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Yipes! The MJQ must have freaked out when they saw the title to this one – especially since the record doesn't feature them playing especially for lovers, it's just a collection of their excellent early work for Prestige. The album features some of the group's great work with Kenny Clarke on drums – and titles include "All The Things You Are", "All Of You", "But Not For Me", "Rose Of The Rio Grande", and "I'll Remember April". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautifully spacey work from the Modern Jazz Quartet – a record that more than earns its enigmatic title! The session's an odd one – in that the MJQ are recording for the Beatles' famous Apple label – but that fact is also one of the best aspects of the record, as it seems to push the group past the staid third stream sound of some of their 60s recordings for Atlantic, into territory that's a bit more experimental, and concerned with sound, colors, and texture. The album's got 2 incredible originals from John Lewis – "Visitor From Mars" and "Visitor From Venus" – plus the tracks "Dilemma" and "Adagio From Concierto De Aranjuez". LP, Vinyl record album

A great addition to the Modern Jazz Quartet – as the clarinet of Jimmy Giuffre brings a sharp modern edge to the record! The album's similar to the other MJQ Music Inn date with Sonny Rollins – and shows how the addition of a reed player can really unlock new colors, tones, and possibilities in the sounds of the group. And in this case, given the Giuffre's at the height of his early powers – coming off some sublime trio dates for Atlantic – the pairing of players is completely sublime! Titles include "A Fugue At Music Inn", "Serenade", and "Fun". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent Japanese performance from the Modern Jazz Quartet – and a set that was issued in a bit of a lull during their 60s American years for Atlantic Records – which makes it even more important as a key part of their catalog at the time! The 1966 date has the combo in fine form – and almost stepping out with a bit of added soulfulness, in ways that echo some of the styles that Milt Jackson was exploring on his own at the time, and which seem to be brought back to the group! Milt's vibes are wonderful – ringing out with a great sense of pride and presence that may well go beyond earlier MJQ material – and titles include "Really True Blues", "The Cylinder", "Midsommer", "Animal Dance", "For Someone I Love", "Ralph's New Blues", "Pyramid", "Home", "Winter Tale", "Blues Milanese", and "Bag's Groove". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked later gem from the Modern Jazz Quartet on Atlantic – a live set recorded at the Lighthouse, and one with a funkier tone than some of the group's earlier work for the label! Milt Jackson seems to be a bit more in charge of the sound on this set – as the tracks have that earthy quality he was bringing to his own solo albums of the time – yet still ring out with the sense of sound and space that's clearly directed by the John Lewis influence. The whole thing's wonderfully spare – with a sense of timing and grace that's impeccable, yet which also never fails to swing – and titles include "The Spiritual", "Baseball", "The Shadow Of Your Smile", "Intima", "Novamo", "For Someone I Love" and "What's New". LP, Vinyl record album

A moody early 60s set by the MJQ for Atlantic. Overall the group rolls and swings in a bit rougher mode than they do on their brighter efforts, but they still hit the sweet spot and swing when the mood fits! The record works best when Milt Jackson's vibes are let loose, as on the playful reading of "Mean To Me", and John Lewis's piano sets the mood as in "Carnival" (the Luiz Bonfa tune). Other tracks include Lewis's "The Sheriff", "In A Crowd", "Donnie's Theme" and "Natural Affection", plus "Bachianas Brasileiras". LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal album that defined the fresh sound of a whole new generation in jazz – that "third stream" movement that was different from the cool jazz of the west coast, and the fire of New York! The style here follows that same mix of jazz and higher-concept elements you'd hear on other Modern Jazz Quartet albums for Atlantic – but the music is expanded here with some great help from outside parties too. The Jimmy Giuffre trio join the quartet on most of side one – adding in Jimmy's snakey clarinet and Jim Hall's fluid guitar lines for a really fresh take on the MJQ groove. The remainder of the album brings in the Beaux Arts String Quartet – who shade in the mix of vibes and piano with these dark strains that are really beautiful – and bring even more drama than usual to the music. Titles include "Da Capo", "Fine", "Exposure", "Sketch", and "Conversation". LP, Vinyl record album

