A landmark recording from Mingus – and one of his best of the mid 60s! The album was recorded live at the Montery Jazz fest – and it features great work by Jaki Byard, Charles McPherson, John Handy, and Lou Blackburn. Mingus explores his increasing fascination with the work of Ellington on the extended Ellington Medley, which takes up most of the first record – and then he moves into two long fantastic originals, "Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk" and "Meditations On Integrations. Both works represent some of his most sophisticated compositions – and the performances here are legendary. CD

Live material from Mingus' classic mid 60s period – one album recorded at Town Hall in New York in 1964, the other recorded at the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis in 1965. Town Hall set features Johnny Coles on trumpet, Clifford Jordan on tenor, and Eric Dolphy on flute, bass clarinet, and alto – on the tracks "So Long Eric" and "Praying With Eric". The Minneapolis set features Lonnie Hillyer on trumpet, Charles McPherson on alto, and Jaki Byard on piano – on another version of "So Long Eric" – this one recorded after Dolphy's death – plus a medley of standards, done the Mingus way! LP, Vinyl record album

A nice little live date from Mingus – a bit looser, and almost a bit rougher than some of his other work from this vintage – but in a way that makes for a continually appealing set! The group here is a sextet – with Eddie Preston on trumpet, Charles McPherson on alto, Bobby Jones on tenor, and Jaki Byard on piano – and tracks are long and lively, taken at a pretty good clip with plenty of space for the soloists to do their own thing. Titles include "Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress", "The Man Who Never Sleeps", and "OP". LP, Vinyl record album

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

Jason Moran and The Bandwagon – his stellar jazz trio featuring the top tier jazz pianist along with drummer Nasheet Waits & Tarus Mateen on bass – marking their 10th year with this thoroughly excellent album for Blue Note! Moran has stayed plenty busy in the aughties, but Ten is actually his first album since 2006 – and it's a great one, rivaling his first couple records for Blue Note – and that's saying something, because those are among our favorite modern albums for the venerable jazz label in many years. Includes several sharp Moran originals such like "Blue Blocks", "RFK In The Land Of Apartheid", "Pas De Deux-Lines Ballet", "Gangsterism Over 10 Years", "Old Babies" and "Playtolive" (the latter with the great Andrew Hill) – plus Mateen's "The Subtle One" and readings of Jaki Byard's "To Bob Vatel Of Paris" and Monk's "Crepuscule With Nellie". Brilliant stuff! CD

A gentler set than some of David Murray's other US dates from the time – but in a really great way that nicely gets at the more sensitive side of his work on tenor and bass clarinet! There's a bit of a hardbop groove to the album, but also a bit more freedom too – a style that never goes that far out, but which reminds us through subtle cues that most of these players have a longer legacy in more avant-oriented work. The group features Dave Burrell on piano, Wilbur Morris on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums – and Burrell especially echoes a range of influences here – almost pulling from older eras of jazz in the way that Jaki Byard used to – an approach that's often echoed by Murray in his horn. Titles include "Valley Talk", "Chazz", "As I Woke", "Abel's Blissed Out Blues", "Sharing", and "As I Woke". LP, Vinyl record album

A trio of albums from the great David Murray! Ming is beautifully arranged work from David Murray – an important early large group recording, one that really helped point the way to some of his later genius! The session features Murray leading an all-star octet that includes Henry Threadgill on alto, Olu Dara on trumpet, Butch Morris on cornet, George Lewis on trombone, Anthony Davis on piano, Wilbur Morris on bass, and Steve McCall on percussion. Tracks are a very hip set of original compositions that display an incredible range of soulful feeling and expression – and which open a door to a whole new chapter of Murray's career. Titles include "Ming", "Dewey's Circle", "Jasvan", "The Fast Life", and "The Hill". Sacred Ground is a beautifully spiritual set that really reminds us of the promise we first heard in his music decades ago! Murray's working here with a lean, soulful ensemble that includes Lafayette Gilchrist on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Andrew Cyrille on drums – all in a groove that has plenty of sharp edges, but which is also nicely inside – very focused, and with a sense of depth that's really wonderful! All tracks are originals by Murray – penned with the sensitivity of an older soul jazz recording – and two numbers feature lyrics by Ishmael Reed, sung by Cassandra Wilson on guest vocals. Titles include "Sacred Ground", "Transitions", "Family Reunion", "The Prophet Of Doom", "Believe In Love", and "Banished". Lucky Four is a gentler set than some of David Murray's other US dates from the time – but in a really great way that nicely gets at the more sensitive side of his work on tenor and bass clarinet! There's a bit of a hardbop groove to the album, but also a bit more freedom too – a style that never goes that far out, but which reminds us through subtle cues that most of these players have a longer legacy in more avant-oriented work. The group features Dave Burrell on piano, Wilbur Morris on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums – and Burrell especially echoes a range of influences here – almost pulling from older eras of jazz in the way that Jaki Byard used to – an approach that's often echoed by Murray in his horn. Titles include "Valley Talk", "Chazz", "As I Woke", "Abel's Blissed Out Blues", "Sharing", and "As I Woke". CD

Ray grooves it nicely past his Ellington roots here – still using jazz violin, but working in a small combo mode, with some nice groovy tunes, in a style that makes for a pretty unique album! Some tracks have Ray bringing a new sound to 60s cuts like "Sunny", "Oh Happy Day", and "Hard Day's Night" – playing them in small combo mode, and mixing his violin with the tenor of Brew Moore, guitar of Tiny Grimes, and piano of Jaki Byard or Roland Hanna (who also plays a bit of organ on the set.) Other tracks are more traditional, but done in a lightly swinging way that almost has the "everything old is modern again" sort of mode of some of Byard's nods to trad in his own recordings. Nance also sings a bit on the set – in a nice, almost tired voice that we really like – and other titles include "Guitar Amour", "Tranquility", "Mimi", "Get Happy", and "Jolie Janice". CD

