Featured guests include Garth Hudson on Hammond and accordion, Levon Helm and Brian Blade on drums, and Dolly Parton on vocals. Titles include "Sunrise", "Creepin In", "Carnival Town", "In The Morning", "Be Here To Love Me", and "The Long Way ... read moreCD
A rare Japanese-only session – one that has vocalist Salena Jones joining the fusion supergroup Stuff – in a set that's easily one of the most soulful outings from both artists involved! Although Jones mostly worked overseas, she's got a slinky style here that really fits the groove of ... read moreCD
(2003 XRCD24 pressing – in great shape with obi! Disc has a sample stamp and barcode has a small Japanese promo sticker.)
One of the only two vocal jazz albums that the Blue Note label recorded back in the day – and a haunting batch of tracks from a young Sheila Jordan! The style here is quite different than that of Jordan's later, more experimental records – and this early session shows her as an ... read moreCD
One of the only two vocal jazz albums that the Blue Note label recorded back in the day – and a haunting batch of tracks from a young Sheila Jordan! The style here is quite different than that of Jordan's later, more experimental records – and this early session shows her as an ... read moreCD
Greetje Kauffeld —
Heaven's Open ... CD Sonorama (Germany), 1969/1973/1975/1986. Used ...
$9.99
Beautiful ballads from Dutch singer Greetje Kauffeld – a host of rare recordings from the 60s, 70s, and 80s – all pulled together in one nicely unified set! Kauffeld sings in English throughout, with a lush style that's very much on par with the most mature American vocalists of the ... read moreCD
A beautifully understated album from Morgana King – one that has her working with familiar arranger Torrie Zito, but in a style that's a bit more laidback than before! There's a bit of strings on the album, but they really just shade in the sound from the back – leaving plenty of space ... read moreCD
Arrangements by Torrie Zito, and titles include "All Blues", "Easy Living", "Prelude To A Kiss", "Fascinating Rhythm", "Bluesette", and "A Taste Of Honey". CD
(Out of print.)
Morgana King —
Wild Is Love ... CD Reprise/Collectors Choice, 1966. Used ...
$11.99
A playfully swinging little set from Morgana King – given the groovy, latenight lounge Reprise sound by producer Jimmy Bowen! This second album for Reprise is a much more extroverted than the quite strong It's A Quiet Thing LP from a year before – with arranger Torrie Zito grooving out ... read moreCD
Teddi King —
Now In Vogue ... CD Storyville/Muzak (Japan), 1955. Used ...
$6.99
One of a number of great small group sessions done by singer Teddi King for the Storyville label – nicely relaxed, with backing from a septet that features Billy Taylor on piano, Bob Brookmeyer on trombone, Nick Travis on trumpet, and Gene Quill on alto! The Storyville approach really brings ... read moreCD
The rarest of three albums that King Pleasure ever recorded – and pretty darn hard to find, too. The set was recorded after King's earlier sides for the Prestige and HiFi jazz labels, but it's in a very similar style, with some wonderful vocalese-ing done in Pleasure's landmark style. He's ... read moreCD
A relatively mellow vocal outing from Ithamara Koorax – a voice that was introduced to us from her appearances on some groovy Brazilian dancefloor tunes, including some of those from Dom Um Romao's albums! The style here is quite different – very laidback, and in the ballad mode you'd ... read moreCD
Gentle Rain, and a very gentle sound from Irene Kral – a wonderfully intimate album that has the vocalist working with only the piano of Alan Broadbent for accompaniment! Kral's always a pretty expressive singer, but she sounds especially so here – really getting a lot of space to ... read moreCD
A beautiful return to form for singer Karin Krog – one of our favorite jazz vocalists ever! The album's got Karin singing to arrangements and backing from pianist Steve Kuhn, a wonderful talent for a set like this, and a songwriter who's contributed some really wonderful tunes to the ... read moreCD
The icy voice of Norwegian singer Karin Krog is a perfect match for Dexter's deep soulful saxophone, and the two of them perform wonderfully together in this rare set of tracks recorded in 1970 with Kenny Drew on piano and Niel Henning Orsted-Peterson on bass. Krog has always been tremendously ... read moreCD
One of the first albums ever by this legendary jazz vocal group! LHR do the incredible – and create a set of vocal renditions of standards by the Basie band, putting jazzy lyrics in to replace the instrumental solos, but keeping the same vibe as the original tracks. The sound and approach ... read moreCD
Two albums from Peggy Lee on one CD. First up is I Like Men! – an obscure album of "guy" songs from the end of the 50s! There's a playful feel to the music that fits Lee's vocals very well – as do the bouncy arrangements from Jack Marshall, who turns out to be one of the ... read moreCD
Peggy's sweet as sugar, but working here with a heck of a lot of spice – thanks to arranger Benny Carter, who brings in a wonderfully jazzy feel to the set! The album's one of Peggy's best from her comeback years at Capitol – and a prime example of the syncopated, slinking mode of ... read moreCD
Includes nine songs from the original 10 inch LP such as "Be Prepared", "The Old Dope Peddler", "The Irish Ballad", and "My Home Town" – plus nineteen more tracks by Lehrer! CD
Carolyn Leonhart on vocals – accompanied by Wayne Escoffery on saxophone, Toru Dodo on piano, Hans Glawischnig on bass, and Jason Brown and Carl Allen on drums. CD
The cover of this one might make the album one of the campiest records on Verve – but the session's a surprisingly great one, with a straighter vocal approach than you'd guess! Monica's got a really sweet vocal style – a bit sexy, and certainly adult – arranged here with some ... read moreCD
One of the strangest things about Abbey Lincoln's career is the fact that, despite her hip affiliations with the left end of the jazz spectrum, she's actually been slotted into a fair number of straighter projects, not only in music, but in film as well. This album's a perfect example of that ... read moreCD
(Includes obi!)
