Beautiful guitar work from Elizabeth Cotten – much more sensitive and lyrical than you might expect – with a warmth that really goes beyond the usual Folkways record of this nature! Elizabeth sings on the set at points – in this raspy, time-worn style that's pretty compelling on its own – but honestly, it's the guitar that really grabs us – played with deftness that's impressive, and a sense of greater sound that really shows some unique phrasing throughout. Titles include "Freight Train", "Run Run Mama Your Son Done Gone", "Spanish Flang Dang", "When I Get Home", "Vastopol", and "I Don't Love Nobody". CD

The album's titled after an old Jimmy Giuffre song from the 50s, but the sound is very much in his best mode of the 70s – a much freer exploration of earlier ideas, still very rich in tone, but put together quite differently in terms of rhythm! The album's got Jimmy working in a trio with Kiyoshi Tokunaga on bass and Randy Kaye on drums – both players who make things swing, albeit in an offbeat way – so that Giuffre's work on reeds almost has a bit more melodic approach here – strong and soulful on numbers that have him using tenor, more carefully creative on flute or clarinet selections. Titles include "Tree People", "The Tide Is In", "River Chant", "Elephant", "Tibetan Sun", and "Celebration". CD

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Tony Joe White working at Muscle Shoals – a great southern combination, and one that makes for one of White's most unique albums! There's a bit grit in the rhythms, and a bit more of that well-rounded Muscle Shoals soul – as Tony works primarily on acoustic guitar, on tunes that get some slight sweetening from Arif Mardin a times, but in a way that never dims his soul at all. White's great vocals still drive the whole show along – with that strong current of soul that made him a surprisingly big crossover act at the time – and titles include "Sidewalk Hobo", "The Migrant", "As The Crow Flies", "300 Pounds Of Hongry", "Beouf River Road", and "If I Ever Saw A Good Thing". CD

Fab Philadelphia soul on 4 CDs – a massive package of work that really serves up the best from the legendary empire of Gamble & Huff, plus a host of other great Philly numbers too! The package is a great look at the full spectrum of sound in Philly during the 70s – not just the key tracks on the Philadelphia International label, but also cuts that Gamble & Huff had produced for other artists at the end of the 60s, key Sigma Sound sessions for other labels, and some of the classic club tracks that crossed over big and inspired countless imitations! The set is immense – 4CDs, 71 songs, and a 64 page booklet of rare photos and new essays – all priced nicely enough to appeal to both Philly newcomers and longtime collectors. Plus, since Sony BMG's handling Philly International now, there's a good range of titles from a variety of labels – and titles include "Love Is Here" by The Futures, "Slow Motion (part 1)" by Johnny Williams, "Sunshine" by The O'Jays, "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You" by Wilson Pickett, "Expressway To Your Heart" by Soul Survivors, "I'm Stone In Love With You" by The Stylistics, "Be Thankful For What You Got (part 1)" by William DeVaughan, "Dirty Ol Man" by Three Degrees, "It's Forever" by The Ebonys, "Enjoy Yourself" by The Jacksons, "Free Love" by Jean Carn, "Kiss & Say Goodbye" by The Manhattans, "Let's Groove" by Archie Bell, "Billy's Back Home" by Billy Paul, "Picture Us" by Bunny Sigler, "Then Came You" by The Spinners, "Close The Door" by Teddy Pendergrass, "It's Gonna Take A Miracle" by Deniece Williams, and "See You When I Get There" by Lou Rawls. CD

Features great mellow work from Love Unlimited Orchestra, Cameo, The Dells, Starpoint, Ohio Players, Four Tops, Randy Brown, and Kinsman Dazz! CD

A pretty amazing batch of soul, R&B, and funk from the Nashville scene – from an astonishing range of years, too! Of course the memorabilia industry that is "Music City USA" is dominated by country music and pop, and this long, long, LONG overdue collection of singles from 1945-1970 demonstrates how much more was going on in East Tennessee beyond Chet Atkins and the Opry! The tunes range from jump blues & soul of the late 40s and 50s, and on through the harmony soul of the 60s and the pre-funk late 60s. 38 tracks on two CDs: "Nashville Jumps" by Cecil Gant, "Just Walkin' In The Rain" by The Prisonaires, "Baby Let's Play House" by Arthur Gunter, "Christene" by Little Hank Crawford, "You Can Make It If You Try" by Gene Allison, "Somebody, Somewhere" by Larry Birdsong, "Monkey Doin' Woman" by Shy Guy Douglas, "What'd I Say" by Etta James, "Snap Your Fingers" by Joe Henderson, "I Want To" by Joe Tex, "The Chokin'" Kind" by Joe Simon, "Rediscover Me" by Johnny Adams and tons more! CD

