A 2LP set that brings together most of the material from the first three full-length albums by the Modern Jazz Quartet – all recorded at a time when the combo were first forging their famous sound! Most of the sides here are in contrast to the group's better-known Atlantic work, because the group at this point still featured Kenny Clarke on drums – and although a few tracks here include Connie Kay, the bulk of the recordings are touched by Clarke's tighter, sometimes more aggressive work on percussion – making for a less-than-trademark sound that we really like. As usual, the rest of the group features Milt Jackson on vibes, John Lewis on piano, and Percy Heath on bass – and the 2LP set features 18 tracks that include "Concorde", "Vendome", "Milano", "La Ronde", "Django", "All The Things You Are", "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise", "Delauney's Dilemma", "La Ronde Suite", "All Of You", and "Ralph's New Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the earliest material ever recorded by the Modern Jazz Quartet – early 50s sides that were originally issued as 78rpm singles, then brought together in this self-titled LP! Some of the material was first released under the name of the Milt Jackson Quartet – but featured the lineup of Jackson on vibes, John Lewis piano, Percy Heath bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums. Yet other tracks on the set have bassist Ray Brown in for Heath and drummer Al Jones in for Clarke – both players who make for a slightly different groove in the company of Jackson and Lewis. Tunes are short, but already show that Lewis love of chromatic tones – and titles include "Yesterdays", "Love Me Pretty Baby", "Milt Meets Sid", "Moving Nicely", "D&E", "True Blues", and "Autumn Breeze". CD

More material from the famous Last Concert record from the MJQ – not really the last concert ever from the Modern Jazz Quartet – but a set that seemed so at the time, given that the group went their separate ways for a number of years! The record's got the combo in really top form – very much back to the basics of their early time on Atlantic Records, with a sublime focus on that unique sound that no other group like this could match. Milt Jackson's vibes are chromatically aligned in this amazing way with the piano of John Lewis – and somehow the live recording seems to bring out even more tones in the bass of Percy Heath, who feels an even stronger presence here than usual. Connie Kay's work on drums are a masterpiece of percussive understatement – and titles include "The Jasmine Tree", "Tears From The Children", "England's Carol", "Blues In H (b)", and "Really True Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the groovier albums the Modern Jazz Quartet ever recorded – as you might expect, given the cover and title! In addition to the group's usual cool sound from Milt Jackson's vibes, the set also features John Lewis playing a bit of harpsichord in addition to his usual piano – and the group's also augmented on a few tracks with some great horns from Snookie Young and Joe Newman on trumpets, Garnett Brown on trombone, Jim Buffington on French horn, and Don Butterfield on tuba – a change that really gives the record a nicely different flavor from other MJQ albums. John Lewis composed all of the tracks – and titles include "Walkin Stomp", "Dancing", "Plastic Dreams", "Variations On A Christmas Theme", "Travlin", "Piazza Novona", and "England's Carol". LP, Vinyl record album

Early and brilliant work by the MJQ – recorded at a time when the combo's idea was quite unique, and when its execution was still filled with a lot of creative energy! The group, of course, features the core duo of Milt Jackson and John Lewis – and bass chores are handled by either Percy Heath, or Ray Brown – the latter of whom dominates the album surprisingly. Drums are mostly by Kenny Clarke, whose harder touch gave the group an edge on a lot more of these early recordings – and on a few numbers, Al Jones sits in instead of Kenny. Titles include "Love Me Pretty Baby", "D&E", "True Blues", "Yesterdays", "Round About Midnight", and "Milt Meets Sid". CD

A moody early 60s set by the MJQ for Atlantic. Overall the group rolls and swings in a bit rougher mode than they do on their brighter efforts, but they still hit the sweet spot and swing when the mood fits! The record works best when Milt Jackson's vibes are let loose, as on the playful reading of "Mean To Me", and John Lewis's piano sets the mood as in "Carnival" (the Luiz Bonfa tune). Other tracks include Lewis's "The Sheriff", "In A Crowd", "Donnie's Theme" and "Natural Affection", plus "Bachianas Brasileiras". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautifully spacey work from the Modern Jazz Quartet – a record that more than earns its enigmatic title! The session's an odd one – in that the MJQ are recording for the Beatles' famous Apple label – but that fact is also one of the best aspects of the record, as it seems to push the group past the staid third stream sound of some of their 60s recordings for Atlantic, into territory that's a bit more experimental, and concerned with sound, colors, and texture. The album's got 2 incredible originals from John Lewis – "Visitor From Mars" and "Visitor From Venus" – plus the tracks "Dilemma" and "Adagio From Concierto De Aranjuez". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that shows that none of the group's imagination or talent had dimmed over the years – and the core quartet of John Lewis on piano, Milt Jackson on vibes, Percy Heath on bass, and Connie Kay on drums are joined by The New York Chamber Symphony, who are a small string-based group who slide in and out of the jazz-based grooves with an inventive range of colors and sounds! The album's hardly a "jazz with strings" sort of date – and instead, the strings are nicely integrated with a fluidly creative approach – in the mode of some of the more experimental string quartets that were showing up at the time. Titles include "Kansas City Breaks", "Three Windows", "Encounter In Cagnes", and the "Day In Dubrovnik" suite. CD

