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A surprisingly nice set from Irma Thomas – recorded in a spare and stripped down way, but without any of the "too earnest" cliches that can sometimes mar other recent albums by classic soul stars! The feel here is almost gentle and easygoing at times – still in the powerful New Orleans-influenced mode of Thomas' roots, but never too forced or overdone – just rolling out with a warmth and confidence that shows that Irma doesn't have anything to prove to anyone! Production is by Scott Billington, who's worked with Thomas before – but he somehow seems to have gotten it more right here than before – and titles include "Stone Survivor", "Soul Of A Man", "Another Lonely Heart", "In The Middle Of It All", "Flowers", "I Count The Tears", "Shelter In The Rain", "Another Man Done Gone", and "Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor". CD

Accompanied by a long roster of piano players including Ellis Marsalis, Dr. John, John Medeski, Norah Jones, and Randy Newman! CD

With Clyde Kerr Jr on trumpet, flugelhorn, and tambourine, Steve Masakowski on guitar, Davod Torkanowsky on piano, James Singleton on bass, and Johnny Vidacovich on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

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Titles include "A Lyin Woman", "What Can I Do", "Not The Same Man", "The Blues & My Guitar", and "Go Ahead & Take Her". LP, Vinyl record album

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Titles include "You Got Me Worried", "Without You", "Can I Change My Mind", "I'm Tiptoeing Through", "Are You The Lady", and "It Was Fun While It Lasted". CD

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Miguel Zenon on alto sax – with Luis Perdomo on piano and Fender Rhodes, Hans Glawischnig on bass, and Antonio Sanchez on drums CD

Music from Woody Guthrie, James Shorty, Viola James & Congregation, Leadbelly, Memphis Slim, Sonny Boy Williamson & Big Bill Broonzy, Vera Hall, Bessie Jones & group, Sidney Lee Carter, Kelly Pace & group, Cleveland Simmons group, Macbeth the Great, Duke Of Iron, Georgia Turner and more. CD

Music from Bruce Daigrepont, Jo-El Sonnier, Eddie Lejeune, Charivari, D.L. Menard, Jimmy C. Newman And Cajun Country, Mamou, The Bluerunners, Jo-El Sonnier, BeauSoleil, and more. CD

Music by Lord Invader, Duke Of Iron, MacBeth the Great, Gerald Clark & Band – from a live concert series hosted by Alan Lomax. CD

Includes selections by Al Johnson, Lenny Capello, Eddie Bo, Johnny Adams, Joe Jones, Martha Nelson, Tommy Ridgley, Edgar Blanchard, and The Velvetiers. LP, Vinyl record album

Featuring Bo Dollis, Champion Jack Dupree, Dr. John, Earl Turbinton, Jr, John Mooney, Monk Boudreaux, Rebirth Brass Band, The Golden Eagles, The Wild Magnolias and Willie Tee. CD

The weird, raw and legendary debut of teen trio The Shaggs – recorded in a single day and issued by the Third World label back in the day, before slowly building a devoted cult following over the years! The Shaggs story of a young girl group and their dad manager dreaming big and hoping for stardom, but the stunningly primitive sound actually makes the patron saints of outsider art rock and indie rock to come – it's messy and amazing to this day! Odd and hypnotic, it's an outsider classic unlike any other. Includes "Philosophy Of The World", "That Little Sports Car", "Who Are Parents", "My Pal Foot Foot", "My Companion", "I'm So Happy When You're Near", "Things I I Wonder", "It's Halloween", "Why Do I Feel?", "What Should I Do", "My Companion", "Sweet Thing", "We Have A Savoir" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A bold little set from Steve Grossman – a record that's nicely poised between his frenetic work of the 70s and mellower moments of later years – done in quartet formation, but with plenty of focus on Steve's wonderful tenor, especially on the longer tracks! There's a very nice "bit" in Grossman's reed on most of the numbers here – a sound that's not as screeching as on his 70s dates, but which often hints at that direction, then swings back into a rounder, fuller tone on the horn. Backing is by Takehiro Honda on piano, Masahiro Yoshida on drums, and either Hideo Kawahara or Yasushi Yoneki on bass – on titles that include "Taurus People", "Soultrane", "Katonah", and "Afternoon In Paris". CD

A never-issued live performance by the legendary Heath Brothers – and a set that's got the same freewheeling spiritual jazz vibe as their classic album on Strata East! The group's a quartet here, with excellent piano work from Stanley Cowell – who also plays mbira, and might also account for the more open, spacious, spiritual quality of the record – although the Heath Brothers clearly bring a lot to the table too! Jimmy Heath is superb on tenor, soprano, and flute – blowing soulful solos that are as great as on his own 70s albums as a leader – and Albert Tootie Heath mixes in some flute work next to his drums and percussion. Percy plays a bit of baby bass next to his fuller, rounder acoustic – and titles include a great long reading of their classic "Smilin Billy" – plus "One For Juan" and "Watergate Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