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With Lew Soloff on trumpet. CD

Great early blues recorded by Sun Records – including a few unissued tracks! CD

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Alvin Queen has given us some pretty heavy work over the years – but here, the drummer's showing off a different side of his talents – a gentler sense of rhythm that really fits the "night" spirit of the record – as he works alongside Calle Brickman on piano and Tobias Dall on bass! Brickman's a warmly lyrical player that really fits Alvin's spirit for the record – and the trio work their way through a number of well-crafted ballad renditions that almost make the whole thing feel like some of the more laidback material from the Oscar Peterson trio of the 60s – and maybe that's the whole idea with the "Night Train" in the title. Tracks include "Farewell Song", "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Bag's Groove", "Night Train", "D & E", "Tranquility In The Woods", "Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars", and "Some Other Time". CD

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A pivotal album for Gladys Knight and group – as the record features their super-huge hit "The Midnight Train To Georgia", a landmark track that not only had a catchy pop hook, but which spoke volumes about African-American migration in the postwar years. The track's one of those you've heard a million times, but it's got a strength that still holds up tremendously. Part of this is due to great production work by Tony Camillo – who handled arrangements and studio work on about half the tracks – and part is due to Jim Weatherly, who wrote the song, and about half the others on the album. The whole album's great – one of the best Buddah Records moments for the group – and titles include "I've Got To Use My Imagination", "Window Raising Granny", "Where Peaceful Waters Flow", "Once In A Lifetime Thing", "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me", and "Storms Of Trouble Times". Includes three bonus tracks ; "We Don't Look For Trouble", "Alone Again" & "Rainbow Ride". CD

A surprisingly great Shelly Manne album from the early 60s – one that follows a format that has Shelly playing in duo format ("2"), trio ("3"), and quartet ("4") – hence the title! The duo track is incredible – a spare duet with Coleman Hawkins called "Me & Some Drums" – improvised between Manne and Hawkins, stretching for 6 minutes, with a sound that's a high point in the career of both players! The trio work features Shelly with Eddie Costa on vibes and piano and George Duvivier on bass – and the quartet sides bring Hawkins back, alongside Hank Jones' piano and more bass by Duvivier. The whole thing's great – as much for Hawkins as it is for Manne – and titles include "The Sicks Of Us", "Slowly", "Take The A Train", "Lean On Me", and "Me & Some Drums". CD

One of the greatest 50s showcases for the tenor talents of Warne Marsh – a deceptively understated album that captures Warne at his most fluid and creative point! The setting is a quartet – with Ronnie Ball on piano, Red Mitchell on bass, and Stan Levey on drums – and Marsh is magnificent throughout, really blowing with a tone that is fresh and filled with modern ideas – yet never overdone, nor too willfully complex to lose the train of the tunes. The approach is almost Konitz-soulful – a wonderful distillation of ideas in the hands of one magical talent – and titles include "Ad Libido", "It's All Right With Me", "Playa Del Ray", "Autumn In New York", and "You Are Too Beautiful". CD

Groundbreaking work, and a killer piece of Philly groove! MFSB were a large conglomeration of studio players who graced some of the first big Philly hits in the 70s, and here they break out on their own in a remarkable set of pre-disco tunes that form the blueprint for the rest of the 70s dancefloor action. The set pulls tracks from most of the band's best albums of the 70s – mixing uptempo numbers with other cuts that have a surprisingly sly approach to jazzy soul. Includes the classic "TSOP", which was also the theme to Soul Train, plus a great version of "Cheaper To Keep Her", the very familiar "Love Is The Message", "Zach's Fanfare", "Freddie's Dead", "Philadelphia Freedom", "Sexy", "Poinciana", "My Mood", and "TLC". 16 cuts in all! CD

The first-ever album from The Monkees – a set that's overflowing with great numbers from the teams of Boyce & Hart and Goffin & King – plus one original by Mike Nesmith himself! The whole thing's groovy as groovy can be – and despite any thoughts that folks at the time might have had about these guys being just a TV one-off, the album's got fantastic staying power over the years – thanks to wonderful vocals, impeccable production, and a great selection of songs! Titles include "Theme From The Monkees", "Just Doesn't Seem To Be My Day", "Last Train To Clarksville", "Sweet Young Thing", "Papa Gene's Blues", "Take A Giant Step", "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day", and "Saturday's Child". CD