Larger group meditations by the Modern Jazz Quartet – working here in an expanded lineup that includes work from Phil Woods, Charlie Mariano, Seldon Powell, Richie Kamuca, Clark Terry, and Jimmy Cleveland! The album takes a core MJQ groove, and only seems to lay out out over the larger arrangements as backing – almost as if the set were recorded in two parts, and stitched together – but in a way that works with a brilliant sense of counterpart, one that brings a lot more soul and color to the group's work than usual. Titles include versions of the John Lewis numbers "One Never Knows", "Animal Dance", "The Golden Striker", "Django", and "Home" – plus Milt Jackson's "Ralph's New Blues". CD

Features Phil Woods on alto saxophone, Dean Johnson on bass, Ron Vincent on drums, John Clark on french horn, John Lewis on piano, Dave Bargeron on trombone, Wallace Roney on trumpet, and Bill Barber on tuba. CD

One of our favorite albums ever on the legendary ESP label – and a key session in the best "new thing" mode of the 60s! The New York Art Quartet were a short lived collaboration between trombonist Roswell Rudd, saxophonist John Tchicai, bassist Lewis Worrell, and percussionist Milford Graves – but their legacy in this one album is almost greater than that of other combos who recorded more frequently at the time. The sound is similar to the best "spacious" groups of the new thing years – such as the Archie Shepp/Bill Dixon work, or some of the looser sides by the New York Contemporary Five – a group that featured Shepp and Tchicai. Leroi Jones (Amiri Baraka) makes a key guest appearance on the title "Black Dada Nihilismus" – reciting his writings alongside the group's somber instrumental musings – and other titles include "Short", "Rosmosis", and "No 6". CD

One of our favorite albums ever on the legendary ESP label – and a key session in the best "new thing" mode of the 60s! The New York Art Quartet were a short lived collaboration between trombonist Roswell Rudd, saxophonist John Tchicai, bassist Lewis Worrell, and percussionist Milford Graves – but their legacy in this one album is almost greater than that of other combos who recorded more frequently at the time. The sound is similar to the best "spacious" groups of the new thing years – such as the Archie Shepp/Bill Dixon work, or some of the looser sides by the New York Contemporary Five – a group that featured Shepp and Tchicai. Leroi Jones (Amiri Baraka) makes a key guest appearance on the title "Black Dada Nihilismus" – reciting his writings alongside the group's somber instrumental musings – and other titles include "Short", "Rosmosis", and "No 6". CD

A pair of amazing records from a legendary group – one who didn't record much, but who really shaped the sound of the avant garde in the 60s! First up is the self-titled New York Art Quartet, one of our favorite albums ever on the legendary ESP label – and a key session in the best "new thing" mode of the 60s! The New York Art Quartet were a short lived collaboration between trombonist Roswell Rudd, saxophonist John Tchicai, bassist Lewis Worrell, and percussionist Milford Graves – but their legacy in this one album is almost greater than that of other combos who recorded more frequently at the time. The sound is similar to the best "spacious" groups of the new thing years – such as the Archie Shepp/Bill Dixon work, or some of the looser sides by the New York Contemporary Five – a group that featured Shepp and Tchicai. Leroi Jones (Amiri Baraka) makes a key guest appearance on the title "Black Dada Nihilismus" – reciting his writings alongside the group's somber instrumental musings – and other titles include "Short", "Rosmosis", and "No 6". The album Mohawk is next – rare and brilliant work from this amazing group – a lineup that features Roswell Rudd on trombone, John Tchicai on alto, Reggie Workman on bass, and Milford Graves on drums and percussion – a combo who are best known for their one LP on ESP, but also sounding equally great on this rare European-only album! The record has a wonderfully creative approach – still in the energetic mode of the New York scene of the 60s, but also with the more introspective style that would come into play more in the 70s loft scene. Players handle a variety of instruments – almost in an AACM mode – and titles include "Mohawk", "Banging On The White House Door", "Rufus 3rd", and "No 6". CD

John Hicks on piano, Marcus MacLaurine on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. CD

A jazz treasure chest – an extraordinary bounty of Bird on Verve! You get absolutely everything here, master takes, alternate takes, loads of previously unissued material, rehearsals, incomplete takes, you get it all! Sidemen include Benny Carter, Kenny Clarke, Miles Davis, Roy Eldridge, Gil Evans, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Hodges, John Lewis, Machito, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Ben Webster and Lester Young. There's 177 (!!) tracks in all, so we can't list all the titles here, but some of them include "Blues For Norman", "The Bird", "Repetition", "No Noise", "Okiedoke", "The Opener", "Lester Leaps In", "Flyin' Home", "Perdido", "Everything Happens To Me", "April In Paris", "Summertime", "I Didn't Know What Time It Was", "Bloomdido", "Mohawk", "My Melancholy Baby", "Leapfrog", "East Of The Sun", "I'll Remember April", "Au Privave", "KC Blues", "Swedish Schnapps", "Estrellita", "Funky Blues", "Jam Blues", "I Get A Kick Out Of You", and "Love For Sale". CD

Features work with the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet and bandleader Barry Ulanov – other notable sidemen include Fats Navarro, John Lewis, Lennie Tristano, and Buddy Rich. CD

Notable sidemen include Erroll Garner, Howard McGhee, Wardell Gray, Dodo Marmarosa, Barney Kessel, Miles Davis, Bud Powell, Max Roach, John Lewis, and Duke Jordan. CD

Featuring Miles Davis, Duke Jordan, JJ Johnson, Max Roach, and John Lewis. CD

Includes 42 tracks and features Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Duke Jordan, John Lewis, and Max Roach. CD

