Nicely sharp sounds from the great JJ Johnson – a set that has the trombonist really honing his edge on a host of tight, short tracks – with a vibe that almost recalls his initial bop recordings on Blue Note and Prestige! The style here is a bit more sophisticated – definitely with an ear towards the modern directions that JJ was exploring in the 50s – but the sound is also nicely spontaneous, with more focus on improvisation between group members than larger arrangements – quite nice, given that the group features excellent tenor from Bobby Jaspar on tenor – and either Tommy Flanagan or Hank Jones on piano, Percy Heath or Wilbur Little on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. Tracks are short, and titles include "Overdrive", "Cube Steak", "Chasin The Bird", and "Solar". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the strongest sessions recorded by pianist John Lewis in the 50s – a date that shows depths of his talents that run even greater than his work with the Modern Jazz Quartet, quite possibly because is work on piano is at the forefront of the record throughout! There's a sense of darkness here that really fits the image on the cover – a style that's stated clearly on piano lines that are often as spacious as they are gentle, but which also have a moodier undercurrent below, thanks to Lewis' careful choice of keys and notes. The backing is often quite spare – Lewis sometimes plays just with Connie Kay's drums, or the guitar of either Jim Hall or Barry Galbraith – and at its fullest, the record features 2 trio numbers with the bass of Percy Heath and drums of Connie Kay. Tracks are lyrically and thoughtfully composed – and titles include "Two Lyric Pieces", "Harlequin", "D&E", "Little Girl Blue", and "Warmeland". LP, Vinyl record album

Although bassist Oscar Pettiford left a huge influence on jazz before his untimely death, there's not actually that many fantastic records in which he's featured as a leader. Fortunately, this is one of the few, and it's a sparkling set of modernist inflected bop tunes played by a group that includes Mingus on bass, Phil Urso on tenor, Walter Bishop on piano, and Percy Heath on drums. Pettiford plays cello, and his lead on the instrument gives the record a dark tone that is extremely haunting. Titles include "Low & Behold", "Pendulum", and "Tamalpais". LP, Vinyl record album

Belgian guitarist Rene Thomas was one of the few players to break out of the postwar Paris jazz scene and actually get to record in America – and on this classic set from 1960, he's grooving with a very hip group that includes JR Monterose on tenor, Hod O'Brien on piano, and the rhythm section of Teddy Kotick and Albert Heath. Tracks are all in the 5 minute range – save for one longer reading of Monterose's great "Green Street Scene" – and the material is pretty nice and breezy. Titles include "MTC", "Spontaneous Effort", and "Milestones". CD

Lovely work from pianist Claude Williamson – a player we like so much more in his later years than we did when he first started out in the 50s! Williamson's really got a depth to his keyboard work here – a way of playing a wide range of sounds and colors, yet without ever showing off too much – kind of a simple, unassuming lyricism that's as moving as it is understated – set up with some gentle rhythm accompaniment from Andy Simpkins on bass and Albert Tootie Heath on drums. Titles include "Feelin Fine", "Easy Living", "Alone Together", "Work Song", and "Song For My Father". CD

Heady sounds from a variety of different scenes – served up here in a compilation that was one of the first to turn western ears onto the sounds of the east! The music is a fuzzy blend of sounds from Southeast Asia, Korea, India, and even Turkey – and the package was one of the first times we'd ever heard some styles that have now become much more common in the psych market – the kind of groundbreaking overseas moments that we love on labels like Guerssen/Pharaway or Finders Keepers! Titles include "Simla Beat Theme" by The Fentones, "Gonul Sabreyle Sabreyle" by 3 Hur El, "26 Miles" by The Quest, "Korean Titel A2" by Jung Hyun & The Men, "Istemem" by Erkin Koray, "Magic Colors" by Teddy Robin & The Playboys, "A2" by Cambodian Rocks, "Blind Bird" by The Mpos, and "You Know What I Mean" by Justin Heathcliff. LP, Vinyl record album

A great entry in this series that not only always delivers the goods, but does so at a price that's a hell of a great bargain for all the excellent music involved! Expansion Records brings together a handful of titles from their own releases in recent years, plus other neo soul gems from the global underground – both American and British artists, some better-known names, some great up-and-comers waiting to be discovered – all of which makes for a package that packs plenty of punch! Most tracks appear here on CD for the first time ever – and the 3CD set features 35 titles that include "I'd Rather Be In Love With You (the sax way)" by Sheree Brown, "Intoxicated Love" by Castella, "If You Wanna Know What's Missing" by Julian Jonah with Dutch Robinson, "Think About" by Sugar & Heath, "Soul N'Samba" by Tyrone Lee, "Baby Let's Go (soul mix)" by Narada Michael Walden, "Step With Me" by Victor Haynes, "I Love Me Too" by Carol Riddick, "Do You Remember" by Steven Thad, "I Found Love" by Rose Spearman & Soul City Connection, "Harvest For The World" by Patrice Isley, "Keep On Giving (rmx)" by Shaila Prospere, "Smooth" by Con Funk Shun, "Elementary" by Robert Imtume Owens, "Sometimes" by Brian Power with Cornell CC Carter, "Right The Wrong" by Natasha Watts, and "Could It Really Be" by Mike Lindup with Tony Momrelle. CD

Early genius from Kurt Elling – one of Blue Note's best vocal signings of the 90s, and a richly talented singer who's still not well understood by many audiences! The set's got Kurt doing a bit of everything he does great – completely transforming old standards like "Nature Boy" and "April In Paris"; coming up with new lyrics for harder jazz numbers, like Jimmy Heath's "Gingerbread Boy" or Donald Byrd's "Tanya Jean"; and working through compelling original material that includes "It's Just A Thing", "Endless", and "The Messenger". CD

An album that definitely lives up to its title – given the great change and evolution in the style of Cannonball Adderley's music – definitely pointed towards the soul jazz fame to come in the 60s! The group here has Adderley's alto in the company of some all-stars who may not be his regular group, but who definitely help keep the whole thing at a top-shelf level throughout – a quintet that features Milt Jackson on vibes, Wynton Kelly on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Art Blakey on drums. There's still a few echoes of Cannon's earlier bop recordings, but the sound is also moving towards the new modes to come – especially on the classic title cut "Things Are Getting Better". Other cuts include "Just One Of Those Things", "Sounds For Sid", "Groovin High", "Serves Me Right", and "Blues Oriental". Also includes 2 bonus tracks. CD

One of the best non-Blue Note albums from the early years of trombone giant Curtis Fuller – a definite cooker that more than lives up to its title! At his best, Fully often played his instrument with a style that was more like a trumpet than trombone – isolated notes, sharp sense of rhythm, and an ability to match energy of all his top-shelf contemporaries – which is a key thing here, as the lineup includes Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Jimmy Heath on tenor, and Cedar Walton on drums – almost like a Jazz Messengers album from the time that Fuller was in the group, but without Art Blakey. The whole album's wonderful – and titles include "The Clan", "Newdles", and "Ladies Night" – plus a hard hitting rendition of "Dear Old Stockholm" which runs for 9 minutes. LP, Vinyl record album

