A truly fantastic record, and one that's become the stuff of legend over the years – a rare CTI album that was only ever issued in Japan – and which may well be one of the coolest sessions recorded during the A&M years of the label! Trombonists JJ Johnson and Kai Winding had recorded two other records for CTI during the period – both great – but this set has them stretching out in this really expansive mode that's completely unique – long tracks put together with complicated arrangements that really blow away anything else they ever did – funky, soulful, but also moving towards higher ideals too – a fantastic testament to the newfound arranging skills of Johnson, who handled most of the record. The group also features some amazing keyboard work from both Herbie Hancock and Bob James – who get plenty of room to roam – plus guitar from George Benson, bass from Ron Carter, and drums from Grady Tate – a superb lineup who really make the whole thing shine. The depth of this music is hard to describe in words, but the whole thing's wonderful – and the set features just four long tracks – "Dontcha Hear Me Callin To Ya", "Musings", "Mojo", and "Recollections". LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of recordings by Dizzy's second band, with Dave Burns, Elmon Wright, Matthew McKay,and Ray Orr on trumpets, Ted Kelly and Bill Shepherd on trombones, John Brown and Howard Johnson on alto, George Nicholas and Joe Gales on tenor, Cecil Payne on baritone, and Kenny Clarke on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

These sides feature Charlie Shavers working with an octet that includes Billy Byers, Jerome Richardson, Budd Johnson, and George Barnes. The tunes on these sides have a more tightly arranged approach than Shavers' other recordings from this period – still with a strong focus on his fluid solo lines. Titles include "Period Of Adjustment", "Bossa Nova Petite", "Undecided", "Opus 5", "School Days", and "Big Time Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Jimmy McGriff is tearing it up on the Hammond organ here – really hitting hard in that smoking soul jazz vein that made all of his albums for Sue Records instant classics! The group on this set is nice and small, nice and tight – featuring a young (pre-Black Jazz) Rudolph Johnson on tenor, Jimmy Smith (not the organist) on drums, and Larry (the "Lar" with the "Flair") Frazier on guitar – a really raw-toned player whose work often had a sound like that of George Freeman! Includes the single "Kiko", plus raw soulful versions of tracks like "Close Your Eyes", "All Day Long", and "That's All". LP, Vinyl record album

A live set very much in classic Verve mode – produced by Benny himself, and recorded in Tokyo in 1977 with a group that includes Budd Johnson on tenor and soprano, Cecil Payne on baritone, Cat Anderson and Joe Newman on trumpet, Britt Woodman on trombone, Nat Pierce on piano, Mudell Lowe on guitar, George Duvivier on bass, and Harold Jones on drums. Tracks are long, and titles include "Them There Eyes", "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing", and "Squatty Roo". LP, Vinyl record album

Sanctified, indeed – and just the kind of record to show why Slide Hampton was unlike any of his trombone-playing contemporaries! The set's got a tightness and punch that's really unique – not the compact quality of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding, but also not the hardbop of Curtis Fuller either – instead king of a rousing approach to jazz trombone that really makes Hampton the kind of the soul jazz approach to the instrument! Slide's working here with a cool octet that has the focus of a group half their size – a really well-chosen lineup of young, hip players that includes George Coleman on tenor sax, Hobart Dotson and Richard Williams on trumpets, Larry Ridley on bass, and additional trombone from a y oung Charles Greenlee! Titles include "El Sino", "Ow", "Milestones", and the stormin' title cut "Somethin Sanctified". LP, Vinyl record album

A really unusual chapter of the Coleman Hawkins catalog – an album of easy-going ballads and late nite tracks, recorded with backings from arranger Frank Hunter – hence the title of the set! Hunter's using some lush strings on the set, but not in a way that gets in front of Hawkins' horn – and Coleman gets plenty of room to blow on the session, recorded here in a nice echoey mode that brings out the deepness of his tone even more than usual! Rhythm is by 2 different trios – one with Dick Hyman, Milt Hinton, and Osie Johnson; the other with Hank Jones, George Duvivier, and Jimmie Crawford – and tunes include "Easy Walker", "Traumerei", "Lazy Butterfly", "Pebbles", "Not Quite Right", "Whisper To Me", "Lonely Tenor", and "Hawk Talk". LP, Vinyl record album

A heartbreaking classic from Terry Huff and his Special Delivery group – a hip 70s harmony soul ensemble who deliver some wonderful backup on the set! The record's a stone east coast classic from way back – arranged and conducted by Al Johnson, with a vibe that's a slightly more polished take on the harmony modes used by George Kerr over at All-Platinum – still never slick or commercial, but that great indie blend of heartbreaking vocals and deeper male sensibilities. Terry Huff has a high-end vocal approach that's great – never cloying or too-sweet, but nicely crackling and almost in a Ralfi Pagan mode at points. Huff wrote most of the songs, and titles include "Poochie", "The Lonely One", "When You're Lonely", "I Destroyed Your Love", "That's When It Hurts", and "Why Doesn't Love Last". (In case you didn't notice, this guy's pretty broken up about love!) LP, Vinyl record album

Otis Spann made some great records over the years, but he sounds especially nice on the handful of sessions he did for the Bluesway label – which seem to take a Chess Records approach, then give the whole thing an extra-added punch! Otis is in the lead on piano and vocals, but the group's got searing guitar from Muddy Watters, Sammy Lawhorn, and Luther Johnson – kicked in by fantastic rhythms from Mac Arnold on electric bass and Francis Clay on drops – all topped by some smoking work from George Smith on harmonica! The set was recorded live in the studio, and you can definitely hear some of the guests having a good time – while the group smoke their way through tunes that include "Popcorn Man", "Spann Blues", "Chicago Blues", "My Home Is On The Delta", "Nobody Knows Chicago Like I Do", and "Down On Sarah Street". LP, Vinyl record album

With Sidney Bechet, Earl Hines, Ed Hall, Cliff Jackson, James P Johnson, Gene Krupa, Hot Lips Page, Pee Wee Russell, Willie Smith, Jess Stacy, and George Wettling. LP, Vinyl record album

Joe Wilder on trumpet, Oscar Pettiford on bass, Osie Johnson drums on all groups plus on Fats George Wallington on piano, Nick Travis on trumpet, Eddie Bert & Jimmy Cleveland on trombone, Aaron Sachs on tenor sax plus on Bix Joe Soldo on flute, Danny Bank on clarinet, Harold Goltzer on basoon, Jim Buffington on french horn, Barry Galbraith on guitar, plus on Duke/Talbert Herb Geller, Joe Soldo, Aaron Sachs & Danny Bank on reeds, Jim Buffington on french horn, Eddie Bert on trombone, Barry Galbraith on guitar. LP, Vinyl record album