... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Brubeck piece performed by a quintet with strings, oboe, and piano – remaining tracks feature either Dick Hyman or Roland Hanna on piano, accompanied by musicians on cello, violin, French horn, and flute. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

With Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar and John Burr on bass. CD

Includes "When Smokey Sings", "The Night You Murdered Love", and "Ark Angel". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet electric soul from Jimmy Abney – one of the best Osunlade discoveries we've heard in recent years, and an artist who's bound to make plenty of waves on his own – even without Osunlade's support! Abney sings and plays keyboards in the style of some lost 70s soul great – but also comes across with a sound that's a bit more contemporary – somewhat more stripped down, and nicely lean – in ways that make most of the tunes here fluid and sparkling, but in ways that are light years from commercial soul. Jimmy chooses to cover Marvin Gaye's "Come Go With Me" and Heatwave's "Star Of The Story" – and both tunes are a key hint at his sound, which often has some nicely moogy undercurrents and spacey grooves. Other titles include "More Of You", "Darlin", "Is There Anybody Here", "Crazy Love", "Hello", "Guardian Angel", and "What's On Your Mind". CD

Hauntingly beautiful work from Yasuko Agawa – a set that has some echoes of older jazz and bossa at points, but also slides out in a smooth 70s soul mode too! As on her previous album, arrangements here are all by Susumu Arima – who also produced – and he's quite a maestro when it comes to the backings, putting together jazzy elements, soft strings, and slight electric touches all at a level that rivals some of the best American soul arrangers of the time. There's a laidback, mellow feel to most numbers that's totally great – and titles include "The Gentle Rain", "I Can Fly", "Sounds Of Love", "La La Means I Love You", "Fools Rush In", "Angel Eyes", and "As Time Goes By". CD

A very different album than usual from Jan Akkerman – but in a really nice way! The album's not nearly as guitar-heavy and rock-leaning as some of Jan's other sets from the 70s – and has a bubbling sort of soul-based finish, one that's arranged by Akkerman with some help from Mike Gibbs – and which almost has a funky dancefloor appeal at times! The jazz component of the record is still relatively strong, in a tripped-out funky fusion way – but there's enough of a consistent pulse to the album to really keep things on track nicely! Includes the spacey "Pavane", which has great keyboards from Joachim Kuhn, and the nicely breaking "Streetwalker" – plus the cuts "Angel Watch", "Crackers", "Skydancer", "Floatin", and "Gate To Europe". LP, Vinyl record album

Jan Akkerman did plenty of unusual projects in the 70s, and this album may well be the best of them – an outing with vocalist Kaz Lux, whose unique phrasing really helps give the music a lot of focus! Akkerman's still hanging nicely between rock, funk, and jazz – but the use of vocals means that some of his guitar lines are a bit more spacious in ways that we really love, especially when they mix in these cool cosmic passages with the MPS-like keyboards of Jasper Van't Hof. The album's hardly a straight fusion album, but it's also not really a rock one either – more like a fusion set with vocals in all the right places – on titles that include "Guardian Angel", "Tranquilizer", "Can't Fake A Good Time", "Naked Actress", "Wings Of Strings", and "Strindberg". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic work by the great Lorez Alexandria – a 2-in-1 CD that brings together both of her rare albums for the Impulse label! Lorez The Great was recorded after Lorez cut some great sides for the Argo label in the early 60s – and it works off the strength of those sides, taking her unique vocal approach, forged in R&B, but smoothed by jazz, into a whole new level of expression. The backing's by musicians like Bud Shank, Wynton Kelly, Victor Feldman, and Paul Horn, and the arrangements are nice and moody, and are a perfect accompaniment to Lorez' beautiful voice. Includes the cuts "Get Me To The Church On Time", "Satin Doll", "Show Me", "The Best Is Yet to Come", "I'm Through With Love" and 5 others. More Of The Great has Lorez in a perfect setting – with sophisticated backing that really lets her take charge, and direct the songs tightly with her incredibly soulful voice. The set's a wonderful blend of jazz and soul styles, with bits of bossa running through the mix – and vocals that are handled in that lightly groovy style that's always made Lorez so great! The album features a great bossa rendition of "O Barquinho", plus the cuts "Dancing On The Ceiling", "Once", "Angel Eyes", "No More", and "That Far Away Look". CD