A standout 70s set from Dexter Gordon – one that's a bit tighter than some of his longer-blown dates from overseas – and which almost sparkles with the same power as his 60s albums on Blue Note! The group here is nice and tight – with Kenny Drew on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Albert Heath on drums – all grooving in a style that's sharply focused, and which really sets the stage for Dex's wonderful tone on the solos. Pedersen's bass is great too – sometimes stepping out with a presence not usually heard on a set like this – and titles include the Gordon originals "The Apartment", "Antabus", and "Candlelight Lady" – plus "Wee Dot" and "Old Folks". CD also features the bonus track "Stablemates" – from the same session, but previously unissued. CD

Dexter Gordon in Tokyo, but working strongly with a lineup that helped him make some of his best 70s recordings in Europe – that wonderful quartet with Kenny Drew on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Albert Tootie Heath on drums! The format is familiar, and Dex is right on the money – spinning out those wonderfully strong, richly imaginative solos that make his Copenhagen material so strong over the years – that special Gordon way of taking a familiar tune, and opening it up completely in the space of his extended solo! Titles include Gordon's classic "Fried Bananas" – plus "Misty", "Days Of Wine & Roses", and "Jelly Jelly Jelly". CD features two bonus tracks – "Rhythm A Ning", recorded with the same group, but with Espen Rud on drums in 1973 – and "Old Folks", recorded with an unusual quartet that features Ronnie Mathews on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums. CD

Tight early work from Lee Konitz – recorded on location at the very hospitable Storyville nightclub in Boston – a sweet setting for his angular tones on the alto! The style here is great – cutting lines that are incredibly precise, yet crafted with enough soul to keep them from just being exercises in sound – delivered with a bit more warmth than some of Lee's other recordings of the time. The group's a quartet with Ronnie Ball on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Al Levitt on drums – and titles include "Sound Lee", "Subconscious Lee", "Hi Beck", and "These Foolish Things". Great reissue of the original 10" LP! CD

Maybe the best place to start if you're looking to dive into the short but incredible legacy of music left behind by Bob Marley – as the album marked a real global turning point for the singer, and includes a number of tracks that are still his standout classics after all these years! The set was recorded in London, but with a nicely understated sound – just the right focus on all the best elements of the Wailers sound – in a way that creates a magical flow throughout. And sure, some of the cuts here are some of Bob's biggest hits ever – but heard in the context of the core album, they've got a lot more righteous power than when they're cribbed for a commercial or a TV soundtrack. Titles include "Natural Mystic", "Three Little Birds", "One Love/People Get Ready", "Exodus", "So Much Things To Say", "Guiltiness", "The Heathen", "Jamming", "Waiting In Vain", and "Turn Your Lights Down Low". CD

A classic double live album from Bob Marley & The Wailers – presented and packaged at a level that's really a cut above the usual set of that nature from the time! The group's in excellent form in a concert setting – and there's more than enough magic here to warrant the extended length of the set – as Marley and the group really open up on some classics, as well as some other gems that maybe even sparkle more on this album. Titles include "Exodus", "Stir It Up", "Rat Race", "Concrete Jungle", "Lively Up Yourself", "Is This Love", "Punky Reggae Party", "Heathen", "Jamming", and "Kinky Reggae". LP, Vinyl record album

A mindblowing album from James Moody – of the sort that opens up a whole new facet of his career! The record takes off from Moody's early 60s work for Chess – his post-bop recordings that started displaying a deeper side of his musical consciousness – and which occasionally featured work by composer/arranger Tom McIntosh. McIntosh's presence is felt very strongly here – as he produced the whole session, and contributed a few tracks – working in the Nola Penthouse studios at a level of hipness we never would have expected! Moody plays tenor, alto, and flute – working with a really great group that includes Patti brown on piano, Albert Heath on drums, Reggie Workman on bass, and Thad Jones on trumpet – and the scope of the work is far beyond anything you'd expect! The record's got a stunning early funk track by Edward Bland – "If You Grin You're In", which features a tripped-out organ line mostly just holding one note – while drums pound hard, and Moody blows it over the top – all set to this flattened production that makes the whole thing sound really eerie! Other great tracks include the loping groover "Capers", the wonderfully moody flute number "Wayward Plaint" (written by Dennis Sandole, of the oft-overlooked Sandole Brothers), and the tracks "Em Prean Shore" and "Buster's Last Stand". Tremendous throughout – and completely essential, whether you already like Moody or not! LP, Vinyl record album

Part 3 of a series of double LPs issued by Verve in the late 70s compiling his classic recordings for Verve under the direction of Norman Granz. Loads of landmark bop performances are documented here, and the groups include smaller quintets and quartets, as well as some medium sized groups and big band recordings, with sidemen that include Max Roach, Percy Heath, Teddy Kotick, Walter Bishop and others. 30 tracks in all, including "Autumn In New York", "Stella By Starlight", "Begin The Beguine", "Night & Day", "I Can't Get Started", "Old Folks", "I Remember You", "Now's The Time", "I Get A Kick Out Of You", "Love For Sale" and "I Love Paris". LP, Vinyl record album

With John Coltrane, Bobby Jaspar, Paul Quinichette, Booker Ervin, Gene Ammons, Jackie McLean, Eric Dolphy, Cecil Payne, Pepper Adams, Steve Lacy, Idrees Sulieman, Johnny Splawn, Webster Young, Kenny Burrell, Joe Puma, Teddy Charles, Paul Chambers, Julian Euell, Earl May, Addison Farmer, Buell Neidlinger, Joe Benjamin, Wendell Marshall, Ron Carter, Art Taylor, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Ed Thigpen, Jerry Segal, Kenny Dennis, Elvin Jones, and Charlie Persip. CD

A righteous rockers classic from Delroy Williams – a set that's very personal, and very down to earth – and quite a strong antidote to some of the more commercial reggae material that was making the scene at the time! The record almost echoes some of the deepest soul currents of the rocksteady years, but with all the message-oriented music that the 70s brought forth – and handled with a lean production style by Agustus Pablo, who also adds in some of his own organ and melodica work too! Titles include "I Stand Black", "Little Less Talking", "Breaking My Heart", "Mountain Top", "Heathen Valley", "Learn", "Foxe's Hole", "Idren's Feel Nice", and "Crucial". LP, Vinyl record album

An album that definitely lives up to its title – given the great change and evolution in the style of Cannonball Adderley's music – definitely pointed towards the soul jazz fame to come in the 60s! The group here has Adderley's alto in the company of some all-stars who may not be his regular group, but who definitely help keep the whole thing at a top-shelf level throughout – a quintet that features Milt Jackson on vibes, Wynton Kelly on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Art Blakey on drums. There's still a few echoes of Cannon's earlier bop recordings, but the sound is also moving towards the new modes to come – especially on the classic title cut "Things Are Getting Better". Other cuts include "Just One Of Those Things", "Sounds For Sid", "Groovin High", "Serves Me Right", and "Blues Oriental". CD includes two alternate takes. CD

