Two great female blues talents, recorded at a time when they were still alive and well in Chicago – Alberta Hunter on vocals, and Lovie Austin on piano! CD

Featuring music from Freddy King, Jimmy Reed, Bobby Bland, Muddy Waters, BB King, Slim Harpo, Etta James, Little Johnny Taylor, Howlin' Wolf, Albert King, Bobby Parker, Johnny Guitar Watson, Earl King, Buddy Guy, Elmore James, Little Junior Parker, and Earl Hooker – 20 tracks in all. CD

Music from James "Son" Thomas, Arzo Youngblood, Eddie Cusic, Boyd Rivers, Boogie Bill Webb, Sam Chatmon, Cora Fluker, Othar Turner, Lonnie Pitchford, Stonewall Mays, and much more. CD

Music from Billy Boy Arnold, Willie Mabon, Willie Cobbs, Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, Memphis Slim, Jimmy Reed, Walter Horton, Howlin' Wolf, Otis Rush, Ricky Allen, and more. CD

On Great Summit Duke joins the combo of Louis Armstrong on piano – a group that includes Trummy Young on trombone and Barney Bigard on clarinet! We've always loved Duke Ellington's soundtracks, and Paris Blues is one of his best! The score is a moody introspective one, written for a 1961 film that starred Paul Newman as a frustrated jazz musician living in Paris. The "Paris Blues" theme is a dark, somber composition that is supposedly Newman's masterpiece as a jazz writer – and it works beautifully with the film's themes of frustration and unfulfilled desire. Ellington's at his best here, and apart from the main theme, the score also has great versions of classics like "Mood Indigo" and "Take The A Train", plus originals like "Nite", "Wild Man Moore", "Guitar Amour", and "Paris Stairs". Also features Louis Armstrong on one track! CD

Blues, but with an undercurrent of New Orleans jazz – no surprise, given the Louisiana roots of Eurreal "Little Brother" Montgomery! The album's a classic set recorded in Chicago in the early 60s – featuring both Montgomery in a spare solo setting, and with help from a small backup group that includes Ted Butterman on cornet, Bob Gordon on clarinet, and Mike McKendrick on banjo. Little Brother plays piano on all numbers, and sings on most – and titles include "44 Vicksburg", "Prescriptions Of The Blues", "Sweet Daddy", "Home Again Blues", "Up The Country Blues", "Saturday Night Function", "Michigan Water Blues", and "Oh Daddy". CD features the bonus track "Cooter Crawl". CD

A great date from the later revival years of altoist Frank Morgan – thanks to a warm performance from the Cedar Walton trio! One of the great things about late Morgan is the way in which he's able to really fit himself into different settings – still holding onto his soulful roots, but also fluidly picking up the best elements of the groups he works with – such as the rich tones and soaring styles that Walton brings to this session! Cedar's piano always sounds great with a horn, and the warmth in Morgan's alto is quite a different match than some of Walton's tenor-driven sessions – and bassist Tony Dumas and drummer Billy Higgins keep things in just the right subtle side of the spectrum to fit the mood. Titles include "The Rubber Man", "Yes & No", "Manha De Carnaval", "Now's The Time", "Three Flowers", and "Third Street Blues". CD

A great date from the later revival years of altoist Frank Morgan – thanks to a warm performance from the Cedar Walton trio! One of the great things about late Morgan is the way in which he's able to really fit himself into different settings – still holding onto his soulful roots, but also fluidly picking up the best elements of the groups he works with – such as the rich tones and soaring styles that Walton brings to this session! Cedar's piano always sounds great with a horn, and the warmth in Morgan's alto is quite a different match than some of Walton's tenor-driven sessions – and bassist Tony Dumas and drummer Billy Higgins keep things in just the right subtle side of the spectrum to fit the mood. Titles include "The Rubber Man", "Yes & No", "Manha De Carnaval", "Now's The Time", "Three Flowers", and "Third Street Blues". CD