Hip hop for the Gainsbourg fan? This Handsome Boy Modeling School spin off has Nathaniel Merriweather, aka Dan The Automator, working in his smoothest, sexiest, loungiest mode ever! Like Handsome Boy, Lovage is packed to the rafters with mysterious guest appearances, including the turntable and mixing skills of Kid Koala, Chest "Prince Paul" Rockwell, Afrika Bambaataa, and Maseo of De La Soul. Guest vocalists include Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields, Damon Albarn, and Mike Patton. Tracks include "Ladies Love Chest Rockwell", "Pit Stop (Take Me Home)", "Anger Management", "Everyone Has A Summer They Want To Remember", "To Catch A Thief", "Lies And Alibis", "Book Of The Month", "Strangers On A Train", "Sex (I'm A)", "Tea Time With Maseo", "Herbs, Good Hygiene, & Socks", and the best song named after a bad Burt Reynolds movie ever, "Stroker Ace". CD

Produced and arranged by Arif Mardin – with titles that include "Upstairs By A Chinese Lamp", "Map To The Treasure", "Up On The Roof", "Been On A Train", and "Blackpatch". CD

Classic solo Ozzy with Randy Rhoads! Includes "Crazy Train", "I Don't Know", "Suicide Solution", "No Bone Movies", "Dee", and more. CD

You may know the Ozark Mountain Daredevils as a crossover AM radio act from the mid 70s – but on this early record, the group have a nicely rootsy vibe that certainly lives up to their name! Production is by David Anderle and Glyn Johns – who do a great job of avoiding some of the cliches of the nascent country rock scene – which really suits the way that the group brings some more personal themes to tunes that have a mixture of acoustic elements, especially harmonica, and some heavier rock touches. And the Ozark here might be a good way of nicely placing the album's feel away from some of the other work of the period – as the sound is neither LA country rock, nor upstate New York, nor even Memphis or Muscle Shoals. Titles include "Chicken Train", "Colorado Song", "Within Without", "Black Sky", "Road To Glory", "Standing On The Rock", and "Country Girl". CD

Frenetic bop work from Sonny Rollins – recorded in 1956 with an open-mouthed tone that's certainly less controlled than later years, but still no less compelling! Sonny races along some of these tracks like a train out of control – especially on "B Quick" and "B Swift", and the aptly titled "Ee-Ah". Side two has him mellowing out a bit – extended takes of "The House I Live In" and "Sonny Boy" – but the overall groove is still quite hard, a lot harder than the RCA years. Max Roach is on drums, Kenny Drew plays piano, and George Morrow is on bass. CD

Nine tracks, including "Train To Nowhere", "Vicksburg Blues", "It Hurts Me Too", "May Be Wrong", and "Tolling Bells". Produced by Mike Vernon, and the band includes Roger Earl & Lonesome Dave! CD

A really wonderful album in the Verve Records catalog of the 60s – a set that's not only a fantastic meeting between two superstar jazz musicians, with Jimmy Smith on Hammond and Wes Montgomery on guitar – but one that also takes things in a whole groovy new dimension, thanks to the arrangements of Oliver Nelson! Nelson is at his soulful best here – working on hard-swinging charts that almost seem to liberate Jimmy and Wes to do even more with their solos – really stretching out, with an especially great sound from Smith on the organ – maybe at a level that makes the record one of his best of all time for Verve! Titles include "James & Wes", "Night Train", "13 (Death March)", and "Down By The Riverside". CD

A late 50s Verve session by Stuff Smith – one in which the jazz violinist does a wonderful job shaking off his often quite hammy persona for a strong, straight up set of standards and well-known bop era cuts! He's got a great crew for these sessions, with the great Shirley Horn on piano on a number of cuts, Red Mitchell on bass, and Harry Saunders on the kit. Stuff does his vocal thing on "Oh, Lady, Be Good" and "Somebody Loves Me", but the by-and-large focus of the set is to shine a light on his skills as a leader. Other tracks include "Undecided", "The Man I Love", "Take The 'A' Train", "'S Wonderful" and more! CD

A rawly beautiful set from Mavis Staples – produced by Jeff Tweedy, and we think it's her best of the past decade! There's a roomy, lived in vibe that's achingly effective on this one – the core group is her road band, with additional players including Tweedy, Patrick Sansone, Mark Greenberg, Richard Parenti, and the angelic backing vocals of Kelly Hogan and Nora O'Connor. Includes a pair of new originals written for Mavis by Jeff Tweedy – the soulful and spirited "You Are Not Alone" and the sly, swaggery "Only The Lord Knows" – plus roosty soul reworkings of traditionals "In Christ There Is No East Or West", "Creep Along Moses" and "Wonderful Savoir", the Roebuck Staples gems "Don't Knock" and "Downward Road, Allen Toussaint's "Last Train", the Rev. Gary Davis penned "I Belong To The Band" and more. CD

