One of the first albums ever by this legendary jazz vocal group! LHR do the incredible – and create a set of vocal renditions of standards by the Basie band, putting jazzy lyrics in to replace the instrumental solos, but keeping the same vibe as the original tracks. The sound and approach is amazing – and it's no wonder this record made them instant legends. Titles include "Down For The Count", "Fiesta In Blue", "Blues Backstage", and "It's Sand, Man!" Includes 3 bonus tracks! CD

3 ECM treats from bassist Eberhard Weber – packaged in a single set! First up is Yellow Fields – a record with great soprano sax from Charlie Mariano, who also plays shenai and nagaswaram too – plus keyboards from Rainer Brunighaus and drums from Jon Christensen – on titles that include "Touch", "Left Lane", "Yellow Fields", and "Sand Glass". Next is Silent Feet – a set that features soprano and sax from Charlie Mariano, plus piano and keyboards from Rainer Brunighaus, and drums from John Marshall – on titles that include "Eyes That Can See In The Dark", "Seriously Deep", and "Silent Feet". Last up is Little Movements, from 1980 – a set that again has Weber working with great reeds from Charlie Mariano – alongside keyboards from Rainer Brunighaus and drums from John Marshall, who also plays percussion too. Titles include "Bali", "A Dark Spell", "The Last Stage Of A Long Journey", and "No Trees He Said". Mariano really gives the records a nice bite – a bit more than usual for ECM! CD

A pretty astonishing creative leap for Wire – a record that still holds all the short, sharp, energy of their Pink Flag debut – but which also opens up the group to all these weird elements they'd explore in later years and solo work too! The record is almost the group's equivalent of work by Swell Maps – still very punk in construction, but already getting experimental too – a mix that instantly set the group apart, and has kept them in territory that nobody else has ever been able to touch. Titles include "Heartbeat", "Practice Makes Perfect", "Being Sucked In Again", "I Am The Fly", "Outdoor Miner", "Sand In My Joints", "I Feel Mysterious Today", "Marooned", "French Film Blurred", "Mercy" and more. CD

The title might be a bit presumptuous, but the album presents a setting that maybe showcases the poetic style of Neil Young even more than some of his classic studio albums of the time – a live solo date, and one that really brings a new sort of quality to some of the era's more familiar tunes! Young has a moody darkness that's echoed by the image on the cover – and although he later recorded in this mode more often, this concert is one of the earliest examples of Neil standing solo in the spotlight – really bringing a lot of himself to readings of "The Needle & The Damage Done", "Old Man", "Ohio", "Sugar Mountain", "Journey Through The Past", "Don't Let It Bring You Down", "Man Needs A Maid/Heart Of Gold", and "Cowgirl In The Sand". CD

Music from Chuck Prophet & Scott Matthews, Thin White Rope, Trick Bag, David Dreams, Monks Of Doom, the Corn Dollies, Bevis Frond, the Shamen, Giant Sand, the Membranes, 501 Spanish Verbs and more. CD

Nice soundtrack to the now-legendary film by Bruce Weber that tracked Chet Baker during some of the last days of his life. The set's got a nice mix of vocal and instrumental tracks, with Chet in fine enough form at the time of the recording. Titles include "You're My Thrill", "Moon & Sand", "Zingaro", "My One & Only Love", and "Almost Blue". CD

The last album ever recorded by The Byrds, and a set that almost has the group going full circle – as the record's a reunion of sorts, and features an early lineup of the group back together – then-leader Roger McGuinn, joined by Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke! The sound of the set shows all the many paths the individuals had followed since they had split from the group – and although there's still some of the more acoustic-oriented tracks you might expect from early 70s Byrds albums, there's also some more pronounced tracks that amp things up a bit – yet all without having any sort of the ego collision such a reunion might normally inspire. Titles include "Full Circle", "Cowgirl In The Sand", "See The Sky About To Rain", "For Free", "Things Will Be Better", "Borrowing Time", "Long Live The King", and "Sweet Mary". CD

With 36 tracks including "Straighten Up and Fly Right", "Sweet Lorraine", "It's Only a Paper Moon", "Nature Boy", "Lush Life", "Blue Gardenia", "Stardust", "The Sand and the Sea", and more. CD

Experience Hendrix – a phrase that's become a calling card for the proper presentation of the musical legacy of Jimi Hendrix, but which first appeared here on a classic collection of his most famous tracks! The set's about as strong as you might expect from a Hendrix "best of" – no missing moments, and no sleepers either – just pure fire on vocals and guitar, on titles that include "Hey Joe", "All Along The Watchtower", "Purple Haze", "Fire", "The Wind Cries Mary", "Stone Free", "Crosstown Traffic", "Manic Depression", "If 6 Was 9", "Foxy Lady", "Bold As Love", "Freedom", "Star Spangled Banner", "Night Bird Flying", "Angel", "Voodoo Child", and "Castles Made Of Sand". CD

The Jimi Hendrix Experience at their most classic! Tripped out bluesy cosmic rock ferocity and great songs, too – firing on all cylinders here on the middle record of their ultra epic three LP series of unimpeachable greatness. Titles include "EXP", "Up From The Skies", "Spanish Castle Magic", "Castles Made Of Sand", "She's So Fine", "One Rainy Wish", "Bold As Love" and more. CD

The Jimi Hendrix Experience at their most classic! Tripped out bluesy cosmic rock ferocity and great songs, too – firing on all cylinders here on the middle record of their ultra epic three LP series of unimpeachable greatness. Titles include "EXP", "Up From The Skies", "Spanish Castle Magic", "Castles Made Of Sand", "She's So Fine", "One Rainy Wish", "Bold As Love" and more. CD

2 classic albums of jazz harmony vocals by The Hi Lo's! Love Nest is a warmly romantic set – one that's got the quartet singing with backings by Frank Comstock, one of their best accompanists, on a set of tracks that includes "Fairyland", "Dancing On The Ceiling", "But Beautiful", "Love Nest", and "In The Wee Small Hours". The other album's All Over The Place – a rare gem with jazzy backings by Marty Paich, and a wide range of interesting harmony numbers that include "Bali Hai", "Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square", "April In Fairbanks", "Sand In My Shoes", and "Massachusetts". CD

A creatively freewheeling folk rock album from Bill Nelson – his Northern Dream from 1971 – a nice mix of consistent tunefulness, tripped out just so! Guitar and voice are the core elements, and on one level it's something of a post folk rock album, but the plaintive recording quality and boundless musicality of Nelson – who sings and plays guitars, bass, bottleneck, flutes, recorders and some of the drumming – backed by drums, some piano & harmonium. Includes "Photograph (A Beginning)", "Everyone's Hero", "House Of Sand", "End Of The Seasons", "Rejoice", "Love's A Way", "Northern Dreamer (1957)", "Sad Feelings", "Smiles". "Bloo Blues" and more. CD

Poor Tony Perkins! He actually does a pretty nice job on this early album as a vocalist, and we imagine that he forever regretted having that part of his career closed down once he played the part of Norman Bates in Psycho. Still, there's a bit of a psycho feel to this album – from the cover shot of Tony walking down a wet street, to the eerie choice of material played by a small jazz group that includes Hal McKusick, Chuck Wayne, and Jerome Richardson. