A classic set from brassman Bobby Hackett – the kind of set that really helped him reach a big new audience in the postwar years! The style here is trad, but the set was recorded for Capitol in LA – so there's this sort of sparkling vibe to the whole thing too – a bit of an update that comes across in the lean presentation of the music, and the west coast way the players really manage to make a lot happen in a relatively small space! Bobby plays cornet, and other musicians include Abe Lincoln and Jack Teagarden on trombones, Matty Matlock on clarinet, Don Owens on piano, and Nappy Lamare on guitar – and Teagarden manages to sing a bit, in that raspy style of his we really love. Titles include "That's A Plenty", "New Orleans", "I Want A Big Butter & Egg Man", "Struttin With Some Barbecue", and "Royal Garden Blues".. LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the best work so far from trumpeter Matthew Halsall – and a wonderful continuation of the spiritual vibe he's been giving us for the past few years! Halsall's a real up-and-comer – a trumpeter with a spiritual sensibility that rivals the best players on 70s Impulse or Strata East sessions – working with a fluid, open quality that's unlike any other contemporary musicians we can think of! There's depth of sound to the record that rivals the best spiritual sessions from Build An Ark – or from Halsall's frequent partner and labelmate, Nat Birchall – whose tenor makes parts of the album sparkle as much as Matthew's trumpet. Other musicians include Rachael Gladwin on harp – an instrument used heavily on the record, in a cool Alice Coltrane-like way – plus Lisa Mallett on flute, Adam Fairhall on piano, and Holly Simpson on violin. Titles include "The Sun In September", "Finding My Way", "Sailing Out To Sea", "Mary Emma Louise", and "Fletcher Moss Park". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful return to acoustic jazz for Wendell Harrison – after a string of more electrified albums in the 80s! Wendell's working here on tenor sax and clarinet – the latter of which he plays in these spiraling long lines that use the instrument in a searching, soprano sax-like manner – getting a sound that's really fantastic, and a depth of soul that really links the record back to the tradition of Wendell's work of the 70s. The group is great too – with players that include Kirk Lightsey and Pamela Wise on piano, Cecil McBee and Jaribu Shahid on bass, Doug Hammond on drums, and Robert Pipho on vibes – all working with Harrison on some creatively inventive tunes that sparkle with soulful energy! Titles include "Changing The Scene", "Merciful", "Fly By Night", "In Your Own Sweet Way", "Spank", and "Tons & Tons Of BS". LP, Vinyl record album

A great big band indeed – a session from 1960 that has Bill Holman still sitting nicely at the top of the west coast large group format from the 50s! As with previous dates of this nature, Holman's got a way around the charts that few can match – a way of swinging the whole ensemble strongly, yet never in ways that are cloying, commercial, or cliched. All the right players find a space for expression – and the lineup includes Richie Kamuca and Bill Perkins on tenor sax, Frank Rosolino on trombone, and Conte Candoli on trumpet – all players who really sparkle nicely when they step out from the larger group. Titles include "Stereoso", "Shadrack", "Quickstep", "Aura", "The Moon Is Blue", "June Is Busting Out All Over", and "Spinuet". LP, Vinyl record album

Weldon Irvine meets Strata East – and the result is one of the keyboardist's funkiest albums ever! The set's more jazz-based than the soul/funk outings Weldon cut for RCA and his own label – with great focus on Weldon's lines on clavinet and Fender Rhodes – supported by sweet guitar lines and lots of heavy percussion – often a mix of drums and congas, which really sounds great. Pianist Virginia Joe Jones joins the group on a few cuts – but the main star here is definitely Weldon, who sparkles wonderfully on some spiritual keyboard solos. Titles include "Pleasure Pain & Me", "Marjorie Moon", "Down Home", "Fat Mouth", "Turkish Bath", and "Gemini Mood". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge musical treasure – a full unreleased album by Weldon Irvine, plus a bonus video as well! The music is from the stage play Young Gifted & Broke – a short-lived production by Weldon, and one that's done with some of the same hip modes he was bringing to his own music of the 70s – as well as to other artists as well, especially Nina Simone! The style's more jazz than funk, but is still mighty nice – as the instrumentation features loads of electric piano lines from Weldon, and a sparklingly soulful style that's way hipper than most of what you'd find on the stage at the time. Most tunes have lyrics, but are still heavy on Fender Rhodes lines from Weldon – and titles include "Karate Dancer", "Pity for The Man", "Black Lightning's Song", "Musical Interlude", "Comin Home", "We Got A Deal", "No Now Never None", and "Ghetto Lament". LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous live performance from Ahmad Jamal – one that has the piano genius stretching out on some very long tracks, in a spirit that's similar to the magic he brought to his early 70s records for the Impulse label! As on those, Jamal here also plays a bit of Fender Rhodes – in the company of drummer Frank Gant and bassist Jami Nasser – both players whose sense of open flow really matches Ahmad's energy on the piano – as the tracks take off, open up, and sparkle with creative imagination throughout! The whole thing is a key addition to the small catalog of records from this moment – which include Outertimeinnerspace and Awakening – and titles include long takes on "Bogota", "Effendi", and "Manhattan Reflections". LP, Vinyl record album

A sprightly set from the Ahmad Jamal Trio – but also a record that's not as brightly colored as you might guess from the title, thanks to a nice undercurrent of darkness in the mix! Jamal's piano work is often nicely punctuated – perhaps living up to the "happy moods" promised on the cover – but the bass work of Israel Crosby and drums by Vernell Fournier are a lot more subtle – magical element that really makes the record sparkle with that unique Jamal-like approach to rhythm. Titles include "For All We Know", "Excerpt From The Blues", "Little Old Lady", "Pavanne", "Time On My Hands", "Raincheck", and "Rhumba No 2". LP, Vinyl record album