Abbey Lincoln —
It's Me ... CD Verve, 2003. Used ...
$4.99
Abbey at her recent best – working in a style that's mostly traditional, but which also has some of the darker edges of her earlier years. The album features a core group led by Kenny Barron, and featuring James Spaulding and Julien Lourau on saxes – and a number of tracks on the album ... read moreCD
Great later work from Abbey Lincoln – music from that time when she's found just the right setting for the magnificent instrument that was her maturing voice! Abbey always had one of the most distinct styles of any jazz singer around – but in later years, the slight rasp that came in ... read moreCD
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 ... read moreCD
Mature, mellow, and totally wonderful – clear proof that Julie London was still making great music well into the 60s! The album's got a simple, unassuming charm – very much in the late nite mode you'd guess from the title, with spare backings from Don Bagley that often have a key ... read moreCD
First up is one of Julie London's strongest overall albums – a great session that features small group backings with a warm and intimate feel! There's less of the languid sadness of some of Julie's other records, and more of the dreamy floating style of singers like Chris Connor or June ... read moreCD
Julie London's shortened her trademark tresses for the cover of this album – but as the title will tell, she's very much in the best sultry territory of her earlier years! This time around, Don Bagley's turned in some near-perfect arrangements that really bring back the London sound of the ... read moreCD
Robin McKelle on vocals – accompanied by Kenny Barron on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums – plus special guest Kurt Elling on "I Won't Dance". CD
A very unusual session for Carmen McRae – a live recording that features only her vocals and piano, on spare readings of a number of sophisticated songs that ably demonstrate the class and care she was bringing to her work at the time! The approach is quite different from some of the ... read moreCD
(Out of print 1986 Japanese CD pressing, includes obi.)
A very unusual session for Carmen McRae – a live recording that features only her vocals and piano, on spare readings of a number of sophisticated songs that ably demonstrate the class and care she was bringing to her work at the time! The approach is quite different from some of the ... read moreCD
One of Carmen McRae's great 60s albums for Atlantic Records – a set that's still strongly jazz-based overall, but which seems to have an extra dose of soul at the bottom! The approach is a bit like the best late 60s sides by Nancy Wilson or Marlena Shaw – rooted in jazz, but hipper ... read moreCD
(Out of print 2012 SHM-CD pressing, still sealed with the obi.)
Two great lost albums from Carmen – very different than her earlier work, kind of a mixture of jazz, soul, and pop, in territory that's a bit like work by Nancy Wilson or Marlena Shaw. Sound of Silence has Carmen working with arrangments by Shorty Rogers and Jimmy Jones – nicely jazzy, ... read moreCD
(Out of print.)
Carmen McRae —
Woman Talk ... CD Mainstream (UK), 1973. Used ...
$8.99
The start of a legend – and the very first album by Sergio Mendes' Brasil 66 group, proudly brought to the world through the godlike talents of a young Herb Alpert! Sergio was no stranger to the recording studio by the time of this set, but the record marked a real shift in his music – ... (Brazil, Vocalists)read moreCD
Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 —
Look Around ... CD A&M, 1967. Used ...
$4.99
Dreamy bossa pop from the A&M studios of the 60s – the Brasil 66 sound at its best! The style here is a perfect blend of real Brazilian influences and some of the hipper styles bubbling in the LA studio scene of the time – all locked together perfectly by Sergio Mendes, in the twin- ... (Brazil, Vocalists)read moreCD
Dream Of You is one of Helen's best from the 50s, thanks to some great arrangements from Gil Evans! Evans' young and modern talents are a perfect fit for Helen's sadly icy vocals on the set – taking her to new places never reached on some other sessions that were trying for a warmer, sweeter ... read moreCD
Helen Merrill —
Dream Of You ... CD EmArcy/Universal (Korea), 1956. Used ...
$8.99
Dream Of You is one of Helen's best from the 50s, thanks to some great arrangements from Gil Evans! Evans' young and modern talents are a perfect fit for Helen's sadly icy vocals on the set – taking her to new places never reached on some other sessions that were trying for a warmer, sweeter ... read moreCD
A rare Japanese session from vocalist Helen Merrill – one of a few key 60s recordings she cut on the Tokyo scene, after initial fame in the US! The album features a great small group arranged by drummer Takeshi Inomata, played by a combo that includes alto, baritone, and trumpet – all ... read moreCD
(Includes obi.)
Helen Merrill & Ron Carter —
Duets ... CD EmArcy (Japan), 1989. Used ...
