Once an overlooked late Verve album, now a solid classic – and easily one of the funkiest albums ever from organist Jimmy Smith! The groove here is far different than the more familiar Jimmy Smith Verve sessions of the 60s – and the tracks open up in a really extended mode – vamping and jamming with a definite influence from funk, as Jimmy and the combo explore some of the hippest corners of their sound! Players include Paul Humphrey on drums, Wilton Felder on bass, and Arthur Adams on guitar – plus a bit of harmonica from Steve Williams – and there's almost lessons learned here from some of the Latin funk going on in the LA scene of the time. The set was recorded live, and features the great title cut – "Root Down" – a long drawn out groover with a slow funk feel that was made famous by a Beastie Boys sample years back – and other great cuts include "Slow Down Sagg", "Sagg Shootin His Arrow", and "Let's Stay Together". The CD features a nice amount of bonus material – including full unedited performances of "Sagg Shootin' His Arrow", "Slow Down Sagg", and "Root Down", plus the cuts "For Everyone Under The Sun" and "Let's Stay Together". CD

Quite possibly the best of the solo albums by ex-Cream bassist Jack Bruce – recorded immediately after the breakup of the band, with a great jazz-based lineup that includes John McLaughlin on guitar, Dick Heckstall-Smith on reeds, and Jon Hiseman on drums. The set's totally instrumental – and the choppy reed work of Heckstall-Smith is the strongest asset of the album, as he virtually sets the tone for a whole generation of European funky honkers to come for the next 10 years. Bruce's bass work is great too – and really pushes the album into some great moments, a few of which actually get a bit funky! Titles include "Over The Cliff", "Statues", "Sam's Sack", "Rill's Thrills", "Hckhh Blues", "Ballad For Arthur", and "Things We Like". CD features the bonus track "Ageing Jack Bruce, Three, From Scotland, England". CD

Includes music from Mike Seeger, Doug Wallin, The Golden Eagle String Band, Dillard Chandler, Iron Mountain String Band, Margaret MacArthur, Ewan MacColl, Pete Seeger, Jean Ritchie, Paul Clayton, and more. CD