Drummer Steve Reid made some fantastic records back in the 70s – indie label spiritual jazz sessions that went on to become the stuff of legend over the decades – so much so, Reid was able to return to the forefront with this amazing new record in the 21st Century! The set is something of a partnership with Kieran Hebden, who was then of Fourtet, but maybe reached equal fame through his work with Reid – mixing electronics with Steve's drums and percussion – in a very cool ensemble that also features Nathaniel Catchpole and Neil Kleiner on tenor saxes, Chuck Henderson on soprano, Tony Bevan on bass sax, Boris Netsvetaev on keyboards, and John Edwards on bass. The sound is amazing – really a precursor to both the new modes that would emerge on the London scene in the following decade, and the rebirth of spiritual jazz around the same time – on titles that include "Lugano", "Drum Story", "Bridget", "For Coltrane", "Blind Tom", "Which One", "Lions Of Juda", "It Cannot Be True", and "Unity". LP, Vinyl record album

Drummer Steve Reid made some fantastic records back in the 70s – indie label spiritual jazz sessions that went on to become the stuff of legend over the decades – so much so, Reid was able to return to the forefront with this amazing new record in the 21st Century! The set is something of a partnership with Kieran Hebden, who was then of Fourtet, but maybe reached equal fame through his work with Reid – mixing electronics with Steve's drums and percussion – in a very cool ensemble that also features Nathaniel Catchpole and Neil Kleiner on tenor saxes, Chuck Henderson on soprano, Tony Bevan on bass sax, Boris Netsvetaev on keyboards, and John Edwards on bass. The sound is amazing – really a precursor to both the new modes that would emerge on the London scene in the following decade, and the rebirth of spiritual jazz around the same time – on titles that include "Lugano", "Drum Story", "Bridget", "For Coltrane", "Blind Tom", "Which One", "Lions Of Juda", "It Cannot Be True", and "Unity". LP, Vinyl record album

A lesser-known set from groundbreaking drummer Steve Reid – issued on his Mustevic Sound label after the classic Rhythmatism and Nova sets! Reid's playing here with the New Life trio – a group that features his drum work next to the guitar of Brandon Ross and heavy bass of David Wertman – who'd done some great work of his own for the same label. The tunes have a very rhythmic pulse – especially the bass and drum work – and the guitar seems to move around the top of the tunes, almost of its own accord. Titles include "Chinese Rock", "Egypt Rock", "Empty Streets", "Sculpture", and "Love Cipher". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic mid 70s set led by drummer Steve Reid – fronting a group of players who groove tightly, but with a really sinister sound! Reid is an absolute steamroller on this set – laying down a fast-paced, super tight funky backdrop for the rest of the players to groove fluidly over the top. Three of the five tracks run well north of the 10 minute mark – and those pieces are strong as can be, providing just enough room for the players to lay out a groove that lies beautifully between the mid 60s avant garde of Ornette Coleman and the spiritual soul jazz of the mid 70s. The core group includes pianist Les Walker (who penned most of the material here), plus David Wertman on a wonderfully rubbery bass, Michael Keith on trombone and Arthur Blythe on alto sax – with guests Chris Capers (trumpet), Melvin Smith (guitar) and Charles Tyler (baritone sax) on "Center Of The Earth". Great stuff, with a really dark edge! Other tracks include "Kai", "Rocks (For Cannonball)", "C You Around", and "One Minute Please". LP, Vinyl record album

No Mirage here – as the album's got a presence that's impossible to deny – a solid, soulful uttering from this key Chicago combo of the 70s! The group's led by reedman Ari Brown – better known for his later avant work – and they've got a wicked blend of keyboards and horns with lots of complicated touches, played out over funky rhythms that are completely mindblowing! The great Ken Chaney plays keyboards, and in addition to Brown's reeds, the set also features trumpet from Frank Gordon, trombone from Steve Galloway, and bass from Rufus Reid – plus cool percussion from Arlington Davis and Drasheer Khalid. Most cuts are instrumental, and recorded beautifully – but one number, "The Ultimate Frontier", also features vocals from Anita Jefferies. Other cuts include "Slinky", "Mirage", "Just a Little Peace", and "March On". LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous entry in this wonderful series – a set that proudly proclaims its contents with the "NOW" on the cover! Back when the Spiritual Jazz series first started on the Jazzman label, the music was mostly relegated to material of the John Coltrane generation and the generation that followed – but in the past decade or so, there's been a huge explosion in new artists that explore the deeper, more righteous currents of jazz – music that's pulled in from the farther reaches of free improvisation, to righteous, message-oriented styles that often mix modal rhythms with more exploratory solo passages. Yet this new generation is hardly slavish to the sounds of Impulse Records – as they've really moved beyond, and have used a globe's worth of influences and new 21st Century concepts to bring fresh spirit to the music – opening things up in ways that have made this new movement one of our greatest sources of inspiration in recent years. This double-length entry is a fantastic overview of the sounds that are currently reshaping the planet – and titles on volume 2 include "Flute Song" by Wildflower, "Slow Sweet Burn" by Abeeku, "Palms To Heaven" by The Cosmic Range, "Nova" by Menagerie, "Avo's Tune" by Teemu Akerblom Quartet, "Paris" by Jonas Kullhammar, "Vessels" by The Jamie Saft Quartet, "What Do I Tell My Children Who Are Black "by Angel Bat Dawid, "Trane's Groove" by Carla Marciano, "For Coltrane" by Steve Reid Foundation, "Empty Streets" by Vibration Black Finger, and "Memory Ritual" by The Pyramids. LP, Vinyl record album

A classic of 70s avant spiritual jazz – issued on the tiny Sweet Earth label, which was also home to some very special records from Sun Ra and Marion Brown! Bassist David Wertman is a lot more obscure than those bigger names, but he was part of the New York loft jazz scene in those crucial mid 70s years – and had associations with Arthur Blythe, Billy Bang, Steve Reid, and other key members of the group – all heavyweights that Wertman can easily stand next to with the strength of the material on this set! The sounds here are a fantastic combination of larger ideas and more spontaneous creation – almost in an AACM mode, but a bit more spiritual overall – with David's bass at the helm of a group that includes David Swerdlove on alto and soprano sax, John Hagen on tenor and soprano, John Sprague on flutes, Greg Wall on baritone, and John Zieman on keyboards. Drummer Jay Conway really provides some great energy to keep things lively and moving – and titles include "Oh John Love Trane", "Clear Air Dancer", "Earthly Delights", and "Relations". LP, Vinyl record album

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With Yamashta on percussion and piano, Steve Winwood on vocals and keyboards, Michael Shrieve on drums, Klaus Schulze on synthesizers, Al Di Meola on solo guitar, Jerome Rimson on bass, Pat Thrall on guitar, Brother James on congos, and Karen Freidman on vocals. LP, Vinyl record album