A tremendous record from one of the hippest soul singers ever – and an album that has Gil Scott-Heron really pushing forward after his initial classics for the Flying Dutchman label! There's less spoken material here and more sung passages – as Gil's really discovering his confidence as a singer, moving effortlessly between jazz and soul – and getting superb accompaniment from Brian Jackson, who plays both acoustic and electric piano next to Gil's electric. Backings are spare – just bass and drums – and it's no surprise that the album was released on the legendary Strata East label, as it rivals the rest on that imprint for righteous spiritual power! Titles include Gil's classic "The Bottle" – which went on to become a huge hit in many versions – plus the beautiful "Your Daddy Loves You", heard here in the original version – and the tunes "Peace Go With You Brother", "Back Home", "Rivers Of My Fathers", and "A Very Precious Time". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous record from one of the hippest soul singers ever – and an album that has Gil Scott-Heron really pushing forward after his initial classics for the Flying Dutchman label! There's less spoken material here and more sung passages – as Gil's really discovering his confidence as a singer, moving effortlessly between jazz and soul – and getting superb accompaniment from Brian Jackson, who plays both acoustic and electric piano next to Gil's electric. Backings are spare – just bass and drums – and it's no surprise that the album was released on the legendary Strata East label, as it rivals the rest on that imprint for righteous spiritual power! Titles include Gil's classic "The Bottle" – which went on to become a huge hit in many versions – plus the beautiful "Your Daddy Loves You", heard here in the original version – and the tunes "Peace Go With You Brother", "Back Home", "Rivers Of My Fathers", and "A Very Precious Time". (Soul, Vocalists) CD

A tremendous record from one of the hippest soul singers ever – and an album that has Gil Scott-Heron really pushing forward after his initial classics for the Flying Dutchman label! There's less spoken material here and more sung passages – as Gil's really discovering his confidence as a singer, moving effortlessly between jazz and soul – and getting superb accompaniment from Brian Jackson, who plays both acoustic and electric piano next to Gil's electric. Backings are spare – just bass and drums – and it's no surprise that the album was released on the legendary Strata East label, as it rivals the rest on that imprint for righteous spiritual power! Titles include Gil's classic "The Bottle" – which went on to become a huge hit in many versions – plus the beautiful "Your Daddy Loves You", heard here in the original version – and the tunes "Peace Go With You Brother", "Back Home", "Rivers Of My Fathers", and "A Very Precious Time". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

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Two extended suites, both composed by Maria Schneider, set to poems by Ted Kooser and Carlos Drummond de Andrade – performed by the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and vocalist Dawn Upshaw. (Jazz, Vocalists) CD

A tremendous record from one of the hippest soul singers ever – and an album that has Gil Scott-Heron really pushing forward after his initial classics for the Flying Dutchman label! There's less spoken material here and more sung passages – as Gil's really discovering his confidence as a singer, moving effortlessly between jazz and soul – and getting superb accompaniment from Brian Jackson, who plays both acoustic and electric piano next to Gil's electric. Backings are spare – just bass and drums – and it's no surprise that the album was released on the legendary Strata East label, as it rivals the rest on that imprint for righteous spiritual power! Titles include Gil's classic "The Bottle" – which went on to become a huge hit in many versions – plus the beautiful "Your Daddy Loves You", heard here in the original version – and the tunes "Peace Go With You Brother", "Back Home", "Rivers Of My Fathers", and "A Very Precious Time". Plus, this US reissue has 4 bonus cuts, including live versions of "Winter In America", "Your Daddy Loves You", and "The Bottle/Guan Guanco" – and an alternate take of "Song For Bobby Smith". (Soul, Vocalists) CD

