... LP, Vinyl record album

One of the only albums ever cut by tenorist Bob Hardaway – a young west coast player who really cooks on this obscure record for Bethlehem! Hardaway's tenor has a bit more bite than some other Bethlehem horns of the time – and the vibe is almost east coast at time – with a stronger attack on the solos, and a sense of soul that comes through even more strongly on the ballads. The lineup is great, too – with Marty Paich on piano, bringing a nice punch to the tunes – plus vibes from Larry Bunker on side one, ringing out with a really wonderful tone. Bunker shifts to drums on side two – and the record features bass from either Max Bennett or Joe Mondragon, and additional drums from Art Madigan. Titles include "Jr", "Lou's Blue", "Indiana", "I Cover The Waterfront", and "Out Of Nowhere". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the cookinest albums we've ever heard from pianist Lou Levy – an obscure early 60s trio session that shows a whole new side of his sound! Lou's playing with likely suspects Max Bennett on bass and Stan Levy on drums – but unlike some of his west coast sides of the late 50s, this album's got a broader, freer approach – one that brings in more hues and colors than we're used to hearing in Lou's piano, and which has a kind of sparkle that we really love. Timings for the tunes are all a bit unconventional, making things more interesting even on the familiar tunes – and titles include "Davana", "My Old Flame", "Won't You Please Let Me In", "The Piccolino", and "The Hymn". LP, Vinyl record album

Given that a busty babe is leaning into the left side of the piano keyboard on the cover, we'd almost expect Lou Levy to focus mostly on the lighter notes on the right – but instead, he really opens up with some great deep notes on the cover, and takes the album far past anything you might expect! Levy's a really subtle player, one who never overstates his obvious ear for modern tones and musical elements – but he's really got a way of bringing them into his music in ways you wouldn't expect – either in the way he shapes a note on the mellower cuts, or comes up with a groove on the more lively ones. There's none of the flowery sounds you might expect from the "baby grand" title – and instead, Lou is in very comfortable territory – working in trio format with the great Max Bennett on bass, and drummer Gus Johnson – on titles that include "Little Girl", "Undecided", "The Gypsy", "Sunday Kind Of Love", "I've Found A New Baby", and "You Don't Know What Love Is". LP, Vinyl record album

A strong mid 50s trio outing from west coast pianist Lou Levy – recorded under the supervision of Shorty Rogers during his time working with RCA. The set's got a harder-swinging edge than you might expect – and grooves in the manner of some of Levy's other fine mid 50s work – thanks to excellent accompaniment from Max Bennett on bass and Stan Levy on drums. Lou's work on the keys really pushes things nicely – hitting some unexpected gutbuckety tones, and working with a bluesy undercurrent that's a far cry from his west coast roots. Titles include "Apartment 17", "Yesterdays", "Angel Eyes", "Lou's Blues", "How About You", and "Woody N Lou". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent set that combines the work of two lost horn players from the 50s! The first 8 tracks feature titles from an earlier 10" recording by Eddie Shu – an icy genius on the alto and tenor, working here in quartet format with Bobby Scott, Vinnie Burke, and Roy Haynes. Shu's got an angular tone that's a bit like that of Lee Konitz, but which is slightly less acrobatic, and perhaps a bit warmer – and he's a hell of a player, as you'll hear on the tracks "Tom Dick & Jim", "It's Sand Man", "Justice", "On East Side", and "Peace". Side two features one of the only albums ever cut by tenorist Bob Hardaway – a young west coast player who really cooks on this obscure record for Bethlehem! Hardaway's tenor has a bit more bite than some other Bethlehem horns of the time – and the vibe is almost east coast at time – with a stronger attack on the solos, and a sense of soul that comes through even more strongly on the ballads. The lineup is great, too – with Marty Paich on piano, bringing a nice punch to the tunes – plus vibes from Larry Bunker on side one, ringing out with a really wonderful tone. Bunker shifts to drums on side two – and the record features bass from either Max Bennett or Joe Mondragon, and additional drums from Art Madigan. Titles include "Jr", "Lou's Blue", "Indiana", "I Cover The Waterfront", and "Out Of Nowhere". LP, Vinyl record album

If you've ever doubted the real jazz sensibility of Tony Bennett, then this is an album to change your mind – because Tony's working here in a marvelously unadorned setting – with only the piano of Bill Evans to back him up! The record's a rare gem from years after Bennett was cracking the pop charts, but was willing to pull back to the jazz of his roots – and the session's equally rare for Evans, who rarely worked with vocalists at this point in his career. The simplicity of the album is its strength – and together, the pair really sound tremendous – slightly faltering at times, but in a way that exposes a sense of humanity you might not find in other records, especially those by Bennett. Titles include "When In Rome", "Some Other Time", "The Touch Of Your Lips", "My Foolish Heart", "Waltz For Debby", and "Young & Foolish". LP, Vinyl record album

If you've ever doubted the real jazz sensibility of Tony Bennett, then this is an album to change your mind – because Tony's working here in a marvelously unadorned setting – with only the piano of Bill Evans to back him up! The record's a rare gem from years after Bennett was cracking the pop charts, but was willing to pull back to the jazz of his roots – and the session's equally rare for Evans, who rarely worked with vocalists at this point in his career. The simplicity of the album is its strength – and together, the pair really sound tremendous – slightly faltering at times, but in a way that exposes a sense of humanity you might not find in other records, especially those by Bennett. Titles include "When In Rome", "Some Other Time", "The Touch Of Your Lips", "My Foolish Heart", "Waltz For Debby", and "Young & Foolish". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that's filled with some of the most evocative work ever recorded by the KPM sound library in the 70s – music that goes beyond just familiar funk to move into territory that resonates with some of the most sonically seductive styles of the Italian soundtrack scene of the period! The arrangements are superb, and although there's definitely plenty of funk gems on the record, the real appeal comes more from the way that other, larger elements are used next to the grooves – all with a style that just keeps on getting better and better as the album moves on! Tracks include "Phenomena" by David Gold, "Infinite Expanse" by Johnny Scott, "Gliding Through Clouds" by Steve Gray, "Cubist Pictures" by Neil Richardson, "Metamorphosis" by John Fiddy, "Paradise Island" by David Gold and Gordon Reese, and "Image" by Brian Bennett. LP, Vinyl record album

Previously unreleased cuts – and a great set that features rare jazz vocal gems from the Columbia vaults – including a solo cut by Jon Hendricks, 2 Lambert Hendricks & Ross numbers, 2 tracks by Carmen McRae with Louis Armstrong, 3 jazzy numbers by Tony Bennett, a Mose Allison cut, and a rare 1954 recording by The Gordons! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album