With Ray Brown on bass and Jeff Hamilton on drums. (Jazz, Now Sound) CD

A wonderful album from Lalo Schfrin! This one mixes together bossa piano and sweeping string arrangements – in a style that's incredibly dark-edged and driving, with a sound that's at once spooky and lovely – a dancing groove that makes the best tracks really sparkle! The album's light years away from other "piano with strings" albums of the time – proof that Schifrin was easily one of the most imaginative forces of his generation, and an arranger who really helped reshape music in the 60s. Titles include the incredible version of "Maria" that's played quite often by Gilles Peterson – plus loads of other nice ones, like "The Wave", "Insensatez", "You And Me", "Murmurio", "Rapaz De Bem", "Rio After Dark", and "Time For Love". (Jazz, Now Sound) CD

Fantastic stuff! In case you don't know it, this is one of Lalo Schifrin's most incredible soundtracks, and it's a stunning mix of jazz, bossa, and groovy grooves. There's lots of cool bubbling electric bass, lilting keyboards, and moody breezy rhythms. Nearly every cut's a winner, and if you like his stuff, we can bet that this will become one of your favorites. The record's darn tough to find, and this reissue is a real treat to have around! Cuts include "Bullitt", "Room 26", "On the Way To San Mateo", and "Shifting Gears". (Soundtracks, Now Sound) CD

A familiar record – but a fantastic one! You probably all know the famous theme to "Mission Impossible" – Lalo Schfrin's beautiful jazzy number, with three piano notes revolving over and over again with incredible intensity – and the rest of the record is every bit as great, filled with a wonderful mix of groovy styles! The groove ranges from fast bossa to groovy 60s crime jazz to sparer tenser numbers that still manage to move nicely – and listening to the record over the years, our ears are always happily surprised at the level of genius that was allowed expression in the guise of a normal TV soundtrack. 22 cuts that include "More Mission", "Self Destruct", "Intrigue", "Jim On The Move", "The Plot", "The Sniper", "Danger", and "Barney Does It All". (Soundtracks, Now Sound) CD

Lalo Schifrin conducts the Sydney Symphony Orchestra – with Christian McBride on bass, James Morrison on trumpet, and Gordon Rytmeister on drums. (Jazz, Now Sound) CD

The second volume in Rhino's groovy set of TV cop show theme songs – put together with the Nick At Nite TV Land crew, and featuring a track selection that's hipper than you might think! There's a few on here that we could have done without, but there's more than enough great numbers to make the set worthwhile – especially because they haven't been reissued elsewhere. Titles include "Mannix" by Lalo Schifrin, "Charlie's Angels" by Jack Elliott, "77 Sunset Strip" by Warren Barker, "Vega$" by Dominic Frontiere, "Cannon" by John Parker, "Hart to Hart" by Mark Snow, "Hawaiian Eye" by Warren Barker, "Tenspeed & Brownshoe" by Mike Post, "Theme From Checkmate" by John Williams, and "Harry O" by The John Gregory Orchestra. 16 tracks in all! (Soundtracks, Now Sound) CD