A bold and original statement from trumpeter Jon Faddis – a player who worked on countless large group and studio sessions over the years, but who rarely got to record as a leader! This set may well be one of Faddis' most jazz-based outings – as it features a stripped-down quartet with Rene Rosnes on piano, and an open, airy sound that offers Jon plenty of room to blow. His trumpet still has that pinched and blasting style learned from Dizzy Gillespie – but also soars around nicely with the lively rhythms of the tunes. Titles include "Many Paths", "At Long Last", "Sambahia", "Into The Faddisphere", and "Retro Blue". CD

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Wonderful work from guitarist Oren Ambarchi – a little more expansive than his preceding effort on Drag City, thanks to larger group and a wider range of instrumentation, while building on what loved about it! The style is tough to pin down in the best kind of way, with strains of improvisational jazz and hypnotic minimalism, but a unique melodic drive that's as compelling as it is tough to cleanly categorize. Collaborators this time include returning Swedish jazz bassist Johan Berthling, drummer Joe Talia, a second guitarist in Julia Reidy, Sam Dunscombe on bass clarinet – and for extra otherworldly, yet melodic atmosphere is some synth by Jim O'Rourke and pedal steel by BJ Cole on a couple of tracks. The whole Shebang is a 4 part set – each track running long, to give it a nice amount of space to build up, settle down, and flow into the next – and numbered 1 to 4. CD

The second album from Leonard Cohen – a more stripped down effort produced by Bob Johnston, with some really odd washes of sound on the outer edges of the sound – adding some slightly uneasy atmosphere that's paired masterfully with Cohen's moody pen. An album full of subtle triumphs, with a few of his more iconic songs and certainly in the upper regions of best work. Titles include the classic "Bird On The Wire", "Story of Isaac", "Seems So Long Ago, Nancy", "The Butcher", "You Know Who I Am", "Lady Midnight" and "Tonight Will Be Fine". CD

The best yet from Flying Lotus – who we keep allowing ourselves to believe has hit an insurmountable peak with each new record – but he just keeps getting better! Where the preceding Cosmogramma upped the stranger, spacier and more abstract textures, Until The Quiet Comes is a bit more inviting – and to his credit, Flying Lotus keeps things as innovative as ever, while still giving this one just a bit more immediately appealing atmosphere. There's nearly always a compelling beat, whether it's abstract boom bap or bubbly and synthy, with heavy bass and thick waves of sound floating over. An incredible roster of guests contribute, too – including string-arranger Miguel Atwood Ferguson, vocalists Erykah Badu, Laura Darlington and Radiohead's Thom Yorke, keyboardist Dorian Concept, and others – but there's little doubt that this is purely the Flying Lotus show. Greatness! Titles include "All In", "Sultan's Request", "See Thru To U" with Erykah Badu, "DMT Song" with Thundercat, "The Nightcaller", "Only If You Wanna", "Electric Candyman" with Thom Yorke, "Hunger" with Niki Randa, "Phantasm" with Laura Darlington, "Dream To Me" and more. CD

Kieran Hebden's third album as Four Tet – an unpredictable, completely hypnotic batch of abstract beatcraft that sounded like it was built to last when it first appeared in the early 00s – and sure enough, it's sounds as fresh as ever a decade+ later! What makes Four Tet at his best so irresistible is the way to rolls from loosely connective beats and hazy atmosphere on one track to heavy sensory overload and back again, fully hypnotizing either way, and all the while holding together in a way that feels of like a single piece. There's a lot of different sounds coming in and out, and not a single audible bit of it is dispensable. Near perfection from one of the more creative laptop instrumentals of his generation. Titles include "Hands", "She Moves She", "First Thing", "My Angel Rocks Back And Forth", "Spirit Fingers", "Unspoken", "Chia", "As Serious As Your Life", "Aney They All Look Broken Hearted" and "Slow Jam". 10th Anniversary edition includes a bonus CD featuring a full live performance from Copenhagen, 2004. CD

A cabinet full of psychedelic wonders from Dutch genius Jacco Gardner! Jacco carries a torch from some of the more swirling psych era sounds from around the world – getting a little bit of assistance on the drums – but he otherwise wrote, produced, and plays everything on this excellent record himself. There's a lot going here, so that's mighty impressive! Reminiscent of some of our favorite late 60s psych that blends gentle melodies with thick atmosphere – with echoey vocals, organ, harpsichord and more. Nice! Includes "Clear The Air", "The One Eyed King", "Puppets Dangling", "Where Will You Go", "Watching The Moon", "Cabinet Of Curiosities", "The Riddle", "Lullaby", "Help Me Out", "Summer's Game", "Chameleon" and "The Ballad Of Little Jane". CD

Dizzy Gillespie caught live at Monterey – recorded with a great group during one of our favorite stretches in his career! The combo's kind of a post-Lalo Schifrin quintet, but still shares plenty of the bossa-inspired elements of his tenure with Diz – long tracks, bits of Latin rhythms, and a hip swing that's just right for the 60s! James Moody's in the group on alto, flute, and tenor, Kenny Barron plays piano, Chris White is on bass, and Rudy Collins is on drums – and Jon Hendricks joins the group on vocals for one cut too! Titles include "Morning Of The Carnival", "Dizzy Atmosphere", "Vote Dizzy", "Desafinado", "No More Blues", and "The Cup Bearers". CD

A collection of classic material by the legendary Dizzy Gillespie – a set that shows the earliest mark he made on modern music, recorded in the late 40s with an array of top-shelf players! The 20 track set list is overflowing with Gillespie classics – presented here in seminal recordings that feature Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon, Milt Jackson, and others – some with a bit of scatting vocals from Diz, but mostly an instrumental focus that features plenty of firey trumpet solos! Titles include "Blue N Boogie", "Groovin High", "Dizzy Atmosphere", "Shaw Nuff", "Lover Man", "Salt Peanuts", "Hot House", "Oop Bop Sh'Bam", "Our Delight", "One Bass Hit", "He Beeped When He Should Have Bopped", "Emanon", and "Ray's Idea". CD

Some of the most spiritual work we've heard from Yusef Lateef in years – a set cut with AACM legends Roscoe Mitchell and Douglas Ewart, and done with a sound that takes us back to the legendary sounds of both players in the 70s! Adam Rudolph also joins the quartet, bringing in some great percussion – and the album's a really collaborative affair, with all the musicians shifting through a wide range of instrumentation in their own spheres of expertise – at a level that recalls the work of the Art Ensemble of Chicago at their best. Lateef plays tenor, flutes, oboe, and even vocalizes a bit – as does Ewart, who along with Roscoe Mitchell plays a range of reeds and percussion instruments. Titles include "Voice Prints", "Sound Search", "Harpers Ferry", and "Morning Moves". CD

A unique dual piano session from Dave McKenna and Hal Overton – and one that's nicely free of any sense of gimmick or cliche! The pair work together in a really loose, personal style – one that has the upfront push of a jazz trio date, but which also allows each musician room to express themselves differently – as you'd expect, given their slightly different approaches. Rhythm is from Earl May on bass and Jerry Segal on drums – and titles include "Monk's Mood", "Keeping Out Of Mischief", "Dizzy Atmosphere", "Ruby My Dear", and a great reading of "Hi Fly". CD

Franco Micalizzi was one of the unrivaled maestros of the action score on the Italian scene of the 70s – and here, he does a great job of blending that experience with some slightly moodier touches – creating a really nice blend of tunes that swing effortlessly between clubby groovers and mellower numbers – sometimes with soaring strings, sometimes with spare keyboards – all delivered with that sweet Euro style that Micalizzi did so well at the time! Titles include "Stridulum Theme", "Here's The Dream", "Atmosphere", "Sadness Theme", "Running Away From Jerzy", "Hospital Sequence", and "Voices For Sadness Theme". This CD version features a massive 26 tracks in all – almost 75 minutes of music! CD

A very unique album from Hank Mobley – one that has him working alongside Milt Jackson, in an unusual format that mixes the soulful Mobley tenor with some well-crafted work on vibes! The "all star" title is certainly appropriate here – as Mobley and Jackson are joined in a quintet by Horace Silver on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Blakey on drums – almost bringing in an early Jazz Messengers sensibility to the record, but also hitting more of a looser, laidback blowing session approach. There's less of the tightness of other Mobley sessions from the time, and the record has the players really feeling each other out in the studio – with the sort of spontaneity you might hear in a Prestige or Savoy album from the time. Tracks are long, and titles include "Ultramarine", "Don't Walk", "Lower Stratosphere", and "Mobley's Musings". CD

One of the darkest Sun Ra albums of the early 70s – and a set that's also a bit unusual in his catalog as well! The album was issued during Ra's run with Impulse Records – a period that mostly saw the label reissue previous records from the Saturn catalog – save for a rare few like this one, which was an unusual all-new batch of material for Impulse! Because of that, it's been a bit overlooked in later years – maybe missed as less authentic, but actually some of the most striking sounds that Ra created at the time! There's a very strong tension here between electric and acoustic elements – not in the usual fusion-based way, but instead with this vibe that often has the electric instruments providing darker areas of sound, while the woodwinds and percussion have a way of humanizing the proceedings. June Tyson's also at her moodiest on the title track, "Astro Black" – and other titles include "Hidden Spheres", "Discipline 99", and the long improvisation "Cosmo Fire". CD

Mindblowing music from Sun Ra & The Arkestra – sounds recorded during the same marathon session that gave the world the records Other Planes Of There, When Sun Comes Out, and When Angels Speak Of Love – but titles that are much more obscure overall! The initial release of the material featured very misleading notes, but the true details of the session are even more impressive – as Ra plays a variety of unusual instruments alongside piano – including the piano strings, space organ, and clavioline – alongside some sublime straight horn work from John Gilmore on tenor, Marshall Allen on alto and oboe, Pat Patrick on baritone, Danny Davis on alto and clarinet, Walter Miller on trumpet, Robert Cummings on bass clarinet, and Ali Hasaan on trombone! The lineup here has that raw power the Arkestra first unleashed after their initial move to New York – almost a sense of new freedom in the new environment – even at a time when they weren't clicking on a financial level, but still continued to push forward with new ideas in music! Some passages have this great approach that links the cosmic ideas of the Arkestra with older traditions of jazz soloing – while others reflect the growing concern of the group with new textures and sounds – making for some very impressive elements on both the horns and percussion. The group is completed by Ronnie Boykins on bass, Art Jenkins on space voice and percussion, and Tommy Hunter on drums, percussion, and some mighty nice reverb – and titles include "Biosphere Blues", "Intergalactic Research", "Earth Primitive Earth", "New Planet", and "Continuation To Jupiter Festival". Beautiful 2CD reissue features sublime sounds from the original tapes, remastered – plus a full bonus CD of unreleased tracks that include "Blue York", "Conversation Of The Universe", "Red Planet Mars", "Cosmic Rays/Next Stop Mars", "The Myth", "Meteor Shower", "Infinity", "The Beginning Of", and "Endlessness". CD

