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Very early work from Ruth White – a set that's very different than her late 60s electronic experiments, yet one that also still manages to have a similarly sort of creepy vibe overall! The work is exactly what's promised in the title – a set of 24 lullabies, sung in different languages by both Marilyn Horne and Richard Robinson – with light piano backing from Ruth, and a recording quality that somehow makes these supposedly restful songs come across with a vibe that is quite unsettling – maybe the sorts of tunes used to put the kids to bed on the island in Wicker Man! Titles include "English Cradle Song", "Dormi Dormi", "Gaelic Lullaby", "All Through The Night", "Tigua Indian Lullaby", "Danish Cradle Song", and "Prayer Humperdinck". CD

Recent work from Janice Borla – a Chicago-area singer who's never gotten the national credit she deserves, but who's made some really great music in and around the Windy City over the past few decades! The album's way more than just your standard set of jazz vocals – given Janice hip choice of material, and the fresh execution of the tunes – modern at some points, chance-taking at others, and always with a willingness to push the boundaries of the music past too-familiar modes. The whole thing almost feels like some lost indie gem from the 70s – with lots of surprising twists and turns, and modes that mix breezy scatting with some of the more adventurous styles that you might expect from a singer like Karin Krog or Monica Zetterlund. Instrumentation includes trumpet from Art Davis, guitar from John McLean, and piano from Dan Haerle – and titles include "Simone", "Ask Me Now", "Segment", "Jazz Habit", "Gentle Piece", "I'll Take Les", "Peace", and "Askew In The Cradle". CD

Includes the songs "Trumbology", "Clarinet Marmalade", "Singin' The Blues", "Ostrich Walk", "Riverboat Shuffle", "I'm Coming Virginia", "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans", "For No Reason At All In C", "Three Blind Mice", "Blue River", "There's A Cradle In Caroline", "In A Mist", and more. CD

Socking soul from Dee Dee Sharp – one of the hardest acts on the legendary Cameo/Parkway label! Dee Dee's got a rough, gospelly tone in her vocals that makes for a really nice change from sweeter 60s girl singers – a gutsy approach to the lead that stands out wonderfully, and which really marks her as one of the key females in the move to deep soul at the time. This 24 track set is easily the best collection we've ever seen of her work for the Cameo label – and it's a well-done, remastered package that also features details for each individual tune – tracing Sharp's early work with arranger Dave Appell, up to later recordings with the soon-to-be-famous team of Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble, the latter of whom would later become Dee Dee's husband! Titles include "Mashed Potato Time", "Never Pick A Pretty Boy", "Rock Me In The Cradle Of Love", "Slow Twistin", "Ride", "Do The Bird", "Baby Cakes", "Why Doncha Ask Me", "There Ain't Nothin I Wouldn't Do For You", "Deep Dark Secret", "I Really Love You", "To Know Him Is To Love Him", and "It's A Funny Situation". CD

Two rare albums from one of the greatest modern pianists ever! Jaki Byard With Strings is a wonderful album – and nothing like any other "with strings" album you've ever heard! Sure, the set does have some stringed instruments in the group – but it's a small combo session with bass, violin, guitar, and cello, not a large overly-orchestral affair. Byard's mad vision uses these strings wonderfully to carve out some oddly arranged tunes that mix together soul jazz grooving and a haunting spiritual approach to jazz that points at later work on labels like Strata East. Includes a sublime remake of "Music To Watch Girls By", "Falling Rains Of Life", "Cat's Cradle Conference Rag", and a long version of "How High The Moon". Solo Piano is an obscure set from 1969, featuring Byard's lonely musings on the keyboard on shorter tracks that reference a huge history of traditions. Titles include "Seasons", "Spanish Tinge 2", "Hollis Stomp", "Top Of The Gate Rag", and "Ray's Blues". CD

A really cool take on a classic hip hop album – one that's covered up from start to finish, as jazz musician Benny Reid serves up his instrumental reading of The Infamous Mobb Deep! All tracks are performed by Reid, who's clearly working in the studio, not live (as the title might imply) – and he layers some heavy drum beats with these dark piano passages, all topped with tenor solos that are nice and deep – and which don't make you miss the lyrics at all! If you know the original, you'll be wowed by this remake – and if you don't, but dig funky jazz, you'll find plenty here to love – on titles that include "Shook Ones (part 2)", "Survival Of The Fittest", "Temperature's Rising", "Up North Trip", "Trife Life", "Right Back At You", "Cradle To The Grave", and "Drink Away The Pain". CD

A landmark album in a landmark package – a set that takes this gem from Sly & The Family Stone, presses it up on a special hi-fidelity gold CD, then cradles the whole thing in special box with a heavy hardcover book with lots of new notes – and a fabric American flag sewn right onto the cover! The album's a wonderful moment Sly and crew – moving way past the straight funk approach of earlier records, into a complicated crossover soul style that's filled with warmth and righteousness! Despite the political tone implied by the "riot" in the title and the co-option of the American flag on the cover, the album's strongest suit is its warmth and personal soul message – sometimes filled with politics, sure, but always sounding like a sexy love song, no matter how hard it tries to get righteous! The flow is wonderful throughout – a very well-thought out album that shows that Sly was singing way past the singles scene – and the record's filled with great cuts like "Family Affair", "Luv N Haight", "Brave & Strong", "You Caught Me Smilin", and "Thank You For Talkin To Me Africa". Also features "There's A Riot Going On" – which runs for "0:00" minutes! The whole thing's completely sublime already – but in this special box, it's really something else. CD