The world of Dexter Story just keeps getting bigger and bigger – not just because he's a richly collaborative player, but also because he's got this musical style that really opens up to so many different elements – but without ever sounding like he's trying to crash them together in any sort of inorganic way! Instead, Dexter draws evenly from spiritual jazz, Ethiopian rhythms, underground soul, and some of the best strands of 21st Century grooves – opening up the door for his own wonderful lead lyrics, while creating and exploring a planet of his own. Guests on the record include Carlos Nino on percussion, Te'Amir Sweeney on drums, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on strings, and Randal Fischer on tenor – and the set features guest vocals from Haile Supreme, Marie Daulne, Endeguena Mulu, Sudan Archives, Jimetta Rose, and Kibrom Birhane – although Dexter gets plenty of time in the lead too. Titles include "Mamdooh", "Buna Be Chow", "Gold", "Techawit", "Shuruba Song", "Bahir", "Abebaye", and "Jijiga Jijiya". CD features the Japanese only bonus track "Wejene Aolo" – which features work from Kamasi Washington! CD

Music from Cannonball Adderley, Gene Ammons, Miles Davis, Billy Eckstine, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, Little Jimmy Scott, Ben Webster, Lester Young, and morre – 58 tracks total! CD

Decades of jazz recordings, pulled together in support of the famous documentary series – with a total of 94 tracks in all! Music from Louis Armstrong, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Jimmie Lunceford, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Horace Silver, Clifford Brown, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, Weather Report, Dexter Gordon, Wynton Marsalis, and much more. CD

Sublimely soulful funk from Kudu – a very tight combo with a great mixture of classic grooves and modern influences. Vocalist/bassist Sylvia Gordon has a wonderful voice – warm and mellow, with a heck of a lot of soul, put forward with the utmost of confidence. The group behind her is a spare combo, mixing keyboards and percussion in a mode of styles that touch on drum and bass rhythms, move back to classic funk, and take off again in a spiralling new groove. The feel's a bit like Julie Dexter on her excellent Piece of Mind ep – and you'll find this one to be every bit as fresh! Titles include "Sugar", "Surprise", "Temptation", "Relax", "Cinemajik, and "Tell Me A Bedtime Story". CD

A spiritually resonant soul jazz gem from truly great vocalist Dwight Trible – whose handful of albums to his own name and his work with the Build An Ark collective and Life Force Trio have all been timeless, passionate and inventive – and this effort on the Katalyst label is as deep and rewarding as any of it! Cosmic reminds us of everything we loved about Dwight's Living Water album a few years back, and this one may be even stronger. His yearning, soaring, soul shaking voice is stunning as always, and both the originals and the unique takes on the more spiritual material of legends such as Duke Ellington, Nina Simone and others is really great. He's backed by stellar group of musicians that includes drummer Dexter Story, bassist Trevor Ware, percussionist Munyungo Jackson, John Beasley on piano and organ, George Harper on tenor sax and others. Includes "Speak To Us Of Love", "I've Known Rivers", Ellington's "In The Beginning GOD", "Love Is Forever", "Little Afrika", "Algeriangeles", Simone's "Hyku For Peace/Come Ye", "It's All About Love" and glorious, soul jazz take on the Five Stairsteps soul classic "Ooh Child". CD

A very unusual early album from piano genius Jaki Byard – recorded right around the same time as his initial albums for Prestige, and his big breakthrough with Charles Mingus! The set is all solo, recorded during that legendary short span of recordings by Candid Records in Nola Penthouse – and Byard is completely on fire, maybe showing a pianistic dexterity and command of the history of jazz that wouldn't burst forth on other records until the end of the decade! Jaki wrote all the material himself – and seems to embrace a range of expression that runs from Jelly Roll Morton up through Mal Waldron – then filtered and focused brilliantly through his godlike fingertips. Titles include "Hollis Stomp (Mr Piano Man)", "Flight OF The Fly", "Aluminum Baby", "One Two Five", Dian's Melody", and "Jaki's Blues Next". CD

The roots of modern jazz never sounded this great before – and this is the first time ever that all the early bop recordings by Savoy have been properly brought together in one place! Savoy was one of the most important labels to record the early bop pioneers – and had a dedication to the music that begin in 1945, and moved well into the 50s – as the label captured some of the brightest young stars who'd go onto shape a generation! Almost all of this material was originally issued just as 78rpm singles – then later scattered and repackaged in a confusing way – although many tracks here also never made it into the LP or CD generation, either. The folks at Mosaic have worked incredible magic to correct that error – and have pulled together a stunning 10CD package that finally presents this amazing legacy of music in its proper form – complete with notes and session details that were never given in later years, too. There's way too much here to list in this space – but the set features dates recorded under the name of Dexter Gordon, Fats Navarro, Stan Getz, JJ Johnson, Sonny Stitt & Kenny Dorham's Bebop Boys, Allen Eager, Kai Winding, Ray Brown, Eddie Davis, Serge Chaloff, Kenny Hagood, Leo Parker, Tadd Dameron, Teddy Reig, Brew Moore, Milt Jackson, Kenny Clarke, and Gil Fuller – all with groups that are filled with equally hip and important musicians too. We love Mosaic all the time – but with a collection of 78rpm material, they really knock it out of the park – and do us, and the jazz history books, a mighty big favor! CD