A soul jazz treasure from the LA scene of the early 80s – a fantastic record that we'd rank with the best Strata East sides of the time! The group's led by alto saxophonist Dadisi Komolafe, and features vibes by Ricky Kelly, piano by Eric Tillman, bass by Roberto Miranda, and drums by Sunship Theus – all working together in a style that's infused with soulful, post-Coltrane exploratory energy, never going too far outside, and always staying true to the rhythmic pulse at its core. Kelly's vibes are really great – sparkling underneath solos by Komolafe that remind us a lot of Gary Bartz's earliest work – and titles include "Calvary", "Speak No Evil", and "Hassan's Walk". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastically beautiful record that stands as the first meeting between Bobby Hutcherson and Harold Land – an album that's possibly even better than the more famous Blue Note work by the pair! This is one of those "once in a lifetime" jazz sessions – filled with magical interplay that's made the record a favorite with collectors for years, and done with a sound that's as lyrically graceful as it is soulful and righteous! Hutcherson's vibes are at their warmest 60s mode, but still have some of the angularity of his more modern sides for Blue Note – but Land is the real discovery here – as he steps out with a fluidity that surpasses any of his earlier hardbop albums, a flowing exploratory style expressed on both flute and tenor – with a mode that's years ahead of its time, and sounds a lot more like work on labels like Strata East or Muse from the 70s. Tracks are nearly all originals by Land, and are the kind of thoughtful jazz compositions that show up on a rare few records from the 60s – all of them are great, and sparkle with creativity and a subdued sense of righteousness. The other players on the date include Joe Sample on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Donald Bailey on drums – and titles include "One For Nini", "Angel Dance", "The Peace Maker", "40 Love", "Stylin", and "The Aquarian". LP, Vinyl record album

Herbie Mann's groove is mighty darn great here – a rich refinement of his earlier flute jazz styles, into the tighter sound that really sparkled with soul during the Atlantic Records years of the 60s! Most cuts mix Latin rhythms with some very soulful inflections in the overall instrumentation – with arrangements from Herbie, Oliver Nelson, and Rene Hernandez that really make the whole thing shine – and instrumentation from a tight group of hip players that features Dave Pike on vibes, Don Friedman on piano, Atilla Zoller on guitar, and added percussion by Willie Bobo and Patato Valdez! Titles include "Vikki", "Blues In The Closet", "Saudade De Bahia", "Spanish Grits", "Mushi Mushi", and "Soul Guajira". LP, Vinyl record album

With Clifford Adams on trombone, Marshall Keys on alto, Melvin Sparks on guitar, and Arnold Sterling on alto and tenor. LP, Vinyl record album

They're not kidding with the title of this one – because although the record was only Wes Montgomery's second album as a leader, he was already making plenty of waves with the sound of his guitar! The session lines Wes up with the very tight rhythm team of Tommy Flanagan on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Albert Heath on drums – all of whom lay back and mostly let Wes take center stage – sparkling on a number of original tunes that include "West Coast Blues", "Mister Walker", and "D Natural Blues". Other tracks include a great fast take on Sonny Rollins' "Airegin", plus "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "Polka Dots & Moonbeams". LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite Lee Morgan albums, and one of his least known – a set recorded in the crucial last five years of his life, and a sparkling mix of hard bop, soul jazz, and slight bits of modernism – that magical mix that Lee was hitting as he reached farther and farther with his music – an amazing legacy in jazz that has us loving every Morgan session from 1965 onward! Lee's playing in very comfortable territory, with a group that includes Bennie Maupin on tenor, Cedar Walton on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – but that doesn't mean that the proceedings are relaxed at all, because the interplay between the players is flawless, and they use their familiarity as a great springboard to soar off into rich new territory. Lee wrote all the tunes on the record – like "Caramba", "Suicide City", and "Soulita". An excellent record throughout, and one that we'd never part with! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first records ever as a leader from funky drummer Idris Muhammad – a set that was cut right at the same time Idris was burning up the kit on his classic jazz funk sessions with other Prestige label players! The groove here is tight, funky, and very much in the mode that Muhammad laid down for other bigger soloists – a solid, socking sound that was the early 70s inheritance of the "Popcorn" funk groove of the late 60s. Players here are all great – and include Melvin Sparks on guitar, Harold Mabern on electric piano, and Virgil Jones on trumpet – and tracks include great covers of "Express Yourself" and "Super Bad", plus "Wander" and "Soulful Drums". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first records ever as a leader from funky drummer Idris Muhammad – a set that was cut right at the same time Idris was burning up the kit on his classic jazz funk sessions with other Prestige label players! The groove here is tight, funky, and very much in the mode that Muhammad laid down for other bigger soloists – a solid, socking sound that was the early 70s inheritance of the "Popcorn" funk groove of the late 60s. Players here are all great – and include Melvin Sparks on guitar, Harold Mabern on electric piano, and Virgil Jones on trumpet – and tracks include great covers of "Express Yourself" and "Super Bad", plus "Wander" and "Soulful Drums". LP, Vinyl record album

The tenor of Stan Getz meets the baritone sax of Gerry Mulligan – and then they switch things around for half of the record, as Stan picks up the baritone and Mulligan takes on tenor! Gerry always seems to open up whole new sides of his playing when sharing the leader spotlight with another star – and here, in the company of Getz, he hits a shimmering, sparkling sound that's really great, and filled with feeling. Stan's wonderful too – very much in his best mid 50s Verve period – working in a groove that's deep and laidback, with a strong undercurrent of warmth – thanks to familiar rhythm backing from the trio of Lou Levy on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Stan Levey on drums. Titles include "Anything Goes", "Ballad", and "That Old Feeling". LP, Vinyl record album

Estonian pianist Tonu Naissoo really shines here – bringing his years of experience into play with a sublime recording setting that makes his piano sparkle with this very vibrant sense of tone and timing! The setting is a trio – with frequent partners Taavo Remmel on bass and Ahto Abner on drums – and Tonu has this way of balancing darkness and light that's really beautiful – expansive in a subtle sort of way, but never trying to overdo things, or be showy just for his own sake! There's two really beautiful originals on the set – "Dirhami" and "Cycles" – both worth the price of admission alone – alongside great takes on "Pensativa", "My back Pages", "Moon & Sand", and "What A Difference A Day Made". LP, Vinyl record album

