A brilliant pairing of two key figures from the ESP avant scene of the 60s – united here in a great entry to the Tzadik label's series of "Radical Jewish Culture"! The album features Robinson's spare reeds – mostly clarinet, plus a bit of flute and ocarina – matched with Greene's great piano lines, played with much more sensitivity than we remember in the past, a really great sound alongside Perry's deep-toned reed lines. There's a definite appeal here to fans of jazz klezmer work, but the record also really lives up to the older promise of the artists' earlier avant recordings too – especially some of the rare few sides that Robinson made after his initial appearance in the 60s. The sound is spare, and often sad-tinged – and titles include "A Lamentation", "Syl's Freylekhs", "Song For My Friend Burton", "Ella Turtella", "Der Kats Zogt A Miowke", and "Desert Suite". CD

One of the warmest, most beautiful albums we've ever heard from pianist Burton Greene – a set that's got a nicely unique vibe in comparison to some of his other albums of the time – maybe a bit more of a swing at times, and a nice current of soul as well! One of the strongest elements of the record is the work on reeds from Fred Leeflang – a player we don't know at all, but who plays soprano, alto, and tenor with a nice rasp in his tone, and a good sense of angles – but at a level that's never too far out, and often matched well with the rhythms from Raoul Van Der Weide on bass and Clarence Becton on drums. Greene is a perfect bridge between everything – with a majestic command of the keys and often a strong modal sensibility – on titles that include "Round Robbin", "Portuguese Impressions", "Cokertme", "63rd & Cottage Grove", and "When You're In Front Get Off My Back". CD

A really wonderful album from pianist Burton Greene – material from that time when he was working a bit more inside than before, yet still with a sense of surprise that really makes the whole thing fantastic! Here, part of that surprise comes from the work of Paul Stoker on alto and soprano sax – a player whose sense of angular imagination brings all these wonderful currents to the record – sometimes more of an edge than Burton's piano, although Greene definitely sharpens things up when he hits his solos too. The rest of the group features Raoul Van Der Weide on bass and Clarence Becton on drums and percussion – two further surprises added to the record, as we don't know them well at all – on titles that include the originals "Free From Gravitation", "Nonchalance", "Uriel Tone Poem From The Earth Spirits", and "Valencia Chocolate". CD

A sweet set from that surprisingly straight moment in the career of pianist Burton Greene – a time when he was working in more conventional jazz formations on some records, yet still keeping the edge that always set him apart from the rest! There's definitely tracks on here that swing – although maybe in a Monk/modern way – mixed with others that have a more elliptical rhythmic pattern, and feature all this cool interplay between Burton's piano and the reeds of Fred Leeflang – who blows flute, tenor, soprano, and alto on the record – in a group that also includes Mark Miller on bass and Max Bolleman on drums. Titles include "Na Calm", "Biedronka Tanz", "Embryonic Change", and "Renephanie". CD

A tremendous bit of jazz history – 2 classic Archie Shepp albums on 1 CD! Yasmina features Archie Shepp at his spiritual best – recording in Paris in 1969, and absorbing a heck of a lot of pan-African influences! The centerpiece of the album is the amazing "Yasmina" – a long track that builds with passion and fire, pulsing with an intensity that you'd expect more from Pharoah Sanders than Shepp himself. Next up is "Sonny's Back", a wonderful straight jazz groover with Archie and Hank Mobley on twin tenors upfront – making a rare and memorable recorded appearance together! The set's capped off by a mellow version of "Body & Soul", one that points towards the more soulful side of Shepp's work in the 70s. Poem For Malcolm is one of Shepp's most memorable LPs for BYG. Side one has him playing with Burton Greene, Alan Silva, Philly Joe Jones, and Claude Delcloo on the extended Mamarose/Poem For Malcolm. The track starts out with very free playing, then moves into a more subdued passage, with Shepp's recitation of his "Poem For Malcolm". Side two has a great lineup that includes Grachan Moncour III, Malachi Favors, and Hank Mobley, who gives one of the wildest performances of his life! The group runs through the 20 minute track Rain Forest/Oleo, and begins with a dark, spare performance, then leaps into a reading of "Oleo" that's filled with fire. CD

One of 2 ESP sessions by Patty Waters – one of the most groundbreaking vocalists of the 60s, and a singer with a style that mixed equal parts jazz and folk! In a way, Patty's got a sound that's somewhat like Nina Simone at her best – in that she dominates a tune completely, singing as if she's speaking – and infusing it with a raspily personal mode that goes far deeper than simple interpretation. The difference, of course, is that most of Waters' material is all original, so the themes aren't nearly as restrictive as some of the covers that Simone had to re-interpret – but there's certainly a mode here that explores freedoms within limits, and which should have made Waters a much bigger influence in her generation. All material on the set was recorded during a 1966 tour of the state colleges of New York – with backings by Burton Greene on piano, Steve Tintweiss on bass, and Tom Price on percussion – and titles include "Moon Don't Come Up Tonight", "Why Can't I Come To You", "You Thrill Me", "Sad Am I Glad Am I", and "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair". CD

One of the most striking early albums from Daevid Allen and Gong – and very well-placed on the BYG label, given that it features contributions from avant jazz musicians – including Burton Greene on piano, Didier Malherbe on flute and soprano, and Barre Phillips on bass! Gilly Smyth contributes vocals next to Allen – and also provides a "space whisper too" – on titles that include "Ego", "Gongsong", "Mystic Sister", "Pretty Miss Titty", and "Cos You Got Green Hair". CD

One of the most striking early albums from Daevid Allen and Gong – and very well-placed on the BYG label, given that it features contributions from avant jazz musicians – including Burton Greene on piano, Didier Malherbe on flute and soprano, and Barre Phillips on bass! Gilly Smyth contributes vocals next to Allen – and also provides a "space whisper too" – on titles that include "Ego", "Gongsong", "Mystic Sister", "Pretty Miss Titty", and "Cos You Got Green Hair". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic second issue of this really great jazz publication – one that seems especially tuned to all the things we love and listen to here at Dusty Groove! But maybe don't think of We Jazz as a magazine, as it's more like a book – a square bound, super-heavy publication that's overflowing with top-shelf prose and some really well-chosen images – spread out here with coverage of jazz both classic and contemporary, always in the hipper side of the spectrum! The presentation is beautiful – almost like an art book at times – and the writing really matches the quality of the graphics – with articles on John Coltrane, Moserobie Records, Marshall Allen, Burton Greene, Alan Silva, Irreversible Entanglements, and Emma-Jean Thackray – plus loads of other great short bits too! Magazine