When it comes to soul jazz, you can't get any more classic than this! The title was one of the biggest jazz hits of the 60s – covered by countless other artists, but presented here in all its original brilliance in a group led by its composer, a young Nat Adderley! At the time of the record, Nat was making plenty big waves in the combo of brother Cannonball – but this set has him stepping out strongly as a leader – borrowing Bobby Timmons, Sam Jones, and Louis Hayes from Cannon's group – and also adding in Wes Montgomery on guitar and additional bass and cello work from Keeter Betts and Percy Heath. The tracks are all tight as a drum – and the record features seminal versions of "Work Song" and "Sack O Woe" – as well as the numbers "Scrambled Eggs", "Pretty Memory", and "Fallout" – all great! CD

A compelling album of twin-piano lines – one in which Bill Evans and Bob Brookmeyer play head-to-head, in a spiraling modernist style that brings out the best in each player! Although Brookmeyer's best known as a trombonist, he's pretty great here on piano – and the album's a real treasure from his legendary late 50s years – a time when Bob was really opening up tremendously in his music! The album separates out the players via stereo – with Bill Evans in the right channel and Brookmeyer in the left – and the format usually has one player in a rhythm groove while the other solos over the top. The bass of Percy Heath and drums of Connie Kay complete the group – and titles include longish versions of "As Time Goes By", "I Got Rhythm", "The Man I Love", and "The Way You Look Tonight". CD

Classic Miles Davis from that pivotal year of 1954 – featuring work from 2 different sessions, both of them great! The title track on the album is a key reading of "Bag's Groove", presented here in two versions, both recorded by a quintet that includes Milt "Bags" Jackson on vibes, Thelonious Monk on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums – carving out the tune in a nicely modern idiom. The rest of the set features work by Miles in a quintet with Sonny Rollins and Horace Silver – again with support from Heath and Clarke – on tunes that include 2 versions of "But Not For Me", plus early recordings of Sonny Rollins' standards "Oleo", "Airegin", and "Doxy". CD

A beautiful album of understated brilliance – one of Art Farmer's early shifts into the sublime, and an easily-blown batch of trumpet tracks that always takes our breath away! There's a sense of relaxed freedom here that's really tremendous – a difference from some of Farmer's more arranged, or more hard-blown moments of the 50s – and a real move into notes that are airier and more open – almost effortless at times, and played like nobody else! The group's a quartet – with Tommy Flanagan on piano, Tommy Williams on bass, and Albert Heath on drums – and the tracks are all in the four to five minute range, with Art crafting lyrically soulful lines over the top. Titles include "Who Cares", "Out Of The Past", "Younger Than Springtime", "That Ole Devil Called Love", and "Goodbye Old Girl". LP, Vinyl record album

Really great work from Art Farmer – one of a handful of records from the mid 60s that have the trumpeter picking up a slightly sharper edge than before – a nice contrast to some of his more spacious albums on labels like Argo or Atlantic! The vibe here is almost a small group take on the Jazztet sound that Art created with Benny Golson – but a bit more organic overall, thanks to a tight rhythm trio that features Cedar Walton on piano, Walter Booker on bass, and Jimmy Roker on drums – who almost give the record a Prestige Records sort of vibe. The great Jimmy Heath plays sublime tenor in the lead – and turns out to be a perfect partner for Art, helping hit a different sound than his material with Golson – and although the tunes are mostly the jazz hits promised in the title, they get some really fresh readings here – as the pair make magic on tunes that include "Take Five", "I Remember Clifford", "Watermelon Man", "Song For My Father", "Sidewinder", "Moanin", and "Gemini". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Art Farmer's hippest albums of the 70s – thanks to some incredible work from the rhythm section! The tracks here are all quite skittish and grooving – not really funky, but flowing with a wonderful sort of energy – and bouncing along on the bottom with more drive than you might expect from Farmer! Art's working here with a group that features Jimmy Heath in the lead on tenor, soprano sax, and flute – but the real stars of the set are almost the core trio of Cedar Walton on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – who are augmented by Mtume and Warren Smith on percussion, both of whom give the record it's amazing sound. Even familiar numbers sound nicely fresh, and Heath himself is at one of his hippest points here – really opening up with lines that we would have never expected a decade before. Titles include include "Cascavelo", "Blue Bossa", "Some Other Time", and "Homecoming". LP, Vinyl record album

A great CD that combines most of the material on Art's two albums for Argo – Art (1960) and Perception (1961). Art is a beautiful album of understated brilliance – one of Farmer's early shifts into the sublime, an easily blown batch of trumpet tracks played with trio backing by Tommy Flanagan, Tommy Williams, and Albert Heath. The tracks are all in the four to five minute range, with Art crafting lyrically soulful lines over the top. Titles include "Who Cares", "Out Of The Past", "Younger Than Springtime", "That Ole Devil Called Love", and "Goodbye Old Girl". Perception is similar, an amazingly beautiful set of tracks from Art – playing with superb accompaniment from a young Harold Mabern, in a laidback quartet format that really lets Art open up! Art's playing is fresh and creative throughout – never over the top, with that subtle genius that he was bringing to his work in the 60s – and the choice of material includes Tom McIntosh's great composition "The Day After", plus Art's "Punsu" and "Kayin". One track from each album has been omitted to fit the material on one CD (which is BS, by the way, as the CD is only 64 minutes long!) – but if you can stand having the incomplete versions of the albums, this is a great deal for some rare material! CD

Johnny Griffin on tenor saxophone, Kenny Drew on piano, Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Albert "Tootie" Heath on drums. CD

An astounding live set from Johnny Griffin – recorded at the famous Club Montmartre in Copenhagen, Dexter Gordon's famous home in the late 60s – but a place that was also a showcase for the new sort of energy that Griffin was bringing to his horn at the time! The record crackles with the kind of free energy of the best Montmartre sessions – long tracks and compelling solos, stretched-out versions of tunes you may recognize, but which are transformed nicely by Griff's great solo work – and by a rhythm section that features Kenny Drew on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Albert Heath on drums! Titles include "The Man I Love", "Blues For Harvey", "Sophisticated Lady", "Hush A Bye", and "Wee". CD

An insanely overstuffed collection of work by pianist Elmo Hope in a trio format – one that features tunes from 9 different albums, issued on a variety of different labels, all brought together in a single set! Hope in a trio format really takes off from the usual – displaying talents on the keys that rival contemporary modernists like Thelonious Monk, Randy Weston, or Herbie Nichols – presented with a sound that has plenty of sharp edges and odd turns, but also some bluesier undercurrents as well. The material was recorded both in LA and New York – documenting both sides of Hope's continental sojourn in jazz – and bassists here include Percy Heath, John Ore, Curtis Counce, Jimmy Bond, Paul Chambers, and Ronnie Boykins; alongside drummers who include Willie Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Frank Butler, and Clifford Jarvis. 4CD set features 62 tracks in all – with material from the albums New Faces New Sounds, Meditations, Elmo Hope Trio, Homecoming, Sounds From Rikers Island, Here's Hope, High Hope, and The Final Sessions. CD