A beautiful album by one of our favorite jazz singers! Lorez Alexandria is in a perfect setting here – singing with subtly sophisticated backings that really let her take charge, and direct the songs tightly with her incredibly soulful vocals! Instrumentation is mostly in a small combo mode – with the Wynton Kelly trio at the core, augmented by a bit of guitar from Ray Crawford, and some alto sax from Paul Horn – and although the album's got an easygoing feel, it also keenly shows the tightness that's always made Lorez so great! Styles are a blend of soul and jazz, plus just a hint of bossa, heard beautifully on the album's rendition of "O Barquinho". Other tracks include "This Could Be The Start Of Something Big", "Dancing On The Ceiling", "Once", "Angel Eyes", "No More", and "That Far Away Look". LP, Vinyl record album

Our favorite side of Gene Ammons' talents – summed up nicely in a 2LP set! Ammons wasn't the first tenor player to work with a Hammond organ, but once the format gained popularity, Gene made a wise move to take it up – and it became a pairing that forever defined the later years of his sound! The 2LP set brings together a nice blend of ballads, groovers, and funky tunes recorded for Prestige with organists Johnny Hammond Smith and Jack McDuff during the 60s – titles that include "Born To Be Blue", "Twistin The Jug", "In Sid's Thing", "Blue Room", "Water Jug", "Getting Around", "Angel Eyes", "Stormy Monday", "Velvet Soul", and "Down The Line". CD

The only compilation of 60s female soul trio The Apollas we've ever seen – beautiful tunes with sweet and soulful vocals, big emotions and excellent arrangements – fantastic stuff from the trio, earlier material recorded as The Lovejoys and solo numbers by singer Leola Jiles! We'd love to say we've been fortunate enough to have heard more than a handful of the great Loma and Warner 45s, but that isn't the case – so this compilation from Kent as rewarding for us as just about anything they've put together in recent years – which is really saying something! A number of the tracks are should-be anthems that really allow the girls to sing big – backed by brass and tight arrangements to suit. That said, they're diverse talents, and there's some sweeter girl group styled tunes here that come across just as strongly. Glorious! Titles include "You're Absolutely Right", "Who Would Want Me Now", "Jive Cat", "See The Silver Moon", "Pretty Red Balloons", "I'm Under The Influence Of Love", "Baby I'll Come", "My Soul Concerto" and more from The Apollas proper, plus "He Ain't No Angel" and "Wait 'Round The Corner" by The Lovejoys, "I've Got So Used To Loving You" and "Why I Was Born" by Leola Jiles and more. 25 tracks in all. CD

A weird set of sitar and bongos backed sing-speak about gurus, devil gods, leprechauns, elves, opium, the wind, hippie boys and other oddball psychedelia enhanced storytelling from Kali,The Gypsy Star Child! We don't know a thing about Kali – she has a cute, girly-girl, Anytown, USA voice, but the hippie fantasy, pseudo spiritual storytelling is weird, yet genuinely committed – with droning, Eastern-tinged psych backdrops. Includes "A Game Called Who Am I", "Cosmic Remembrance", "A Cosmic Telephone Call", "From The Angel Liesle & The Buddha" and "How Can I Tell My Guru?" LP, Vinyl record album

One of the better-known sessions from Chet's time in Italy at the end of the 50s – a really beautiful album that has Chet working with a string orchestra in a set of lush arrangements that really bring a lot to his sound! The album really sounds great – not sleepy, but warm and beautiful, in a style that was perfect for Chet's fading romanticism. A few cuts have Chet taking a vocal chorus or two, but mostly, the focus is on trumpet solos. Titles include "Violets For Your Furs", "Goodbye", "Angel Eyes", "I Should Care", and "The Song Is You". Plus, the set also features 4 bonus tracks by Chet with a sextet that includes Gianni Basso on tenor – on titles that include "Line For Lyons", "Tune Up", and "Cheryl Blues". CD

Late, laidback ballad material from the great Chet Baker – and a set that, like so many of his other 80s recordings, has a subtle brilliance that really sets it apart from his better-known material of the 50s! Baker's horn is open, airy, and does more with less than ever before – really feeling the placement of the notes as he works alongside superb piano work from Harold Danko, in a group that also features John Burr on bass and Ben Riley on drums. Titles include "Sea Breeze", "Angel Eyes", "Round Midnight", "You & The Night & The Music", "I'm A Fool To Want You", and "You Have Been Here All Along". CD

One of those really great Italian sessions recorded by Chet Baker at a time when he was working away from the west coast scene – music that really helped the trumpeter find a new sort of magic in his approach, and really shift his phrasing from before! The set was recorded in Milan with Len Mercer and his orchestra – with a lineup of all-stars that includes Glauco Masetti on alto, Fausto Papetti and Gianni Basso on tenor, Mario Pezzotta on trombone, Franco Cerri on bass, and Gene Victory on drums. Titles include many standards, but handled with a fragile care by Chet – on tracks that include "I Should Care", "This Song Is For You", "When I Fall In Love", "Angel Eyes", "Street Of Dreams", "Goodbye", "Forgetful", and "Deep In A Dream". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the better-known sessions from Chet's time in Italy at the end of the 50s – a really beautiful album that has Chet working with a string orchestra in a set of lush arrangements that really bring a lot to his sound! The album really sounds great – not sleepy, but warm and beautiful, in a style that was perfect for Chet's fading romanticism. A few cuts have Chet taking a vocal chorus or two, but mostly, the focus is on trumpet solos. Titles include "Violets For Your Furs", "Goodbye", "Angel Eyes", "I Should Care", and "The Song Is You". CD