You'll be hard pressed to find a better collection of Charlie Parker's classic work on vinyl! Bird's great recordings for Savoy have often been poorly packaged over the years, but here you get the whole batch of seminal bop sides by the pioneering artist of the genre! Bird's the leader on most of these sides, but there's a nice set of recordings under Tiny Grimes and a very young Miles Davis too, with a host of players from the dawn of the bebop age, including Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Sadik Hakim, John Lewis, Duke Jordan, Curly Russell, Tommy Potter and Max Roach. An as you'd expect from this kind of set, you get loads of multiple takes so you can hear these pioneering players creating the style that would change the face of jazz forever. Put together in 1978, this set features 66 tracks in all, spread out over 5 LPs, with a nicely annotated book, and includes "I'll Always Love You Just The Same","Romance Without Finance", "Billie's Bounce", "Now's The Time", "Thriving On A Riff", "Koko", "Donna Lee", "Chasin The Bird", "Buzzy", "Milestones", "Half Nelson", "Another Hair Do", "Bird Gets The Worm", "Barbados", "Ah-Leu-Cha", "Constellation", "Parker's Mood", "Perhaps","Marmaduke", "Steeplechase" and more! LP, Vinyl record album

Older Charlie Parker material – originally recorded as 78rpm releases for Savoy, packaged up here in full LP form, along with alternate takes and a great cover, in the years after his early death! Players include Miles Davis on trumpet, Tiny Grimes on guitar, Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet and piano, Duke Jordan and John Lewis on piano, and Max Roach on drums – and titles include "Red Cross", "Sippin At Bells", "Little Willie Leaps", "Donna Lee", "Chasing The Bird", and "Half Nelson". CD

Older Charlie Parker material – originally recorded as 78rpm releases for Savoy, packaged up here in full LP form, along with alternate takes and a great cover, in the years after his early death! Players include Miles Davis on trumpet, Tiny Grimes on guitar, Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet and piano, Duke Jordan and John Lewis on piano, and Max Roach on drums – and titles include "Red Cross", "Sippin At Bells", "Little Willie Leaps", "Donna Lee", "Chasing The Bird", and "Half Nelson". CD

Older Charlie Parker material – originally recorded as 78rpm releases for Savoy, packaged up here in full LP form, along with alternate takes and a great cover, in the years after his early death! Players include Miles Davis on trumpet, Tiny Grimes on guitar, Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet and piano, Duke Jordan and John Lewis on piano, and Max Roach on drums – and titles include "Red Cross", "Sippin At Bells", "Little Willie Leaps", "Donna Lee", "Chasing The Bird", and "Half Nelson". LP, Vinyl record album

Older Charlie Parker material – originally recorded as 78rpm releases for Savoy, packaged up here in full LP form, along with alternate takes and a great cover, in the years after his early death! Players include Miles Davis on trumpet, Tiny Grimes on guitar, Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet and piano, Duke Jordan and John Lewis on piano, and Max Roach on drums – and titles include "Red Cross", "Sippin At Bells", "Little Willie Leaps", "Donna Lee", "Chasing The Bird", and "Half Nelson". LP, Vinyl record album

Older Charlie Parker material – originally recorded as 78rpm releases for Savoy, packaged up here in full LP form, along with alternate takes and a great cover, in the years after his early death! Players include Miles Davis on trumpet, Tiny Grimes on guitar, Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet and piano, Duke Jordan and John Lewis on piano, and Max Roach on drums – and titles include "Red Cross", "Sippin At Bells", "Little Willie Leaps", "Donna Lee", "Chasing The Bird", and "Half Nelson". LP, Vinyl record album

Early work on Savoy – with Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet, John Lewis and Bud Powell on piano, and Max Roach on drums! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Early work on Savoy – with Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet, John Lewis and Bud Powell on piano, and Max Roach on drums! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A very well-done collection of Charlie Parker performances from the legendary Birdland nightclub – originally presented on radio, but cleaned up here with a great sense of sound! The mighty Symphony Sid can be heard introducing a few tracks, but the main focus is on the music – with the kind of razor-sharp solos that always made Parker a knockout, especially during these key early 50s years – and accompaniment from musicians who include Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet, Bud Powell or John Lewis on piano, Kenny Clarke or Roy Haynes on drums, and even the surprising inclusion of organist Milt Buckner at one point! The album may well be worth it, just to hear Bird playing with a Hammond – but the whole thing's great, and titles include "Cool Blues", "Star Eyes", "Blue N Boogie", "Anthropology", "Night In Tunisia", and "Groovin High". LP, Vinyl record album

A late 50s album that issues some killer combo material by Bird! One half of the album features work by a group that includes Red Rodney, John Lewis, Ray Brown, and Kenny Clarke – and the other features Parker with Miles Davis, Walter Bishop Jr, Max Roach, and Teddy Kotick. Tracks are short, and include some classics – and the album includes alternate takes of 4 numbers. Titles include "Si Si", "Swedish Schnapps", "Back Home Blues", "Lover Man", "Au Privave", "She Rote", and "Star Eyes". LP, Vinyl record album