One of Sun Ra's best non-Saturn live sets of the 70s – a nice little record that shows the group mixing it up with equal parts avant garde and straight ahead jazz, all handled in that ever-growing large group style that made them a real force to be reckoned with in a concert setting! The album was recorded during the 1976 Montreux Jazz Festival, and has a bit more focus and polish than some of the other Arkestra live material from the time – a mature, coherent sound that almost points the way towards some of their work to come in the 80s – when Ra and the group were finally reaching the wider audience they deserved. The set's a double-length one, and features players who include John Gilmore on tenor, Marshall Allen and Danny Davis on alto and flute, Pat Patrick on baritone, Ahmed Abdullah on trumpet, Craig Harris on trombone, and James Jackson on Ancient Egyptian Infinity drum – which is always a treat. Ra plays solar organ and moog, as well as piano – and titles include "Of The Other Tomorrow", "On Sound Infinity Spheres", "El Is The Sound Of Joy", "Gods Of The Thunder Realm", "Gods Of A Thunder Realm", "The House Of Eternal Being", and "Lights On a Satellite". CD

Seminal sounds from The Residents – a record that's purportedly inspired by the ceremonial music of the Eskimo – but it's very a much a Residents album, and one that follows their own absurdist adventuresome impulses! There's often this cold, drifting wave of sound in the background that's as chilly as you'd expect – and on top of the sound effects and all around trippy electronic atmosphere, they're supposedly playing instruments made of the guts and bones of arctic wildlife! Titles include "The Walrus Hunt", "Birth", "Arctic Hysteria", "The Angry Angakok", "A Spirit Steals A Child", and "The Festival Of Death". CD

Amazing early work from Sonny Rollins – the first of his tremendous Blue Note albums – and a record that really shows him taking off at the time! The record captures Rollins at a key turning point – emerging from his firey bop years, moving into a much more complicated, introspective tenor style that was a perfect showcase for his developing genius for improvisation – not as far out as in a few years to come, but already awash in imagination and creativity. The group here includes Donald Byrd on trumpet, Wynton Kelly on piano, Gene Ramey on bass, and Max Roach on drums – but as with all Rollins Blue Note sessions, his tenor is the dominant force. Titles include "Bluesnote", "Plain Jane", "Sonnysphere", and "Decision". CD

The mostly orchestral music used for the Kubrick film, with alternating spooky and grand passages by Strauss, Ligeti and others. Includes "Also Sprach Zarathustra", "Requiem For Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Mixed Choirs & Orchestra", "Luz Aeterna", "The Blue Danube" and "Atmospheres". CD

A wonderfully wide-ranging tribute to the great John Coltrane – served up here in a whole host of tracks recorded after his too-early death, each of which take his musical message in different directions! The sound is certainly spiritual – in keeping with the different volumes in this long-running series – but there's a nice mix of expressions and instrumentation, offering up a journey into John Coltrane's important influence on so many different spheres of jazz – far more than you might expect! And this isn't just a set of Coltrane remakes or covers, either, as new songs are mixed with familiar ones – in a well-chosen batch of tracks that includes "Trane" by Carmelo Garcia, "Transition" by Malachi Thompson, "John Coltrane" by Clifford Jordan, "Naima" by Darwin Strickland Trio, "Terre Engloutie" by Gilles Torrent Jazztet, "To Trane" by Carsten Meinert Kvartet, "Welcome" by Norman Connors, "Ole" by Sonny Fortune, and "Naima" by Jack McDuff. CD

Classic work from the legendary P&P Records label – created by one of the "P" talents who gave them their name – studio genius Patrick Adams, who mostly works here on his own under the name of Cloud One! Adams already had great success working with east coast soul groups in the first half of the 70s – and as Cloud One, he really finds his way around the more cutting-edge styles of the time – mixing bits of funk with bits of disco, and often adding in these cool electronic elements that really helped define the P&P sound! Many cuts have cool moogy keyboards, and some spacey elements along the edges – done with a lot more soul than some of the Euro space disco recordings of the same time – with much more of a tie to the New York underground that was Adams' main milieu. Titles include the classics "Spaced Out" and "Atmosphere Strut" – plus "Jump Jump Jump", "Stomp Your Feet & Dance", "Disco Juice", "Don't Let My Rainbow Pass Me By", "Patty Duke", "Happy Music", "Doin It All Night", and "Flyin High". CD

A tremendous non-Prestige moment from tenorist Booker Ervin – one of his first albums ever as a leader, and a record that bristles with 60s modern energy! The group here is only a quartet – with Horace Parlan on piano – and the album's got Booker's amazing tenor right out front, played with those angular, searching tones that are heard most famously on the Space and Freedom Book sessions for Prestige – but which seem to get almost more room for expression here! The remaining players are George Tucker on bass and Al Harewood on drums – both of whom help the album maintain a nicely rhythmic pulse, even when Ervin is going off into the stratosphere – and the album features 4 original tunes – "Mojo", "Uranus", "Boo", and "Booker's Blues" – plus versions of "Speak Low" and "Poinciana". CD

Haunting traditional country-inspired songwriting a la Carter Family, Louvin Brothers, etc from Freakwater – one of their great early 90s albums on Thrill Jockey. The were young-ish and urban-ish at the time, but they are absolutely the real thing. Aching harmonies, dusty melodies and good damn songs. It can't be overstated how unique Freakwater was in an early-to-mid 90s indie rock atmosphere, either. Includes "Crazy Man", "Pale Horse", "My Old Drunk Friend", "Amelia Earhart", "Are You Ready", "Lullaby" and more. CD