A great little showcase for some truly legendary jazz lifers – Ira Sullivan and Stu Katz – collaborators of more than a half century doing their thing wonderfully over a handful of dates at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago in the summer of '10! This is literally a Family Affair, that ain't just a title – with Stu's son Steve Katz producing, playing bass on one number, and given credit for documenting the fellas at this stage of the game. Sullivan's on saxes, trumpet and fluegelhorn, Katz is on vibes most of the way, but sits at the piano for "Pennies From Heaven". Dan Trundel is also on piano, with Dennis Carroll on bass and George Fludas on drums. Includes "Blues Two Views", "Gee, Matthew", "Scrapple From The Apple", "Take The 'A' Train", "Yesterdays" featuring vocals by Lucia Newell, "Stablemates", "Lullaby Of The Leaves" and more. CD

An overlooked gem from a player who never fails to surprise us – recorded later in the years of drummer Art Taylor's life, but bristling with the same kind of energy we first came to love in his 50s recordings! The set's got a really unified feel – with Taylor masterfully leading the group on drums, working through an assortment of like-minded tunes with a Blakey-like sense of equal power for strongly soulful numbers, and gentle guidance for mellower and more introspective tunes. The group's got a tremendous two-horn frontline in the tenor of Willie Williams and alto of Abraham Burton, and the rest of the lineup includes Marc Cary on piano and Tyler Mitchell on bass. The album's got one very short "out" track entitled "It Doesn't Matter", alongside a number of longer soulful explorations that include "Mr AT", "Soul Eyes", "Bullet Train", "Ahmad's Blues", and "Gingerbread Boy". CD

Wonderful work from Leon Thomas – easily one of his greatest albums ever, and a set that was recorded at the same time he was working with Pharoah Sanders! Thomas really rose to fame on Sanders' classic "The Creator Has A Master Plan" – and this set really takes off from that moment – letting Leon spin out some spiritual vibes of his own, and step into a few fresh new styles as well! The album's plenty righteous right from the start – partly because the lineup includes James Spaulding on alto and flute, Lonnie Liston Smith on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and the enigmatic "Little Rock" on tenor – who is actually Pharoah Sanders – but also because Leon serves up a shorter take on "The Creator Has a Master Plan" – done in a great style! The album also features a classic vocal take on Horace Silver's "Song for My Father", with lyrics that we totally love – plus the frenetic "Malcolm's Gone" – and the tracks "One", "Echoes", "Let The Rain Fall On Me", and "Damn Nam". CD include 3 versions of "Take The 'A' Train", 2 takes of "Walkin'", 2 takes of "Willow Weep For Me", and 2 takes of "If It Didn't Hurt So Much". CD

Includes the songs "Vout Rhythm", "Stormy Mood", "Baggin' The Boogie", "Bee Boogie Boo", "Irresistible You", "Phace", "Don't Drive This Jive Away", "The Hour Of Parting", "Abernathy's Boogie", "Cherokee", "Slowin' Down The Blues", "I'm Gonna See My Baby", "Frantic Blues", "Snowbound", "Flight Of The Vout Bug", "It Shouldn't Happen To A Dream", "For You", "Things Ain't What They Used To Be", "Jeep's Blues", "Day Dream", "Take The "A" Train", "Hickory Dickory Dock", and "Blue Rhythm Be-bop". CD

A totally wonderful album from one of the hippest groups on Motown at the start of the 70s – the mighty Undisputed Truth, a group who really took up the psychedelic soul style of The Temptations, and gave it a real run for its money! The record was produced by Temptations maestro Norman Whitfield – and is a perfect example of the rumbling funky soul sound that he was developing at the time – a mixture of heavy bass, rumbling percussion, fuzzy guitars, and a stone righteous sound that pushed soul music firmly into the 70s! The songs are mostly all originals written by him and Barrett Strong – and the band is filled with great players like Dennis Coffey, Earl Van Dyke, Johnny Griffith, and the great Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin. Titles include "Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite The World) Friendship Train", "What It Is?", "Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me", "What's Going On", and "You Make Your Own Heaven & Hell Right Here On Earth". CD

2 Muddy Waters classics! On the first record, the Big Bill in the title is Big Bill Broonzy – a key influence on midcentury bluesmen all over the US, and paid tribute to nicely here by Muddy Waters! Given this tribute approach, the sound's a bit rootsier than some of Waters' other work for Chess at the time – a bit more emphasis on some of the acoustic elements in the instrumentation, and a recording style and approach to rhythm that's sometimes a bit more down home than postwar Chicago. Many titles are Broonzy originals, and titles include "Tell Me Baby", "Southbound Train", "Just A Dream", "Double Trouble", "I Feel So Good", "I Done Got Wise", and "Mopper's Blues". Folk Singer is a seminal album by Muddy – recorded in a style that's rootsier, and more down to earth than a lot of his other chess sides! Muddy's playing acoustic guitar, and the rest of the group features Buddy Guy, Willie Dixon, and Clifton James. The sound is really spare, and very moody – and tracks include "You Gonna Need My Help", "Cold Weather Blues", "Feel Like Going Home", and "My Home Is In The Delta". CD