Proof that Dannie Richmond had a lot more to offer than just his drumming with Charles Mingus! The album's a stunning post-Mingus set that shows Richmond in command of a hip group of Mingus-ites – but working in a style that has much of its own manners and quirks! The album features 2 Mingus tunes – as you'd expect from a Richmond album – but the delivery is quite different than when the tunes were in Charles' hands, and they come off with an offbeat sense of rhythm and timing that almost has the playful feel of some of Jaki Byard's best work. The rest of the group features Ricky Ford on tenor, Jack Walrath on trumpet, and Cameron Brown on bass – and titles include "Hi Jinks", "Dionysius", "Flying Colors", and "Peggy's Blue Skylight". CD

One of the greatest modern moments on Blue Note – ever! From the cover, to the compositions, to the playing on the set – the whole album crackles with an unbelievable fire that was hardly ever matched again. A young Sam Rivers leads a quartet that includes Jaki Byard on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Anthony Williams on drums – coming together in a sound that's got lots of sharp edges, yet which also beats with an undeniably swinging heart. Rivers blows incredibly on the session – held in check by the rhythm section, and never getting too free (or sloppy, as on some later sides) – and instead hitting these hard tones that really push the envelope of 60s jazz without rewriting the rules entirely. Brilliant all the way through, with tracks that include "Beatrice", "Ellipsis", "Cyclic Episode", and "Downstairs Blues Upstairs". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest modern moments on Blue Note – ever! From the cover, to the compositions, to the playing on the set – the whole album crackles with an unbelievable fire that was hardly ever matched again. A young Sam Rivers leads a quartet that includes Jaki Byard on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Anthony Williams on drums – coming together in a sound that's got lots of sharp edges, yet which also beats with an undeniably swinging heart. Rivers blows incredibly on the session – held in check by the rhythm section, and never getting too free (or sloppy, as on some later sides) – and instead hitting these hard tones that really push the envelope of 60s jazz without rewriting the rules entirely. Brilliant all the way through, with tracks that include "Beatrice", "Ellipsis", "Cyclic Episode", and "Downstairs Blues Upstairs". CD

With performances by Nat Adderley, Art Blakey, Gary Burton, Jaki Byard, George Duke, Harry Edison, Tyree Glenn, Dexter Gordon, Herbie Hancock, Elvin Jones, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Howard McGhee, Zoot Sims, Jimmy Smith, Sonny Stitt, Tony Williams, and others! LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent box set that brings together all of the material recorded at the unique Newport Festival in 1972 – the historic shift to New York City after the previous year's effort in Rhode Island was shut down by demonstrators! The package features a whopping 6 albums in all – 4 of which are Jam session volumes, with material from players who include Charles Mingus, Jimmy Owens, Charles McPherson, Buddy Tate, Big Black, Milt Jackson, Max Roach, Jaki Byard, Nat Adderley, Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, and many others – all playing long, open, live tracks. LP 5 features "The Jimmy Smith Jam" – a very jamming set of work by Smith, with help from Kenny Burrell on guitar and Zoot Sims on tenor. LP 6 is "The Soul Sessions" – featuring soul material from Roberta Flack, Curtis Mayfield, Les McCann, and Herbie Mann. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few key recordings issued by baritone saxophonist Serge Chaloff before his untimely early death – a tremendous little record that really helped redefine the place of his instrument in jazz! The album is one of a number produced by Stan Kenton for Capitol at the time, but it's far from the cooler jazz outings of other "Kenton Presents" sessions – a real Boston Blow up that has Serge standing starkly out front on the baritone, hitting some tremendous notes that show a command and dexterity on his instrument that few other players could match! Also noteworthy is the presence of the great Boots Mussulli on alto sax – a sharp-edge player with a lot of Charlie Mariano touches, and an artist who's rarely heard in a setting so stripped-down as this. Other artists include Herb Pomeroy on trumpet, Ray Santisi on piano, and Jimmy Zitano on drums – and titles include the original numbers "Kip", "Unison", "Bob The Robin", and "Sergical" – plus versions of "What's New", "Yesterday's Gardenias", and Jaki Byard's "Diane's Melody". CD features 3 bonus tracks that include "Boomareemaroja", plus long and short takes on "Herbs". CD

The first album by Eddie Daniels – and loads better than most of his later work! About half the tracks feature Daniels playing clarinet, which is OK – but the best ones have him on tenor, working away in a lyrical modal mode that's really great. The rhythm's by a trio that includes Roland Hanna, Richard Davis, and Mel Lewis – and the album has that oddball soul jazz sound you'll find on other Prestige titles at the time by players like Jaki Byard or Eric Kloss. Titles include "Felicidad", "That Waltz", "Love's Long Journey", and "The Spanish Flee". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of classic early 60s modern jazz sets – back to back in this great 70s package! First up is the album Far Cry from Eric Dolphy – Eric Dolphy's first meeting in the studio with trumpeter Booker Little – a brilliant batch of modernism that's easily one of the hippest records Little ever worked on! The Dolphy heard here is Eric at his most inventive – sharp-edged and angular one minute, then spiritually lyrical the next – playing flute, bass clarinet, and alto sax equally well on the record – and somehow managing to get Little to share his inspiration perfectly on every number. Other players include Jaki Byard on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums – a rhythm team whose abilities are a big part of the success of the record – and titles include "Far Cry", "Mrs Parker Of KC", "Left Alone", "Ode To Charlie Parker", and "Miss Ann". Next is Where – a haunting and unusual batch of tracks from bassist Ron Carter – working here with a group that includes spiritual modernists Eric Dolphy on reeds and Mal Waldron on piano – both players who really add a lot to the set! In a way, the album's more like Dolphy's own work as a leader from the time than the sort of music usually associated with Carter – and Ron really seems to let the reedman shape the overall sound of the set with his tremendous work on alto, flute, and bass clarinet. Carter plays a bit of cello in addition to his bass – giving the record a nicely eerie sound at points – and Waldron's piano, as always, is excellent during this point in his career. Titles include Randy Weston's "Where" and "Saucer Eyes", plus "Bass Duet", which features Carter dueting with George Duvivier, and a very nice version of "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic from Roland Kirk – and a record that beautifully balances his modern ideas and playful energy – as you might guess from the title! While posing as the "whistleman", Roland's also pushing the boundaries of jazz a few steps forward too – not just in modern terms, but in spiritual ones too – showing that there's a way of letting loose that doesn't always have to be cold or artsy, but personal and soulful too. There's still echoes of the hardbop of the Mercury years, and plenty of inventive reed work from Kirk – on tenor, alto sax, manzello, stritch, and even nose flute too. The album was recorded live with a very hip cast that includes Lonnie Smith and Jaki Byard on piano, Charles Crosby on drums, and Major Holley on bass – and tracks include "Roots", "Here Comes The Whistleman", "Step Right Up", and "Aluminum Baby". CD

