Bernard Peiffer was one of the greatest pianists working in the French scene of the postwar years – a technical master of the keys, with a level of skill to equal that of Oscar Peterson, and a rhythmic, pulsating style that had some nice traces of Errol Garner. Peiffer's genius is captured beautifully in this 21 track set – a collection of recordings from 1952 and 1953, originally issued as 78rpm singles by the Blue Star label, but remastered here for the collection! Pieffer's work on the keys is tremendous throughout – and on some tracks he's playing solo, while others feature rhythm work from Pierre Michelot on bass and Jean-Louis Vale on drums. The CD features a total of 21 tracks in all, including 2 previously unreleased tunes – and titles include "La Vie En Rose", "Ballad In Paris", "Hit That Jive Jack", "Tired Blues", "Don't Blame Me", "Midday On Champs Elysees", and "Slow Burn". CD

It's hard to go wrong with an improvising lineup like this – a large ensemble of Chicago musicians that includes Ken Vandermark, Mars Williams, and Dave Rempis on a variety of reeds – plus Nick Mazzarella on alto, Jeb Bishop on trombone, Josh Berman on cornet, Jen Paulson on viola, Tim Daisy on drums, and Jason Adasiewicz on vibes! There's also some great electric bass from Nick Macri, which makes for a bolder sense of rhythm at points – almost a groove on the large leadoff cut – while the individual players trade musical moments that leave us breathless throughout! Titles include "Atlas Of Madness", "The Floor", and "Vivre Sa Vie". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the earliest work we've ever heard from German tenorist Joki Freund – a player who'd trip out a bit more in later years, but who blows here with a sound that's sharp, modern, and very swinging throughout! The group features trombone from Albert Mangelsdorff, who's also on the straighter side of the spectrum here – plus alto from Emil Mangelsdorff, sounding a lot more modern than on other recordings – really matching the energy of both hornmen, as they all step out in a piano-less group that only features the bass of Harry Schell and drums of Rudi Sehring on rhythm! The music has echoes of better-known 50s modernists – like Lee Konitz or Jimmy Giuffre on our side of the Atlantic, or Hans Koller in Freund's German scene – and the package features live material from a 1957 album, plus additional studio tracks from the rare Joki's Sparkle EP. Titles include "Nico", "Freund Point", "Vie La France", "Swinging Pigeons", "Domicile", "Rudy's Theme", and "From Lighthouse To Frankfurt". CD

A dream of a record from Gary McFarland – lightly jazzy instrumentals with a warm bossa nova undercurrent! The style is incredible – a sweet blend of vibes, guitar, and even some light whistling – often also featuring wordless jazz vocals – scatting along with the groove in a melodic and lovely kind of way! The whole thing's incredibly charming, and even familiar tunes come across sounding quite different in McFarlands hands. Titles include "From Russia With Love", "More", "Emily", "La Vie En Rose", "The Love Goddess", and even a groovy take on "I Want To Hold Your Hand". For you true swingers, the cover includes directions for mixing a "Soft Samba Cocktail" (courtesy Spanish Sherry Institute)! LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning showcase for the saxophone work of Mototeru Takagi, in a set of duets with bassist Motoharhu Yoshizawa – yet a set that also really explodes when it hits a series of solo performances from Yoshizawa too! The first two CDs feature duet material – with Takagi on tenor, plus a bit of solo – and Yoshizawa adding some slight effects to his bass, yet never in a way that's gimmicky – as the record features long improvisations that are pure emotive, expressive power from both individuals. CD1 features the disc-long "Stone Blues", while CD2 features unusual expansions on "Arirang Variations", "Ballerina/Going Home", and "La Vie En Rose". CD3 features four solo bass improvisations, recorded two years after the duets – all pretty darn amazing! CD

A great album on Mercury – one with a gentle groove, but at a level that really lets Sarah Vaughan expand to the full subtle power of her voice! Titles include "It Happened Again", "You Ought To Have A Wife", "Never", "Edge Of The Sea", "C'Est La Vie", "Don't Let Me Love You", "The Second Time", and "Fabulous Character". (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