Moody vibes and light guitar – a wonderful meeting of two unique talents – the third stream jazz of the Modern Jazz Quartet, and the introspective guitar of Laurindo Almeida! The session blends together a host of different influences – from classical guitar to bossa nova to modern jazz – all with the light and spacious touches of the MJQ at their best, recorded with some really warm brilliance that makes the whole set sparkle! Titles include "Foi A Saudade", "One Note Samba", "Fugue In A Minor", "Silver", "Trieste", and "Concierto De Arajunez". LP, Vinyl record album

Nice stuff from the early days of the MJQ – recorded back when Kenny Clarke was still playing drums with the group, and giving them a bit more of a bottom! One side of the record features material recorded from one of the quartet's first sessions – in late 1952, with the tracks "La Ronde", "Vendome", and "Rose Of The Rio Grande". The rest of the record features material by Jackson's group with Horace Silver on piano, Percy Heath on bass, Kenny Clarke on drums, and the obscure Henry Boozier on trumpet. That material's a bit more bop-oriented, and titles include "Opus De Funk", "Buhania", and "Soma". LP, Vinyl record album

Very cool combo work from Gerry Mulligan – and very much in the Pacific Jazz style of the time, given that Chet Baker is in the group on trumpet! There's no piano at all – just Carson Smith on bass and Larry Bunker on drums – and Mulligan is already at his modern best! LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal session from Gerry Mulligan – one of his 50s quartet recordings with Chet Baker, in a group that also includes Carson Smith on bass and Larry Bunker on drums. The pianoless quartet grooves nicely in a twin-horn frontline – gliding effortlessly through tunes that include "I May Be Wrong", "Jeru", "Swinghouse", "Darn That Dream", and "Love Me Or Leave Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A strong outing from this key post-Mingus collaboration – and a record that really shows both Don Pullen and George Adams really coming into their own! Pullen's piano can have plenty of edges, as can Adams' tenor – but there's also some warmer, lyrical moments that really round things out – kind of a balance between righteous energy and deeper quietude that the musicians might have learned during their time with Charles Mingus – taken to a logical small group extension here. Adams also plays a bit of flute, which is especially nice – and the group also includes Cameron Brown on bass and Dannie Richmond on drums. Titles include "The Great Escape Or Run John Henry Run", "Seriously Speaking", "Soft Seas", and "Protection". LP, Vinyl record album

With Kenny Drew on piano, Jesper Lundgard on bass, Ed Thigpen on drums, and Richard Boone on vocals. LP, Vinyl record album

A rare 1953 performance by Harry Sweets Edison – presented here in the original by Pacific Jazz on a 10" LP – a real departure from some of Edison's other work of the time! The material was all recorded live at The Haig nightclub – and the 4 tunes feature Edison blowing open and easy with backing from a trio led by pianist Arnold Ross. Titles include "September In The Rain", "Pennies From Heaven", "These Foolish Things", and "Indiana". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the best work that Louis Hayes and Joe Farrell cut during the 80s – a freewheeling and open session that's steep on soul, and filled with the best energy both players could muster! The group's a quartet, with Farrell on tenor, soprano, and flute, Hayes on drums, Rob Van Den Broeck on piano, and Harry Emmery on bass. Farrell's inventiveness, as always, is incredible – restrained from some of his over-the-top work in the 70s – but in a good way, one that has him really focusing on the construction of his solos, and coming up with some wonderfully soulful notes that hold the lively rhythms of the tunes together. All tracks are long, and titles include "Miles Mode", "Vim N Vigor", "Arab Arab", and "Besame Mucho". LP, Vinyl record album

Drummer Roy Haynes always brings something great to the table for any album he does as a leader – and this record is no exception! Here, the "added something" is the presence of Roland Kirk on reeds – offered a key early chance to express his most modern ideas in the freedom of Haynes' group – working alongside Tommy Flanagan on piano and Henry Grimes on bass, in what was easily one of the hippest groups to record for Impulse in the early 60s! The record's filled with wonderful material – and a mix of originals and standards done with a very twisted edge – all with great interplay between Kirk's quirky sax work and Roy Haynes' amazing drumming – often changing up timings and rhythms with ease, and really matching Kirk's quirky energy for the set. Titles include "Moon Ray", "Raoul", "Snap Crackle", and "Long Wharf". LP, Vinyl record album