A late 50s album that issues some killer combo material by Bird! One half of the album features work by a group that includes Red Rodney, John Lewis, Ray Brown, and Kenny Clarke – and the other features Parker with Miles Davis, Walter Bishop Jr, Max Roach, and Teddy Kotick. Tracks are short, and include some classics – and the album includes alternate takes of 4 numbers. Titles include "Si Si", "Swedish Schnapps", "Back Home Blues", "Lover Man", "Au Privave", "She Rote", and "Star Eyes". The Plus part is also a session including Parker with Kenny Dorham, Al Aig, Tommy Potter and Max Roach. Tracks include "Segment", "Passport" and "Diverse". This CD includes a hand full of alternate takes also! CD

A nice overview of work by Bird and Diz – includes recordings from 1947 in New York City with sidemen that include John Lewis, Mles Davis, Duke Jordan, JJ Johnson, and Max Roach; plus a Gillespie session from 1953 in Paris with Bill Graham on saxophones, Wade Legge on piano, Lou Hackney on bass, Al Jones on drums, and Joe Carroll on vocals. LP, Vinyl record album

A spiritual jazz classic on the Strata East label – yet a record that's also got a very different approach than most of the rest from the time! The style here is hinted at in the group's name – as the lineup features some key spiritual jazz pianists, all working together in this amazing array of sounds – both melody and rhythm often handled by the keys – in an ensemble that features work from Stanley Cowell, Webster Lewis, Sonelius Smith, Harold Mabern, Ron Burton, Hugh Lawson, and Nat Jones! The group uses pianos to make almost all the sounds – including the rhythms – although there is some percussion at times from Mtume, John Lewis, and Jimmy Hopps – all of whom add in these beautifully subtle touches. The set features all original music, completely wonderful all the way through – with titles that include "Ballad For The Beast From Bali-Bali", "In What Direction Are You Headed", "Barbara Ann", and "Prayer For Peace". LP, Vinyl record album

With John Funkhouser on bass and Bertram Lehmann on drums. CD

The compilation that capped off a younger John Prine's early years at Atlantic Records – and if it might have come off as a bit prematurely titled at at time given the treasure trove of "best of" level material Prine would record for decades to come, there's no question after all these years ther is plenty of genuinely prime Prine songs here! John's Atlantic albums still stand as some of the finest folk rock ever put out by the label, hislyrics and vocals that distinctive mix of wit and grit, Arif Mardin's production smart enough to keep things spare and intimate when necessary, and to bring in some lusher touches at times. Includes "Sam Stone", "Saddle In The Rain", "Pease Don't Bury Me", "Grandpa Was A Carpenter", "Donald & Lydia", "Illegal Smile", "Sweet Revenge", "Souvenirs", "Come Back To Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard" and "Hello In There". CD

The compilation that capped off a younger John Prine's early years at Atlantic Records – and if it might have come off as a bit prematurely titled at at time given the treasure trove of "best of" level material Prine would record for decades to come, there's no question after all these years ther is plenty of genuinely prime Prine songs here! John's Atlantic albums still stand as some of the finest folk rock ever put out by the label, hislyrics and vocals that distinctive mix of wit and grit, Arif Mardin's production smart enough to keep things spare and intimate when necessary, and to bring in some lusher touches at times. Includes "Sam Stone", "Saddle In The Rain", "Pease Don't Bury Me", "Grandpa Was A Carpenter", "Donald & Lydia", "Illegal Smile", "Sweet Revenge", "Souvenirs", "Come Back To Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard" and "Hello In There". LP, Vinyl record album

An overstuffed package of work from Annie Ross – one that features a few key albums, plus some rare bonus tracks too! First up is A Handful Of Songs – which has Ross recording as a solo act back in England after leaving her famous group with Dave Lambert and John Hendricks! The style here is a bit like some of the solo work that Ross cut in the US at the end of the 50s – particularly her sides for Pacific Jazz – not as vocalese and solo-oriented as the sort of recordings that first got her noticed, but still a lot more dynamic than most straighter jazz singers of the time! Arrangements are pretty groovy overall – nicely jazzy, and penned by Johnnie Spence – also produced by John Barry, who really helps keep the right sort of "punch" in the set. Titles include "Fly Me To The Moon", "Nature Boy", "A Lot Of Livin To Do", "Like Someone In Love", "A Handful Of Songs", and "All Of You". Next is A Gasser – one of Annie Ross' rare albums as a solo act away from her trio with Jon Hendricks and Dave Lambert – and a great little session cut with small combo jazz backing, which gives the song a nice swinging edge! Zoot Sims is the main soloist on the tunes, Russ Freeman lays down piano tracks to set the mood – and other players include Jim Hall, Monte Budwig, Mel Lewis, and Bill Perkins – all of whom contribute wonderfully to the album, and give it a nicely grooving west coast finish. Titles include "I Was Doing Alright", "You Took Advantage Of Me", "Lucky Day", "Lucky So & So", and "Nobody's Baby". 2CD set also features material from the London cast recording of Cranks – which features Ross with Anthony Newley – plus some songs with Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross – and the tune "Let's Fly" by Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers, which was written by Ross. CD

A seminal third stream recording – the height of late 50s modern jazz in all of its seriousness! The album features works written by Schuller, John Lewis, Jimmy Giuffre, and JJ Johnson – all of them larger, serious jazz-meets-classical type numbers – performed by the Brass Ensemble Of The Jazz & Classical Music Society, led by Schuller, but featuring Miles Davis, Joe Wilder, and JJ Johnson as the soloists. It's the solo work that makes the "jazz" component hold out nicely – and titles include "Poem For Brass", "Three Little Feelings", and "Pharoah". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the mellowest and most laidback records ever from pianist Don Shirley – and that's saying a lot, given the quietude of his other records! The lineup here is an unusual one – with Shirley on both piano and organ, accompanied by two cellos and one bass – all flowing in drumless splendor on longish tracks that partly pitch Don as a Les McCann-styled 70s sophisticate, but which also are much more strongly introspective, and almost have the seriousness of John Lewis. Titles include "Alfie", "The Shadow Of Your Smile", "Gershwin Medley", "By The Time I Get To Phoenix", and "The Warning". LP, Vinyl record album

