Joe Loco was one of the most amazing early Latin piano talents, and in an album like this, you can really hear him go to work in a savage way! On this set, Joe moves all over the keys in a number of different ways – from heavy left-handed stride playing, to light and lovely jazz soloing, to hard and rhythmic Latin grooving. The backing is spare, with mostly conga and bongo behind Joe, so you hear his amazing piano work right up front, in a way that doesn't always happen on other albums of his. Titles include "El Baion", "Gee", "Why Don't You Do Right", and "Don't Be That Way". LP, Vinyl record album

Candido cut sooo many great Latin records over the years, spanning a wide range of styles, we have a hard time deciding which we love the best. We like to think this may be his best album from the early part of his career, specifically because it features the master conga player amidst a tight jazz lineup, who leave him plenty of room to solo and just plain get down doing his thing. Dick Hyman's on organ, Joe Puma's on guitar, and Ernie Royal's on trumpet, with George Duvivier and Charlie Persip in the rhythm section. 8 tracks in all, including "Afro Blue", "Caravan", "Softly But Blue", "Blue Lou", "Blue Prelude", "Bongo Baby", "Blue Dirge" and "Candido Cocktail". LP, Vinyl record album

With Frank Morgan on alto, Sonny Bravo on piano, Bobby Rodriguez on bass, Tito Puente and Orestes Vilato on timbales, Johnny Rodriguez on bongos and percussion, and Joe Madera on congas and percussion. LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark record in the west coast jazz scene – not only for the music, but for its understanding of addiction on the scene! The album brings together a set of jazz players currently spending their time at Synanon – the Santa Monica-based program of drug rehabilitation that was working some incredible magic with longtime addicts in the early 60s. Synanon had been a temporary home to more than a few great players over the years, and this set brings together some of its lesser-known residents – one of whom was guitarist Joe Pass, who would rise from the session as a real success, and go onto record heavily after this record. The rest of the group includes Dave Allan on trumpet, Ronald Clark on bass, Arnold Ross on piano, Candy Latson on bongos, Bill Crawford on drums, and Greg Dykes on baritone sax. Tracks are pretty long, and more solo based than the usual Pacific Jazz sides – and titles include "CED", "Aaron's Song", "Projections", "Stay Loose", "Hang Tough", and "Last Call For Coffee". LP, Vinyl record album

Early recordings by the King Cole Trio, with Nat King Cole on piano, Oscar Moore on guitar, and Johnny Miller on bass, and also with a later line-up of Irving Ashby on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, and Jack Costanzo on bongos. LP, Vinyl record album

Peggy Lee's at Basin Street, but the set's an upbeat, swinging date that's right up there with her studio work for Capitol in the 60s! The album's billed as an "after hours" performance – and it's definitely got the relaxed feel to live up to that promise – a feel that's more small combo jazzy than other Lee work of the period, although it's still got that upbeat punch we love from the Capitol years. The group is directed by Joe Harnell, who also plays piano – and other members include Bob Donovan on flute, Willie Thomas and Phil Sunkel on trumpets, Dennis Budimir on guitar, and Chino Pozo on congas and bongos. Titles inlcude "I Got A Man", "The Second Time Around", "Fever", "Moments Like This", "Day In Day Out", and "Them There Eyes". CD also features a bonus track – "Call Me Darling". LP, Vinyl record album

A rock-solid swinger from the great Carmen McRae – working here in a live setting with a very cool combo! The group's more than just a trio – although it is grounded by excellent piano work from Norman Simmons – and the record features nice use of flute from Ray Bernstein, guitar from Joe Puma, and bongos from Jose Mangual – all of whom bring some additional instrumental flourishes that work perfectly with that amazing range that McRae was exploring in the 60s – a way of moving past some of the more traditional (but still great) recordings of the late 50s, to find a voice in her style that's almost conversational at times, and extremely powerful without ever overstating itself. The subtlety of Carmen's genius is something that still blows us away after all these years – and it definitely comes through here, on titles that include "Woman Talk", "Kick Off Your Shoes", "Run Run Run", "Look At That Face", "Feelin Good", and "The Sweetest Sounds". LP, Vinyl record album