A second volume of Duke Ellington material from Kenny Burrell – and like the first, an extremely fresh look at the tunes – given the way things change up throughout the sessions! The presentation here is nicely varied – not just a big band take on the Duke, nor some small combo musings – but instead a mixture of both, all with Burrell's guitar at the center, but also moving the spotlight to a host of other players along the way – including trombonist Quentin Jackson, trumpeters Snooky Young and Thad Jones, organist Jimmy Smith, and tenorists Joe Henderson and Jerome Richardson – all of whom add some surprisingly soulful currents to the set. Titles include "Jeep Is Jumpin", "Solitude", "In A Sentimental Mood", "Azure", "Just Squeeze Me", "Come Sunday", "Prelude To A Kiss", "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart", and "Orson". CD

One of the great ones! No kidding, Jaki Byard was an amazing talent in the 60s – and records like this one are rare treasures to be sought-after by any serious jazz fan. Byard had an incredible range of talents and influences – and, like his frequent bandmate Roland Kirk, he could often run through all of them in a very short stretch, packing each song with a wealth of feeling, technique, and sheer raw fun. This album's a darn tough one to find on vinyl. The group includes Byard on piano and alto, plus Jimmy Owens, Paul Chambers, and Billy Higgins. Tracks include "Spanish Tinge", "Olean Visit", "Geb Piano Roll", "Second Balcony Jump", and "On The Spot". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of killers from Cameo – back to back on a single CD! Cameosis is full-on frenetic funk from Cameo – one of the group's tightest albums, yet still without any of the too-slick sounds of later years! The sound here is amazing – and we always find ourselves wondering how a group of guys can hit such perfect grooves with just a bunch of basses, guitars, and keyboards – a totally on-the-money style that vamps, leaps, and jumps with energy throughout. The vocals are great too – bubbling up in the mix almost like another instrument – and the album's got a depth that so many other copycat funk records from the time just couldn't touch. Wonderful throughout – with tracks that include "Shake Your Pants", "Cameosis", "On The One", "We're Goin Out Tonight", and "Please You". Also features a bonus 7" mix of "Shake Your Pants". Feel Me is a great 80s groove from Cameo – but one that's still done in the group's best early funk ensemble mode! There's maybe a bit more emphasis on the basslines and keyboards than before, but the sound of the music is still wonderfully full and spontaneous – very much in keeping with the warmly collaborative look of the group on the cover, who really sound like they're having a hell of a lot of fun making the record! The rhythms have a razor-sharpness that just about nobody else can touch – and there's all these cool little instrumental flourishes that sneak into the mix and really keep things interesting – odd sounds on familiar instruments, moogy moments on keyboards, and even some vocal inflections that come as a nice surprise. There's two nice mellow cuts – "Feel Me" and "Is This The Way", which have a sweetly compressed harmony sound on the lyrics – and funky numbers include "Better Days", "Keep It Hot", "Roller Skates", and "Is This The Way". CD

You know, over the years, you get exposed to so many cliches about Ray Charles that it's easy to forget how great he is – but you won't after hearing this set! This totally essential box pushes way past any other collection to pull together the raw early R&B sides by Ray – much harder stuff than any of his later country soul work, and way more rockin than even his instrumental sides that show up more as "jazz" efforts. No, this stuff kicks ass – and is right up there with the best 50s R&B work by artists like Tiny Bradshaw, Wynonie Harris, or Ray Brown. Plus, a huge amount of the cuts on here never really appeared on full LPs, so it's not like you'll be able to track them down that easily on other reissues. There's a wealth of excellent material here that will open up a whole new side of Ray for you – and which will fill in loads of holes if you've already got some of his work. There's a total of 53 tracks in all, plus a great set of notes and a very handsome box – and titles include "What Kind Of Man Are You", "Get On The Right Track", "Leave My Woman Alone", "Roll With My Baby", "Jumpin In The Morning", "It Should Have Been Me", "Feelin Sad", "Mess Around", "I Wonder Who", "Blackjack", "Greenbacks", "A Fool For You", "Hard Times", "A Bit Of Soul", "I Want To Know", "It's Alright", "Ain't That Love", and "That's Enough". All cuts are vocal – and this is some of the most satisfying Ray Charles you could ever buy! CD