Later work from trombonist Albert Wynn – sides cut after a 33 year absence from the recording studio – as part of the excellent Chicago Living Legends series on Riverside! The work has a tight trad jazz feel – but with a bit more space than you might find for solo expression in some of Wynn's earlier, shorter sides – and players include Bill Martin on trumpet (and a bit of vocals), Darnell Howard on clarinet, and either Blind John Davis or Bus Moten on piano. Titles include "Bourbon Street", "How Long Blues", "Ice Cream", "Nobody's Sweetheart", and "In The Evening". CD also features 2 bonus tracks "How Long Blues (alt)" and "I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody Non O This Jelly Roll". CD

Last Train From Overbrook, a wonderful album from Moody – one of his "comeback" albums for Chess/Argo, recorded after his release from the Overbrook institution, hence the title. By this point, Moody was writing and playing with much more of an edge than during his bebop days – and the record certainly shows that – not only on the title track "Last Train From Overbrook", a jumpy little number that became one of the big new tunes in Moody's book, but on the whole album, which features some well-conceived large charts written by Johnny Pate. Pate and Moody wrote the bulk of the songs, too – and titles include "Yvonne", "Brother Yusef", "The Moody One", "There She Goes", "Tico Tico", and "Why Don't You". Flute N The Blues is one of James Moody's first albums for Argo – and an album that features him shifting from tenor sax over to flute – and playing in a slyly seductive way that would have great implications for generations of soul jazz musicians for years to come! The sound here is never sleepy – and instead shows the flute to be a perfect vehicle for creating more sensitive colors and tones in jazz – in a way that's also offset by a bit of work on alto and tenor on the album as well. The group features some excellent work from trumpeter Johnny Coles and baritonist Pee Wee Moore – plus some sparkling arrangements from pianist Jimmy Boyd – and Eddie Jefferson joins in on 3 great vocal numbers. Titles include "Birdland Story", "I Cover The Waterfront", "Breaking The Blues", "Easy Living", "Richard's Blues", and "Boo's Tune". 20 tracks in all. CD

Wonderful work from vocalist Freddie Cole – brother to Nat, and an equally talented singer! Freddie's got a sound that's a bit sadder and more world-weary than Nat – still in kind of a small combo jazzy mode, as would bespeak his roots, but singing with a really honest approach that makes the album the kind of rare male vocal jazz treasure that hardly shows up! Tracks are a great mix of bar songs and lost love numbers – and titles include "Black Night", "Just A Dream", "Rain Is Such A Lonely Sound", "This Life I'm Living", and "Waiter Ask The Man To Play The Blues". CD

A great title for this second set from Taj Mahal – because the sound here is even more stripped-down and natural than on his first LP! Taj turns in a lot more original tunes this time around – and is in wonderfully comfortable territory with his own lead lyrics, sung alongside his own work on harmonica and steel guitar too. Jesse Ed Davis adds in plenty of great lead guitar, and also handles the rhythm arrangements too – and Al Kooper guests a bit on piano, but like all musicians here is very respectful of Mahal's role as the lead. Titles include "Good Morning Miss Brown", "Done Changed My Way Of Living", "I Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Steal My Jellyroll", "The Cuckoo", and "Ain't That A Lot Of Love". CD

A killer album from one of the most legendary versions of John Mayall's Blues Breakers – a quartet that features drummer Aynsley Dunbar, bassist John McVie, and lead guitarist Peter Green – who's also singing a fair bit on the album as well! The style here is tighter and more focused than before – showing a bit more of a rockish bent, especially on the guitars – but still strongly drenched in American R&B traditions, served up in a way that never waters down the sound for a mainstream audience. While other UK artists were taking American roots and softening them up for the charts, Mayall only seemed to deepen his commitment to more authentic representation of the styles – really only taking a bit more liberties with the strength and length of guitar parts. As before, there's a bit of reed work here that's especially nice – served up by UK jazzers Ray Warleigh, John Almond, and Alan Skidmore – and titles include "A Hard Road", "It's Over", "The Stumble", "Dust My Blues", "There's Always Work", "The Same Way", "The Supernatural", and "Living Alone". CD

