One of the more orchestral of Roy Budd's scores from the 70's, but still with some nice moments that give a good focus to Roy's piano. The score was written for an Eastern thriller starring David Niven and Toshiro Mifune, and the tracks are a mix of easy and action themes – including "Kidnapped", "Out Of Control", "Who Knows The Answers", "The Reception", "Diplomatic Dance", and "The Cable Car". Some cuts have a vocal chorus, for a dreamy haunting sound, and others have Budd's piano right up front. LP, Vinyl record album

Tightly-strung score for this forgotten war flick starring Roger Moore, Richard Burton, and Richard Harris. Budd does a nice job with the orchestra on this one, and most of the themes have a snappy militaristic style, in the vein of The Magnificent Seven or The Great Escape. Not as many jazzy bits as usual, but a nice dramatic score, and still up to Budd's usual high standards. Joan Armatrading sings vocals on the "Flight Of The Wild Geese", but skip that, and stick to tracks like "Rafer's Theme", "Reunion", "Wild Gese Theme", and "Flight To Africa". LP, Vinyl record album

The US release of 3 soundtracks to films produced by Dino De Laurentis – the best of which is Roy Budd's Stone Killer. The soundtrack is one of the darkest Budd scores ever, designed to accompany a brutal police film starring Charles Bronson. The main theme has a nice electronic sound that's kind of like the "Mystery Movie" theme from the 70s, then the score moves into some nicely turgid regions that feature spare Fender Rhodes riffs underpinned by dark orchestral scoring. Occasional beats and jazzy rhythms move into the picture from time to time, and the overall sound is excellent! The other two soundtracks aren't as great, but they're both combined on one side of the record, and don't take up as much space as Stone Killers, which gest all of side two! LP, Vinyl record album

A great album from the glory days of soundtrack maestro Roy Budd – a set that features his own work on the keys backed by a larger group – with tracks from The Carey Treatment, Kidnapped, and Something To Hide – plus other surprises too! LP, Vinyl record album

Surprisingly nice score to this obscure Brit kiddies film, thanks to the genius of Roy Budd! Although the soundtrack does have some annoying "kiddie" moments in it, there's also a lot of nice light lively themes that dance around nicely, and which have the kind of swinging Brit Easy groove that you'll know from some of Roy's non-soundtrack instrumental work. Titles include "Main Theme", "Here Comes The Hawk", "The Runaways", "Doves In Flight", "Hawk On the Hunt", and "The Far Off Place". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the last Roy Budd soundtracks, and a sweeping orchestral score for a naval war film. Despite the larger setting of the arrangements, there's some nice moments that have the usual Roy Budd twinkle to them. Matt Monro sings the theme "The Precious Moments", which has lyrics by Leslie Bricusse – and other cuts include "The Truth", "Warsaw Concerto", "Boarding Party", "The Betrayal", "In Love", and "On The Way". LP, Vinyl record album

With Norman Simmons on piano, Norris Turney on alto, Budd Johnson on tenor, Eddie Locke on drums, Ted Sturgis on bass, and Milt Jackson on vibes. LP, Vinyl record album

Includes a side's worth of piano solos recorded in 1944, plus a collection of tracks from the mid to late 40s with his All Stars that include Hot Lips Page and Budd Johnson, a trio session with Bill Cooper on bass and Al Wichard on drums, and a live performance at the Blues Jubilee Concert with Johnn Rogers on guitar, Johnny Parker on bass, and Roy Milton on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Classic late Webster material, recorded in a laidback setting for Verve, with associates that include Coleman Hawkins, Budd Johnson, Roy Eldridge, Jimmy Jones, and Les Spann. Side one is a very long version of "In A Mellow Tone", with a blowing session solo approach – and side two features shorter tracks like "Budd Johnson", "Young Bean", and "De Dar". LP, Vinyl record album

A late 70s pressing of some classic Verve sides from the 50s, featuring two masters of the tenor, blowing side by side in a couple of small group settings: one with rhythm backing by Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, and Alvin Stoller and the other with Jimmy Jones, Les Spann, Ray Brown and Jo Jones, plus Roy Eldridge and Budd Johnson in the frontline. The best tracks have lots of room – plenty of space so that the tenors aren't butting heads with each other in too close of quarters, with space to express themselves freely. Titles include "Blues For Yolande", "La Rosita", "Shine On Harvest Moon", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "It Never Entered My Mind", "De-Dar", "Time After Time", "Young Bean" and "In A Mellowtone". LP, Vinyl record album

