One of the coolest records ever from the legendary De Wolfe sound library in the UK – a set that's great not only for the work of Brit maestro Roger Webb, but also for the vocals delivered by Barbara Moore – a legendary session singer with a hell of a jazzy touch! Webb's charts are always full of life and color, and showcase his own roots in jazz – served up here with all sorts of fast-stepping rhythms that really let the vocals of Moore take off in wonderful ways – always without lyrics, as Barbara has this way of singing wordlessly that makes her voice act like another instrument next to the horns and keyboards in the arrangements. Wonderful throughout – with titles that include "Dreamy", "Play Girl", "Autumn Aria", "Up West", "Think Twice", "Flipper", "Sandy", "Gentle Soul", and "Sounds Easy". (Sound Library, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

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A really unique album from the great Etta Jones – a session recorded down in Muscle Shoals, and not in Chicago – a setting that gives James an extra sort of deep soul power! The backing is nicely different than some of the other Chess material – killer work from the legendary Fame Studios lineup that included Barry Beckett on organ, Charles Chalmers on tenor, and Roger Hawkins on drums – all coming together with the great Rick Hall at the production helm! Etta's back in hard-belting R&B-tinged territory here – a bit more sophisticated than the 50s, with a good mix of hard soul numbers and ballads, opening up in some southern territory that really suits her well. Titles include "The Same Rope", "Watch Dog", "Tell Mama", "I'd Rather Go Blind", "Just A Little Bit", and "Don't Lose Your Good Thing". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

A lovely little tribute to one of our favorite songwriters of all time – the lyrical genius Tommy Wolf, whose compositions were first championed back in the 50s and 60s by Bob Dorough, Jackie & Roy, and Blossom Dearie! Wolf's got a wonderful way with a twist of a phrase – playful, but never too silly – just freshly original in a world of overdone standards, and a reminder that creative American songwriting didn't stop with Cole Porter and Harold Arlen! Bobbi's voice has a warmly sweet quality that makes for a slightly different approach to the material than others before her – and backing on the record is by a piano trio led and arranged by Chick Cicchetti. Titles include "There Are Days When I Don't Think Of You At All", "Say Cheese", "I'm Alright Til You Touch Me", "It's Nice Weather For Ducks", "You Smell So Good", "I've Never Been Anything", and "A Face Like Yours". LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime work by a singer who should have dominated the 60s – had he not left this planet in an auto accident early in his short career! Jesse is wonderful here – getting even more coolness and class on RCA than he did in an indie setting – with help from the groups of Shorty Rogers and Dennis Farnon! Most numbers are standards, but done in a nicely soulful style – with titles that include "Witchcraft", "Guess Who", "Alright OK You Win", "Secret Love", "Love Is Here To Stay", "Now You Know", "Take Me Back To The Island", and "Funny". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

A set that features lots of great arrangements from Shorty Rogers – upbeat and jazzy, in ways that aren't exactly the Latin modes promised by the title, but still pretty darn great! Rogers his hitting nicely here on all burners – that leaner 60s approach he used in some of his own great records of the time, with rhythms that borrow a bit from bossa and Latin jazz, but turn their elements towards a west coast sort of groove in the end. Lennie Hayton conducts the orchestra, but he's definitely moving in a Rogers-directed mode – much more so than on earlier dates with Lena for RCA. Titles include "Meditation", "More", "Old Devil Moon", "My Blue Heaven", "Cuckoo In The Clock", "From This Moment On", and "Take Me". LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite-ever albums from Mel Torme – a set that sparkles with the same smooth swing as his best late 50s dates for Bethlehem records! Like those sets, this one features Torme's voice really taking off over some tight jazzy charts – arranged by Johnny Williams, Shorty Rogers, and Dick Hazard – all in styles close to those used previously by Marty Paich. But almost even better is the New York theme of the record – surprising, given the anti-NYC vibe of Torme's classic "California Suite" – but perfect, too, as it really ties the whole thing together wonderfully – creating this beautiful picture of the Big Apple in the postwar years. Titles include the greatest version of "Sunday In New York" you'll ever hear – plus "Let Me Off Uptown", "Autumn In New York", "New York New York", "Manhattan", and "My Time Of Day". LP, Vinyl record album

A soundtrack as important to the sound of Sinatra on Capitol Records as High Society – maybe even more so, as it features seminal readings of Rogers & Hart standards "Bewitched", "I Could Write A Book", "The Lady Is A Tramp", and "There's A Small Hotel". Arrangements by Nelson Riddle, too! LP, Vinyl record album

An "after theater" version of the Richard Rogers musical No Strings – done in a cool way that really changes the feel of the music! The "cast" for the set is an assortment of Atlantic Records artists from the early 60s – Herbie Mann, Chris Connor, Lavern Baker, and Bobby Short – all brought together to perform the tunes, which are recast nicely in arrangements by Mann, Al Cohn, and Bobby Scott. Chris Connor sings "The Sweetest Sounds", "No Strings", "Look No Further", and "Nobody Told Me"; Bobby Short sings "Be My Host", "An Orthodox Fool", and "The Man Who Has Everything"; Lavern Baker sings "Eager Beaver" and "Loads Of Love"; and Herbie Mann plays a cool Latinized version of "La La La". LP, Vinyl record album

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 with some soulful elements in the backdrops – penned in this case by Jimmy Jones and Shorty Rogers, both of whom do a great job with the arrangements. The crispness of Carmen's voice works perfectly in the setting – and titles include "Watch What Happens", "Sound Of Silence", "MacArthur Park", "Can You Tell", and "Gloomy Sunday". LP, Vinyl record album

Arranged and conducted by Milt Rogers. LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Frank Sinatra, Betty Grable, Dorothy Lamour, Lena Horne, Andrews Sisters, Lauren Bacall, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, and many others. LP, Vinyl record album