A wonderful pairing of these two modern boppers from the 50s – heard here on a set of rare Parisian recordings originally issued under the leadership of Henri Renaud! There's a really wonderful feel to the record – the sharp edges of Cohn and Renaud's original compositions, played with a great degree of soul by the soloists. Renaud plays piano on all tracks – and the first batch feature both Johnson's trombone and Cohn's tenor, alongside Gigi Gryce on baritone and Jerry Hurwitz on trumpet – on titles that include "Wallington Special", "Lisa", "Boo Wah", and "Something For Lili". Two more tracks – "Once In A While" and "The Things We Did Last Summer" – feature Cohn in a quartet with Renaud. And one more title – "If I Had You" – is presented in a ten minute long take, played by a group that features Johnson and Cohn with Renaud, plus Milt Jackson on vibes and Percy Heath on bass. CD

A real lost gem from the mid 70s – and one of the few albums ever recorded by the Harold Land/Blue Mitchell lineup! The group's got a warm fire that follows nicely off of Land's work with Bobby Hutcherson in the early 70s – but which also benefits from Mitchell's strongly flowing trumpet lines in the lead – and in a way, the set's almost got the feel of some of Mitchell's strong mid 60s sessions on Blue Note – soul jazz, but inflected with a lyrical sense of freedom that really leaps out on the solos. Other members of the group include Reggie Johnson on bass, Kirk Lightsey on piano, and Albert Heath on drums – and titles include "Mapenzi", "Blue Silver", "Everything's Changed" and "Inner Voice". CD

Maybe the best place to start if you're looking to dive into the short but incredible legacy of music left behind by Bob Marley – as the album marked a real global turning point for the singer, and includes a number of tracks that are still his standout classics after all these years! The set was recorded in London, but with a nicely understated sound – just the right focus on all the best elements of the Wailers sound – in a way that creates a magical flow throughout. And sure, some of the cuts here are some of Bob's biggest hits ever – but heard in the context of the core album, they've got a lot more righteous power than when they're cribbed for a commercial or a TV soundtrack. Titles include "Natural Mystic", "Three Little Birds", "One Love/People Get Ready", "Exodus", "So Much Things To Say", "Guiltiness", "The Heathen", "Jamming", "Waiting In Vain", and "Turn Your Lights Down Low". This version also includes 5 bonus tracks on CD 1 – versions and b-sides of numbers from the LP. The second disc has 5 previously unreleased live songs,including "Crazy Baldhead", "Jamming" and a burning 11 minute version of "Exodus", plus 5 songs recorded with Lee Perry in Jamaica around the time the LP was released, including "Keep On Moving" & "Punky Reggae Party". CD

Although bassist Oscar Pettiford left a huge influence on jazz before his untimely death, there's not actually that many fantastic records in which he's featured as a leader. Fortunately, this is one of the few, and it's a sparkling set of modernist inflected bop tunes played by a group that includes Mingus on bass, Phil Urso on tenor, Walter Bishop on piano, and Percy Heath on drums. Pettiford plays cello, and his lead on the instrument gives the record a dark tone that is extremely haunting. Titles include "Low & Behold", "Pendulum", and "Tamalpais". Plus, this reissue LP also includes 2 tracks from rare Swedish sessions – "Fru Bruel" and "I Succumb To Temptation" – both great, and both rare! LP, Vinyl record album

Great early stuff from Paul Winter – a player who's certainly done some terrible stuff over the years, but who really sounded great in his younger days! Winter was a hip young player coming out of Northwestern U in Chicago, and he had a well-educated, slightly-modern approach to jazz that was still supported by a lot of straight soulful playing. Here, Winter's working with a great group – his sextet that included Jay Cameron on baritone, Dick Whitsell on trumpet, Chuck Israels on bass, and Ben Riley on drums. The set list includes some very hip numbers like "The Sherrif" by Gil Melle, "All Members" by Jimmy Heath, and "With Malice Towards None", "Cupbearers", and "Ally" written by Tom McIntosh. LP, Vinyl record album

Don't like getting your fingers dusty? No problem, the folks at Strictly Breaks work hard so you don't have to! The next installment in their now famous "as sampled by . . ." series, this compilation of 31 tracks and 3 drum breaks covers a gang of material used by Nas (well, his producers actually). Loads of classic soul, jazz and funk, and each track is notated as to which song it was used in. Includes Gong "Babooji", Chris Barber "Petit Fleur", Vicki Anderson "Land Of Milk & Honey", Ahmad Jamal "I Love Music", Joe Chambers "Mind Rain", Heath Brothers "Smilin Billy Suite Pt 2", Eddie Floyd "Check Me Out", 24 Carat Black "Mommas Coming", Japanese Hair "Dead End", Love Unlimited "I'll Move You No Mountain", Blue Jays "What Do You Want", Bob James "The Sponge" and The Soul Children "Move Over". LP, Vinyl record album

A treasure trove of rare gospel recordings from the Chicago scene of the 70s – all served up on a family of labels that were tied together in the same way as some of the indie soul and funk labels of the time! Producer Harold Freeman recorded most of this music, at a time between big opportunities for gospel acts on larger labels – and the work includes some much bigger names who'd later go onto great fame, and some key Chicago artists who might never have gotten exposure otherwise – represented here with recordings that appeared on the Righteous, Peace, and Michael record labels. The 2CD set is a fantastic look into this small local scene – presented with very detailed notes on Freeman and his recordings – in support of a batch of 46 tracks that includes work by the Gospel Sensationals, Inspirational Singers, Rev Maceo Woods, James E Lenox, Brother Ed Smith, Wings Of Heaven Choir, Sammie Cheatham, Voices Of Cosmopolitan, Reba Harris, Pearl McGhee, Windy City Four, and many others! CD

Conducted by Jon Faddis – with Antonio Hart, Frank Wess, Gary Smulyan, Renee Rosnes, Jimmy Heath, James Moody, Slide Hampton, Claudio Roditi, Terell Stafford, and others. CD

Bold, beautiful piano work from the mighty Tete Montoliu – working here at the height of his powers, in a killer trio with Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass and Albert Tootie Heath on drums! The record soars right from the start – thanks to a sublime reading of "Giant Steps" that brings in all the sheets of sound that Coltrane intended for the tune, but also a freewheeling, highly punctuated groove that really sets fire to the piano! Other tunes are equally important jazz standards – like "Body & Soul", "Solar", and "Hot House" – all handled with Tete's amazing approach to the keys. CD

Light, lively piano work from Claude Williamson – a set that almost takes us back to his famous dates of the 50s, but one that's also got some great mature depth as well! This second layer of Williamson's expression really comes through nicely on the ballads – which have a slow-burning warmth we really like – a sound that's also augmented greatly by the basslines of Andy Simpkins, who has a great depth of feeling in a setting like this. The more upbeat numbers have more of the Williamson of earlier years, and a bit more work on drums from Albert Tootie Heath as well. Titles include "Pretendo", "Corcovado", "Star Crossed Lovers", "South Of The Border", and "Robbin's Nest". CD

