A great follow up to Mille Jackson's classic Caught Up album – but one that's also a key turning point too! The theme here is the same as the album before – with tunes that have a woman "caught up" in love and all of its tangles – but the sound is also bolder, more positive, and somehow more righteous than before – with Millie stepping from the weepy shadows very firmly into the mainstream – making a bold move forward for women in general in the process! Production is still by southern soul whiz Brad Shapiro – but he's also brightened things a bit too, in keeping with Millie's bolder spirit – shaking off some of the earthier tones of the music, and hipping things up slightly with some more modern instrumentation. Millie's vocals are completely wonderful throughout – rasping with that badass style that would later explode even more strongly – and there's lots of spoken bits that make the tunes sound even more personal – as if you're listening at the door, or tapping the phone while Millie's talking to her man! Titles include "Loving Arms", "Do What Makes You Satisfied", "Making The Best Of A Bad Situation", "The Memory Of A Wife", "Leftovers", and "Tell Her It's Over". LP, Vinyl record album

A great follow up to Mille Jackson's classic Caught Up album – but one that's also a key turning point too! The theme here is the same as the album before – with tunes that have a woman "caught up" in love and all of its tangles – but the sound is also bolder, more positive, and somehow more righteous than before – with Millie stepping from the weepy shadows very firmly into the mainstream – making a bold move forward for women in general in the process! Production is still by southern soul whiz Brad Shapiro – but he's also brightened things a bit too, in keeping with Millie's bolder spirit – shaking off some of the earthier tones of the music, and hipping things up slightly with some more modern instrumentation. Millie's vocals are completely wonderful throughout – rasping with that badass style that would later explode even more strongly – and there's lots of spoken bits that make the tunes sound even more personal – as if you're listening at the door, or tapping the phone while Millie's talking to her man! Titles include "Loving Arms", "Do What Makes You Satisfied", "Making The Best Of A Bad Situation", "The Memory Of A Wife", "Leftovers", and "Tell Her It's Over". Expanded CD features 2 bonus tracks – "The Memory Of A Wife (rehearsal version)" and "How Can I Make Sweet Love To You If You Won't Stand Still", which is an earlier version of "One Night Stand". CD

A great follow up to Mille Jackson's classic Caught Up album – but one that's also a key turning point too! The theme here is the same as the album before – with tunes that have a woman "caught up" in love and all of its tangles – but the sound is also bolder, more positive, and somehow more righteous than before – with Millie stepping from the weepy shadows very firmly into the mainstream – making a bold move forward for women in general in the process! Production is still by southern soul whiz Brad Shapiro – but he's also brightened things a bit too, in keeping with Millie's bolder spirit – shaking off some of the earthier tones of the music, and hipping things up slightly with some more modern instrumentation. Millie's vocals are completely wonderful throughout – rasping with that badass style that would later explode even more strongly – and there's lots of spoken bits that make the tunes sound even more personal – as if you're listening at the door, or tapping the phone while Millie's talking to her man! Titles include "Loving Arms", "Do What Makes You Satisfied", "Making The Best Of A Bad Situation", "The Memory Of A Wife", "Leftovers", and "Tell Her It's Over". Expanded CD features 2 bonus tracks – "The Memory Of A Wife (rehearsal version)" and "How Can I Make Sweet Love To You If You Won't Stand Still", which is an earlier version of "One Night Stand". CD

A huge amount of material from Tommy James & The Shondells – a group that most people know for a string of jingle-jangle gems in the 60s, but who kept on making some really wonderful music over the course of the 11 albums included in this set! The group at the start were already pretty darn amazing – able to create the kind of catchy, groovy tunes that really exploded out of AM radio in the mid 60s – but as the years went on, Tommy moved into headier territory, and started to stretch out from the pop psych sound of "Crimson & Clover" – one of his last great hits, but also the gateway to all the wonderful music heard here in the second half of the set! The collection is a real ear-opener – and includes lots of music that hasn't been on CD in any form for years (or vinyl for that matter too!) – plus bonus tracks on most of the records, and other rare material – all bundled up with a heavy booklet of notes. 140 tracks in all – and the albums Hanky Panky, It's Only Love, I Think We're Alone Now, Gettin Together, Mony Mony, Crimson & Clover, Cellophane Symphony, Travelin, Tommy James, Christian Of The World, My Head My Bed & My Red Guitar – and bonus tracks and singles too! CD

Ultra-hip work from pianist Keith Jarrett – a session that's filled with joy and life, and which has a lot more energy than some of his albums for ECM! The work here is kind of a refinement of the freer styles that Jarrett had laid down on previous albums – performed with a strongly rhythmic undercurrent, but one that also opens up to some strong top-end melodies as well – played not only by Jarrett on piano, but also by Dewey Redman on tenor, in a group with Sam Brown on guitar, Paul Motian on drums, and Guilherme Franco and Danny Johnson on percussion. Titles include "The Rich & The Poor", "Blue Streak", "Le Mistral", "Angles Without Edges", "Treasure Island", and "Sister Fortune". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little album from tenor legend Budd Johnson – and a record that nicely updates his sound by pairing him with a hip 60s-styled group! The album's got a jaunty feel that's like the best soul jazz sessions on Impulse at the time – taking Budd's tenor and placing it next to trumpet by Joe Newman, piano by Albert Dailey, bass from Richard Davis, and drums by Grady Tate. Upbeat tracks bounce along in a swinging take on mainstream soul jazz – and the mellower cuts feature some really wonderful blowing from Budd – done with a raspy tone that's got a nice earthy quality! Includes the jazz dancer "Off The Wall", the samba-styled "Strange Music", a snapping take on "Baubles Bangles & Beads", and the syncopated groover "Playin' My Hunch". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent work from Clifford Jordan – far better than the usual Steeplechase session of the time! The vibe here is similar to Jordan's work at the time on the Strata East label – played in a very similar group, with Cedar Walton on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – way more than just a standard rhythm section, and with Jordan in tow, a compelling quartet with a really unique sound! There's a great depth to the work here – hardly the American soloist taking up space that you might get on other European live dates from the period – and the tracks are long, with an angular soul jazz finish. Both Jordan and Walton get plenty of room for expression – and titles on this third volume include "Seven Minds", "Shoulders", "St Thomas", and "Bleecker Street Theme". CD