Brilliant work from the great John Coltrane – a set of material that was recorded in the 60s, but not issued until the late 70s – and only then, not properly in print until the release of this great package! The material is classic Coltrane Quartet – with McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – all working with Trane to craft some long tracks that show the expanding genius of the group at the time. The spirit of the work is in the "new thing" mode of the 60s – more adventurous than even Coltrane's work from a few years before – and titles include "Living Space", "Dusk-Dawn", "The Last Blues", and "Untitled 90314". CD

Some of the rarest work ever by Sonny Criss – and a key link between his LA bop sides of the mid 50s, and his Prestige comeback sides of the late 60s! The CD features tracks from a rare album that Criss cut in Paris during the early 60s, while he was living in the city and working with the cream of its jazz players. This all-star set has Criss blowing some wonderfully soulful alto in a combo that includes Georges Arvanitas on organ and piano, Rene Thomas on guitar, Pierre Michelot on bass, and Philippe Combelle on drums. The original album is one of the rarest sides we've ever found ourselves looking for over the years – and it's wonderful to have the material back out again with such great fidelity! It's wonderful to hear Criss blowing with an organ/guitar group – but even the piano tracks are pretty darn great. Titles include "Early & Later (parts 1 & 2)", "St Louis Blues", "Once In a While", "Green Dolphin Street", and "Day Dream". CD

One of the greatest talents in mainstream soul – recorded live, and sounding wonderful! Raphael Saadiq's been burning on the left side of the R&B mainstream for the past decade or more – really catching our ears with his work with Tony Toni Tone, and living up to his promise even more with his great solo work. But with an artist like this, we're always never sure how much of their talent comes from the studio – which is why it's really great to hear him live! The set's a wonderfully tight one – Raphael working with a live band in front of a tremendously enthusiastic crowd – getting help from famous friends that include D'Angelo, Joi, Ledisi, Goapele, and the rest of Tony Toni Tone. Titles include "Anniversary", "Loving You", "Let's Get Down", "Charlie Ray", "Excuse Me", "Faithful", "Ask Of You", "Just A Man", "Copy Cat", "Missing You", "Still A Man", and "It Never Rains". Plus, this CD features a bonus disc – with 7 more tracks that include "Be Here", "Uptown", "Different Times", "Still Ray", and "Blind Man". CD

A cheesy cover, but a rock-solid set of work from the mighty Eric Alexander – who seems to be stretching out even more here than before! Alexander's always been a hell of a straight ahead talent on the tenor, but here he's almost hitting a few more modern modes at times – not "out" in his soloing, but a bit more free thinking in the overall construction and execution of the tunes – willing to change things up a bit in the rhythms, and give the record even more freshness than we might have expected. Alexander's easily one of the greatest living talents in jazz recording today – and we're already huge fans of his work – but he's won us over even more with this set, and a few of the chances he takes on some of the tunes. The group's a well-matched batch of regulars – including Jim Rotondi on trumpet, David Hazeltine on piano, Nat Reeves on bass, and Joe Farnsworth on drums – and titles include "The Temple Of Olympic Zeus", "Someday We'll All Be Free", "Lucas Too", "Blues For David", "I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life", "I'll Keep Loving You", and "Dave's System". CD

A classic album from one of our favorite jazz singers ever – a set that really set a whole new standard for a generation! Even at this early stage, Lorez Alexandria was an amazingly accomplished vocalist – as you'll hear on this excellent selection of tunes from the Lester Young songbook – laidback and soulful tunes that really let her open up and do her thing! The backing on the album's nice and earthy – provided by a Chicago group that includes King Fleming piano, Charles Stepney vibes, Paul Serrano trumpet, and Vernel Fournier drums – and the overall style is perfect for Lorez' deep soulful vocals. Titles include "DB Blues", "Easy Living", "No Eyes Blues", "This Year's Kisses", and "Jumpin With Symphony Sid". CD

