One of our favorite albums by Teddy Edwards – and one with some organ in the group! This obscure quartet side has Gerry Wiggins playing a rare bit of Hammond – grooving the group with a lean and open-ended soul jazz approach that really has Edwards blowing at his best! The style sits right up there next to Gene Ammons' best albums of the time, and the rest of the group features Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Milt Turner on drums. Titles include "Smokin", "No Regrets", "A Bag Of Blues", "Wiggin", and "Little Steddy" – all originals that get Edwards past the usual bag of soulful standards! LP, Vinyl record album

Mellow blues with a touch of jazz – a really great session cut by Jimmy Witherspoon, with backings by Bob Florence – played by a smallish group that includes Gerald Wilson, Herbie Harper, Earl Palmer, Gerry Wiggins, and Teddy Edwards! The sound here is nicely subdued – not that hokey, overdone blues-based mode used already as a "revival" of the genre in the early 60s – and instead a smokey, adult, sophisticated approach that was very much in keeping with Witherspoon's best talents, and that sound of his that paved the way for bigger crossover names in the 60s. Titles include "Blues Serenade", "Music Maestro Please", "Don't Worry Bout Me", "Lover Come Back To Me", "Do Nothin Till You Hear From Me", and "Just One More Chance". LP, Vinyl record album

Kind of nutty stuff from this weird Blake Edwards film that starred James Coburn and Dick Shawn. The material's not as jazz-based as some of Mancini's other scores, but it does have a delightfully nutty sound that's in keeping with the kind of mad 60s film it was written for. The postwar memory of the film situates it in Italy, so a fair number of the melodies have slight Italian overtones – including "Sicily Forever", "Gina", "Wine and Women", and "Festa!". LP, Vinyl record album

2 of the greatest artists on Pacific Jazz meet head to head in the studio – as the Les McCann trio gets backed up by the Gerald Wilson Orchestra! Given the hipness of Wilson's sound, and the fact that his group features solo work by Teddy Edwards and Dennis Budimir, the overall approach to the record is really wonderful – pushing McCann way past his usual bag, and fleshing out the core grooves of the trio very very nicely! Tracks include "Maleah", "Love Of Living To Do", "Kathleen's Theme", "Gus Gus", "Restin In Jail", and "Bailor The Wailor". LP, Vinyl record album

At the end of the 60s, Milt Jackson and Ray Brown cut some very groovy records together – teamed up in a great pairing of styles that pushed both of them way past the more standard sounds of earlier years! This album's one of the best of the bunch – as it features pianist Monty Alexander joining the pair, bringing in some warmly soulful elements on piano – in ways that are a great bridge between his work for MGM and MPS! The set also features great tenor from Teddy Edwards – blowing with a deep tone and a sharp edge – and in addition to vibes by Jackson and bass by Brown, the group also features Dick Berk on drums. The set was recorded live at Shelly's Manne-Hole – and titles include Alexander's "That's The Way It Is", plus "Blues In The Basement", "Wheelin & Dealin", and "Tenderly". LP, Vinyl record album

Howard McGhee and his trumpet team up with pianist Phineas Newborn, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and Shelley Manne on drums for this great early 60s session. The record features the McGhee original "Demon Chase" and two Teddy Edwards songs, "Sunset Eyes" and his salute to McGhee "Maggie's Back in Town." McGhee himself pays tribute to one of his favorite trumpet players, Clifford Brown by doing Brown's "Brownie Speaks." Other titles include "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise," "Willow Weep for Me" and "Summertime." LP, Vinyl record album