An album so heavy, it blew plenty of minds when first released at the end of the 60s! This set's the first-ever utterance from the King Crimson empire – the initial outing of the group, which featured Greg Lake on vocals, and lots of airy, darkly atmospheric guitar from the legendary Robert Fripp! The song structure is quite unusual – and the overall feel is less academically tangled than some of the later records – a feature that makes this album much more sought out by mainstream rockers looking for an intro to the group than some of the later sets. Yet having said that, there's also a pretty amazing approach here – somewhat obtuse, and definitely not looking for any radio edit hits – more just magical musings from a very unique ensemble. Peter Sinfield contributed the lyrics, which are sung by Lake – and Michael Giles handles drums and percussion, while Ian MacDonald plays flute, sax, keyboards, and more. Titles include "Moonchild", "21st Century Schizoid Man", "I Talk To The Wind", "Epitaph", and "Court Of The Crimson King". CD

An album so heavy, it blew plenty of minds when first released at the end of the 60s! This set's the first-ever utterance from the King Crimson empire – the initial outing of the group, which featured Greg Lake on vocals, and lots of airy, darkly atmospheric guitar from the legendary Robert Fripp! The song structure is quite unusual – and the overall feel is less academically tangled than some of the later records – a feature that makes this album much more sought out by mainstream rockers looking for an intro to the group than some of the later sets. Yet having said that, there's also a pretty amazing approach here – somewhat obtuse, and definitely not looking for any radio edit hits – more just magical musings from a very unique ensemble. Peter Sinfield contributed the lyrics, which are sung by Lake – and Michael Giles handles drums and percussion, while Ian MacDonald plays flute, sax, keyboards, and more. Titles include "Moonchild", "21st Century Schizoid Man", "I Talk To The Wind", "Epitaph", and "Court Of The Crimson King". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent work by The Kinks – cut right on the cusp of their earlier bluesier years, and their perfect picture postcard pop sides of the late 60s! The album's got a number of groovy little tunes that virtually put the jangle in 60s pop – with impeccable writing by Ray Davies, and all those little twists and turns that make his songs so great. And the themes, styles, and overall presentation of the whole thing are really stretching out nicely – with a sense of wit and critique on British society that really have the group coming into their own! Titles include "Party Line", "Dandy", "Session Man", "Rainy Day In June", "Most Exclusive Residence For Sale", "Fancy", "You're Lookin Fine", and "Sunny Afternoon". CD also features bonus tracks – "Mr Pleasant", "This Is Where I Belong", "Mr Reporter", "I'm Not Like Everybody Else", and "Big Black Smoke". CD

Genius early work from Kris Kristofferson – four great albums in a single package, with SACD mastering too! First up is The Silver Tongued Devil & I – a masterful tribute to the genius of Kris Kristofferson, and a record that perfectly illustrates that unique place he held in music at the start of the 70s! The album's Kris' second, and has maybe a more unified vibe than his debut – filled with original material that has that open, honest quality that Kristofferson brought to country music – and which also had a surprisingly strong impact on mainstream rock and singer/songwriter material too! There's both a frankness of feeling and sharpness of wit that make the whole thing wonderful – and the album's overflowing with original gems that include "Jody & The Kid", "Billy Dee", "Loving Her Was Easier", "The Taker", "When I Loved Her", "The Pilgrim Chapter 33" and "Epitaph" – plus a great reading of the Bobby Bare/Billy Joe Shaver tune "Good Christian Soldier". Border Lord is a wonderful album, and one that's full of lesser-known gems from Kris Kristofferson – from a time when he'd started sharing his songs with other singers first, and started to hold back all the good stuff for himself! The album's got help from some country music studio greats, but it's clearly Kristofferson's show, right from the start – overflowing with tunes that get delivery from Kris that nobody else can match – with a special understanding of the choice of words, balance of wit, and depth of feeling that makes him so great on record. Titles include "Burden Of Freedom", "Border Lord", "When She's Wrong", "Kiss The World Goodbye", "Getting By High & Strange", "Somebody Nobody Knows", and "Josie". Jesus Was A Capricorn is one of those records in which Kris Kristofferson takes on the 70s, and comes up with a sound and style that's completely his own – even when working within the mainstream of the time! His label, Monument, could do plenty of hokey stuff – and even arranger Bill Justis wasn't always the hippest of cats – nor producer Fred Foster. Yet working here, they all rise to the occasion under the majesty of the man's music – a soaring batch of original tunes, of that special sort that Kris was always keeping to himself after his early years writing hits for others. Titles include "Why Me", "Give It Time To Be Tender", "It Sure Was Love", "Nobody Wins", "Enough For You", and the title cut "Jesus Was A Capricorn", owed to John Prine! Spooky Lady's Sideshow is a record that has Kris Kristofferson loosening up his mix of styles slightly, almost a nod back to his debut – but all in a way that only seems to bring an even greater range of feeling to his songwriting! Kristofferson maybe looks a bit more casual and laidback on the cover than some previous sets, but he's still got all the sharpness of delivery that makes him so great, and which really matches his magical words – on titles that include "Broken Freedom Song", "Star Spangled Bummer", "Smile At Me Again", "I May Smoke Too Much", "Stairway To The Bottom", and "Rescue Mission". CD

