Previously unissued material with Joe Albany on piano, Leroy Vinegar on bass, and Frank Capp on drums. CD

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Two early 60s albums from the team of Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt – both recorded in Chicago! Boss Tenors is a head to head classic from Jug & Stitt that perfectly captures the joy and fury of their live performances from years before! The record was cut here in our hometown with a very hard rhythm section that includes John Houston on piano, Charles Williams on bass, and George Brown on drums – and it's way heavier than the usual Verve "meeting of the masters" session, and feels more like a record that should have been issued on Prestige or Argo. Both players are impeccable, and the solos stretch out for a long long very live time. Titles include "Blues Up & Down", "The One Before This", and "Counter Clockwise" – but these guys even groove amazingly on standards like "Autumn Leaves" and "No Greater Love". The second album, Dig Him, is one of those overlooked Argo sessions and features great straight-ahead blowing from Stitt and Jug! The album's a quintet session, with John Houston piano, Buster Williams bass, and George Brown drums providing all the rhythm. But the real focus is on the twin-sax frontline – with Sitt taking up the alto on a few numbers, but mostly blowing tenor head to head with Jug. Recorded in 1961 during Jug's great year of contract-breaking – and issued later in the 60s by Prestige under a different title. Titles include "A Mess", "Water Jug", "New Blues Up & Down", "Red Sails In The Sunset", and "A Pair Of Red Pants". CD

One of the few sessions ever recorded by tenor player Walter Benton – a great talent with a very strong voice, coming out of a gutsier 50s era, and growing into a capable hardbop player by the time of this set. The album's got Benton playing in a quintet that features Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and either Jimmy Cobb or Albert Heath on drums – and although the group's clearly not Benton's working unit, the overall sound of the record is quite strong, with very capable rhythm playing, and some nicely arcing solos with spirit and surprising touches. Titles include "Iris", "Night Movement", "A Blues Mood", "Azil", and "Walter's Altar". CD

3 tremendous albums from modern trombonist Eddie Bert – all of which stand as some of his greatest work of the 50s! The records were all originally recorded for Savoy, and all within a few months of each other – and there's a crystal-clear focus on all of them that you don't always find in both Savoy sessions, and other trombone outings from the time. The groups here are all small – either quartet or quintet lineups that feature Bert's trombone with Hank Jones on piano, JR Monterose on tenor, Joe Puma on guitar, Clyde Lombardi on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums – carving amazing lines out of the ether, and using the instrument with a deftness and sense of imagination that most other 50s players couldn't touch! Titles include "Fragile", "Three Bass Hit", "See You Later", "Bert Tram", "One For Tubby", "It's Only Sunshine", "Crosstown", "Wishbone", "Steady Eddie", "Slow Crosstown", "Conversation", "Bronx Line", and "Manhattan Suite". CD

A brilliant example of why Eddie Bert was one of the hippest trombonists of the 50s – a player who could bridge the worlds of Stan Kenton and Charles Mingus, and always come up with a sound that was one of the freshest on his instrument! The bulk of the CD features small combo work Bert recorded for the Discovery label in 1953 and 1954 – quintet sessions done with Duke Jordan on piano and Clyde Lombardi on bass, plus other players that include Sal Salvador on guitar, Vinnie Dean on alto sax, and Joe Morello on drums. Bert's sound throughout is fluid, lean, and modern – gliding with light colors one moment, a crisp modern edge the next, and a bit of boppish inflection at others – always opening up new areas of expression for the sometimes-staid trombone, and working here at a level that matches 50s invention of better-known players on the instrument. 4 additional tracks on the CD are from a previously unissued 1959 recording with Dean on alto, Lombardi on bass, Sal Mosca on piano, and Ed Shaughnessy on drums – plus a really unique 17 minute live recording of the title track by a quartet with Bert, Jordan, Lombardi, and Osie Johnson on drums. Bert's playing on this extended track alone is worth the price of admission – but the CD features a total of 73 minutes of music in all, on 17 tracks that include "Ripples", "Conversation Piece", "Interwoven", "Little Train", "Kaleidoscope", "Around Town", "Melting Pot", "He Ain't Got Rhythm", and "Blues At Sunrise". CD

Great live work from the Clifford Brown/Max Roach group of the 50s – including material recorded at Basin Street in 1956, but different than the classic Emarcy album of the same name! These Basin Street sides are from April and May of 1956 – and feature a group with Sonny Rollins on tenor sax, alongside Brown's trumpet and Roach's drums, plus bass from George Morrow and piano from the great Richie Powell. Tunes are live broadcasts from the club, complete with an announcer calling the tunes – but are nicely tight, and very much in the spirit of the group's official albums from the time – even though Roach is replaced by drummer Willie Jones on a few of the tracks. Titles include "Valse Hot", "I Feel A Song Comin On", "What's New", and "Sweet Clifford". Added to these are 2 tracks from a Carnegie Hall performance in 1955 – featuring the same group, but with Harold Land in place of Rollins – on titles that include "I Get A Kick Out Of You" and "The Blues Walk". CD

