With selections by King Oliver's Dixie Syncopators, New Orleans Rhythm Kings, Johnny Dodds' Black Bottom Stompers, Red Nicols & His Five Pennies, Jimmy Noone's Apex Club Orchestra, Jelly Roll Mortion, Pine Top Smith, James P Johnson, Elmer Schoebel's Friar Society Orchestra, Benny Goodman, Eddie Lang & Joe Venuti, and Duke Ellington. LP, Vinyl record album

This famous pair in a late 60s date – with help from Panama Francis on drums, Ray Johnson on electric piano, and Jimmy Bond on bass – all of whom give things a bit more of a kick than usual for Brownie & Sonny! Titles include "Life Is A Gamble", "Long Way From Home", "Rock Island Line", "Big Question", and "Don't Mistreat Me". LP, Vinyl record album

With Clark Terry on trumpet and flugelhorn, Jimmy Cleveland on trombone, Julius Watkins on frech horn, Jay McAllister on tuba, Phil Woods on alto, Frank Wess on tenor, Jerome Richardson on baritone, Les Spann on guitar, George Duvivier on bass, and Osie Johnson on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent bop sides cut for EmArcy by Cannonball, collected and assembled in a manner that showcases his wonderfully soulful and hard blowing approach to the alto in the years before Miles recruited him. The set features a host of great sidemen including brother Nat, JJ Johnson, Cecil Payne, Ernie Royal, John Coltrane, Junior Mance, Horace Silver, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Keeter Betts, Sam Jones, Kenny Clarke, Max Roach and Jimmy Cobb. 17 tracks in all, including "Hurrican Connie", "Cynthia's In Love", "Cannonball", "Nat's Everglade", "Fallen Feathers", "Watermelon", "Fort Lauderdale", "Broadway At Basin Street", "T's Tune", "Blues For Bohemia", "Specutacular", "Miss Jackie's Delight", "Hoppin' John", "The Way You Look Tonight", "I'll Remember April", "Limehouse Blues" and "The Sleeper". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful mixing of modes – Jim Capaldi's Traffic-bred, London-styled vocals, and the sweet southern soul grooves of Muscle Shoals – all wrapped together with a sound that's even tighter than Capaldi's debut album! Jim's a big edgier here overall – both in the way he delivers the vocals, and in the lyrics of the tunes – and his singing's underscored perfectly by help from Jimmy Johnson on guitar, Barry Beckett on piano and organ, David Hood on bass, and Roger Hawkins on drums – all of whom create the right sort of warm Muscle Shoals vibe to make Capaldi's music sound wonderfully soulful. Steve Winwood plays a bit of guest organ on the set, and may well help with backing vocals – and titles include the funky "Low Rider" (different than the War tune) – plus "We'll Meet Again", "Summer Is Fading", "My Brother", "It's Alright", and "Yellow Sun". LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant early work by Miles Davis – some of his first truly important sessions to appear under his own name – originally issued as singles or 10" LP recordings by Blue Note, and brought together here in a full length set that would help to define the early years of his career! This is work before Miles was able to stretch out on longer sessions for Prestige, but the material already showcases his unique contribution to jazz – shorter tracks that are perhaps more boppish, than you might expect from some of Miles' other 50s work – but in a way that still allows for many moments of lyrical beauty, and that brilliantly cool sound of his which forever changed the sound of jazz trumpet. The set features work from an assortment of players who vary from track to track – including Jimmy Heath on tenor, Jackie McLean on alto, JJ Johnson on trombone, Gil Coggins on piano, and either Kenny Clarke or Art Blakey on drums – on titles that include "Tempus Fugit", "Kelo", "Enigma", "Ray's Ida", and "CTA". LP, Vinyl record album

Wail Moody, indeed – a killer set from the 50s that really shows the strong development of James Moody after the initial bebop years – already growing into one of the most forward-thinking jazzman of his generation! The group here is a bit larger than before – a septet, put together with both a mix of modern arrangements and some of the more freewheeling styles of a bop jam session – a great testament to Moody's growing ability as a leader. The lineup is a bit unusual, but in a good way – with work from Pee Wee Moore on baritone, Dave Burns on trumpet, Jimmy Boyd on piano, and William Shepherd on trombone – plus John Latham on bass and Clarence Johnson on drums – and the groove is open – informed by bop, but with a lot of early soul jazz in the mix, too – especially in the ensemble phrasing. Side one features the side-long jammer "Wail Moody Wail" – and other titles include "The Golden Touch", "The Donkey Serenade", and "Moody's Blue Again". LP, Vinyl record album

Nestico plays with big band, with featured soloists including Eugene Amaro, Ed Bickert, Guido Basso, Jimmy Dale, Dave Young, Jerry Toth, Dave Woods, Ian McDougall, Jerry Johnson, and Bruce Harvey. LP, Vinyl record album

