The album's got a cheescake cover, but it's done in a very traditional mode – a style that's right up there with the best New Orelans jazz sessions on Atlantic! Wilbur DeParis works in a small combo with Sidney De Paris and Doc Cheatham on trumpets, and Garvin Bushnell on some mighty sharp clarinet – an instrument that trades lines strongly with Wilbur's trombone, and the two especially strong trumpets! The set was recorded live, and has an even more biting feel than some of the late 50s Atlantic Records trad jazz sets – and titles include "Tres Moutarde", "South Rampart Street Parade", "Muskrat Rumble", "Sensation", and "Clarinet Marmalade". LP, Vinyl record album

Wilbur DeParis may be working at Symphony Hall in Boston, but the sound here is pure New Orleans jazz all the way through – played in a tight small combo setting that features Wilbur on both slide and valve trombone, alongside Sidney DeParis on cornet, Omer Simeon on clarinet, Sonny White on piano, and Bennie Moten on bass! The hall gives a nicely echoey feel to the performance – almost an audio quality that's more vintage than the date of the recording – although all players come through with great clarity overall. Drummer Wilbert Kirk also plays a bit of harmonica – and titles include "Banjoker", "Sister Kate", "Cielito Lindo", "Farewell Blues", and "Juba Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare 60s meeting of groovy talents from both sides of the Atlantic – and a record that matches the trumpet of Dizzy Gillespie with the hiply swinging vocals of The Double Six Of Paris! The group were a wonderfully groovy precursor to the Swingle Singers – and sung in a scatting approach to jazz vocals that was very much in the tradition of Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross – but also drew inspiration from the earlier work of Eddie Jefferson, King Pleasure, and others. Their sound is great – much more 60s groovy than some other vocal groups – and pairing them with Dizzy gives this record an added punch that some of their other sessions are missing! Backing is small combo throughout – with either Bud Powell or Kenny Barron on piano, Kenny Clarke on drums, and James Moody on tenor – and with the presence of Diz, most of the material here is of bop orientation – taken at a fast and lively clip! Lalo Schifrin arranged the whole session too – and titles include "One Bass Hit", "Blue N Boogie", "Emanon", "Groovin High", "Ow", "The Champ", "Tin Tin Deo", "Hot House", and "Con Alma". LP, Vinyl record album

An essential 2LP set that's just about the only vinyl release you can find that documents the work of the legendary (and short-lived) Circle group – an important avant jazz combo that featured Anthony Braxton, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, and Barry Altschul. The record captures a Parisian concert from 1971, and the band runs through a great reading of Wayne Shorter's "Nefertitti", plus original material like "Duet", "Toy Room – Q&A", "Song For The Newborn", and "Lookout Farm". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet disco set from the late 70s – the only one we've ever seen by the Partners, who we're guessing were some sort of European studio combo! The sound is mighty nice – exactly what you'd guess from the title – the best sort of funky Euro disco style of the time, with some sweet harmony vocals that almost have a Bee Gees vibe – yet never nearly as poppy as their disco tunes! There's a warmth here that marks the Paris in contrast to other European club sounds of the time – and attention to lyrics that goes way past the usual "let's throw a singer at some grooves" – especially on the album's mellower cuts. Titles include "Partners", "Friday", "Dance", "Green Eyes", and "Love Meant To Be". LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant live work from Blue Note legend Horace Silver – extended live tracks that are even hipper than some of his studio work of the period, and recorded with a very cool combo as well! The great Benny Maupin is in the lead on tenor, and a young Randy Brecker sounds wonderful next to him on trumpet – as Horace crafts those wonderful modal lines that really send the tunes soaring, with help from John Williams on bass and a very young Billy Cobham on drums! The set features three long tracks – nice takes of "The Natives Are Restless Tonight", "Psychedelic Sally", and "Serenade To A Soul Sister". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest Luiz Bonfa albums we've ever heard! The record was recorded in Paris in 1962 – and it's got a clean lively bossa sound that reminds us a lot more of the catchy early work by Joao Gilberto and Baden Powell than Bonfa's sometimes flowery sessions from the same time. There's a tight jazz combo backing him up – with drums, bass, and flute – and a number of tracks have some wonderful breathy vocals next to Bonfa's driving guitar. There's more than a few great uptempo numbers – and the whole album's really a mad bossa treat! Titles include "Bonfa Nova", "Teu Olhar Triste", "Lila", "Sorrindo", "Bossa Em Re", and "Dor Que Faz Doer". LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing early work from Blossom Dearie – quite possibly her best album for Verve, recorded in the mid 50s right after her return from work on the Paris scene! The style here is sprightly and whimsical, yet also fragile and human – a blend that few other singers can pull off as well as Dearie – a trademark sound right from the get-go, and this album's probably the best place to start with Blossom's solo career! Backing is by a small combo that features Ray Brown on bass, Herb Ellis on guitar, and Jo Jones on drums – and Blossom herself plays piano. Titles include "Deed I Do", "You For Me", "Tout Doucement", "Everything I've Got", "Wait Till You See Her", and "A Fine Spring Morning". LP, Vinyl record album