$18.99
... CD
(Out of print 1989 Japanese pressing, includes obi.)
Helen Merrill & Stan Getz —
Just Friends ... CD EmArcy/Universal (Japan), 1989. Used ...
$24.99
A really great later effort from Helen Merrill – one recorded in Paris at the end of the 80s with some excellent tenor sax work from Stan Getz! The mode of the record is similar to other Merrill records from the time – spare, gentle, and moody – sometimes threatening to lapse ... read moreCD
A nice live set by vocalese maestro Mark Murphy – a tribute to Miles Davis captured live in Vienna, in 1990! Mark's finely honed, compelling vocal improvisations are given a wonderful backdrop by Miles' compositions – laid down by a group that includes Allan Praskin on sax, Peter ... read moreCD
Easily the greatest album that vocalist Mark Murphy has recorded in years – and a surprising departure from a lot of his recent work! Murphy did the album in collaboration with German trumpeter Til Bronner – a player we mostly know for his own smoothly soulful, and often-grooving ... read moreCD
Mellow ballad material from Mark Murphy – as you might expect from the title – a sad-tinged session that almost hints at the style of his recent work in Verve – showing a real maturity for Murphy's music at the time! There's a bit of electricity in the instrumentation – ... read moreCD
Mark Murphy —
Songbook ... CD 32 Jazz, 1970s/1980s/Early 90s. Used 2 CDs ...
$9.99
Given what a freewheeling, open-minded, and lyrical jazz singer Mark Murphy is, it's hard to imagine him really loving "the blues" – and fortunately, most of that love is extended in the title, because the album itself is less of the blues effort that you might think. True, the ... read moreCD
They got that title right, because with decades of performances on the strip, Wayne certainly earned the name of "Mr Las Vegas"! However, Newton oddly never recorded a live album in Vegas during his years working for Capitol – so this collection is oddly one of the few non-live ... read moreCD
A striking session for Anita O'Day – and a refreshing change from her work of the 50s! This one has Anita singing with arrangements by Gary McFarland, a mix of easy jazz styles that show a more sophisticated side to her voice – a bit more careful than before, with more hidden in the ... read moreCD
An overlooked treasure from Anita O'Day – easily one of her best records of the 70s, and a record that seems to bring together both of the best aspects of her sound! At one level, there's a tightly swinging groove to the set – that great small combo jazz approach that seemed to work ... read moreCD
Anita O'Day pays tribute to Downbeat poll winners by singing vocal versions of their big hits in this lively set of jazz tracks from the 50s! Arrangements are by Marty Paich and Russ Garcia, both swinging as nicely as they ever did – and the setting of the album keeps Anita nicely in line, ... read moreCD
Yukio Ohta & His Hummingbirds —
Sound Villa 88 ... CD Columbia/Think (Japan), 1968. Used ...
$19.9924.99
Groovy groovy work from the Japanese scene of the late 60s – performed by a cool quartet who harmonize vocally along with their instruments! The group's got a jazzy style – using piano, guitar, bass, and drums to lay down a groove – but their real charm comes from their harmonies ... read moreCD
Heavenly grooves from Hiroshi Okazaki & His Star Gazers – a group who harmonize wonderfully on this set! Despite their Japanese origin, the Star Gazers sing in English – clearly drawing from a legacy that includes The Four Freshmen and Hi-Los – but they also scat wordlessly ... (Jazz, Vocalists)read moreCD
Really beautiful work from bassist William Parker – a set of tracks that are every bit as righteous as some of his other albums, but in a completely different way! The music here is from a musical production that Parker's been creating over the past two-decades – beautiful vocal tunes ... (Jazz, Vocalists)read moreCD
Gregory Porter —
Be Good ... CD Motema, 2012. Used ...
$7.99
Wonderful work from Gregory Porter – easily one of the best new jazz singers to emerge in the past decade or so, and one whose approach is soulful enough to rival the greats of the 70s! There's echoes here of Bill Withers, Gil Scott-Heron, and Al Jarreau – and like all those artists, ... read moreCD
The greatness of Gregory Porter continues to grow and grow – as the vocalist keeps moving past the straighter jazz of his roots, into a role as one of the greatest soul singers of the 21st Century! Porter's got a depth and maturity that few folks have had in recent years – especially ... read moreCD
One of Louie's greatest albums ever – a hard-swingin batch of vocal group tunes, with all the sound that made him famous! The album was cut at the height of Louie's career back in the 50s – with vocals by Keely Smith on 2 tracks, and backing by the tight combo of Sam Butera and The ... read moreCD
2 Capitol Records gems from Louis Prima & Keely Smith – on a single CD, and with bonus tracks too! Hey Boy Hey Girl is a groovy little soundtrack recording – done for a rare film that starred Louis Prima and Keely Smith, working very much at the height of their 50s Capitol powers! ... read moreCD
An incredible album from Arthur Prysock – an amazing set of mature love modes, set to beautiful backings by Mort Garson! The album's easily Prysock at the height of his 60s sophistication – a complete reworking of the This Is My Beloved modes away from more mainstream readings, in ways ... read moreCD