The legendary 1970 recordings Alex Chilton made at Ardent Studios – recorded in a brief moment after the bust up of the Box Tops and before the debut of Big Star – and a truly powerful precursor to that most iconic of soulful Memphis rock acts! For the longest time, the 1970 sessions were something of a rock & roll holy grail – having been oft-discussed, if rarely heard, by Chilton and Big Star diehards. In the mid 90s, Ardent Records finally released the heart of this collection as 1970 – and here it's done up with even more love and respect by Omnivore, which over the course of just a handful of releases has become one of the very best deep digging reissuers of great, should-be classic soul & rock treasures. The vibe swings from stripped down, soulful rock that sometimes flirts with country rock – those songs featuring gruff, bluesy vocals from Chilton that belie his actual youth, just as greatly as his vox for The Box Tops – to gentler soul pop numbers that truly prefigure the Big Star sound to come. The collection features 20 tracks: all of the material from the long out of print 1970, plus other songs from the period, including demos (these are raw in the right kind of way, as finished as we'd ever want to hear them) and some original mono mixes. Great liner notes by Bob Mehr, a living encyclopedia of Memphis musical knowledge. Includes "Free Again (Original Mono Mix)", "Come On Honey", "Something Deep Inside", "I Can Dig It", "The EMI Song (Smile For Me)", "Every Day As We Grow Closer/Funky National", "I Wish I Could Meet Elvis", "All We Ever Got From Them Was Pain", "Sugar, Sugar/I Got That Feeling", "All I Really Want Is Money", "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and more. CD

A classic from the undisputed master of the swing jazz jam session! Jumpin' At The Woodside has Buck Clayton recreating a Count Basie vibe, but in a much more open-ended, and long-grooving way! Most of the tracks on the record are nice and long – really opening up with a solo-heavy, jam session sort of style – and players shift from track to track, and include Woody Herman on clarinet, Coleman Hawkins on tenor, Al Cohn on tenor, Urbie Green on trombone, and Ruby Braff on trumpet. Titles include "Broadway", "Rock A Bye Basie", "Jumpin At The Woodside", and "Blue & Sentimental". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic work from the legendary P&P Records label – created by one of the "P" talents who gave them their name – studio genius Patrick Adams, who mostly works here on his own under the name of Cloud One! Adams already had great success working with east coast soul groups in the first half of the 70s – and as Cloud One, he really finds his way around the more cutting-edge styles of the time – mixing bits of funk with bits of disco, and often adding in these cool electronic elements that really helped define the P&P sound! Many cuts have cool moogy keyboards, and some spacey elements along the edges – done with a lot more soul than some of the Euro space disco recordings of the same time – with much more of a tie to the New York underground that was Adams' main milieu. Titles include the classics "Spaced Out" and "Atmosphere Strut" – plus "Jump Jump Jump", "Stomp Your Feet & Dance", "Disco Juice", "Don't Let My Rainbow Pass Me By", "Patty Duke", "Happy Music", "Doin It All Night", and "Flyin High". CD

The Texas tenor legend soars again – in three great albums from his later years! Funky Butt is strong later work by tenor sax legend Arnett Cobb – in a quartet session cut in New York in January of 1980 – sounding fresh and revitalized one of his final studio dates! Funky Butt actually isn't a left turn into a funk sound Cobb, but it is a pretty darn great showcase for his rich, full sounding and playful tenor approach – not too out of character from his work in the late 50s on Prestige. He's backed by a great group that includes Ray Drummond on bass, Derek Smith on piano and Ronnie Bedford on drums. It's got a few fairly stomping numbers, particularly the opener "Jumpin' At The Woodside" and their energetic take on "I Got Rhythm" – and the whole set is terrific – with the bluesy Cobb-composed title track, plus "September In The Rain", "Isfahan", "Georgia On My Mind" and "Satin Doll". Wild Man From Texas is a great overseas set from tenor giant Arnett Cobb – a set done after a bit of a late 60s comeback on Prestige Records, and one that takes him back into even grittier territory overall! The great Milt Buckner is on the set on organ and a bit of vibes – and the record also features work from Eddie Chamblee on tenor, Buster Cooper on trombone, Wallace Davenport on trumpet, and Earl Warren on alto – players of a generation who really resonate well with Arnett's lead! Titles include "Where Or When", "Ghost Of A Chance", "Smooth Sailing", "Dutch Kitchen Bounce", and "Flying Home No 2". Again is a set that has the tenor of Arnett Cobb reunited with the Hammond of Milt Buckner – but in an unusual quartet that also features Clarence Gatemouth Brown on guitar! Brown's presence definitely brings out some bluesier currents at times, and the tunes also get plenty of that raw, raspy tenor treatment that Cobb can do so well – on tunes that include "Cobb's Boogie", "Deep Purple", "Cobb's Blues", "Light Like That", and "Willow Weep For Me". CD

