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With Cobb and Buddy Tate on tenors, Eddie Vinson on alto, and Ray Bryant on piano! CD

Great work from Grace Jones – still riding high on a disco wave here, but also finding her own space and sound too! The mighty Tom Moulton produced, ensuring some great sound for the set – and arrangements are by Thor Baldursson and John Davis, both of whom bring in nice sense of fullness, but never smother Grace too much – a key factor, given that her vocal approach is often a bit more restrained than some of the other disco divas of the time. There's less covers here than before, and Grace herself even penned some of the tunes. Titles include "Suffer", "Sinning", "Saved", "Atlantic City Gambler", "On Your Knees", and "Don't Mess With The Messer". LP, Vinyl record album

A record of angular lines and subtle sounds from pianist Jim McNeely – an overlooked talent from this generation, and a player with a great sensitivity for unusual colors and tones! The record's a fair bit different than other Muse dates – played almost with the freedom of some of the more inventive European piano sessions of the late 70s – never outside, but always pushing the boundaries in very exploratory ways. The lineup varies a bit on the set – as a few tracks feature John Scofield on guitar, but the rest are trio numbers with either Jon Burr or Mike Richmond on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. Titles include "The Plot Thickens", "Inner Ear", "Burgundy & The Virgin Snow", and "The Light At The End Of The Cave". LP, Vinyl record album

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An even more powerful album than the first intimacy set from trumpeter Jeremy Pelt – a record that has his trumpet sparkling wonderfully over some larger orchestrations on half the tracks, yet also directed well by a small combo at the core! The album's definitely part of a new chapter in Pelt's career – especially as he sings on the album's final track – but it also is more of an evolution in his role as one of the strongest mainstream trumpeters of the past decade or two – a role that's certainly cemented by the classic-styled approach of this set. David O'Rourke handles the larger strings on half the tracks – and other instrumentation is from Victor Gould on piano, Buster Williams on bass, Chico Pinheiro on guitar, and Billy Hart on drums. Titles include "Slow Hot Wind", "There'll Be Other Times", "When She Makes Music", "Two For The Road", and "I Can't Escape From You". CD

Houston Person on tenor sax and Ron Carter on bass. CD

Some of the best work ever from legendary trumpeter Woody Shaw – and honestly, a batch of music that may well be one of the best runs at a label by any jazz musician, period! Woody first came on the scene as a sharp talent from the east coast in the 60s – playing with a drive and fire that really set a whole new tone for the trumpet – one different from predecessors like Miles Davis, Lee Morgan, or Freddie Hubbard. And although he was already great on records for Blue Note and other labels, he really exploded as a leader with these sides for Muse – stretching forth with dynamic energy and boundless imagination – sometimes in a setting that was as spiritual as work on Strata East, sometimes in a straighter mode that put Shaw right up there with the best trumpeters of decades past. This Muse Records work has always been scattered and spotty on the reissue market, but is finally collected together here in one place – a stunning set of albums that includes The Moontrane, Love Dance, Little Red's Fantasy, Concert Ensemble At The Berliner Jazztage, In The Beginning, Iron Men, Setting Standards, Solid, and Imagination. The set features all tracks from these sessions – including bonus material not on the original LPs – plus very detailed notes and information, in the true Mosaic Records fashion! CD

With Ray Bryant on tenor and flute, George Duvivier on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Features Buddy Tate on tenor sax and clarinet, Ray Bryant on piano, Alan Dawson on drums, George Duvivier on bass, Eddie Vinson on alto sax, and Arnett Cobb on tenor sax. LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal work in the development of the career of Cedar Walton – the formation of his excellent Eastern Rebellion ensemble, a group that became a platform for soul jazz expression for the next two decades! The group on this set features George Coleman on tenor, Sam Jones on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – all working in territory that Walton and Clifford Jordan were exploring heavily at the time – long, drawn-out soul jazz tunes – frequently built upon modal rhythms, and touched with traces of post-Coltrane blowing. The key factor, though, is that the work's never too outside, never too overindulgent – just hard-swinging soul jazz, in a 70s expression of the older Blue Note ideal! Titles include "Bolivia", "5/4 Thing", "Mode For Joe", and "Naima". LP, Vinyl record album

A really fantastic little package – one that's put together in collaboration between Island and Transatlantic Records, to document the hippest Brit folk and folk rock of the late 60s and early 70s. Features gems by Fairport Convention, Roy Harper, John Martyn, Pentangle, Ralph McTell, Martin Carthy, John Renbourn, Bert Jansch, Davey Graham, Jackson C Frank, Marc Brierley, Gryphon, Hedgehog Pie, Young Tradition, Shirley Collins, Mr Fox, Lindisfarne, Jack The Lad, and many others! LP, Vinyl record album