Herbie reinvents himself for the 21st Century – and ends up turning out one of his most compelling albums in years! As with his Future Shock years, Herbie's working here with Bill Laswell – but if that scares you a bit (it did us!), don't worry, because Laswell's much more in the background than you'd think, and instead, Herbie relies on some strong work by guests that include Carl Craig, Chaka Khan, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams, and Rob Swift, to help take the groove to a whole new level. Titles include "The Essence", "This Is Rob Swift", "Black Gravity", "Tony Williams", "Ionosphere", "Alphabeta", and "Virtual Hornets". CD

One of Emmylou Harris's best loved albums, and for good reason – it's a major departure from the some of the more straightforward, if neo classic country of her late 80s and earlier 90s work, taking on a more atmospheric sound with producer Daniel Lanois. Lanois deserves credit for inspiring a new direction for Emmylou, but Wrecking Ball is her show – and of all the folk, country and roots-oriented artists Lanois worked with over the years, Harris is the one with a voice big enough fill the atmosphere, and intimate enough to pull it back down to earth. Includes "Where Will I Be", "Goodbye", "All My Tears", "Wrecking Ball", "Goin' Back To Harlan", "Blackhawk", "Orphan Girl", "May This Be Love" and "Waltz Across Texas". CD

An amazing little record – easily one of the coolest albums ever on the legendary Ovation label – and a set that has the small imprint almost hitting the heights of their Chicago neighbor Cadet Records! The core sounds here are from the folksy duo of Chuck Hollins and Dave Starr – but their music is really expanded with some key studio touches – jazzy inflections from session players, some slight fuller arrangements – and an overall vibe that carries the same sense of hope and new voice that you'd find in records by Terry Callier or Rotary Connection! The dawn of the 70s was a great time to push the boundaries of what could be done with folk and psychedelic trappings, and these guys really find a great little space – balancing trippy lyricism, lots of ethereal atmosphere, and a few heavily percussive jams! Titles include "Talking To Myself", "Krishna Dov", "Cry Baby Cry", "Twin City Prayer", "John Hurt", "Hard Headed Women", "Lovable", "Digress", "Staying High", "Sidewalk's Talkin'", and "Feelin' Good". CD features bonus tracks that include a 9 minute outtake of "Hard Headed Woman" – plus single versions of "Feelin Good" and "Lovable". CD

One of the most starkly beautiful recordings in Paul Horn's career – with spiritually resonant, almost spine tingling solo flute and some chants, all recorded in the Taj Majal one day in April of 1968! It's really all about the atmosphere, as it would have to be given the location – with Horn playing of the amazing echo in a completely wonderful way, never feeling anything less than wholly authentic and genuinely inspired! Titles include "Vibrations", "Akasha", "Jumna", "Shah Jahan", "Mantra II/Duality", and "Unity". Paul Horn follows up his Inside The Taj Majal set – in someways leaving behind the stark, spare initimacy of that set for a more layered and tailored approach – and also leaving behind his more pronounced jazz roots for a more earthy and nature themed mode! Like Inside, it's a solo flute record and a spatial exploration – this time handled with a number of different flutes, and also dabbling in overdubbing – with wind and other nature sounds, up to and including some live dolphin sound effects! Titles include "The Mahabhutas" suite, plus "Centaur", "Morning Song", "Haida", and "Mass: Kyrie". CD

Sonic Youth still going strong in the mid 00s – following up Murray Street with the just as great, if slightly more ominous and moody Sonic Nurse! This is the period that Jim O'Rourke was in the band, not only as a producer/sound manipulator, but playing guitar and bass and contributing to the composition process – and it's such a natural fit. Sonic Youth's way of layering free form noisy atmosphere into coherent songcraft is impeccable here – and timeless. Includes "Pattern Recognition", "Unmade Bed", "Dripping Dream", "Stones", "Dude Ranch Nurse", "New Hampshire", "Paper Cut Exit", "I Love You Golden Blue", "Peace Attack" and more. CD

13 songs from Busi Mhlongo, Mzwakhe Mbuli, Soshanguve Black Tycoons, Condry Ziqubu, Mfiliseni Magubane, Tsepo Tshola, Malopoets, and Omthenjwa. CD

One of the most obscure of Brubeck's Columbia modern sessions – and one of the best! Side one features more "time" oriented tunes played with the Quartet that included Paul Desmond, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello – but side two features the extended "Elementals" work, written for the quartet with jazz orchestra conducted by Rayburn Wright. Desmond's alto is fantastic on that track – floating, eerie, and quite sophisticatedly swinging – and the others ("Cable Car", "Iberia", "Shim Wha", and "Unisphere") are all strong examples of the quartet's simple genius. CD

A mighty big party from tenor giant Arnett Cobb – a player who always blew strongly in other settings, but really hit his height on these albums for Prestige! The record is a perfect mix of Cobb's bluesy roots and a more sophisticated modern jazz setting – with support from a crack rhythm combo of Ray Bryant on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – plus the special addition of Ray Barretto on congas, who brings in this rolling kick that definitely opens things up to the party atmosphere in the title – even when things are mellow! Most numbers have a open, soulfully blowing feel – and titles include "Slow Poke", "Lonesome Road", "Party Time", and "Blues In the Closet". CD