Although pressed up by Verve, the music is definitely Imported From Europe – as Stan Getz plays here with a host of great Swedish players – on a date that makes for a real standout in his 50s catalog! Stan was living in Sweden at the time of the album – bringing a big influence to the scene there, and furthering the already modernist tones that some of the nation's best players were creating in the postwar years. There's a brilliant blend of iciness and warmth going on here – and players include Bengt Hallberg on piano, Ake Persson on trombone, Erik Nordstrom on tenor, and Lars Gullin on baritone – plus American Benny Bailey on trumpet, who was also making a home for himself over there at the time! Tracks are long, sometimes with a lively jam session-ish feel – and titles include "Bengt's Blues", "Topsy", "Speak Low", and "Stockholm Street". CD

Arrangements by Torrie Zito, and titles include "All Blues", "Easy Living", "Prelude To A Kiss", "Fascinating Rhythm", "Bluesette", and "A Taste Of Honey". CD

The duo of Archie Shepp and Mal Waldron come together beautifully here – in a mode that echoes some of the duets that pianist Waldron recorded with other reedmen in the 70s and 80s, but which has an especially wonderful contribution from Shepp! Archie blows both tenor and soprano sax – and the warmth of his horn in later years is really perfect here – especially as the album's sometime of an update of Waldron's earlier Left Alone classic, recorded after the death of Billie Holiday at the end of the 50s. As with that one, the tunes here include some numbers very strongly tied to Billie's legacy, but the vibe is very different, and very personal along the lines of the spirit of Shepp and Waldron. Titles include "Lady Sings The Blues", "Left Alone", "Easy Living", "Everything Happens To Me", "When Your Lover Has Gone", and "Blues For 52nd Street". CD

Loads of classics – 16 tracks, including "This Bitter Earth", "What A Difference A Day Makes", "Easy Living", "Keepin Out Of Mischief Now", "Manhattan", "Make Me A Present Of You", "I Remember Clifford", "Unforgettable", "All Of Me", and "Backwater Blues". CD

A cooker from this Chicago living legend – and proof that the passage of time hasn't dimmed the talents of Eddie Campbell at all! Eddie's firmly in the lead on vocals and guitar – plus a bit of harmonica, too – and the setting is mostly stripped-down, with the kind of no-nonsense contemporary blues production you'd expect from Delmark – almost a back-to-basics mode that really fits the music. Lurrie Bell guests on a few tracks – and titles include "Brownout", "I Do", "Call My Mama", "I Don't Understand This Woman", "Boomerang", "Starlight", "All My Life", "Skin Tight", and "My Friend". CD

The classic quartet of John Coltrane, certainly the classic quartet of the 60s jazz scene and perhaps the classic jazz quartet of all time, compiled in one box set with all of their studio recordings! John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones set so many benchmarks for jazz with their envelope pushing style, recording and performances that it's impossible to overstate their importance in the modern musical oeuvre. This set features all of the LPs Coltrane, Ballads, Impressions, Live At Birdland, Crescent, A Love Supreme, The John Coltrane Quartet Plays, Kulu Se Mama, Transition, Sunship, Infinity and First Meditations, plus a number of tracks issued on compilations. 66 tracks in all, spread out over 8 CDs, in a beautiful bookbound package with a metal slipcase and extensive liner notes. The titles are too numerous to list here, but the set includes "Big Nick", "Soul Eyes", "Miles' Mode", "Tunji", "After The rain", "Lonnie's Lament", "The Drum Thing", "Wise One", "Crescent", "A Love Supreme", "Nature Boy", "Brasilia", "Song Of Praise", "Dear Lord", "The Last Blues", "Living Space", "Dusk Dawn", "Dearly Beloved", "Attaining", "Ascent", "Amen", "Love", "Compassion", "Joy", "Consequences", and "Serenity". 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