With Geri Allen on piano, Dave Holland on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums! CD

One of the great albums from Terry Callier's "second chapter" on record – a time when he was working for Elektra Records, and doing work that was a bit straighter soul than before – and also slightly jazzy as well! The record's kind of a mix of jazzy grooves and smoother soul – typical for the fusion division of Elektra at the time, where Callier's hard-to-peg work was relegated. There's some really great songs on the record – and although the arrangements sometimes lack the sensitivity of the Cadet scorings of earlier years, they're still pretty great from a modern soul perspective. Richard Evans is producing and arranging the session, and Terry's still got help from a lot of Chicago friends like Minnie Riperton, Eddie Harris, and Phil Upchurch – all of whom help to keep the album relatively strong. Titles include some really nice originals, like "African Violet" and "Butterfly", both of which are some of Terry's best compositions from the time – plus "Love Two Love", "Martin St Martin", "Street Fever", and "Be A Believer". (Soul, Vocalists) CD

A set cut with British maestro Edmundo Ros – in a style that's similar to some of his own albums from the time – not really straight Latin, but more a blend of tropical and exotic influences with some fuller big band modes! The style has almost an older sort of sound here – reminding us of work that might have appeared on RCA or Columbia during the previous decade – and Ros' sense of subtle drama is a nice counterpoint to Caterina's sometimes sweeter vocals. Titles include "Baiao", "Canto Karabali", "Frenesi", "Fale Baixinho", "Felicidade Infeliz", and "Saudades Da Bahia", which features Ros and Valente scatting together beautifully! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest albums ever from vocalist Norma Winstone – a set that really helps bring her talents into sharp focus! Like Karin Krog, Annette Peacock, Sheila Jordan, and other female jazz singers of her generation, Winstone was always pushing the boundaries of her craft – taking a style that began with a simple jazz-based approach, and turning it into a whole new array of sounds and voicings! This landmark album from 1972, one of Winstone's first on her own (although she'd sung to great strength on some of Mike Westbrook's Deram sessions), features the singer moving into territory that has distinct touches of progressive jazz rock, but which also retains a mellow sense of melody – despite an easy temptation to get too overblown. Arrangements are handled by Neil Ardley, John Surman, and John Taylor – and titles include "Song Of Love", "Erebus", "Shadows", "Perkins Landing", and "Edge Of Time". CD

Fantastic work from Abiodun Oyewole – best known as one of the founding members of the legendary Last Poets – but a singer who works here with a contemporary crispness that goes way beyond his roots! The message in Abiodun's older recordings is still alive and well here – in part because the challenges continue, making his themes more important now than ever – updated with elements taken from 21st century soul, jazz, and even a bit of hip hop on the production tip – with contributions from other artists who include Ada De Poet, J Ivy, Jessica Care Moore, and Taylor Pace. Yet it's clear that Abiodun is the star at the center of the constellation – really sounding as important here as ever, at a level that maybe makes this record so much more crucial than some of the Last Poets revival projects of years past. Titles include "Brooklyn", "Harlem", "My Life", "Spirit", "Right Here Waiting", "What I Want To See", and "To Begin". (Soul, Vocalists) CD

Fantastic work from Abiodun Oyewole – best known as one of the founding members of the legendary Last Poets – but a singer who works here with a contemporary crispness that goes way beyond his roots! The message in Abiodun's older recordings is still alive and well here – in part because the challenges continue, making his themes more important now than ever – updated with elements taken from 21st century soul, jazz, and even a bit of hip hop on the production tip – with contributions from other artists who include Ada De Poet, J Ivy, Jessica Care Moore, and Taylor Pace. Yet it's clear that Abiodun is the star at the center of the constellation – really sounding as important here as ever, at a level that maybe makes this record so much more crucial than some of the Last Poets revival projects of years past. Titles include "Brooklyn", "Harlem", "My Life", "Spirit", "Right Here Waiting", "What I Want To See", and "To Begin". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

Almost everything soulful at Capitol Records in the mid 60s – packed together in one sweet little place! The set's a winner in a great line of Cannonball Adderley live dates from the time – produced by David Axelrod, and done with that great mix of angular, slightly electric groove the combo was virtually pioneering – thanks to help from Joe Zawinul on electric piano, and Nat Adderley on cornet! Cannon also plays some great soprano sax – an instrument that he was taking off beautifully with at the time – and sets fire to a few great tunes with the instrument. But as if that's not enough, Lou Rawls joins in on vocals on a few cuts, and Nancy Wilson comes in on a few more – and the album alternates singing with instrumentals in a really great way. Titles include two very nice extended tracks by Joe Zawinul – "Rumplestiltskin" and "The Scavenger", both of which are over 10 minutes long, and which have the group stretching out in a nice live vein – and other cuts include "The Scene", "Somewhere", "Sweet Emma", and "Zorba". (Jazz, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album from vocalist Betty Carter – not her first time in the recording studio, but maybe one of the first full length sets to really communicate all the genius she was bringing to the field of jazz vocals in the postwar years! The record is one of Carter's more sophisticated sessions, and it's one of the few from the old days to really capture her jazzy vocals well in a large group setting – using arrangements from Richard Wess to bring some nice modern currents to the proceedings. As always, Betty handles the material with a great deal of class, and an incredible sense of poise and emotion – and thee set list is nice, too, and includes many lesser-known tracks – like "For You", "Jazz (Ain't Nothin' But Soul)", "Don't Weep For the Lady", "My Reverie", and "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album from vocalist Betty Carter – not her first time in the recording studio, but maybe one of the first full length sets to really communicate all the genius she was bringing to the field of jazz vocals in the postwar years! The record is one of Carter's more sophisticated sessions, and it's one of the few from the old days to really capture her jazzy vocals well in a large group setting – using arrangements from Richard Wess to bring some nice modern currents to the proceedings. As always, Betty handles the material with a great deal of class, and an incredible sense of poise and emotion – and thee set list is nice, too, and includes many lesser-known tracks – like "For You", "Jazz (Ain't Nothin' But Soul)", "Don't Weep For the Lady", "My Reverie", and "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire". CD