A great one by Clifford Jordan! The LP was originally recorded for "Dolphy Productions" in Paris, and with a feel and a spirit very similar to his classic Strata East albums from the same time, like Glass Bead Games and In The World. The group is similar to those recordings too, and features Cedar Walton, Sam Jones, and Billy Higgins. Tracks are nice and long, and there's a great take on the Strata fave "John Coltrane", plus other nice ones that include "Midnight Waltz","One For Amos", and "Highest Mountain". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest 50s showcases for the tenor talents of Warne Marsh – a deceptively understated album that captures Warne at his most fluid and creative point! The setting is a quartet – with Ronnie Ball on piano, Red Mitchell on bass, and Stan Levey on drums – and Marsh is magnificent throughout, really blowing with a tone that is fresh and filled with modern ideas – yet never overdone, nor too willfully complex to lose the train of the tunes. The approach is almost Konitz-soulful – a wonderful distillation of ideas in the hands of one magical talent – and titles include "Ad Libido", "It's All Right With Me", "Playa Del Ray", "Autumn In New York", and "You Are Too Beautiful". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the later albums in the group's classic run for Atlantic Records – with titles that include "Bag's Groove", "Blues Milanese", "Pyramid", "The Cylinder", "Really True Blues", "Ralph's New Blues", "Monterey Mist", and "Home". LP, Vinyl record album

A double-length live set from the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet – recorded in Scandinavia in 1960, almost as a summation of the group's growing genius in the 50s! The tunes are a mix of John Lewis and Milt Jackson originals, plus other songs all given the wonderful MJQ twist – distilled into a sublime blend of piano, vibes, bass, and drums – all delivered with a sense of class, but never too much polish. The album is live, but still has that sophisticated composure that made the group so unique at the time – and the whole thing's a perfect complement to their famous studio albums on Atlantic! Set features 15 tracks in all – including "Django", "Bluesology", "La Ronde", "Festival Sketch", "Vendome", "Odds Against Tomorrow", "Skating In Central Park", "The Cylinder", "Bags' Groove", "I Should Care", "Round Midnight", and "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)". LP, Vinyl record album

Not really the last concert ever from the Modern Jazz Quartet – but a set that seemed so at the time, given that the group went their separate ways for a number of years! The record's got the combo in really top form – very much back to the basics of their early time on Atlantic Records, with a sublime focus on that unique sound that no other group like this could match. Milt Jackson's vibes are chromatically aligned in this amazing way with the piano of John Lewis – and somehow the live recording seems to bring out even more tones in the bass of Percy Heath, who feels an even stronger presence here than usual. Connie Kay's work on drums are a masterpiece of percussive understatement – and titles include "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise", "Summertime", "The Cylinder", "Blues In A Minor", and "One Never Knows". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the groovier albums the Modern Jazz Quartet ever recorded – as you might expect, given the cover and title! In addition to the group's usual cool sound from Milt Jackson's vibes, the set also features John Lewis playing a bit of harpsichord in addition to his usual piano – and the group's also augmented on a few tracks with some great horns from Snookie Young and Joe Newman on trumpets, Garnett Brown on trombone, Jim Buffington on French horn, and Don Butterfield on tuba – a change that really gives the record a nicely different flavor from other MJQ albums. John Lewis composed all of the tracks – and titles include "Walkin Stomp", "Dancing", "Plastic Dreams", "Variations On A Christmas Theme", "Travlin", "Piazza Novona", and "England's Carol". LP, Vinyl record album

Features a long reading of "Pyramid" – plus "Django", "Romaine", "Vendome", and "It Don't Mean A Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

A great set by one of the more obscure groups to record for the CTI/Motown subsidiary Salvation – a great quartet that features Frank Wess on soprano sax and flute, Roland Hanna on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Ben Riley on drums. The group play in a mode that really pushes past that of Hanna and Wess' regular work – with Frank blowing in a more soulful, open style than usual; and Roland playing in a more rhythmic, slowly swinging kind of style. Tracks are long and open – with lots of space – but they manage to groove with a really subtle approach, thanks to some excellent bass work from Carter. Titles include "Little Waltz", "Well You Needn't", "Introspection", and "Mediterranean Seascape". LP, Vinyl record album