Great live work from the Clifford Brown/Max Roach group of the 50s – including material recorded at Basin Street in 1956, but different than the classic Emarcy album of the same name! These Basin Street sides are from April and May of 1956 – and feature a group with Sonny Rollins on tenor sax, alongside Brown's trumpet and Roach's drums, plus bass from George Morrow and piano from the great Richie Powell. Tunes are live broadcasts from the club, complete with an announcer calling the tunes – but are nicely tight, and very much in the spirit of the group's official albums from the time – even though Roach is replaced by drummer Willie Jones on a few of the tracks. Titles include "Valse Hot", "I Feel A Song Comin On", "What's New", and "Sweet Clifford". Added to these are 2 tracks from a Carnegie Hall performance in 1955 – featuring the same group, but with Harold Land in place of Rollins – on titles that include "I Get A Kick Out Of You" and "The Blues Walk". CD

Featuring Chris Cheek on saxphones, Diego Urcola on trumpet, Freddie Bryant on guitars, Edward Simon on piano, Avishai Cohen on bass, Jordi Rossy on drums and Gilad on percussion. CD

Beautiful bass work from 50s LA player Red Callender – heard here on his classic Swingin Suite album for Modern, plus tracks from the MGM album Lowest! Swingin Suite is easily one of Red's tightest sessions – a date that has Callender's basslines strongly leading a nonet of players that includes Harry Jones on trumpet, John Ewing on trombone, Willie Green on alto sax, and Buddy Collette on flute and tenor. Collette's lines have a nice sharp edge throughout, and soar out beautifully amidst the bigger backings – and although a "suite", the whole session's got a much more relaxed feel than that compositional title might make you think. Tracks include "On Again", "Greenery", "Pastel", "Dancers", "October Blue", "Bihari", "Skyline", and "Outlines". The remaining tracks on the set were recorded as part of Callender's Lowest album for MGM – a set of both bass and tuba work. Tracks included here feature Callender on bass only, with Gerald Wilson on trumpet and Collette again on flute and tenor. Titles include "Another Blues", "Volume Too", "Five Four Blues", "Pickin Pluckin Whistlin & Walkin", and "Tea For Two". CD

A brilliant tribute to one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of the 50s – featuring 3 full albums of material, plus some bonus tracks as well! Conte Candoli is a name that's appeared on countless sessions as a sideman or studio player, but here, Conte really sparkles as a leader – setting fire amidst some great small group lineups that include the players Bill Holman, Lou Levy, Lawrence Marable, Leroy Vinnegar, Max Bennett, Stan Levey, and Ira Sullivan. The set features material from 2 Bethlehem albums by Conte – Sincerely Conte and Powerhouse Trumpet – plus an Atlantic album, West Coast Wailers – and a rare 78rpm session for the Chicago-based Chance label, and a few additional tunes from a New York session in 1956 with Hank Jones! Conte's never sounded better – and with all this material in one place, the 2CD set is a great bargain overall. 30 tracks in all – with titles that include "Mambo Junior", "Flamingo", "TNT", "Thank You Judge", "Comes Love", "Tune For Tex", "Fine & Dandy", "Night Flight", "Toot Sweet", "Jazz City Blues", "Four", "Groovin Higher", "Lover Man", "Pete's Alibi", "Cheremoya", and "Jordu". CD

A great reissue of one of the few albums ever cut as a leader by crack drummer Charlie Persip, though you might miss that as it's issued here under Conte Candoli and Lee Morgan's names! Morgan and Candoli share the front line on only two tracks, and the set was originally issued as one of Howard Rumsey's "Lighthouse Series" sides of the 50s – but it's a lot harder-driving and more energy-filled than most of the other Lighthouse-related sides coming out of LA at the time. Half the record features Persip's group – a set of east coasters that includes Lee Morgan, Benny Golson, and Wynton Kelly – and the other part features some of the players from that ensemble mixing it up with Candoli, drummer Stan Levey and other LA talents that include Frank Rosolino, Bob Cooper, and others. In all, the album's a great meeting of east and west coast hardbop styles – with short driving tracks that include "Reggie Of Chester", "Celedia", "Moto", "The Champ", and "Wildwood". CD