A full length album that brings together some excellent early 50s sides by Zoot – originally issued on 10" LPs, but expanded here with better notes and more space. Half the set features a group with Harry Biss on piano, Clyde Lombardi on bass, and Art Blakey on drums – and the rest features John Lewis, Curley Russell, and Don Lamond. Titles include the two part number "Zoot Swings The Blues", plus "Trotting", "I Wonder Who", "It Had To Be You", "Jane-O", and "East Of The Sun". LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of early 50s recordings with Art Blakey, Al Cohn, Kenny Drew, Percy Heath, Don Lamond, John Lewis, Curly Russell, George Wallington, Stu Williamson, and Kai Winding. LP, Vinyl record album

A smoking little bop set from Sonny Stitt – recorded live at the Keystone in 1981, as sort of a "summit meeting" of horns – one that features Richie Cole and John Handy in the frontline with Sonny! The rhythm section alone is enough to cook this one up nicely – with Cedar Walton on piano, Herbie Lewis on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – and the sextet is expanded by Bobby Hutcherson, whose vibes seem to bring an even deeper level of soul to the set. But the main focus here is on the horns – and it's a focus that's well-kept, especially on the longer tunes, which really sparkle in the range of tone and mood expressed. Highlights include an extended "Ballad Medley" and versions of "Wee", "Lover Man", and "Star Eyes". (And by the way, that's "bad", as in "good" – in case you couldn't guess from the title!) CD

Classic bop by Sonny Stitt – material recorded at the end of the 40s, originally issued as singles and 45s, but issued here as a full length set with a great cover image by Don Martin! The record features 2 different groups – one that includes JJ Johnson, John Lewis, and Max Roach; another that features Bud Powell, Curley Russell, and Roach – and in both instances, the players keep a sharp edge and tight focus that allows Stitt's tenor to soar out in those tight lines that made him a key bop figure from the get-go! Really classic stuff – with titles that include "Sunset", "Bud's Blues", "Tea Pot", "Elora", "Afternoon In Paris", and "Blue Mode". CD features 3 bonus tracks! CD

Classic bop by Sonny Stitt – material recorded at the end of the 40s, originally issued as singles and 45s, but issued here as a full length set with a great cover image by Don Martin! The record features 2 different groups – one that includes JJ Johnson, John Lewis, and Max Roach; another that features Bud Powell, Curley Russell, and Roach – and in both instances, the players keep a sharp edge and tight focus that allows Stitt's tenor to soar out in those tight lines that made him a key bop figure from the get-go! Really classic stuff – with titles that include "Sunset", "Bud's Blues", "Tea Pot", "Elora", "Afternoon In Paris", and "Blue Mode". LP, Vinyl record album

John Stowell on guitars, Michael Zilber on saxophones, John Shifflet on bass, and Jazon Lewis on drums. CD

One of the best records ever from reedman John Stubblefield – a set that balances his spiritual roots with a more wide-reaching sense of soul! The tunes here are some of the best that Stubblefield ever penned – proud, righteous numbers that have this great sense of energy – offered up not just in the leader's own work on tenor and soprano sax, but also in the keyboards of Geri Allen, bass of Charnett Moffett, drums of Victor Lewis, and percussion of Mino Cinelu. Things are electric, but never at a level that's crossover fusion at all – and the whole album rings out with that new sense of pride that came to jazz like this as the previous spiritual generation found more acceptance in the 80s. Cinelu sings a bit on the record, and titles include "Bushman Song", "Serenade To The Mother Land", "Some Things Never Change", "East Side West Side", and "Mwe Malad O". CD

One of the best records ever from reedman John Stubblefield – a set that balances his spiritual roots with a more wide-reaching sense of soul! The tunes here are some of the best that Stubblefield ever penned – proud, righteous numbers that have this great sense of energy – offered up not just in the leader's own work on tenor and soprano sax, but also in the keyboards of Geri Allen, bass of Charnett Moffett, drums of Victor Lewis, and percussion of Mino Cinelu. Things are electric, but never at a level that's crossover fusion at all – and the whole album rings out with that new sense of pride that came to jazz like this as the previous spiritual generation found more acceptance in the 80s. Cinelu sings a bit on the record, and titles include "Bushman Song", "Serenade To The Mother Land", "Some Things Never Change", "East Side West Side", and "Mwe Malad O". LP, Vinyl record album

Reedman John Stubblefield made some of his best records as a leader for Enja – and this is definitely one of them! The set has Stubblefield coming across with maturity and focus that you might not have found a few years before – that kind of ebullient, soulful style that some of his best contemporaries were hitting in the late 80s – new modes of expression that were maybe less righteous than previous years, but a lot more powerful in their positive energy and subtle sense of care! John plays both tenor and soprano sax with this easygoing, soulful vibe – and the group also includes Hamiet Bluiett on baritone, Mulgrew Miller on piano, Charnett Moffett on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums – a well-matched lineup, as all players are at similar points in their musical conceptions. Stubblefield plays a bit of keyboards on one last track, but even that comes across well – with almost a Lonnie Liston Smith vibe – and titles include "Remembrance", "For Those Who Didn't Know", "Montauk", "The Wanderer", and "Going Home". CD