A 60s rock and roll soundtrack, but one that's also a cut above the usual mixed-bag bunch – thanks to a nicely cohesive set of charts from arranger Frank Perkins! About half the tracks here are by Frank – and they're nicely groovy instrumentals that have a jot of jerk and twist rhythms beneath the bigger horns – which are then offset by some surprisingly decent vocal numbers that balance out the record and give it a nice depth. Instrumental tunes include "Palm Springs Scramble", "Go Go Devil", "Palm Canyon Bossa Nova", and "Prescription For Recovery" – and vocal tracks include "What Will I Tell Him" by Connie Stevens, "Live Young" by Troy Donahue, "Ox Driver" by Modern Folk Quartet, and "A Little Bit Of Give" by Robert Conrad. LP, Vinyl record album

A rare Italian-only album from Chet Baker – wonderfully cooking small group work that's a far bit greater than his more familiar "with strings" session recorded in Italy during the same period! The album's got Chet working with an array of great players from the local scene – including Gianni Basso on tenor sax, Renato Sellani on drums, and Glauco Masetti on alto sax – all in a groove that shows plenty of traces of that opened-up sound that Baker was exploring in the very late 50s – the modes he was crafting in his group with Phil Urso on tenor, as he started to get a bit more bit in his style! Yet there's also a nicely compressed approach going on here too – that west coast sound that was a strong influence on the Italian players of the postwar years, but which was unfolded to new ends in their hands. Titles include "Lady Bird", "Line For Lyons", "Tune Up", "Cheryl Blues", "Indian Summer", and "Pent Up House". LP, Vinyl record album

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With Paul Desmond on alto, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of classic work by Dave's group with Paul Desmond – featuring 5 tunes from West Side Story, inlcuding "Tonight", "Somewhere", "Maria", and "I Feel Pretty", plus others from shows and standards. The group, as usual, really opens up the tunes – and Desmond's icily skating alto really makes the best of the material. Other titles include "What Is This Thing Called Love", "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World", and "Night & Day". LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of classic work by Dave's group with Paul Desmond – featuring 5 tunes from West Side Story, inlcuding "Tonight", "Somewhere", "Maria", and "I Feel Pretty", plus others from shows and standards. The group, as usual, really opens up the tunes – and Desmond's icily skating alto really makes the best of the material. Other titles include "What Is This Thing Called Love", "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World", and "Night & Day". LP, Vinyl record album

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Classic recording of Crumb's "Black Angels", performed by the electricized New York String Quartet, featuring Paul Zukofsky. Zukofsky also performs on the other two pieces, composed by Charles Jones. LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite Paul Desmond records of all time – a set of understated brilliance that really lets him display his genius! Desmond at this time had been lost in some other sets that respected his talents, but didn't offer the greatest proof that he'd been growing as an artist – and this live album presents his magical alto work in a totally unfettered setting, with just guitar, bass, and drums backing him up. The spare sound is simply sublime – as Desmond's alto floats in air, magically picking notes out of nowhere, and illuminating the empty space with notes that seem to fall from the heavens. Titles include "Manha De Carnaval", "Here's That Rainy Day", "Wave", "Wendy", and "Take Five" – all done in nice long takes! LP, Vinyl record album

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A hip little live date from Aretha Franklin – one that's got a very jazzy feel, and some great small combo backings! The album's almost a distillation of the jazzy styles on Aretha's first albums for Columbia – taken into even leaner territory here, in ways that really set Franklin loose on vocals – making for some of her most forceful moments on record at the time. The quartet features pianist Teddy Harris, who steps back on a few tunes to let Franklin take over the piano – and titles include "Once In A Lifetime", "Love For Sale", "Impossible", "Today I Love Everybody", and "Without The One You Love". LP, Vinyl record album

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With Teddy Wilson on piano, Lionel Hampton on vibraphone, and Gene Krupa on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

A really beautiful pairing of musicians – the fantastic vibes of Lionel Hampton, set up in sweet small group work with Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Buddy Rich on drums! All tracks are nice and long – and the sessions really bring out the best of all players involved – very different than Hampton's other material too. LP, Vinyl record album

Great Verve material from Lionel Hampton – and like most of his sides for the label, a set that offers small combo grooving in a very stretched out setting! The album only features four long tracks – and Hampton's vibes are set up nicely with a trio that includes Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Buddy Rich on drums. Titles include "Always", "Air Mail Special", "Soft Winds", and "S'Wonderful" – all nice and long! LP, Vinyl record album