Soaring grooves and scatting vocals – a wonderful collaboration between this hip fusion combo and singer Rachel Gould, and one that's right up there with the best German grooves of the Glucklich generation! Rachel only sings on a few of the album's tracks, but those sparkle beautifully with a breezy sort of soul that's totally great – and other instrumental titles have a different sort of appeal, but one that's wonderful too – well-played keyboards and guitar, without some of the fusion excesses of the 70s – served up in lean grooves that bring in a great mix of Brazilian and funky jazz styles. The set's got a warmly appealing sound throughout – but not one that's at all like US fusion of the time – still quite adventurous, and really set free to groove in a joyous sort of way! Titles include "Mystic Latin", "Movin Seconds", "Vom Regen Bogen", "Short Funky", "Congress Of Dreams", "Cyklus III", and "Anticipated Joy". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the all-time classics of early 60s mainstream jazz – and a beautiful record that showcases writing and arranging talents of Oliver Nelson! Nelson had been bumping around a variety of sessions before this one – as a leader, sideman, and arranger – but it was with this album that his true talents really unfolded – sparkling with a depth of imagination and expression that marked him as one of the greatest artists in 60s American jazz! The group on the set is an all-star sextet – featuring Paul Chambers, Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Roy Haynes, and Freddie Hubbard – a disparate group of players who manage to come together with Nelson and find a unique voice that's rarely been duplicated again! The album features 6 fantastic compositions by Nelson, including "Stolen Moments", "Hoe Down", and "Yearnin". A fantastic record – and one that you can't go wrong with! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the all-time classics of early 60s mainstream jazz – and a beautiful record that showcases writing and arranging talents of Oliver Nelson! Nelson had been bumping around a variety of sessions before this one – as a leader, sideman, and arranger – but it was with this album that his true talents really unfolded – sparkling with a depth of imagination and expression that marked him as one of the greatest artists in 60s American jazz! The group on the set is an all-star sextet – featuring Paul Chambers, Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Roy Haynes, and Freddie Hubbard – a disparate group of players who manage to come together with Nelson and find a unique voice that's rarely been duplicated again! The album features 6 fantastic compositions by Nelson, including "Stolen Moments", "Hoe Down", and "Yearnin". A fantastic record – and one that you can't go wrong with! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the all-time classics of early 60s mainstream jazz – and a beautiful record that showcases writing and arranging talents of Oliver Nelson! Nelson had been bumping around a variety of sessions before this one – as a leader, sideman, and arranger – but it was with this album that his true talents really unfolded – sparkling with a depth of imagination and expression that marked him as one of the greatest artists in 60s American jazz! The group on the set is an all-star sextet – featuring Paul Chambers, Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Roy Haynes, and Freddie Hubbard – a disparate group of players who manage to come together with Nelson and find a unique voice that's rarely been duplicated again! The album features 6 fantastic compositions by Nelson, including "Stolen Moments", "Hoe Down", and "Yearnin". A fantastic record – and one that you can't go wrong with! LP, Vinyl record album

Pianist Roberto Olzer is great here, but the album also really sparkles with the excellent basswork of Yuri Goloubev – not just an accompanist, but also a creative force who's helped arrange part of the record and deliver a few tunes as well! Olzer's got this sense of tone and timing that's almost virtuostic, and the bass balances things out really well – so that there's a subtle soul to the record, encouraged by the drums of Mauro Beggio – which lets Roberto take off on some really expressive passages, but still swing at all the right moments. Titles include "Ferragosto", "Dreamsville", "Beau Piece", "Novembre", "Morgen", "Maybe Next Time", "The Oldest Living Thing", and "Unlikely Taiko". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautifully rich session from bassist Gary Peacock – one that draws equal energy from his three associates on the date – all of whom did some great ECM Records work on their own! Peacock composed the tunes, and his spacious notes on bass provide the core setting – but the album really sparkles with sharp-edged tenor and soprano sax lines from Jan Garbarek, some moody trumpet tones from Tomasz Stanko, and unbridled work on drums from Jack DeJohnette, who almost seems much more free of structure than Peacock on bass. Titles include "Allegory", "Paradigm", "Moor", "Legends", "Voice From The Past", and "Ode For Tomten". LP, Vinyl record album

Although bassist Oscar Pettiford left a huge influence on jazz before his untimely death, there's not actually that many fantastic records in which he's featured as a leader. Fortunately, this is one of the few, and it's a sparkling set of modernist inflected bop tunes played by a group that includes Mingus on bass, Phil Urso on tenor, Walter Bishop on piano, and Percy Heath on drums. Pettiford plays cello, and his lead on the instrument gives the record a dark tone that is extremely haunting. Titles include "Low & Behold", "Pendulum", and "Tamalpais". LP, Vinyl record album

A lost European performance from Bud Powell – recorded in Stockholm relatively late in his life, but on some nicely long tracks that really let Powell stretch out on the piano! There's a nice degree of echo in the recording – and we mean that not as a cover up for poor sound quality, because the quality here is quite strong – and instead delight in the way it has Bud's tones resonate strongly in the space of the performance hall – this bold, clear tone that really lets the Powell magic sparkle in all of its glory! The trio features Torbjorn Hultcrantz on bass and Sune Spangberg on drums – and titles on this volume include "Star Eyes", "Blues In The Closet", "I Hear Music", and "Moose The Mooche". LP, Vinyl record album

A lost European performance from Bud Powell – recorded in Stockholm relatively late in his life, but on some nicely long tracks that really let Powell stretch out on the piano! There's a nice degree of echo in the recording – and we mean that not as a cover up for poor sound quality, because the quality here is quite strong – and instead delight in the way it has Bud's tones resonate strongly in the space of the performance hall – this bold, clear tone that really lets the Powell magic sparkle in all of its glory! The trio features Torbjorn Hultcrantz on bass and Sune Spangberg on drums. Includes a rare vocal performance from Powell on the tune "This Is No Laughing Matter". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the greatest work as a leader ever cut by tenorist Paul Quinichette – longtime Basie alum, and a key player who was the "Vice Pres" next to Lester Young's "Pres". The record is one of the best full-length albums by Quinichette from the early days, and combines material from a 10" LP and an earlier e.p. into a sparkling set of a dozen tracks that includes "Cross Fire", "The Hook", "Samie", "Shad Roe", "Prevue", "Sandstone", "Bot Bot", and "Paul's Bunion". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Sonny's brilliant west coast sessions for Contemporary – records that shouldn't sparkle as much as they do, but which actually stand with his best work of the 50s! Sonny's blowing in front of a session of "leaders" that includes Hampton Hawes, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, Shelly Manne, and Victor Feldman, who plays vibes on one track. Sonny's the real leader here, though – as his bold, proud tenor tone really takes front seat, carving lines that never get tired, bringing a sparkle into tunes like "You", "How High The Moon", "I've Found A New Baby", "The Song Is You", and "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star". Heck, even with songs like those, the album should be weak – but there's an undeniable magic that really makes it great! LP, Vinyl record album