A treasure for all jazz fans worldwide! As is known to many, the great Blue Note label often recorded more material than it could issue on a regular basis – and some of the label's best bits often got lost in the cracks, and never saw the light of day! Over the past 30 years, many of these lost albums have come out on their own – but there's still been a lot of great single tracks that have never been issued before. This CD corrects that trend, by bringing together a sumptious batch of single titles from groups that are hardly (or never) represented in Blue Note's regular line of releases. You'll get Charlie Rouse leading a quintet on the track "One For Five"; Tadd Dameron heading up a large group on "Bevan Beeps", "The Elder Speaks", and "Aloof Spoof"; Sonny Stitt wailing with Dexter Gordon on "Lady Be Good"; Fred Jackson playing tenor with John Patton and Grant Green on "Cowbell Boogie"; Ike Quebec blowing with The Three Sounds on "Blues On Trial", and Herbie Hancock leading a very hip 2-guitar group on the track "Don't Even Go There". Like finding a time machine, this CD will introduce you to a world of jazz history you never even imagined! CD

Bob Stanley's turned us on to plenty of great music over the years – via countless compilations on Ace Records, Cherry Red, and other labels – but this time around, he's going way way back – to look at the American scene in the early part of the 20th Century! Stanley argues that stardom in music existed way before rock and roll – and looks first at the creation of the 78rpm record, then sounds from artists who include Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Duke Ellington – next to some lesser-known artists, key songwriters, and other forces shaping the cultural scene at the time. Stanley really moves around a lot – even touching on hillbilly music, Broadway, and films as well – all with a dexterity and love of the music that almost rivals Nick Tosches in similar territory. Hardcover edition has some black and white images, and is 636 pages in length. Book

A nicely lean take on the music of West Side Story – done during part of a big late 50s wave of jazz-meets-Broadway albums – and served up by a group who often approached the material better than most! In previous years, Andre Previn could be more of a softer, mood-oriented pianist – but he's at his jazziest here, and works with wonderful dexterity next to the hip drum work of Shelly Manne, and the subtle but powerful bass of Red Mitchell – a player who may well be the real hero of the best trio dates like these! The tunes are familiar, but they're hardly a rehash of the themes – as Previn really takes off on his solos, with plenty of improvised moments – on titles that include "Cool", "Jet Song", "Something's Coming", "Gee Officer Krupke", "Maria", and "Tonight". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most monumental debuts in rock history – a record that hit the world like a led zeppelin, and left an impression for years to come! Led Zeppelin pretty much took over rock right from the beginning – which isn't too surprising, given that Jimmy Page had an in-demand guitar heavy for years already – but the power of this debut is still astonishing after all these years – a blistering blend of bluesy roots, psych fuzz, and razor-sharp instrumental dexterity! The whole thing's a gem – and titles include "Good Times Bad Times", "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" "You Shook Me", "Dazed And Confused", "Your Time Is Gonna Come", "Black Mountain Side", and "I Can't Quit You Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

The best look at Chicago's legendary Twinight label that we've ever seen – a massive 2CD set that goes way past the obvious hits, and really digs into the heart and soul of this unique little record company! Twinight is best known as the home of Syl Johnson during his legendary run of funky soul singles at the end of the 60s – but the company was also home to a lot of other great talent during the same stretch – harmony vocal groups, sweet soul singers, funky combos, and more – all of which you'll hear in this incredible little set! (And in fact, the set does such a great job of presenting the other artists on Twinight, that it leaves out Syl Johnson entirely – so the package is a 100% non-Syl set – which is ok with us, because you can always get Johnson's work on other reissues.) The Numero Group have really outdone themselves this time around – using their careful ear to pull out the best lost bits from Twinight, remastered here with wonderful sound – and a brilliant 32 page booklet that tells the story of the label, and also includes loads of vintage photos. The set's a must-have for any fan of quality funk or soul – and the package includes a whopping 40 titles that include "Goin Man Huntin" by Jo Ann Garrett, "I've Made Up My Mind" by Josephine Taylor, "A New Day" by The Notations, "Nevermore" by Renaldo Domino, "Yesterday's Mistakes" by Jimmy Jones, "I'll Always Love You" by Velma Perkins, "Life Walked Out" by Mist, "Put Out The Fire by Mystiques, "You & Me Baby" by Kaldirons, "Rosemarie" by Dynamic Tints, "Remind Me" by Schiller Street Gang, "Is It Meant To Be" by Krystal Generation, "Pardon My Innocent Heart" by Nate Evans, "Package Of Love (part 1)" by Dynamic Tints, "The Devastator" by Stormy, "Mama" by Annette Poindexter, "Pass It On (part 1)" by Pipes Of Peace, "My Sunshine Girl" by Radiants, "Let Me Come Within" by Renaldo Domino, "Soul Strokes" by Sidney Pinchback, and "Can You Find Me Love" by Harrison & The Majestic Kind. CD