2 Eric Kloss albums back to back on a single CD – both under-discovered, and both totally great! Sky Shadows is one of the late 60s killers for Prestige by reedman Kloss – sublime material that was every bit as great as some of the bigger-name work for the label, but never really got its due! Kloss is sharper and more focused here than in later years – starting with a hardbop groove, but really reaching out with some inventive sounds of his own, and some great changes from the group! The inventive ensemble features Pat Martino on guitar, Jaky Byard on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums – and titles include "Sky Shadows", "January's Child", "The Girl With The Fall In Her Hair", and "In A Country Soul Garden". In The Land Of Giants is a crackling bit of modernist free play, with a very soulful edge – and the group includes Booker Ervin, Jaki Byard, Richard Davis, and Alan Dawson all joining Kloss as he hits his mid-period "exploratory" stage. His alto is super-crisp here, and although he's reaching out a bit more than on earlier albums, he never manages to lose the swing that made him sound so great right out of the box. Tracks include "So What", "When Two Lovers Touch", and "Sock It To Me Socrates". CD

A beautiful little record that's one of the toughest to find by Charlie Mariano, and which represents a rare "with orchestra" session that was put together by a young Don Sebesky! The backing's got all the moody overtones that show up in Sebesky's best arranging, and the group includes Jim Hall, Bob Brookmeyer, Jaki Byard, and other accomplished modernists – all working together to create beautiful backdrops of color and tone. Mariano's alto is the centerpiece, though, and he plays with a range of sophisticated emotions that don't always show up on his other records. Far from being a snoozy "with strings" session, the record has a lively ever-changing groove that sounds more like a classic jazz soundtrack than a straight studio session. The whole thing's a real treat, and titles include "Pretty Little Nieda", "To Taiho", "The Wind", and "The Shout". CD

Charles Mingus recorded many great concerts over the years – but this huge double-length collection may well be one of the most likely to earn the title of "great" – as the lineup is superb, and the music really captures Mingus at a time when he was setting a new fire in his sound! The time is the magical year of 1964 – and Mingus works here with a small group that features Eric Dolphy at a time right before he was to leave our planet all too soon – stretching out with the kind of incredible solos that Mingus allowed players in his group – showing some of the new spirituality that was coming into his sound at the time, emboldened by the leadership of the famous bassist. Dolphy blows flute, alto, and bass clarinet – alongside tremendous work from Clifford Jordan on tenor – springboarding here into the more spiritual currents of his albums to come – next to work from the great Jaki Byard on piano and Dannie Richmond on drums. All titles are very long, filled with majestic solos – and tracks include "Fables Of Faubus", "Parkerana", "Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress Then Blue Silk", "ATFW", "Sophisticated Lady", and "Meditations On Integration". CD

The title's exploding with Mingus, and the album is too – a completely classic effort for Impulse Records that's easily one of Charles' best of the 60s! Things are reigned in somewhat from the Mingus years at Atlantic or Candid, but the sound is still great – almost more focused than before – with a sense of all the best qualities that Charles was finding in his music, laid out back to back in near-perfect formation! The group's full of great players – with reeds from Eric Dolphy, Booker Ervin, and Jerome Richardson – all of whom really contribute some deep tones to the album – and Jaki Byard's on piano, making one of his key Mingus appearances of the 60s. Titles include the massive "Better Get Hit In Yo' Soul" (the virtual Mingus "trademark" tune), plus the tracks "Celia", "Hora Decubitus", and "II B.S.". LP, Vinyl record album

The title's exploding with Mingus, and the album is too – a completely classic effort for Impulse Records that's easily one of Charles' best of the 60s! Things are reigned in somewhat from the Mingus years at Atlantic or Candid, but the sound is still great – almost more focused than before – with a sense of all the best qualities that Charles was finding in his music, laid out back to back in near-perfect formation! The group's full of great players – with reeds from Eric Dolphy, Booker Ervin, and Jerome Richardson – all of whom really contribute some deep tones to the album – and Jaki Byard's on piano, making one of his key Mingus appearances of the 60s. Titles include the massive "Better Get Hit In Yo' Soul" (the virtual Mingus "trademark" tune), plus the tracks "Celia", "Hora Decubitus", and "II B.S.". CD features the bonus track "Freedom" – not on the original LP! CD

Sensitive solo work from Don Pullen – just the kind of record that demonstrates why he was one of the few free players of his generation who could also grab a bit slice of mainstream ears as well! Some moments on the set are quite unbridled, but never without a sense of structure – kind of a soulful undercurrent that really balances out nicely with Pullen's bolder notes – and which creates a strong bridge to some of the mellower, more introspective moments that round out the record wonderfully – almost with a Jaki Byard-like sense of timelessness. Titles include "Evidence Of Things Unseen", "Victory Dance", "In The Beginning", "Perseverance", and "Rejoice". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest modern moments on Blue Note – ever! From the cover, to the compositions, to the playing on the set – the whole album crackles with an unbelievable fire that was hardly ever matched again. A young Sam Rivers leads a quartet that includes Jaki Byard on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Anthony Williams on drums – coming together in a sound that's got lots of sharp edges, yet which also beats with an undeniably swinging heart. Rivers blows incredibly on the session – held in check by the rhythm section, and never getting too free (or sloppy, as on some later sides) – and instead hitting these hard tones that really push the envelope of 60s jazz without rewriting the rules entirely. Brilliant all the way through, with tracks that include "Beatrice", "Ellipsis", "Cyclic Episode", and "Downstairs Blues Upstairs". Plus, the original album is expanded by 4 bonus tracks – alternate takes of "Downstairs Blues Upstairs" and "Luminous Monolith". CD

