A great look at the genius of David Axelrod – the groundbreaking producer who recorded some incredibly hip albums at Captiol during the late 60s, but who's now only finally getting his due! Axelrod brought a whole new sensibility to the studio in his day – an approach that really stripped down the overly-cluttered modes of the era of Phil Spector and Brian Wilson, and which went instead for a spacious approach to the music that seemed to use silence as heavily as it did sound! Axelrod's genius was heard most famously on key 60s recordings by Cannonball Adderley and Lou Rawls for Capitol, but while at the label, he also got the chance to cut some incredibly mind-blowing albums on his own – and to work with some other artists who really benefited from his amazing touch in the studio. This set's a masterpiece – and it features 17 Axelrod numbers from the Capitol years – all hand-picked by Egon of Stones Throw (himself an Axelrod expert), and supported by comments from David himself! Titles include "House Of Mirrors" and "The Edge" by David McCallum, "Theme From The Fox" by Don Randi, "Tensity" by Cannonball Adderley, "Pula Yetla" by Letta Mbulu, "Lifetime Monologue" and "You've Made Me So Very Happy" by Lou Rawls, and "The Signs (part 1)", "Warning Talk (parts 1 & 3)", "The Smile", "The Mental Traveller", "The Fly", and "London" by David Axelrod himself. CD

One of the few records cut as a leader by west coast piano legend Jimmy Rowles – and one of the grooviest too! The album's a septet session, one that has Jimmy working with some great horn talents that include Bill Holman on tenor, Herb Geller on alto, Lee Katzman on trumpet, and Bob Enevoldsen on trombone. Arrangements are by Holman and Rowles – in a style that's got some beautifully evocative touches, as on Holman's other work of the time – almost a mixture of Kenton tonal writing with some of the lighter west coast styles of the time – often on familiar tunes, but in a way that really transforms them into sprightly little pictures in sound! Titles include "Heat Wave", "Throwin Stones At The Sun", "When The Sun Comes Out", "Winter Weather", and "Too Hot For Words". CD features 3 alternate takes too! CD