... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

One of those great little sets on the Abril Cultural label – featuring a record of classic work by the artist, plus a full booklet of amazing photos and helpful writings in Portuguese. This one's got a color photo of Gil playing with Os Mutantes on TV, a haunting photo from exile in London, and lots of other nice shots. On the record, you'll get Gil singing "Expresso 2222", "Procissao", "Geleia Geral", "Aquele Abraco", "Bat Macumba", and "Domingo No Parque" – plus you'll also get Gil compositions by other artists, like "Lugar Comum" by Joao Donato, "Baba Alapala" by Zeze Motta, "Soy Loco Por Ti America" by Caetano Veloso, "Copo Vazio" by Chico Buarque, and "Meio De Camp" by Elis Regina. LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks include "I'm A Playa" feat Three 6 Mafia, "They Don't Know" feat Mike Jones, "State To State" feat Freeway, "So Many Diamonds" feat TI, "Smooth Operator", "Sittin Sidewayz" feat Big Pokey, "Internet Going Nutz", "Trill" feat BG & Bun B, "Sippin Tha Barre", "Drive Slow" feat Kanye West & GLC, "Girl", "Big Ballin", "Sip-N-Get High" feat Aqualeo, and "Just Paul Wall". LP, Vinyl record album

A gem of a record from the legendary Nino Rota – one of his best scores for director Federico Fellini – a bit later than some of their 60s classics, but equally great! The music is filled with Rota's trademark interweaving of dominant themes and lighter moments – the kind of tight chamber scoring that makes his compositions work so well – bouncey, but never silly, moody, but never too serious. The narrative takes Rota to more pan-historic territory, but his approach here is similar to Fellini films set in contemporary Rome – and dominant instrumentation includes bits of accordion, piano, horns, and gentle strings. Wonderful stuff all around – with loads of short little tracks that have some nice hooks – titles that include "La Fogaraccia", "La Gradisca E Il Principe", "Gary Cooper", "Lo Struscio", "Amarcord", and "Ti Ricordi Siboney". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that's way more than the classic rock outing of some of the group's Bay Area contemporaries – as the young Carlos Santana finds a way to mix inspirations from blues and Latin music into this fierce fusion of so many different elements at once – stretching out, jamming, and touching decades of listeners in the process! The whole thing's a perfect sonic blend – guitar, keyboards, and plenty of percussion – on the group's stunning remake of "Oye Como Va", their fusion of "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen", and the cuts "Se A Cabo", "Samba Pa Ti", "El Nicoya", and "Singing Winds Crying Beasts". LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Timeless Legend, Tippie Washington, Forbidden Blackness, Ira Allen, Ti-Fri, Young Underground, Wendy Harris, Spaded Jade, Final Analysis, Capris, Greg Foust, and Brother's Rap. LP, Vinyl record album

A great collection of some of Tito's best dancers for the RCA label – cut during the late 50s and early 60s, and featuring classics like "Ti Mon Bo" and "Ran Kan Kan", two of the cuts that really put Tito on the map! Other tracks include "Witch Doctor's Nightmare", "Almendra", "Tito Timbero", "Cao Cao Mani Picao", and "La Ola Marina". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest Tito Puente albums from the 50s, and a spare percussion jam session that's right up there with his legendary Puente In Percussion album! The group features Mongo Santamaria, Bill Correa, Julito Collazo, and Enrigue Marti on percussion with Tito – and the only other additional sounds are some occasional vocals, and a pounding bassline. The set's extremely raw, with a very tight groove – and the sound is incredible – easily enough to make this one of Tito's best percussion dates ever! Titles include "Ti Mon Bo", "Elequana", "Bragada", "Alaumba Chemache", "Hot Timbales", and "Four By Two". LP, Vinyl record album

With TI and Pharrell. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Plenty burning here – a smoking set of 70s salsa from Raphy Leavitt – one of the key figures of the Latin underground at the time! The album's got a righteous feel right from the start – thanks to the percussive overtones of "Voces Del Africa" – a great way to start the record, and a song that really sets the tone for the rest of the music to come. There's plenty of upbeat groovers – and even when the album gets mellow, there's an undercurrent of soul that really comes through in the percussion and vocals. Titles include "Ninez", "Voces Del Africa", "Soroco", "Mundo Incierto", "Danzon Guajira", and "Lejos De Ti". LP, Vinyl record album

A late 70s electric effort from McCann, not quite as sublime as some his records from a few years before this, but with some funky bits, and some vocals from Les. The best moments are the laidback mellow tracks, which have sort of a smooth Bobby Lyle feel to them. These titles include "The Blue Dot", and "Para Ti, Para Mi". LP, Vinyl record album

