Forget the a-side, because the b-side's the killer! "Tuck's Theme" is a great instrumental – slow organ bubbling underneath a building bass, horns sliding over the top as the whole thing vamps along, but the groove always staying in the dark corners that make it so compelling! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Really compelling work from the enigmatic Dino – a set recorded with slow, slinky backings from the Montevideo Blues combo! The album's a lot less blues than you might guess from the group's name – and in a way, the approach is almost more folksy, or singer/songwriter overall – with a key focus on Dino's political lyrics, and backings that often follow along with snakey guitar and slinky rhythms. There's a raspy brilliance to the whole set – and Dino almost sounds like Uruguay's equivalent of Geraldo Vandre – a powerful, positive singer, but one who never reached a bigger audience outside his homeland. Titles include "Sentimiento", "Si Te Vas", "Montevideo Blues", "Milonga De Pelo Largo", "Para Hacer Musica Para Hacer", and "Chamarrita El Chiquero". CD reissue is as amazing as the original – with a huge booklet with notes, history, and lyrics – plus 7 more bonus tracks too! CD

The great Dr John at his freaky deaky best – working here in a mindblowing mix of New Orleans roots and late 60s psych – all served up in some heady studio space and instrumental touches! The sound's unlike anything that ever went before – and is way better here than on some of John's later, straighter material – clearly the work of years of creative genius, as the Doctor, Mac Rebennack, draws on both his heritage from the Crescent City, and his years of work in the underground rock scene in LA! Harold Batiste handled the arrangements – and the record really paves the way for so many famous LA/New Orleans albums to come in the 70s – but never with results this mindblowingly trippy. The tracks are wild, funky, and messed-up New Orleans R&B filtered through a heavy dose of psychedelics – and titles include "Mama Roux", "Croker Courtbullion", "Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya", and the original version of "I Walk On Guilded Splinters". CD

The great Dr John at his freaky deaky best – working here in a mindblowing mix of New Orleans roots and late 60s psych – all served up in some heady studio space and instrumental touches! The sound's unlike anything that ever went before – and is way better here than on some of John's later, straighter material – clearly the work of years of creative genius, as the Doctor, Mac Rebennack, draws on both his heritage from the Crescent City, and his years of work in the underground rock scene in LA! Harold Batiste handled the arrangements – and the record really paves the way for so many famous LA/New Orleans albums to come in the 70s – but never with results this mindblowingly trippy. The tracks are wild, funky, and messed-up New Orleans R&B filtered through a heavy dose of psychedelics – and titles include "Mama Roux", "Croker Courtbullion", "Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya", and the original version of "I Walk On Guilded Splinters". LP, Vinyl record album

The great Dr John at his freaky deaky best – working here in a mindblowing mix of New Orleans roots and late 60s psych – all served up in some heady studio space and instrumental touches! The sound's unlike anything that ever went before – and is way better here than on some of John's later, straighter material – clearly the work of years of creative genius, as the Doctor, Mac Rebennack, draws on both his heritage from the Crescent City, and his years of work in the underground rock scene in LA! Harold Batiste handled the arrangements – and the record really paves the way for so many famous LA/New Orleans albums to come in the 70s – but never with results this mindblowingly trippy. The tracks are wild, funky, and messed-up New Orleans R&B filtered through a heavy dose of psychedelics – and titles include "Mama Roux", "Croker Courtbullion", "Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya", and the original version of "I Walk On Guilded Splinters". LP, Vinyl record album

Heavenly sweet soulful stuff from the Ben E. King years, including "Hey Senorita", "Lonely Winds", "Oh My Love", "Sweets For My Sweet", "Room Full of Tears", and more – plus the unreleased cuts "Sometimes I Wonder" and "Night Shift". Same great package as the other volumes, with a reproduction of an original cover on the front, and great notes inside. CD

Was there ever such a great run of records as the legacy of Earth Wind & Fire at Columbia in the 70s and 80s? It's hard to imagine a better one – as the strength of this collection will attest! Earth Wind & Fire didn't start their career at Columbia, but they really took off at the label right away – finding new heights of pride, power, and righteous energy – and a way of combining all their best soul, funk, and jazz roots into something completely new – reaching a much wider audience with their message, yet still staying true to themselves as well – an amazing balance that never wavers throughout the set. The package is filled with classic albums – including Last Days & Time, Head To The Sky, Open Our Eyes, That's The Way Of The World, Gratitude, Spirit, All N All, I Am, Faces, Raise, Powerlight, Electric Universe, Touch The World, and Heritage – and also features the Best Of CD, with single mixes of bigger hits, and the bonus Constellations album too – with rare tracks, live tracks, and some Maurice White productions too. Every album comes in a tiny LP-styled sleeve – and the box has a booklet of notes as well! CD

Earth, Wind & Fire's first album – recorded at a time when the group recently had ties to the Chicago soul and jazz scenes, and a range of experience that ran the gamut from work with Sun Ra, the Artistic Heritage Ensemble, The Pharoahs, Ramsey Lewis, and countless other influential groups. Headed up by Maurice White on drums and percussion, the group forged an amazing blend of all these influences, creating a future soul sound that pushed black music to the next level – taking a wealth of previously underground modes of expression, and fusing them into a soaring sound that would soon put them at the top of the charts. This album's a lot looser and freer than their Columbia albums – with plenty of raw funk and some nice off-beat jazz soling. Includes the classic break track "C'Mon Children", plus "Fan The Fire", "Bad Tune", and "Moment Of Truth". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of spiritual soul classics – the rare early Warner Brothers albums from Earth Wind & Fire – back to back on a single CD! Earth, Wind & Fire's first album was recorded at a time when the group recently had ties to the Chicago soul and jazz scenes, and a range of experience that ran the gamut from work with Sun Ra, the Artistic Heritage Ensemble, The Pharoahs, Ramsey Lewis, and countless other influential groups. Headed up by Maurice White on drums and percussion, the group forged an amazing blend of all these influences, creating a future soul sound that pushed black music to the next level – taking a wealth of previously underground modes of expression, and fusing them into a soaring sound that would soon put them at the top of the charts. This album's a lot looser and freer than their Columbia albums – with plenty of raw funk and some nice off-beat jazz soling. Includes the classic break track "C'Mon Children", plus "Fan The Fire", "Bad Tune", and "Moment Of Truth". Need Of Love is one of the two early Earth Wind & Fire LPs recorded for Warner – and the one that shows their amazing roots in the avant-garde jazz scene in Chicago! At the forefront, the record's a righteous soul album with an ensemble funk sound – but deeper in, there's a lot of jazz-based playing, and a number of moments that almost get "out" in the solos! Surely this one couldn't have been made without the spiritual advancements in jazz made by the AACM – and EWF couldn't have helped rubbing shoulders with those players, considering that they all often gigged together in the Chicago studio scene, and that they'd also shared some time together in groups like The Pharoahs and Phil Cohran's Artistic Heritage Ensemble. Titles include "Energy", "Beauty", and a nice remake of Donny Hathaway's "Everything is Everything". CD