A reworked vision of Blue Note Records for the 90s – put together by Bob Belden, and featuring some excellent remakes of classics from the Blue Note songbook! Each tune has a slightly different flavor – and all work is played by the best artists of the then-revived label – a great way of showing the new talent Blue Note discovered, the old talent it helped bring back, and the rich legacy of sound they were still capable of sending forth! Titles include "Blue Train" by Greg Osby, "Evidence" by Ron Carter & TS Monk, "Maiden Voyage" by Dianne Reeves & Geri Allen, "Un Poco Loco" by Jacky Terrasson, "Tom Thumb" by John Scofield, "Una Mas" by Eliane Elias, "Song For My Father" by Rene Rosnes, "Recado Bossa Nova" by Gonzalo Rubalcaba, "Tanganyika Dance" by Kurt Elling, and "Alligator Boogaloo" by Junko Onishi & Freddie Hubbard. CD

Harry Smith's much revered efforts to compile the deepest early-to-mid 20th Century American folk music resulted in the monumental Anthology Of American Folk Music box set – plus this later volume that didn't make it into the original set or the celebrated reissue – and sadly went unissued at all until 2000! Despite the lack of a commercial release for the set, Volume Four includes a number of tracks that ended up to be just as ingrained in the American folk, blues, and country conciousness as the cuts from its more famous big brother collection – with a bit more of a dip into the blues, gospel and cajun music of the time. 28 tracks on 2CDs – plus a thick, and truly excellent book featuring notes on the artists, photos, illustrations, text and essays by Greil Marcus, John Fahey, Ed Sanders, John Cohen and Dick Spottswood – nearly 100 pages worth! Tracks include "Memphis Shakedown" by the Memphis Jug Band, "Dog And Gun" by Bradley Kinkaid, "Nine Pound Hammer" by the Carter Family, "Packin' Trunk Blues" by Leadbelly, "Wreck Of The Tennessee Gravy Train" by Uncle Dave Macon, "Milk Cow Blues" by John Estes, "The Cockeyed World" by Minnie Wallace, "Ace's Breakdown" by the Four Aces and many more! CD

A classic album featuring music from The Sound Of Jazz – the legendary 1957 TV show that brought together some of the greatest talents then working in jazz! Unusual for TV, the show really seemed to capture the players at their best – and recorded some tremendous live performances that were among the most moving ever filmed by the artists involved. Highlights include "The Train & The River" played by the Jimmy Giuffre Trio, "Fine & Mellow" sung by Billie Holiday, "Rosetta" and "Wild Man Blues" by the Red Allen All-Stars, "Blues" by Jimmy Giuffre & Pee Wee Russell, "I Left My Baby" by Count Basie with Jimmy Rushing, "Dickie's Dream" by Count Basie, and "Nervous", a solo piano number by Mal Waldron. CD

A mindblower – and the kind of record we only come across once in a blue moon! Tony Aiken & Future 2000 were an obscure mid 70s group from New York – all players skilled in the burgeoning club scene of the time, but who also had their roots in Caribbean music – coming together for this unique record in a festive blend of early disco and funky styles! The record's got a great home-grown feel – a warm ensemble effort that's got equal parts soul and groove – and which bubbles over with personal touches that really make the tracks stand out from the pack. Includes the side-long jammer "Unity Sing It Shout It", plus the funky disco classic "Better Days", and the soulful cuts "She Loves Me", "Good Things", and "Time Tunnel". CD also features lots of bonus tracks too – "Jah Music", "Jah Music (dub)", "Doing Fine", "Doing Fine (dub)", "Skanking On The A Train", and "Holy Father". CD

One of the greatest soul groups of the 70s – finally given their due on this double-length set! Bloodstone may not have charted as strongly as some of their contemporaries back in the day, yet they always delivered top-shelf work that was filled with incredible harmonies, deft vocal leads, and other subtle touches that really made their music stand out from the rest. This 16 track package includes some key tracks from their London Records years, plus a few bits from later recordings too – and the group's harmonies are in fine form throughout – whether on the spacey ballad soul of "Natural High", or on the funkier uptempo material of "Traffic Cop". Other titles include "Take These Chains", "Do You Wanna Do A Thing", "We Go A Long Way Back", "Train Ride", "Give Me Your Heart", "That's Not How It Goes", "My Little Lady", and "Outside Woman". CD