A record that will blow your mind – way different than you might expect from the cover! Sure, Pee Wee was a bit of a traditionalist on his instrument – the clarinet – but he's working here in a starkly modern way that almost recalls some of the best 50s work of Jimmy Guiffre, or some of the earlier sides by Steve Lacy. There's still a swing-based approach to the tunes, but they're handled in a spare style that features equal interplay between Russell, trombonist Marshall Brown, bassist Russell George, and drummer Ronnie Bedford – a great player who really makes the album sparkle! The tracks include a couple of Thelonious Monk titles – "Ask Me Now!" and "Hackensack" as well as a couple of Marshall Brown originals – "Licorice Stick" and "Calypso Walk". Other titles are Ornette Coleman's "Turnaround", Coltrane's "Some Other Blues" and Ellington's "Prelude To A Kiss". LP, Vinyl record album

A totally great slice of 70s work from Pharoah Sanders – a rare Japanese single that offers radio edits of two tracks from his sublime project for India Navigation! "Harvest Time" is wonderful – this hypnotic bassline, watery light guitar lines, and a raspy, soulful tenor solo from Sanders that's completely fantastic! "Love Will Find A Way" has this romping conga and bassline dancing together – building with modal energy wrapped around a guitar line that snakes in the background – while these really soulful vocals make the tune sparkle before Pharoah comes in for a solo! (Funky 45's, Jazz) 7-inch, Vinyl record

A great group, and one we've never heard before – stepping out with some tremendous trumpet and alto work that really makes the album sparkle! The group's led by trumpeter Hideto Sasaki, and features alto from guest Sekine Toshiyuki – both working in a mode that's sharply angular, but deeply soulful – like some of the most modern Blue Note work at the end of the 60s! There's some really wonderful interplay between the horns – supported by vamping, soaring rhythms on piano, bass, and drums – and in a way, the record feels like one of those later Lee Morgan dates, still rooted in hardbop traditions, but really taking off with new ideas! Titles include a wonderful version of "Little B's Poem", plus "Carole's Garden", "Turquoise Twice", "Stop Over", and "Soultrane". LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime overseas work from these two legendary musicians – both players from different scenes in the US, and who never would have crossed paths back in the day – but who really sparkle here with a sense of brilliance that brings out the best in both artists! There's no other accompaniment at all – just the piano of Horace Parlan alongside the tenor and soprano sax of Archie Shepp – right at that point when Shepp was exploring more conventional structures of jazz, but with all the knowledge he'd learned from the avant scene – which makes for wonderfully soulful ballads here that are unlike anything you might expect. Parlan is great too – stretching out in the very resonant space of the recording – and titles include "Deep River", "Goin Home", "Amazing Grace", "Go Down Moses", and "My Lord What A Morning". LP, Vinyl record album

Lovely music from pianist Paul Smith – working here on one of his most standout sessions of the 50s, thanks to the presence of horn players Bob Cooper on tenor and Julie Kinsler on flute! The style is still very much in the same fluid area as Paul's Liquid Sounds work for Capitol – but the addition of the tenor and flute really fleshes things out nicely, and gives the record a sparkling sound that's mighty nice – almost more 60s swinging in its conception at times, especially given the guitar work by Toni Rizzi! In addition to Smith's piano, the group also features bass by Joe Mondragon and drums by Stan Levey – and titles include "Chicken Wings", "Gisele", "Cookie Time", "But Not For Me", "Fine & Dandy", "Lady In Red", and "Love Walked In". LP, Vinyl record album

Badass organ funk from the mighty Leon Spencer – a set that's got a bit of a fuller feel than some of his previous albums for Prestige – but a groove that's also equally great! The style here is somewhere between blacksploitation funk and some of the grooves from the CTI/Kudu camp – with a bit more horns than before on some of the titles, arranged tightly to provide a great foil for Leon's leaner lines on Hammond! Arrangements are by Ed Bogas on the fuller tracks, and players on the album include Hubert Laws on flute, Frank Wess on baritone, Victor Paz and Virgil Jones on trumpet, Joe Beck on guitar, Melvin Sparks on guitar, and Grady Tate on drums. One track features Leon working in a smaller trio format – and titles include "Superstition", "Give Me Your Love", "The Price A Po Man's Got To Pay", "Where I'm Coming From", and "Trouble Man". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most obscure albums of the 70s from jazz vibes legend Cal Tjader – a set that was originally done as a direct-to-disc session for an audiophile label, but one that has Tjader recording with some of his grooviest modes of the time! The group here is wonderful – and the album sparkles with all these wonderful electric piano lines from the great Clare Fisher, a player who always seems to bring out the best in Cal – working alongside Gary Foster on flute and alto, Willie Bobo on timbales, Frank Rosolino on trombone, and Pancho Sanchez on congas! The whole thing's wonderful – and titles include "Ritmo Caliente", "Desposado", "Funquiado", "Tres Palabras", and "Huracan". Very likely Cal Tjader's best Latin LP of the 70s! LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite-ever albums from Mel Torme – a set that sparkles with the same smooth swing as his best late 50s dates for Bethlehem records! Like those sets, this one features Torme's voice really taking off over some tight jazzy charts – arranged by Johnny Williams, Shorty Rogers, and Dick Hazard – all in styles close to those used previously by Marty Paich. But almost even better is the New York theme of the record – surprising, given the anti-NYC vibe of Torme's classic "California Suite" – but perfect, too, as it really ties the whole thing together wonderfully – creating this beautiful picture of the Big Apple in the postwar years. Titles include the greatest version of "Sunday In New York" you'll ever hear – plus "Let Me Off Uptown", "Autumn In New York", "New York New York", "Manhattan", and "My Time Of Day". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Really evocative work from pianist Mal Waldron – a rare Japanese session cut with trumpeter Terumasa Hino, and a hip group of players who really make the set sparkle! The album's easily one of the most spiritual that Mal ever cut – and features two side long tracks that build beautifully, with soaring, searching rhythms that are unlike anything else we've ever heard in another Waldron record. Other players include Takao Uematsu on tenor, Isao Suzuki on bass, and Motohiko Hino on drums – and the set also feature added percussion, which really adds to the spiritual quality of the music. Titles include "Reminiscent Suite" and "Black Forest". LP, Vinyl record album