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One of the greatest albums ever recorded by the mighty Yusef Lateef – and that's really saying a lot, given his fantastic legacy of albums! The set's a live one, which is a bit unusual in Lateef's catalog at this time – and the concert setting is perhaps a window onto some of his more expressive, experimental modes that didn't always show up on record, especially the Impulse studio sides he was recording at the time. Lateef's group is pure genius – with a young Mike Nock on piano, sounding all weird and dark, with amazing tones from his instrument – plus the great Richard Williams on trumpet, a player who always seems to bring something special to a record! The team of Ernie Farrow on bass and James Black on drums help create all these modal rhythms that are really fantastic – and Lateef himself blows tenor and flute, plus the more exotic reed instruments argol and shanai. Titles include "The Magnolia Triangle", "Sister Mamie", "Number 7", "The Weaver", and "Slippin' & Slidin'". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest albums ever recorded by the mighty Yusef Lateef – and that's really saying a lot, given his fantastic legacy of albums! The set's a live one, which is a bit unusual in Lateef's catalog at this time – and the concert setting is perhaps a window onto some of his more expressive, experimental modes that didn't always show up on record, especially the Impulse studio sides he was recording at the time. Lateef's group is pure genius – with a young Mike Nock on piano, sounding all weird and dark, with amazing tones from his instrument – plus the great Richard Williams on trumpet, a player who always seems to bring something special to a record! The team of Ernie Farrow on bass and James Black on drums help create all these modal rhythms that are really fantastic – and Lateef himself blows tenor and flute, plus the more exotic reed instruments argol and shanai. Titles include "The Magnolia Triangle", "Sister Mamie", "Number 7", "The Weaver", and "Slippin' & Slidin'". This CD adds 3 long extra cuts to the original release! CD

One of the greatest albums ever recorded by the mighty Yusef Lateef – and that's really saying a lot, given his fantastic legacy of albums! The set's a live one, which is a bit unusual in Lateef's catalog at this time – and the concert setting is perhaps a window onto some of his more expressive, experimental modes that didn't always show up on record, especially the Impulse studio sides he was recording at the time. Lateef's group is pure genius – with a young Mike Nock on piano, sounding all weird and dark, with amazing tones from his instrument – plus the great Richard Williams on trumpet, a player who always seems to bring something special to a record! The team of Ernie Farrow on bass and James Black on drums help create all these modal rhythms that are really fantastic – and Lateef himself blows tenor and flute, plus the more exotic reed instruments argol and shanai. Titles include "The Magnolia Triangle", "Sister Mamie", "Number 7", "The Weaver", and "Slippin' & Slidin'". This CD adds 3 long extra cuts to the original release! CD

With Dres of the Black Sheep. 12-inch, Vinyl record

No blues, and only a little bit of country – mostly in the song choice for the set, and in the way the whole thing is put together! The core stylings here are still the Ramsey Lewis Trio at their early 60s best – but the record does feature a slight country-meets-soul sort of style in the production – a vibe that's similar to some of Ray Charles' ABC work of the time, although taken to an instrumental jazz sound here! Arrangements are by Oliver Nelson and Lew Douglas – the latter of whom uses more strings and a bit of voice, the former who keeps things more in a soul jazz mode overall. Titles include "St Louis Blues", "High Noon", "I Need You So", "I Just Want To Make Love To You", "Tangleweed Round My Heart", "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It", and "Your Cheatin Heart". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful set from Curtis Lundy – his third album as a leader, and a warmly intimate set that steps off of the strength of his Against All Odds album, moving into new territory, yet never losing its soul! Curtis is working here with a group that includes John Hicks on piano, Billy Hart on drums, and Steve Nelson on vibes – crafting a sound that's a bit more modern than some of his previous work, with more angles and sharp edges, yet never so many as to lose the warmth and soul that we've come to love in his work. The record's incredibly fresh, with a sound that reminds us of some of Bobby Hutcherson's best experiments in the early 70s, pushing into territory that's distinctly Lundy's own. Titles include "Pas De Trois", "Blues For JA", "Carmen", "Walk In Serendipity", "Snake Eyes", and "Shape Shifting". CD

Alex Machacek on guitar, Jeff Sipe on drums and Neal Fountain on bass. CD

Maybe the most visual issue of Maggot Brain to date – as the issue features a look at the music photography of Michael Lavine, rare images of Pavement from Gail Butensky, and the wonderful artwork of Mingering Mike! Heck, there's even a review of Irreversible Entanglements that's filled with great photos of the group – but don't worry, as there's plenty of text too – including a discussion of prog rock with the great Matt Berry, a look at Philly guitarists Rosali Middleman and Emily Robb, and the diary of legendary hobo Bill Aspinwall! Plenty more too – including a great tape section, the Visuaels collective, Lea Bertucci, the band Cindy, and 75 Dollar Bill. Magazine

Edits of tracks by Denroy Morgan and Igor Savin. 12-inch, Vinyl record

The debut album from Terrace Martin, and a set that already has him stretching out and building bridges between scenes and genres – at a level that has continued to make him one of the real giants of the west coast scene! The record's never just about Terrace's keys or saxophone – although his work on both are totally great – and instead, there's an equal presence here from the guests – Robert Glasper on Fender Rhodes, or artists like Kendrick Lamar, Lalah Hathaway, Ty Dolla Sign, Musiq Soulchild, and others on vocals – balancing hip hop and soul with Martin's jazz at the core, as he awakes new ears sounds they never would have discovered otherwise! Titles include "Triangle Ship", "No Wrong No Right", "Over Time", "Watch U Sleep", "Something Else", "You're The One", "I'm For Real", "Gone", and "Motivation". LP, Vinyl record album

Ron McClure on bass, 'Jabali' Billy Hart on drums, Marc Copland on piano, Rich Perry on tenor saxophone, Conrad Herwig on trombone, Tim Hagans on trumpet. CD

Sublime work from Hal McKusick – one of those mid 50s modernists who offered up such hope for new ideas at the time, and who seemed to all but disappear by the middle of the next decade! This album's one of Hal's finest – an optimistically crafted batch of tunes written by many of the 50s best modernists: Gil Evans, Jimmy Giuffre, George Russell, and others – played by a group that includes Art Farmer, Barry Galbraith, Jimmy Cleveland, and Milt Hinton. The approach is east coast chamber jazz – a refreshing change from the west coast version, made all the better by McKusick's crisp tone and precise blowing. Titles include "Alto Cumulus", "Tommy Hawk", "Lydian Lullaby", "One Score & Eight Horns Ago", "Jambangle", and "Just Leave It Alone". CD