There's nothing prehistoric about this set – as saxophonist James Carter's working here in an angular mode that's strikingly modern, despite the "classics" in the title! The tunes are all familiar ones, but they're recast by Carter with a deep tone on tenor, alto, and soprano sax – one that recalls the freshness of Sonny Rollins during his most creative period, but which also is recorded here with a bit more looseness and sense of freedom. The group are all players from Carter's Detroit scene – Craig Taborn on piano, Jaribu Shahid on bass, and Tani Tabaal on drums – and titles include "Oleo", "Out Of Nowhere", "Take The A Train", "Ask Me Now", "Sandu", and "Equinox". CD

Lots of early classics – "Boys Don't Cry", "Killing An Arab", "Let's Go To Bed", "The Hanging Garden", "Charlotte Sometimes", "Jumping Someone Else's Train", "A Forest", "The Walk", "Lovecats", "In Between Days", and "Close To Me". CD

2 of Martin Denny's grooviest albums – back to back on one CD! Hypnotique is as compelling as the title would imply! The core group of the Denny Quartet – with Julius Wechter on vibes and percussion, and Augie Colon on congas and bongos – is augmented by the Jack Halloran Singers and additional Japanese instrumentation. The added sound is absorbed nicely by Denny's group, and the record has some great tracks like "Jungle Madness", "American in Bali", and "Voodoo Dreams". Exotica 3 is the third volume in Denny's great series that virtually defined the genre they're named after – and it's every bit as strong as volumes 1 & 2. Denny comes up with some wonderful numbers – working with the spare group that included Augie Colon and Julius Wechter – on titles that include "Moon of Manakoora", "Congo Train", "Bamboo Lullaby", and "Jungle River Boat". CD

Dylan and The Dead come together in the late 80s – touring together for quite a while and here with Dead backing Dylan on classics like "All Along The Watchtower", "Slow Train", "Gotta Serve Somebody", "Joey", "Knocking On Heaven's Door" and more. CD

One of Duke Ellington's standout sides for Columbia – a strong recording that revisits many of the best elements of his earlier work, and offers up some more sophisticated scoring for the 50s – thanks to extended track length in the LP generation! The tunes here are older ones, but they're taken to some nicely hip territory – thanks to Duke's strong ear for modern changes, and a line up of players that includes Billy Strayhorn on piano, Paul Gonsalves on tenor, Clark Terry and Ray Nance on trumpets, Juan Tizol on trombone, and Louis Bellson on drums. Bellson does a great job on the classic "Skin Deep" – a real showcase for his talents in this recording – and other titles include "The Mooche", "Take The A Train", and "Perdido" – plus a 13 minute reading of "A Tone Parallel To Harlem (aka The Harlem Suite)". CD

There's nothing standard about this set – as Joe Henderson always brings something special to a recording session – especially at this point in his career! The album has a wonderful format – Joe's unique tenor tone set up beautifully alongside the bass of Rufus Reid and drums of Al Foster – no piano or other horns at all, just an open, swinging combo with a really great sense of energy! Joe's bold lead really sets the tone for most numbers – and a few tracks are compositions that Henderson recorded famously early in his career, recast here with a whole new sound and heightened sense of maturity. Titles include "Blues In F (aka In N Out)", "Blue Bossa", "Inner Urge", "Body & Soul", and "Take The A Train". Also features a bonus alternate of "Body & Soul". CD

A great run of music from Jimmy Lyons – some of his most important albums as a leader! First up is Wee Sneezawee – the kind of work that makes you love the Black Saint label for giving players like Jimmy Lyons a chance to still express themselves this way! Lyons is in wonderful form throughout – blowing with all the sharp tones that you'd know from his work with Cecil Taylor, but also bringing in a bit more structure too – kind of shaping a coherent sound out of an infinite array of possible actions – any of which seem possible at any moment, given the dynamic energy of the group! Other players include William Parker on bass, Paul Murphy on drums, Karen Borca on bassoon, and Raphe Malik on trumpet – and tracks include "Wee Sneezawee", "Gossip", "Shackinback", "Remembrance", and "Driads". On Give It Up, Jimmy Lyons is wonderful, but equally great is trumpeter Enrico Rava – whose bold tones on the record easily match those of Lyons in terms of energy and inventiveness! The format is relatively free – although some tunes have a bit of an inside swing, at least more so than Lyons' work with Cecil Taylor – and other players include Karen Borca on bassoon, Jay Oliver on bass, and Paul Murphy on drums. Titles include the long workouts "Methods", "Never", and "Give It Up" – plus the shorter tune "Ballada". Burnt Offering features great duets between Jimmy Lyons on alto and Andrew Cyrille on percussion – and titles include "Popp A", "Exotique", and "Burnt Offering". Nuba is a compelling collaboration between percussionist Andrew Cyrille, vocalist Jeanne Lee, and alto saxophonist Jimmy Lyons – one of the freer sessions on the Black Saint label, and one of the most striking as well! Cyrille handles a wide range of percussion – and also a few whistles too – and he really sets the tone with his open, expressive approach to his instruments – almost more melodic at points than rhythmic, with echoes of African roots that come through more strongly than on some of his other albums. Most numbers are pretty spare, and titles include "Nuba 1", "Cornbread Picnic (Maize)", "The One Before Zero", "JJ & A", "In These Last Days", "Sorry", and "Nuba 2". Something In Return is another set of duets between Lyns and Andrew Cyrille! While working in Cecil Taylor's group, Cyrille and Lyons developed a wonderful interplay and dynamic, which can be felt in full effect on this wonderful duo recording, where they approach mostly original material, but also take on Strayhorn's "Take The A Train". Also includes the title track "Lorry", "JL", "Nuba" and "Fragments I". CD

