A great bit of 70s electric work from Quincy – and probably his funkiest album ever! Quincy's really stepping out here from the straighter and spacier styles of earlier records – going for more of the dirty grooves he was cutting up for soundtrack albums, and hitting notes that were a lot more fitting for the blacksploitation era. The record includes the massive funky track cut "Hikky-Burr", which was the theme to the first Bill Cosby Show, and which has a sinister groove, and some wild shouted lyrics! Also features two more great themes – "Ironside" and "The Anderson Tapes" – both of which have a cool electric sound to them, and the nice title cut, which actually features Quincy on vocals! Other tracks include "Cast Your Fate To The Wind", "What's Going On", "Brown Ballad" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Tremendous work by Lee Morgan – easily one of his greatest albums, and a soaring session of modal energy that easily rivals the best work of the Impulse era! The album's got a slightly different feel than usual for Blue Note – a sense of freedom, joy, and soaring energy that's totally great – explored by a crack group that features Morgan on trumpet, Wayne Shorter on tenor, Harold Mabern on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – all coming together with a unique sense of creativity! The rhythm section is one of the key factors here – as Mabern, Cranshaw, and Higgins have a fluid groove that really sets the tone for the record – letting Morgan and Shorter stretch out to the height of their powers, and explore some incredible modal and soulful themes. Titles include the seminal 11 minute reading of "The Gigolo", plus "Yes I Can No You Can't", "Speedball", and "Trapped" – as well as an excellent reading of "You Go To My Head" that completely opens up the old standard! LP, Vinyl record album

Righteous poetry and jazz from Eugene Redmond – aka Illu Gan Gan – a very spiritual figure from the early 70s Bay Area scene! The album was recorded live in the studio, in a style that has Redmond introducing his work, then moving into dramatic recitations backed up by small combo jazz instrumentation that includes guitar, percussion, and soprano sax. The feel is open and free, almost an African-American take on the beat poetry style of late 50s San Francisco – but with themes that are more righteous, and a bad-talking style that puts the record in the same sphere as contemporaneous work by Camille Yarbrough, Jayne Cortez, Wanda Robinson, and even Iceberg Slim. Titles include "Hummin Hookin & Cookin", "Sun Ritual", "Epigrams For My Father", "River Of Bones & Flesh & Blood", "The Edge Of Myself", and "All Athighed In Black". (Spoken Word, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

A classic of spiritual, soulful jazz – and one of Archie Shepp's greatest albums! The set was recorded in New York after a few free and festive years in Paris, and it's an amazing about-face that has Archie stepping into a world of righteous, full-on, political, and funky themes – the likes of which are far more outspoken than any of his previous recordings. The group on the set is quite a large one – hip New York underground players, a small string ensemble, and even a few singers – like soul diva Joshie Armstead and vocalist Joe Lee Wilson. Overall, the sound's somewhere in the same place as the Art Ensemble of Chicago's amazing Les Stances A Sophie – in that the record comes from a free jazz tradition, but moves into a more rhythmic focus in order to communicate its message. The added vocals and recitations are wonderful – very moving, and much less hippy-dippy than on other Shepp records of the time – and the whole thing holds together with a unique sound and substance that's made it a treasure that holds up again and again. A true gem, and one we'll never part with! Tracks include "Quiet Dawn", "Goodbye Sweet Pops", "Steam (parts 1 & 2)", "Attica Blues", "Blues For Brother George Jackson", and "Ballad For A Child". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the last really compelling records ever done by Mike Westbrook – a large group session that shifts effortlessly between funky moments and some more adventurous playing! The album's a suite of tracks that run through a bit more moods than we're used to hearing on some of Westbrook's earlier records – and the overall approach is varied, but in a way that's really enjoyable, and doesn't get bogged down in some of the repetitive themes that Westbrook could sometimes fall in love with. The real star of the record is John Surman, who solos often on baritone, soprano, and bass clarinet – and titles include "Sleepwalker Awaking In Sunlight", "Outgoing Song", "Tender Love", "Construction", "View From The Drawbridge", and "Pistache". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the grooviest Si Zentner albums of the 60s – thanks to a host of hip spy themes that keep things interesting throughout! The material really brings out the best in Si – as does the album's excellent arrangements from Ernie Freeman and Bill Holman – both talents who know how to find the right mix of groovy and jazz that works the best for the Zentner touch! Titles include "Mr Lucky", "Dragnet", "Burke's Law", "James Bond Theme", "Charade", "007", and "The Fugitive". (Now Sound, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Guitarist Jan Akkerman bridges many worlds here – deftly stepping between spare acoustic guitar modes and some much more dynamic electric ones – but all with a sense of care and vision that really makes the record come together! The set begins with a few themes from John Dowland, updated by Akkerman, but still played with an ancient sort of vibe – one that leads into some very cool fusion moments that mix centuries-old aesthetics with the modern – creating a sense of anachronism that really keeps things interesting. Gene Orloff handled some of the larger arrangements, but the focus is always on Akkerman's deft work on the guitar – and titles include "Britannia", "House Of The King", "Javeh", "Lammy", and "A Fantasy". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest moments ever from saxophonist Gato Barbieri – and that's saying a lot, given that by the time of this recording, he'd already had a great 60s run as an avant jazz musician, and started the 70s with a string of albums that criss-crossed jazz and South American musical styles! Yet Last Tango In Paris may well be Barbieri's crowning achievement – a sublime record that draws on all the richer, more emotive themes of his Latin America projects, but gives them new focus in the arrangements of Oliver Nelson – who ensures that the music is never too cheesy or overdone – quite a feat, given the sexy setting of the film! Gato draws a lot from Argentine tango, but often uses his own sax solos in place of a more familiar bandoneon – in a way that pushes the "new tango" mode of the time even farther – especially when set amidst Nelson's wonderful orchestrations. Titles include many versions of the "Last Tango" theme, plus the tracks "Girl In Black", "Jeanne", "Why Did She Choose You?", "It's Over", and "Fake Ophelia". (Soundtracks, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Don Cherry really breaks out here on his classic Mu sessions from France – using the new freedoms of post-68 Paris to explore themes at a level that would set the tone for generations to come! The album's very spare, and very improvised – with Cherry on pocket trumpet, piano, and wooden flute – plus a bit of percussion too – alongside drummer Ed Blackwell, who's equally unbridled – showing a huge evolution since the time both he and Don spent in the group of Ornette Coleman! There's a few echoes of the global elements that Cherry would later embrace more strongly in the 70s – but the core energy here is mostly improvised jazz, handled at a level that really makes a lot better use of the freedom than some of Don's contemporaries. Titles on this second part include "Bamboo Night", "The Mysticism Of My Sound", "Psycho Drama", "Smiling Faces Going Places", "Teo Teo Can", and "Dollar Brand/Spontaneous Composing/Exert Man On The Moon". LP, Vinyl record album