A huge amount of work from The Merseybeats – a group who were Liverpool contemporaries of The Beatles, and named after the body of water alongside the city – but who were way more than a copycat combo overall! Like many other 60s British groups, The Merseybeats start out with a sound that draws heavily from American soul and blues influences – yet they quickly shift to a super-catchy, jingle-jangle sort of sound – harmonizing nicely on the leads, and finding ways to come up with really groovy songs that that use their hollow-body guitar lines to best effect – setting things apart with that special British sound that made the UK scene quickly so different than the US by this time. And although the group have had a few greatest hits packages over the years, this 2CD set is the first time they've fully gotten their due – as the package is overflowing with material – 34 tracks by the core group, and another 29 by the later Merseys and other related musical aggregations – including The Crackers, Kinsleys, Johnny Gustafson, and The Quotations. That's a whopping 63 tracks in all, served up with a big set of notes – almost acting like a microcosm of the Liverpool scene itself! CD

Mindblowing sounds from Chicago flute player Nicole Mitchell – a set of work inspired by the science fiction writings of Octavia Butler – with a striking style to match! Although the music has some arch qualities that live up to the darkness of Butler's writings, the performance here is also still mostly acoustic – in the mode we're used to from Mitchell's Black Earth group – but with odd tones and weird bits of phrasing that keep have us checking the notes to figure out the different instruments! The approach is a bit like the early cosmic visions of Sun Ra – especially when Mitchell hits more spiritual and rhythmic moments – and the well-matched ensemble of players features Nicole on flute, David Boykin on tenor and bass clarinet, David Young on trumpet and srali thom, Renee Baker on violin, Tomeka Reid on cello, Josh Abrams on bass, Jeff Parker on guitar, and Avreeayl Ra on percussion. Mankwe Ndosi sings just a bit on the record – and titles include "Dripping Matter", "Web Of Hope", "Fields Of Possibility", "Resisting Entanglement", "The Inevitable", and "The Ooli Moves". CD

Mindblowing sounds from Chicago flute player Nicole Mitchell – a set of work inspired by the science fiction writings of Octavia Butler – with a striking style to match! Although the music has some arch qualities that live up to the darkness of Butler's writings, the performance here is also still mostly acoustic – in the mode we're used to from Mitchell's Black Earth group – but with odd tones and weird bits of phrasing that keep have us checking the notes to figure out the different instruments! The approach is a bit like the early cosmic visions of Sun Ra – especially when Mitchell hits more spiritual and rhythmic moments – and the well-matched ensemble of players features Nicole on flute, David Boykin on tenor and bass clarinet, David Young on trumpet and srali thom, Renee Baker on violin, Tomeka Reid on cello, Josh Abrams on bass, Jeff Parker on guitar, and Avreeayl Ra on percussion. Mankwe Ndosi sings just a bit on the record – and titles include "Dripping Matter", "Web Of Hope", "Fields Of Possibility", "Resisting Entanglement", "The Inevitable", and "The Ooli Moves". LP, Vinyl record album

The first-ever issue of this rare live set from the legendary Thelonious Monk Quartet of the 60s – the same group that cut some incredible albums for Columbia Records, sounding equally great here in a concert setting in Paris! The group features tremendous tenor work from Charlie Rouse – a player who can be deeply soulful, but also hit all the right angles to match Monk's modern piano lines – as important to Thelonious as the alto sax of Paul Desmond was to Dave Brubeck! And like Brubeck's quartet at the time, the rhythm players here are also key – the fantastic John Ore on bass, and the great Frankie Dunlop on drums – two players who hit all the right spots along the way, and match Monk's energy perfectly. Titles include "Criss Cross", "Epistrophy", "Bye Ya", "Monk's Dream", and a "Drum Solo". LP, Vinyl record album

What better way to describe Wes' playing than an easy groove! Also released under the Montgomery Brothers name, this side has a nice breezy quality to it, with backing by his brothers Buddy & Monk on piano & bass, plus Harold Land on tenor. The sides were recorded a few years earlier, in the 50s, with a nice crisp quality to the playing, though there are a few pieces recorded at other sessions, one number with Freddie Hubbard, "Bock to Bock" and another in a more Mastersounds mode, "Baubles, Bangles & Beads". Also includes "Far Wes", "Leila" & "Hymn for Carl". LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty darn important album for Wes – as it was his first session with the sort of larger arrangements that would later make him huge! Although Montgomery was mostly recording for Riverside in small combos, this session has him playing in front of larger backings by Jimmy Jones – not as sublime as later work by Don Sebesky or Gil Evans, but done in a way that definitely shows that Wes can do a lot with the guitar when freed from the need to stick with the rhythm strongly. Titles include "All The Way", "Pretty Blue", "Somewhere", "God Bless The Child", "Tune Up", and "Baubles Bangles & Beads". LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty darn important album for Wes – as it was his first session with the sort of larger arrangements that would later make him huge! Although Montgomery was mostly recording for Riverside in small combos, this session has him playing in front of larger backings by Jimmy Jones – not as sublime as later work by Don Sebesky or Gil Evans, but done in a way that definitely shows that Wes can do a lot with the guitar when freed from the need to stick with the rhythm strongly. Titles include "All The Way", "Pretty Blue", "Somewhere", "God Bless The Child", "Tune Up", and "Baubles Bangles & Beads". LP, Vinyl record album

A double-header of sweet-styled early work from Wes Montgomery! First up is the album Fusion – a pretty darn important record for Wes – as it was his first session with the sort of larger arrangements that would later make him huge! Although Montgomery was mostly recording for Riverside in small combos, this session has him playing in front of larger backings by Jimmy Jones – not as sublime as later work by Don Sebesky or Gil Evans, but done in a way that definitely shows that Wes can do a lot with the guitar when freed from the need to stick with the rhythm strongly. Titles include "All The Way", "Pretty Blue", "Somewhere", "God Bless The Child", "Tune Up", and "Baubles Bangles & Beads". Next up is a batch of ballads and late nite tunes from his trio recordings of 1963 – titles that include "Dreamsville", "Yesterday's Child", "For All We Know", "Days Of Wine & Roses", "Too Late Now", "Whisper Not", and "For Heaven's Sake". LP, Vinyl record album