A surprisingly nice little record – a set in which Prestige Records collected together a number of unissued Eric Dolphy tracks after his death – but still a strong full album – as the record features music that's even a bit more far-reaching than some of the studio albums on the label! Dolphy plays a solo bass clarinet version of "God Bless The Child"; he plays with Booker Little and Mal Waldron on "Status Seeking"; he's on flute in a quartet with Jaki Byard on "April Fool"; and he plays with a pickup Danish rhythm section on an alternate take of "Don't Blame Me". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most far-reaching, exploratory records cut by Booker Ervin during the 60s – a set that really lives up to the "freedom" in its title! The album really takes off from some of Ervin's other work of the time – and stands along next to the equally-great Space Book as a departure from his roots as mostly a Texas-styled tenorman. There's still a bit of Ervin's deeper soul in the mix, but the sound has more of the sharp edges that Booker was working on with Charles Mingus at the time – long solos filled with plenty of feeling, and a sound that's simply breathtaking throughout! The group's a quartet – especially well-matched with Jaki Byard on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums – all perfect partners for the unique vibe going on for the session. All tracks are great, and titles include "A Lunar Tune", "A Day To Mourn", "Cry Me Not", "Grant's Stand", and "Al's In". CD

Mindblowing work from Booker Ervin – one of our favorite albums ever from his years at Prestige, and a record that really earns its haunting title and cover image! Book's definitely headed out to space on this one – working in a freer mode than on some of his Texas tenor-styled albums – and getting great accompaniment in his journey from Jaki Byard on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums. The Davis/Dawson team is a delight throughout – soulful and in the pocket, yet working with enough sense of space to allow Ervin and Byard to really take off on their solos! The album features 4 long tracks – and titles include "There Is No Greater Love", "Number Two", "Mojo", and "I Can't Get Started". CD

An amazing record from the legendary Booker Ervin – and a set that really does a great job of bridging his modernist tendencies and soul jazz roots! The title track – "The Trance" – is an amazing 20 minute number that takes up all of side one of the record – and features Ervin soloing in an incredibly imaginative way – not as boppish as on his set with Dexter Gordon, but more in the powerful-voiced style that he developed with Mingus. The rest of the group features Jaki Byard on piano (always a treat!), Reggie Workman on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums – and side two features a very moody take on "Speak Low", and a nice bluesy vehicle for Booker, entitled "Groovin At The Jamboree". CD

A great collection that brings together 2 of the last albums ever issued by piano genius Elmo Hope – both of which are overflowing with original tunes in Hope's best modernist mode! The style here is a bit more far-reaching than some of his other work from earlier years – not necessarily in a way that's outside, but which is more all-encompassing of piano tradition – a bit in territory explored by Jaki Byard at the time, but with more of that Elmo's fire and bop inspiration. Most of the rhythm support is from Paul Chambers on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums – and titles include "Dee Dah", "Abdula", "Freffie", "Stars Over Marakesh", "Hot Sauce", "Mo Is On", "Crazy", "Maybe So", "Mo's Bluff", and "Chips". CD

A stone classic from Roland Kirk – and a record that beautifully balances his modern ideas and playful energy – as you might guess from the title! While posing as the "whistleman", Roland's also pushing the boundaries of jazz a few steps forward too – not just in modern terms, but in spiritual ones too – showing that there's a way of letting loose that doesn't always have to be cold or artsy, but personal and soulful too. There's still echoes of the hardbop of the Mercury years, and plenty of inventive reed work from Kirk – on tenor, alto sax, manzello, stritch, and even nose flute too. The album was recorded live with a very hip cast that includes Lonnie Smith and Jaki Byard on piano, Charles Crosby on drums, and Major Holley on bass – and tracks include "Roots", "Here Comes The Whistleman", "Step Right Up", and "Aluminum Baby". CD

A beautiful box set, and one that's filled with amazing material by one of our favorite players of all time! Roland Kirk's work for Mercury has always been darn tough to come by on wax, and even though a number of titles have been reissued individually over the years, this box set is still the best way to approach his early and mid 60's work for Mercury and related labels. The set's got a whopping 10 CDs in all – plus a bonus CD of unreleased stuff – and it's filled with rare material, live tracks, big band tracks, and just plain ol' great hard-wailing straight ahead material by Roland. Players on the set include Jaki Byard, Benny Golson, Wynton Kelly, Roy Haynes, Andrew Hill, Elvin Jones, and Horace Parlan. Very nice, and one you won't tire of quickly! CD

Two different concert recordings from the great Charles Mingus – recorded with the space of more than a decade between them, and showing the continual evolution of his genius! The first 2CDs bring together a sublime recording by German Radio in Bremen from 1964 – work that's from that important European tour that included the soon-to-be late Eric Dolphy on alto, flute, and bass clarinet – as part of a fiery sextet that also includes Johnny Coles on trumpet, Clifford Jordan on tenor, and Jaki Byard on piano. All players are fantastic – getting that push with Mingus that could often make soloists even more dynamic with the leader at the helm than on their own recordings – as you'll hear on the extended concert readings of "Hope So Eric", "Fables Of Faubus", "Parkeriania", and "Meditations On Integration" – plus a shorter solo by Byard. Mingus is at the helm of a different, but equally great group on the 1975 concert – with Jack Walrath on trumpet, George Adams on tenor, Don Pullen on piano, and Dannie Richmond on drums (as on just about every Mingus recording!) The politics of the 64 performance are still in place, with a slight shift – and they're mixed with some of the late Mingus' love of Duke Ellington, who gets a tribute here in a few spots, but with some great touches by Charles. Most tracks are nice and long – and titles include "Remember Rockefeller At Attica", "Devil Blues", "Duke Ellington's Sound Of Love", "Black Bat & Poles", "For Harry Carney", "Sue's Changes", and "Free Cell Block F Tis Nazi USA". CD