Sublime stuff! Sure, it's easy to sit back and say that you don't really dig Ray Charles albums that mix together country music and soul, and that you prefer his hard raw raunchy Atlantic recordings from the earlier days. But let's be honest, Ray really made his biggest splash with this stuff – and although it became extremely popular over the years, it's also part of a huge country soul tradition that's a very accurate representation of the rich crossover culture going on in southern soul, a tradition that for some reason always gets underplayed by folks who want to carve up the world in easy racial lines. Truth is, Ray was not the only soul artist to embrace country, and we can think of a host of others – including Solomon Burke, Ivory Joe Hunter, Joe Simon, Clarence Carter, Brook Benton, and Bobby Womack who all participated in this rich tradition. This set's essential if you're interested in checking out this side of Ray's career – and the price is pretty nice, considering that you get 4CDs, a great book, and 92 songs in all! Work is pulled from Ray's classic ABC sides in the format, plus others from before and after that generation. Titles include "A Born Loser", "I'm Movin On", "Busted", "Crying Time", "Teardrops In My Heart", "Half As Much", "No Letter Today", "Oh Lonesome Me", "Ring Of Fire", "What Am I Living For", "Let Your Love Flow", "Down In The Valley", and "Take These Chains From My Heart". (Soul, Vocalists) CD

Really fantastic later work from Bobby Darin – material that's quite different than the simple pop of his early Atco years, and even the jazzier style he used earlier on in the 60s! The set is one of two issued by the Direction label – and features Bobby taking off from some of the Tim Hardin-inspired modes he was using later on at Atlantic – picking up some of the deeper themes of the earlier singer-songwriter years – and singing in a very moody, contemplative style! According to some, Darin was aware that his health only gave him a few more years to live – which was part of the introspection of the music – and although the style owes a lot to Tim Hardin and some of his contemporaries, the songs are all originals by Darin – with some elements that are very different than before. Tracks include "Hey Magic Man", "Light Blue", "Distractions", and "Song For a Dollar". Features four bonus tracks too – "Sweet Reasons", "Maybe We Can Get It Together", "Baby Man", and "RX Pyro (Prescription Fire)". LP, Vinyl record album

Really fantastic later work from Bobby Darin – material that's quite different than the simple pop of his early Atco years, and even the jazzier style he used earlier on in the 60s! The set is one of two issued by the Direction label – and features Bobby taking off from some of the Tim Hardin-inspired modes he was using later on at Atlantic – picking up some of the deeper themes of the earlier singer-songwriter years – and singing in a very moody, contemplative style! According to some, Darin was aware that his health only gave him a few more years to live – which was part of the introspection of the music – and although the style owes a lot to Tim Hardin and some of his contemporaries, the songs are all originals by Darin – with some elements that are very different than before. Tracks include "Hey Magic Man", "Light Blue", "Distractions", and "Song For a Dollar". Features four bonus tracks too – "Sweet Reasons", "Maybe We Can Get It Together", "Baby Man", and "RX Pyro (Prescription Fire)". CD

Some great funky grooves by this legendary British ensemble – featuring excellent keyboard work by Brian Auger, recorded during the period when he was really beginning to stretch out a bit, and hit a much more open-ended kind of sound. Julie Driscoll is still on vocals, singing in her raw sound, but Brian's Trinity group gets a fair number of nice instrumental moments on the set – which are greatly appreciated! Titles include the classic and sample laden "Light My Fire", "Czechoslovakia", "Finally Found You Out", "In Search Of The Sun", "Ellis Island", "I've Got Life", and "Save The Country". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the great Pablo Records efforts to revisit the jazz sound of the 50s – but in fresh new ways allowed by the freer recording modes of the 70s! The album features Ella Fitgerald and Joe Pass, plus nobody else – just voice and guitar coming together in quiet, introspective ways that are completely sublime, and a very nice change from some of Ella's fuller band recordings of the few years before this album. And far from being sleepy, the intimacy of the record almost seems to set a new kind of fire – one that comes from the gentle persona of Ella, which is a far cry from the glass-breaking singer that she'd come to be known as in the mainstream! Titles include "Take Love Easy", "Once I Loved", "Lush Life", "You're Blase", "A Foggy Day", "I Want To Talk About You", and "You Go To My Head". CD