With Cobb and Lafitte on tenor, Roland Hanna on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Eddie Locke on drums performing "On Green Dolphin Street", "Climb Every Mountain", "I Got Rhythm", "Jumpin At The Woodside", and the Cobb originals "Blues Abrupt" and "Go Red Go". LP, Vinyl record album

Really fantastic material from tenor genius George Coleman – the kind of set that really lets the leader open up and let his light shine – at a level that doesn't always happen on some of his other dates as a leader! When George Coleman is on, he's really on – and that's definitely the case here, as he soars out alongside superb backing from Harold Mabern on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Alvin Queen on drums. As with other Theresa Records releases from the time, the vibe here is a lot more 70s than you'd guess from the date of recording – and titles include "Laig Gobblin Blues", "IO", "They Say It's Wonderful", and "Up Jumped Spring". LP, Vinyl record album

Really fantastic material from tenor genius George Coleman – the kind of set that really lets the leader open up and let his light shine – at a level that doesn't always happen on some of his other dates as a leader! When George Coleman is on, he's really on – and that's definitely the case here, as he soars out alongside superb backing from Harold Mabern on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Alvin Queen on drums. As with other Theresa Records releases from the time, the vibe here is a lot more 70s than you'd guess from the date of recording – and titles include "Laig Gobblin Blues", "IO", "They Say It's Wonderful", "Father", "Soul Eyes", and "Up Jumped Spring". LP, Vinyl record album

Early Prime Time stuff by Ornette, with the harmelodic sound electric sound of the group that included Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Bern Nix, and Charlie Ellerbee. Lots of popping guitar strings, jumping basslines, and rambling solos by Ornette. Tracks include "Jump Street", "Sleep Talk", "Air Ship", "What Is The Name Of That Song?", and "Job Mob". Very early eighties, very downtown scene. CD

Killer work from this jazzy UK combo! Although Colosseum are probably best known as a hard rocking progressive band, they certainly had plenty of jazz touches – and this album spawned the great groover "Elegy", which has become something of a jazzy dancefloor classic over the years! Overall, the record's got some very tight drumming, plenty of hard-wailing organ work, and a basic groove that takes off where the beat groups of the 60s left off – pushing into more expansive, more progressive jazz territory. Chris Farlowe's vocals can be good or bad, depending on the moment – but on the funkier cuts, like "Elegy", "Ropeladder To The Moon", and "The Machine Demands a Sacrifice", they have a sort of madness that makes sense, and which really sounds great. Other tracks include "The Grass Is Greener", "Lost Angeles", "Jumping Off The Sun", and "Butty's Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

5 hard to get numbers by alto genius Criss from an obscure 1951 date at the Shrine Auditorium – with a slightly largeish group that includes Bennie Green, Joe Newman, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, and Kenny Clarke. Nice lengthy takes in this lost set of include "Intermission Riff", "How High The Moon", "Perdido", "Body & Soul" and "High Jump". LP, Vinyl record album

A very hip batch of 60s soul jazz numbers – played with a hard, full swing by the combo of LA bassist Clarence Daniels – and featuring vocals on a few of the best tracks! Daniels' group has a sound that's full, but never too much so – a great mix of rootsier soul jazz modes and more sophisticated arrangements – with a depth that almost reminds us of Oliver Nelson at times – but also with a sound that draws on the earlier jump blues sound of the postwar LA scene, reforged a bit for the 60s! This fantastic collection mixes Clarence's one full album with some rare singles and a number of unissued tracks too – and about half the set is instrumental, with saxes from Curtis Peagler – and singers on the other tracks include Obie Jessie, Sandy Miller, and Clarence Daniels himself. Titles include "Hard Working Girl", "Daddy's Got A Shotgun", "I Got To Get Ready", "Instrumental #3", "You Dig It", "Hello California", "Do The Deal", "I'll Drive My Blues Away", "Street Girl", "What Can A Poor Boy Do", "Baby I'm Gone", "I'll Never Let You Go", and "Pastel". CD