Featuring George Cables on piano, Clint Houston on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. CD

An excellent set that has the vocal talents of the Swingle Singers backed by the sweet and mellow instrumentation of the Modern Jazz Quartet! Given that John Lewis & Co were essentially local residents in Paris for so many years, it's amazing it took them until 1966 to hook up with Ward Swingle's hip vocal group – but the album's more than worth the wait, as the MJQ really help open things up, and take the Swingles into more complicated territory than before. Milt Jackson's vibes are especially great alongside the groovy vocals – and titles include "Little David's Fugue", "Vendome", "When I Am Laid In Earth", "Air For G String", and "Three Windows". LP, Vinyl record album

This installment in the Tapscott Sessions series features nearly all original work by Horace – hauntingly introspective compositions performed on solo piano, with a sense of creative exploration that's incredibly powerful, despite the lack of other instrumentation on the set. Horace is in an especially exploratory mode for this session – opening up on themes that include "Miguel", "Roses In Bloom", "First Love", "Searching", "Upside Down", and "Maya & Me" – as well as a great reading of John Lewis "Afternoon In Paris". CD

A fantastic pairing of talents! Horace Tapscott on piano, Sonny Simmons on alto saxophone, James Lewis on bass, and John Betsch on grums. CD

With Red Holloway on tenor and alto saxophone, Major Holley on bass, John Campbell on piano, and Lewis Nash on drums. CD

Features plenty of guests – Billy Taylor, Eric Reed, Geri Allen, Tommy Flanagan, Don Friedman, Benny Green, John Lewis, Junior Mance, and Kenny Barron – a heck of a lot of piano players! CD

A handful of different Cal Tjader moments from the Monterey Jazz Festival – a frequent setting for Cal's live talents, given his close proximity as a member of the Bay Area scene! The core material here is from Tjader's 1958 performance – featured here in 5 tracks that include Vince Guaraldi on piano, Willie Bobo and Mongo Santamaria on percussion, and Buddy DeFranco on clarinet – the last of whom is a really unique addition to Cal's group, and makes the tunes sound quite different from his studio sides of the time. 1958 titles include "Summertime", "Now's The Time", "Tumbao", and "Cubano Chant" – and other cuts include a 1972 reading of "Manteca" with sweet electric piano, and Dizzy Gillespie and Clark Terry on trumpets; a 1974 version of "Afro Blue" with Jerome Richardson and Frank Strazzeri; a 1977 version of "If You Could See Me Now" with John Lewis on piano; and a 1980 take on "Speak Low" with Roger Glenn on flute. Most titles here are previously unreleased – and the collection's a great match with Cal's classic work on Fantasy. CD

Brilliant work from groundbreaking pianist McCoy Tyner – an album that has him firmly stepping out of the shadow of his old boss John Coltrane – and really taking off with a new level of spiritual jazz expression that Tyner's scene helped to foster in the 70s! The group on the set is a quartet with Bobby Hutcherson on vibes – and the mixture of Hutcherson's vibes and Tyner's piano is extremely compelling – stretching out in long, rhythmic, modal lines that dance and light the groove no matter what the tune! The rest of the group features Herbie Lewis on bass and Freddie Waits on drums – and titles include the great original compositions "African Village", "May Street", and "Little Madimba". LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant work from groundbreaking pianist McCoy Tyner – an album that has him firmly stepping out of the shadow of his old boss John Coltrane – and really taking off with a new level of spiritual jazz expression that Tyner's scene helped to foster in the 70s! The group on the set is a quartet with Bobby Hutcherson on vibes – and the mixture of Hutcherson's vibes and Tyner's piano is extremely compelling – stretching out in long, rhythmic, modal lines that dance and light the groove no matter what the tune! The rest of the group features Herbie Lewis on bass and Freddie Waits on drums – and titles include the great original compositions "African Village", "May Street", and "Little Madimba". CD

Brilliant work from groundbreaking pianist McCoy Tyner – an album that has him firmly stepping out of the shadow of his old boss John Coltrane – and really taking off with a new level of spiritual jazz expression that Tyner's scene helped to foster in the 70s! The group on the set is a quartet with Bobby Hutcherson on vibes – and the mixture of Hutcherson's vibes and Tyner's piano is extremely compelling – stretching out in long, rhythmic, modal lines that dance and light the groove no matter what the tune! The rest of the group features Herbie Lewis on bass and Freddie Waits on drums – and titles include the great original compositions "African Village", "May Street", and "Little Madimba". CD

Brilliant work from groundbreaking pianist McCoy Tyner – an album that has him firmly stepping out of the shadow of his old boss John Coltrane – and really taking off with a new level of spiritual jazz expression that Tyner's scene helped to foster in the 70s! The group on the set is a quartet with Bobby Hutcherson on vibes – and the mixture of Hutcherson's vibes and Tyner's piano is extremely compelling – stretching out in long, rhythmic, modal lines that dance and light the groove no matter what the tune! The rest of the group features Herbie Lewis on bass and Freddie Waits on drums – and titles include the great original compositions "African Village", "May Street", and "Little Madimba". CD