Don Elliott puts down his mellophone and starts to sing – and the results are a surprisingly strong set that's one of his standouts of the 50s! Don's got a limited range, but more than makes up for it with his sense of personality – a mode that's a bit like Jackie Paris or Matt Dennis at the time, with qualities that are quite far from mainstream male pop vocals of the period! Backing is by a core cool combo that includes Billy Byers on trombone and Hal McKusick on alto and flute – and the tunes have a sweet modern quality that's mighty fresh. Titles include "Ooh Baby It Scares Me", "I Hadn't Anyone Til You", "Every Time", "Let's Fall In Love", "Whatever Happened To You", and "Looking For A Boy". LP, Vinyl record album

A 60s Reprise issue of earlier material that Dizzy Gillespie cut live in Paris – not his Salle Pleyel concerts, but some great work with a variety of groups! One combo features Wade Legge on piano and Nat Peck on trombone – on cuts that include "Moon Nocturne", "Fais Gaffe", "This Is The Way", and "Always". Another features Don Byas on tenor, Hubert Fol on Alto, and Raymond Fol on piano – on the titles "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams", "I Don't Know Why", "Dizzy's Blues", and "Everything Happens To Me". And the third group features Byas on tenor and Arnold Ross on piano – on "Hurry Home" and "She's Funny That Way". LP, Vinyl record album

Chicago blues saxophonist Eddie Shaw – recorded in Paris, and also singing and blowing harmonica – win a combo with Melvin Taylor on guitar! LP, Vinyl record album

Jimmy Witherspoon takes the stage at the Olympia Theater in Paris – recording here with a hip small combo who really help him find his unique blend of blues and jazz! The album's got a feel that's quite similar to any of Witherspoon's best American dates of the time – a swinging jazz take on older KC vocal modes, handled by Jimmy in a voice that's easily one of the most recognizable of his generation. Players include Buck Clayton and Emmett Berry on trumpets, Dicky Wells on trombone, Buddy Tate on tenor, and Sir Charles Thompson on piano – and titles include "I Make A Lot Of Money", "Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You", "I'll Always Be In Love With You", "Blowin The Blues", and "Everything You Do Is Wrong". LP, Vinyl record album

A set recorded in Paris, but one with a great small combo vibe that's right in the spirit of Chicago – work from Lucky Peterson on organ and piano next to the vocals and guitar of Little Milton! LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible work from the team of Donald Byrd and Gigi Gryce – crisp modern jazz, filled with soul, and never failing to swing! During the time of these recordings, Gryce was one hell of an arranger – with a tight ensemble approach that worked magic in a small combo setting. He was also a tremendous alto player – with a tone that was unlike any other musician at the time, magically sharp, with a sound that always seemed to inspire a great deal of energy from his bandmates. He gets plenty of that here from trumpeter Donald Byrd – sounding better on these sides than on most of his other 50s recordings – thanks also to some great accompanists, who include Tommy Flanagan, Wendell Marshall, and Art Taylor. Jackie Paris also joins the group on vocals for a few tunes – "Early Morning Blues" and "Elgy" – and some tunes feature additional horn work from players that include Benny Powell, Julius Watkins, and Sahib Shihab. Other tracks include "Sans Souci", "Speculation", "Stablemates", "Steppin Out", "Social Call", and "Satellite". LP reissues the albums Jazz Lab and Modern Jazz Perspective. LP, Vinyl record album

Two of the biggest singers who ever worked for Verve Records – captured perfectly at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1957! Ella Fitzgerald steps out with a strong, lively groove on the first half of the set – swinging things with a looser, more upbeat quality than on some of her mellower Verve studio sets of the late 50s – really grooving it up with small combo backing from the trio of pianist Don Abney! Billie Holiday also gets some small combo backing too – a hip trio with Mal Waldron on piano, Joe Benjamin on bass, and Jo Jones on drums – often a bit more laidback than the group on Ella's sides, but in a great way that helps Holiday hit a very intimate sound, even before this large audience. Ella sings "This Can't Be Love", "Body & Soul", "April In Paris", "I Got A Crush On You", and "Airmail Special" – and Billie sings "Nice Work If You Can Get It", "What A Little Moonlight Can Do", "My Man", "Willow Weep For Me", and "Lady Sings The Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Cal Tjader's best late 50s dates for Fantasy Records – thanks to some smoking tenor sax from Jose "Chombo" Silva! The album has Cal working in the very comfortable territory of San Francisco's Blackhawk Nightclub – in a combo that also features familiar players Vince Guaraldi on piano, Al McKibbon on bass, Willie Boby on drums, and Mongo Santamaria on congas – all musicians who'd previously helped Tjader hit some of his best Latin grooves! But the addition of Silva on a few tracks here really makes the set crackle – giving it a gutsy, soulful fee that you don't always get on some of Tjader's other records. Tracks are longish – and titles include the nice original "Bill B", plus jazzy versions of "I Love Paris", "Blue & Sentimental", and "Night In Tunisia". LP, Vinyl record album