A pair of spiritual soul classics – the rare early Warner Brothers albums from Earth Wind & Fire – back to back on a single CD! Earth, Wind & Fire's first album was recorded at a time when the group recently had ties to the Chicago soul and jazz scenes, and a range of experience that ran the gamut from work with Sun Ra, the Artistic Heritage Ensemble, The Pharoahs, Ramsey Lewis, and countless other influential groups. Headed up by Maurice White on drums and percussion, the group forged an amazing blend of all these influences, creating a future soul sound that pushed black music to the next level – taking a wealth of previously underground modes of expression, and fusing them into a soaring sound that would soon put them at the top of the charts. This album's a lot looser and freer than their Columbia albums – with plenty of raw funk and some nice off-beat jazz soling. Includes the classic break track "C'Mon Children", plus "Fan The Fire", "Bad Tune", and "Moment Of Truth". Need Of Love is one of the two early Earth Wind & Fire LPs recorded for Warner – and the one that shows their amazing roots in the avant-garde jazz scene in Chicago! At the forefront, the record's a righteous soul album with an ensemble funk sound – but deeper in, there's a lot of jazz-based playing, and a number of moments that almost get "out" in the solos! Surely this one couldn't have been made without the spiritual advancements in jazz made by the AACM – and EWF couldn't have helped rubbing shoulders with those players, considering that they all often gigged together in the Chicago studio scene, and that they'd also shared some time together in groups like The Pharoahs and Phil Cohran's Artistic Heritage Ensemble. Titles include "Energy", "Beauty", and a nice remake of Donny Hathaway's "Everything is Everything". CD

Kahil El'Zabar reinvigorated his Ethnic Heritage Ensemble a few years back, and the results have been a really stunning reworking of his legacy on the Chicago scene in the 80s – especially on the great run of albums on the Spiritmuse label! All the rhythmic, hypnotic qualities of Kahil's past music informs these sounds – but there's also maybe more majesty and more spiritual power overall – as El'Zabar's work on a variety of percussion instruments is matched with bold baritone work from Alex Harding, and tremendous trumpet from Corey Wilkes! Kahil's vocals are also fantastic – an element that he never used this strongly in the past, and which open up a lost possible career as a soul singer from the more righteous side of the spectrum. The set also features work from James Sanders on violin and viola, and Ishmael Ali on cello – both musicians who add to the majesty of the music – on titles that include "Burundi", "All Blues", "Can You Find A Place", "Great Black Music", "Open Me", "Kari", "Return Of The Lost Tribe", and "Passion Dance". CD

Kahil El'Zabar reinvigorated his Ethnic Heritage Ensemble a few years back, and the results have been a really stunning reworking of his legacy on the Chicago scene in the 80s – especially on the great run of albums on the Spiritmuse label! All the rhythmic, hypnotic qualities of Kahil's past music informs these sounds – but there's also maybe more majesty and more spiritual power overall – as El'Zabar's work on a variety of percussion instruments is matched with bold baritone work from Alex Harding, and tremendous trumpet from Corey Wilkes! Kahil's vocals are also fantastic – an element that he never used this strongly in the past, and which open up a lost possible career as a soul singer from the more righteous side of the spectrum. The set also features work from James Sanders on violin and viola, and Ishmael Ali on cello – both musicians who add to the majesty of the music – on titles that include "Burundi", "All Blues", "Can You Find A Place", "Great Black Music", "Open Me", "Kari", "Return Of The Lost Tribe", and "Passion Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

One jazz legend pays tribute to another – as percussionist Kahil El Zabar leads his Ethnic Heritage Ensemble through a set of tracks that really take on the wide-spanning legacy of the great Don Cherry – from his early years with Ornette Coleman, to his European world jazz experiments, to his enduring sonic creations over the years! Kahil is every bit as much of a musical experimentalist as Cherry – and his leadership here is perfect – pulling together contributions from Corey Wilkes on trumpet, David Ornette Cherry on piano, Alex Harding on baritone, and Dwight Trible on voice – all players who also pick up percussion and other instruments, in the best Cherry tradition. Kahil handles a wide array of percussion, including balafon and kalimba – and also adds some of his great vocalizations to the proceedings – in a set of tracks that includes "Degi Degi", "Sketches Of A Love Supreme", "Lonely Woman", "Harvest Time", "Spirit Gatherer", "Holy Man", and "Evocation". CD

Johnny Hodges on alto sax, Duke Ellington on piano, Harry Carney on baritone sax and clarinet, Jimmy Blanton on bass, Otto Hardwick on alto sax and clarinet, Barney Bigard on tenor sax and clarinet, Sonny Greer on drums, Freddy Guy on guitar and whistle, Ben Webster on tenor sax, Juan Tizol, Lawrence Brown and Tricky Sam Nanton on trombones, Rex Stewart and Wallace Jones on trumpets, Ray Nance on trumpet, vibes and vocals and Herb Jeffries and Ivie Anderson on vocals. CD

A great tribute to the late bassist Jimmy Blanton – served up by his old boss Duke Ellington, working here on piano alongside the bass of Ray Brown! This spare piano/bass session is a rarity in Duke's catalog – and it's a real later gem that captures the warmth and imagination of the Ellington piano sound in a near-solo setting. Brown's tones are round and nicely soulful – always a treat, even if not entirely in Blanton's spirit – and titles include "Pitter Panther Patter", "Do Nothin Till You Hear From Me", "Sophisticated Lady", "See See Rider", and "Fragmented Suite For Piano & Bass" – a great extended piece that takes up all of side two! CD

Features Joseph Bowie on trombone, Ed Wilkerson on tenor and clarinet, and Kahil El Zabar on drums, percussion, and vocals! CD

One of the most meditative albums we've ever heard from this legendary Chicago AACM group – very spiritual, and a record that shows lots of the energy that percussionist Kahil El'Zabar would soon bring to his work with the ritual trio! The group features fantastic work on woodwinds from both Light Henry Huff and Ed Wilkerson – the former playing soprano sax, the latter on tenor – mixing gently in sublime tones over Kahil's work on drums and percussion, which includes some beautiful kalimba too! In the best AACM tradition, all players handle other instruments too – Huff some harp and percussion, Wilkerson piano and additional woodwinds – improvising in these soulful styles over the cours of the album-length track "Impressions", which is divided up into seven different passages. CD