One of the most monumental debuts in rock history – a record that hit the world like a led zeppelin, and left an impression for years to come! Led Zeppelin pretty much took over rock right from the beginning – which isn't too surprising, given that Jimmy Page had an in-demand guitar heavy for years already – but the power of this debut is still astonishing after all these years – a blistering blend of bluesy roots, psych fuzz, and razor-sharp instrumental dexterity! The whole thing's a gem – and titles include "Good Times Bad Times", "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" "You Shook Me", "Dazed And Confused", "Your Time Is Gonna Come", "Black Mountain Side", and "I Can't Quit You Baby". CD

An early concept album from the great Jon Hendricks – one that tells the story of blues through jazz – all put together as a flowing story in music! Jon speaks and sings the whole tale – but also gets some help on vocals from Big Miller, Hanna Dean, and Jimmy Witherspoon – as well as great musical backing from the core Ike Isaac Trio, with solos by Pony Poindexter and Ben Webster! The music is mostly rooted in blues, but with a hipper jazz sensibility – almost in the way that Oscar Brown Jr and others were going back to the roots, but updating them for the 60s. Titles include "WPA Blues", "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child", "New Orleans", "I Had My Share", "Jumpin With Symphony Sid", and "Please Send Me Someone To Love". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most monumental debuts in rock history – a record that hit the world like a led zeppelin, and left an impression for years to come! Led Zeppelin pretty much took over rock right from the beginning – which isn't too surprising, given that Jimmy Page had an in-demand guitar heavy for years already – but the power of this debut is still astonishing after all these years – a blistering blend of bluesy roots, psych fuzz, and razor-sharp instrumental dexterity! The whole thing's a gem – and titles include "Good Times Bad Times", "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" "You Shook Me", "Dazed And Confused", "Your Time Is Gonna Come", "Black Mountain Side", and "I Can't Quit You Baby". Cassette

One of the most monumental debuts in rock history – a record that hit the world like a led zeppelin, and left an impression for years to come! Led Zeppelin pretty much took over rock right from the beginning – which isn't too surprising, given that Jimmy Page had an in-demand guitar heavy for years already – but the power of this debut is still astonishing after all these years – a blistering blend of bluesy roots, psych fuzz, and razor-sharp instrumental dexterity! The whole thing's a gem – and titles include "Good Times Bad Times", "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" "You Shook Me", "Dazed And Confused", "Your Time Is Gonna Come", "Black Mountain Side", and "I Can't Quit You Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

The best look at Chicago's legendary Twinight label that we've ever seen – a massive 2CD set that goes way past the obvious hits, and really digs into the heart and soul of this unique little record company! Twinight is best known as the home of Syl Johnson during his legendary run of funky soul singles at the end of the 60s – but the company was also home to a lot of other great talent during the same stretch – harmony vocal groups, sweet soul singers, funky combos, and more – all of which you'll hear in this incredible little set! (And in fact, the set does such a great job of presenting the other artists on Twinight, that it leaves out Syl Johnson entirely – so the package is a 100% non-Syl set – which is ok with us, because you can always get Johnson's work on other reissues.) The Numero Group have really outdone themselves this time around – using their careful ear to pull out the best lost bits from Twinight, remastered here with wonderful sound – and a brilliant 32 page booklet that tells the story of the label, and also includes loads of vintage photos. The set's a must-have for any fan of quality funk or soul – and the package includes a whopping 40 titles that include "Goin Man Huntin" by Jo Ann Garrett, "I've Made Up My Mind" by Josephine Taylor, "A New Day" by The Notations, "Nevermore" by Renaldo Domino, "Yesterday's Mistakes" by Jimmy Jones, "I'll Always Love You" by Velma Perkins, "Life Walked Out" by Mist, "Put Out The Fire by Mystiques, "You & Me Baby" by Kaldirons, "Rosemarie" by Dynamic Tints, "Remind Me" by Schiller Street Gang, "Is It Meant To Be" by Krystal Generation, "Pardon My Innocent Heart" by Nate Evans, "Package Of Love (part 1)" by Dynamic Tints, "The Devastator" by Stormy, "Mama" by Annette Poindexter, "Pass It On (part 1)" by Pipes Of Peace, "My Sunshine Girl" by Radiants, "Let Me Come Within" by Renaldo Domino, "Soul Strokes" by Sidney Pinchback, and "Can You Find Me Love" by Harrison & The Majestic Kind. CD