With George Rhodes on piano, John Browne on bass, and Harold Austin on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Pure genius from tenor saxophonist Richie Kamuca – a magical exercise in tone and balance, played by Richie with that warm and raspy style that we love so much in his work! Kamuca's probably best known for his bigger group work of the 50s, but on a session like this he steps out as a marvelously creative soloist – working at a good bop-inspired clip, but also taking the time to explore deeper, more personal ideas through his well-voiced solos on the set. Even on more familiar numbers, Richie steps out with a sense of personality that transforms the tunes to his own way of thinking – and he's very well aided in this work by a crack rhythm section that includes Carl Perkins on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Stan Levey on drums. Titles include originals like "Fire One", "Early Bird", "Rain Drain", "My One & Only Love", and "What's New". LP, Vinyl record album

Reissue of a record that was originally issued on Time Records – only briefly during the 60s. The album's a killer from Booker Little – one of the last few records that Book cut before his early death, and one of his only ones as a leader! The album features an excellent soulbop quintet with Wynton Kelly on piano, Scott LaFaro on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums – and the album's got some great little tracks like "Bee Tees Minor Plea", "Opening Statement", "Minor Sweet", and "The Grand Valse". Excellent stuff all around – and a record that would have been bigger, had it been issued on a larger label! LP, Vinyl record album

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A rare early Fantasy LP, one that features Gerry Mulligan working with a strong early group – Chet Baker on trumpet, Chico Hamilton on drums, and Carson Smith on bass – on 4 tracks recorded in San Francisco, and 4 others recorded slightly later in LA. The tunes are short, piano-less, and have that fluid 50s Mulligan groove – and titles include "Turnstile", "Limelight", "Carioca", "Bark For Barksdale", and "Line For Lyons". LP, Vinyl record album

A 50s Fantasy album that brings together 2 earlier 10" jazz sessions – one by Mulligan and one by Desmond, both unusual outings for the players. Side one features Gerry Mulligan working with a strong early group – Chet Baker on trumpet, Chico Hamilton on drums, and Carson Smith on bass – on 4 tracks recorded in San Francisco, and 4 others recorded slightly later in LA. The tunes are short, piano-less, and have that fluid 50s Mulligan groove – and titles include "Turnstile", "Limelight", "Carioca", "Bark For Barksdale", and "Line For Lyons". Side two is a session that features 4 tracks with Paul in a quintet with Dick Collins on trumpet and Dave Van Kriedt on tenor sax – working without a piano, and in a fluid-grooving style that recalls a lot of the Gerry Mulligan style of the time. The other 4 tracks from the set are even more unique – and have Desmond blowing dreamily over a "with voices" chorus – done with the Bill Bates singers in a style that's warmer than similar work by Charlie Parker, and which really points the way towards some of the Desmond solo genius of the 60s. Titles include "Jeruvian", "Garden In The Rain", "Misty Window", "Winky", "Soon", and "Will I Know". LP, Vinyl record album

Early Sonny Rollins work for Prestige – recorded in the years 1951 and 1953, in a variety of settings! 4 tracks on the album features Rollins blowing with the MJQ, one more has him working with a Miles Davis group, and the last 8 feature a quartet with Kenny Drew, Percy Heath, and Art Blakey. The tunes are shorter than you might be used to hearing Rollins, but there's still plenty of power and imagination in the grooves – very economical solos, crafted with a great deal of imagination. Titles include "Scoops", "Shadrack", "Mambo Bounce", "The Stopper", "I Know", and "No Moe". LP, Vinyl record album