Includes "What A Wonderful World", "Hello Dolly", "Mack The Knife", "Kiss Of Fire", "La Vie En Rose", "Dummy Song", "Blueberry Hill", and more. CD

Titles include "On The Sunny Side Of The Street", "La Vie En Rose", "Lazy River", "I Surrender Dear", "When It's Sleepy Time Down South", "You Rascal You" with Louis Jordan, and "Gone Fishin" with Bing Crosby. CD

An enigmatic chapter in the always-compelling career of trumpeter Erik Truffaz – one that has him bringing in some distinct Mid East influences, in the form of vocalists Nya and Mournir Troudi! The core group's a quartet, with Truffaz playing in his usual moody trumpet style, as well as a bit of melodica – backed by a bit of electronics, guitar, and percussion. The vocalists sing on about half the album's tracks, giving them lyrics of a strongly political nature – and creating a mood that really makes these tunes stand out from the others on the LP. A few of the instrumentals get a bit guitar-heavy for our taste, but the vocal numbers are great – and tracks include "Saloua", "Ines", "Tantrik", "Big Wheel", "Whispering", "Yabous", "Ghost Drummer", and "Et La Vie Continue". (Deep Funk, Jazz) CD

Japanese pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto pays tribute to the late Erroll Garner, by working in an expanded format that brings a bit of strings into support the core work of his trio! The setting is quite different than some of Yamamoto's other albums of the time, and makes for a surprisingly nice change – as the backdrops from Shoji Yokouchi are quite spare and sensitive – and really allow the lead piano to still step out strongly, in the way that Erroll Garner always did with any of his more expansive sessions. Tsuyoshi also has a different style here than on other records – one that's more evocative of Garner, with lots of rhythmic impulses bubbling through the melody – on titles that include "There Is No Greater Love", "Blues For Erroll", "Time After Time", "La Vie En Rose", and of course "Mistly". CD

A sparkling postwar musical fantasy of Paris – one made up of a host of famous themes from French pop music of the 20th century, all set to lush string arrangements by a young Michel Legrand! The album's not as upbeat or jazzy as some of Legrand's later soundtrack work, but it's got a wonderful quality all its own – a warmly romantic vision of a Paris that was still putting the pieces back together less than a decade after WWII, presented in a way that glosses sweet sounds over darker corners with a vaguely eerie feel. The record instantly made Legrand an international favorite, and features "The Last Time I Saw Paris", "Paris Canaille", "Autumn Leaves", "A Paris", "La Vie En Rose", "Under Paris Skies", and "April In Paris. CD

Some of the greatest jazz work ever recorded by Michel Legrand! Although Legrand's always been known for his sweet soundtrack work and his famous easy listening sides – he's also a heck of a jazz pianist, and here in this rare 1959 session, he works in a trio format that puts him right up there with the best of the French piano-technics of his generation, like Maurice Vander or Rene Utreger. The arrangements are wonderfully off-beat – and Legrand dances around the piano with a versatility that we didn't know he had. The group features Guy Pedersen on bass and Gus Wallez on drums – and titles include "Paris In The Spring", "Sous Les Ponts De Paris", "Paris Canaille", "Moulin Rouge", and "La Vie En Rose". CD

It's no secret that some of the greatest jazz soundtracks ever were recorded in Paris – and this CD contains 2 of them! First up is the landmark Un Temoin Dans La Ville – recorded under the leadership of tenor sax player Barney Wilen, who had made such a huge contribution to Miles Davis' famous score for Acenseur Pour L'Echafaud. Wilen's score features 12 incredible tracks that are just dripping with black and white cinematic mood – played by a group that includes Kenny Dorham, Duke Jordan, and Kenny Clarke. Titles on that set include "La Pendaison", "Sur L'Antenne", "SOS Radio Taxis", "La Vie N'est Qu'Une Lutte", and "Ambiance Pourpre". The remaining 6 tracks on the CD are from the very rare soundtrack to J'Irai Cracher Sur Vos Tombes – written and arranged by pianist Alain Goraguer, with a group that includes trumpeter Roger Guerin, vibist Michel Hausser, and bassist Pierre Michelet. The soundtrack recalls a lot of Davis and Wilen's work together – and tracks include "Theme De Liz", "Blues De Memphis", and "Surprise Partie Au Bord De L'Eau". CD