A really rare slice of work from Ornette Coleman – an early 60s album that features a small rhythm trio, but who aren't listed here at all! The vibe here is pretty wide open, even for Ornette, where the group seems to be taking off on fully improvised material, without the themes and structures in some of Ornette's other work – much more end of 60s than some of his other early 60s material. The setting seems to vary from multiple horns to just Ornette and drums, and though each side is banded into 5 tracks, the songs are just listed as "Ornette's Suite" parts I & II. LP, Vinyl record album

One of Duke's last albums – and a great one! The session is right up there with some of Ellington's best late "suites" – an extended work that features writing around exotic themes, played by stalwarts like Paul Gonsalves, Harold Ashby, Rufus Jones, Cootie Williams, and Harry Carney – all coming together with more energy and imagination than you'd expect after all these years! The writing is fantastic, and the moods change strongly with each tune – running through numbers like "Afrique", "Chinoiserie", "Didjeridoo", "Gong", "Tang", and "Hard Way" – all of which sound as great as their titles might imply! LP, Vinyl record album

Mid 70's 2LP set that combines fantastic early work from Gil Evans and Tadd Dameron. The Gil Evans tracks are shorter and less ambitious than some of Evans' work on Impulse, but the group is excellent – and even in a shorter format, the conception of the work still contains plenty of rich new ideas. Players include Louis Mucci, John Carisi, Steve Lacy, Willie Ruff, Paul Chambers, Nick Stabulis, and Lee Konitz on alto. Titles include "Ella Speed", "Big Stuff", "Jambangle", "Nobody's Heart", and "Remember". Tadd Dameron's contributions here are from a wonderful modernist session – and one that's especially great because it's filled with fresh themes that get past some of his over-reissued standards! Players here include Clifford Brown and Idrees Sulieman on trumpets, Gigi Gryce on alto, Benny Golson on tenor, and Dameron on piano. Titles include "Philly JJ", "Choose Now", "Theme Of No Repeat", and "Dial B For Beauty". Also included are readings of classic Dameron compositions – like "The Scene Is Clean", "Fontainebleau", and "Delerium" – all played by a great little group that includes Dameron on piano, plus Joe Alexander on tenor, Sahib Shihab on alto, Kenny Dorham on trumpet, and Henry Coker on trombone. LP, Vinyl record album

