One of the boldest statements from the French avant garde of the late 60s – a fairly free set led by Michel Portal, and featuring a quintet that includes Joachim Kuhn on piano, alto sax, and percussion, JF Jenny-Clark on bass, and Aldo Romano and Jacques Thollot on drums and percussion. Portal himself plays tenor, clarinet, and bass clarinet – as well as other percussion – and overall, the album's a fairly percussive affair – pulsating along with the rhythmic intensity of an ESP session, but even taking things further, with FMP-like full-blown, free range improvisation. Titles include "Our Meanings & Our Feelings", "A Train In A Very Small Town", "Dear Old Morocco", and "For My Mother". LP, Vinyl record album

A very compelling set from Japanese bassist Isao Suzuki – one that draws on the electric traditions being forged at the time by artists like Miles and Joe Henderson – but which is also graced by the warm lyricism that was running through other Japanese jazz sessions of the 70s! Suzuki plays a surprising range of instruments – electric piano, cello, and bass – and his group displays an amazing ability to move into freely flowing numbers, then shift abruptly into sparer, subtler territory. The vibe of the record is quite unique – and group members include Kenji Mori on alto and flute, Kazumi Watanabe on guitar, Samu Kawakami on bass, and Shinji Mori on drums – and one title features vocals from Mari Nakamoto. The tracks are on the longish side – and the titles include "Blue Road", "Where Are You Going?", "My One And Only Love" and "Orang-Utan". Great cover, too! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the funkiest records of the French scene of the 70s – a now-legendary sound library album from Jacky Giordano – and one that's filled with amazing keyboards throughout! Jacky stars with grooves that are like some of the best Lalo Schfrin crime/cop modes of the early 70s – then adds in all these excellent keyboard lines, plus a bit of jazz – with some cuts that have warm Rhodes-like lines, others with a spacier moogier groove – all instrumental, and all wonderfully funky! There's a developed depth to the record that goes way beyond just riffing on a groove – a richness that almost puts some of the best cuts at the level of longer CTI keyboard jazz. Titles include "Terefic War", "The Big Mameluk", "Moving Grooving", "Devil's Train", "Sex Girl", "Blue Circuit", and "Tabla Minor". LP, Vinyl record album

A live set from this Brazilian pianist – spinning out non-stop performances on each side, and one tune slides into the next with an old school jazzy vibe. Very late nite, small club! LP, Vinyl record album