A beautiful hymn to the sun from saxophonist Laurent Bardianne – an artist who's not afraid to play with the rhythms a bit, while still offering up some jazz-based material at the core! Bardianne plays tenor in a quintet that also has lots of great Hammond organ from Arnaud Roulin – and both artists add in a bit of electronics too – but the most striking aspect of the record might be the rhythms, which are served up in blend of bass from Sylvain Daniel, drums from Philippe Gleizes, and percussion from Roger Raspail – all players with a real global sensibility, who push the music past standard jazz, with a very free-flowing vibe. The whole thing's very much in the best cross-cultural mode that we love from the French Heavenly Sweetness label – and titles include "La Vie La Vie La Vie", "Adieu My Lord", "Destination Danger", "Verte Gronouille", "Sarang", and "Kenya Sunrise". CD

Some of the earliest work we've ever heard from German tenorist Joki Freund – a player who'd trip out a bit more in later years, but who blows here with a sound that's sharp, modern, and very swinging throughout! The group features trombone from Albert Mangelsdorff, who's also on the straighter side of the spectrum here – plus alto from Emil Mangelsdorff, sounding a lot more modern than on other recordings – really matching the energy of both hornmen, as they all step out in a piano-less group that only features the bass of Harry Schell and drums of Rudi Sehring on rhythm! The music has echoes of better-known 50s modernists – like Lee Konitz or Jimmy Giuffre on our side of the Atlantic, or Hans Koller in Freund's German scene – and the package features live material from a 1957 album, plus additional studio tracks from the rare Joki's Sparkle EP. Titles include "Nico", "Freund Point", "Vie La France", "Swinging Pigeons", "Domicile", "Rudy's Theme", and "From Lighthouse To Frankfurt". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of fantastic albums from vibes master and genius arranger Gary McFarland – back to back on a single CD! First up is The In Sound – one of the grooviest albums of the 60s – a sublime blend of jazz, bossa, and easy – and a set that definitely lives up to its title! The album's probably the most perfect realization of the unique groove that Gary McFarland was going for back in the day – a mix of vibes, whistling, and wordless vocals, supported by some gently funky rhythms that use a fair bit of electric bass to underscore the groove! The lineup here is wonderful – with Bob Brookmeyer on trombone, Gabor Szabo on guitar, Grady Tate on drums, and Sadao Watanabe making a rare 60s US appearance on flute and tenor sax. Gary blends these instrumental elements perfectly for the record – and comes up with a completely unique sound that can only be described as "McFarlandy"! Amazing cuts include "Fried Bananas", "Bloop Bleep", and "Over Easy" – but the whole album's incredible, and other tracks include "The Sting Of The Bee", "Wine & Bread", "Here I Am", "The Hills Of Verdugo", and "The Moment Of Truth". Soft Samba is a dream of a record from Gary McFarland – lightly jazzy instrumentals with a warm bossa nova undercurrent! The style is incredible – a sweet blend of vibes, guitar, and even some light whistling – often also featuring wordless jazz vocals – scatting along with the groove in a melodic and lovely kind of way! The whole thing's incredibly charming, and even familiar tunes come across sounding quite different in McFarlands hands. Titles include "From Russia With Love", "More", "Emily", "La Vie En Rose", "The Love Goddess", and even a groovy take on "I Want To Hold Your Hand". For you true swingers, the cover includes directions for mixing a "Soft Samba Cocktail" (courtesy Spanish Sherry Institute)! CD