One of the most meditative albums we've ever heard from this legendary Chicago AACM group – very spiritual, and a record that shows lots of the energy that percussionist Kahil El'Zabar would soon bring to his work with the ritual trio! The group features fantastic work on woodwinds from both Light Henry Huff and Ed Wilkerson – the former playing soprano sax, the latter on tenor – mixing gently in sublime tones over Kahil's work on drums and percussion, which includes some beautiful kalimba too! In the best AACM tradition, all players handle other instruments too – Huff some harp and percussion, Wilkerson piano and additional woodwinds – improvising in these soulful styles over the cours of the album-length track "Impressions", which is divided up into seven different passages. LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic early work from The Fall – some key singles issued by the Rough Trade label as 45s during the first few years of the group – already a great showcase for the mad wit of Mark E Smith! While we love the albums from this time, these singles are maybe the songs we go back to again and again – as they sometimes have surprisingly catchy hooks, even while maintaining an edge – and often resonate with that Smith sense of humor that sometimes takes a few listens to pick up on! Tracks include "Totally Wired", "Putta Block", "How I Wrote Elastic Man", "City Hobgoblins", "The Man Whose Head Expanded", "Ludd Gang", "Kicker Conspiracy", "Wings", "Container Drivers", and "New Puritan". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare Latin outing from trumpeter Art Farmer – one that has him working with the mighty Cuban arranger Chico O'Farrill! The grooves here are hardly "Aztec", as Chico brings a hip postwar vibe to the session – a blend of American jazz and Latin rhythms that's totally great, and played by an all-star array of players conducted by Al Cohn! Side one of the record features the extended "Aztec Suite" – an ambitious number that begins with modern moments that are somewhere in a space between Stan Kenton and Ralph Burns' experiments of this nature, but which always has Farmer's trumpet as the center focus. Side two features tracks that are a bit more conventional Latin jazz – still played by the bigger group, but with an even stronger sense of swing! Titles include "Aztec Suite", "Heat Wave", "Drume Negrita", "Alone Together", "Woody N You", and "Delirio". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare Latin outing from trumpeter Art Farmer – one that has him working with the mighty Cuban arranger Chico O'Farrill! The grooves here are hardly "Aztec", as Chico brings a hip postwar vibe to the session – a blend of American jazz and Latin rhythms that's totally great, and played by an all-star array of players conducted by Al Cohn! Side one of the record features the extended "Aztec Suite" – an ambitious number that begins with modern moments that are somewhere in a space between Stan Kenton and Ralph Burns' experiments of this nature, but which always has Farmer's trumpet as the center focus. Side two features tracks that are a bit more conventional Latin jazz – still played by the bigger group, but with an even stronger sense of swing! Titles include "Aztec Suite", "Heat Wave", "Drume Negrita", "Alone Together", "Woody N You", and "Delirio". LP, Vinyl record album

Saxophonist Shamek Farrah is best known for a pair of legendary 70s albums on the Strata East label – but he was still working strongly in the American jazz underground for years after that – as you'll hear on this brilliant batch of live recordings from the end of the 80s! The album was initially only issued as a cassette sold at gigs, and it shows Farrah sounding wonderful in the company of trumpeter Norman Person – blowing alto and bringing the fire he had on his 70s spiritual jazz recordings – as he and Person work in a few different groups, alongside some especially great piano work from either David Durrah or Sonelius Smith – both players with strong legacies of their own! Garry Hammon joins the pair on tenor on two tracks, Marvin Neal on trombone on one, and the final track is a trio number without Farrah, showing wonderful phrasing from Person next to Smith's piano. All titles are nice and long – and tunes include "Negative Forces", "Aisha", "Footprints", "Timeless Beginning", and "I Remember Clifford". CD

Saxophonist Shamek Farrah is best known for a pair of legendary 70s albums on the Strata East label – but he was still working strongly in the American jazz underground for years after that – as you'll hear on this brilliant batch of live recordings from the end of the 80s! The album was initially only issued as a cassette sold at gigs, and it shows Farrah sounding wonderful in the company of trumpeter Norman Person – blowing alto and bringing the fire he had on his 70s spiritual jazz recordings – as he and Person work in a few different groups, alongside some especially great piano work from either David Durrah or Sonelius Smith – both players with strong legacies of their own! Garry Hammon joins the pair on tenor on two tracks, Marvin Neal on trombone on one, and the final track is a trio number without Farrah, showing wonderful phrasing from Person next to Smith's piano. All titles are nice and long – and tunes include "Negative Forces", "Aisha", "Footprints", "Timeless Beginning", and "I Remember Clifford". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked 70s gem from the great Jose Feliciano – a set that really continues the warm soul styles he'd hit on his last few years at RCA – a wonderful blend for his unique vocals and his tremendous way of putting over a tune! The set was recorded down at Muscle Shoals, but it's got a nicely subtle approach that never tries to lean on the modes of that studio too strongly – avoiding some of the cliches that other records might showcase in such a setting – and throughout it all, it's clear that Jose's the star in the spotlight, using that warmly crackling vocal approach in a wonderful way – especially on the more upbeat modern soul moments. Titles include "Every Woman", "Marguerita", "Loving Her Was Easier", "Sweet Soul Music", "I Love Making Love To You", "Love Comes From Unexpected Places", and "Funny/Night Life". CD features the bonus track "What I Wanna Do". CD

A legendary album – one that has Aretha Franklin returning to her roots in gospel music – but working with all the strength and power that Atlantic Records had to offer! From early years recording as a young voice alongside her father's congregation, Aretha has matured into a hell of a lead singer – and really knocks it out of the park here alongside the mighty James Cleveland, and the Southern California Community Choir! While it might have been nice to record the set back home in Detroit, the California setting for the material works perfectly to elevate Franklin to a special place in the heavens – tying together her heritage in beautiful ways, and making for another great stride forward in her career during the 70s. One of the best ideas ever for a soul music concept album – with titles that include "Mary Don't You Weep", "How I Got Over", "Precious Memories", "Wholy Holy", "Never Grow Old", "Amazing Grace", and Climbing Higher Mountains". CD

A legendary album – one that has Aretha Franklin returning to her roots in gospel music – but working with all the strength and power that Atlantic Records had to offer! From early years recording as a young voice alongside her father's congregation, Aretha has matured into a hell of a lead singer – and really knocks it out of the park here alongside the mighty James Cleveland, and the Southern California Community Choir! While it might have been nice to record the set back home in Detroit, the California setting for the material works perfectly to elevate Franklin to a special place in the heavens – tying together her heritage in beautiful ways, and making for another great stride forward in her career during the 70s. One of the best ideas ever for a soul music concept album – with titles that include "Mary Don't You Weep", "How I Got Over", "Precious Memories", "Wholy Holy", "Never Grow Old", "Amazing Grace", and Climbing Higher Mountains". This package really expands past the original album – and adds in all these other tracks recorded during the proceedings, which were done over the course of two different nights in November of 1972 – with a mighty set of long tracks that quadrupalizes the original double album! CD

Marsha Frazier on vocals, piano, and flute – with Joe Ford on alto and soprano sax, Lance Bryant on tenor sax, James King on bass, and Rudy Walker on drums. CD