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A beautiful later set from Lorez Alexandria – produced by Houston Person, and put together with a sensitivity that really stands out! Although Lorez always sparkles on tunes that swing, she really rises to the occasion even more here on the ballads – really gentle tunes that are taken in a laidback, personal sort of way – sometimes stretching out to the 10 minute mark, and presented by Lorez in a way that's open, unhurried, and a far cry from the usual quick take on an evergreen standard. The group features the great Gildo Mahones on piano – plus Herman Riley on tenor, Grant Geissman on guitar, Andy Simpkins on bass, and Sherman Ferguson on drums. Mahones handled the arrangements – always a plus – and titles include "I Should Care", "Love Walked In", "I'll Never Stop Loving You", "No Moon At All", "All My Life", "For All We Know", and "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning". CD

With Houston Person on tenor saxophone. CD

Always-great work from singer Lorez Alexandria – still sounding wonderful, even at this late date! Her presentation's a bit earthier than before, but no less poised than on earlier sessions – with the same sense of space and timing that's always made her one of our favorite jazz singers! And as always, there's a soulfulness to the music that really makes the whole thing sparkle – a sound that goes way past overdone torchy vocals, or hackney sets of standards – in that unique space that Lorez seems to inhabit nearly on her own. Backing is by a group that includes Houston Person on tenor, Bruce Forman on guitar, and Michael Carvin on drums – and titles include "Star Eyes", "Make Someone Happy", "My One & Only Love", "Someone To Watch Over Me", "Long Ago & Far Away", and "You Stepped Out Of A Dream". CD

A beautifully sensitive set from Tex Allen – mostly a trumpeter, but also a singer here on two numbers – working with a laidback approach that's totally great! Tex blows with a bit of Miles Davis space in his trumpet – early Miles, not late – and his singing has a warm, mellow feel that's a bit like Grady Tate, although a bit more understated too, with a slight rasp that gives him a nice sense of personality – and makes him a really great change from the obvious. This approach sounds especially great on the tune "The Process Necessary" – almost a samba-esque jazz dancer, but with a gentle groove – and Allen also sings on the longer tunes "When You Find A Love" and "The Things We'll Never Know". All other titles are instrumental, with players who include Jesse Davis on alto, Jackie Terrasson on piano, Ugonna Okagu on bass, and Eddie Gladden on drums. Lawrence Killian plays percussion on half the album – and other titles include "Estate", "Mutti's Bletten", "Wings Of Ceola", and "You Don't Know What Love Is". CD

Although the Muse label had a reputation for doing mostly straight ahead sessions, they did manage to come up with some great avant ones, thanks mainly to the production work of Michael Cuscuna. Here, percussionist Barry Altschul is joined by his old Circle bandmate Dave Holland, and free-thinking out players Sam Rivers, Muhal Richard Abrams, and George Lewis. The melding of AACM and Circle-esque traditions of out playing is a good one, and the set has a number of different tones and voices. Titles include "King Korn", "Hey Toots", "Cmbeh", and "Natal Chart". CD

With Kirk Driscoll on drums. CD

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A beautiful later session from Bill Barron – one that has him playing both tenor and soprano sax, in a group with brother Kenny on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Ben Riley on drums. The feel here is quite different than Barron's earlier groundbreaking work – but equally wonderful in its own sort of way. Bill keeps things sweet and soulful – bringing in some slight modern touches, but also opening up in a style that's got more of the soul jazz inflections that were showing up on the best Muse sides of the time. Titles include "Yes No Maybe So", "This One's for Monk", "Easy Does It", and "Travelin' On the Freeway". CD

Nicely overstuffed CD that brings together some excellent tracks from Kenny Barron's early work as a leader for the Muse label! Barron spent a good part of the 60s working with one of Dizzy Gillespie's great groups, and by the time of these recordings, he'd emerged as a strong soul jazz modernist, with a good sense of modal rhythmic lines, and a style that mixed up funky jazz and spiritual post-Coltrane freedom. There's a total of 9 cuts on the CD, many of them long – and titles include "Swamp Demon", "Al Kifha", "Voyage", "Baiana", "Jungle Plum", and "Here's That Rainy Day". CD

An unusual double-length album of tracks recorded by this bluesy soul singer in the years after she recorded for Savoy, and cut her big hit "Candy". This LP's got a harder rockin' bluesy feel to it, with the sort of R&B revival sound of the late 60/early 70. Maybelle's still great, though, and really manages to belt out tracks like "Cold, Cold Heart", "Your Turn To Cry", "Winnie Widow Brown", "Big Sweet Daddy", "Long Long Journey", and "Blame It On Your Love". CD