Weird work from the Wicker Man generation – that moment in British music where it often seemed like the spookiest sounds could come from the past – as you'll hear here in a huge batch of music from the acid folk revival years! Instrumentation on these tracks is mostly acoustic, but basslines and guitar parts can sometimes be electric – and both arrangements and production amplify some of the elements of the tunes in ways that really bring out eerie currents, even when the lyrics might seem more innocent! There's lots of music here we'd never heard before, mixed with surprising contributions from bigger names, all wrapped together with the genius ear for song selection that always makes these collections from the Grapefruit label so great. The 3CD set features 60 tracks in all, complete with a big booklet of notes on the artists – a great lineup that features cuts by Magnet, Third Ear Band, Parameter, Carolanne Pegg, Dry Heart, Amber, The Young Tradition, Kevin Coyne, Gallery, Lal Waterson, The Sallyangie, Horden Raikes, Chimera, Comus, JP Sunshine, Oberon, Simon Finn, Jan Dukes De Graye, Shirley Kent, Spriguns Of Tolgus, Sweeny's Men, Green Man, Parke, Archie Fisher, Pentangle, Stone Angel, Celebrated Ratliffe Stout Band, Folkal Point, Mr Fox, Heather Adrian & John, Marc Bolan, and many more. CD

That's "Heath", not "health" – as you might think the title's misspelled – as in Jimmy Heath, who arranged most of the numbers on the set! Heath's contribution is a good one too – as it helps Baker create one of his most tightly-wrapped albums of the time, a well-blown session recorded here with a group that includes Art Pepper on alto, Phil Urso on tenor, Carl Perkins on piano, and Lawrence Marable on drums. The presence of Urso is especially appreciated – as his sharper, deeper tone really brings a wider sound to the album than some of Chet's other dates of the time – especially when combined with the excellent sound of Pepper! Titles include "CTA", "For Minors Only", "For Miles & Miles", and "Resonant Emotions". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic entry in the late-life partnership that reedman Peter Brotzmann has formed with steel guitar player Heather Leigh – the kind of instrumentalist that Brotzmann never would have played with back in the day – but who seems to really open him up with an unheard range of color and tone! At times, Peter is maybe even more soulful than usual – blowing almost straight, to match the more colorful modes of the steel – which itself can be more abstract from a sonic perspective – creating a shift in the expected sensibilities you might have with a record from Brotzmann. Leigh really uses her instrument in wonderful ways – and Brotzmann blows a variety of clarinets, plus alto, tenor, and bass saxophone – on titles that include "It's Almost Dark", "This Word Love", "Summer Rain", "All Of Us", "River Of Sorrow", "My Empty Heart", and "The Longer We're Apart". CD

The title's a bit obtuse, but the music is warm and soulful throughout – a really tremendous session that carries on the strong legacy of solo work that Jimmy Heath was doing in the 70s! The feel here is a lot like some of Heath's dates for the Muse or Xanadu labels – and Jimmy's working here with a great rhythm section that includes Larry Willis on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Akira Tana on drums – players who provide a very soulful grounding for the set. Heath blows alto, tenor, and soprano sax – and remaining players include Tom Williams on trumpet and Tony Purrone on guitar. The groove is in a classic Prestige/Riverside mode – not hard hardbop, but soulful, with touches of post-Coltrane blowing, and the mix of lyricism and soul jazz that Heath's always brought to his best work. Titles include "Trane Connections", "Forever Sonny", "You Can See", "I Waited For You", and "Song For Ben Webster". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic session by Jimmy Heath – cut right at the time of his best 70s soul jazz work! This obscure set was recorded in New York in 1974, but not issued in this form until the mid 90s – and it features Heath with a stellar group that includes Curtis Fuller, Stanley Cowell, Mtume, Billy Higgins, and Pat Martino. The overall sound is modal soul jazz – in the style of the best work on Strata East, with a far-reaching spiritual approach that never goes too far outside, but which is ready to explore the farther aspects of jazz-based expression. Heath is incredible – leading the group on alto and soprano, blowing post-Coltrane lines that are supported by fantastic rhythm work by Cowell, Sam Jones, and Billy Higgins. Tracks include "The 13th House", "Time & The Place", "The Voice Of The Saxophone", and "No End". CD

A stunning side project from Albert Toodie Heath of the Heath Brothers – a musician who was sometimes a bit staid in the past, but who was really feeling the vibe of the spiritual scene in the post-Coltrane years! The set resonates with a vibe that's very similar to the rare Heath Brother's album on Strata East, Marchin On – and the lineup here is incredible, with reeds from Jimmy Heath, trumpet from Don Cherry, piano from Herbie Hancock, bass from Buster Williams, percussion from Mtume, and drums from Ed Blackwell – all coming together for a session that's nearly lost to the history books, but which is one of the strongest spiritual jazz sessions of the late 60s! Herbie plays all acoustic piano throughout, and the tracks are long, leaping, and loping – with stretched-out spiritual solos from Jimmy Heath and Don Cherry – and a proud and righteous sound that's extremely free-spirited without going too far out. Titles include "Baraka", "Maulana", "Dunia", and "Kamili". CD

Great work by The Heath Brothers – a lot slicker and smoother than their earlier album for Strata East, but still filled with a soulful jazzy approach that befits their rich talents! By the point of this set, Jimmy Heath, once a rougher talent on the tenor, had emerged as one of the smooth soul maestros on the instrument – ranking next to Grover Washington Jr and Stanley Turrentine for a mellifluous sound and well-timed approach to the solo. Heath's written some great tracks here that are underpinned nicely by brother Percy's strong work on bass – still acoustic amidst some added electric instrumentation on some of the tracks. Titles include "Passion Flower", "Move to The Groove", "Feelin Dealin", "Project S", "The Voice Of The American Saxophone (from Afro American Suite of Evolution)", and "A Time & A Place (There's)". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic meeting of east and west coast artists of the third stream jazz sphere of the late 50s – one that features the team of John Lewis and Percy Heath of the Modern Jazz Quartet working alongside the west coast tenor of Bill Perkins, plus the guitar of Jim Hall and drums of Chico Hamilton! The whole album's got quite a unique feel – one that's as airy as that of the MJQ work of the time, but not nearly as academic or sleepy – thanks to a nice biting tone from Perkins' tenor, which really seems to stretch out in the space provided by Lewis. There's almost a similarly sublime quality here as on Lewis' album with Sacha Distel – Afternoon In Paris – which featured a similar use of space for great tenor sound (in that case, the tenor of Barney Wilen.) Titles include "2 Degrees East 3 Degrees West", "Easy Living", "Skylark", and "I Can't Get Started". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic early John Coltrane for Prestige – less a bold statement as a leader than a strong batch of blowing session-styled tracks that show how well Coltrane could hold his own with more established players! The groups on the set vary from track to track – and feature players that include Sahib Shihab, Mal Waldron, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Al Heath – plus underappreciated Philly trumpeter Johnnie Splawn. Trane's in great form here – even though the overall set's a bit less structured than some of his later albums – and his tone and solo approach are already stepping out from the rest of the pack with great vigor! Titles include "Bakai", "Time Was", "Straight Street", and "Chronic Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