A real musical discovery – not just for the fact that the CD represents a previously-unreleased concert by Charlies Mingus – but also because the sounds and styles here offer up a version of Mingus that's almost more adventurous than some of his other albums of the time! The sextet features some key work by Eric Dolphy on alto sax, flute, and bass clarinet – but all other players are wonderful too, and include Johnny Coles on trumpet, Clifford Jordan on tenor, Jaki Byard on piano, and Dannie Richmond on drums – all coming together with a sense of power and presence that matches that of a group double their size! The long tracks on the set allow plenty of space for individual expression – some stretched-out solos that really push the limits of the music, sometimes going farther outside than we might expect – almost in the manner of some of Coltrane's important live dates of the same year. Titles include "ATFW You", "Fables Of Faubus", "Take The A Train", "Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress", "Meditations", "So Long Eric", "Jitterbug Waltz", and "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling". CD

A landmark album for the O'Jays – a set that moved them from the indie ranks to 70s megasoulstatus! After years of bumping around on a variety of labels, and in a variety of styles, the group really exploded with this wonderful set – an album that has them soaring along in the righteous Philly groove of the early 70s – a sound that turned out to be a perfect foil for the trio's sublime, yet earthy harmonies. Arrangements are by some fo the best of the core Philly scene – Thom Bell, Norman Harris, Ronnie Baker, and Bobby Martin – and the album's overflowing with great tunes that completely redefine the sound of group soul in the 70s! Includes megahits "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train" – plus "Shiftless, Shady, Jealous Kind of People", "When The World's At Peace", "Time To Get Down", "Who Am I" and more! CD

The essence of Duke Ellington – but in the hands of William Parker, it's a very different thing than you might expect! The group here is larger than usual for Parker – a great ensemble used in ways that definitely echo some of Ellington's more inventive scoring, especially his mature use of tone and color – yet both the solos and ensemble moments go way way farther than anything the Duke might have imagined – all the bold, righteous brilliance that we've come to love in Parker's own recordings – focused back on one of his greatest inspirations. The lineup is quite impressive – as musicians include Roy Campbell on trumpet, Ras Moshe on tenor and soprano, Rob Brown and Darius Jones on alto, Sabir Mateen on clarinet and tenor, Steve Swell on trombone, Dave Burrell on piano, Hamid Drake on drums, and Parker himself on bass – and titles include "Take The Coltrane", "Essence Of Sophisticated Lady/Sophisticated Lady", "Caravan", "Essence Of Ellington", "Take The A Train/Ebony Interlude", and "Portrait Of Louisiana". CD

A really wonderful album in the Verve Records catalog of the 60s – a set that's not only a fantastic meeting between two superstar jazz musicians, with Jimmy Smith on Hammond and Wes Montgomery on guitar – but one that also takes things in a whole groovy new dimension, thanks to the arrangements of Oliver Nelson! Nelson is at his soulful best here – working on hard-swinging charts that almost seem to liberate Jimmy and Wes to do even more with their solos – really stretching out, with an especially great sound from Smith on the organ – maybe at a level that makes the record one of his best of all time for Verve! Titles include "James & Wes", "Night Train", "13 (Death March)", and "Down By The Riverside". CD