After blowing our minds with the first volume of The Sound Gallery, the same folks wen't on to put this one together – and they drove us crazy with the massive amount of Brit easy grooves that they managed to dig up and string together! There's 5 tracks by the genius of the Brit easy genre, Roy Budd, including a number from the soundtrack to Get Carter, an obscure Michael Caine film from around 1970. Other goodies include "Stiletto" by Chico Rey, "Heavy Water" by Ray Davies and His Funky Trumpet, "Grow Your Own" by John Schroeder, "Super Shine No. 9" by Sister Goose and The Ducklings, and "Pegasus" by Mike Vickers. LP, Vinyl record album

A really unique little record from Jackie & Roy – one that has them singing a super-fresh batch of tunes from budding songwriters Andre and Dory (nee Langdon) Previn! The tunes are all really great – the kind of playful material that seems to bring out the best in Jackie & Roy, on a level that matches all those excellent Tommy Wolf/Fran Landesman tunes that sparkled so much on the pair's 50s albums for ABC. Backing is in a small combo mode, and the set has the best energy of Jackie & Roy's earlier years – in a format that sometimes has them singing duet, sometimes trading lines, and sometimes stepping out solo. Titles include "Like Love", "The Runaround", "Sing Me An Abstract Song", "Control Yourself", "You're Married", and "Where, I Wonder". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice little session that features Roy with an expanded group – a core combo that features Oscar Peterson on organ and piano, Buddy Tate on tenor, Ray Brown on bass, and Barney Kessel on guitar, plus a larger set of string backings by George Williams. Tracks are short, with mostly solos by Eldridge – and titles include "Roy's Riff", "Sweet Lorraine", "Yard Dog", "Little Jazz", "Rockin Chair", "Easter Parade", and "Jumbo The Elephant". LP, Vinyl record album

With Don Wilson on piano, Bob Decker on bass, and Buddy Dean on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Killer early soul by Leroy Hutson – and a record that really shows him opening up as a vocalist and songwriter! Leroy's got a sound here that's pivotal in terms of Chicago soul – still some of the down-to-earth vibes of the city's indie scene in the 60s, but with that growing sense of maturity that he, Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, Maurice White, and Charles Stepney were all bringing to the scene! The tunes are mostly short and focused – still not in the complexity of the Hutson and Hutson II albums, but handled with every bit of care and class by the man himself. Titles include the wonderful soul classic "So In Love With You", a sweet mellow ballad that's extremely catchy, plus the moog-based funky instrumental "Gettin It On", a totally great number that often gets overlooked – and the cuts "Love Oh Love", "As Long As There's Love Around", and "Time Brings On A Change". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful meeting of two of the biggest 50s talents on the drums – and a session that's great not only for the expected firey percussion, but also for the horn work by other members on the set! Given the "drum battle" style of the record, the tracks are long and very open – done in a studio mode that recalls some of the Krupa/Rich meetings at JATP, and like the JATP sides, featuring plenty of space for players to take longer solos. Dizzy Gillespie, Illinois Jacquet, Flip Phillips, and Roy Eldridge get in some nice licks on the set – and other players include Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, and Ray Brown. Titles include "Gene's Blues", "Bernie's Tune", "Buddy's Blues", and "I Never Knew". LP, Vinyl record album

50s work with Count Basie on piano, Gerry Mulligan on baritone, Roy Eldridge on trumpet, and Buddy Rich on drums! LP, Vinyl record album

A 60s album that brings together sides recorded by Young in earlier years for Savoy – put together as a "memorial" album after his death. Players include Junior Mance, Roy Haynes, Freddie Green, Count Basie, Shadow Wilson, Buddy Tate, and Joe Newman – and most of the material's in a small group swing style. Titles include "Ding Dong", "Ghost Of A Chance", "Crazy Over Jazz", and "Basie English". LP, Vinyl record album

Some great tracks from the jazzy soulful genius of Norman Connors! Connors is one of the best crossover soul jazz artists of the 70s – with a masterful blend of styles that's matched by only a few other artists, like Roy Ayers or Leroy Hutson. This set includes tracks from his Buddah and Arista recordings – and the sound is classic all the way through! Titles include "You Are My Starship", "This Is Your Life", "Betcha By Golly Wow", "Valentine Love", "Love From The Sun", and "Once I've Been There". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Roy Eldridge, Anita O'Day, Frank Rosolino, Charlie Ventura, Red Rodney, Buddy Stewart, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

Tremendous tenor work from the late 40s – a huge collection of early Savoy singles done by Charlie Ventura, including some cuts with Jackie & Roy on vocals! A few other numbers features vocals by Buddy Stewart – but most are instrumentals, with lots of hard-wailing tenor from Ventura – and the set also features a few previously-unissued titles, and great notes too! LP, Vinyl record album