Guitar genius Grant Green is definitely feelin the spirit here – as he mixes his lean 60s style with a host of traditional numbers from the spiritual canon – at a level that provided a whole new sense of soul at the time! There was plenty of music influenced by gospel during the decade – but here, Green makes the link a lot more explicit – taking traditional themes and turning them into jazz instrumentals – with the help of a lean quartet that features Herbie Hancock on piano, Butch Warren on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – all working with a feel that's a lot more like the Grant Green/Sonny Clark material than some of Grant's more organ or tenor-assisted albums! Garvin Masseaux provides a bit of extra percussion on tambourine – and titles include "Go Down Moses", "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child", and "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen". LP, Vinyl record album

A surprisingly great early album from Jan Hammer – the keyboardist who went onto do some pretty drecky albums in later years, but who still has a surprising amount of sensitivity at this point! The session's a bit of a concept outing – recorded by Hammer after work in Mahavishnu Orchestra, but done in a personal, almost intimate style that's quite different than the overblown affair you might expect. Many tunes simply feature solo piano contemplating the themes, plus additional keyboards and synthesizer as the album moves on – and a bit of additional percussion and violin. There's a lyrical beauty here we never expected in Hammer's work – and titles include "Oceans & Continents", "Fourth Day", "Darnkess/Earth In Search Of A Sun", and "The Animals". LP, Vinyl record album

Very groovy stuff from Quincy – a mix of jazz, soundtrack, and popular themes, all done in that soulful swinging style that Quincy virtually helped invent back in the 60s! The album's got plenty of great groovers that take a popular tune and kind of turn it on its ear – takes on tracks like "What's New Pussycat", "Non-Stop To Brazil", "The In Crowd", "Mack The Knife", "The Gentle Rain", and "Satisfaction" – all of which are souped-up by Quincy, and done in a rhythmic style that takes them past familiar versions you might know. The album also features the very groovy "Blues For Trumpet & Koto" – a slightly exotic number that we really like! LP, Vinyl record album

Reissue of a rare Teddy Charles album that also featured Booker Little and Booker Ervin. The album features the inventive vibist caught live in New York at a Metronome sponsored gig featuring Mingus alums Mal Waldron, Booker Ervin and Booker Little. The set includes one expansive Charles original, "Take Three Parts Jazz", a Little original "The Confined Few", Ervin's "Scoochie" and Waldron's "Cycles", along with a few standards. The music is fantastic, and is a mix of modernist modal themes with rich soul jazz playing. Ervin and Little are fantastic, and their sharp edgey sounds are a perfect contrast with Charles' moody vibes. Very little of Teddy Charles' work, which ranged from introspective avant garde pieces with Jimmy Giuffre to more swing based collaborations with Mingus, has been documented, this piece showcases his New Directions Quartet in a unique setting, with inspired guests. LP, Vinyl record album

A really standout score from Oliver Nelson – a set that's got some of his groovier touches at times, but also features some pretty great straighter scoring as well! The record really shows Nelson stepping out from his older role as a strictly jazz-based arranger – and although there are some jazz touches here, there's also some even more impressive larger orchestrations that soar out with a majestic use of strings. George Kennedy (remember that stretch when it seemed he was in every movie?) – and although half the album's straight soundtrack material, there's some groovy tracks that make it worthwhile. Roy Orbison sings a vocal number called "Zigzag" – but the real charmers are the jazzier themes, which include "The Other Car", "Love Theme", "Earphones", and the great "Variation Of Themes", which has a wonderfully dancing bossa groove to it! (Soundtracks, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Pure beauty and joy from Michel Petrucciani – a record that captures the pianist in all his 80s genius – working in a trio with Palle Danielsson on bass and Eliot Zigmund on drums, but clearly driving the whole engine with his boundless energy on the keys! The tracks are all quite long, and even familiar themes are nicely transformed – although our favorites are the original numbers by Michel, which dominate the record and really seem like the best sort of showcase for that special spirit that made him such a standout during his too-short recorded career. Titles include "The Prayer", "Our Tune", "Face's Face", "Regina", and "Night & Day". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the weirdest records Sun Ra ever made – music to accompany the strange film Space Is The Place – which itself was an odd mixture of science fiction and blacksploitation-type action! The sounds here are sometimes in the usual Arkestra mode – wonderfully exotic rhythms mixed with freewheeling jazz solos – but other parts seem to follow more of a soundtrack-styled need – and include some bolder action riffs, spare scene-setting moments, and even some strong vocal themes. Titles include "Watusa", "Calling Planet Earth", "Mysterious Crystal", "Outerspaceways Incorporated", "Cosmic Forces", "Satellites Are Spinning", and a version of "Space Is The Place". This special set also includes the bonus Mathematics Of The Altered Destiny, a full LP of unreleased music from Sun Ra featuring June Tyson – and the first ever US Blu-ray release of the film, and a standard DVD as well! LP, Vinyl record album