Charles Mingus recorded many great concerts over the years – but this huge double-length collection may well be one of the most likely to earn the title of "great" – as the lineup is superb, and the music really captures Mingus at a time when he was setting a new fire in his sound! The time is the magical year of 1964 – and Mingus works here with a small group that features Eric Dolphy at a time right before he was to leave our planet all too soon – stretching out with the kind of incredible solos that Mingus allowed players in his group – showing some of the new spirituality that was coming into his sound at the time, emboldened by the leadership of the famous bassist. Dolphy blows flute, alto, and bass clarinet – alongside tremendous work from Clifford Jordan on tenor – springboarding here into the more spiritual currents of his albums to come – next to work from the great Jaki Byard on piano and Dannie Richmond on drums. All titles are very long, filled with majestic solos – and tracks include "Fables Of Faubus", "Parkerana", "Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress Then Blue Silk", "ATFW", "Sophisticated Lady", and "Meditations On Integration". LP, Vinyl record album

Live recording with Charles McPherson on alto, Bobby Jones on tenor, Eddie Preston on trumpet, Jaki Byard on piano, Mingus on bass, and Dannie Richmond on drums. Tracks include "Gables of Faubus", "The Man Who Never Sleeps", "Ellington Medley", "Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress", and "She's Funny That Way". CD

Great recordings the important 1964 tour of Europe by bassist Charles Mingus – a key musical moment that not only saw some of the last recordings of Eric Dolphy before his departure from this planet, but which also introduced the overseas scene to some key up-and-coming talents who were in Mingus' tenure! The group here is a quintet, but plays with the fire of some of Charles' bigger ensembles from a few years before – and the setting has some especially open space for great solos from the reedmen – both Dolphy on alto, flute, and bass clarinet – plus Clifford Jordan on tenor. Dannie Richmond plays drums, and Jaki Byard is superb on piano – and titles on this second volume include "Charlemange", "At-Fw-You", "Sophisticated Lady", and "Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress Then Blue Silk". LP, Vinyl record album

The title's exploding with Mingus, and the album is too – a completely classic effort for Impulse Records that's easily one of Charles' best of the 60s! Things are reigned in somewhat from the Mingus years at Atlantic or Candid, but the sound is still great – almost more focused than before – with a sense of all the best qualities that Charles was finding in his music, laid out back to back in near-perfect formation! The group's full of great players – with reeds from Eric Dolphy, Booker Ervin, and Jerome Richardson – all of whom really contribute some deep tones to the album – and Jaki Byard's on piano, making one of his key Mingus appearances of the 60s. Titles include the massive "Better Get Hit In Yo' Soul" (the virtual Mingus "trademark" tune), plus the tracks "Celia", "Hora Decubitus", and "II B.S.". CD

A great later example of the genius of Mingus with Eric Dolphy – a performance done shortly before Dolphy left on his tragic last visit to Europe in 1964, and which features both him and Mingus at their freest together! Don't mistake the album for the similarly-titled Town Hall album on United Artists, because this session's a lot more open-ended – with longer tracks, and a real focus on freely creative solos from players that include Dolphy, Clifford Jordan, Johnny Coles, and Jaki Byard. The album features only 2 long tracks – both titled after Dolphy's passing, with appropriate names "Praying With Eric" and "So Long Eric". And as an added bonus, the booklet features a great Mingus rant against the record industry! CD

Proof that Dannie Richmond had a lot more to offer than just his drumming with Charles Mingus! The album's a stunning post-Mingus set that shows Richmond in command of a hip group of Mingus-ites – but working in a style that has much of its own manners and quirks! The album features 2 Mingus tunes – as you'd expect from a Richmond album – but the delivery is quite different than when the tunes were in Charles' hands, and they come off with an offbeat sense of rhythm and timing that almost has the playful feel of some of Jaki Byard's best work. The rest of the group features Ricky Ford on tenor, Jack Walrath on trumpet, and Cameron Brown on bass – and titles include "Hi Jinks", "Dionysius", "Flying Colors", and "Peggy's Blue Skylight". LP, Vinyl record album

A wild record – and one that nobody ever seems to know about! Mingus' drumming stalwart Dannie Richmond leads an odd group of groovy musicians in a weird set of material that's sort of pitched as a camp intellectual approach to jazz. The gatefold cover's got a Warhol-esque image of piles of cans of soup, with Richmond's face and the song titles over the image. The tracks are a weird mix of originals with groovy titles – like "High Camp", "The Spider", and "Pfoofnick" – plus a few other pop tracks cast in a very strange light. Richmond drums in a little combo that includes either Jimmy Raney or Toots Thielmans on guitar, Jaki Byard on piano, and Cecil McBee on bass. It's a very weird record, and one of the oddest sides ever cut by Impulse. We should also add that it's pretty darn groovy! LP, Vinyl record album

A set that starts out sounding like one of the most old school, straight ahead records we've ever heard from trombonist Roswell Rudd – but which soon opens up to all the creative, compelling modes we've always loved in Rudd's music! The record's the result of recent work with vocalist Heather Masse – a hell of a singer who takes Roswell back to older eras of jazz in style, but in ways that are still touched with all the creative tones we've always loved in his work on trombone! The mix is a bit like some of Roswell's 70s album with Sheila Jordan – in the way the songs are familiar, the structure is mostly standard, but the whole thing's open to these amazing inflections that really keep things interesting. Masse really surprises us, too – as while she can sing straight some times, she can also open up with these modes that are both modern and inventive, but never in a way that ignores older jazz roots. The pair have a way of embracing decades of jazz history at once – a bit in the way that Jaki Byard was always able to do – and they work here alongside Rolf Sturn on guitar and Mark Helias on bass – on titles that include "Social Call", "I'm Goin Sane", "Winter Blues", "Con Alma", "Tova & Kyla Rain", and "Blackstrap Molasses/Old Devil Moon". CD