Tony Scott plays with his septet, which includes Eddie Wasserman on tenor, Danny Banks on baritone, Jimmy Nottingham on trumpet, Billy Byers on trombone, Milt Hinton on bass, and Osie Johnson on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Traffic get some help here from Muscle Shoals heavyweights Barry Beckett, Roger Hawkins, and Jimmy Johnson – a trio who help the group continue that richer, more expanded sound that was first unfurled on the group's Low Spark album! The sound is maybe a more focused attempt at territory from that record, but one that also really stretches things out too – long tracks that have just the right balance, and which never make the extra long space of the tunes feel like their wasted at all – just perfect settings for the energy of the tunes composed by Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi. Titles include "Roll Right Stones", "Tragic Magic", "Evening Blue", and "Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic late Webster material, recorded in a laidback setting for Verve, with associates that include Coleman Hawkins, Budd Johnson, Roy Eldridge, Jimmy Jones, and Les Spann. Side one is a very long version of "In A Mellow Tone", with a blowing session solo approach – and side two features shorter tracks like "Budd Johnson", "Young Bean", and "De Dar". LP, Vinyl record album

A late 70s pressing of some classic Verve sides from the 50s, featuring two masters of the tenor, blowing side by side in a couple of small group settings: one with rhythm backing by Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, and Alvin Stoller and the other with Jimmy Jones, Les Spann, Ray Brown and Jo Jones, plus Roy Eldridge and Budd Johnson in the frontline. The best tracks have lots of room – plenty of space so that the tenors aren't butting heads with each other in too close of quarters, with space to express themselves freely. Titles include "Blues For Yolande", "La Rosita", "Shine On Harvest Moon", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "It Never Entered My Mind", "De-Dar", "Time After Time", "Young Bean" and "In A Mellowtone". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest collections of music we've ever heard from the legendary TK Records in Miami – a company that was a powerhouse of 70s hits and disco classics – but which also cut some wonderful underground soul at the time! This sublime set looks at that great lesser-known legacy of TK – the hipper, more sophisticated music they cut in between the chart numbers and boogie singles – often by soul artists who had some involvement with bigger acts, but who really got a chance here to shine on their own! There's a surprising amount of funk in the mix – that deeper current that made Miami a key heir to 60s funky styles from Memphis and New Orleans – and there's some equally great modern soul, but served up with a complexity that goes way past the usual – both in the songwriting and arrangements. If you've only heard TK hit collections, you'll find plenty to love here – and even for deeper diggers like us, there's still plenty of new bits to be discovered! Titles include "Confusion" by Leno Phillips, "You Knock Me Out" by Wildflower, "Hey There Jim" by Jimmy Bo Horne, "Tears Of The World" by Robert Moore, "I Got Bills To Pay" by Johnny K, "I Want To Be Loved" by Stevens & Foster, "Sleep On Dream On" by Raphael Munnings, "Life Is A Beautiful Feeling" by Formula 1, "Bahama Soul Stew" by Funky Nassau, "Lay It On Me" by Willie Johnson, "The Silence That You Keep (version 1)" by Milton Wright, and "There Must Be Something" by Friday Saturday & Sunday. LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing small group work from Ralph Burns – a real standout, given the amount of his larger ensemble sessions in the 50s! The album features Burns on piano – overdubbed on some tracks – working with a combo that includes Jimmy Raney on guitar, Clyde Lombardi on bass, and Osie Johnson on drums – all gently modern players who fit perfectly with Ralph's vision for the record. Things aren't as dark or as arch as on some of Burns' bigger dates of the decade – almost a bit warm at times, especially thanks to Ralph's piano lines. Titles include "Autobahn Blues", "Echo Of Spring", "Spring Sequence", "Spring", "Spring Is Here", and "Gina". LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant early work by Miles Davis – some of his first truly important sessions to appear under his own name – originally issued as singles or 10" LP recordings by Blue Note, and brought together here in a full length set that would help to define the early years of his career! This is work before Miles was able to stretch out on longer sessions for Prestige, but the material already showcases his unique contribution to jazz – shorter tracks that are perhaps more boppish, than you might expect from some of Miles' other 50s work – but in a way that still allows for many moments of lyrical beauty, and that brilliantly cool sound of his which forever changed the sound of jazz trumpet. The set features work from an assortment of players who vary from track to track – including Jimmy Heath on tenor, Jackie McLean on alto, JJ Johnson on trombone, Horace Silver on piano, and Art Blakey on drums. Titles on this second volume include "Weirdo", "Donna", "Ray's Idea (alt)", "Take Off", "Would'n You", "The Leap", "Lazy Suzan", and "Tempus Fugit (alt)". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Sammy D's best albums of the late 60s – and a beautiful mix of modes that he explored on the Reprise label! The title track is Sammy's big hit "I've Gotta Be Me", but that tune's followed up with some nice groovers – like Sammy's versions of "My Personal Property" and "I'm a Brass Band" – both pulled from Sweet Charity, a film in which he had a part. Arrangements are by HB Barnum, JJ Johnson, and Richard Wess – and get very nicely jazzy in parts, an aspect that's further emphasized by Jimmy Bowen's great production. Other tracks include "She Believes In Me", "Sweet November", "Here I'll Stay", "I'm Glad There Is You", and "I've Got You Under My Skin". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Aretha Franklin's undisputed classics from her late 60s run on Atlantic Records – a seminal session that furthered her deep soul agenda with key backings from Arif Mardin and Tom Dowd – both of whom handle the mix of rawness and polish that made Aretha so great at the time! The Sweet Inspirations provide sublime backing vocals behind Franklin's maturing delivery of the lyrics – and the music is by an all-star group of players that includes Spooner Oldham, Bobby Womack, Jimmy Johnson, King Curtis, Tommy Cogbill, Roger Hawkins, and even Eric Clapton – clearly the cream of the crop, more than willing to be part of such an amazing set! Cuts include "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman", "Chain Of Fools", "Money Won't Change You", "Come Back Baby", and "Ain't No Way". LP, Vinyl record album