A dream of a record from Gary McFarland – lightly jazzy instrumentals with a warm bossa nova undercurrent! The style is incredible – a sweet blend of vibes, guitar, and even some light whistling – often also featuring wordless jazz vocals – scatting along with the groove in a melodic and lovely kind of way! The whole thing's incredibly charming, and even familiar tunes come across sounding quite different in McFarlands hands. Titles include "From Russia With Love", "More", "Emily", "La Vie En Rose", "The Love Goddess", and even a groovy take on "I Want To Hold Your Hand". For you true swingers, the cover includes directions for mixing a "Soft Samba Cocktail" (courtesy Spanish Sherry Institute)! CD

A wicked wicked set of tracks from Japan – one that blends together jazzy riffing and Brazilian rhythms, all played with a surprisingly soulful bent! Suzuki's on bass and piccolo bass, and Yamamoto plays not only electric piano but also a bit of electric harpsichord – which adds a cool feel to the album, and one that's almost like some lost European soundtrack. Rhythms are mostly in a breezy sort of style that mixes samba with bossa jazz – and Donald Bailey is in the group on drums, providing some very nice bottom to the set. The whole thing's great, with a really unique style – one that's so great it even transforms older numbers like "Night & Day", "Sweet Georgia Brown", "Greensleeves", and "La Vie En Rose". Also features an especially great take on Michel Colombier's "Overture"! CD

With John Scofield on guitar, Geri Allen on keys, Michael Formanek on bass, Daniel Humair on drums, and Jerry Gonzalez on percussion. LP, Vinyl record album

A previously unreleased live performance by Albert Ayler – recorded in France in 1970 for the Maeght Foundation, but not the same material that was issued on the better-known Shandar albums! This concert predates those, and is a unique later outing that's strongly in the spirit of some of Ayler's earliest work for ESP – with longer tracks that serve mostly as a vehicle for Albert's own exploratory passages on tenor and soprano sax! The group's a quartet, with Steve Tintweiss on bass, Allen Blairman on drums, and Mary Maria on soprano sax and a bit of voice – but the way the concert's recorded, Ayler's tone is most strongly upfront in the mix, and seems to dominate most numbers. Titles include "Music Is The Healing Force Of The Universe", "Birth Of Mirth", "Masonic Inborn", "Oh Love Of Life", "Heart Love", and "Island Harvest". CD

The title certainly gets it right – as the great keyboardist Bob Baldwin turns over some sweet mellow takes on the classic music of Stevie Wonder! Bob's the mainman at the helm for most of the record – working on Fender Rhodes, piano, and other keyboards – and even vocalizing just a bit – and there's also sweet instrumental contributions on the album from U-Nam and Chieli Minucci on guitars, Marion Meadows and Ryan Kilgore on saxes, and Ragan Whiteside on flute – all players who know just how to get into the right sort of 70s vibe that Baldwin's going for on the record! The focus on Stevie's tunes makes the album a bit hipper than some of Bob's other recent albums – although we also like those quite a bit – and titles include "Don't You Worry Bout A Thing", "Creepin", "The Real Thing/Keepin It Real", "Superwoman/Where Were You When I Needed You Most", and "Love's In Need Of Love Today" – plus the Baldwin originals "Stevie" and "Wonder Wander". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful session from Italian trumpeter Fabrizo Bosso and saxophonist Javier Girotto – one that's filled with all the Latin Moods promised in the title! The set steps nicely off some of Bosso's other recent work for Blue Note – with a sound that's evocative, but also pretty lively too – especially given the small combo setting for the date! Bosso's trumpet and flugelhorn come into great play with Girotto's soprano and baritone sax lines – dancing beautifully over some rhythmic backings shaded in with keyboards, piano, and electric bass. The large booklet features some poetic prose that really set the scene for each tune – and although there's a bit of vocals on the record, most numbers are instrumental. Titles include "Volver", "Matias", "Pescao Blanco", "Wide Green Eyes", "Ochenta", "El Cacerolazo", "African Friends", and "Penny". CD