A simple trio album, but a really great one – the kind that almost re-ignites Ray Bryant's career, which is a hard thing to do, given how many records he's already got under his belt! But somehow, there's really something fresh going on here – an array of sounds and modes that goes far beyond his earlier sides for Columbie, Sue, and even Atlantic – and although Bryant was heard on the latter label only a few short years before this outing, the style here is something different altogether. There's almost a timeless approach here – but not in a hokey way – one that's still firmly grounded in the rhythmic impulses of Ray's soul jazz years, but which also easily traverses a piano jazz territory of many more eras – almost in the way of Jaki Byard, but without as much of a gimmick. Rhythm is by George Duvivier on bass and Grady Tate on drums, and we've never heard Ray sound so great in such a setting. Titles include "Prayer Song", "Lil Darlin", "Girl Talk", "Good Morning Heartache", and "Manteca". CD

Despite any prejudice you might have against Maynard Ferguson, he actually does a damn good job backing up Chris Connor's lovely voice on this record – probably because his band is super-hip, and includes players like Jaki Byard, Joe Farrell, and Rufus Jones. Connor is in fine icy form, as usual – and it's nice to hear her get a bit more jazzy backing than some of the more somber arrangements you'll hear on her Atlantic sessions. Titles include "The Wind", "Send For Me", "Where Do You Go?", and "Deep Song". CD

The first album by Eddie Daniels – and loads better than most of his later work! About half the tracks feature Daniels playing clarinet, which is OK – but the best ones have him on tenor, working away in a lyrical modal mode that's really great. The rhythm's by a trio that includes Roland Hanna, Richard Davis, and Mel Lewis – and the album has that oddball soul jazz sound you'll find on other Prestige titles at the time by players like Jaki Byard or Eric Kloss. Titles include "Felicidad", "That Waltz", "Love's Long Journey", and "The Spanish Flee". CD

A great later release of rare material from Eric Dolphy – sides recorded in the early 60s, but appearing here for the first time ever! The set features long tracks – "GW" and "245", recorded with Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Jaki Byard on piano, and Dolphy on alto; and "Bee Vamp" and "Serene" with Booker Little on trumpet, Mal Waldron on piano, and Dolphy on bass clarinet! LP, Vinyl record album

Eric Dolphy's first meeting in the studio with trumpeter Booker Little – a brilliant batch of modernism that's easily one of the hippest records Little ever worked on! The Dolphy heard here is Eric at his most inventive – sharp-edged and angular one minute, then spiritually lyrical the next – playing flute, bass clarinet, and alto sax equally well on the record – and somehow managing to get Little to share his inspiration perfectly on every number. Other players include Jaki Byard on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums – a rhythm team whose abilities are a big part of the success of the record – and titles include "Far Cry", "Mrs Parker Of KC", "Left Alone", "Ode To Charlie Parker", and "Miss Ann". LP, Vinyl record album

Eric Dolphy's first album ever as a leader – recorded almost immediately after his arrival on the New York scene! The sound here is already bolder and stronger than the Dolphy experiments on the west coast – sharp-edged and freely exploratory, in a way that pushes the playful lyricism of the Chico Hamilton years aside, and reaches out into the new territory hinted at by the title! The group is a quintet that features Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Jaki Byard on piano, George Tucker on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums – and the overall sound is a beautiful mix of modernist hard bop and some of Dolphy's later freer styles. Dolphy plays his usual mix of alto, flute, and bass clarinet – and the tracks include "245", "Miss Toni", "Les", and "GW". LP, Vinyl record album

Mindblowing work from Booker Ervin – one of our favorite albums ever from his years at Prestige, and a record that really earns its haunting title and cover image! Book's definitely headed out to space on this one – working in a freer mode than on some of his Texas tenor-styled albums – and getting great accompaniment in his journey from Jaki Byard on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums. The Davis/Dawson team is a delight throughout – soulful and in the pocket, yet working with enough sense of space to allow Ervin and Byard to really take off on their solos! The album features 4 long tracks – and titles include "There Is No Greater Love", "Number Two", "Mojo", and "I Can't Get Started". This version also includes 2 bonus tracks "Second #2" and "Bass-Ix". CD

Features Ricky Ford on alto, Jaki Byard on piano, Milt Hinton on bass, and Ben Riley on drums! CD

2 excellent early albums from overlooked saxophone genius Eric Kloss! Grits & Gravy is a really incredible little set – with a varied approach that we love! About half the record has Kloss blowing with a quartet that includes Jaki Byard on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums – going for a style that's more towards the soulful end of Byard's modern approach – and featuring some incredibly well-crafted alto solos for his young age. The other half of the album features a strange but cool larger group – one with Teddy Charles on vibes, Billy Butler on guitar, and even some female backing vocals! The approach on these sides is like that on some of the George Braith and Freddie McCoy sides for Prestige – a great blend of groovy and funky, with a soulful undercurrent that's really sent home by Kloss' solos! A stunning album with a really unique blend of sounds – and titles that include "Repeat", "Grits & Gravy", "Gentle One", "Slow Hot Wind", and "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". First Class Kloss catches the young saxophone genius at a perfect point in his career, right when he was stretching out from the organ jazz roots of his first few records, but in a way that's not as noodly as in some of his later recordings. The group's incredibly hip – with Jimmy Owens, Cedar Walton, Leroy Vinnegar, and Alan Dawson – and the record bounces with that soulful pre-funk mode that crept into only the best of the Prestige sides of the late 60s. Titles include "African Cookbook", "Chittlins Con Carne", "Comin Home Baby", and "The Chasin Game". 16 tracks in all, including one previously unissued track – "Psychedelicatessen Rag". CD

Totally great work from a young Eric Kloss – grits, gravy, and a whole lot more! About half the record has Kloss blowing with a quartet that includes Jaki Byard on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums – going for a style that's more towards the soulful end of Byard's modern approach – and featuring some incredibly well-crafted alto solos for his young age. The other half of the album features a strange but cool larger group – one with Teddy Charles on vibes, Billy Butler on guitar, and even some female backing vocals! The approach on these sides is like that on some of the George Braith and Freddie McCoy sides for Prestige – a great blend of groovy and funky, with a soulful undercurrent that's really sent home by Kloss' solos! A stunning album with a really unique blend of sounds – and titles that include "Repeat", "Grits & Gravy", "Gentle One", "Slow Hot Wind", and "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". LP, Vinyl record album