Features Roy Hargrove on trumpet, Frank Lacy on trombone, John Hicks on piano, Curtis Lundy on bass, and either Victor Lewis or Kenny Washington on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

John Lewis & Brian Hodgson. LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty compelling session – one that features Ben Webster playing with the first version of the Modern Jazz Quartet! The recording quality of the material is a bit rough, but Webster's tone cuts right through any shortcomings of the setting – blowing deeply over rhythms by the team of John Lewis, Milt Jackson, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke. Titles include "Poutin", "Confirmation", "Lady Be Good", "Nearness Of You", and "Cotton Tail". CD

Very tasty stuff indeed – one of the few rare sessions cut for Prestige by Chicago pianist John Wright – a very soulful player who emerged from the Windy City at the end of the 60s! Wright's got a really fluid style here – one that nicely links some of the uptown class of Ahmad Jamal and Ramsey Lewis with some of the grittier, bluesier modes that had been coming from the south side for many years before! There's a sense of grace and poise here that goes way beyond simple soul jazz cliches – a sense of depth that's really great, even on the more blues-based numbers. The rest of the trio features Wendell Marshall on bass and JC Heard on drums – and titles include the Wright originals "Pie Face", "Yes I Know", "You Do It", and "The Wright Way" – plus versions of "Things Are Getting Better" and "Witchcraft". CD

A near-lost bit of work from Chicago pianist John Young – better known for his work on Argo, but sounding great in this moody 60s session – recorded in Chicago with a familiar lineup that includes Victor Sproles on bass and Phil Thomas on drums. Young's got a nice rhythmic approach to the keys that's a bit similar to the early Lewis style of the time – yet which also sparks with those modern touches that could also come at surprising moments from the Chicago piano crew of the period. Titles include "I Don't Wanna Be Kissed", "Bones", "Cubana Chant", "In Love In Vain", "Serenata", "Baby Doll", "Circus", and When I Fall In Love". CD features 3 bonus alternate takes too! CD

A near-lost bit of work from Chicago pianist John Young – better known for his work on Argo, but sounding great in this moody 60s session – recorded in Chicago with a familiar lineup that includes Victor Sproles on bass and Phil Thomas on drums. Young's got a nice rhythmic approach to the keys that's a bit similar to the early Lewis style of the time – yet which also sparks with those modern touches that could also come at surprising moments from the Chicago piano crew of the period. Titles include "I Don't Wanna Be Kissed", "Bones", "Cubana Chant", "In Love In Vain", "Serenata", "Baby Doll", "Circus", and When I Fall In Love". CD features 3 bonus alternate takes too! CD

Features Hank Jones, John Lewis, Ray Brown, Jo Jones, and Buddy Rich. CD

Essential stuff! This set collects all of Pres' studio sessions for Norman Granz and Verve and features John Lewis, Buddy Rich, Nat King Cole, Teddy Wilson, Roy Eldridge, Oscar Peterson, and Barney Kessel. The whole thing is comes in a cool hardbound, accordion fold package and includes a great 100 page book packed with great photos, notes, and essays. CD

Lester Young definitely swings here – on material from a number of different Verve albums of the early 50s – with work from Nat King Cole on piano and Buddy Rich on drums on one session – plus more work from either Hank Jones or John Lewis on piano, and Buddy Rich and Jo Jones on drums! LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful small group playing by Lester Young – recorded with 2 different groups: one that includes John Lewis, Gene Ramey, and Jo Jones; the other including Gildo Mahones, Jessie Drakes, Gene Ramey, and Connie Kay. The mellow aspects of the players come out nicely against Young's soulful playing – and the piano of Mahones is an especially welcome aspect of the session. Titles include "New DB Blues", "I Can't Believe You're In Love With Me", "Down N Adam", "This Can't Be Love", and "Tenderly". LP, Vinyl record album

As beautiful an illustration of the genius of Lester Young as you could ever hope to find – tight, short small group numbers recorded with a keen focus on Young's amazing tone – all served up with beautiful sound throughout! The cover bills the set as being by Young and his orchestra, but the material's presented in a variety of different small group settings – with Verve regulars who include Ray Brown on bass, Hank Jones or John Lewis on piano, and Buddy Rich or Joe Jones on drums. There's no other horns on the date, so Lester's tenor is right out front on all numbers – and titles include "Little Pee Blues", "Neenah", "Thou Swell", "Up N Adam", "Encore", and "Frenesi". LP, Vinyl record album

Early Verve work from Lester Young – recorded in a setting that features 2 different groups: one with Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Barney Kessel, and JC Heard; the other with John Lewis, Joe Schulman, and Bill Clark. The sound is mellow and soulful throughout – a perfect summation of Young's small-group genius, recorded in the easygoing Norman Granz style that was so groundbreaking at the time. Titles include "Pete's Cafe", "Count Every Star", "Stardust", "I'm Confessin", "These Foolish Things", and "Lester Swings". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic performance from this legendary Eastern European jazz group – one of the first to really get international attention, thanks to the strength of their new ideas and compositional skills – and also thanks to the lead vibes in the group from the great Bosko Petrovic! The set's a live performance, recorded on the group's 25th anniversary – supposedly with longtime supporter John Lewis (of MJQ fame) in attendance. But even without all that history, there's plenty to love here – really tremendous work from a group who never fully got the attention they deserved – even though Petrovic continued to be a key force in moving jazz forward as sort of a "secret hero" over the decades. The rest of the group features Davor Kajfes on piano, Miljenko Prohaska on bass, and Sivije Glojnaric on drums – and the set is filled with wonderful tunes that include "Valse For Jazz Mama", "Intima", "Ornaments", "Eftertanke", and their classic "With Pain I Was Born". CD