Abstract beats with a depth of global influences from Dimlite – the Swiss beatmaker/producer's debut for the Now Again/Stones Throw – and far reaching effort that covers a lot of aural atmosphere over its running time! Dimlite's work for Sonar Kollectiv was among the most forward looking on the roster, and that unpredictable approach is well served here. Glitchy synth sounds and bubbling electronic errata mix with more earthy rhythms and hazy melodies – with vocals that also give it a more grounded feel in spots, but this is adventurous and unpredictable in all the right ways. Titles include "Kalimba Sewathswamp/Kurt Feelings", "On The Same Picture" featuring vocals by Elan Tamara, "Firevomit (ODN)", "Elbow Flood", "Can't Get Used To Those (Afterlude)" and more. CD features the bonus "Elbow Flood" instrumental. CD

One of the most memorable Esquivel albums, and perhaps the first record that really let him hit his fantastic mix of off-beat orchestrations and spacey electronicized production! The arrangements are splendid, with echoey piano lines in the front that seem to trail off into the stratosphere. Behind them, the orchestra swings in a tight rocket-fueled way, soaring and dipping to match the oddly arranged piano lines. Titles include "Playfully", "That Old Black Magic", "Speak Low", "It Had To Be You", and "Night & Day". Plus, the cover's got a groovily attired model, hanging out in a very green lunar scene! CD

A tasty little album from Funkadelic – one that has Bootsy Collins joining the group, and really hitting the unique approach that would become the definitive P-Funk groove! And although tracks are shorter and even more focused, there's still a fair bit of guitar in the set – keeping the trademark Funkadelic sound in place, to set them aside from from the growing horn-heavy Parliament groove. Yet in both groups' work at the time, there's a growing emphasis on the rhythms at the bottom – a pulling up of the basslines in a way that was no doubt influenced by Bootsy's presence, and which would have a key influence on the sound of funk for years to come! Includes the massively infectious funk track "Get Off Your Ass and Jam", plus "Let's Take It To The Stage", "Be My Beach", "Baby I Owe You Something Good", "The Song Is Familiar", "No Head No Backstage Pass", "Atmosphere", "Stuffs & Things", and "Better By the Pound". CD

A great little jam session from Verve – done in a style that's looser and freer than some of the JATP albums, and with a smaller group overall! Players include Stan Getz, Paul Gonsalves, and Coleman Hawkins on tenor, Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet, and Wynton Kelly on piano – plus bass by Wendell and drums from JC Heard. There's a rougher, more spontaneous quality here than even on some of the other Norman Granz jam session records – a feel that's almost more "real" overall, as if you were catching the players all working together in a club. Each side features 2 long tracks – one upbeat and one mellow – and the tenor interplay alone is worth the price of the record! Titles include long takes on "Dizzy Atmosphere" and "The Way You Look Tonight" – plus 2 additional ballad medleys! CD

An amazing little record – easily one of the coolest albums ever on the legendary Ovation label – and a set that has the small imprint almost hitting the heights of their Chicago neighbor Cadet Records! The core sounds here are from the folksy duo of Chuck Hollins and Dave Starr – but their music is really expanded with some key studio touches – jazzy inflections from session players, some slight fuller arrangements – and an overall vibe that carries the same sense of hope and new voice that you'd find in records by Terry Callier or Rotary Connection! The dawn of the 70s was a great time to push the boundaries of what could be done with folk and psychedelic trappings, and these guys really find a great little space – balancing trippy lyricism, lots of ethereal atmosphere, and a few heavily percussive jams! Titles include "Talking To Myself", "Krishna Dov", "Cry Baby Cry", "Twin City Prayer", "John Hurt", "Hard Headed Women", "Lovable", "Digress", "Staying High", "Sidewalk's Talkin'", and "Feelin' Good". CD features bonus tracks that include a 9 minute outtake of "Hard Headed Woman" – plus single versions of "Feelin Good" and "Lovable". CD

Incredible work from Lenine – easily his best album so far, and that's saying a lot, given the quality of the other sets! This one is landmark, though – the kind of record that seems to push Lenine even further into the stratosphere of MPB, recorded live and delivered with a depth that almost rivals the greatness of Caetano Veloso or Gilberto Gil during the 1970s! The set was recorded in Paris, where Lenine's found a very welcoming audience – and it's got a relaxed, intimate feel that's quite different than the tighter production of his studio albums. Instrumentation is a mix of electric and acoustic, mostly in a guitar-based mode – but there's a magically flowing sense of soul to the whole thing that's really sublime – the sort of perfect songwriting and delivery that grabs us instantly, even if we can't understand the full translations of the tunes. Consider this one global soul at its best – the kind of record that shows that boundaries can still be broken in the 21st century, even without clever tricks, gimmicks, or trashy marketing. A real delight all the way through – and one that really caught us by surprise! Titles include "Do It", "Ninguem Faz Ideia", "Todos Os Caminhos", "Sentimental", "Virou Areia", "Anna E Eu", "Rosebud", and "Vivo". CD

A very unique album from Hank Mobley – one that has him working alongside Milt Jackson, in an unusual format that mixes the soulful Mobley tenor with some well-crafted work on vibes! The "all star" title is certainly appropriate here – as Mobley and Jackson are joined in a quintet by Horace Silver on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Blakey on drums – almost bringing in an early Jazz Messengers sensibility to the record, but also hitting more of a looser, laidback blowing session approach. There's less of the tightness of other Mobley sessions from the time, and the record has the players really feeling each other out in the studio – with the sort of spontaneity you might hear in a Prestige or Savoy album from the time. Tracks are long, and titles include "Ultramarine", "Don't Walk", "Lower Stratosphere", and "Mobley's Musings". CD