Stunning live work from piano genius Ahmad Jamal – still very young at this point, but already working with the fluid sense of imagination that would only unfold even more in the 60s! As with most of Jamal's live dates of the time, the balance of lyrical energy on the keys and rhythmic sensitivity at the core is fantastic – given sublime support from Israel Crosby on bass and Vernell Fournier on drums – a trio who were as unique in their own way as the three piece combo of Ramsey Lewis was as well – although in a completely different style. The tunes are all familiar, but given these really fantastic readings – and titles include "April In Paris", "I'll Take Romance/My Funny Valentine", "Falling In Love With Love", and "The Second Time Around" – plus the Jamal original "Night Mist Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent work from Setenta – a Parisian combo who work with a great blend of Latin roots and funk – served up with lots of percussion at the core, topped with Fender Rhodes and other keyboards from jazz genius Florian Pellissier! The acoustic percussion and electric keys are perfectly balanced – as you might find on a mid 70s album from Mongo Santamaria, but with a different flavor too – given that these guys explore some Afro roots in their music as well, which creates shifting patterns of rhythms throughout the set. Most tracks have vocals, and titles include "If We Ever Get There", "Permiso", "Mecanica Bestial", "DIA (parts 1 & 2)", "Materia Negra", and "Llego El Malo". LP, Vinyl record album

Even at this early point in their career, the Modern Jazz Quartet were plenty proud of their relation to and reception in Paris – almost rubbing their international fame in the faces of other American combos with the title and cover of this record! The set's still got the quartet at their crisp early best – before any of the sometimes too academic or too serious tones of later sides – and tracks are mostly shortish, ringing out with especially nice vibes from Milt Jackson. Titles include an early reading of the title cut "Concorde", plus an extended "Gershwin Medley", and the tracks "All Of You", "I'll Remember April", "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise", and "Ralph's New Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A trio of Parisian sessions from Don Byas – tracks recorded in the city that gave Don his warmest welcome of the postwar years, and which provided him with wonderful players to work with! The first 6 numbers feature a quartet with Byas on tenor and Mary Lou Williams on piano – working here with Don in a surprisingly soulful, straight way – really adding a lot to the set with her own original tunes "OW", "Mary's Waltz", "NME", and "Why". The next 3 numbers feature Byas working with pianist Beryl Booker, who also sings a bit too – on a version of "I Should Care" – alongside instrumental versions of "Makin Whoopee" and "Bery Booker's Byas-ed Blues". Last up are 3 tracks by Don Byas Et Ses Rhythmes – a cool combo with the great Fats Sadi on vibes and Maurice Vander on piano – on titles that include "Jordu", "Anatole", and "Lover Come Back To Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Wild Cherry may have been one-hit wonders – but MAN, what a hit! At the time of release, "Play That Funky Music" was seen as a joke on the disco movement – but all these many years later, a quick dip into this self-titled album will show you that Wild Cherry were actually the real deal – a funky combo with a hell of a way with a bassline, led by the riffing guitar and weirdly raw vocals of Robert Parissi! In a way, the group feel more like some of those blue-eyed funk combos from global scenes in the period – like Australia, Germany, or South Africa – where it maybe didn't matter so much if you lad a long legacy in indie soul, as long as you could come up with the goods. And sure, the lyrics get a bit silly at times – maybe more lifted from compressed post-glam AM rock than soulful roots – but the overall sound of the set is surprisingly funky, in a way that's maybe stronger than so many other acts who got more respect at the time. Titles include "Play That Funky Music", "Nowhere To Run", "Don't Go Near The Water", "99 1/2", "The Lady Wants Your Money", "What In The Funk Do You See", and "Get It Up". A great moment when compressed AM pop, disco rhythms, and bass heavy funk all collided at once! LP, Vinyl record album

Lots of groovers from this combo who were big on the Parisian scene of the 70s – titles that include "Jumbolo", "One Favor", "Music Is Revolution", "Gardez Derier", "Which One Is Me Home", and "Don't Bite The Hand". LP, Vinyl record album