A pivotal record in the career of the great Matt Berry – a set that firmly established him as a musical act away from his work on the screen – not his first album, but one that really seems to have Berry finding his very unique voice! A number of the tunes have a slight nod to spookiness – an element that maybe prefaces Berry's role in What We Do In The Shadows – and the instrumentation has more Wicker Man-like elements at times than some of the mod-styled backings on other of Matt's records – although you can definitely hear his love of vintage keyboards on the album too. Tracks include "Vintage Dance", "Farewell Summer Sun", "Bonfire", "The Signs", "Solstice", "Wolf Quartet", "Fallen Angel", and "October Sun". This edition features all sorts of great tracks recorded at the original sessions – almost doubling the size of the record with cuts that include "Fire Chant", "Food Chain Blues", "October", "Sea Chant", "Honky Knock", "Venison Sketch", "The Dawn", and "To The Floor". CD

Beautiful recent work from Andy Bey – a singer who seems to get better and better as the years go on! As the title might indicate, the set's a collection of classic American songs – 20th century standards and evergreens, done by Bey in his wonderfully dusky style of singing – and supported by small group backing that includes piano from Geri Allen, tenor and flute from Frank Wess, trombone from Steve Davis, and trumpet from Vernell Garrett. The backings have some nice lush tones at some moments, and fall off into sparer moods at others – allowing a lot of space for Andy's wonderful voice to roll in! Titles include "Never Let Me Go", "Lonely Town", "Midnight Sun", "Angel Eyes", "Speak Low", and "Lush Life". CD

80s Afro grooves, recorded in Belgium – given a nice twist by the Crammed Discs label, which was one of the first to really open up African styles with more European elements! Bony Bikaye handles vocals, and Hector Zazou plays plenty of keyboards and adds in beat – so there's an electro-styled groove to most cuts, in a mode that's similar to some of the New Africa material on Celluloid Records from the same time! The remaining member of the group handles lots of saxophone solos – but the trio also get some studio help that includes more saxophone from Marc Hollander. Titles include "Angel", "Mr Manager", "Nostalgie", and "Soki Akei". LP, Vinyl record album

The Black Pumas went from underground status to much bigger fame in just a short span of time – and this smoking second album will definitely continue that nonstop rise to stardom! As before, the group are heavy on older references to funk and soul, but given a lean, contemporary spin in the production – handled by Adrian Quesada, with all the richness he's forged on countless other projects over the years – so that the grooves and instrumentation are right on the money, and augmented by these slight sonic surprises that really keep things interesting! The vocals seem even better than before – raw, raspy, and very powerful – on titles that include "Mrs Postman", "Gemini Sun", "Sauvignon", "Angel", "Hello", "Chronicles Of A Diamond", "Ice Cream", and "More Than A Love Song". CD

The Black Pumas went from underground status to much bigger fame in just a short span of time – and this smoking second album will definitely continue that nonstop rise to stardom! As before, the group are heavy on older references to funk and soul, but given a lean, contemporary spin in the production – handled by Adrian Quesada, with all the richness he's forged on countless other projects over the years – so that the grooves and instrumentation are right on the money, and augmented by these slight sonic surprises that really keep things interesting! The vocals seem even better than before – raw, raspy, and very powerful – on titles that include "Mrs Postman", "Gemini Sun", "Sauvignon", "Angel", "Hello", "Chronicles Of A Diamond", "Ice Cream", and "More Than A Love Song". LP, Vinyl record album

The Black Pumas went from underground status to much bigger fame in just a short span of time – and this smoking second album will definitely continue that nonstop rise to stardom! As before, the group are heavy on older references to funk and soul, but given a lean, contemporary spin in the production – handled by Adrian Quesada, with all the richness he's forged on countless other projects over the years – so that the grooves and instrumentation are right on the money, and augmented by these slight sonic surprises that really keep things interesting! The vocals seem even better than before – raw, raspy, and very powerful – on titles that include "Mrs Postman", "Gemini Sun", "Sauvignon", "Angel", "Hello", "Chronicles Of A Diamond", "Ice Cream", and "More Than A Love Song". LP, Vinyl record album