An obscure pre-Mode date from vocalist Lucy Ann Polk – and a set that's got a wonderful LA 50s feel! Backings here are by the Dave Pell Octet – with Pell on tenor, Ronny Lang on alto, Don Fagerquist on trumpet, and Claude Williamson on piano – and arrangements are by Wes Hensel and Shorty Rogers, nice and jazzy throughout! Lucy's approach to the tunes is light and lovely, but she also burns with a bit of a deeper fire at times too – a bluer tone underneath the charm up top. Titles include "But Beautiful", "Imagination", "It Could Happen To You", "It's Always You", and "Darn That Dream". LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure one from Della Reese – and a set with a nice touch of soul, too! The album was produced by Della herself, with arrangements by Peter Myers – and titles include "Fire & Rain", "Funny", "Bein Green", "If Loving You Is Wrong", and versions of the Bill Withers tunes "Let Me In Your Life" and "Who Is She & What Is She To You". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning live recording from Elis Regina – one of the last few records she cut during her short time on this planet – and one of the best as well! The album's got a jazzy fire that's missing from some of Regina's other material of the time – and Elis sings with a group that includes a stellar guest performance by Hermeto Pascoal on a number of tracks, and runs through a lively set of tracks that includes a bunch of excellent groovers – upbeat numbers that almost get a bit funky at times. A highlight of the album is the long cut "Cobra Criada", which builds slowly into a complex funky line, with Elis scatting madly over the top. Other goodies include "Asa Branca", "Cai Dentro", "Garota De Ipanema", and a great remake of "Upa Neguinho", with nice messed-up arrangements. (Brazil, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

Perhaps the rarest of all Jimmy Scott albums – and perhaps the best, too! Jimmy cut this one for Ray Charles' Tangerine label (it was the label's first) – a fact that's driven home on the front cover, where a lounging sexy couple is reclining in front of a fire with a bottle of wine and two of Ray's albums from the time! The real star here, though, is Jimmy – who lays down some of the best vocals of his career over totally sympathetic arrangements by Marty Paich and Gerald Wilson, carefully crafting sad lonely versions of standards like "There Is No Greater Love", "They Say It's Wonderful", "Someone To Watch Over Me", and "How Deep Is The Ocean". Jimmy makes these tunes all his own, singing the songs in that wispy fragile gender-bending way that's always been both his biggest strength and greatest curse! CD

A bit of soul, a bit of jazz, and some nice funky touches at the bottom – a killer little set from the great Spanky Wilson! Wilson's got a really unique place in music – at one level a soul singer with enough sophistication to rival the sound of Marlena Shaw or Nancy Wilson – but at another level, an artist capable of really letting loose – hitting heavier, funkier modes that neither of those singers could ever touch! This set may well be Wilson's masterpiece – put together with excellent production and arrangements from the great HB Barnum – here coming off a great run of work for other artists in the 60s, and focusing all that experience on making Spanky sound great. Titles include "Kissing My Love", "If I Could", "You", "Don't Mess With Bill", "Light My Fire", "Sunshine Of Your Love", "Hurtin", and "The Love That A Woman Should Give To A Man". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

Almost everything soulful at Capitol Records in the mid 60s – packed together in one sweet little place! The set's a winner in a great line of Cannonball Adderley live dates from the time – produced by David Axelrod, and done with that great mix of angular, slightly electric groove the combo was virtually pioneering – thanks to help from Joe Zawinul on electric piano, and Nat Adderley on cornet! Cannon also plays some great soprano sax – an instrument that he was taking off beautifully with at the time – and sets fire to a few great tunes with the instrument. But as if that's not enough, Lou Rawls joins in on vocals on a few cuts, and Nancy Wilson comes in on a few more – and the album alternates singing with instrumentals in a really great way. Titles include two very nice extended tracks by Joe Zawinul – "Rumplestiltskin" and "The Scavenger", both of which are over 10 minutes long, and which have the group stretching out in a nice live vein – and other cuts include "The Scene", "Somewhere", "Sweet Emma", and "Zorba". (Jazz, Vocalists) CD

After some great records on Verve, Capitol, and Fontana, Blossom made a surprising move and started up her own small label – issuing recordings herself, and selling them to the small but dedicated market who continued to come to her live shows, and support her work even as vocal jazz was disappearing from the music scene in the 70s. The set was produced by Bob Dorough in 1973, with a wonderful choice of tunes, and includes some great lesser-known numbers that get past the standards that Blossom was so often forced to record for bigger labels – and the instrumentation on most tracks is gentle piano trio, with some great electric keys on a number of tracks. Titles include "Home", "I'm Shadowing You", "Saving My Feeling For You", "Flame To Fire" and "You Have Lived In Autumn". LP, Vinyl record album