A really wonderful overview of sounds from the contemporary jazz scene in Finland – put together with a fantastic ear for the heady grooves and really fresh solo modes that have been bristling up on the scene of late – all of which really come together in the impeccable track selection on the set! Most of these tracks have a highly rhythmic pulse, but at a level that's very different from more familiar jazz funk or fusion – with percussion and basslines that are often nice and earthy, and a very different sense of timing that further makes the tracks stand out! Groups and instrumentation vary in a nice way throughout the collection, and the whole thing is the sort of set that will have you soon digging deeper to unlock some of the best sounds from this overlooked scene. Titles include "Dark Sparkle" by JAF Trio, "En Ut" by UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, "Bilawal" by Superposition, "Imprologue" by Kari Ikonen, "Zigenerskan" by Emma Salokoski Ilmiliekki, "Niin On Kehto Tyhjilaan" by Hot Heroes & Iro Haarla, and "Garag" by Riitta Paakki. LP, Vinyl record album

If the 60's ever had a "hit" jazz record, it was probably this one! The album's a sparkling live session featuring the trademark soul jazz sounds of the Cannonball Adderley group with Joe Zawinul on acoustic and electric piano, and brother Nat Adderley on cornet. The tracks have a long soulful groove, with gutbucket solos from the 3 above-mentioned players, and tight live production by a young David Axelrod. Titles include "Sticks", "Hippodelphia", "Sack O Woe", and the classic "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" – a jazz theme that you'll recognize instantly! LP, Vinyl record album

Great work from Michael Boothman – an artist we only know from one rare album in the late 70s, stepping out here in two previously-unreleased extended tunes! "Waiting For Your Love" skips along at a warm sunny pace – almost jazzy overall, thanks to work on guitar that riffs alongside the keyboards – and topped with these soaring vocals from Charmaine Forde, a singer who almost feels like she stepped off the classic James Mason album! "What You Won't Do For Love" is mighty nice too – a great remake of the hit, but done in a relaxed, grooving style that really likes Charmaine's vocals sparkle over wicked rhythms with lots of jazzy undercurrents too! (Soul, Jazz) 12-inch, Vinyl record

We never tire of the saxophone work of Sonny Criss – and this mid 70s gem is a perfect example of his brilliance! Sonny's sound on alto here is completely his own – raspily, soulful style that's really unique – and which draws strongly from Criss' rich life experience, including his years away from music (he'd been retired for most of the 70s before the time of this album.) The group's laidback and open – with Dolo Coker on piano, Ray Crawford on guitar, Larry Gales on bass, and Jimmy Smith on drums – a group that's all well with Criss on his journey – but also lets him sparkle brightly in the lead. Titles include the extended track "Isle Of Celia", plus "This Is For Benny", "Blues In My Heart", and "Crisscraft". LP, Vinyl record album

Legendary early live work from Miles Davis – one of the first examples on record of the way that Davis could really stretch out in a concert setting! The music's a bit more straight ahead than later live dates, but still pretty open and exploratory – and in addition to Davis' sparkling work on trumpet, the album also features some killer tenor lines from Hank Mobley – working here as a key part of Miles' group, and blowing with a hell of a lot of soul. Rhythm is by the rock-solid trio of Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums – and titles include "All Of You", "No Blues", "Bye Bye" and "Walkin". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet Lucy, and mighty groovy – a wonderful album from Raul De Souza, cut during the height of his fame on the California scene! Like Raul's other work for Capitol, this record really sparkles from tight help from George Duke – who handles production, and some of the arrangements – and really helps De Souza find a tight jazzy groove! The instrumentation is a bit leaner than some of Raul's other records of this nature, which is a nice thing – as you get to hear plenty of keyboards from Patrice Rushen, Fender Rhodes from Dawilli Gonga, trumpet from Freddie Hubbard, and percussion from Airto. There's a bit of chorus vocals at times, but the main focus is on Raul's trombone solos – and cuts include of Joao Donato's "Banana Tree", plus "Sweet Lucy", "New Love", "Wild & Shy", "Bottom Heat", "Wires", and "At Will". LP, Vinyl record album

A cool cooker from Maynard Ferguson – and a set that has all the upbeat tones you'd expect from the title, but lots of funky currents underneath! The set really sparkles right from the start – and has that sweet vibe that Maynard was really getting perfect on these late 70s records for Columbia – jazzy fusion that's tight, but never too uptight – with lots of room for sweet solos from the leader himself, plus Bill Hannon on moog, John Qdini on guitar, Eric Traub on tenor, and Mike Migliore on alto. Titles include a famous working of Earth Wind & Fier's "Fantasy" – plus "Battlestar Galactica", "MF Carnival", "Baker Street", "Birdland", "How Ya Doin Baby", and "Stella By Starlight". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little session – and a meeting that was one of the best things to happen to the Oscar Peterson trio during the 50s! Stan's tone fits perfectly with the group here – and his playing next to the guitar of Herb Ellis recalls many of the fine strengths of the early 50s Getz sides with Jimmy Raney – although somehow coming across with even more depth and imagination here – probably a result of the more sophisticated approach to productions handled by Verve! Peterson's no slouch, either – but Stan's the man who really makes the session sparkle – as you'll hear on tunes that include "Tour's End", "Bronx Blues", "I Was Doing All Right", and "I'm Glad There's You". LP, Vinyl record album

The tenor of Stan Getz meets the baritone sax of Gerry Mulligan – and then they switch things around for half of the record, as Stan picks up the baritone and Mulligan takes on tenor! Gerry always seems to open up whole new sides of his playing when sharing the leader spotlight with another star – and here, in the company of Getz, he hits a shimmering, sparkling sound that's really great, and filled with feeling. Stan's wonderful too – very much in his best mid 50s Verve period – working in a groove that's deep and laidback, with a strong undercurrent of warmth – thanks to familiar rhythm backing from the trio of Lou Levy on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Stan Levey on drums. Titles include "Anything Goes", "Ballad", and "That Old Feeling". LP, Vinyl record album

A standout 70s set from Dexter Gordon – one that's a bit tighter than some of his longer-blown dates from overseas – and which almost sparkles with the same power as his 60s albums on Blue Note! The group here is nice and tight – with Kenny Drew on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Albert Heath on drums – all grooving in a style that's sharply focused, and which really sets the stage for Dex's wonderful tone on the solos. Pedersen's bass is great too – sometimes stepping out with a presence not usually heard on a set like this – and titles include the Gordon originals "The Apartment", "Antabus", and "Candlelight Lady" – plus "Wee Dot" and "Old Folks". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked gem from Freddie Hubbard – a late fusion outing, done for the Japanese market at a time when most of his American work was returning to more acoustic modes! Freddie's trumpet sparkles brilliantly in the lead – hitting the same sort of soulful, stretching vibe as his best CTI recordings from the mid 70s – served up with an equally great mix of electric and acoustic instrumentation in the arrangements! The lineup of musicians is pretty unique, too – with Art Pepper on alto, George Cables on acoustic and electric piano, Phil Ranelin on trombone, and Roland Bautista on guitars – usually working in these gentle grooving rhythms that have a soulful stepping vibe – and which really let Freddie soar on his trumpet solos. Titles include "Eclipse", "Sunshine Lady", "I Love You", and "Bring It Back Home". LP, Vinyl record album