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Excellent 60s work by tenorist Stan Getz – a completely sublime meeting with pianist Bill Evans – tunes recorded in 1964, but not issued at the time, even though they are fantastic – because Verve Records instead wanted to really focus on Stan's bossa nova recordings! The pairing of Getz and Bill Evans is a wonderful one here – as both players are at their warmest, and working with a wonderful sense of tone throughout – Stan, slightly lyrical at times – and Bill, with some slight brooding undercurrents that really add some depth to the set. The rest of the group features either Ron Carter or Richard Davis on bass, plus Elvin Jones on drums – and titles include "Funkallero", "Melinda", "Grandfather's Waltz", "My Heart Stood Still", and "Night & Day". CD features alternate versions, and the unissued tunes "WNEW Theme" and "Carpetbagger's Theme". CD

Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet and Oscar Peterson on piano. CD

A lean little groover from the Nigerian scene – an Edo funk set that's got a vibe that's more stripped-down than most – really focused on the rhythms, with a stark, spare quality that's very different than bigger groups of the decade before! There's almost an influence here going on from both post-punk and reggae – darker production with some echoey edges, heady basslines that often come across with a slightly spooky sound, and use of horns and guitars in ways that really have a sharpness that's unexpected – funky but lean too – on titles that include "Gaskya Kace", "Ekhueghamunu", "Onughara", "Aikemienaru Nanorunomwan", and "Bi Enu Ba Sahun". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Dexter Gordon's proudest moments of the 50s – a rock-solid session for Bethlehem – easily one of the best-remembered hardbop sides from the label's California years! The album's got a relaxed, free-blown sound that's quite nice – with Dex in the lead on tenor, supported by the trio of Kenny Drew on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Lawrence Marable on drums. Gordon's perhaps not as fully imaginative as he would become in the 60s, but his sound and control is still great throughout – and the rhythm section really helps knock this one out of the park. Titles include versions of "Darn That Dream", "Autumn In New York", "You Can Depend On Me", and "Confirmation", plus two originals "Number Four" and "Daddy Plays The Horn". CD

A no-nonsense salsa session from trombonist Rubby Haddock. Titles include "A Mi Jibarita", "Una Pausa", "El Amor", "Perla Querida", and "Maria Teresa". LP, Vinyl record album

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A heck of a charmer from Haircut 100 – one of a handful of great UK albums from the early 80s that mixed post-punk energy with warmer touches from jazz and Latin – all in a blend that's completely wonderful overall! Haircut 100 were never trying to change the world – and they certainly never passed themselves off as a real jazz combo – but they've got a great way of adding in just the right touches on sax, congas, and even a bit of vibes – all to create a captivating setting alongside Britpop guitar lines and the great vocals of Nik Heyward. Nik's way more appealing here than on his later work – unabashedly groovy, on tunes that include the classic "Love Plus One", alongside "Snow Girl", "Lemon Firebrigade", "Favourite Shirts", "Milk Film", "Surprise Me Again", and "Fantastic Day". This 4CD package is totally great – in a 7" square book, with a bonus 44 page booklet of notes and new interviews! CD2 features Pelican Plus – 15 more bonus tracks that include the non LP cuts "Skip Club" and "Ski Club Of Great Britain" – plus all sorts of 12", 7" , and extended versions. CD3 features Junction Box – 11 more unfinished tracks, including some very cool instrumentals that really show the jazzier side of the group. And CD4 features a 14 track live set, recorded at Hammersmith Odeon in 1982! CD

A heck of a charmer from Haircut 100 – one of a handful of great UK albums from the early 80s that mixed post-punk energy with warmer touches from jazz and Latin – all in a blend that's completely wonderful overall! Haircut 100 were never trying to change the world – and they certainly never passed themselves off as a real jazz combo – but they've got a great way of adding in just the right touches on sax, congas, and even a bit of vibes – all to create a captivating setting alongside Britpop guitar lines and the great vocals of Nik Heyward. Nik's way more appealing here than on his later work – unabashedly groovy, on tunes that include the classic "Love Plus One", alongside "Snow Girl", "Lemon Firebrigade", "Favourite Shirts", "Milk Film", "Surprise Me Again", and "Fantastic Day". This 4CD package is totally great – in a 7" square book, with a bonus 44 page booklet of notes and new interviews! CD2 features Pelican Plus – 15 more bonus tracks that include the non LP cuts "Skip Club" and "Ski Club Of Great Britain" – plus all sorts of 12", 7" , and extended versions. CD3 features Junction Box – 11 more unfinished tracks, including some very cool instrumentals that really show the jazzier side of the group. And CD4 features a 14 track live set, recorded at Hammersmith Odeon in 1982! CD

With Ron Carter, Terry Clarke, Steve LA Spina, George Shearing, Don Thompson, and more. CD

A really incredible album – a set that's filled with far more soul and feeling than you might guess from the youthful image on the cover! Matthew Halsall's a pretty young player, but his sound here is really amazing – not just on his own trumpet solos, but on the overall feel of the album – which is beautifully composed, and put together with a sense of spirit that takes us back to Strata East at its most sophisticated in the 70s! There's a really beautiful balance here – ambition in the writing that recalls other UK efforts from The Heritage Orchestra or Nostalgia 77 Octet – but an execution that's much leaner overall, deeply personal lines played by a relatively small combo – quintet formation on all numbers, featuring Halsall's trumpet alongside great reedwork on soprano sax, flute, alto, and tenor – supported by soaring rhythms on piano, bass, and drums – all handled with the majesty of an early 70s McCoy Tyner album, or some of the other great modally-inspired work of the American post-Coltrane generation. Tremendous stuff throughout – a record that held us rapt from start to finish – with 5 original compositions that include "On The Other Side Of The World", "Reflections", "Freedom Song", "Sending My Love", and "Sachi". LP, Vinyl record album

Forget the Ellington in the title, because this is more a moody album of west coast chamber jazz, in the best tradition of the Chico Hamilton group! Chico was one of the first folks in the jazz business to notice the genius of a young Eric Dolphy, and the record was cut in 1958, when Dolphy was still working with Hamilton, and bringing a lot of imagination to Hamilton's groundbreaking quintet format, which had begun to lose some of its luster by the late 50s. Dolphy plays alto, flute, and clarinet on the session, adding in beautiful touches of color that work perfectly with the set of Ellington compositions – and the CD presents the full recording of the album, which has only ever appeared in edited fragments. Titles include "Azure", "In A Mellotone", "Day Dream", "I'm Beginning To See The Light", and "I'm Just A Lucky So & So". CD

Never-issued material from modern jazz giant Joe Harriott – and a set of tracks that stands strongly next to his classic albums Free Form and Abstractions! The energy of those records is definitely present here – as Harriott's late 50s hardbop styles are taking shape with more modern inclinations, especially in the timing and structure of the tracks – such that Joe is really beginning to find himself, both as a player and a leader! All tracks are originals by Harriott, save one by Dizzy Reece – and the group features Les Condon on trumpet, Pat Smythe on piano, Coleridge Goode on bass, and the great Phil Seamen on drums – on titles that include "Coda", "Compound", "Calypso Sketches", "Shepherd's Serenade", and "Formation" LP, Vinyl record album