One of those records that really takes you by surprise – a set that doesn't look like much on the front, but which opens up immediately the minute you drop it on the turntable – with a sense of soul and swing that really hold on throughout! The group's a great one – a quintet with Jimmy Heath on tenor, Slide Hampton on trombone, Kenny Barron on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – all seasoned players working together here on a set of Tadd Dameron tunes, but inflected with a nice early 80s sense of soul – almost a more relaxed Muse Records vibe that really makes the album way more than just another reading of Dameron's classics. Titles include "Lady Bird", "Squirrel", "The Scene Is Clean", "Sid's Delight", and "Nearness". LP, Vinyl record album

A bold, bracing ensemble of improvising musicians from both sides of the Atlantic – and one that features some surprising electric elements too! The lineup includes trumpet from Nate Wooley, alto from Mette Rasmussen, and reeds from Ken Vandermark – balanced with core sounds from Elisabeth Harnik on piano, Steve Heather and Did Kern on drums, Joe Williamson on acoustic and electric bass, Jasper Stadhouders on electric bass and guitar, Terrie Hessels on guitar, and Dieb 13 on turntables and electronics – coming together in this great mix of sonic elements that's really fantastic throughout! The three long tracks were recorded live in performance – and have the Ken Vandermark standard of being dedicated to creative inspirations – Ikue Mori, Richard Serra, and Francis Picabia. Titles include "Telegram", "Foundry", and "Perpetual Desk". CD

Lionel Hampton on vibraphone, Pepper Adams on baritone saxophone, Cat Anderson on trumpet and flugelhorn, Eddie Bert on trombone, Ray Bryant on piano, Doc Cheatham on trumpet, Arnett Cobb on tenor saxophone, Panama Francis on drums, John Gordon on trumpet, Chubby Jackson on bass, Charles McPherson on alto saxophone, Billy Mackel on guitar, Jimmy Mackel on trumpet and flugelhorn, Paul Moen on tenor saxophone, Joe Newman on trumpet and flugelhorn, Benny Powell on trombone, Earle Warren on clarinet, flute and alto saxophone, Bob Wilber on clarinet, and Teddy Wilson on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

Hardly any ragtime here – despite the title – and instead, the album's one of the greatest ever from drummer Beaver Harris – cut with his ultra-hip 360 Degree Music Experience group! The title is somewhat accurate in that the record brings together a long history of jazz-based expression – almost a century's worth of music, served up by Harris and the group members with the same fluid sensibility as Jaki Byard in his best work, although Byard was never this ambitious! The ensemble is somewhat large, but really comes together well – with an impressive range of artists who include Doc Cheatham on trumpet, Marshall Brown on trombone, Dave Burrell on piano, Keith Marks on flute, Cecil McBee and Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Maxine Sullivan and Bill Willingham on vocals. The album's sort of a mini-history of jazz, but one that's hardly hokey at all – and which usually veers towards Harris' more righteous modes of the 70s, even when hitting older styles. Sullivan is especially great – singing here as a sophisticated soul jazz diva of the 70s, and hardly the older-styled singer we might expect. A few moments are stripped down and percussive – and other odd instrumentation includes a bit of sitar and steel drums. Titles include "It's Hard To But We Do", "I Wish I Knew", "Can There Be Peace?", "Down In Brazil", "African Drums", and "Round Trip". LP, Vinyl record album

Pivotal work from trumpeter Freddie Hubbard – eleven full albums recorded by the young jazzman as a leader, together showing a really incredible scope of his talents in just a few short years in the studio! The Blue Note albums here already show an incredible evolution – from initial hardbop crackle at the best level of the label, to a slight shift into new thing territory that marks a more experimental side of Freddie's work that would take off later in the 60s. There's also two Impulse Records releases in the package – the completely sublime sextet outing of The Artistry Of Freddie Hubbard – a great date with Curtis Fuller on trombone, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and John Gilmore on tenor – making a rare appearance in the studio away from the Sun Ra Arkestra! The other Impulse album is titled Body & Soul – and has Hubbard amidst a larger group of modernists on most tracks, with these incredible Wayne Shorter arrangements – then in a small group with shorter on tenor and Eric Dolphy on alto and flute. Blue Note albums include Breaking Point, Blue Spirits, Open Sesame, Going Up, Hub Cap, Ready For Freddie, Hub Tones, and Here To Stay – with players who include Tina Brooks, Jimmy Heath, and Wayne Shorter on tenors; McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, and Herbie Hancock on pianos; Paul Chambers, Sam Jones, and Reggie Workman on basses; and James Spaulding making a key early appearance on alto and flute. 70 long tracks in all – and a very detailed booklet of notes with rare photos! CD

A set that shows that none of the group's imagination or talent had dimmed over the years – and the core quartet of John Lewis on piano, Milt Jackson on vibes, Percy Heath on bass, and Connie Kay on drums are joined by The New York Chamber Symphony, who are a small string-based group who slide in and out of the jazz-based grooves with an inventive range of colors and sounds! The album's hardly a "jazz with strings" sort of date – and instead, the strings are nicely integrated with a fluidly creative approach – in the mode of some of the more experimental string quartets that were showing up at the time. Titles include "Kansas City Breaks", "Three Windows", "Encounter In Cagnes", and the "Day In Dubrovnik" suite. CD

The third volume in Strata East's Dolphy Series, and a hard to find recording by the great baritone saxophonist Cecil Payne! Although Payne had his roots in earlier bop material, by the time of this recording, he'd emerged as an outspoken modernist – although few labels would give him the chance to prove himself in this respect – save for the legendary Strata East imprint, which gives Payne this chance to show a whole new side of his talents! The group is a perfect one to bridge the generations – with Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Wilbur Ware on bass, Wynton Kelly on piano, and Albert Heath on drums – stretching out beautifully in a set of original compositions that are easily some of Payne's best work on record ever. Tracks include "Follow Me", "Flying Fish", "Slide Hampton", and "Girl You Got a Home". LP, Vinyl record album

Early Rollins work for Prestige – recorded between 1951 and 1954, in a variety of settings! Like a lot of the other Milestone 2LP sets issued in the 70s, this album collects tracks from a number of sessions, restoring recordings to the order they were recorded in rather than how they were originally issued, which in this case was mostly as 10" LPs, under a variety of titles including Mambo Jazz, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rollins With The Modern Jazz Quartet and others. As such the set features five lineups, all smaller groups, mostly quartets and sidemen include Miles Davis, Roy Haynes, Elmo Hope, Kenny Dorham, Thelonius Monk, Kenny Drew, Percy Heath, and Art Blakey. Since most of this was originally issued on 10"s, the tunes are shorter than you might be used to hearing Rollins' LPs, but there's still plenty of power and imagination in the grooves – very economical solos, crafted with a great deal of imagination. 20 tracks in all, with including "Scoops", "Shadrack", "Mambo Bounce", "The Stopper", "I Know", "Movin' Out", "Solid", "Newk's Fadeaway", "Silk'N'Satin", and "No Moe". LP, Vinyl record album