The great John Jenkins was one of the lesser-known sax stars to come out of the Chicago scene of the late 50s – but he was also one of the best! Jenkins played alto impeccably – with boppish agility, and a deep sense of soul that worked great on this one and only Blue Note session as a leader. The group features Kenny Burrell playing some of his best work on record – and the rhythm section features Sonny Clark on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Dannie Richmond on drums – playing in a rare non-Mingus appearance! Tracks include "Motif", "Sharon", "Blues For Two", and "Chalumeau" – and the session is a wonderful bit of lost Blue Note – great sharp edges from Jenkins' alto, and some warmer, rounder tones from Burrell on guitar. CD also features 2 bonus alternate takes. CD

The legendary trumpeter Booker Little – paired here with drummer Max Roach, who was frequently Book's leader at the time! The set's got a sharp-edged and modern mix of hardbop and fresh ideas – very similar to the best Roach albums of the time – and with a similar sort of group – given that in addition to Little's trumpet, the set also features George Coleman on tenor, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Art Davis on bass! All arrangements were done by Little – making the album a real showcase of that bold vision in jazz that was taken from us all too soon – and titles include "Milestones", "Rounder's Mood", "Dungeon Waltz", and "Jewel's Tempo". CD

The legendary trumpeter Booker Little – paired here with drummer Max Roach, who was frequently Book's leader at the time! The set's got a sharp-edged and modern mix of hardbop and fresh ideas – very similar to the best Roach albums of the time – and with a similar sort of group – given that in addition to Little's trumpet, the set also features George Coleman on tenor, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Art Davis on bass! All arrangements were done by Little – making the album a real showcase of that bold vision in jazz that was taken from us all too soon – and titles include "Milestones", "Rounder's Mood", "Dungeon Waltz", and "Jewel's Tempo". LP, Vinyl record album

2 of the best studio albums from the legendary trumpeter Booker Little – back to back on 1 CD! The first 7 tracks on the set are from the Bethlehem album Booker Little & Friend – a fantastic sextet session recorded in 1961, shortly before Booker Little's death, and filled with all the promise and power he ever packed into his playing! The lineup includes Julian Preister, George Coleman, and Pete La Roca, and the groove is tight modern hard bop all the way through. An excellent album, and one of the best recordings ever on Bethlehem – with tracks that include "Matilde", "Booker's Blues", "Forward Flight", and "Victory and Sorrow". Next up are 6 tracks from the album Booker Little 4 & Max Roach – recorded for United Artists in 1958, at a time when Little was in the Max Roach band. The album is virtually a Max Roach session, as it features regular Roach group members Coleman and Little – plus bassist Art Davis and pianist Tommy Flanagan – all of whom fall perfectly into line behind Roach's masterful drumming on tracks like "Rounder's Mood", "Dungeon Waltz", and "Jewel's Tempo". 13 tracks in all. CD

The legendary trumpeter Booker Little – paired here with drummer Max Roach, who was frequently Book's leader at the time! The set's got a sharp-edged and modern mix of hardbop and fresh ideas – very similar to the best Roach albums of the time – and with a similar sort of group – given that in addition to Little's trumpet, the set also features George Coleman on tenor, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Art Davis on bass! All arrangements were done by Little – making the album a real showcase of that bold vision in jazz that was taken from us all too soon – and titles include "Milestones", "Rounder's Mood", "Dungeon Waltz", and "Jewel's Tempo". CD

2 rare Columbia albums by trumpeter Joe Wilder! The Pretty Sound has a title that might make you think that the album's a bunch of flowery instrumentals – but don't let that put you off, because it's actually a pretty strong set of tunes from trumpeter Joe Wilder, recorded with a bit of polish, to be sure, but in a way that lets him take the lead, solo-wise. Players on the session include Jerome Richardson, Hank Jones, Urbie Green, and Milt Hinton – and titles include "Caravan", "Harbor Lights", "It's So Peaceful In The Country", and "Guys & Dolls". Jazz From Peter Gunn is probably Joe Wilder's greatest album as a leader – and one of a number of competing Peter Gunn jazz albums on the market! Joe's take on the Mancini score is a bit warmer and rounder than some of the others – thanks in part to his fluid tone on the trumpet, and to the fact that the album's only a quartet session, with Hank Jones, Milt Hinton, and John Cresci behind Joe's solos. Titles include "Brief & Breezy", "A Quiet Gass", "The Floater", "Slow & Easy", and "Brothers Go To Mothers". CD