We don't know what they were putting in the water in Boston during the 50's, but whatever it was, it sure made Bostonians play great jazz – especially all the white guys who picked up alto saxophones. Charlie Mariano was one of those guys, and from the start, his playing on the alto had a brilliant tone that lay somewhere between the iciness of Lee Konitz and the more soulful sound of Art Pepper. Mariano was always completely in his own bag, though, and as you'll hear on this early set of recordings with a young Jaki Byard, he was always open to modernist influences, but (like Byard) never let them get in the way of a soulful solo. We're not sure who these tracks were originally recorded for, but there's 16 of them, and they're all studio material with a hard lively sound. Titles include "Harangue", "Diane's Melody", "It's Magic", "Chandra", "Chanticlear", and "My Nancy". CD

Fantastic – and one of Mingus' greatest albums ever! This one ranks right up with The Clown and Pithecantropus Erectus for sheer raw power and emotion – and Mingus' writing here is incredibly tight, giving soloists like Charlie Mariano, Jaki Byard, Richard Williams, and Jerome Richardson a real workout. The set's an extended suite of tracks with sort of a semi-ballet form. Don't let this fool you into thinking that the work's some sort of semi-classical snoozer, though – as Mingus uses the structure to hit some brilliant raw emotion, and the "dance" part of the piece gives the work a tight rhythmic form, pushing the soloists into raw urgent grooves, of a nature that never show up on Mingus' other work from the time. Titles include "Trio & Group Dancers", "Solo Dancer", "Group & Solo Dance", and "Duet Solo Dancers". LP, Vinyl record album

The complete recordings – both master and alternate takes – of the famous Charles Mingus session recorded in Paris in October of 1970! The work here was originally issued on two different albums by the America label, but it was all recorded on a single day – and features some of the best later Mingus work in the studio! The tracks here are all relatively long, and captured with an intensity that's similar to some of Charles' amazing live work from the same period – really cut loose and unfettered, with long solos that build up from a tremendous sense of imagination and creativity. The group's relatively small – a sextet with Mingus on bass, Jaki Byard on piano, Bobby Jones on tenor, Charles McPherson on alto, Eddie Preston on trumpet, and Dannie Richmond on drums – all coming together in classic Mingus small group formation, with the kind of drive you'd expect more from the late 50s or early 60s. Titles include "Reincarnation Of A Lovebird", "Love Is A Dangerous Necessity", "Blue Bird", "Pithecanthropus Erectus", "Peggy's Blue Skylight", and a wonderful remake of "I Left My Heart In San Francisco". CD 1 features all the master takes – and CD 2 features alternates and false starts, all of which are previously unissued! CD

Excellent stuff – and a classic concert performance recorded in Paris in 1964! The group features Eric Dolphy on flute, alto sax and bass clarinet – plus Clifford Jordan on tenor, Jaki Byard on piano, and Dannie Richmond on drums – playing with very long takes on Mingus standards, with some excellent hard soloing all the way through! Titles include "Fables Of Faubus", "Parkerana", "Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress Then Blue Silk", "ATFW", "Sophisticated Lady", and Meditations On Integration". CD

Key moments in the career of Charles Mingus – all recorded during the crucial years of 1964 and 1965, and featuring the first-time release of a fair bit of live material too! The set represents the first full presentation of recordings that have appeared piecemeal on a handful of obscure releases – self-released records from Mingus himself – Town Hall, My Favorite Quintet, and Music Written For Monterey – all really expanded here with the full recordings of the tracks, and unreleased titles provided from the original tapes! Mingus was really on fire during these years – severed from most of his bigger label associations, and freely working on some of his most inventive ideas with various smaller groups of players – all fresh young talents who were key interpreters of Charles' ideas – including Johnny Coles and Lonnie Hillyer on trumpet, Jimmy Owens on trumpet and flugelhorn, Charles McPherson on alto sax, Clifford Jordan on tenor, Jaki Byard on piano, Eric Dolphy on alto, flute, and bass clarinet. The stalwart Dannie Richmond is on drums, and the sides represent some of Dolphy's last, and most important recordings on the planet – recordings done at Town Hall and in Amsterdam in April of 1964 – in addition to live material at Monterey in 1964 and 1965, in Minneapolis in May of 1965. Tracks are all quite long – some pushing the half-hour timing – and as with the best live Mingus, there's variations here that go way past any studio readings – really incredible solo flights that are still beautifully integrated with the ideas of the main group. Titles include "So Long Eric", "Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress Then Blue Silk", "Mingus Piano Solo", "Bird Preamble", "Themeless Blues", "Copa City Titty", "A Lonely Day In Selma", "Cocktails For Two", "Praying With Eric", "Parkeriana", "ATFW", "Meditations On A Pair Of Wire Cutters", and "Meditations On Integration". 7CDs, limited edition, and with a great book of notes too! CD