One of those records that really takes you by surprise – a set that doesn't look like much on the front, but which opens up immediately the minute you drop it on the turntable – with a sense of soul and swing that really hold on throughout! The group's a great one – a quintet with Jimmy Heath on tenor, Slide Hampton on trombone, Kenny Barron on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – all seasoned players working together here on a set of Tadd Dameron tunes, but inflected with a nice early 80s sense of soul – almost a more relaxed Muse Records vibe that really makes the album way more than just another reading of Dameron's classics. Titles include "Lady Bird", "Squirrel", "The Scene Is Clean", "Sid's Delight", and "Nearness". CD

A never-issued live set from spiritual reed genius Yusef Lateef – one that was recorded during the years he was recording for Atlantic Records, but with a nicely different vibe! The tracks are all long, loose, and very open – Yusef blowing tenor, soprano sax, and flute – shifting the moods and tones has he can do so well, with some gentle modal and spiritual currents – qualities that are really emphasized by the piano of Kenny Barron, who's a key member of the group here – and also gets plenty of space to stretch out on solos on the very long tracks. Albert Tootie Heath is in the group on drums – although on one track, he blows Indian flute, in just a duet with bassist Bob Cunningham, who's the fourth member of the group. Barron duets with Yusef on flute on the title "A Flower", and the Cunningham/Heath duet is titled "Lowland Lullaby" – while all others are quartet numbers, and include "The Untitled", "Eboness", "Yusef's Mood", "Inside Atlantis", and "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic meeting of east and west coast artists of the third stream jazz sphere of the late 50s – one that features the team of John Lewis and Percy Heath of the Modern Jazz Quartet working alongside the west coast tenor of Bill Perkins, plus the guitar of Jim Hall and drums of Chico Hamilton! The whole album's got quite a unique feel – one that's as airy as that of the MJQ work of the time, but not nearly as academic or sleepy – thanks to a nice biting tone from Perkins' tenor, which really seems to stretch out in the space provided by Lewis. There's almost a similarly sublime quality here as on Lewis' album with Sacha Distel – Afternoon In Paris – which featured a similar use of space for great tenor sound (in that case, the tenor of Barney Wilen.) Titles include "2 Degrees East 3 Degrees West", "Easy Living", "Skylark", and "I Can't Get Started". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic early John Coltrane for Prestige – less a bold statement as a leader than a strong batch of blowing session-styled tracks that show how well Coltrane could hold his own with more established players! The groups on the set vary from track to track – and feature players that include Sahib Shihab, Mal Waldron, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Al Heath – plus underappreciated Philly trumpeter Johnnie Splawn. Trane's in great form here – even though the overall set's a bit less structured than some of his later albums – and his tone and solo approach are already stepping out from the rest of the pack with great vigor! Titles include "Bakai", "Time Was", "Straight Street", and "Chronic Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A bold, bracing ensemble of improvising musicians from both sides of the Atlantic – and one that features some surprising electric elements too! The lineup includes trumpet from Nate Wooley, alto from Mette Rasmussen, and reeds from Ken Vandermark – balanced with core sounds from Elisabeth Harnik on piano, Steve Heather and Did Kern on drums, Joe Williamson on acoustic and electric bass, Jasper Stadhouders on electric bass and guitar, Terrie Hessels on guitar, and Dieb 13 on turntables and electronics – coming together in this great mix of sonic elements that's really fantastic throughout! The three long tracks were recorded live in performance – and have the Ken Vandermark standard of being dedicated to creative inspirations – Ikue Mori, Richard Serra, and Francis Picabia. Titles include "Telegram", "Foundry", and "Perpetual Desk". CD

A killer set of hardbop tracks that shows what a great tenorist Benny Golson was during the late 50s – paired for the CD version with an obscure French session cut in 1958! The Benny Golson And The Philadelphians session features Benny on tenor with other Philly-mates, like Lee Morgan, Ray Bryant, Percy Heath, and Philly Joe Jones – and the set's got all the tightness of a late 50s Jazz Messengers set. Golson contributed 3 tracks to the set – his classic "Stablemates", plus "Blues On My Mind" and "Thursday's Theme". A nice one that you might overlook, but a great set with a lot of warmth and imagination! The French session has a looser Parisian rhythm section is more than compensated for by the presence of a young firey Bobby Timmons on piano. Titles on that one include Golson's "I Remember Clifford" and "Blues March", plus Ray Bryant's "Calgary", and a version of Timmons' classic "Moanin". CD

A bit of an obscure session, but the first of John Lewis' works for a larger jazz orchestra – recorded with a lineup that includes larger strings and woodwinds next to rhythm backing by Percy Heath and Connie Kay of the MJQ! The tracks are all longer originals arranged by Lewis – except for one track orchestrated by Gunther Schuller – and the album's especially noteworthy for its extensive solo work by British baritone saxophonist Ronnie Ross, a player who's been one of the great under-discovered sides of the European scene of the late 50s and 1960s for years – and who really steps out here in some wonderful moments. The only other major soloist on the set is flute player Gerry Weinkopf – who provides a nice lighter tone next to that of Ross. Titles include "Midsommer", "The Queen's Fancy", "Cortege", "Three Windows", "England's Carol", and "Two Degrees East Three Degrees West". LP, Vinyl record album

Nice stuff from the early days of the MJQ – recorded back when Kenny Clarke was still playing drums with the group, and giving them a bit more of a bottom! One side of the record features material recorded from one of the quartet's first sessions – in late 1952, with the tracks "La Ronde", "Vendome", and "Rose Of The Rio Grande". The rest of the record features material by Jackson's group with Horace Silver on piano, Percy Heath on bass, Kenny Clarke on drums, and the obscure Henry Boozier on trumpet. That material's a bit more bop-oriented, and titles include "Opus De Funk", "Buhania", and "Soma". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album – and one of the best records you'll ever find by Mary Lou Williams! The record's a mixture of jazz and spiritual themes, and it features Mary Lou's piano set in some super-hip jazz arrangements that include players like Grant Green, Budd Johnson, Larry Gales, Melba Liston, Ben Tucker, and Percy Heath. The bass and piano work is amazing, and many tracks have a dark groove that's very subtle, but very compelling. About half the tunes feature hip choral vocalizing – in the mode of some of the Donald Byrd or Max Roach albums from the same time – mostly handled by the group of Howard Roberts. Includes the classic groover "A Grand Nite For Swinging", plus "A Fungus Amongus", "Anima Christi", "Miss DD", "The Devil", "It Ain't Necessarily So", and "My Blue Heaven". Great stuff all around – and even better than we're describing it! This CD issue features the original Mary Records cover art – different than the Saba/MPS or later Smithsonian CD versions. CD

