A seminal blend of folk roots and jazz improvisation – with Ralph Towner on guitar, Collin Walcott on sitar, oboe and horn from Paul McCandless, and bass and flute from Glen Moore. Titles include "North Star", "Children Of God", "Naiads", "Shard", "Bell Spirit", and "The Swan". CD

Features Colin Walcott on percussion, sitar, tabla, and guitar – plus Paul McCandless on oboe and bass clarinet, Glen Moore on bass, and Ralph Towner on guitars, piano, and flugelhorn! CD

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Essentially an Oregon record – given that the set also features oboe from Paul McCandless and tabla from Collin Walcott. CD

The world of moogy music first exploded back in the late 60s – when artists like Bruce Haack, Perry-Kingsley, and others were making all these wonderfully weird records that featured heavy analogue electronics and other playful elements! By the 80s, most of that music had gone away – some migrating to the world of new age, others turning more mainstream – yet up in Eugene, Oregon, there was a small scene that continued the electronic experiments of years past – work that sounded very different than most of the darker cold wave and industrial sounds that were popping up at other points on the globe. This collection offers up a long-overdue look at that scene – and features work from a collective of artists who really continue some of the hippest traditions of the genre – from the early records that Bruce Haack made with Miss Nelson, to some of the weird Mort Garson productions, even to some of the more wigged-out French psych/electronics of the 70s. Some of these tracks have vocals, some are instrumental – and they're all nicely "switched on" – providing a great bridge between the world of Walter Carlos and the Stereolab generation to come. Titles include "Energy" by Kim Carter, "Other Playgrounds" by Peter Kardas, "The Seven Rays" by David Stout, "Finale From A Walk Down Serenity Lane" by Joel Horowitz, "Self Regulation 2" by Carl Juarez, "The Ride" by Talve, "New Snow" by Peter Nothnagle, and "Patterns" by Suse Millemann. CD

They weren't kidding about the title with this one – because the whole set's pretty darn swinging all the way through! But even better than that, the collection's filled with rare work from a variety of different labels in the Universal Music spectrum, especially MPS – including a fair number of tracks recorded overseas at the end of the 60s and start of the 70s – some really great numbers that offer an unusual side of familiar American players. Titles include "La Petite Mambo" by Billy Taylor, "Speak Low" by Tete Montoliu, "Blue Alexander" by Monty Alexander, "Dark Eyes" by Francy Boland, "How Could You Do A Thing Like That To Me" by Eddie Thompson, "I'm All Smiles" by Hampton Hawes, "Daahoud" by Red Gardland, and "The Oregon Grinder" by Hank Jones. CD

A mid-90's trio date captured in Portland, Oregon with Jessica Williams on piano and Mel Brown on drums. Tracks include "Sunny Side Of The Street", "Cold Duck Time", "Makin' Whoopee", and "Birks Works". CD