A key early moment for Keith Jarrett – his first-ever solo album, recorded in the early 70s for ECM – and the start of a huge legacy of later work! Before this set, Jarrett had recorded some compelling trio material for Atlantic – and he was also exploring more spiritually soulful tones over at Impulse Records too. But this record is something else entirely – a new showcase for his sensitive expressions – the kind of angular, yet poetic lines that sparkled strongly in the trio recordings, yet stand out even more on their own! Tunes are beautifully penned – and titles include "In Front", "Ritooria", "Lalene", "Starbright", "Vapallia", and "Semblence". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the cookinest albums we've ever heard from pianist Lou Levy – an obscure early 60s trio session that shows a whole new side of his sound! Lou's playing with likely suspects Max Bennett on bass and Stan Levy on drums – but unlike some of his west coast sides of the late 50s, this album's got a broader, freer approach – one that brings in more hues and colors than we're used to hearing in Lou's piano, and which has a kind of sparkle that we really love. Timings for the tunes are all a bit unconventional, making things more interesting even on the familiar tunes – and titles include "Davana", "My Old Flame", "Won't You Please Let Me In", "The Piccolino", and "The Hymn". LP, Vinyl record album

This is the one that really nailed it for Jaco Pastorious – a brilliant showcase for all his many talents on the bass, and a key illustration of the way that he influenced an entire generation! Sure, Jaco in Weather Report was already pretty darn great – but here, on his own, he really gets to sparkle – jamming hard with heavyweights on some funky numbers, sliding out in spacey territory on mellow cuts, and even trying out a few more experimental moments that are far beyond what most other bassists might imagine for a debut of this nature. Players on the date include Herbie Hancock on keyboards, Don Alias on percussion, Lenny White on drums, Hubert Laws on flute, and Randy Brecker on trumpet – and titles include "Portrait Of Tracy", "Donna Lee", "Continuum", "Okonkole Y Trompa", "Kuru/Speak Like a Child", "Opus Pocus", and "Come On Come Over". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent small group material from modern alto genius Art Pepper – a set that might well be our favorite of all the classic albums he cut for Contemporary Records! The album's got quite a strange title – Smack Up, a very strange choice, given Pepper's well-known experience as a junkie – and the set features some edgey work that really pushes Art away from the sweeter sounds of a few years before – material that maybe reflects some of the troubles he'd been going through, which shows up in the music in some really great ways. The group is a lean quintet – with Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Pete Jolly on piano, Jimmy Bond on bass, and Frank Butler on drums – and there's some slightly off-kilter tracks on the set that really make it sparkle, including Duane Tatro's "Maybe Next Year", Ornette's "Tears Inside", and Harold Land's "Smack Up" – the irony of which, we're sure, was not lost on Art Pepper! Also includes Pepper's own "Las Cuevas De Mario". LP, Vinyl record album

Sun Ra quartet material from the late 70s – his great Italian studio recordings from Voice Studio in Rome –rare material originally released on the New Steps and Other Voices, Other Blues LPs on the Horo label that's been hard sought over the years! The group features John Gilmore on percussion and tenor, Michael Ray on trumpet, Luqman Ali on drums, and Ra on keyboards. It's got a number of tracks that are relatively straight – at least for Ra – and which are played with a wonderful edge that makes them instantly compelling, sounding almost like obscure indie soul jazz sides from the east coast underground of the mid 70s. The feel on most numbers is very different than Ra's usual work, and the record sparkles with a genius that makes us wish it was easier to find the Horo work! Includes the sublime vocal tune "When There Is No Sun", plus the original tracks "The Horo", "Moon People", "Rome At Twilight", and "Friend & Friendship" – plus a very nice cover of "My Favorite Things", Along The Tiber", "Rebellion", "The Mystery Of Being", "One Day In Rome", and "Springtime & Summer Idyll". LP, Vinyl record album

Not the usual album you might expect from a group with a trio in the name – as there's no piano in the mix, and instead the album features some sparkling trumpet from the great Allan Botschinsky – heard here at the height of his youthful, modern powers! The combo's led by drummer Bjarne Rostvold, whose touch on the kit is superb – snapping and swinging at most moments, but often in really subtle ways – with a level of dexterity that we get to hear more strongly here than on some of Bjarne's sessions as a sideman. Also great is bassist Nils Henning Orsted Pedersen – no stranger to most, but already really captivating here at a young age – and as melodic as he is rhythmic, which really fills out the sound. Titles include "Greensleeves", "Tricotism", "S'Posin", "Ease It", "Squeeze Me", and "Perhaps". LP, Vinyl record album

A mighty pairing of Jimmy Smith and Oliver Nelson – one that has the heavy Hammond of Smith set up in some sparkling jazz backdrops from Nelson! The sound here has some bluesy undercurrents, as you might guess from the title – but Oliver's charts keep things hip throughout, and ensure that the record stays far from any 60s cliches in the music – and always keeps one ear out for the sharper edges that always makes Nelson's arrangements a great match for Smith. The horns are full at times, but Jimmy's organ bursts right out over the top – gliding along a great groove with a really inherent sense of rhythm. Titles include a shimmering bossa take on "Meditation", plus "Hobo Flats", "Walk Right In", "I Can't Stop Loving You", and "The Preacher". LP, Vinyl record album

A groovy 60s session from vibist Cal Tjader – and an excellent little Latin set, with a mixture of bossa nova and Latin jazz that goes way beyond the promise of the title! The great Clare Fischer arranged the set – and if you know his work with Cal, you know that he's got a wonderful approach to jazz that works perfectly with Tjader's unique phrasing – a spacious sensibility, and a great sense of timing – one that always ensures the tunes sparkle with a sweetly stepping groove. Fischer plays piano on the record – and other players include Laurindo Almeida on guitar, Paul Horn on reeds, Johnny Rae on timbales, and Milt Holland on percussion. Titles include "Choro E Batuque", "Nao Diga Nada", "Elizete", "Imagen", "Vai Querer", and "Que Tristeza". LP, Vinyl record album