A smoking set led by the piano of Primitivo, with lead trumpet from Hector Zarzuela and vocals from Juan Lan Franco – on titles that include "Yo Bote A Mi Negra", "Borinquen Bella", "Nuestro Rincon", "Donde Quiera Que Estes", "Merengue Pa Ti", and "Al Compas Del Guaguanco". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that's way more than the classic rock outing of some of the group's Bay Area contemporaries – as the young Carlos Santana finds a way to mix inspirations from blues and Latin music into this fierce fusion of so many different elements at once – stretching out, jamming, and touching decades of listeners in the process! The whole thing's a perfect sonic blend – guitar, keyboards, and plenty of percussion – on the group's stunning remake of "Oye Como Va", their fusion of "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen", and the cuts "Se A Cabo", "Samba Pa Ti", "El Nicoya", and "Singing Winds Crying Beasts". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic work from King Sunny Ade – one of his first truly global releases, and an album that marked a whole new sound in his music! Sunny had been issuing lots of his own records back home in Nigeria – but this set has the juju master working in London, with really fantastic production that pushes his sound in really great ways – echoey waves of basslines and percussion, subtle but powerful vocals, and percolating guitar that takes on a whole new sonic sensibility in the setting! There's a richness to the texture that's amazing – almost as if Brian Eno produced – and titles include "Synchro Feelings Ilako", "Mo Ti Mo", "Penkele", "Maajo", "Synchro System", "E Saiye Re", "Tolongo", "E Wele", and "Synchro Reprise". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album that shaped Latin jazz for years to come! The format of the set borrows heavily from the previous Cuban Jam Session LPs, but gives it a real New York twist that made the Alegre albums much stronger overall – and much more influential in a wider spectrum. A core group fo well-known players – Charlie Palmieri, Johnny Pacheco, Kako, Jose Chombo Silva, and others – come together in the studio magically – setting egos aside, and bringing their best work to the table in a hard-jamming style that defined the crackling jazz-based "descarga" style of the time. In addition to that, the production style has lots of conversation and hanging out sounds between the tracks, really setting the feel for the album with a great spirit that goes on to touch the music as well! A treasure that's still one of the best examples of the jam session at work – and with titles that include "Soy Feliz, "Ay Camino Y Ven", "Almendra", "Para Ti", and "Estoy Buscando a Kako". LP, Vinyl record album

Slamming Latin from drummer Frank Hernandez – a real 60s cooker that grooves with the best from New York at the time! The group's really got the "ritmico" component of the set down strongly – as the percussion is fast, frenetic, and really dominates the arrangements – so much so that even the slower numbers on the set have a nice little crackle! Frank's group brings plenty of jazzy flourishes to the album, especially on the great tenor and flute solo work by Tito Iglesias – and the set features a few really crackling mambo numbers, plus some other nice vocal tracks too. Titles include "Congo Blues", plus "La Bamba", "Mambo A La Roca", "El Pompo", "Para Ti", "Jambalaya", and "Mambo Infierno". LP, Vinyl record album

The group's led by trombonist Luis Diaz, and features two more trombones – plus vocals from Carlos Dias and Michael Anthony Cruz! Titles include "Pa Colombia", "Celos", "Aguas De Cristal", "Son Celos", "Buscando Tus Besos", and "Hoy Tengo Ganas De Ti". LP, Vinyl record album

Not much stretching going on here, as most tracks are three minutes or under – but Ramsey's in fine fine form, working with the classic Young/Holt trio lineup, crafting very groovy little numbers that have a lot more going on underneath than you'd expect from the surface! Includes the originals "Here Tis", "When The Spirit Moves You", and "Solo Para Ti" – plus the group's version of "Little Liza Jane", which was a big early soul jazz hit for them. LP, Vinyl record album

A great Latin twist for Bobby Watson – an album that has the alto sax genius joining the Space Station combo of percussionist Ray Mantilla – for a session that's easily one of the most memorable moments of the time from both players! Watson has a depth of soul in his horn here that's really incredible – a way of grabbing us right from the start of a tune, and bringing things home strongly even with a bit of electric bass in the lineup, which might otherwise mar the acoustic vibe of the group. Dick Oatts handles tenor, flute, and soprano sax on the record – but Bobby's clearly the main horn star – and other members include Eddie Martinez on piano, Ruben Rodriguez on bass, and Steve Berrios on drums and percussion. Titles include "Hostage", "Curve Ball", "Dark Powers", "Catch Me If You Can", "The Things You Do", and "Rostro De Ti". LP, Vinyl record album