A wailer! This rare 1955 album is one of Donald Byrd's first records as a leader – recorded for the tiny Transition label in Boston, but with a hardbop groove that's right up there with his early work for Savoy and Blue Note. The record is practically a Jazz Messengers session – as it features Art Blakey on drums, Horace Silver on piano, Hank Mobley on tenor, and Doug Watkins on bass – and it's also got the unique aspect of a two-trumpet frontline, as the young Joe Gordon joins Donald on the instrument for the session. Tracks are long and open-ended – with incredibly well-crafted playing that really keeps the set fresh, despite the young age of Donald at the time. Titles include "El Sino", "Doug's Blues", "Hank's Tune", and "Hank's Other Tune". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare treat from the legendary Clarke-Boland Big Band – a sublime set of Italian soundtrack numbers first recorded in 1968! The set was cut at the height of the Italian soundtrack golden age, in Italy, where the group had been working and recording heavily – making for a perfect fit of styles: the sweet and groovy compositions of talents like Nino Rota, Armando Trovajoli, Piero Piccioni, and others, handled with the fire and energy that had become the trademark of the Clarke-Boland ensemble! The set grooves very nicely – with hard-swinging versions of tracks that include "More", "Seven Golden Men", "Your Smile", "Saxology", "La Hora De La Verdad", "Canto D'Amore", and "Questi Vent Anni Miei". CD

An incredible treasure from a lost vocal jazz genius – the little-known Bobby Cole, every bit as great a singer as he was a songwriter, very unusual for the time! Bobby was probably best remembered as the house pianist at Jillys, but at the time of this 1964 recording, he was poised to emerge as a serious vocalist with a rich talent for penning interesting and witty little tunes. The album's got Bobby singing in a style that's halfway between Matt Dennis and Mark Murphy – with the sophisticated talents of both in place, and perhaps a bit of the wit of Bob Dorough or Roy Kral. The original album features Bobby on piano and vocals, with only bass and drums behind him – and the CD features a bonus 6 tracks recorded in more recent years, with larger backings. The core album is completely brilliant – the kind of off-kilter vocal record we die for – and every track's a fresh original by Bobby! Titles include "You Can't Build A Life On A Look", "Heat", "You Could Hear A Pin Drop", "Change Of Scene", "A Perfect Day", "Elegy For Eve", and "Status Quo". (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

Chris Corsano on drums, Sylvie Courvoisier on piano, and Nate Wooley on trumpet. CD

Sylvie Courvoisier on piano and Mary Halvorson on guitar. CD

The album's got a cheescake cover, but it's done in a very traditional mode – a style that's right up there with the best New Orelans jazz sessions on Atlantic! Wilbur DeParis works in a small combo with Sidney De Paris and Doc Cheatham on trumpets, and Garvin Bushnell on some mighty sharp clarinet – an instrument that trades lines strongly with Wilbur's trombone, and the two especially strong trumpets! The set was recorded live, and has an even more biting feel than some of the late 50s Atlantic Records trad jazz sets – and titles include "Tres Moutarde", "South Rampart Street Parade", "Muskrat Rumble", "Sensation", and "Clarinet Marmalade". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Somewhere", "I Feel Pretty", "Some Other Time", "Lonely Town", and the original "Viennese Summer". CD

A great overseas album by Art Farmer – done with a driving Latin-tinged feel and a mellifluous groove that really shows the best side of Art's playing! The set was recorded while Art was living in Vienna, and the group features Jimmy Heath on soulful tenor, soprano sax, and flute, plus some great piano work by Fritz Pauer. Jimmy Woode's in the rhythm section, giving the set the light dancing feel he brought to his best work for MPS – and the album's got a lot of drive, especially on cuts like Heath's "The Gap Sealer" or "Cascavelo", another great original from the session. Other tracks include "The Day After", "Con Fab", and "Cocodrilo". CD

A spiritual masterpiece from Matthew Halsall – a record that still has the beautiful trumpet work we've loved from the start, but which also shows just how much Halsall has been expanding his talents in search of new meanings, and new modes of expression! Matthew handles a fair bit of instrumentation here himself – including Fender Rhodes, piano, kalimba, percussion, and effects – but there's also a shifting lineup of guests throughout, coloring things in really particular ways – with performances from Chip Wickham on soprano sax and flute, Matt Cliffe on alto and flute, Alice Roberts on harp, and Liviu Gheorge and Jasper Green on Fender Rhodes. The tunes have a sense of gentle majesty that's completely sublime, as they unfold in these very righteous currents – on titles that include "Mountains Trees & Seas", "Calder Shapes", "An Ever Changing View", "Tracing Nature", "Water Street", "Triangles In The Sky", and "Natural Movement". CD