Great stuff from global funk phenoms Nomo – deftly blending Afro steeped funk with an astral reach – with more of a spiritual jazz influence and off kilter avant touches! Invisible Cities arrives just about a year since their breakthrough Ghost Rock opened so many doors, and although productivity and consistency have never been a problem with Elliot Bergman & co, we're still pretty awestruck – especially given that Ghost Rock set the bar pretty high! Blazing horns, dynamic rhythms and rapturous percussion galore, with the electric kalimba still defining the group's identity nicely, with lots of sweaty funk, more spacious spiritual jazz atmosphere, and a couple of choice covers – Moondog's "Bumba" gets a bit of Caribbean funk treatment with steel drums, plus a reverent take on Tom Ze's "Ma"! Other tracks include "Invisible Cities", "Waiting", "Crescent", "Patterns", "Elijah" and "Nocturne". CD

A great one from the mid 90s – in the heart of Sonic Youth's middle major label period – and still on a hell of a creative win streak! This is genuinely exploratory, noisy 90s rock at it's finest – played by bonafide noise rock pioneers that really found something of a comfort zone between their underground early years and almost rock star immediate past. Longer songs that build in atmosphere and never out stay their welcome, but restrained enough and tightly packed enough to flirt with accessibility. We appreciate this period in SY history more and more as time goes by. A modern classic! Includes "Becuz", "Junkie's Promise", "Saucer-Like", "Washing Machine", "Unwind", "Little Trouble Girl", "No QUeen Blues", "Skip Tracer", the side-long masterpiece "The Diamond Sea" and more. CD

Searingly spiritual work from David S Ware – a set that definitely draws on the gospel reference in the title, but in ways that are far from any sort of easy cliches! Ware blows tenor boldly here – drawing on a rich legacy from John Coltrane through Billy Harper, all focused sharply into his own dynamic musical vision – and that of his classic quartet with Matthew Shipp on piano and William Parker on bass! Ware's tones really dominate the record – especially given that the production brilliantly brings out all their sharpest edges and raspier moments – but Shipp's elliptical piano is a treat too, and nicely offsets some of Ware's sense of freedom. Susie Ibarra completes the group on drums – and titles include "Wisdomsphere", "Inner Temple", "The Stargazers", "Wisdom Through Time", and "Eternal Faces Of Braham". CD

Amazing East African recordings from decades long past – one of the most beautifully put together compilations of any kind on Honest Jons in quite a while – which is really something, given their always top tier efforts! It features recordings made in Uganda and Kenya from the 30s to the 50s – some wildly energetic, fast and feverishly performed, others with more lilting melodies and less fraught atmosphere. Essentially it's regional minstrel music with impassioned vocals, the more stripped down songs played on the ndingidi and other spare instrumentation, others have larger ensemble vocals and instrumentation including oud, accordion, violins, Indian harmonium and more. 35 tracks on 2CD, and packaged in what's essentially a small book, filled with great notes and photos. Includes "Wireless" by Ssekinomu, "Enyi Wa Hiari" by Ali & Party, "Ahenda" by Owombo Wa Agola, "Meselou" by Machakos Party, "James Onunga" by Mbuyi, "Aolo" by Were Omito, "Okwara" by J Omwami, "Ogwel" by Oluoch, "Kitagararan" by WKA Laboso & Esta and many more. CD

A tremendous non-Prestige moment from tenorist Booker Ervin – one of his first albums ever as a leader, and a record that bristles with 60s modern energy! The group here is only a quartet – with Horace Parlan on piano – and the album's got Booker's amazing tenor right out front, played with those angular, searching tones that are heard most famously on the Space and Freedom Book sessions for Prestige – but which seem to get almost more room for expression here! The remaining players are George Tucker on bass and Al Harewood on drums – both of whom help the album maintain a nicely rhythmic pulse, even when Ervin is going off into the stratosphere – and the album features 4 original tunes – "Mojo", "Uranus", "Boo", and "Booker's Blues" – plus versions of "Speak Low" and "Poinciana". CD

The one that catapulted PJ Harvey from a critical favorite to something of a popular favorite on both the US and UK – and her most remarkable creative stride to date! At the time, it felt like this was the one where Polly Harvey made a conscious choice to go "big" with sound, working with producer Flood after that famously stripped down Rid Of Me with Steve Albini engineering, but in hindsight it's amazing how the bigger sound, unafraid of electronics and all around grander atmosphere never even comes close to hiding the by turns intimate and mysterious lyricism – and it might be the best showcase for Polly's voice on record – projecting varying, unpredictable mood from track to track. Includes "To Bring You My Love", "Meet Ze Monsta", "Down By The Water", "Send His Love To Me", "The Dancer" and more. CD

Wild and wonderful work by Keith Jarrett – light years away from his records on ECM! The album features a quartet that includes Dewey Redman on tenor, Charlie Haden on bass, and Paul Motian on drums – but it's clearly Keith who's driving the bus here, taking lots of odd twists and turns for playful moments that come as an unexpected surprise. One of the best of these is the short percussion track "Pre Judgement Atmosphere", which almost sounds like a Moondog number – and another is the rollingly funky "Gypsy Moth", a tune that always seems to be careening out of control, but is never "outside", just percussively grooving. Side two features two longer jamming tracks that almost have a loft jazz feel – "El Juicio" and "Piece For Ornette" – and Keith plays alone on the track "Pardon My Rags". CD