A really great trio set from the mighty Walter Bishop – one of those hip 70s records that really has him opening up his sound, a bit like his material for the Black Jazz label! This set is more acoustic and a trio date – with Sam Jones on bass and Billy Hart on drums – but there's still a creative imagination here that's wonderful! The title cut "Valley Land" is great – and there's other great titles too – like "Sam's Blues", and good versions of "Killer Joe" and "Invitation". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent hard bop side from the late 80s, an era when the new "young lions" were getting a lot of press, and some nice recordings were being made with any eye on the future while their feet were firmly planted in tradition. This set features two players of Cindy's generation in the front line: Wallace Roney and Kenny Garrett, with some older masters filling out the rest of the group: Joe Henderson, Buster Williams and Larry Willis. The recordings are filled with energy and imaginative playing as they run through originals like "Arcane", "Late Autumn", "Dual Force" and "Mirrored Glances". CD

A solidly soulful album from drummer Cindy Blackman – a forceful batch of tunes that really match the best energy of the Muse Records soulbop scene of the early 90s! There's a nice blend of modern ideas and straight jazz energy here – sounds that grow strongly from the contributions of quintet members Steve Coleman on alto, Wallace Roney on trumpet, Kenny Barron on piano, and Lonnie Plaxico on drums – almost all Muse Records labelmates of Blackman, working here with energy that reminds us a lot of Roney's excellent sides for the company at the time. Blackman's the real boss, though – guiding things forcefully with her work on drums, and contributing a wealth of original numbers to the set – tunes that include "Code Red", "Anxiety", "Green", "Face In The Dark", and "Circles". CD

Cindy Blackman's one of those players who always surprises us with her music – coming across with a lot more to offer than just her unique role as a girl drummer in jazz – sounds so bold, we instantly forget her gender and pretty image on the cover, and always just let ourselves get swept away by the power of her music! This set is possibly one of Blackman's best from the Muse Records years – thanks to a top-shelf quartet that includes Gary Bartz on alto and soprano sax, Kenny Barron on piano, and Ron Carter on bass – a great trio even on their own, but given a nice sense of focus through Blackman's drums. As usual, Blackman penned some great originals for the date – and the setting is an especially nice one for Bartz, who's really given a lot of space for great solo work on the set. Titles include "The Oracle", "AJ", "Beatrice", "Traffic", "Why", "Our Blues", and "Who Needs Forever". CD

Features Antoine Roney on tenor and soprano sax, and Jacky Terrasson on piano! CD

Key proof that Art Blakey was still going strong in the late 70s – continuing his 60s legacy of working with the best young players he could find, in a setting that was bristling with sweet soul jazz energy! This version of The Jazz Messengers includes some tremendous players – including a young Bobby Watson on alto, the great David Schnitter on tenor, James Williams on piano, and Valery Ponomarev on trumpet – all grooving with Art in a style that steps nicely from the soulful Prestige Records years, when Blakey was leading the group with Woody Shaw and Carter Jefferson. Tracks are nearly all originals – loping and grooving with a soulful finish that's really wonderful, showing off equal parts of writing from nearly all corners of the group. The album's awash in soulful joy and love, and titles include "Reflections In Blue", "ETA", "Mishima", "Say Dr J", and "Stretching". LP, Vinyl record album

With Billy Harper on tenor, Leroy Jenkins on violin, Juni Booth on bass, and Jimmy Hopps on drums – plus a bit of vocals from Linda Sharrock. LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderfully moody piano work from Joe Bonner – working here in spare solo space on one of his most evocative albums of the 70s! The album's filled with swirling piano lines, played in the usual sensitive Bonner style – stark single-note melodies standing out, couched by fuller chords that are dripping with color. The piano's acoustic throughout, but as with Kenny Barron at this time, there's a slight hint of electricity in the phrasing – and titles include "Tattoo", "Little Chocolate Boy", "Native Son", "The Lifesaver", and "The Observer". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the excellent avant sides for Muse from the early 70's, and a record that features Lester Bowie playing in a number of different settings – all with a sound that's different from his Art Ensemble recordings, and from his work for ECM. One track has him playing a duet with pianist John Hicks, another has him in a percussion quartet with Philip Wilson, Jerome Cooper, and Charles Shaw, and some have him in a larger group with players like Cecil McBee, Hicks, Julius Hemphill, and brother Joseph Bowie. Tracks include "Fast Last", "F Troop Rides Again", and "Lonely Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

We're not sure what a neck-peckin jammie is, but drummer Cecil Brooks really makes us want to know more – as the sound of this set is solidly soulful, and way deeper than you might guess from the cartoony image on the cover! Brooks has some very sharp help here in the group – Craig Handy on tenor and soprano sax, Justin Robinson on alto, and Terell Stafford on trumpet – a really bold frontline that steps out beautifully with Cecil's strongly rhythmic insistence – supported even further in these efforts by Geoff Keezer on piano and Christian McBride on bass. Tracks are easygoing and soulfully flowing – just the sort of soul jazz that Muse Records always got so right – and tunes include "In Jody's Corner", "Hill District", "Yvette", "Creepin", "One By One", "Blues Citizens", and "Mood Swings". CD