Percussionist Sabu Martinez is one of the all-time greats of Latin music – and this record is probably the rarest he ever cut! The album came out of Sweden, where Sabu was residing during the 70s – enjoying some success as an expatriot jazz player in the European scene. The album mixes Latin grooves and hard funk in a way that's rarely been duplicated, and which has ensured Sabu a place in the funk hall of fame for all time! Breakbeat fanatics have always sought out the album for the cuts "All Camels Hump" and "My Cristina" – but the whole thing's a stunning batch of hard percussion grooves, and it's well worth its rare reputation! Other tracks include "Para Ti, Tito Rodriguez", "Martin Cohen Loves Latin Percussion", "My Son Johnny & Me", and "Wounded Knee". LP, Vinyl record album

A stripped-down rootsy session – similar to some of the sparer Afro-Cuban traditionalist sides that were coming out of New York in the early 80s. Ponce put the set together, and other players include Paquito D'Rivera, Jose Trapaga, Joe De Jesus, Nelson Rodriguez, and Bill Laswell. Most tracks feature spare conga and percussion jams – and titles include "Basta De Cuentos", "Invacion De 80", "Cojelo Suave", "Africa Contemporanea", and "Solo Para Ti". LP, Vinyl record album

Members of Skinny Puppy and aGrumh. 12-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best albums ever by this legendary Chicago trio – a great example of the way that records on the Nessa label can really get to the heart of artists' intentions! The trio of Henry Threadgill on reeds, Fred Hopkins on bass, and Steve McCall on percussion have never sounded better – and have this intimate, soulful interplay that's sometimes missing from other efforts – that special kind of energy that makes the AACM so great when it's really clicking this well – as deeply spiritual as it is freely expressive! Threadgill plays alto, tenor, bass flute, and the compelling hubkaphone – and titles include "I'll Be Right Here Waiting", "No 2", "GvE", "Subtraction", and "Keep Right On Playing Thru The Mirror Over The Water". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked gem from Airto – recorded after his 70s years on bigger labels, but a set that almost tops all of them in the end! There's a wonderful mix going on here – a blend of rootsy and electric, and Latin and Brazilian – the former clearly from the placement of the record on New York's Montuno label – an imprint that did plenty of great sessions filled with Latin jazz! The shift makes for a fresh one for Airto – still plenty of room to show off his famous percussion impulses, yet in a slightly different way – often grooving in a Latin fusion mode that's a nice maturation from the CTI years. The set's filled with all-star players – including Jorge Dalto on electric piano, Raul De Souza on trombone, Joe Farrell on flute, Alphonso Johnson on bass, and Oscar Castro Neves on keyboards, guitar, and cavaquinho – and the lovely Flora's also on board to sing a bit on the set. Titles include the extended jammer "Tombo", plus "Aqui Se Pede", "Jump", "The Return", "Sin Salida", and "Anatelio". LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

One of the most hard-hitting Latin albums from the 50s on RCA – a set released with jokey liner notes from Frank Jacobs of Mad, next to some Jack Davis cartoons – but a set that's got smoking percussion, great horns, and even some very cool use of vibes! LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Herb Alpert's definitely Going Places by the time of this set – and his trademark Tijuana Brass sound proves itself to be a great fit for just about any sort of number! The album kicks off with the wonderful "Tijuana Taxi", a sublimely jaunty tune that almost takes Herb into Bacharach territory – and which is followed up by the even-greater "Spanish Flea" – an ear-popping anthem that's one of the greatest bits of 60s instrumental pop ever recorded! And over and above those two tunes, the album's still got plenty more to offer too – a wonderful array of tracks all given the Tijuana touch, with titles that include "More & More Amor", "Mae", "Walk Don't Run", "Felicia", and "Cinco De Mayo". LP, Vinyl record album

Herb Alpert's first-ever album – a runaway hit that was the birthplace of so many groovy things – not just the start of the Tijuana Brass sound, also the birth of A&M Records! The album's the first to feature Herb's trademark take on the Mexican band style – done here with a bit more "jaunty" pop stylings than in later years, including a "rocking" electric bass that kicks along nicely at the bottom of some of the more chart-oriented tunes. The first full album on A&M – and the beginning of an empire – with titles that include "The Lonely Bull", "El Lobo", "Desafinado", "Mexico", "Never On Sunday", and "Struttin With Maria". LP, Vinyl record album