A wonderful collection of New Orleans soul legend Allen Toussaint's recordings for Reprise in the 70s! The Reprise years were really magical period for Allen, recording some of the greatest music of his career – mixing funk with heavy soul early in the decade and with a bit more sweetness and polish as the years progress – but even at his most mainstream ready, the groove is very much traceable to the gritty, funkier Crescent City sounds of his younger years. Amazing stuff that we grow more and more fond of with each passing year! Includes "From A Whisper To A Scream", "What Is Success", "Am I Expecting To Much?", "On Your Way Down"., "Soul Sister", "Country John", "Last Train", "What Do You Want The Girl To Do?", "Lover Of Love", "Motion", "Viva La Money", "With You In Mind", Night People", "Happiness" and more. 16 tracks in all. CD

Features James Wheeler on vocals and guitar – and titles include "Blues At Midnight", "Bad Girl", "Extension 309", "Looking For My Baby", "This Old Freight Train", "Gonna Make Some Changes", and "I'm Just Your Fool". CD

A pivotal set from Cassanda Wilson – and a record that firmly established her as one of the freshest new singers in jazz at the time! The album's awash in rootsy, dusky tones – and has an earthiness that's clearly inspired by older blues, but expressed by Cassandra in voicings that are more clearly jazz-based. Titles include an unusual range of covers – used in this way many years before the Starbucks generation of vocalists made it common place – with covers that include "Last Train To Clarksville", "Harvest Moon", "Skylark", and "Love Is Blindness" – alongside originals that include "Until", "A Little Warm Death", "Find Him", "Solomon Sang", and "Memphis". CD

42 rare gems from the Motown vaults – an incredible treasure trove of unreleased material! The package follows beautifully on the heels of the first Cellarful Of Motown volume – but also manages to go even deeper, and get beyond the better-known "lost" Motown tracks, into a realm of soul music treasures that we never would have expected! The whole thing's great – overflowing with tunes so great, you'll find yourself scratching your head as to why Motown never issued these back in the 60s – and will turn towards the label with a whole new level of respect for all the greatness they still managed to record underneath their more familiar hits. The 2CD set also comes with a great booklet that offers track-by-track notes on the tunes – and a selection of cuts that includes "Take My Hand" by Dalton Boys, "Take Me In Your Arms" by Eddie Holland, "All Day All Night" by Earl Van Dyke, "A Woman Just Won't Do Right" by Shorty Long, "I've Gotta Get Away" by Tommy Good, "Show Girl" by The Vows, "I Can't Get Along Without You" by The Monitors, "I Hope You Have Better Luck Than I Did" by The Marvelettes, "My Heart" by Tammi Terrell, "Where Is the Love" by Rita Wright, "Those DJ Shows" by Patrice Holloway, "Rescue Me" by Blinky, "I Can't Go On Sharing Your Love" by The Isley Brothers, "Choo Choo Train" by Little Lisa, "In The Dark" by The Creations, "Love Trouble Heartache & Misery" by Hatti Littles, "Positively Absolutely Right" by The Temptations, and "Let's Talk It Over" by Marv Johnson. CD

Massive mix put together by Dimitri From Paris – two CDs plus a bonus disc – featuring tracks by D Train, Grace Jones, Tortured Soul, Fat Larry's Band, Change, Stereo Mutants, Incognito, Gato Barbieri, India, Jafrosax, Sylvester, and more. CD

A reworked vision of Blue Note Records for the 90s – put together by Bob Belden, and featuring some excellent remakes of classics from the Blue Note songbook! Each tune has a slightly different flavor – and all work is played by the best artists of the then-revived label – a great way of showing the new talent Blue Note discovered, the old talent it helped bring back, and the rich legacy of sound they were still capable of sending forth! Titles include "Blue Train" by Greg Osby, "Evidence" by Ron Carter & TS Monk, "Maiden Voyage" by Dianne Reeves & Geri Allen, "Un Poco Loco" by Jacky Terrasson, "Tom Thumb" by John Scofield, "Una Mas" by Eliane Elias, "Song For My Father" by Rene Rosnes, "Recado Bossa Nova" by Gonzalo Rubalcaba, "Tanganyika Dance" by Kurt Elling, and "Alligator Boogaloo" by Junko Onishi & Freddie Hubbard. CD

A landmark album – even if it was the only session that Cannonball Adderley ever cut for Blue Note! The album was recorded at a time when Adderley was working with Miles Davis – and as such, the session features a group that includes Miles, blowing trumpet in a cool tone that's a perfect offset to Cannonball's more soulful style on alto sax – also different than the sound of his brother Nat, who was Adderley's more frequent partner on records. The rest of the group includes Hank Jones on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Art Blakey on drums – and like John Coltrane's Blue Train, the record's more of an "special session" than the usual Blue Note album, but the strength of the players make it one of the more memorable records of its day! Titles include "Somethin' Else", "One For Daddy-O", "Autumn Leaves", "Love For Sale", and a nice moody take on "Dancing In The Dark". CD