With Andrew Sharpley on sampler and turntables. (Jazz, Vocalists) CD

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A light and dreamy set of Brazilian vocal tracks – recorded in 1967, and featuring the voice of singer Lenita Bruno, a strong 60s talent with a style that's somewhat like Sylvia Telles. Arrangements on the set are by Clare Fischer – who plays piano, organ, and electric harpsichord in a small combo that also includes guitar by Laurindo Almeida, flute by Bud Shank, and percussion by Paulinho. Some tracks augment the ensemble with a string quartet – who give the material an appropriately sad tone, perfect for Lenita's blue-styled vocals. Includes a nicely grooving version of "Chove Chuva", plus the tracks "Wave", "Winter Moon", "Sing Sing More", "Dindi", "Stay My Love", and "Someone To Light Up My Life". (Brazil, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic album that brings together all of the European winners of the recent Downbeat polls – like Karin Krog, John Surman, Albert Mangelsdorff, Francy Boland, Daniel Humair, and Niels Henning Orsted-Pedersen. The sextet is a lively batch of free-swinging European jazz stylists, with touches of modernism that keep the whole session on edge throughout – in a way that's right up there with the best of the classic MPS sessions! The highlight of the set is Karin Krog's beautiful vocal version of "Maiden Voyage", but there's loads of other nice bits – like "Winter Song", "Ryoan-Ji", "Open Space", and "Hello Thursday". A great one, and darn tough to find! (Jazz, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic pairing of the vocals of Abbey Lincoln and the tenor sax of Stan Getz – one that's captured here for the very first time on record, at a point that's just a few months shy of Stan's too-early death! Both players had really grown a lot during the 80s – and the match here is wonderful – the maturing tones of Stan's tenor, and Abbey's way of doing more with less than ever before – a special sort of magic that works equally well on familiar and unfamiliar tunes! The rest of the group here is equally great – Hank Jones on piano, Charlie Haden on bass, Mark Johnson on drums, and Maxine Roach guesting on viola on two tracks too. Arrangements are by Abbey – and titles include "When I'm Called Home", "And How I Hoped For Your Love", "Time For Love", "Summer Wishes Winter Dreams", "You Made Me Funny", and "Bird Alone". CD

A nice best-of collection of Gil Scott Heron's work on Arista Records – issued in the 80s, with Gil looking a bit odd in a "Members Only" kind of way on the cover! Still, the music is great – and titles include th the extra new track "Re-Ron", an electro track about Ronald Reagan – plus live version of "The Bottle", which is edited down from it's original long version, and the tracks "Winter In America", "Johannesburg", "Angel Dust", "Shut Em Down", "Ain't No Such Thing As Superman", and a short excerpt of "B-Movie" – plus the original "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". (Soul, Vocalists) CD

Some of the best tracks ever from the pair of Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson – some of most righteous, authoritative and thematically heavy soul music ever created – compiled in one incredible set! Messianic, emotive vocals from Gil and stunningly restrained, magical soul jazz arrangements from Brian – words can't express how dynamic these tunes are! Great stuff from classic LPs such as Winter In America, It's Your World, First Minute Of A New Day, Secrets and more! 15 tracks in all: "The Bottle", "It's Your World", "Johannesburg", "Winter In America", "The Liberation (Red, Black & Green)", "Home Is Where The Hatred Is (Live)", "We Almost Lost Detroit", "Angel Dust", "Show Bizness", "Madison Avenue", "Shut 'Em Down", "Alien (Hold On To Your Dreams)". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

Gil Scott Heron's first album for Arista – very much in the mellow soul jazz work of his legendary album on Strata East! The record features some wonderfully moody jazz backing that really marks a shift in Gil's style – never going too far over the top, but hitting a sweet groove that really lets him open up as a singer even more than before! There's plenty of warm electric piano on the album, couched in those wonderfully soulful phrases that Gil and Brian Jackson could cook up so effortlessly at the time – and tracks include the fantastic cut "Winter In America", plus "The Liberation Song", "Ain't No Such Thing As Superman" and "Western Sunrise". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

A gem of a record from this pair of Basie-ites – one that allows Joe Williams to hit some different modes than on his fuller records with the Count – set up here in a nicely relaxed groove with trumpeter Harry Sweets Edison! Arrangements are by Ernie Wilkins, but are more laidback than some of his fuller charts – and we love hearing Joe at a level when he doesn't have to punch it out of the park, and can just fall back in a sweet groove alongside Harry's trumpet, which then often gets a spot to solo on the tune. Charles Thompson plays piano – again with a style that's more easygoing than Basie – and titles include "Out Of Nowhere", "Together", "Winter Weather", "By The River Saint Marie", "Alone Together", "Deep Purple", and "Lover Come Back To Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Giacomo Gates affectionately and effectively steers the work of the toughest and most sharply unique songwriters of our time and into straight-forward jazz vocal territory – and it's works really well! The backing is done by a stripped down combo who lay down guitar, bass, drums and piano – with sax and flute on a couple. Gates' husky baritone is well suited to the material and the it's well chosen set list, which includes "Show Bizness", "Lady Day And John Coletrane", "Winter In America", "Is That Jazz", "New York City", "It's Your World", "Madison Avenue" and "Legend In His Own Mind". 10 tracks in all. CD