A hardbop classic from Cannonball Adderley – and one of his harder to find albums from the Riverside days! The set has Cannon playing without his usual group, in the context of an all-star batch of players that includes Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb – who he worked with in his time with Miles Davis – plus occasional guest rhythm work by Albert and Percy Heath. The set's strong and straight ahead – a good bridge between Cannon's early Mercury recordings, and his later albums for Riverside and Capitol – tightly crafted solos with a good deal of soul, Adderley holding down all the horn work on the record. Titles include "If This Isn't Love", "Serenata", "Poor Butterfly", "I Remember You", and "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star". CD also features 2 bonus alternate tracks! CD

Classic early John Coltrane for Prestige – less a bold statement as a leader than a strong batch of blowing session-styled tracks that show how well Coltrane could hold his own with more established players! The groups on the set vary from track to track – and feature players that include Sahib Shihab, Mal Waldron, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Al Heath – plus underappreciated Philly trumpeter Johnnie Splawn. Trane's in great form here – even though the overall set's a bit less structured than some of his later albums – and his tone and solo approach are already stepping out from the rest of the pack with great vigor! Titles include "Bakai", "Time Was", "Straight Street", and "Chronic Blues". CD

One of the greatest records ever recorded by pianist Stanley Cowell – a leading light on the legendary Strata East label! The album's one of Cowell's most searching, spiritual sets ever – and one of his few to feature a larger ensemble, working with all the righteous currents of the best Strata East years! The group shifts a bit from track to track, giving things a nice sense of variety – and players include Marion Brown on wooden flute, Jimmy Heath on alto and flute, Nadi Quamar on percussion, and Bill Lee on bass – and the set also features some vocals from Charles Fowlkes and Glenda Barnes. Cowell plays some mbira on the classic "Travelin' Man", a beautifully mellow number done with thumb piano and vocals, almost in a Heath Brothers Strata mode – and other tracks include "Lullabye", "Thank You My People", "Trying To Find A Way", and "The Gehmbhre". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare and long unavailable performance of the Kenny Dorham-Barry Harris Quartet captured in action in NYC in 1964! Dorham's trumpet is full and very strongly in the lead in this set – with Barry Harris's piano work provide a loose swagger underneath – reminding us quite a bit of Bud Powell! Julian Ewell is on bass with Albert "Tootie" Heath at the kit. Titles include "Confirmation", "Ma, He's Makin' Eyes At Me", Monk's "Around Midnight", "The Theme", "Tin Tin Deo" plus the bonus tracks "Scandia Skies", and "Manha De Carnaval" – featuring Dorham's quartet recorded live in Copenhagen in December of '63 with Tete Montoliu on piano, Neils-Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass and Alex Riel on drums. CD

A real standout in the Bill Evans catalog for Riverside – and that's saying a lot, given how important all of his Riverside albums are! The core session's a rare quintet outing for Evans – one that breaks the mode of the usual trio format by adding in Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and Jim Hall on guitar – alongside rhythm players Percy Heath on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums – already a unique enough match for Evans' talents. In a way, the record's one of those sessions that Riverside would sometimes do – pairing a key new voice as a leader with others in an all-star group – but in another way, it's also a return to the sound that first brought Evans' to a wider audience in the 1957 and 1958 years – when he was working in non-trio groups with more famous players – adding his unique piano stylings to their (then) better-known solo modes. The pairing of Evans and Hall has been beautifully documented on other records – and sounds equally great here – but the real treat is Freddie Hubbard's horn, which often lays back on most of the tracks, then bursts in with a brashness that really ignites some of the tunes! He's playing a bit muted here, trying to go for that Miles/Evans combination from the late 50s – but that's plenty ok with us, as we love those records a lot. Titles include "When You Wish Upon A Star", "You & The Night & The Music", "I'll Never Smile again", "You Go To My Head" and the Evans original, "Interplay". This double-length set also expands the original Interplay album with even more material from another group session in 1962 – a set recorded also with Philly Joe Jones on drums and Jim Hall on guitar – plus Ron Carter on bass and Zoot Sims on tenor. Titles include "Time Remembered", "Loose Bloose", "Fun Ride", "There Came You", "Fudgesickle Built For Four", and "My Bells". CD

An extremely soulful session from European trumpeter Dusko Goykovich – recorded in the US with a lineup that can't miss! The core rhythm trio features Tommy Flanagan on piano, Eddie Gomez on bass, and Mickey Roker on drums – and the great Jimmy Heath joins Dusko on the frontline for about half the album, blowing soulfully on tenor with the same kind of creative introspectivity we've come to expect from his own albums! A few tunes feature Goykovich in that bright muted style that he's used a fair bit in recent years, while others have him opening up with a deeper tone. Titles include "Blues Valse", "Teamwork Song", "Inga", "Soul Connection", "Adriatica", and "NYC". CD

A very nice little Milt Jackson album – cut in the mode of some of his excellent soul jazz group sides from the mid 60s. This set pushes Milt past the format of much of his other work – especially that of the MJQ – as it features him in a very soulful sextet, working with Tommy Flanagan on piano, Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Jimmy Heath on tenor, Ron Carter on bass, and Connie Kay on drums. The presence of Dorham and Heath give the album a light lyrical swing that really opens things up – and there's a fair bit of modally-oriented tunes on the set that hint at the more soulful playing of most of the players in the 70s. Tracks include a great version of "Invitation", plus "The Sealer", "Poom A Loom", "Ruby", and "None Shall Wander". CD

A classic meeting of east and west coast artists of the third stream jazz sphere of the late 50s – one that features the team of John Lewis and Percy Heath of the Modern Jazz Quartet working alongside the west coast tenor of Bill Perkins, plus the guitar of Jim Hall and drums of Chico Hamilton! The whole album's got quite a unique feel – one that's as airy as that of the MJQ work of the time, but not nearly as academic or sleepy – thanks to a nice biting tone from Perkins' tenor, which really seems to stretch out in the space provided by Lewis. There's almost a similarly sublime quality here as on Lewis' album with Sacha Distel – Afternoon In Paris – which featured a similar use of space for great tenor sound (in that case, the tenor of Barney Wilen.) Titles include "2 Degrees East 3 Degrees West", "Easy Living", "Skylark", and "I Can't Get Started". CD

Early Sonny Rollins work for Prestige – recorded in the years 1951 and 1953, in a variety of settings! 4 tracks on the album features Rollins blowing with the MJQ, one more has him working with a Miles Davis group, and the last 8 feature a quartet with Kenny Drew, Percy Heath, and Art Blakey. The tunes are shorter than you might be used to hearing Rollins, but there's still plenty of power and imagination in the grooves – very economical solos, crafted with a great deal of imagination. Titles include "Scoops", "Shadrack", "Mambo Bounce", "The Stopper", "I Know", and "No Moe". LP, Vinyl record album