A treasure trove of west coast jazz work from the mid 50s – one that features a number of unusual sessions! First off, the set includes 4 tracks that were initially recorded under the leadership of Shorty Rogers, most likely for RCA – and featuring players that include Bud Shank, Bob Cooper, Jimmy Giuffre, and Pete Jolly – on titles that include the Giuffre originals "Safari", "Ballade", and "Scarf Dance". Next up are 15 tracks from the rare Best From The West 10" jazz LPs for Blue Note – originally billed as a "blindfold test" under the supervision of Leonard Feather, and some of the label's only west coast jazz sessions of the 50s! The musicians on the original record were not named – probably because of contractual reasons – but artists include Conte Candoli, Jimmy Giuffre, Charlie Mariano, Howard Roberts, Marty Paich, and others – all coming together with a fresh, clean sound that's very much in the spirit of some of the best west coast work for labels like Pacific Jazz or Capitol at the time! This CD reissue includes both of the original 10" albums on one set – along with much-needed notes on the players. Titles include "Santa Anita", "Culver City", "Burbank Bounce", "Arcadia", "Here's Pete", "Santa Monica", and "Blindfold Test No 1". The set then features 9 more tracks from sine 1957 sessions produced by Howard Lucraft, also done as a study in West Coast jazz – featuring compositions by Lucraft that include "Smog A La Mode", "Jazz For Gene", "Larrisa", and "California Zephyr – played by 3 different groups of players that include Bud Shank, Conte Candoli, Stu Williamson, Frank Rosolino, Charlie Mariano, and Buddy Collette. Last up are 4 more tunes from a 1955 session that features Stu Williamson, Herb Geller, Jack Montrose, and Bob Gordon – on tracks that include "Id", "I'm Forever Counting Geigers", and "Skip To Me Loot". 38 tracks in all – with full notes on the sessions and players! CD

Features Christine Correa on vocals, Chris Cheek on tenor sax, John Hebert on bass and Michael Sarin on drums. CD

Bill Carrothers on prepared piano, Gordon Johnson on bass, and Dave King on drums and waterphone. CD

One of the best albums ever from saxophonist Chris Cheek – and a set that draws a lot from work by Brad Mehldau on piano and Fender Rhodes, and Kurt Rosenwinkel on guitar! Both of those players have risen to great fame on their own – but here, in a 1999 session that features Cheek on tenor and soprano, they've already developed a key sense of color and tone – adding a richness to the record that really holds up over the nicely long tracks on the session! The rest of the group features Matt Penman on bass and Jorge Rossy on drums – and titles include "Reno", "Ice Fall", "The Wing Key", "Granada", "Vine", "So It Seems", and "Not A Samba". LP, Vinyl record album

A great look at west coast trumpeter Buddy Childers – a player who's name frequently shows up in larger group sessions of the 50s, but who rarely ever recorded as a leader at the time! The package brings together both of Childers' albums for Liberty – Sam Songs, recorded in 1955 with a quintet that includes Herbie Steward on tenor, Bob Harrington on piano, Harry Babasin on bass, and Milt Holland on drums; and Buddy Childers Quartet, recorded a year later with Arnold Ross on piano, Babasin on bass, and Boone Stines on drums. Childers has a sound that's not nearly as cool as his contemporaries, and which is almost sweet and lyrical at times – heard to great effect on both of these small group sessions, especially the quartet album, which is a wonderfully introspective little record. Titles include "Canned Sam", "Deviled Sam", "Sam Metrically", "Ding Dong Sam Is Dead", "Bernie's Tune", "Holiday House", "It's Gotta Be Happy", and "Buffy". CD

Esaie Cid on alto saxophone and clarinet, Benjamin Dousteyssier on baritone and soprano saxophone, Alex Gilson on bass, and Paul Morvan on drums. CD

The debut as a leader from trumpeter Avishai Cohen – and a set that's the start of a great legacy for one of the freshest new voices on his instrument in the past few decades! Here, Cohen is maybe a bit bolder and swinging than on some of his later ECM recordings – and working in a mighty nice trio that features John Sullivan on bass and Jeff Ballard on drums – a mode that almost has Avishai taking his own stance on the freedoms offered by saxophone trios in modern jazz over the decades – freedoms he really puts to great use here! Three tracks feature additional work from Joel Frahm on tenor – and titles include "The Fast", "Dear Lord", "Idaho", "Trumpet Player", "Olympus", and "Shablol". LP, Vinyl record album

A really great little live jazz date from the mid 50s – one that features a unique pairing of east and west coast players, working together as part of a Birdland Stars package tour! The group's an exceptionally balanced one – with players who are all strong enough to work together seamlessly, but who each bring together something different to the date – especially in the blend of west coast cool and east coast hot that comes up during some of the horn passages! Trumpets are by Kenny Dorham and Conte Candoli, tenor by Al Cohn, alto by Phil Woods, piano by Hank Jones, bass by John Simmons, and drums by Kenny Clarke – and with a balance like that, there's probably a bit more "east" than "west" on the set – but that's ok with us! The style is similar to some of the RCA work cut by Cohn or Woods, but a lot more open overall – tracks that are looser and less arranged, with some really great room for solos. CD features volumes 1 and 2 of the albums – 14 titles that include "Phil Er Up", "Roulette", "Last Lap", "Hip Boots", "For Kicks Only", "Playboy", "Ah Funky New Baby", Birdland Fantasy", and "Minorin The Blues". Tracks are all originals by Manny Albam and Ernie Wilkins! CD