With Jimmy Johnson on bass, Billy Childs on keys, Rowanne Mark on vocals, and Gary Husband, Jimmy Johnson, and Chad Wackerman on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

A great Mancini score for one of the goofiest films of the 60s! Peter Sellers stars as the sitar-playing Indian actor Hrundi Bakshi – next to the lovely Claudine Longet, who makes one of her few film appearances – and the whole thing's set to one of the greatest scores ever by Henry Mancini! The tunes are very groovy – with a few chorus vocal numbers, and some other wonderful tracks that mix together bits of sitar, guitar, and horn blasts – creating a very lively instrumental groove. Plus, the music is played by a tight group of LA jazzmen – with Plas Johnson on tenor, Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Jimmy Rowles on piano, and Shelly Manne on drums – all musicians who really make things cook! Titles include instrumental and chorus versions of "Nothing To Lose", plus "Chicken Little Was Right", "Birdie Num Num", "Party Poop", "Wiggy", and "Brunette In Yellow". Swingin! LP, Vinyl record album

A nice selection of late 40s work by a few groups, collected by Savoy as a kind of introduction to the bebop movement, a look back at the early days of bop. Kai Winding and his quintet, featuring Allen Eager on tenor and Shelley Manne on drums, lead off the set with four tracks including "Mr. Dues" and "O-Go-Mo". From there tenor sax man Brew Moore's quartet, featuring Jimmy Johnson on bass and Stan Levey on drums, contribute four tracks including "Blew Brew" and "More Brew". Eddie Lockjaw Davis rounds out the set, with a group that features Fats Navarro on trumpet and Al Haig on piano. His four tracks include "Spinal" and "Red Pepper". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most soulful voices in Jamaican music – presented here in a wonderful collection that includes some of Ken Boothe's early rocksteady material, then runs through his bigger famous cuts of the 70s! Ken wasn't nearly as big a hit over here as artists like Jimmy Cliff or Bob Marley, but his vocals here easily match theirs for sheer, raw, soulful power – and maybe show an even more direct inspiration from American music, especially on the earlier cuts – or his great covers of cuts by artists like Syl Johnson and Bill Withers. Boothe can also sing as sweetly with a groove as his bigger 70s reggae counterparts, but knows how to draw an edge when the song calls for it – and this 40 track set is overflowing with Trojan Records gems from the vocalist – with titles that include "Crying Over You", "Freedom Street", "Speak Softly Love", "Ain't No Sunshine", "African Lady", "You Send Me", "Black, Gold & Green", "Is It Because I'm Black", and "Everything I Own". LP, Vinyl record album

With Jimmy Johnson and Gary Willis on bass, Chad Wackerman, Gary Husband, and Mac Hine on drums, Alan Pasqua on keyboards, and Paul Williams and Paul Korda on vocals. LP, Vinyl record album

Featured sidemen include Louis Armstrong, Johnny Dodds, Jimmy Noone, Baby Dodds, and others; plus vocals by Butterbeans and Susie, Sippie Wallace, Clarence Williams, Elizabeth Johnson, and Hazel Smith. 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

Rare work by Dicky Wells, Buster Bailey, Buddy Rich, Bud Johnson, Pee Wee Irwin, Jimmy Crawford and more. Lots of big groups here! LP, Vinyl record album