Mal Waldron's first two records for Prestige – Mal One and Mal Two – are among some of the finest records that the label put out in the late 50's. They're also some of Waldron's most compelling work, and they have a sharpness that's often missing from his later stuff, which usually tends to be trio material. This cool 2 record set brings both of those albums together, and the set sparkles with energy and creativity that will have you coming back to the records again and again. Waldron's joined by Coltrane, Jackie McLean, Idrees Sulieman, Sahib Shihab, and Art Taylor – and there's never a dull moment! LP, Vinyl record album

The genius of Phil Woods emerges fully on this rare album from 1957 – an unusually-titled session, and one of the few to really set Phil up in a looser, more intimate setting! The approach is a bit like Woods sublime work for Epic Records, but more soulful too – and very different than some of his chamber jazz work on RCA, or the more blowing-session styled records on Prestige. Here, everything falls into place beautifully – as Phil's razor-sharp tones sparkle strongly on some well-conceived tracks that also feature trumpet work by Ray Copeland – and rhythm from the trio of Red Garland on piano, Teddy Kotick on bass, and Nick Stabulas on drums. The tunes are bop-oriented, but Woods already stretches out way past any cliches – really finding his voice and showing a tremendous amount of growth in just a few years. Titles include "Steeplechase", "Au Prive", "Last Fling", "Sugan", and "Green Pines". LP, Vinyl record album

One of those great later albums that has Chet Baker working alongside an instrument you never would have expected in the early days – blowing his own trumpet lines next to fantastic work on guitar from Doug Raney – a pair who really make some magic with this album! The set's also got the mighty Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass – handling rhythm in a way that's strong, but gentle at the same time – this beautiful balance that echoes the warmth of both of the other players, as Chet's sparkling trumpet lines resonate with the great colors from Raney's guitar. Titles include "Broken Wing", "Down", "Daybreak", and "For Minors Only". LP, Vinyl record album

Two excellent Bryant sets, recorded for Prestige, though he's more well known for his Cadet sides. The first disc of the set is a very striking album – one of Bryant's most noteworthy of the time! The album features Ray playing solo piano – quite unusual for the period, as most piano jazz records, especially his, were at least cut in a trio format. Ray's wonderfully unfettered here – hitting grooves with a level of expression and sophistication that far surpasses most of his other records. The intimate time on the keys never gets hokey or overindulgent – but it does let Ray open up and show a side that we've rarely heard on wax. Titles include "Stocking Feet", "Blues #3", "Joy", "Me & The Blues", and "My Blues". The Ray Bryant Trio is another wonderful early side, featuring Ike Isaacs and Specs Wright in a trio alongside Bryant, performing sparkling renditions of standards and a couple originals, that are still infused with his bluesy groove. Titles include "Golden Earrings", "Angel Eyes", "Blues Changes", "Splittin'", "Django", "The Thrill Is Gone", "Daahoud" and "Sonar". 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

A Donald Byrd treasure – and an album that was almost left in the vaults by Blue Note, until they briefly released it at the end of the 70s! The cover and title are a bit unfamiliar, but the music is right up there with Byrd's classic sessions with baritonist Pepper Adams – a great player here, with a deftness on his horn that's incredible – matching all the sharp changes and soulful undercurrents of Byrd's sparkling trumpet! There's a nice hard sound to the whole thing – almost the raw power of the pair's albums for the Warwick label – and as with those, Herbie Hancock is on piano – giving the whole thing an excellent soul jazz groove that really kicks the main soloists into action! Titles include "Great God", "I'm An Old Cowhand", "That's All", "You're Next", and "Chant". LP, Vinyl record album

Cooper and Holman don't actually play together on this album but it is rather a collection of some of their sessions for Capitol, originally in the Kenton Presents Jazz series, from 1954. Side A is mostly comprised of Cooper and his band playing such songs as "The Way You Look Tonight", "Lisbon Lady", "Group Activity", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", and "Solo Plight". Cooper's Sextet included such musicians as Bud Shank, Shelly Manne and Stan Levy. Side B are all original Holman compositions and they include "Awfully Busy", "Back To Minors", "Cousin Jack", "Sparkle", and "Plain Folks". Holman's band included such musicians as Stu Williamson, Max Bennett, Stan Levey, and Herb Geller. LP, Vinyl record album

A massive classic from Lou Donaldson's funky years with Idris Muhammad on drums – an album that's filled with lots of bottom-heavy grooves, plus some great work on alto, guitar, and organ! Muhammad's drums are in fine fine form here – right up there with his other LD Blue Note work, if not even better – and the rest of the lineup features Leon Spencer and Lonnie Smith on organ, Ted Dunbar and Melvin Sparks on guitar, and Blue Mitchell on trumpet – all top-shelf players who really make the album kick nicely. Titles include the classic cut "Pot Belly", which was sampled by Tribe Called Quest and about a hundred others – plus "Curtis Song", "Sassie Lassie", "Love", and a version of "Tennessee Waltz" that's even a nice one too! LP, Vinyl record album

A killer batch of large ensemble numbers – very much in the mode of the Clarke-Boland Big Band, or some of the other groups on MPS at the time! The group's led by Jerry Van Rooyen, the Dutch jazzman and composer who did some excellent funky soundtrack work over the years – a fact that certainly shows up in the tracks on the set – which have a sweetly grooving feel mixed in with the large ensemble jazz – a great approach that would have been right at home in some hip Euro film score from the time! Van Rooyen gives the material a soulful feel that's a lot like some of Quincy Jones' best scoring from the 60s – blending together work on organ, Fender Rhodes, and piano (played by Frans Elsen, Rob Madna, and Rob Franken) – with breakaway horn solos by players like Benny Bailey on trumpet and Rolf Ericson on trumpets, Ake Persson and Jiggs Whigham on trombones, and Herb Geller, Ferdinand Povel, and Tony Coe on reeds – most of whom are players who've sparked great notes previously on sets with the Clarke-Boland Big Band, or other hip MPS ensemble projects. Titles include "Sonlite", "Because I Love You", "Some Blues", "For Nathalie", "The Runners", "JBW", "Green", and "Whirligig". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little record – one that showcases the continuing commitment of Dizzy Gillespie to exploring the world of Latin and Carribean rhythms! The set features Diz's great mid-60's combo with James Moody (on tenor and Latin flute), Kenny Barron (on piano and bass), and Chris White (on bass and guitar) – plus some added Latin percussion and occasional backing vocals by the group. Dizzy's sound is sparkling and shining, and soars ahead of the arrangements nicely – especially on groovers like "Fiesta Mojo", "Jambo", "Trinidad, Hello", and "Don't Try To Keep Up With the Joneses". Very groovy stuff, and packaged in an amazing gatefold cover, with very cool graphics, and a great booklet! LP, Vinyl record album