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Classic early work from Tony Scott – a set of clarinet tracks performed with a quartet – featuring Dick Katz on piano, Earl May or Milt Hinton on bass, and Philly Joe Jones or Ossie Johnson on drums. The style's a great mix of bop and swing – in that mode that Tony always brought to his best work of the time, and which pushed an understanding of the clarinet in jazz long past the swing years. Titles include the long original "Blues for Ava", in two parts, plus "Goodbye", and "Swootie Patootie". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from Charlie Ventura – just the kind of record to make you appreciate what an amazing player he was back in the day! The session's a nice spare one, without some of the pyrotechnics or showmanship of other Ventura albums – especially the live dates – and the intimacy really lets Charlie open up in a personal, creative sort of way on his tenor – almost rivaling Lester Young or Ben Webster for tone and imagination. Great Verve-like work throughout – with rhythm by Gene Kutch, Louis Cicchini, and Ace Tesone – and tracks that include "Blues For Two", "Somebody Loves Me", "Limehouse Blues", "Blue Prelude", and "Girl Of My Dreams". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the records that really put saxophonist Scott Hamilton on the map – a well-matched set with reedman Bob Wilber, and a date that has each player taking a different end of the sonic spectrum! Wilber blows alto, soprano, and clarinet – often with a style that maybe hints at trade, but with more swing strengths overall – which Hamilton really amplifies with his well-blown, well-toned solo work. Other group members include Chris Flory on guitar, Phil Flanagan on bass, and Chuck Riggs on drums – and the use of a guitar instead of a piano really makes for a fresh flavor on the date. Titles include "Puggles", "Freeman's Way", "Riff", "Time After Time", "Treasure", "Jonathan's Way", and "144 West 54th". LP, Vinyl record album

Two different sides of Verve Records in the 50s – one modern, one a bit more traditional – and both represented in live material from the Newport Jazz Festival in 1957! Side one features a stunning live performance from pianist Teddy Wilson – working in a tight trio with Milt Hinton on bass and Spec Powell on drums – and really blowing away any conceptions we might have had about Wilson being aging or flowery at the time. Instead, he's got a sharp edge and command of the keys that's amazing – and which almost seems to have a bit more bite than usual in this concert setting. Titles include "Stompin At The Savoy", "Basin Street Blues", and "Airmail Special" – and Gerry Mulligan joins the group on baritone for a reading of "Sweet Georgia Brown". Mulligan then takes off with his own group, in a completely different format – no piano at all, just beautiful work from Joe Benjamin on bass and Dave Bailey on drums – and sublime sounds from Bob Brookmeyer's valve trombone, which is a perfect match for Gerry's deep tones. The group plays long takes on "My Funny Valentine" and "Utter Chaos". LP, Vinyl record album

With Steve Gilmore on bass, Bill Goodwin on drums, and Mike Melillo on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic 70s album from Gary Burton – a set that definitely has the "new" promised in the title, as it takes off more from some of Gary's work in previous years! The record's got this explosive sense of color that really comes through in Gary's vibes – and in the way the group can leaop into the fray when needed – almost funky at points, but also able to shift into more sensitive modes too – balanced between the guitar of Michael Goodrick,bass of Abraham Laboriel, and drums of Harry Blazer. Burton's got a bit more bite at times than before – pushing even past his Atlantic Records sound and the tunes are a well-chosen array of songs by contemporaries who include Keith Jarrett, Mike Gibbs, Chick Corea, and Carla Bley. Titles include "Open Your Eyes You Can Fly", "Coral", "Tying Up Loose Ends", "Olhos De Gato", and "Mallet Man". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare early Blue Note album by guitarist Tal Farlow – pre-Verve material that's really wonderful, and which shows that Farlow was already one of the freshest jazz guitar talents of his generation! The record has a cool 2-guitar frontline, played by Farlow and the obscure Don Arnone – with a sound that's very different from Farlow's other work, decidedly more modernist and edgey – almost in the territory of some of the Gil Melle Blue Note recordings, filled with rich colors and tones. The only other instrumentation is bass from Clyde Lombardi and drums from Joe Morello – the latter of whom sounds great here in a pre-Brubeck appearance. Titles include "Tina", "All Through The Night", and "Splash" – and the cool original cover will make your eyes pop out with delight! LP, Vinyl record album

One of Joe Farrell's first LPs as a leader – and a stellar session that's easily one of the early high points for the legendary CTI label! Farrell had been making some great noise in the underground during the late 60s – but here, he bursts forth as one heck of a soulful cat – working on these great modal grooves that slide out wonderfully and really have a sense of flow – a style that's different than Joe's later material, but equally powerful! Part of the strength of the record comes from the lineup – a key quintet of like-mined up-and-comers that includes Chick Corea on keyboards, John McLaughlin on guitar, Dave Holland on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums – players who definitely know the farther reaches of jazz, yet hang just on the inside here with Joe – providing some amazing accompaniment for his lines on soprano, tenor, and flute. Titles include "Molten Glass", "Song Of The Wind", "Motion", "Follow Your Heart", and "Circle In The Square". LP, Vinyl record album