James Moody celebrates his 70th Birthday in a really wonderful setting – a soulful, easygoing set of work recorded with a tight little combo, and some all-star guests! The performance is from a live date at the Blue Note, with Bill Cosby acting as the MC at a few points – and Moody plays tenor and alto, with a combo that features Mulgrew Miller on piano, Tod Coolman on bass, and Terri Lynne Carrington on drums – plus help from guest musicians who include Roy Ayers on vibes, Arturo Sandoval on trumpet, Chris Potter on tenor, and Grover Washington Jr on soprano sax. The overall vibe is mostly boppish, a bit less complex and varied than some of Moody's other late albums – and titles include "The Eternal Triangle", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", "Benny's From Heaven", "Bebop", and "Groovin High". CD

Mouse On Mars' latest is an elaboration on last year's Niun Niggung, with a darker harder sound on some tracks, with others reflecting greater explorations of orchestral sounds, mangled hip hop beats, and other sounds previously touched on by MoM. Tracks are "Actionist Respoke", "Subsequence", "Presence", "The Illking", "Catching Butterflies With Hands", "Doit", "First: Break", "Introduce", "Unity Concepts", "Paradical", and "Fantastic Analysis". CD

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Hold on to your butts, because if you look past the goofy title this album features one helluva a lineup – with Murray out front on tenor and John Hicks on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Andrew Cyrille on drums! Tracks include "Eternal Triangle", "Mingus In The Poconos", "Ballad For David", and "Dinosaur Park Blues". CD

Killer piano jazz, and some of the greatest modernist work ever recorded by Blue Note! Herbie Nichols deserves every bit of the rare fame he ever got – and it's only the paucity of his recordings that has kept him from achieving the status of Monk or Cecil Taylor as an avant garde forefather. This killer box set features all of Nichols' recordings for Blue Note – including loads of unissued and alternate tracks, packaged with a discographical booklet with writings and photos. Tracks include "Third World", "Step Tempest", "Dance Line", "Shuffle Montgomery", "The Spinning Song", "Riff Primitif", "Query", "Chit Chatting", "Hangover Triangle", "2300 Skidoo", and "Blue Chopsticks". CD

The British Invasion, served up by 60s LA – as the hits of Lennon & McCartney are recast as groovy instrumentals through the studio talents of Jack Nitzsche! The cover promises "The Greatest Hits Of All Times – Arranged For The Greatest Dancing Of All Time" – and while we can't promise that these tunes are dancefloor material for everyone, they still come out sounding pretty darn great – more in a rocking American way, with lots of double-timed rhythms, honking sax bits, and strutting guitars that are a good deal fiercer than the jangle pop of the originals. Titles include "Chains", "She Loves You", "I Want To Hold Your Hand", "From Me To You", "Please Please Me", "All My Loving", and "It Won't Be Long" – plus the Nitzsche originals "Ringo" and "Beatle-Mania". CD

Omar's second album for BMG – and an instant classic set of soul tracks that sadly almost disappeared as soon as it was released! The album shows Omar growing even stronger than ever both as a singer and songwriter – moving from the indie feel of earlier work into a confident role as one of the few strong male soul talents of the end of the 20th century. Omar's voice is heavenly, as always – almost an electric-sounding pitch that works perfectly with the keyboards and instrumentation on the set – and his songs have a mature quality that is at once personal and professional. The album's filled with some great songs and wonderful surprises – like Omar's cover of The Stranglers' "Golden Brown", and tracks that include "Say Nothin" (2 versions), "This Is Not A Love Song", "Fallin", "Music For The Pipe", "Waiting Game", and "Spring Step". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Livery Stable Blues", "Dixie Jass Band One-Step (Introducing "That Teasin' Rag")", "At The Jazz Band Ball", "Ostrich Walk", "Skeleton Jangle", "Tiger Rag", "Bluin' The Blues", "Fidgety Feet", "Sensation Rag", "Mournin' Blues", "Clarinet Marmalade Blues", "Lazy Daddy", "Margie", "Palesteena", "Broadway Rose", "Sweet Mama", "Home Again Blues", "Crazy Blues (Introducing "It's Right Here For You")", "Jazz Me Blues", "St-Louis Blues", "Royal Garden Blues", "Dangerous Blues", "Bow Wow Blues (My Mama Treats Me Like A Dog)", "Skeleton Jangle", "Clarinet Marmalade", "Bluin' The Blues", "Tiger Rag", "Barnyard Blues", "Original Dixieland One-Step", "Bluin' The Blues", "Tiger Rag", "Ostrich Walk", "Original Dixieland One-Step", "Satanic Blues", "Toddlin' Blues", "Who Loves You?", and "Fidgety Feet". CD

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An amazing start to a short but legendary run from Pentangle – a group who played strongly on the guitar genius of Bert Jansch and John Renbourn, but who also adds in a fantastic sense of rhythm too – really transforming the music in the process! LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful work from this legendary group – worth it alone for the guitar interplay between John Renbourn and Bert Jansch, but featuring sublime vocals, and fantastic use of electric bass too! LP, Vinyl record album

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Surprising 70s work from tenorist Bill Perkins – a set with a very different groove than his better-known sides from the 50s, with lots of sharp angles, modern touches, and a wonderfully rich sound overall! Perkins plays tenor, baritone sax, and flute – and he's working with some very hip players who include Pepper Adams on baritone, Gordon Goodwin on tenor and soprano sax, and Lou Levy on piano – the last of whom is most likely a key component in the sound, as Perkins' music here has some of the same fresh notes and new tones we've heard on Lou's overlooked 70s recordings. Goodwin's a player we don't know at all, but we love his work here – and he also contributed two great tunes to the set too. Titles include a killer remake of Natalie Cole's "La Costa" – plus "Confluence", "Indoor Sports", "Civilization & Its Discontents", and "Dylan's Delight". LP, Vinyl record album