A searing set of recordings from Cyril Davies – originally the harmonica player in the early group of Alexis Korner, but working here at the head of his own group – singing as well, next to additional vocals from Long John Baldry! The set brings together rare BBC and Hullabaloo recordings by the combo – which also features guitar from Geoff Bradford, and both organ and piano from Keith Scott – a tight combo who really make the group jump as they turn out out mod blues remakes of a host of American tunes – plus a few other surprises along the way! CD features 28 tracks in all – and titles include "Country Line Special", "Good Understanding", "Leave My Woman Alone", "My Babe", "Careless Love", "On A Monday", "Harmonica Breakdown", "Preaching The Blues", "Money's Getting Cheaper", "I'm Ready", and "Chicago Calling". CD

A searing set of recordings from Cyril Davies – originally the harmonica player in the early group of Alexis Korner, but working here at the head of his own group – singing as well, next to additional vocals from Long John Baldry! The set brings together rare BBC and Hullabaloo recordings by the combo – which also features guitar from Geoff Bradford, and both organ and piano from Keith Scott – a tight combo who really make the group jump as they turn out out mod blues remakes of a host of American tunes – plus a few other surprises along the way! Vinyl features 26 tracks in all – and titles include "Country Line Special", "Good Understanding", "Leave My Woman Alone", "My Babe", "Harmonica Breakdown", "Preaching The Blues", "Money's Getting Cheaper", "I'm Ready", and "Chicago Calling". LP, Vinyl record album

Prime symphonic disco from the mighty John Davis and his well-named Monster Orchestra! The set's got a dramatic flourish that still mixes in plenty of live instrumentation – including keyboards and flute from John, plus some nice congas from Larry Washington! John sings lead vocals on most cuts, but uses some cool processing to kind of space out the sound – making for a compressed and flanged-out sound that's poppy, but really compelling. And although the whole thing sounds hokey, the quality of the grooves is actually pretty great from an instrumental standpoint. Titles include "Once Upon A Time", "We Can Fly", "Up Jumped The Devil", "You Gotta Give It Up", "You're The One", "The Magic Is You", and "Recapitulation". LP, Vinyl record album

Essential work from Nathan Davis – one of our favorite jazz musicians ever! Davis is one of those cats who you'll never find mentioned in the mainstream, but his music has had a profound influence on our groove for many years – an essential soul jazz style that is finally given full due by this wonderful compilation! Nathan's got a very long resume in jazz – but one that's mostly occurred in the underground – time in both the KC and Pittsburgh scenes here in the US, and key years overseas, working in Paris, Germany, and even Eastern Europe – touching both musicians and jazz fans alike in his travels, and continuing to develop a really unique, truly amazing sound. Davis plays both tenor and soprano sax on these recordings – blowing with a style that owes just a bit to Coltrane, but which really takes off strongly on its own groove too – often with modal rhythms in support of his tones, which makes for some really spiritual, exotic moments in his music. The package brings together a wealth of rare recordings by Davis, many of which are not currently available in any form – cuts from albums for MPS, European Polydor, and other overseas labels – and some rare indie cuts from the US too. Titles include a version of "A5" recorded live in Yugoslavia; the rare "Cecen Kizi", recorded in Turkey – and the tracks "B's Blues", "Theme From Zoltan", "Mandingo", "Up Jumped Spring", "Uschimaus", "Atlanta Walk", "Makatuka", "New Orleans", "Tragic Magic", "Sconsolato", and a studio version of "A5". CD

All hits and almost no misses – starting with "Oooh", easily the best single of the '00, featuring some nice quotes from classic hip hop tracks ranging from the Funky 4 + 1 to Mos Def, and some of Redman's best verses in a while. De La Soul basically started the whole skits-between-songs concept, or at least they perfected it, and (unlike too many other artists) here they get it right again – even the three hilarious "Ghostweed" skits featuring cameo appearances from Pharoahe Monch, Q-Tip, and Black Thought hold up to repeated listenings. Also includes "My Writes", "Thru Ya City", "All Good?", 'Words FromThe Chief Rocker" and the "Art Of Getting Jumped" – 17 tracks in all. CD