One of the hippest albums ever recorded by Sheila Jordan – and that's saying a lot, given the strength of her work! The album's a set of spare duets recorded in Oslo with bassist Arild Andersen – in a setting that recalls some of the initial experimental work she'd done with Roswell Rudd, but with an even more spacious sound overall – one that lets Jordan dominate the tunes strongly with an amazing command of rhythm and timing! The approach is never too self-indulgent, and Andersen's warm tones on bass round out the tunes with a subtle sense of soul. Tunes are a mix of old standards and a few hipper 70s numbers – and include "Song Of Joy", "The Saga Of Harrison Crabfeathers", "On Green Dolphin Street", "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life", "The Lady", and "Better Than Anything". LP, Vinyl record album

A big overview of the early work of Johnny Nash – a singer that most folks know for a huge crossover radio hit in the early 70s, but who got his start much earlier, through years of recording for ABC Records! The label really saw the young Nash as a singer to challenge Nat King Cole or Johnny Mathis – and he definitely does a great job in the territory of both here, but also really finds his own space too – eventually ending up more as a precursor to the sorts of 60s male singers who were adept at more heartbreaking material, ala Jerry Butler or Chuck Jackson. Arrangements are large and rich, often with a bit of vocals behind the lead of Nash – on 31 tracks that include "Moment Of Weakness", "Love's Young Dream", "Too Much Love", "World Of Tears", "Kisses", "The End Of The World", "Almost In Your Arms", "Roots Of Heaven", "The Wish", "Too Proud", and "Take A Giant Step" – plus the unusual "Teen Commandments", done with Paul Anka and George Hamilton IV! (Soul, Vocalists) CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful live set from Joe Williams – recorded at Birdland, as you'd guess from the title – and done with a raw depth that surpasses much of his studio work from the time! Joe's really moving past cliche here – using his voice with a power that hadn't been heard since his sides for Savoy – and really commanding the audience with a charisma that shines through with incredible clarity. Harry Edison's leading a small group that also includes Jimmy Forrest on tenor and Ike Issacs on bass – and titles include "Teach Me Tonight", "Come Back Baby", "September In The Rain", "Roll Em Pete", and "Have You Met Miss Jones". CD features 4 previously unissued numbers too! CD

A cool little record for lovers of cats – or, more specifically, lovers of cats with a command of the French language – as all the tunes here are from French records from midcentury – a really cool blend of chanson, jazz, pop, classical, and other modes – brought together in a package that unlocks a lost legacy of feline love in the French recording industry! Some tracks are more serious – from sources by Baudelaire or Stravinsky – but most are playful, jazzy, and have the qualities you might expect from cat-like music – in a package that features one CD of songs from poetic sources, one directed at children, and one more that moves into classical and jazz. 58 tracks in all – with work by Berthe Sylva, Henri Salvador, Mister Sax, Guy Lafitte, Maurice Ravel, Magnet Quartet, Eddie Warner, Jack Irsa, Yves Montad, Les Freres Jacques, Georges Brassens, Henri Doublier, and many more. (French, Vocalists) CD