Unreleased work from alto genius Joe Harriott – two different slices of material from a very under-recorded point in his career! The first five tracks feature Joe in that back to basics mode he was hitting at the time – working in a unique group that features Kenny Wheeler on trumpet and flugelhorn, Pat Smythe on piano, Ron Mathewson on bass, and Bill Eyden on drums – all players who are very open to modern ideas, but who also keep things on more of a groove here – with only a bit of the freedom that Harriott was bringing to his music a few years before! And yet there's still a great tension that makes the set great – swinging jazz mixed with modernism – on titles that include the Horace Silver tunes "Down & Out" and "Psychedelic Sally", plus "WSIMC", "Chronology", and "Shadows". The remaining two tracks on the set feature Joe in a very different setting – the large group of Harry South – the kind of mod jazz in 60s London, working here with a superb lineup that also features Kenny Wheeler and Ian Hamer on trumpets, Ray Warleigh on alto and flute, and Tubby Hayes and Alan Skidmore on tenor saxes! Tunes include the very swinging "Themeology" by South – plus a richly full take on "My Man's Gone Now". CD

Unreleased work from alto genius Joe Harriott – two different slices of material from a very under-recorded point in his career! The first five tracks feature Joe in that back to basics mode he was hitting at the time – working in a unique group that features Kenny Wheeler on trumpet and flugelhorn, Pat Smythe on piano, Ron Mathewson on bass, and Bill Eyden on drums – all players who are very open to modern ideas, but who also keep things on more of a groove here – with only a bit of the freedom that Harriott was bringing to his music a few years before! And yet there's still a great tension that makes the set great – swinging jazz mixed with modernism – on titles that include the Horace Silver tunes "Down & Out" and "Psychedelic Sally", plus "WSIMC", "Chronology", and "Shadows". The remaining two tracks on the set feature Joe in a very different setting – the large group of Harry South – the kind of mod jazz in 60s London, working here with a superb lineup that also features Kenny Wheeler and Ian Hamer on trumpets, Ray Warleigh on alto and flute, and Tubby Hayes and Alan Skidmore on tenor saxes! Tunes include the very swinging "Themeology" by South – plus a richly full take on "My Man's Gone Now". CD

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An obscure set from Johnny Hartman – cut in the years before his more famous Impulse recordings, and with a mellower, lusher sound that casts his incredible vocals in a warm romantic setting! The orchestrations are by the little-known Rudy Traylor, and have a full feel that's similar to other Roost and Roulette vocal sessions of the time – a bit jazz, but also with these darker, moodier corners that are perfect for late-nite listening – and which put those rich Hartman vocals in really sublime territory. Johnny serves up a sad-tinged batch of tunes that includes "Little Girl Blue", "But Beautiful", "Long Ago & Far Away", "I Should Care", "To Each His Own", and "How Long Has This Been Going On". CD

A classic set in the best Verve Records mode – as these two mature giants of the tenor sax get lots of room to open up and solo with a great rhythm section at the core! Both Hawkins and Webster have a fantastic sense of tone and timing – and the space of the record really lets you hear the charms of both in equal measure – with backing from Oscar Peterson on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and Alvin Stoller on drums. The best tracks have lots of room – plenty of space so that the tenors aren't "encountering" each other in too close of quarters, with space to express themselves freely – and titles include "Blues For Yolande", "Rosita", "Shine On Harvest Moon", and "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To". CD

British tenor giant Tubby Hayes left the planet all too soon – passing away at the age of 38 in 1973 – but right up to the end, he continued to blow away most of his contemporaries – as you'll hear from this set of unreleased live material from 1972! The recording is from a time when Hayes was actually coming back out of a bit of time away from the scene – recuperating from heart issues that were soon to take away his life – and the period is almost a return to the basics of Tubby's breakout recordings of the late 50s – when he emerged as a tenor soloist to rival American greats like Sonny Rollins or Dexter Gordon! You can definitely hear that quality here, as Tubbs takes on some older standards, plus a few originals – and spins out these wonderful long solos that never fair for imagination or soulful expression – and which also feature some occasional great moments on flute too. The group is a very familiar one – Mike Pyne on piano, Tony Levin on drums, and Ron Mathewson on pass – who happened to record the proceedings over the course of two nights at Ronnie Scotts. Titles include long takes on "Lady Celia", "Trane's Blues", "Someday My Prince Will Come", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Trenton Place", and "I Thought About You" – plus two shorter incomplete tracks, "Seven Steps To Heaven" and "Sienna Red". CD

An expanded, remastered version of this legendary live performance from British tenor giant Tubby Hayes – a 1965 session recorded at the famous Hopbine club, owned by saxophonist Tommy Whittle, who also makes an appearance on two numbers in the set! The recording quality of the CD is quite strong – and Hayes is caught in strong Sonny Rollins-like territory – improvising strongly and creatively over longer selections, never failing to delight with his rich command of the tenor. Most tracks are in the 10 minute and more range – and the group features Tubby as the main soloist with a rhythm section that includes Kenny Powell on piano, Ron Mathewson on bass, and Dick Brennan on drums. Titles include "Night & Day", "It Never Entered My Mind", "I Remember You", "No Blues", "On Green Dolphin Street", "Have You Met Miss Jones", and "What's New". CD

A hefty look at the key role of composition in British jazz during the glorious modern uprising that began in the second half of the 60s – a book that features chapters on key figures from that moment, including Barry Guy, Mike Gibbs, Michael Garrick, Mike Westbrook, John Mayer, and Keith Tippet! Each of the artists had their own way of mixing stricture and improvisation – Mayer in his experiments with Indian music, Guy in his embrace of free jazz, Gibbs in the way he mixed rock influences with avant jazz – a legacy that continues to be hugely influential, all these many years later! And don't mistake "composer" with "classical" – as none of these artists made music that was jazz throughout, not some of the more highbrow experiments on the American scene of the postwar years – an approach that author Duncan Heining gets at well in these pages, then backs up with a great bonus 2CD set of material to illustrate his arguments. Hardcover book is over 300 pages, with some black and white images. Book

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The amazing full length debut of Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – a cool combo from the Chicago scene who've been making some big waves around the world over the past few years! The brass-heavy group have a family legacy that links them to the Artistic Heritage Ensemble of Phil Cohran – and an approach to their music that mixes spiritual jazz, deep funk, and elements of New Orleans music too – a really unique style that has earned the group's rare singles some tremendous praise – and which is finally ready to step out fully in this wonderful album! The horns are even harder and heavier than before – honed through some touring around the globe, and brought into focus here beautifully – bristling with energy from the very first note. The set features guest appearances from Malcolm Catto, Tony Allen, Flea, and Damon Albarn – but the real strength of the record lies in the group's amazing horns and rhythms – on titles that include "War", "Gibbous", "Alyo", "Ballicki Bone", "Jupiter", "Marcus Garvey", "Party Started", "Sankofa", "Satin Sheets", "Hypnotic", and 2 versions of "Rabbit Hop". LP, Vinyl record album

