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 great small club performance from Nat King Cole – of the sort he never really recorded for Capitol Records, even though this set is right in the middle of his glory days on the label! In some ways, the set hearkens back to Nat's roots – maybe no surprise, as he's back in Chicago – and the combo here features John Collins on guitar, Charlie Harris on bass, and Lee Young on drums – working with Cole to offer up some nicely lean versions of tunes you might know from his fuller, more polished studio versions. The set's a great reminder that at the core, even during the big years, Nat was still a jazzman at heart – as you'll hear on tunes that include "Funny", "Straighten Up & Fly Right", "Nature Boy", "Route 66", "This Can't Be Love", "Somewhere Along The Way", "Mona Lisa/Too Young", "Exactly Like You", "Sweet Lorraine", and "Calypso Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that could have been the biggest breakthrough in the career of the legendary Joyce – yet the set was never issued at the time! The late 70s session has Joyce recording in New York, under the guidance of studio maestro Claus Ogerman – who has a wonderful way of elevating the overall quality of the proceedings, while never getting in the way of that special magic that made Joyce so wonderful – especially on her albums for EMI! As with those records, Joyce plays acoustic guitar alongside her amazing vocal approach – a style that's unlike anything else we can describe – informed by jazz and Brazilian music, yet soaring and gliding in a completely sublime style – awash in color and light as it flies to the sky. Mauricio Maestro helped out heavily on the record too – and the other players include Mike Manieri on vibes, Michael Brecker on tenor, Joe Farrell on flute, and Nana Vasconcelos on percussion – on titles that include a fantastic early reading of "Feminina" – plus "Miserios", "Descompassadamente", "Pega Leve", "Ciclo Da Vida", "Coracao Sonhador", and "Moreno". (Brazil, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

An ultra-hip batch of vocal tracks – and one of the few full albums recorded by singer Barbara Moore – a UK jazz artist at the start, but then an important studio talent often working behind the scenes! Barbara's got a very groovy style that's part jazz, part easy, part sunshine pop – all wrapped up into one super-warm blend! Her tracks have been showing up on playlists of beatheads for years – especially cuts from this album, which is a tight blend of jazz dance, dreamy pop, and even a few funky numbers. Most tracks are sung in a bright and breezy scat style – and titles include "Hot Heels", "His Name Was", "Swing Over", "Fly Away", "I'm Feather", and "Shades Tones". (Sound Library, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

Gregory Porter arrives on Blue Note Records – and the result is Porter's most fully-formed set so far – just the kind of album that will push him firmly into the limelight – a place that we've felt he's deserved for quite a few years! Porter's a hell of a singer, and a hell of a songwriter too – and although his roots are in jazz, he's got a rare ability to step between genres with plenty of soul – a special space that belongs to a very rare few – like Nina Simone, Bill Withers, Roberta Flack, or Gil Scott-Heron! Gregory's voice is amazing, his lyrics are both personal and pointed – and he does so much here with so little, the album should be handed out to the hundreds of mis-directed vocalists who think that a few extra tweaks in the studio is all they really need. Most numbers just feature small combo backing, with wonderfully warm piano from Chip Crawford – and the whole thing's got a timeless feel that makes us think this is the beginning of a rich new season for Porter. Titles include "Free", "Water Under Bridges", "Lonesome Lover", "Liquid Spirit", "No Love Dying", "Brown Grass", "When Love Was King", and "Wind Song". This great 3LP deluxe version features special guest bonus tracks on the fifth side – Water Under The Bridge" with Laura Mvula, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" with Jamie Cullum and "Grandma's Hands" with Ben L'Oncle Soul – plus Rainer & Grimm, Claptone, 20syl, St Germain and Knuckle G remixes on the sixth side! LP, Vinyl record album