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One of the few Bud Powell sessions cut for RCA, but a brilliantly swinging date that has the pianist working at the height of his powers! There's an edge here that comes through right from the start – an off kilter vibe in both Bud's tone, and even in the way he's vocalizing joyously in the background at a few spots – not singing, but exclaiming – at a level that really helps you feel how much he owns the piano while he's performing! Dark pockets and sharp angles pervade – while still swinging right down the middle – balanced off perfectly with work from Art Taylor on drums and George Duvivier on bass. Tremendous all the way through – and different than Bud's work for Verve and Blue Note – in a really compelling way. Titles include "Another Dozen", "Like Someone In Love", "She", "Oblivion", "Swedish Pastry", and "Birdland Blues". CD

One of the few Bud Powell sessions cut for RCA, but a brilliantly swinging date that has the pianist working at the height of his powers! There's an edge here that comes through right from the start – an off kilter vibe in both Bud's tone, and even in the way he's vocalizing joyously in the background at a few spots – not singing, but exclaiming – at a level that really helps you feel how much he owns the piano while he's performing! Dark pockets and sharp angles pervade – while still swinging right down the middle – balanced off perfectly with work from Art Taylor on drums and George Duvivier on bass. Tremendous all the way through – and different than Bud's work for Verve and Blue Note – in a really compelling way. Titles include "Another Dozen", "Like Someone In Love", "She", "Oblivion", "Swedish Pastry", and "Birdland Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic collection of unreleased material from Prince – not spare demos or home recordings, or studio snippets either – but instead some fully-formed songs that come right from the glory days of the singer's career! Almost all the material here is from the early 80s – and most tracks were later recorded by other artists in the Prince spectrum – including The Time, Apollonia 6, Mazarti, The Family, Jill Jones, and Sheila E – but are done here by the man himself, with all of the slinky, funky qualities that he brought to his own music at the time – qualities that are especially well-noted on some of the other cuts that were recorded by The Bangles and Kenny Rogers – which really feel different in the hands of Prince. Titles include "Love Thy Will Be Done", "Nothing Compares 2 U", "Baby You're A Trip", "Manic Monday", "Jungle Love", "Sex Shooter", "Noon Rendezvous", "Make Up", "The Glamorous Life", "Holly Rock", "You're My Love", "100 MPH", "Dear Michaelangelo", "Wouldn't You Love To Love Me", and "Gigolos Get Lonely Too". CD

Classic-styled funk from Alex Puddu – not only the greatest record we've heard from him so far, but a set that's definitely worthy of its "golden age" claim in the title! The music is all new, but it was done for a series of short Danish porno films from the 70s – and Puddu gets a sound that's right on the money for the vintage – loads of great short funky soundtrack modes that are perfect for the time – handled with tight rhythms, great basslines, and some wicked jazzy solos that really send the whole thing home. Puddu plays a range of instruments – including electric sitar – in a group that also features some great Fender Rhodes, organ, sax, and flute – and the tunes are really wonderful throughout – like finding a lost soundtrack from the 70s that never got issued as an album. Titles include "Kinky Hairdresser", "Miss Butterfly", "Madam Delight", "Sex Bar", "Lusty Nurses", "Black Triangle", "Naughty Girls At The Wild Party", "The Dirty Games Of Dr Love", and "Piano For Lovers". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the rarest 70s albums in the Sun Ra catalog – and one of the most unique, too – given that the format here is a piano trio, of the style often used by other jazz musicians – but completely transformed here in the hands of Ra! The music is sometimes straight, but always with angles – taking off nicely from the Horo Records mode right before – and delivered by Ra with this new sense of confidence and historical imagination on the keys of the piano – with great support from Richard Williams on bass and Luqman Ali on drums. There's no spacey production or weird instrumentation – but still, as with the Horo and Improvising Artists material, Sun Ra shows us what a tremendous jazz musician he can be in a more familiar setting – a great snap back to all those who ever might have called him a pretender. Titles include "Blythe Spirit Dance", "Tenderness", "Days Of Happiness", and "Magic City Blue". CD

Some of the tightest funky 70s jamming ever – a lost gem from Ray & His Musical Court, a group that perfectly fuses JB/Horny Horns funk with beat-heavy Afro-Cuban groove! Ray and the group are one of the more obscure funky combos of the era, and it's a damn shame, because the group's tight-as-can-be amalgam of JB's style horn riffing and thumping Afro-Cuban percussion is some of the absolute best of its kind. This group seriously smokes any of the current funk bands on the road! On these sessions Ray wrote, produced, played "organ flute" and provided some vocals in a large group that includes three trumpets, bass clarinet, sax, two drummers, congas, electric bass, and a line of mostly Spanish vocalists. Amazing 70s super funk with a very proud Latin edge – and featuring tracks that include "Sunny", "Soul Freedom", "Cookie Crumbs", "De Eso Nada Monada", "Lo Sabia", "Venimos Acabando", "La Pena", and "La Senorita Lola". LP, Vinyl record album

It's easy to give the great Freddie Redd due respect – especially when the pianist sounds every bit as wonderful here as he did on his classic Blue Note albums from decades back! Freddie's a hell of a pianist, with a very unique vibe – able to be modern in conception, but lyrical in execution – sharp edges and angles warmed with a sense of humanity that always has Redd's music making this beautifully inherent sense, and drawing us right in, right away! The same seems to also be the case for his sidemen – who really flower in the setting – a lineup that includes John Mosca on trombone, Chris Byars on alto and flute, and Stefano Doglioni on bass clarinet. Mosca's trombone is especially nice – a real treat to hear in Redd's music – and titles include "A Night In Nalen", "Reminiscing", "Blue Hue", "I'm Gonna Be Happy", "OD", "Ole", "Lady J Blues", and "Melanie". CD