A great entry in the Chess Heritage Series at the end of the 60s – one that features rare 50s Chicago recordings by Elmore James, plus some even more obscure sides by lesser-known singer John Brim! James' style is well known, and well-executed here – rough and raw, but with a good sense of focus – on tracks that include "Whose Muddy Shoes", "I See My Baby", "My Best Friend", "The Sun Is Shining", "Madison Blues", and "Talk To Me Baby". Brim is great too – a singer we didn't know before this record, with an all-out kind of quality in his voice that's almost a bit like some of the rougher soul of the 60s at times. Brim sings "Lifetime Baby", "Ice Cream Man", "You Got Me", and "Rattlesnake". LP, Vinyl record album

A great entry in the Chess Heritage Series at the end of the 60s – one that features rare 50s Chicago recordings by Elmore James, plus some even more obscure sides by lesser-known singer John Brim! James' style is well known, and well-executed here – rough and raw, but with a good sense of focus – on tracks that include "Whose Muddy Shoes", "I See My Baby", "My Best Friend", "The Sun Is Shining", "Madison Blues", and "Talk To Me Baby". Brim is great too – a singer we didn't know before this record, with an all-out kind of quality in his voice that's almost a bit like some of the rougher soul of the 60s at times. Brim sings "Ice Cream Man", "You Got Me", and "Rattlesnake". LP, Vinyl record album

A great collaboration from two fantastic players – alto genius Bobby Watson and percussionist Ray Mantilla – both coming together here in a style that's even more than the sum of their mighty parts! The group has lots of Watson elements at the core – bass from Curtis Lundy, drums from Victor Lewis, and piano from Ronnie Mathews – but the presence of Mantilla's congas really changes up the groove, and the trumpet of Jack Walrath further emphasizes some Latin currents, while also linking up to the soulful energy of Watson's horn! Tracks are penned by all members of the group – and the record's overflowing with the sense of good spirit and boundless energy we always love from Bobby's dates as a leader. Titles include "Karita", "Chili Plaza Suite", "Ella Dunham", "Los Apolypticanos", "Know One Has To Know", and "River Jordan". CD

A really early piece of music from the great Karl Jenkins – the British instrumentalist that most folks know for his work in Soft Machine in the mid 70s – heard here a few years before, on a beautiful composition that mixes his jazz inclinations with some of his more serious ambitions! The album features one long work, divided up into movements – played by a lineup of some of the hippest British jazz players of the moment – including Ian Carr on flugelhorn, Ray Warleigh on alto, Alan Skidmore on tenor, Brian Smith on soprano, Chris Spedding on guitar, and Frank Ricotti on percussion! There's a solid, soaring vibe to "Penumbra II" – as the piece builds slowly, with some great piano from Jenkins himself – then really takes off, with added help from Dave MacRae on electric piano, Ray Babbington on bass, and John Marshall on drums – all at a level that mixes modal energy with some solos that step out nicely, but never too free or outside! CD

A wonderful album from the lovely Joyce – one of her best of recent years! The record features Joyce working with bossa maestro Joao Donato – who plays acoustic and electric piano, sings, and helps Joyce with some of the arrangements – and the overall style of the album is very much in the vein of some of his most beautiful work. The set was with contributions from Brazilian jazz players like Paulo Moura, Gilson Peranzzetta, and Tutty Moreno – and Joyce is in fantastic form, singing and playing acoustic guitar with all the soulful passion of her best early recordings. The production is great, too – and the album has a rawer edge than some of Joyce's other work from the 90s – nicely stripped-down, with a rasp in both her vocals and the work of the other jazz players. Titles include "Bananeira", "Anos 30", "Drume Negrita", "Tudo Bonito", "Gala Tanta", "Falta De Ar", "Adolescensia", and "So Tinha De Ser Com Voce". CD

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A beautiful Japanese publication, one that looks at the long legacy of bars and coffee shops that focus on presenting quality jazz vinyl with high end sound systems – really amazing spots that are presented here in a special edition with full text in English! As with other issues of the magazine, this one looks at some key spots in Tokyo and beyond – focusing on the history and identity of each, and really getting at the way the owners use their passion for jazz to create a unique space to listen, relax, chat, and enjoy the evening. We're huge fans of these record bars – and after flipping through this issue, you may well be calling your travel agent to go over and make the visit yourself! Book

Underground salsa from Orquesta La Fantastica – the group's debut from the early 70s, originally issued on the tiny Ghetto Records label! The album's a great illustration of the way that the regular Latin codes of the mainstream got broken down on the fringes – as the sounds and styles here are familiar at the outset, but often have little twists and turns you'd never find from bigger acts on Fania or Tico. Instrumentation includes a fair bit of vibes – often used mostly with the rhythm, but sometimes bursting out on their own – and there's also a strong tenor sax in the group, fleshing out the sound strongly next to the trumpets. Titles are all originals by group leader Samuel Leon, who sings along with Ralphy Chuleta – and titles include "Latin Blues", "M&M", "Telegrama", "Sassie", "Borinquen", and "Negrita Mia". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest albums ever recorded by the mighty Yusef Lateef – and that's really saying a lot, given his fantastic legacy of albums! The set's a live one, which is a bit unusual in Lateef's catalog at this time – and the concert setting is perhaps a window onto some of his more expressive, experimental modes that didn't always show up on record, especially the Impulse studio sides he was recording at the time. Lateef's group is pure genius – with a young Mike Nock on piano, sounding all weird and dark, with amazing tones from his instrument – plus the great Richard Williams on trumpet, a player who always seems to bring something special to a record! The team of Ernie Farrow on bass and James Black on drums help create all these modal rhythms that are really fantastic – and Lateef himself blows tenor and flute, plus the more exotic reed instruments argol and shanai. Titles include "The Magnolia Triangle", "Sister Mamie", "Number 7", "The Weaver", and "Slippin' & Slidin'". This CD adds 3 long extra cuts to the original release! CD

A really great tribute to the trumpeter Kenny Wheeler – a set of work based on his own compositions, put together by bassist Chris Laurence, at a level that really gets at the subtle genius of his conception of sound! The "gnu" in the title is a reference to some of Kenny's 70s work on ECM – and while there's some of the atmospherics of those years, there's also definitely that bolder sense of vision that Wheeler first brought to the British jazz scene, and which makes the set a perfect release of new music by the mostly-reissue Jazz In Britain label! The players shift on each track, making for a very special sort of sound – with vibes from Frank Ricotti and guitar from John Parricelli on "C-Man", flugelhorn from Tom Walsh and guitar from Parricelli on "Baroque Piece" – and vibes from Ricotti, drums from Martin France, and added violin, viola, and cello on the larger "Piece For Double Bass & Low Strings". CD