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Rare quartet work from Hampton Hawes – brilliant stuff, too – with some incredible solos by both Hamp and also by Larry Bunker on vibes! Hampton is working here with a group of fellow west coast players including drummer and vibist Bunker (exclusively on the vibes here and he's incredible at it), Clarence Jones on bass and Larry Marable on the kit. Hawes works best in small combos, of course – most often in trios – but the added group dynamics that come in with the vibes here is truly exciting! Includes the Hawes originals "Terrible T", "Fanfare", and the standouts "Hamp's Paws" – plus "Move" (another highlight and one of the fastest moving number on the record), "Squeeze Me", "Once In A While" and riveting take on Charlie Parker's "Buzzy" to close. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the rarest Blue Note bop sides, and one that's hardly ever been reissued! Not only that, but the record's a beautiful set of tracks that mix hardbop and modernist approaches – in a style that's similar to the Blue Note recordings by Gil Melle (and in fact, Mecca was the guitarist on 2 of Melle's early 10" sessions for the label). Mecca's group here features the little-known vibist Jack Hitchcock, whose playing sounds great next to Mecca's tight single-note playing. Titles include "All The Things You Are", "Stan's Invention", "The Song Is You", and "Bernie's Tune". Cool cover, too! LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning pre-Columbia session from Thelonious Monk – a really great live date that has Monk's familiar quartet augmented by west coast players Joe Gordon on trumpet and Harold Land on tenor! Given that Charlie Rouse is already in the group on tenor, the addition of Land's horn makes for a very soulful set – and Gordon's one of those players we love whenever we get a chance to hear him on record, which isn't that often, given how few sessions he cut! Other players include John Ore on bass and Billy Higgins on drums – and titles include "Four In One", "Let's Call This", and "Worry Later". LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime guitar work from the great Johnny Smith – a musician who was years ahead of his time, and influenced a generation with his clean, clear tone on the instrument! Smith's in a perfect setting here – a Roost label quartet date that includes Bob Pancost on piano, George Roumanis on bass, and Mousie Alexander on drums – a very understated group that really lets Johnny's wonderful tones and colors stand strongly out front! Titles include "0500 Blues", "Old Girl", "Tired Blood", "Un Poco Loco", and "More Bass". LP, Vinyl record album

A date that has Buddy working with a strong rhythm section that includes Tete Montoliu on piano, Bo Steif on bass, and Sven Erik Norregaard on drums – plus a bit of guest violin from Finn Ziegler on two tracks. Most numbers are long, and really focus on Tate's bold, classic tone on the tenor – and titles include "Buddy's Blues", "Just You Just Me", "I Surrender Dear", "Broadway", and "In A Mellotone" – done at a long 17 minute run! LP, Vinyl record album

Original 10" LP featuring the second set of historic duets between Brazilian guitarist Almeida and the great LA alto player Bud Shank. This is the stuff that supposedly ended up back in Brazil and inspired the wave of musicians involved in the bossa nova momement. It's been repackaged a number of times, but it's great to have in this cool original package, with a weird polarized cover featuring a strange green design of intertwining leaves. LP, Vinyl record album

Mindblowing early work from Chet Baker – quite possibly as clear a statement of the young trumpeter's genius as you might hope to find, served up here in a beautiful 10" LP package! The tracks are short, sweet, and very much to the point – but they already display a tremendous approach to the trumpet that was different from any other player – a sound that's recorded cleanly and clearly throughout, without any vocals at all. The great Russ Freeman is on piano, and titles include "The Lamp Is Low", "Russ Job", "Batter Up", "Easy To Love", and "Maid In Mexico". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A great little live set – nicely extended, with the kind of surprises that Brubeck could bring to his concert appearances! The group's his classic quartet – with Paul Desmond on alto, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

With Fletcher Smith on piano and Bam Brown on bass on the trio sessions; Dodo Marmarosa on piano, Bam Brown on bass, and Zutty Singleton on drums on the quartet sessions; and featuring Howard McGhee, Lucky Thompson, Teddy Edwards, and Leo Watson in the orchestra. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album