Sweet LA soul jazz from trumpeter Bobby Bryant – an oft-overlooked player with a hard hitting sound that was a bit like Nat Adderley! The album's one of Bobby's best (and few) – and it's got a really groovy little feel, almost in a Jazz Crusaders mode – with a small combo playing live on tight bouncy little tracks that still have some nice room for solo work. The Crusaders reference is a clear one – as Joe Sample's in the group on piano – and other players on the record include Hadley Caliman and Herman Riley, both of whom play tenor. Titles include "Sunny", "Love Is Supreme", "58th Street", "Don't Say Goodbye", and "Blues For Ramona". CD

The classic quartet of John Coltrane, certainly the classic quartet of the 60s jazz scene and perhaps the classic jazz quartet of all time, compiled in one box set with all of their studio recordings! John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones set so many benchmarks for jazz with their envelope pushing style, recording and performances that it's impossible to overstate their importance in the modern musical oeuvre. This set features all of the LPs Coltrane, Ballads, Impressions, Live At Birdland, Crescent, A Love Supreme, The John Coltrane Quartet Plays, Kulu Se Mama, Transition, Sunship, Infinity and First Meditations, plus a number of tracks issued on compilations. 66 tracks in all, spread out over 8 CDs, in a beautiful bookbound package with a metal slipcase and extensive liner notes. The titles are too numerous to list here, but the set includes "Big Nick", "Soul Eyes", "Miles' Mode", "Tunji", "After The rain", "Lonnie's Lament", "The Drum Thing", "Wise One", "Crescent", "A Love Supreme", "Nature Boy", "Brasilia", "Song Of Praise", "Dear Lord", "The Last Blues", "Living Space", "Dusk Dawn", "Dearly Beloved", "Attaining", "Ascent", "Amen", "Love", "Compassion", "Joy", "Consequences", and "Serenity". CD

A smoking live set from Elvin Jones' Jazz Machine group – a very powerful quintet that's driven by a two-saxophone engine! The reeds here are handled by Frank Foster and Pat Labarbera – both of whom help Jones work out some post-Coltrane energy – but not in a way that seeks to just copy The Great One! Instead, the combo build wonderfully on the spirit left behind by the late Trane – playing long tracks that stretch out with searing solos from both saxophonists, build on piano-less rhythm from Roland Prince's guitar and the bass of Andy McCloud. The set was recorded live, but with wonderful clarity – and titles include Foster's great "House That Love Built", plus "EJ Blues" and a take on "Love Supreme". CD