A treasure trove of greatness from British folk rock legend John Renbourn – all of his late 60s solo work, done before moving on to greater fame in Pentangle! First up is There You Go – a rare one from singer Dorris Henderson and future Pentangle founder John Rensbourn! Florida born, LA raised singer Dorris Henderson moved to London in 1965 and was soon singing London's folk clubs, where she met Rensbourn. A solid mix of traditionals and then contemporary folk songs – stripped down and honest takes on "Saly Free And Easy", "Cotton Eyed Joe", "Mr Tamborine Man", "Going To Memphis", Something Lonesome", "Mist On The Mountain" and more. This edition includes bonus tracks from a rare 45 – "Hangman" and "Leaves That Are Green". Next is the self-titled John Renbourn from 1965 – a set that would not only establish John's legacy for years to come, but also have a very strong impact upon the role of the guitar on the British scene too! The album's definitely in a mode that owes something to an American folk legacy – but it also really breaks from the past with unusual phrasings and colorings in Renbourn's guitar – certainly with an ear towards ancient English modes, but also at once very fresh and contemporary – a strong precursor to the waves of new acoustic talents that would flow from the UK a few years later, but maybe even more revolutionary – given that John's mostly just working here with his guitar and voice. Bert Jansch adds guitar to a few tracks – and titles include "Song", "Down On The Barge", "Plainsong", "Judy", "Beth's Blues", "Blue Bones", "Train Tune", "Winter Is Gone", and "Noah & Rabbit". Bert & John is a hell of a collaboration between British legends Bert Jansch and John Renbourn – both working here together to completely redefine the sound of their music for the generation to come! This one album may well hold all the sense of subtle power and possibility that was about to flower in the Brit movement often known as "acid folk" – that reworking of older aesthetics with modern conceptions, and doing so mostly with their work on acoustic guitar – quite a feat, given the stripped-down instrumentation of the set! Bert sings a bit – in that incredible style of his – but the real attraction here is the guitar interplay, which is always fresh, never hokey, neither familiar American folk nor forced singer-songwriter backup material. Titles include a wonderful reworking of Charles Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" – plus "Red's Favourite", "Orlando", "Soho", "Piano Tune", "East Wind", "After The Dance", and "The Time Has Come". Another Monday is maybe the most obscure album in the collection – a set that is mostly instrumental, with some completely fantastic work by Renbourn on guitar – but which also features a bit of guest vocals from singer Jacqui McShee – whose warmer presence next to John really makes for a nice pairing. The album's as powerful as it is subtle, really beautiful in its sense of variety – with titles that include "Buffalo", "One For William", "Lost Lover Blues", "Another Monday", "Day At The Seaside", "Nobody's Fault But Mine", and "Waltz". Watch The Stars is another great collaboration with Dorris Henderson – an American singer, but one who moved to London in the 60s – where she cut this rare gem with guitarist John Renbourn! The album's got a righteous vibe that's hipper than the usual folk set – with some traditional tunes and some contemporary material – recorded with that amazing phrasing that made Renbourn's guitar so distinct right from the start, with lots of those jazzy currents we love so much – and which really fit the creative vocal approach of Henderson! Dorris also plays some autoharp, and there's a bit of bass in the backings – although overall the main focus here is on Renbourn's guitar and Henderson's vocals. Titles include "Come Up Horsey", "God Bless The Child", "Watch The Stars", "30 Days In Jail", "Mosaic Patterns", "Tomorrow Is A Long Time", and "There's Anger In This Land". Sir John A Lot Of is perhaps one of the best-known albums from British guitar legend John Renbourn – as it was issued widely in the US, and kept in print for a surprisingly long time over the years! The approach here is slightly different than Renbourn's previous records – a bit in the image presented by the cover, although with maybe not as slavish a sound – as John just uses the whole thing to go a bit more ancient than before, in ways that echo the time travel that the whole British folk scene was taking as the 70s approached. The tunes are done in ways that are really beautiful – still lots of the incredible guitar work that made Renbourn such a standout on the scene – plus flute from jazzman Ray Warleigh, who's very different here than usual – and spare use of finger cymbals, African drums, and glockenspiel by Terry Cox. Titles include "Morgana", "Transfusion", "The Trees They Do Grow High", "Sweet Potato", "Seven Up", and "White Fishes". 6CD box features all records in original artwork sleeves, with a booklet of notes – and bonus tracks that include "Message To Pretty", "The Waggoner's Lad", "Lucky Thirteen", "Blues Run The Game", "The Wildest Pig In Captivity (alt)", "Can't Keep From Crying", "Transfusion (alt)", and "The Leaves Are Green". CD

That's Ken Rhodes, not Fender Rhodes – but the acoustic pianist is more than funky enough on his own – even without any electricity in the mix! The set's got this wonderful rhythm duo – drummer George Greene and bassist Joachim Knauer – who often come on with this really full, frenzied approach – leaping forward along with Ken's tightly comping style on piano, so that the tunes almost hit this funk-modal style that's really unique – and completely sublime all the way through! A few mellower moments round things out nicely – and give the album a depth that recalls some of the Jazz Hip Trio records from the European scene of the same time. Titles include "The Profile", "Stay Be Me", "The Journey", "Triangle", "Eigoob", and "Nothing New". LP, Vinyl record album

Three tenorists with Hammond legend Mel Rhyne – Eric Alexander, Ralph Lalama, and Tad Shull! CD

A trio of tenors – Eric Alexander, Ralph Lalama, and Tad Shull – join Mevlin Rhyne's organ trio. Tracks include "Tell It Like It Is", "Minor Changes", "Lazy Bird", and "Eternal Triangle". CD

A landmark record for Diana – her first solo effort after leaving the Supremes, and a well-conceived batch of tracks produced by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson! The album's got a warm, mature approach that really separates the work from Diana's earlier girl group past – as Ashford & Simpson take her into territory that hints at many of the musical changes to come, but which still has a freshness that breathes new life into Ross' vocal approach. Includes the super-bit hit version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", plus the tunes "Reach Out & Touch Somebody's Hand", "Now That There's You", "You're All I Need To Get By", "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You", "Dark Side Of The World", and "Where There Was Darkness". Plus, the CD features a huge amount of bonus tracks – including a previously unissued live version of "Something On My Mind", 3 alternate mixes of tracks from the record, and 4 previously unissued tunes produced by Bones Howe, including "Time & Love", "Stoney End", "The Interim", and "Loves Lines Angles & Rhymes". CD

