A great little album of Latiny tunes from Henry Mancini – played by a very hip lineup of west coast jazzmen! The rhythms have a great mix of Latin influences and Mancini magic – the kind of grooves you'd hear on his 60s soundtracks at the time, played by a lineup that includes Bud Shank and Tom Scott on reeds, Buddy Childers and Pete Candoli on trumpets, Ray Brown on acoustic bass, Max Bennett on fender bass, Larry Bunker on percussion, and Shelly Manne on drums. The vibe is nice and relaxed – a bit more upbeat than bossa, but not as all-out as other RCA Latin sessions – thanks to Mancini's nice sense of warmth and space in the arrangements. Titles include some pretty darn cool takes on "Mission Impossible", "Fistful Of Dollars", "Magnificent Seven", "Touch Of Evil", and "Springtime For Hitler", from the film The Producers. Other titles include "Patricia", "Zacatecas", and "Las Cruces". LP, Vinyl record album

Nice one! Clint Eastwood will forever be remembered for his groundbreaking tough guy work in the Dirty Harry films – but equally famous are Lalo Schifrin's funky soundtracks for the movies! The work is some of Schifrin's best – a mix of the jazzy style he created in the late 60s, and a funkier 70s cop theme edge that was sort of the white answer to blaxploitation scoring that was happening at the same time. Titles include "Dirty Harry's Creed", "Scorpio", "This Side Of Forever", "Unicorn's Head", "Alcatraz Encounter" and "Rooftop Chase". (Soundtracks, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

Strange record, but surprisingly nice. Ghanian percussionist Oscar Sulley performs here with members of the Illinois-based Air Force Band Of Mid America – and the 2 record set features one disc of hard spare percussion tracks, and one of jazzy highlife tracks. The highlife stuff is strange, but quite nice – with Sulley's percussion ensemble receiving backing by the Air Force band's big brassy finish. The result is some nice tracks with a heavy drum sound, and a spacey airy horn groove, similar to some of the Randy Weston or Art Blakey projects of this sort. Titles include "Bontuku", which has a nice break to it, "Galaxy", "Wahala Goes To Galos", and "Togo-kyo". (Soul, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

1960 nightclub recordings from Lenny Bruce – done at a time when he was really opening up stylistically, and taking on a host of themes that really tell a tale of the times! The work here is plenty edgey – lots of sharp turns, offbeat ideas, and that sharp wit that makes Bruce one of the greatest sets of eyes to view the 60s from the perspective of the 21st Century. Titles include "Don's Big Dago", "Marriage, Divorce, & Motels", "Father Flotsky's Triumph", "Lima Ohio", and "How To Relax Your Colored Friends At Parties". (Comedy, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

The Latin sound is a groovy sound too – thanks to some great arrangements from the legendary Henry Mancini! The album's less a straight Latin date than it is a new approach to the grooves Mancini was laying down on his 60s soundtracks – a mix of bossa and cha cha-inspired themes that sparkle wonderfully with warm jazzy touches from a host of LA players who include Dick Nash on trombone, Harry Klee on flute, Ted Nash on alto and tenor, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Laurindo Almeida on guitar, and Gene Garf on organ – all working beautifully under Mancini's direction, with a sound that's both tight and relaxed at the same time! Lots of tracks have some nice groovy organ, which gives the arrangements a cool lively sound – and titles include "Preciosa", "Baia", "Carnavalito", "Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars", "Tico Tico", and the nice "Senor Peter Gunn", a Latin remake of Mancini's big hit! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best-remembered records by this classic ensemble – thanks to a sweet vocal take on "Nina Never Knew", the playful sound of "Doodletown Fifers", and other cuts that include "Eddie & The Witch Doctor", "Azure-Te", "Stop Sit Down Relax Think", and "Rain". Classic Jim Flora cover, too! (Jazz, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album