A very unique album from Hank Mobley – one that has him working alongside Milt Jackson, in an unusual format that mixes the soulful Mobley tenor with some well-crafted work on vibes! The "all star" title is certainly appropriate here – as Mobley and Jackson are joined in a quintet by Horace Silver on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Blakey on drums – almost bringing in an early Jazz Messengers sensibility to the record, but also hitting more of a looser, laidback blowing session approach. There's less of the tightness of other Mobley sessions from the time, and the record has the players really feeling each other out in the studio – with the sort of spontaneity you might hear in a Prestige or Savoy album from the time. Tracks are long, and titles include "Ultramarine", "Don't Walk", "Lower Stratosphere", and "Mobley's Musings". CD

The new album from Outkast and the soundtrack to their film Idlewild! Outkast has been daring haters for years to pounce at will – and they really take that approach to the next level by making what is far and away their oddest project in midst of the most scrutiny they will probably ever receive. We're lacking a bit of perspective in that we haven't seen the movie – but the best stuff probably makes it worth picking up. Idlewild continues the tag team style of Speakerboxx/Love Below in that the duo rarely appear together on the same tracks. The single "Mighty O" is the most notable expection, in that both rappers do their thing on it – and 3000 is actually rapping! The rest of the album, surprisingly, has a fairly coherent flow – with little touches of the 1930s vibe and atmosphere ( the setting of the film) – as envisioned by forward looking hip hoppers. It's a daring set of tracks with strong moments – and lots of additional singing by Sleepy Brown and others. Tracks include "Mighty O", "Peaches" feat Sleepy Brown & Scar, "Idlewild Blue (Don'tchu Worry 'Bout Me", "N2U" feat Khujo Goodie, "Morris Brown" feat Scar & Sleepy Brown, "Chronomentrophobia", "The Train" feat Sleep Brown & Scar, "Life Is Like A Musical", "Hollywood Divorce" feat Lil' Wayne & Snoop Dogg, "Buggface", "PJ & Rooster", "Greatest Show On Earth" feat Macy Gray. "When I Look In Your Eyes", "Dyin' To Live" and "A Bad Note". CD

One of the darkest Sun Ra albums of the early 70s – and a set that's also a bit unusual in his catalog as well! The album was issued during Ra's run with Impulse Records – a period that mostly saw the label reissue previous records from the Saturn catalog – save for a rare few like this one, which was an unusual all-new batch of material for Impulse! Because of that, it's been a bit overlooked in later years – maybe missed as less authentic, but actually some of the most striking sounds that Ra created at the time! There's a very strong tension here between electric and acoustic elements – not in the usual fusion-based way, but instead with this vibe that often has the electric instruments providing darker areas of sound, while the woodwinds and percussion have a way of humanizing the proceedings. June Tyson's also at her moodiest on the title track, "Astro Black" – and other titles include "Hidden Spheres", "Discipline 99", and the long improvisation "Cosmo Fire". CD

Redman at an early peak – raw cosmic funk-steeped hip hop from the wildly creative, gritty-voiced man himself! Like a lot of the greatest 90s hip hop, there's a strong George Clinton influence to the beats – but the thick atmosphere is really on another level – then and now, there's nothing exactly like Redman's flow, which is crazy and charismatic at the same time. The great Erick Sermon co-produces and probably had a big hand in keeping it funky and from going to far into the murky deep end, it's a straight up classic to this day. Tracks include "Dr Trevis", "Bobyahed2dis", "Journey Throo Da Darkside", "A Million And 1 Buddah Spots", "Noorotic", "Cosmic Slop", "Rockafella (R.I.P.)", "Rockafella", "Can't Wait", "Wuditlooklike", Sooperman Luva II", "We Run N.Y.", "Da Journee", "Slide And Rock On" and more. 19 tracks in all. CD

Amazing early work from Sonny Rollins – the first of his tremendous Blue Note albums – and a record that really shows him taking off at the time! The record captures Rollins at a key turning point – emerging from his firey bop years, moving into a much more complicated, introspective tenor style that was a perfect showcase for his developing genius for improvisation – not as far out as in a few years to come, but already awash in imagination and creativity. The group here includes Donald Byrd on trumpet, Wynton Kelly on piano, Gene Ramey on bass, and Max Roach on drums – but as with all Rollins Blue Note sessions, his tenor is the dominant force. Titles include "Bluesnote", "Plain Jane", "Sonnysphere", and "Decision". This newly remastered edition features additional notes and photos! CD

Truly amazing work from Bridget St John – an artist who's unlike anyone else we can think of – and who belongs in that rare stratosphere of completely distinct talents at the end of the 60s – a space that might include Nico, Nick Drake, or Bill Fay! Like all those three, St John is clearly a product of her time, and does have some musical relations to the world of folk, rock, and singer/songwriters – but her end result is so distinct, so unique, she's practically a genre unto herself – and a small one overall, given how few records she released! This set brings a focus on the best tracks from those albums – with one full disc of the best tracks from her studio albums – then adds in an even bigger disc of rare material, which includes early demos, BBC performances, other TV moments, rare tracks, and even a few duets with Michael Chapman. The second disc also has a few brief interview snippets – and Bridget's spoken voice is as lovely as her singing – and titles include "Lazarus", "Downderry Daze", "Ask Me No Questions", "Hello Again", "Thank You For", "The River", "Silver Coin", "Fly High", "It Seems Very Strange", "Suzanne", "There's A Place I Know", "Nice", and lots lots more! CD