A brilliant record – Kenny Rankin's first, and a really unique mix of styles that's completely different from his more famous later albums! The album has a gentle folksy style with touches of jazz – a bit like some of Tim Hardin's work for Verve, but without as much of a sad loser finish. Arrangements are by the great Artie Schroeck, and they're a mix of jazz, strings, acoustic guitar – all wrapped up in the light and breezy style of Artie's great late 60s work on Verve. Rankin's voice has a really unique quality – sparkling with a harmonic mode that's got definite ties to folk, but bubbling with the jazzy phrasing that you'd expect to hear more from Tim Buckley or Nick Drake. Titles include "Cotton Candy Sandman", "The Dolphin", "Every Passing Moment", "In Never Changes", "Song For A Winter's Night", "The Girl I Left Behind", and "Minuet". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that starts out sounding like one of the most old school, straight ahead records we've ever heard from trombonist Roswell Rudd – but which soon opens up to all the creative, compelling modes we've always loved in Rudd's music! The record's the result of recent work with vocalist Heather Masse – a hell of a singer who takes Roswell back to older eras of jazz in style, but in ways that are still touched with all the creative tones we've always loved in his work on trombone! The mix is a bit like some of Roswell's 70s album with Sheila Jordan – in the way the songs are familiar, the structure is mostly standard, but the whole thing's open to these amazing inflections that really keep things interesting. Masse really surprises us, too – as while she can sing straight some times, she can also open up with these modes that are both modern and inventive, but never in a way that ignores older jazz roots. The pair have a way of embracing decades of jazz history at once – a bit in the way that Jaki Byard was always able to do – and they work here alongside Rolf Sturn on guitar and Mark Helias on bass – on titles that include "Social Call", "I'm Goin Sane", "Winter Blues", "Con Alma", "Tova & Kyla Rain", and "Blackstrap Molasses/Old Devil Moon". (Jazz, Vocalists) CD

An excellent double-length live set from Gil Scott Heron – recorded right in the middle of his classic years on Arista Records, and with an extended groove that shows just how great he could be in a concert setting! Many of these tracks are quite long, with both instrumental solos and a more freewheeling vibe from Gil – who seems to put even more power into the sorts of messages that always make his music so wonderful. The group features flute from Vernon James and tenor from Ron Holloway – and Gil himself plays plenty of great keyboards, including Fender Rhodes – which brings a very fluid vibe to his vocal presentation. Tracks include "We Almost Lost Detroit", "B Movie", "Better Days Ahead", "Washington DC", "Shut Em Down", "Winter In America", "Angola Louisiana", "Johannesburg", and a great 15 minute take on "The Bottle". (Soul, Vocalists) CD

"Soul" is right – and "excellent" is also! Timi Yuro's early 60s work is fantastic – and is part diva bluesy soul, ala Etta James or Lorez Alexandria, and part country soul, ala Ray Charles or Brook Benton. Her voice is incredible, with a clear tone, yet heartbreaking edge – and this album features great arrangements by Belford Hendricks, backed by the Lois Winter Singers. Titles include "Once In A While", "Stardust", "There Goes My Heart", "If I Had You", and "Somewhere Along The Way". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

Louis Armstrong's given the world a number of famous Christmas tunes over the years – but oddly, he never issued a full album of Holiday music over the course of his many decades of recordings – a fact that's finally corrected here, with the first-ever full length record of Louis' Holiday songs! The album's maybe most noteworthy for its final track – an unissued reading of "A Visit From St Nicholas" by Armstrong, with piano backing from Sullivan Fortner – and the album also includes a duet with Velma Middleton on "Baby It's Cold Outside", and with Ella Fitzgerald on "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" – next to other cuts that include "Christmas Night In Harlem", "Cool Yule", "Zat You Santa Claus", "Christmas In New Orleans", "Moments To Remember", "Winter Wonderland", "White Christmas", and "What A Wonderful World". (Holiday Music, Vocalists) CD