A really great tribute to the trumpeter Kenny Wheeler – a set of work based on his own compositions, put together by bassist Chris Laurence, at a level that really gets at the subtle genius of his conception of sound! The "gnu" in the title is a reference to some of Kenny's 70s work on ECM – and while there's some of the atmospherics of those years, there's also definitely that bolder sense of vision that Wheeler first brought to the British jazz scene, and which makes the set a perfect release of new music by the mostly-reissue Jazz In Britain label! The players shift on each track, making for a very special sort of sound – with vibes from Frank Ricotti and guitar from John Parricelli on "C-Man", flugelhorn from Tom Walsh and guitar from Parricelli on "Baroque Piece" – and vibes from Ricotti, drums from Martin France, and added violin, viola, and cello on the larger "Piece For Double Bass & Low Strings". LP, Vinyl record album

Pure prog wonderfulness from this legendary Italian group – filled with loads of great keyboard and guitar solos that really make you forget the lyrics are in Italian! LP, Vinyl record album

A classic album – one that pairs the arranging talents of the great French composer Michel Legrand, with a host of American jazz players – including Miles Davis, Ben Webster, Milt Hinton, Donald Byrd, Hank Jones, and John Coltrane. The tracks are a beautiful blend of Legrand's best arranging styles from his soundtrack work, and they show his keen talent for setting up complicated orchestrations, then letting the soloist step forth into the spotlight with individual brilliance. The titles are mostly jazz standards, but they're done in a great way, with lots of twists and turns that keep things fresh. Titles include "Round Midnight", "Night In Tunisia", "Nuages", "In A Mist", and "Django". CD

Hard-driving work from this Afrobeat collection – an ensemble who've been working together for over a decade, and whose members hail from more scenes than just London – yet one who also use that city's cross-cultural heritage to really craft their own groove! Vocals are by Juanita Euka, who sings in English, French, and Spanish, and often in ways that make for a nicely different style than the usual vocal approach you'd expect from an Afro Funk record – a depth that sometimes has the musicians making space for her lead in a really great way! Her presence brings this extra current of soul to the record that's very nice – and titles include "El Ritmo De Londres", "Freedom", "Topesa Esengo Na Motema", "My Way", "De Kinshasa A Sona Bata", and "Take Me To The Sea". LP, Vinyl record album

A really nice batch of early 80s soul from Loose Ends – one of the best-remembered groups who were making strong soul music in Britain in the period – but who actually recorded this excellent first album at Philadelphia's Alpha Studios! Making the record in Philly was a wise decision – the sounds range from classic-level slow jams, to solid modern soul, to touches of electro – plus some more dancefloor-oriented groovers – coming across like work of deft scene veterans rather than a full length debut for the group! The songs were written by the band who, at that time, included Jane Eugene, Carl McIntosh and Steve Nichol – and titles include "Hangin On A String", "Choose Me", "Music Takes Me Higher", "Dial 999", "Tell Me What You Want", "A Little Spice", "So Much Love", and "Let's Rock". LP, Vinyl record album

Great stuff – and one of the stranger examples of a very short-lived jazz trend – the "jazz meets folk" style that appeared on a handful of albums in the early 60s! The set features Shelly Manne exploring his Jewish heritage on a host of Israeli and Jewish folk tunes, played with a group that includes Shorty Rogers, Teddy Edwards, Victor Feldman, and Al Viola. The overall sound is pretty cool – as the tracks have an angular jaunty approach that lends itself well to Manne's dexterous drumming, and a lingering sadness that brings out a nice tone in Edwards' tenor. Titles include "Zamar Nodad", "Bokrei Lachish", "Orchah Bamidbar", "My Yiddishe Momme", and "Tzena". Plus, the CD features 4 bonus tracks – all single edits of tunes on the album! CD

Stunning sounds from the early 70s Peruvian scene – a really unique take on the cumbia mode of the time, and one that's topped with plenty of psychedelic touches as well! In truth, the rhythms here are often as Cuban as they are Colombian – a really great hybrid of both, used alongside these sweetly bubbling organ lines that are often thinner than a Hammond organ, which lets the guitar step out even more strongly over the top – often with these sounds from both elements that act like a distant cousin of anglo psych, but make for a very surprising addition to Latin rhythms! The set brings together the best cuts from a key recording period of Manzanita – and titles include "La Buenita", "No Me Marchare", "Lamento En La Puna", "Salome", "El Norteno", "Un Sabado Por La Noche", "Shambar", "La Mazamorrita", and "Catita". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderfully expanded reissue of this South American rock treasure from the early 70s – key recordings by Eduardo Mateo, easily one of the most enigmatic musicians to ever record on the Uruguay scene! Although once a member of some harder-edged rock acts in the 60s, Mateo is surprisingly warm and gentle on these tracks – slightly folksy at times, but also with echoes of candombe in the percussion of some of these tunes – a unique cross-cultural blend that's made even better through production that's sweetly compressed, but also wonderfully clean and simple. There's an earnest, personal feel to these tunes that reminds us a lot of the work of Alzo & Udine – or Alzo, solo – spare use of percussion underneath acoustic guitar, topped by vocals that really have a way of grabbing us, even when we can't understand the lyrics! Given Mateo's temperament and unreliability in the studio, the original album in the set was more of a "collection" put together by his producer – and it's expanded on greatly here with the addition of 8 more bonus tracks recorded at the end of the 60s – a few live tracks, and a number of other collaborations that follow the spirit of the main album. The package features a wonderful 44 page booklet, loaded with notes and photos – and titles include "Yulele", "Quien Te Viera", "Uh Que Macana", "Nina", "Tras De Ti", "Por Que", "La Chola", "Esa Cosa", "Blues Para El Bien Mio", "Margaritas Rojas", "Hombre", and "Mumi". CD

The cover image here will give you a great idea of the vibe of the record – as Melochita was a comedian as well as a Latin musician, and brings a great sense of playful wit to the album! A number of cuts feature vocals that have this really odd, almost cartoony style that's totally great – yet there's also straighter vocal selections too, to balance things out – all while the group are delivering the kind of rock-solid grooves that make Peru's classic Mag Records material so great, and so ripe for rediscovery! The sound is almost like mid 60s New York combo Latin, but refracted as if it's come from a different dimension – on titles that include "Ahorita Va Llove", "Libre De Pecado", "Trisagio Del Soltero", "Pa Goza Candela", "No Es Un Gato", and "Los Goles De Pele". LP, Vinyl record album