Electric 70s work from Lalo Schifrin – with a tight uptempo funky sound that's similar to his strong "cop show" soundtrack themes of the time! This album's a pretty great testament to Lalo's durability as one of the great composer arrangers – sublime stuff from the late 70s, and a record that really works nicely alongside Schifrin's music for films. Lalo's got a great crew for the set, too – including Joe Farrell and Jeremy Steig on flute, Eric Gale on guitar, Anthony Jackson on bass, Steve Gadd and Andrew Smith on drums, accompaniment on keys by Chuck Spangler and a host of others! Titles include "Eagles In Love", "Macumba", "Theme From Most Wanted", "Theme From King Kong", and "Roller Coaster". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A rare treat from Zoot Sims – an album of soprano sax material, recorded in striking contrast to his more familiar tenor! The sound is oddly more traditional than usual – and unlike many other players in the 70s, Sims doesn't use the soprano in a Coltrane-inspired mode, but in a way that takes it back to its roots in jazz from earlier years. And when we say "traditional", we don't really mean trad jazz, because Zoot's phrasing and overall use of the instrument still has a relatively modern feel – augmented certainly by the excellent recording quality of the album. The rest of the group features Ray Bryant on piano, George Mraz on bass, and Grady Tate on drums – and titles include "Wrap Up", "Bloos For Louise", "Someday Sweetheart", "Baubles Bangles & Beads", and "Willow Weep For Me". CD

Billy May's got Frank nicely swinging on this one – working on a set of older numbers, retuned for the Sinatra sound of 50s Capitol! The band is tight, the sound is right, and Frank steps out nicely on songs that he sung years before in other settings – but quite possibly never so well or as perfectly timed as on this LP! Titles include "Baubles Bangles & Beads", "The Song Is You", "Something's Gotta Give", and "Dancing In The Dark" – as well as the sublime album bookends "Come Dance With Me" and "The Last Dance". CD also features 4 bonus tracks – including duets with Keely Smith on "Nothing In Common" and "How Are Ya Fixed For Love". CD

With John Abercrombie on guitar and Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums. Tracks include "Voodoo Chile", "Gypsy Eyes", "Up From The Skies", and "Purple Haze–Star Spangled Banner". CD

With John Abercrombie on guitar and Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums. Tracks include "Voodoo Chile", "Gypsy Eyes", "Up From The Skies", and "Purple Haze–Star Spangled Banner". CD

... CD

Two cool UK albums from Otis Spann – back to back on a single set! First up is the album Blues Of Otis Spann – a rare UK session, and one that's sometimes got even more grit than some of his hometown recordings back in Chicago! The vibe is very lean and laidback – an early Mike Vernon production, with work from Muddy Waters on guitar – working here under the nom-du-date of "Brother" – in a quartet that just has Ransom Knowling on bass and Little Willie Smith on guitar, and plenty of killer piano and vocals from Otis! Spann seems to have even more bite here than usual – and titles include "Sarah Street", "T 99", "I Came From Clarksdale", "Rock Me Mama", "Natural Days", and "Jangleboogie". Cracked Spanner Head is a record that builds on the sound of the obscure Blues Of Otis Spann album from 1964 – using the performances from that record, but mixed differently, with different songs at times, and added work on tenor, baritone, and trumpet brought into the lineup! The vibe is great – Otis Spann with a bit more punch than usual, and maybe some slight currents of funk – on titles that include "Crack Your Head", "Iced Nehi", "Lucky So & So", "Dollar Twenty Five", "Sometimes I Wonder", and "Mr Highway Man". CD features four bonus tracks – "Pretty Girls Everywhere", "Country Boy", "My Home In The Delta", and "You're Gonna Need My Help". CD

One of the most striking records we've ever heard from Swiss music legend Bruno Spoerri – a set that's very different from both his straight jazz recordings and his more experimental work – and instead a soundtrack for an obscure 60s film about a strangler in London! There's definitely a lot of mod elements in the music on the groovy cuts, which are then turned towards more sinister purposes on the spookier ones – so that an organ line can move from swinging to spare and moody, and a bassline can follow in just the same way! There's great use of Spoerri's famous sonic palette here – built up in ways that are almost a precursor to the more striking sonic modes of the Italian scene in the early 70s – and the set fatures 20 tracks in all, including "Plane To Peru", "Brogues In Robes", "Reading The Killer", "Spiral Staircase", "Check Out The Gravel Pit", "To The Brothers Of Compensatory Righteousness", "Don't Blame Jane", and "Kiddie's Beat". LP, Vinyl record album

Great straight work from the legendary Sonny Stitt – recording here in a mode that's different than his funky sides of the time – and a lot more back to basics! The group's a quintet – as Sonny blows both tenor and alto, with help from Joe Newman on trumpet, Duke Jordan on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Roy Brooks on drums – and excellent combo who really keep things interesting – on titles that include "The Champ", "Sweet & Lovely", "The Midgets", "The Eternal Triangle", "All The Things You Are", and "Walkin'". CD

Sweet 70s work from Sonny Stitt – quite different than his bop years, but with a smooth funky finish that puts it in the same territory as CTI or Kudu Records in the 70s! Sonny's getting full backing here – arrangements by Don Sebesky, who crafts some elegant and slinky sounds for the album's gently grooving tracks – and although the set's not a hard-edged funk effort, it's got the same mix of soul and jazz that you'd find in some of Stanley Turrentine's work of the time. Sonny Plays both alto and tenor, and Roland Hanna handles the electric piano. Highlights include the bouncy "Blue Monsoon", a nice mellow version of "The World Is A Ghetto", and the tracks "Got To Be There", "Fifty Per Cent", and "Ben". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "London Lady", "Peaches", "Ugly", "Down In The Sewer", "Sometimes", and "Goodbye Toulouse". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record