Louis Armstrong's given the world a number of famous Christmas tunes over the years – but oddly, he never issued a full album of Holiday music over the course of his many decades of recordings – a fact that's finally corrected here, with the first-ever full length record of Louis' Holiday songs! The album's maybe most noteworthy for its final track – an unissued reading of "A Visit From St Nicholas" by Armstrong, with piano backing from Sullivan Fortner – and the album also includes a duet with Velma Middleton on "Baby It's Cold Outside", and with Ella Fitzgerald on "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" – next to other cuts that include "Christmas Night In Harlem", "Cool Yule", "Zat You Santa Claus", "Christmas In New Orleans", "Moments To Remember", "Winter Wonderland", "White Christmas", and "What A Wonderful World". (Holiday Music, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

Killer Christmas work from Tony Bennett – a set recorded in the 60s, but a classic that endures strongly over the years! Tony's vocals are superb here – that nicely matured style that's kept him in front of younger ears over the years – and the backings are somewhat traditional, but never stiff or cliched. Robert Farnon adds in some strings and chorus bits at times, but some of the best cuts have a jazzier flavor – and even the fuller-styled numbers fall back nicely to let Bennett's vocals dominate up front. Titles include "Christmasland", "I Love The Winter Weather/I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm", "Winter Wonderland", "Snowfall", "I'll Be Home For Christmas", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", "My Favorite Things", and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". (Holiday Music, Vocalists) CD

A wonderful Holiday album that's stayed fresh for years – a date that was maybe done as a seasonal one-off for singer Ella Fitzgerald, but one that's gone on to become one of her best-selling records of all time! Ella's got a perfect style to interpret these numbers – upbeat and swinging, very much as promised in the title – with a quality that makes the tunes move, and avoids some of the too-blue and more melancholy modes that can sometimes get in the way of making a Christmas jazz vocal album work this well! Fitzgerald has great arrangements here – working with Frank DeVol and Russ Garcia – on a set of lightly jazzy versions of Christmas favorites like "Sleigh Ride", "Jingle Bells", "Winter Wonderland", "White Christmas", "Frosty The Snowman", and one of the best versions of "What Are You Doing New Years Eve" ever recorded! (Holiday Music, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful Holiday album that's stayed fresh for years – a date that was maybe done as a seasonal one-off for singer Ella Fitzgerald, but one that's gone on to become one of her best-selling records of all time! Ella's got a perfect style to interpret these numbers – upbeat and swinging, very much as promised in the title – with a quality that makes the tunes move, and avoids some of the too-blue and more melancholy modes that can sometimes get in the way of making a Christmas jazz vocal album work this well! Fitzgerald has great arrangements here – working with Frank DeVol and Russ Garcia – on a set of lightly jazzy versions of Christmas favorites like "Sleigh Ride", "Jingle Bells", "Winter Wonderland", "White Christmas", "Frosty The Snowman", and one of the best versions of "What Are You Doing New Years Eve" ever recorded! Plus, the CD features a few tasty alternates – and the album also includes great packaging, and the groovy tune "Christmas Island"! (Holiday Music, Vocalists) CD

Pure Holiday genius from Dean Martin – a Christmas record we like even better than his already-great set for Capitol, and one that's done in the boozier style of later years! Jimmy Bowen's at the helm of the record, working with arrangements by Ernie Freeman and Bill Justis that present the aging Dino in the best laidback style of his TV show of the time. There's a bit less of the pep and bounce of some of Dean's hits for Reprise, but the album's still a great one – and titles include the always-great "Marshmallow World", plus "Silver Bells", "Winter Wonderland", "Blue Christmas", "White Christmas", "Jingle Bells", and "The Things We Did Last Summer" – a strange inclusion, but a great one! (Holiday Music, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

Leslie Odom's already given us another album of Holiday tunes, but this set is even better than the first – a record that begins with a strong original co-written by Leslie, and which continues in a range that's maybe more soul-based than before! Most folks know Odom from his work in Hamilton, but he's a great singer in a setting like this – very expressive, but in a different way – and working with lots of modern soul touches in the arrangements. Guests include Michea Walls, Nicolette Robinson, and Cynthia Erivo – and titles include "Snow", "Winter Song", "Mele Kalikimaka", "Heaven & Earth", "Last Christmas", and "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". (Holiday Music, Vocalists) CD