The title's exploding with Mingus, and the album is too – a completely classic effort for Impulse Records that's easily one of Charles' best of the 60s! Things are reigned in somewhat from the Mingus years at Atlantic or Candid, but the sound is still great – almost more focused than before – with a sense of all the best qualities that Charles was finding in his music, laid out back to back in near-perfect formation! The group's full of great players – with reeds from Eric Dolphy, Booker Ervin, and Jerome Richardson – all of whom really contribute some deep tones to the album – and Jaki Byard's on piano, making one of his key Mingus appearances of the 60s. Titles include the massive "Better Get Hit In Yo' Soul" (the virtual Mingus "trademark" tune), plus the tracks "Celia", "Hora Decubitus", and "II B.S.". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest modern moments on Blue Note – ever! From the cover, to the compositions, to the playing on the set – the whole album crackles with an unbelievable fire that was hardly ever matched again. A young Sam Rivers leads a quartet that includes Jaki Byard on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Anthony Williams on drums – coming together in a sound that's got lots of sharp edges, yet which also beats with an undeniably swinging heart. Rivers blows incredibly on the session – held in check by the rhythm section, and never getting too free (or sloppy, as on some later sides) – and instead hitting these hard tones that really push the envelope of 60s jazz without rewriting the rules entirely. Brilliant all the way through, with tracks that include "Beatrice", "Ellipsis", "Cyclic Episode", and "Downstairs Blues Upstairs". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest modern moments on Blue Note – ever! From the cover, to the compositions, to the playing on the set – the whole album crackles with an unbelievable fire that was hardly ever matched again. A young Sam Rivers leads a quartet that includes Jaki Byard on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Anthony Williams on drums – coming together in a sound that's got lots of sharp edges, yet which also beats with an undeniably swinging heart. Rivers blows incredibly on the session – held in check by the rhythm section, and never getting too free (or sloppy, as on some later sides) – and instead hitting these hard tones that really push the envelope of 60s jazz without rewriting the rules entirely. Brilliant all the way through, with tracks that include "Beatrice", "Ellipsis", "Cyclic Episode", and "Downstairs Blues Upstairs". CD

One of the greatest modern moments on Blue Note – ever! From the cover, to the compositions, to the playing on the set – the whole album crackles with an unbelievable fire that was hardly ever matched again. A young Sam Rivers leads a quartet that includes Jaki Byard on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Anthony Williams on drums – coming together in a sound that's got lots of sharp edges, yet which also beats with an undeniably swinging heart. Rivers blows incredibly on the session – held in check by the rhythm section, and never getting too free (or sloppy, as on some later sides) – and instead hitting these hard tones that really push the envelope of 60s jazz without rewriting the rules entirely. Brilliant all the way through, with tracks that include "Beatrice", "Ellipsis", "Cyclic Episode", and "Downstairs Blues Upstairs". Plus, the original album is expanded by 4 bonus tracks – alternate takes of "Downstairs Blues Upstairs" and "Luminous Monolith". CD

With Jaki Byard on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums. Includes "Samba Du Bois", "Nefertiti", "Airegin", "The Last Page", and "The Summer Knows". LP, Vinyl record album

Two classic Capitol albums by Serge Chaloff on one CD – both of them great together! Blue Serge is a classic Capitol jazz session, and one that pairs Boston baritone player Serge Chaloff with an LA rhythm section that has Sonny Clark on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. The album's a perfect example of Chaloff's legendary (and short-lived) talents on the baritone – and listening to it, you'll hear how Chaloff was one of the few players ever to get such a rich tone and fluid style out of the instrument. Titles include "How About You?", "Handful Of Stars", "The Goof & I", "Susie's Blues", and "All The Things You Are". Boston Blow Up is one of a number produced by Stan Kenton for Capitol at the time, but it's far from the cooler jazz outings of other "Kenton Presents" sessions – a real Boston Blow up that has Serge standing starkly out front on the baritone, hitting some tremendous notes that show a command and dexterity on his instrument that few other players could match! Also noteworthy is the presence of the great Boots Mussulli on alto sax – a sharp-edge player with a lot of Charlie Mariano touches, and an artist who's rarely heard in a setting so stripped-down as this. Other artists include Herb Pomeroy on trumpet, Ray Santisi on piano, and Jimmy Zitano on drums – and titles include the original numbers "Kip", "Unison", "Bob The Robin", and "Sergical" – plus versions of "What's New", "Yesterday's Gardenias", and Jaki Byard's "Diane's Melody". CD

Eric Dolphy's first meeting in the studio with trumpeter Booker Little – a brilliant batch of modernism that's easily one of the hippest records Little ever worked on! The Dolphy heard here is Eric at his most inventive – sharp-edged and angular one minute, then spiritually lyrical the next – playing flute, bass clarinet, and alto sax equally well on the record – and somehow managing to get Little to share his inspiration perfectly on every number. Other players include Jaki Byard on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums – a rhythm team whose abilities are a big part of the success of the record – and titles include "Far Cry", "Mrs Parker Of KC", "Left Alone", "Ode To Charlie Parker", and "Miss Ann". CD features 1 bonus track – "Serene". CD

Quite possibly the greatest record that Don Ellis ever recorded – and his hippest too! The trumpeter's playing here with a quartet that includes Jaki Byard on alto and piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Charlie Persip on drums – coming together perfectly in that arch-modern style that you'd find on the best Candid albums from the time. Ellis tone is skittish and fragile – and sounds here almost like he's working in a Mingus-y mode, quite possibly because Byard's influence on the session is pretty strong. Titles include "Waste", "A Simplex One", and "Sallie" – and side two features an extended "Improvisational Suite #1". LP, Vinyl record album

2 lesser-known gems from a young Maynard Ferguson – back to back on a single CD! First up is Plays Jazz For Dancing – a record that hones the usual Ferguson groove a bit more for the dancefloor, yet still keeps in plenty of room for the sorts of solo space that Maynard first forged earlier in the 50s! The lineup here features some great work from Willie Maiden on tenor, Slide Hampton on trombone, and Jimmy Ford on alto sax – as well as performances from Maynard himself on trumpet, valve trombone, and even a bit of euphonium. Titles include "Hey There", "Where's Teddy", "Soft Winds", "Tis Autumn", "Secret Love", "I'll Be Seeing You", and "If I Should Lose You". Let's Face The Music & Dance follows in very similar form – a well-crafted batch of big band numbers from Maynard Ferguson, with more than enough swing and sway for the dancefloor, but also that stronger sense of personality and power you'd expect from Maynard. As usual for the time, the lineup of players is totally great – a surprising batch of hipsters that includes Jaki Byard on piano, Slide Hampton on trombone, Joe Farrell on tenor and clarinet, and Willie Maiden on tenor and flute – plys some great drum work from Rufus Jones, who really keeps a nice punch in the rhythms. Titles include "Let's Do It", "Spring Is Here", "Teach Me Tonight", "Let's Face The Music & Dance", and "Mangos". CD