clifford Jordan's leading an unusual group here – a septet, which is a bit of a change from his smaller combos – with Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, John Jenkins on alto, Ray Bryant on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Taylor on drums! At first glance, the lineup might look like more of an unstructured blowing session – but there's a lot more cohesion here than you'd guess – kind of an under-recognized chapter of Jordan's early musical vision, and one that marks him right away as a visionary leader as much as the tenor talent he was known for. Titles include "Not Guilty", "St. John", "Blue Shoes", and "Ju-Ba". CD

A rock-solid swinger from the great Carmen McRae – working here in a live setting with a very cool combo! The group's more than just a trio – although it is grounded by excellent piano work from Norman Simmons – and the record features nice use of flute from Ray Bernstein, guitar from Joe Puma, and bongos from Jose Mangual – all of whom bring some additional instrumental flourishes that work perfectly with that amazing range that McRae was exploring in the 60s – a way of moving past some of the more traditional (but still great) recordings of the late 50s, to find a voice in her style that's almost conversational at times, and extremely powerful without ever overstating itself. The subtlety of Carmen's genius is something that still blows us away after all these years – and it definitely comes through here, on titles that include "Woman Talk", "Kick Off Your Shoes", "Run Run Run", "Look At That Face", "Feelin Good", and "The Sweetest Sounds". (Vocalists, Jazz) 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 conducdted 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". 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

Saxophonist Keni Mori really lives up to the spirit of the title here – given that five of the album's six tracks are Charlie Parker compositions – all played by the group with a nicely updated version of bebop roots! The feel of the record is warmer than an older bop session from the late 40s – thanks in part to the use of guitar by Toshihisa Morita, and Yamaha piano by Yoshiko Naya – both players who still play boppish lines, but with more contemporary colorings – with a sound that's maybe a bit like some of the best bop revival material coming out on Muse Records at the end of the 70s! Mori himself plays both alto and flute – the latter of which makes for a nice change – and titles include "Confirmation", "My Little Suede Shoes", "Moose The Moche", "Exit", and "Donna Lee". CD

Recorded live at Newport with Conte Candoli, Bob Brookmeyer, Mel Lewis, and others. Titles include "Sweet & Slow", "Blueport", "Theme From I Want To Live", "Walkin' Shoes", and "Broadway". CD

Excellent early 50s recordings by baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan, and appropriately named after the title track "Freeway" considering the group's influence on the west coast scene at the time. The set was recorded for Pacific Jazz in 1952 and much later issued by Blue Note, and it's collected from a number of sessions – most of which in a quintet setting – with players that include Chet Baker on trumpet, Red Mitchell on bass, Chico Hamilton on drums, and Jimmy Rowles on piano. Tracks include "Get Happy", "She Didn't Say Yes", Lullaby Of The Leaves", "Frenisi", "Soft Shoe", and "Walkin' Shoes". LP, Vinyl record album

An early cooker from Gerry Mulligan – working here with a real birth of the cool-styled group that includes Chet Baker and Pete Candoli on trumpets, Bud Shank on alto, John Graas on French horn, Bob Enevoldsen on trombone, and Chico Hamilton on drums – a really wonderful group that has a swing that's might lighter than you might guess from its size! The set is nicely arranged throughout – an early example of Gerry's powers in this respect – with plenty of thought in each tune, yet never so much so that the proceedings get too academic. Titles include "Rocker", "Walking Shoes", "Simbah", "Ontet", "Westwood Walk", "A Ballad", "Taking A Chance On Love", and "Flash". LP, Vinyl record album

With Gerry Mulligan on bariont sax, Bob Brookmeyer on valve trombone, Red Mitchell on bass, and Frank Isola on drums. Tracks include "Bark For Barksdale", "Motel/Utter Chaos", "Walkin' Shoes", "Bernie's Tune", and "Five Brothers" – 14 tracks total. CD

Includes music from Gerry Mulligan and his orchestra, quartet, and tentette. Tracks include "Roundhouse", "Carioca", "Walkin' Shoes", "Loverman", "Simbah", "The Lady Is A Tramp", "Swing House", "Jeru", and "Five Brothers" – 82 tracks total. CD

US issue of some of Gerry's classic Vogue recordings, done in Paris in 1954 with a quartet that featured Bob Brookmeyer on valve trombone, Red Mitchell on bass, and Frank Isola on drums. This is Gerry at the height of his powers, and playing classic piano-less material with supberb accompaniment by Brookmeyer. Tracks include a number of originals, including "Utter Chaos", "Five Brothers", and "Walkin' Shoes", plus others like "Bernies Tune", "Come Out Wherever You Are", and "Laura". LP, Vinyl record album

US issue of some of Gerry's classic Vogue recordings, done in Paris in 1954 with a quartet that featured Bob Brookmeyer on valve trombone, Red Mitchell on bass, and Frank Isola on drums. This is Gerry at the height of his powers, and playing classic piano-less material with supberb accompaniment by Brookmeyer. Tracks include a number of originals, including "Utter Chaos", "Five Brothers", and "Walkin' Shoes", plus others like "Bernies Tune", "Come Out Wherever You Are", and "Laura". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most consistently creative piano trios in the world today – a group who are always pushing the boundaries of their sound, strongly keeping away from familiar territory and tradition – yet always with a sense of swing and lyricism that continue to appeal to fans of more conventional jazz! EST aren't really ever that "out", but they're always stepping into unexpected space – odd sounds from the piano, noises you can't really place, and ways of blocking out a tune that are quite different than a regular trio session – but which also don't have the tricks or easy gimmicks of some of the jamband-oriented side of the jazz spectrum. Titles include "The Goldhearted Minor", "Beggar's Blanket", "Goldwrap", "Dolores In A Shoestand", "Fading Maid Postludium", and "Slipping On The Solid Ground". CD

One of the most consistently creative piano trios in the world today – a group who are always pushing the boundaries of their sound, strongly keeping away from familiar territory and tradition – yet always with a sense of swing and lyricism that continue to appeal to fans of more conventional jazz! EST aren't really ever that "out", but they're always stepping into unexpected space – odd sounds from the piano, noises you can't really place, and ways of blocking out a tune that are quite different than a regular trio session – but which also don't have the tricks or easy gimmicks of some of the jamband-oriented side of the jazz spectrum. Titles include "The Goldhearted Minor", "Beggar's Blanket", "Goldwrap", "Dolores In A Shoestand", "Fading Maid Postludium", and "Slipping On The Solid Ground". CD

Featuring undated 50s recordings with the Teddy Wilson Trio, with Milt Hinton, Jo Jones, and Dizzy Gillespie, as well as a 1959 date with the Eddie Higgins Trio. LP, Vinyl record album