A great one from Gil Scott-Heron – and another wonderful collaboration with Brian Jackson – who handled all the arrangements on this set, and gave the record that sweet jazzy sound that makes Gil's work from this time some of his best ever! There's loads of excellent electric piano from Jackson – whose work in the style made the Winter In America album so great – and the combination of Gil's vocals and his keys really makes the album sublime! Leading the way, Gil's heavy, strong, strident and focused lyricism – presciently and poetically preparing for the 80s as only he could! Includes the single "Shut 'Um Down", "Alien (Hold On To Your Dreams)", "Willing", "Corners", "Late Last Night", and "Push Comes To Shove". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

Delightfully spare – with Surman on a variety of reeds, plus voice and a bit of electronics from Karin Krog, and drums from Pierre Favre. (Jazz, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

Jerri Winters gets some hip backings here – thanks to help from the Al Belletto Sextet, who almost share the star spotlight on the record as much as Jerri! The combo are perhaps best known for their 50s work on Capitol, but they sound equally great here – stepping out with a tight sound that must have made them a great act to catch live in a club! And in addition to the combo's instrumentation – which includes alto sax, piano, trombone, and trumpet – the group also harmonize a bit behind Jerri's vocals – supporting her with a sound that's sort of a groovy 50s update on the older 40s mode of matching a female lead with a male harmony group. Don't let all this praise of the Belletto group take away from Winters, though – because she steps out strongly too – and really makes the album sparkle with a personal take on some lesser-remembered standards. Titles include "In Other Words", "Crazy In The Night", "Kind Of Moody", "Ridin On The Moon", "Dark Shadows", "Sometimes I'm Happy", and "It's Always You". CD

A beautiful collaboration between vocalist Pinky Winters and pianist Lou Levy – the second half of the live date that was partially issued on the album Shadow Of Your Smile – recorded back in 1983, but making its world premiere here! There's a mellow, intimate feel to the record that really fits Pinky's vocals – a style that's relaxed, but never sloppy or sleepy – and which ignites a surprising amount of fire from the interplay between Pinky's vocals and Lou's careful work on the keys. Bill Takas plays bass on the date, and titles include the vocal numbers "Speak Low", "I Am In Love", "Never Let Me Go", "The Trolly Song", "I'm Old Fashioned", and "No More Blues" – and Lou plays beautifully on 2 instrumental tracks, "The Piccolino", and a great reading of "The Dolphin". CD

Gentle vocals from Pinky Winters – a contemporary singer, but one of the few who get the best spirit of torchy vocalists from years past! Pinky's working here with pianist Richard Rodney Bennett, plus some slight bass accompaniment from Bob Mazie – and the overall sound has a spare, moody, late nite feel that really matches the fragile emotion and themes of the tunes. Titles include "Little Did I Dream", "Rain Sometimes", "Where Have You Been", "He's My Guy", "Why Can't I", "I Only Want Some", "Sweet William", "Early To Bed", and "No More". CD

Seminal work from vocalist Teddi King – quite possibly her best material ever, recorded during a memorable run for RCA in the mid 50s! King first came to fame as more of a small combo jazz singer, but during her time at RCA, she tried out a variety of different modes – some of the sweeter female styles of the 50s mainstream, some highly emotive, expressive ballads, and a few standout cuts that come across with a bit more of a playful feel. Most of the backings here are by Hugo Winterhalter – except for a few arranged by Ralph Burns – and the set features 17 tracks from Teddi's RCA years, with great notes on the music by Will Friedwald. Titles include "A Ride On A Rainbow", "Traveling Down A Lonely Road", "I Can Honestly Say It's A Lie", "Should I Ever Love Again", "Baisez Moi", "Say A Prayer", "A Lot In Common", "Then It Starts Again", and "Married I Can Always Get". CD

Music from Dinah Shore With Henri Rene And His Orchestra, Mario Lanza With Ray Sinatra And His Orchestra And The Jeff Alexander Choir, Pee Wee King And His Golden West Cowboys, Eartha Kitt With Henri Rene And His Orchestra, Perez Prado And His Orchestra, Eddy Arnold With Hugo Winterhalter And His Orchestra And Chorus, Eddie Fisher With Hugo Winterhalter And His Orchestra And Chorus, Kay Starr With Hugo Winterhalter And His Orchestra And Chorus, Elvis Presley, Harry Belafonte With Tony Scott And His Orchestra And Chorus, and more. (Rock, Vocalists) CD