A spiritual masterpiece from Matthew Halsall – a record that still has the beautiful trumpet work we've loved from the start, but which also shows just how much Halsall has been expanding his talents in search of new meanings, and new modes of expression! Matthew handles a fair bit of instrumentation here himself – including Fender Rhodes, piano, kalimba, percussion, and effects – but there's also a shifting lineup of guests throughout, coloring things in really particular ways – with performances from Chip Wickham on soprano sax and flute, Matt Cliffe on alto and flute, Alice Roberts on harp, and Liviu Gheorge and Jasper Green on Fender Rhodes. The tunes have a sense of gentle majesty that's completely sublime, as they unfold in these very righteous currents – on titles that include "Mountains Trees & Seas", "Calder Shapes", "An Ever Changing View", "Tracing Nature", "Water Street", "Triangles In The Sky", and "Natural Movement". LP, Vinyl record album

The album's hardly an overview of Jay Hoggard's career – and instead, it's a nicely focused little session that sparkles with fresh warmth and imagination! Jay's vibes get some great accompaniment from Geri Allen's piano on the date – and both players show a similar style of keeping one ear towards the outside, but mostly playing inside – mixing piano and vibes up nicely with a warmly chromatic feel. Rhythm is from Ed Rozie on bass and Freddie Waits on drums – and titles include "Blues Bags", "Aguacate", "Overview", "Put On A Happy Face", and "Convergence". CD

Two great female blues talents, recorded at a time when they were still alive and well in Chicago – Alberta Hunter on vocals, and Lovie Austin on piano! (Blues, Jazz) CD

Fantastic French grooves from the end of the 60s – a killer set of jazz-based tracks recorded by trumpeter Ivan Jullien, with help from funky arranger Michel Colombier! Jullien recorded a fair bit of jazz and studio work around the time, and his playing here is razor-sharp – and supported by Colombier grooves that rival his best soundtrack material, his experiments with Pierre Henry, or his backings for singers like Serge Gainsbourg or Brigitte Bardot! Colombier also plays keyboards on the record, as does the great Maurice Vander – amidst a host of other great French jazzmen who include Pierre Gossez on sax, Roger Guerin on additional trumpet, and Eddie Louiss on organ. Drums are nice and funky on most cuts – and the whole thing kicks even more than most funky big band records on MPS! Includes the great break cut "I Remember Otis" – plus "Sonoro", "The Looser", "Talk", "An Oscar For Eddy", "Wake The Monster", "Edith", and "Crescendo". CD

Maybe the strongest statement so far as a leader by Javier Nero – a larger group recording that really bristles with energy – full of all sorts of fantastic twists and turns amidst a set of original compositions by Nero, all every bit as soulful as you might guess from the album's title! Nero blow trombone, but he's an equally strong leader – and the group features some key guest work from Sean Jones on trumpet and Warren Wolf on vibes – the latter of whom gets two especially nice solos on the set! Titles include "Reflections On The Dark Tranquil Water", "Discord", "One Day", "Kemet The Black Land", "Time", "Nostalgic Haiku", and "Just Let Go". CD

Maybe the strongest statement so far as a leader by Javier Nero – a larger group recording that really bristles with energy – full of all sorts of fantastic twists and turns amidst a set of original compositions by Nero, all every bit as soulful as you might guess from the album's title! Nero blow trombone, but he's an equally strong leader – and the group features some key guest work from Sean Jones on trumpet and Warren Wolf on vibes – the latter of whom gets two especially nice solos on the set! Titles include "Reflections On The Dark Tranquil Water", "Discord", "One Day", "Kemet The Black Land", "Time", "Nostalgic Haiku", and "Just Let Go". CD

Features Azar Lawrence on saxophone! CD