Very cool original package of one of Zorn's great recordings for the Parachute label. Composed for a large ensemble that includes David Moss, George Lewis, Eugene Chadbourne, Tom Cora, and Bill Horvitz, the music is a weird mish mash of group events, solo events, and various duo-trios with the individual players. This is the kind of thing that made Zorn a legend when he was a wee lad with a honking alto, and it's proof that he had a vibrant career that begun with brilliant ideas of his own, and not just interpretations of his favorite composers and artists. CD

Includes 23 songs from Jimmy Yancey, Little Brother Montgomery, Jack Dupree, Professor Longhair, Vann "Piano Man" Walls, Joe Turner, Jay McShann, Meade Lux Lewis, Ray Charles, Floyd Dixon, Texas Johnny Brown, Doctor John, and Willie Mabon. CD

Remember Beach music? Once upon a time we might have argued that was a more contemporary term for an older genre, like northern soul, but this mighty fine collection from the late 60s on Atlantic shows you the sound's been around for quite some time! A great soundtrack for the beach from the Carolina scene – sweetly loping grooves that got heavy play at summer resorts on the southern shores of the Atlantic! While not all the groups originated in the south, the music's gained a special place in the hearts of folks in the Carolinas, who've come to consider the music their own because of it's slightly stepping beat and gentle kind of groove! A dozen numbers in all, including "One Mint Julep" by the Clovers, "Searchin" and "Zing Went The tings Of My Heart" by the Coasters, "Think A Little Sugar" by Barbara Lewis, "CC Rider" by Chuck Willis, "Money Honey" and "Honey Love" by Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters, "Walking Up A One way Street" and "Thank You John" by Willie Tee,"There Goes My Baby" by the Drifters, "Just One Look" by Doris Troy and "Drinkin' Wine Spo Dee O Dee" by Stick McGhee. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Memphis Minnie, Mississippi John Hurt, Henry Thomas, Luke Jordan, Bobby Grant, Evans & McClain, Furry Lewis, Blind Blake, Clarence Ashley, Moses Mason, Blue Boys, Coley Jones, and Barbecue Bob. CD

Music from John Snipes, Dink Roberts, Joe Thompson & Odell Thompson, Etta Baker & Cora Philips, John Jackson, Homer Walker, Irvin Cook & Leonard Bowles, 'Big Sweet' Lewis Hairston, John Tyree, Rufus Kasey and more. CD

An imagined soundtrack to a journey through London in the generation of Get Carter and Carnaby Street – and one that showcases not just the rich array of sounds and styles that were taking place in the city at the time, and in a way that highlights all sorts of different locations around town! This isn't a package of well-worn British rock classics – and as with other Bob Stanley sets on Ace Records, the music comes from a deep dig and decades-long understanding of records in many modes – which makes for a track selection that's as sublime as it is surprising, and another revelatory collection from Mr Stanley! There's two dozen gems on the collection – some we've never heard, some we'd forgotten about – all of which sound great in the company of each other – with titles that include "Hampstead Way" by Linda Lewis, "Cutty Sark" by John Barry, "Sunny Goodge Street" by Marianne Faithfull, "Marcel's" by Herman's Hermits, "London Bridge" by Cilla Black, "Mayfair" by Nick Drake, "Vauxhall To Lambeth Bridge" by Brian Auger & Julie Driscoll, "City Road" by Dave Evans, "Beckton Dumps" by Humble Pie, "Notting Hill Gate" by Quintessence, "Friday Hill" by Bulldog Breed, "Goodbye Post Office Tower" by Cressida, "Kew Gardens" by Ralph McTell, and "Euston Station" by Barbara Ruskin. CD

A very cool little set – maybe not the deepest dive into the decade of the 70s, in that the package isn't full of unissued tracks or super-rare singles – but it does represent a great look at the decade that goes way past the hits, and much farther than the charts – including the sort of material that was slightly ignored at the time, but has gone on to be really appreciated in more recent years! The book-style set is filled with great choices and unusual tunes – work from both the US and UK scenes, some of it by bigger names represented here by more unusual cuts – some by others who barely cracked the mainstream, but did some great work at the time. There's one full CD of female artists, and a pretty unusual mix of titles – 71 titles in all, by artists who include Murray Head, The Records, Ronnie Lane, Terry Reid, Sandy Denny, Wendy Waldman, Freddie King, Montrose, Tim Buckley, Don Nix, Jerry Williams, Big Star, Tony Joe White, Delaney & Bonnie, John Prine, Michael Franks, Bobby Charles, Andy Pratt, Hirth Martinez, Robert Palmer, Jess Roden, Roy Harper, Patto, Sharks, The Roches, Linda Lewis Valerie Carter, and many others! CD

Includes material by Franz Koglmann and John Zorn with George Lewis and Bill Frisell. CD

Rounder continues their great reissues series of Alam Lomax recordings – this time featuring prison songs, outlaw ballads, and more rare folk and blues. Includes tracks by Almeda Riddle, Bright Light Quartet, Hobart Smith, Ed Lewis, Neil Morris, JE Mainer Band, John Lee Moore & Prisoners, Henry Morrison, Oscar Gilbert, Floyd Batts, and more. CD