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". (Jazz, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

The closest thing Sammy D ever came to cutting a bossa album – and a lovely batch of fragile tunes that feature no other instrumentation save for the guitar of Laurindo Almeida. Almeida plays acoustic guitar on the album, in a gentle style that supports Sam's rich voice as it works through a set of ballads and sad songs that includes "Here's That Rainy Day", "Two Different Worlds", "The Shadow Of Your Smile", "Joey Joey Joey", "Speak Low", and "We'll Be Together Again". (Vocalists, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

A groovy set of loungey bossa tunes – pulled from 60s recordings on Capitol, Liberty, Pacific Jazz, and related labels. There's more than a few "authentic" bossa performers here, mixed with some others that pick up the groove nicely – working out their own west coast interpretation of the genre in a lively swinging way. There's a total of 18 tracks in all – and titles include "Mas Que Nada" by Rubin Mitchell, "Baia" by Bill Perkins, "So Danco Samba" by Wanda De Sah, "Triste" by Howard Roberts, "Amy's Theme" by Martin Denny, "Samba De Orfeu" by Ray Anthony, "Look Of Love" by Billy May, "Misirlou" by Laurindo Almeida & The Bossa Nova All Stars, "Witchcraft" by Joe Graves & The Diggers, and "Que Sabe Voce De Mim" by Walter Wanderley. CD

Way more than just a James Bond cash-in record – and instead an ultra-hip jazz session from the west coast scene of the 60s! The James Bond at the helm of the record is actually Jimmy Bond – the great bassist who worked on some key sessions of the late 50s and early 60s as a sideman, and who turns out to be a surprisingly great leader on this rare mid 60s date! The record is more jazz than anything else – played with a crime/spy bent, to be sure – but also flowing with really great solos and a fair bit of a bossa influence in the rhythms! The group here is more than hip enough to make the record work – with Harold Land on tenor sax, Bobby Bryant on trumpet, and Buddy Colette on flute and tenor – all working in a sextet led by Bond, with plenty of round, warm, almost modal lines on his bass – punctuated nicely by piano from Joe Parnello and drums by Joh Guarin. Arrangements are by Dick Groove – who keeps things very groovy – and many of the tracks here are actually original numbers written by Bond and Warren Baker, titled after Ian Fleming books that had not yet been made into movies at the time of this album! Titles include "Casino Royale", "Moonraker", "For Your Eyes Only", "007 Theme From Dr No", "Man With The Golden Gun", "Diamonds Are Forever", and "Live & Let Die". (Jazz, Now Sound) CD