Really fantastic work from Dizzy Gillespie – proof that of all the original boppers, he was maybe the one who really continued to experiment over the years – as he comes across here with a great blend of electric funk and jazz! The whole album has a sly sweet funky sound that's part CTI/part Latin-tinged Dizzy – and the real strength is the great Mike Longo, who plays some amazing stretched out piano lines, which work perfectly with the basslines on the record as a foil for Dizzy's sparkling trumpet solos. The instrumentation also features great use of Latin percussion too, and the album's got 4 long cuts – including the excellent "Me N Them", plus "Olinga", "Timet", and "Diddy Wa Diddy". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first true moments of genius from tenorist Joe Henderson – his debut as a leader for Blue Note, and a set that already has him knocking it out of the park, and setting a tone for a whole new generation! Right at the start, Joe was as distinct a saxophonist as recent predecessors like Wayne Shorter or Hank Mobley – but like both of them, he had a voice that was all his own – and already stretching past more familiar tenor modes, at a level that would make Henderson one of the most important players in years soon to come! But he's already great here – and is working in a suberb group with Kenny Dorham on trumpet, McCoy Tyner on piano, Butch Warren on bass, and Pete LaRoca on drums. LaRoca's very free on the drum kit, and gives the set a rhythmic looseness that's a bit of a hint at some of Joe's 70's recordings – and that style's even further supported by Tyner's long flowing lines on piano, and Dorham's sparkling work on the trumpet! Includes the classic reading of Kenny's "Blue Bossa", plus the titles "Recorda-Me", "Jinrikisha", "La Mesha", and "Homestretch". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful pairing of this German pianist and American tenor star Zoot Sims – and an album that may well be the greatest that Jutta Hipp ever cut! Hipp was one of the rising stars of the German postwar jazz scene in the 50s – and although she issued other American albums in the decade for Blue Note and Decca, this side's probably the best-remembered of the bunch – thanks to the presence of Zoot, and support from a great rhythm section that includes Ahmed Abdul-Malik on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums – both of whom match the modern tones of Jutta's piano, but also give a solidly soulful Blue Note feel to the set. The group's completed by trumpeter Jerry Lloyd, who helps bring a nice sparkle to the frontline – and titles include "Just Blues", "Wee Dot", "Almost Like Being In Love", and "Down Home". LP, Vinyl record album

A great post-CTI session from Freddie Hubbard – one that has him blowing over sweet arrangements from Bob James, who manages to keep things full, yet soulful throughout! There's a lot of instrumentation backing Freddie up for the date – full horns, strings, and even a bit of chorus vocals – but as with some of James' best efforts like this, things never get too cluttered, nor too slick – and the album rocks with the kind of soulful vibes you'd hear on some of the Kudu Records dates of the time. Even familiar covers – of tunes like "Feelings" or "Dream Weaver" – are nicely transformed by James' touch, taking on a new soulful sound in this setting – thanks to Bob's own work on keyboards, which are supported a bit by additional keys from George Cables. Hubbard sparkles no matter what the setting – and titles include "Rock Me Arms", "Touch Me Baby", "Windjammer", and "Neo Terra". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible trio album – not just for the powerful drums of the great Elvin Jones, but also for amazing work on reeds by a young Joe Farrell! Farrell's in his pre-CTI years here, and really lets loose in the space of the album's open setting – a trio that just features Jones on drums and Jimmy Garrison on bass – soaring to the skies on these freewheeling solos on tenor, soprano sax, and even a bit of flute – all played with the kind of creative fire that we always find in Joe's best records! The album's a great illustration of the fresh directions that Elvin Jones was taking after the passing of John Coltrane – and the whole thing sparks with fire and brilliance – on bold tracks that include "In The Truth", "What Is This", "Sometimes Joe", and "Ascendant". LP, Vinyl record album

Genius early work from the legendary Thad Jones – one of his greatest albums ever, and a sublime tribute to his talents on the trumpet! Jones has a groove here that definitely fits in nicely with the title – some of the more contemplative, expressive modes of his native Detroit scene – honed with a bit more of the sharpness that New York players were bringing to hardbop at the time! Jones' trumpet is warmly lyrical, but never in a sleepy, or too-easy sort of way – and the group here has plenty of nice edges, thanks to killer tenor sax from the under-rated Billy Mitchell, guitar from Kenny Burrell, piano from Tommy Flanagan, bass from Oscar Pettiford, and drums from Shadow Wilson. There's a tremendous balance between gentleness and depth going on here – and the album has an unbounded sense of creativity that easily makes it one of the most sparkling Blue Note sides from the time! Titles include "Little Girl Blue", "Blue Room", "Tar Riff", "Zec", and "Scratch". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful beautiful record, and still one of the greatest jazz vocal albums ever made. The great King Pleasure sings in a raspy vocalese style similar to Jon Hendricks or Eddie Jefferson, but with a sense of warmth and delivery that the two of them never seem to reach. The set list here features a stellar batch of tracks with lyrics by Pleasure, including "The New Symphony Sid", "No, Not Much", "Parker's Mood", and "Golden Days". There's some great accompaniment by LA hard bop players like Teddy Edwards, Gerald Wiggins, and Harold Land, and the whole set sparkles with imagination and warmth. Plus, the liner notes include a cool set of notes about Pleasure's crazy philosophy called Planetism. Wild stuff! (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet electric Ramsey Lewis – an overlooked gem from the Columbia Records years, filled with loads of great grooves, and some pretty mighty keyboards! Part of the record has Ramsey working with Larry Dunn of Kalimba Productions – getting plenty of the Earth Wind & Fire groove that made so much of his Columbia sessions sparkle – while the rest of the set has the great Bert DeCoteaux handling things, and giving Lewis just the right mix of sophistication and soul he was using with other Columbia acts at the time. The album's a perfect example of the way that Ramsey stepped way ahead of the pack during this time in his career – using keyboards and grooves together in ways that so many artists today are still trying to match – but never hit it this right! Titles include "Camino El Bueno", "Caring For You", "Intimacy", "That Ole Bach Music", "Skippin", "Tequila Mockingbird", and "Wandering Rose" – that cool cut by Neal Creque! LP, Vinyl record album