A great later Norman Granz live production – with work by Ella Fitzgerald, Flip Phillips, Illinois Jacquet, Louis Armstrong, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, and others! The original album is a landmark historic document, as it was the first ever live jazz album recorded at the legendary LA venue. The set opens with with the Norman Granz intro that leads to the Jam Session portion with Harry Edison, Roy Eldridge, Illinois Jacquet, Oscar Peterson, Buddy Rich, rolling nicely into material led by Art Tatum on piano, including "Someone To Watch Over Me", "Begin The Beguine", "Willow Weep For Me" and "Humoresque". From there, Ella Fitzgerald and her group dig into "Love For Sale", "Little Girl Blue", and more. The set also features a couple of great numbers by the Oscar Peterson Trio: "9:20 Special" and "How 'Bout You" – and closes with a pair of numbers featuring Ella out front of Louie Armstrong and his group. LP, Vinyl record album

With Barry Harris on piano, Leroy Williams on drums, and Sam Jones on bass. LP, Vinyl record album

An easy-going, openly-swinging set from British reedman Sandy Brown – long live tracks that feature lots of deft clarinet work from Sandy, plus some tightly swinging rhythms from a combo that includes Ray Crane on trumpet, Brian Lemon on piano, Phil Bates on bass, and Mike Scott on drums! There's certainly trad roots to the music, but the execution is much more bop-inflected overall – especially given the long tracks that allow plenty of room for solo work – which almost gives the record the feel of a Buddy DeFranco appearance in a Verve Jam Session! Titles include "Splanky", "In The Evenin", "I Got It Bad", "Royal Garden Blues", and "Roll Em Pete". LP, Vinyl record album

Recordings from 1947 by Barry Ulanov & His All Star Metronome Jazzmen, with Fats Navarro on trumpet, John LaPorta on clarinet, Charlie Parker on alto, Allen Eager on tenor, Lennie Tristano on piano, Billy Bauer on guitar, Tommy Potter on bass, and Buddy Rich on drums, with Sarah Vaughan on vocals; plus three tunes recorded in 1948 at the Royal Roost by Tadd Dameron & His Orchestra with Allen Eager and Wardell Gray on tenor, Curley Russel on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Lambert Hendricks & Ross, Charles Kynard & Buddy Collette, Roy Haynes, Gerald Wilson, Les McCann, Gil Evans, Laurindo Almeida & Bud Shank, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful debut from Aquarian Dream – a group who first appeared under the direction of Norman Connors – and who also have lots of the same blend of jazz, soul, and funk you'd find in Connors' own music of the time! Yet Aquarian Dream are very much their own bag, too – a distinctly different group who are to Connors what Ramp was to Roy Ayers – a separate entity that shares the key production talents of their sponsor – but who break out in a wonderful vibe that's all their own! The album's best remembered for its key clubby groovers, but we also love the mellower moments too – which have a sublime stepping quality that really comes through via instrumentation from Claude Bartee on tenor and soprano sax, and Jacques Burvick on a whole host of cool keyboards. Gloria Jones (not the famous one) is a great lead singer – and titles include the classic Chicago club track "Phoenix" – plus "Look Ahead", "Once Again", "Let Me Be The One", "I'll Always Love You T",, and "Treat Me Like The One You Love". LP, Vinyl record album

An interesting little album by Basie – most notable in that it features him playing a bit of organ, which is always a treat! Basie's not the greatest talent on the organ, but he is one of the first jazz players to use the instrument in a wider context, and hearing the album's a good way to check out the organ jazz scene and sound before Jimmy Smith got his hands atop the Hammond and shook the whole thing up! Players on the set include Freddie Green, Paul Quinichette, Buddy Rich, and Joe Newman – and titles include "Stan Shorthair", "Count's Organ Blues", "KC Organ Blues", "Royal Garden Blues", and "Basie Beat". LP, Vinyl record album

Massive work from Michael Henderson – exactly the kind of record we point to when people ask us what all the fuss is about! Michael perfectly blends funky jazz, mellow fusion, and his own warm style of vocals here – in a sophisticated mix that puts him right at the top of the 70s intelligentsia of soul – with artists like Roy Ayers or Norman Connors – the latter of whom gave Henderson his start as a singer! Yet the album's definitely Michael's own – filled with beautiful original compositions that take his work on bass as their starting point, but move into a sublime array of jazzy elements shaped to suit the spirit of each tune. Titles include the classic mellow stepper "Let Me Love You" – plus other great tracks "I Can't Help It", "Won't You Be Mine", "Whip It", "Goin Places", and "I'll Be Understanding". LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Frankie Ford, Joe Houston, Young Jessie, Oscar McLollie, Hershel Almond, Jimmy & Johnny, Little Richard, Lee Kristofferson, Teen Queens, Buddy Milton & The Twilighters, Roy Perkins, Johnny Guitar Watson, The Chanters, and Jesse Belvin. LP, Vinyl record album