A double-length set of work from funky sitar player Ananda Shankar – and a collection that features 2 of his lesser-known albums from the 70s! Musical Discovery of India is a 70s musical tour of Shankar's homeland – performed with his sitar in the lead, and some very sweet soundtrack-style orchestrations in the back!! The style's a bit less funky than before, but still extremely evocative – as it blends Indian styles of instrumentation with more western approaches to soundtrack scoring and a bit of post-colonial travelogue! Titles include "Discovery Of India", "Akbar's Jewels", "Namaskar", "Kaziranga Beat", and "The Hill Train". Next up is Sa Re Ga Machan – a great bit of jungle exotica, composed as a full piece with an "atmosphere of twilight and the feeling of watching animals at a water hole" – but recorded with a sweeping soundtracky feel that makes it more like some lost 70s film gem in the best places! There's some nicely subdued funk in the mix – as Ananda's sitar grooves over guitars, keyboards, and compressed bass and drum parts, occasionally touched with modern exotica styles, as in the work of Mandingo. Titles include "Night In The Forest", "Jungle King", "Jungle Symphony", "Sa Ra Ga Machan", "Romantic Rhino", "Charging Tiger", and "Monkey's Tea Party". CD

Pretty darn obscure stuff from Clifford Thornton – and pretty darn great! The record features Thornton's New Art Ensemble, which includes Sonny King on alto, Karl Berger on vibes, Joe McPhee on trumpet, and Jimmy Garrison on bass. The tracks are similar to some of Thornton's later work, but with an open-ended style that's a bit more free. Titles include "Free Huey", "15th Floor", "O CT", "The Wake", and "Exosphere". CD

Similar to the first volume, this one's got some groovy Italian soundtrack themes remixed by some of Europe's best handlers of the genre. The set features work by Piero Umiliani, Armando Trovajoli, Berto Pisano, Mario Migalardi, and Lesiman – all remixed and remodeled by the likes of Gak Sato, Kid Loco, Raw Deal, BNX, and The Karminsky Experience! Very groovy stuff, and another chapter in the Italian effort to fold time back on itself! CD

One of the most unusual albums we've ever heard from saxophonist Nat Birchall – and that's saying a lot, given the very unusual qualities of most of his work! Yet this set is very special in that it's a solo effort – music by just Nat himself, but never on one instrument at a time – as he works in his own studio to create these tunes that have a strongly spiritual vibe, especially for music from one individual – with a tenor or soprano sax solo often in the lead, amidst other instrumentation that includes bass, drums, percussion, bells, and bass clarinet – plus a bit of work on a Korg minilogue! If you're worried about the album sounding gimmicky, or lacking the depth of some of Birchall's other recordings – don't – because the whole thing is as rich and soulful as all the other kinds of records that have made us love Nat so much over the years. Titles include "Dance Of The Sun God", "Omniscient Beings", "Outer Realm", "Space Time Vortex", "Celestial Spheres", "Cosmic Visitant", and "Inner Pathway". CD

A tremendous non-Prestige moment from tenorist Booker Ervin – one of his first albums ever as a leader, and a record that bristles with 60s modern energy! The group here is only a quartet – with Horace Parlan on piano – and the album's got Booker's amazing tenor right out front, played with those angular, searching tones that are heard most famously on the Space and Freedom Book sessions for Prestige – but which seem to get almost more room for expression here! The remaining players are George Tucker on bass and Al Harewood on drums – both of whom help the album maintain a nicely rhythmic pulse, even when Ervin is going off into the stratosphere – and the album features 4 original tunes – "Mojo", "Uranus", "Boo", and "Booker's Blues" – plus versions of "Speak Low" and "Poinciana". CD

A mindblowing moment on the Chicago avant scene of the 80s – a key flowering of the talents of Hal Russell – a musician who'd been working the Windy City since the early 60s, yet who really came into his own in these later years! Hal challenges both the AACM and the European underground with this smoking little set – opening up with unbridled energy on a range of instruments – including drums, vibes, C melody sax, cornet, and even zither – and working with equally energetic younger players who include Chuck Burdelik on tenor, alto, clarinet, and flute; Brian Sandstrom on bass, trumpet, and gong; Curt Bley on bass; and Steve Hunt on vibes and drums, alternating the instruments with Russell from track to track. All tunes are originals, and sound incredibly fresh all these many years later – with titles that include "Uncontrollable Rages", "Kit Kat", "Linda Jazz Princess", and "Seven Spheres". CD features two previously unreleased tracks – "Lost Or" and "C Melody Mania". CD

A beautiful tribute to the Cali soul sound of the 70s – served up here by Robb Scott with a wonderfully groovy sound! The music here recalls that great moment when things could be tight, but never slick or commercial – maybe the productions of Larry Mizell, or the flowing soulful fusion of Patrice Rushen – and Robb handles much of the music himself on a variety of instruments, and also sings vocals – but in the best collaborative Cali spirit, he also opens the door to work with help from The Waters, Sandra St Victor, Juliet Roberts, Gina Foster, and Elisabeth Troy – all artists who lend a great sense of vocal spirit to the album. The set's nice and long – with a great mix of interludes and full songs – and titles include "Neptune Atmosphere", "Rotary Love", "Keep On", "Essaouira Wind", "Siren", "Negative Pleasures", "Hummingbird", "California Suite Revue", and "Venus In Virgo". CD