An overlooked gem from The Holy Modal Rounders – the group's fifth album, and a set that shows them moving into a slightly more subtle style than before – but still with plenty of their trademark touches intact! The work often has a sweetly folksy feel – one that conjures up the city-to-country modes of some of the Marin County bands of the time – with some sensitive lyrics and instrumentation, all produced beautifully down in Nashville by the legendary Bob Dorough – who was doing some surprising rock projects around this time. Despite the joke of the title, there actually is a timeless quality to this set – one that might almost make the record a good place to start if you've always been curious about the Rounders, but a bit intimidated by the fame of their earlier classics. Titles include "Black Bottom", "Spring OF 65", "Boobs A Lot", "Alligator Man", "City Blues", "The Whole World Oughta Go On Vacation", and "Melinda". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the most tripped-out music ever from The Holy Modal Rounders – and that's saying a lot, given the nature of the group! This unique early album on ESP features two side-long tracks – both of which are mini-suites of sort, and filled with odd sounds, weird themes, and a strange mixture of hippie instrumentation and sci-fi experimentation! The group for the record is a quartet – with the core combo of Peter Stampfel on violin and vocals and Steve Weber on guitar, augmented by playwright Sam Shephard on drums and Lee Crabtree on piano and organ – plus extra vocals from the trio of Antonia, Barbara, & Wendy. The music is in the best free-thinking style of other rock on the ESP label in the 60s – and titles include "Jimmy & Crash Survey The Universe" and "The Second-Hand Watch". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the most tripped-out music ever from The Holy Modal Rounders – and that's saying a lot, given the nature of the group! This unique early album on ESP features two side-long tracks – both of which are mini-suites of sort, and filled with odd sounds, weird themes, and a strange mixture of hippie instrumentation and sci-fi experimentation! The group for the record is a quartet – with the core combo of Peter Stampfel on violin and vocals and Steve Weber on guitar, augmented by playwright Sam Shephard on drums and Lee Crabtree on piano and organ – plus extra vocals from the trio of Antonia, Barbara, & Wendy. The music is in the best free-thinking style of other rock on the ESP label in the 60s – and titles include "Jimmy & Crash Survey The Universe" and "The Second-Hand Watch". LP2 features Live In 1965 – Some of the earliest music ever from The Holy Modal Rounders – a rare live performance from 1965, recorded at the Chess Mate nightclub in Detroit, and featuring only the duo of Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber! The music here is a bit more folksy and a bit less trippy than some of the Rounders' later recordings, but it still shows a decidedly left-field approach – not just in the subjects of the tunes, but also in the way the guitar, banjo, and fiddle are used – almost as additional voices at times, instead of conventional folk instrumentation. Titles include "Crowley Waltz", "Black Eyed Suzy", "My Mind Capsized", "Fishin Blues", "Rum Mountain", "Random Canyon", "Skin Game", "Indian War Whoop", and "Flop Eared Mule". LP, Vinyl record album

A tripped-out batch of freedom rock tunes – pulled together to accompany Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper's famous trip across the wasteland of late 60s America! The set includes Steppenwolf's anthemic "Born To Be Wild", as well as their "The Pusher" – plus "Kyrie Eleison" by The Electric Prunes, "Don't Bogart Me" by The Fraternity Of Man, "Wasn't Born To Follow" by The Byrds, "If You Want To Be A Bird" by The Holy Modal Rounders, "It's Alright Ma" and "Ballad Of Easy Rider" by Roger McGuinn, & "If Six Was Nine" by Jimi Hendrix. LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool live performance by this legendary freaky group – not done in concert, but for WLIR radio in New York – at a time when the Rounders were really perfecting their mix of hippie ideas and surprisingly great musicianship! Some of the tunes here are nice and jamming, and build up in a way that reminds us that these guys could rock a bit more than we sometimes give them credit for – while others are more in that Fugs-like territory that maybe made them the key inheritors of that legacy for a number of years – as was singer Peter Stampfel when he went off on his own. Titles include "Pink Underwear", "Boobs A Lot/Willie & The Hand Jive", "Bird Song", "Give Me Your Money", "Catch Me", and "Smokey Joe's Cafe". CD

Incredible early recordings by The Fugs – a set that captures the group at a time when they still had tremendous power and potential! The sessions were originally done for Folkways, then later sold to ESP – and the spare, earthy Folkways approach is perfect for the group, capturing them in a setting that's more of a happening than an actual recording session – a freewheeling hippie-esque party that's perfect for the protest and politics of the songs. Instrumentation includes a lot of hand-held percussion – maracas, tambourine, etc – and the Holy Modal Rounders join the group on some songs as well. Titles include "Saran Wrap", "We're The Fugs", "Caca Rocka", "My Bed Is Getting Crowded", "New Amphetamine Shriek", and "CIA Man". LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Jackson County Barn Owls, Floyd County Ramblers, Nelstone's Hawaiians, Dave & Howard, Riverside Ramblers, Louisiana Rounders, Joe Werner And The Ramblers, Joe's Acadians, The Renfro Valley Boys with Karl & Harty, Lonnie Glosson, and more. CD

Includes tracks by R Crumb, Spike Jones, Doodles Weaver, Allan Sherman, Jef Jaisun, Possum, Holy Modal Rounders, and more! LP, Vinyl record album