An extremely ambitious work by Helen Merrill – an album of tracks recorded to unlock her Croatian heritage, a factor that was always suppressed in her music, but which blossoms here under expansive arrangements that link both jazz and folkloric traditions! The recording is a recent one, but it's got the feel of some of our favorite European projects of this nature from the 70s – taking jazz solo work from players that include Roland Hanna, Gil Goldstein, and Steve Lacy, forging it with arrangements by Torrie Zito, and using it to create worlds of sound for Helen's unique voice. The album's got an incredibly evocative feel, and it's proof that Merrill is far more than just a jazz singer – truly an artist of the voice, with a style that's evolved tremendously over the course of decades! Titles include "Tanac", "La Paloma", "My Father", "Long Long Ago", "Kirje", "Lost In The Stars", "Among My Souvenirs", and "Nobody Knows". CD

Great work from our favorite Japanese soul star – a nice batch of remixes, filled with guest appearances by the likes of Incognito, Basement Jaxx, Shinichi Osawa, Soul Society, Byron Wallen, Rob Playford, and others – all packaged in an extremely captivating cover with great graphics! Titles include "You Make Me (Shin Shin's Mix)", "Yellow Bird (Incognito Capoeira Mix)", "Cruel 2 Be Kind (Basement Jaxx Nite Dub)", "Change Of Scenery", "Double Image (Live At Manic One Remix)", "Love Flow (Mango Margarita Mix)", and "Freed Or Bound (Reconsideration Mix)". Very nice stuff, with more focus on the dancefloor side of Monday's work, than the pop-hook sort of side. A mixture of jazzy bits, drum and bass bits, and lots more! LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of hard-to-find work by Monday Michiru – featuring mixes and covers that have been issued as singles in the past, and which fit together surprisingly well as a full LP! If you know Monday's work, you know that her singles often feature versions of tracks that are quite different than the LP versions – recrafted with the help of some of the best NuSoul producers and remixers, like Joe Claussell, Masters At Work, Shinchi Osaway, and Bluey, all of whom contribute work to this set. The package is great – and with a total of 11 tracks in all, it will save you a lot of time (and money) tracking down those expensive import 12" singles! The set's mixed together – but not strongly, so that all the songs are very much intact – and titles include "I Wanna Be Where You Are", "Lovin You (acoustic live version)", "Double Image (live at Manic One rmx)", "Chasing After The Sun (Banda Black Lero mix)", "Yellow Bird (Incognito Capoeira mix)", "Tomorrow's Sunrise (Murphy meets Titomaxx)", "Love Flow (Mango margarita mix)", "Mysteries Of Life (Ananda Project Black Tail dub)", and "Higher (higher dub)". CD

Truly one of the Modern Jazz Quartet's greatest albums – and a set that has an edge and a darkness that's missing from some of their other Atlantic records! Part of the reason for this may be the group's fantastic reading of Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman" – a killer moody track that sounds great in the group's vibes/piano style – and which leads off the album with a chilling tone that's really unbelievable! The rest of the album's pretty great too – and there's a brooding intensity we don't normally hear in the piano of John Lewis and vibes of Milt Jackson. Other tracks include Gary McFarland's "Why Are You Blue" – plus John Lewi's "Belkis", "Animal Dance", "New York 19", and "Trieste". CD

An incredibly spiritual session from percussionist Louis Moholo and his ensemble Viva La Black – recorded on the occasion of a series of concerts in Moholo's homeland of South Africa – and done in a way that's as much a document of the group's trip as it is a recording of the music in the concerts. Many of the tracks are shorter passages that flow together with longer ones – piecing together the warm spirit and soulful expression allowed to the group during the tour. And the music itself shares in a heritage that runs back through the 60s work of Mingus and Roland Kirk, the 70s experiments of the AACM, and the rich jazz-in-exile work of Moholo himself! Instrumentation includes percussion, trumpet, saxes, piano, and bass – plus vocals from all the members of the group – and titles include "Use Less Sugar & Stir Like Hell", "Volunteered Slavery", "Woza", "Nikosi", "End Of Man", "Dudu P", "I'll Look All Over Afrika For You", "Drum Choir", and "Joyful Noise". CD

An incredibly spiritual session from percussionist Louis Moholo and his ensemble Viva La Black – recorded on the occasion of a series of concerts in Moholo's homeland of South Africa – and done in a way that's as much a document of the group's trip as it is a recording of the music in the concerts. Many of the tracks are shorter passages that flow together with longer ones – piecing together the warm spirit and soulful expression allowed to the group during the tour. And the music itself shares in a heritage that runs back through the 60s work of Mingus and Roland Kirk, the 70s experiments of the AACM, and the rich jazz-in-exile work of Moholo himself! Instrumentation includes percussion, trumpet, saxes, piano, and bass – plus vocals from all the members of the group – and titles include "Use Less Sugar & Stir Like Hell", "Volunteered Slavery", "Woza", "Nikosi", "End Of Man", "Dudu P", "I'll Look All Over Afrika For You", "Drum Choir", and "Joyful Noise". CD

A record that has a bit of a late 60s look on the cover, but which instead comes from the Venezuelan scene at the start of the 80s – the first recorded effort from the very groovy Moncho Y Su Banda! There's a quality to the record that's almost out of time – small combo Latin work that's maybe more in the generation of Joe Cuba at some points, and which also recalls some of the fiercer Colombian creations of ten years before – particularly that moment when bigger New York influences were getting nicely shaken up on the South American scene! Titles include "Que Bellas Son", "Cruel Desilucion", "Mi Negrita", "La Envidia", "Las 12", "Olvidame", and "El Amor De Una Mujer". LP, Vinyl record album

MC Buddah Monk was a childhood friend of Ol Dirty Bastard, and spent a fair bit of time right alongside him during the glory days of the Wu-Tang Clan – so he's got a pretty great perspective of Dirty's life and music – even though his story is somewhat personal overall! Writer Mickey Hess helps give shape to Buddha's memories, and the book may not be one of the most authoritative reads on Ol Dirty Bastard, but it's certainly one of the more entertaining! 192 pages, softcover, with some color images. Book

One of those great funky records that James Moody cut for the Perception label in the early 70s – a set tha has some mighty nice piano from the great Mike Longo! Eddie Jefferson sings vocals on a hilarious version of "Pennies From Heaven", and other titles include "Heritage Hum", "Road Runner", "Soul Searching", and "Travel On". LP, Vinyl record album

Great 60s work from mellow vocalist Joe Mooney – a singer unlike anyone else we can think of! Joe first rose to fame during the 78rpm era of the postwar years – and here, he moves his style nicely into the 60s – still hip, with a nice shift in material – and supported by jazzy backing that includes work from Gary Burton on vibes, Mundell Lowe on guitar, and Phil Bodner on tenor and flute! Titles include "Cute", "When I Fall In Love", "You Irritate Me So", "She's Not For You", "I Wanna Be Around", "When Sunny Gets Blue", "The Good Life", "Days Of Wine & Roses", and "This Is All I Ask". LP, Vinyl record album