A standing room ovation in the A&M Studios – certainly the kind of reception we'd imagine Herb would get during these glory years of his career! The set's one of the most no-nonsense Tijuana Brass sessions of the 60s – a tightly crafted album that has a bit more jazz than usual sneaking in on some of the tunes, but still enough of that snapping, punchy rhythmic approach that makes Herb and the group so great! As usual, the fluidity here is the strongest point – as the A&M touch takes a sound that should be hokey, and flips it into something really really groovy through warm use of compression in the studio. Titles include "Blue Sunday", "Bean Bag", "Work Song", "Our Day Will Come", "Mexican Road Race", and "Freight Train Joe". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

With John Scofield on guitar, Geri Allen on keys, Michael Formanek on bass, Daniel Humair on drums, and Jerry Gonzalez on percussion. LP, Vinyl record album

A very groovy group, and one who've got the sunshine pop sound you'd expect from their image on the cover – bright, swinging, and upbeat – often harmonized, and set to cool Sidewalk Production work from Harley Hatcher! Titles include "Rainbow In The Rain", "Cold Wisconsin Nights", "Come On & Get It", "Keeping Your Love", "Prelude To Love", and "In The Late Afternoon". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice little 2-fer collecting two great meetings of two greats! Jug and Stitt go head to head on Boss Tenors, a classic album of tracks that perfectly captures the joy and fury of their live performances from years before! The record was cut in Chicago with a very hard rhythm section that includes John Houston on piano, Charles Williams on bass, and George Brown on drums – and it's way heavier than the usual Verve "meeting of the masters" session, and feels more like a record that should have been issued on Prestige or Argo. Both players are impeccable, and the solos stretch out for a long long very live time. Titles include "Blues Up & Down", "The One Before This", and "Counter Clockwise" – but these guys even groove amazingly on standards like "Autumn Leaves" and "No Greater Love". Boss Tenors In Orbit was a follow up one year later, an obscure little session with the pair once again recreating the energy of their live shows – as they stretch out nicely on very long tracks that have spare backing by the Don Patterson trio! The cuts are mostly standard stuff – "John Brown's Body", "Walkin", "Long Ago And Far Away" – but the twin-tenor sound is great, and Patterson's free organ lines riff away nicely! LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet trumpet work from one of Duke Ellington's best sidemen – done for Mercury in 1958 with some very tight arrangements by Anderson and Ernie Wilkins – all in a mode that show's a bit of Cat's Ellington association, but which also opens up in some other swinging modes – including a bit of Basie, and even some wider ranging styles. Cat's in the lead on trumpet, getting support from other players on the instrument – including Clark Terry, Ernie Royal, and Ray Copeland – plus Jimmy Cleveland and Frank Rehack on trombone, Earl Warren on alto sax, Jimmy Forrest and Ernie Wilkins on tenor, and Sahib Shihab on baritone. Titles include "Little Man", "Cat's In The Alley", "June Bug", "Adorable D", "Nina", "Birth Of The Blues", and "Blue Jean Beguine". LP, Vinyl record album

Accompanied by Ray Brown on bass, Benny Carter on alto, Ron Eschete on guitar, Marshall Otwell on piano, and Jimmie Smith on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Ernestine Anderson at the height of her powers – caught during a very successful run at Concord Records, where she was easily one of the hippest things going down at the time! The group here is a trio, and very tight – Hank Jones on piano, Monty Budwig on bass, and Jeff Hamilton on drums – all shifting easily to fit the mood and personal demeanor of Anderson's performance, which is a fair bit more dynamic than other jazz singers of the period. In a way, the record's got a similar feel to Lorez Alexandria's albums from the time – hip soul jazz vocals at its best, with just the right twists, turns, and rhythmic impulses to keep things interesting – but not enough to goof things up too much! Titles include "Big City", "Welcome To The Club", "All Blues", "All I Need Is You", "Spring Is Here", and "I'll Never Pass This Way Again". LP, Vinyl record album

A great slice of work from the early years of Ernestine Anderson – one of her key swingers for Mercury, and the kind of record that should have made her huge at the time! There's a hip-stepping quality here that points nicely towards the 60s – a bit more of a bounce in the backings, almost a Basie-esque quality at times – thanks to arrangements from Ernie Wilkins and Gigi Gryce, both of whom bring a great ear for horn charts to the date. Anderson's inherent sense of soul really opens up strongly with both arrangers – swinging with poise one minute, but bluesy undercurrents the next – in ways that really mark the record as coming from the more jazz-based side of late 50s Mercury spectrum. Titles include "Harlem Nocturne", "A New Town Is A Blue Town", "Nobody's Heart", "I Got Rhythm", "Beale Street Blues", "My Heart Belongs To Daddy", and "I Wish I Was Back In My Baby's Arms" LP, Vinyl record album