Not the music of Bob Dylan – but a great little set that shows just how much Dylan's influence spread amidst various channels of the music world of the mid 60s – so much so, that it left behind a whole host of unlikely acts picking up some of his sounds and styles – and using it ... CD
UK trumpet legend Harry Beckett makes a surprising appearance here for the On-U Sound label – although maybe that's not much of a surprise, given all the diversely creative moments Beckett has had in his decades-long career! The format is very much in the best On-U Sound mode, but with a bit ... LP, Vinyl record album
Maybe one of the most burning albums we've ever heard from Darius Jones – a set that's done as a stripped-down trio – with the drums of Gerald Cleaver and bass of Chris Lightcap next to Jones' really wonderful work on alto! At times, the record has a freewheeling energy that takes us ... LP, Vinyl record album
A double-length package – with two very cool soundtracks! First up is Night Of The Witches – a lost soundtrack gem from the great Sean Bonniwell – an artist you might know from his 60s hits in The Music Machine, and one who uses all that sonic experience in a mighty nice way on ... CD
A great live session in the best tradition of the Smalls Live series – one that seems to have all players working at a level that's even higher than usual, as they stretch out on long tracks that offer up plenty of room for freely expressive solos! The songs are mostly familiar numbers, not ... CD
The cover image is a great hint at the vibe of this gem of a record from London's Ezra Collective – but as with most of their music, there's a lot more going on than you might expect – certainly not a straight dance record, although the album's overflowing with really wonderful rhythms! ... CD
A really lovely tribute to the late producer Nujabes – a set that unlocks some of the mellower, more personal elements in his music through the use of stripped-down instrumentation and no beats or samples at all! Haruka Nakamura mixes piano, guitar, and other light sonic elements – in ... LP, Vinyl record album
A mighty nice Halloween collection – and one with a slightly different twist! The Numero Group have done a great job of taking on classic compilation series over the years – serving up their own versions of Ultimate Breaks & Beats, East LA soul collections, and other modes – ... LP, Vinyl record album
A wonderful reunion of Pharoah Sanders and vocalist Leon Thomas – and a set that captures a lot of the same energy as the pair's previous record – Karma! Thomas' vocals are in wonderful form for the set – stretching out soulfully on the extended classic "Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-H ... LP, Vinyl record album
A fantastic statement of soul from reedman Hadley Caliman – a player who gave us a handful of really amazing albums in the 70s! This set is definitely one of those gems – as it's got this flowing mix of spiritual currents that's really powerful – maybe more of a west coast take ... CD
A fantastic solo album from saxophonist Deadly Headley Bennett – a key session player on the Jamaican scene of the 70s, where his reedwork graced countless sessions – often without much credit to the man himself! That's nicely changed here, as Headley's the star – but also ... CD
Seun Kuti maybe sounds more majestic here than ever – ready to rise not just to the legacy his father Fela left behind, but maybe into an even larger world of global soul as well – with a groove here that doesn't abandon his Afro Funk roots, but definitely augments that sound with all ... CD
One of the all-time great tenor/organ sessions on Blue Note – totally fierce, with a sound that's a lot rawer than most other work on the label! The incredible Baby Face Willette grooves it hard and heavy on Hammond – working in a quartet that includes Fred Jackson on tenor, Grant ... CD
A fantastic set of tracks that was recorded at the cusp of the 70s, but which wasn't (for some strange reason) released until many years later! Donald Byrd's playing here with two different larger groups, and the music is a perfect bridge between his spacey late 60s attempts to mimic Miles Davis, ... LP, Vinyl record album
An incredible early solo project from the young Tracey Thorn – a set recorded right before she joined up with Ben Watt to form Everything But The Girl – but delivered in a leaner, much more personal style overall! There's almost a bossa nova inspiration to the record – although ... LP, Vinyl record album
Free-flowing melodic sketches from a very hip group – a trio who work in all the best mixed-up, genre-crossing modes of the MPS label in the 70s! The group's led by reedman Hans Koller – who plays soprano and tenor sax on the session – but the album's a true ensemble effort, and ... CD
An overlooked chapter in the Harold Land/Bobby Hutcherson partnership that recorded more famously for Blue Note – a date that's issued here under the tenorist's own name, but which also features equal contributions from Hutcherson on vibes! Tracks have that long, modal quality that has the ... CD
One of the greatest solo albums ever issued by Latin jazz trumpeter Luis Gasca – a set that really expands on his debut for Atlantic Records, and which brings in a whole host of early 70s west coast Latin influences! The style here is very laidback and open – a bit like some of the ... CD
A really legendary group from the underground 70s scene in Chicago – one who've got all the chops and capabilities of the bigger groups of the time, but who never fully got their due – maybe in part because of the racy image on the album's cover! The group are a sharp funky ensemble ... LP, Vinyl record album
One of the most unusual albums in the career of trumpet legend Chet Baker – done at a time when he was definitely going through some changes in his life, which also led to some changes in his music too! This set's not unlike a similar date that Stan Getz did for Verve around the same time ... LP, Vinyl record album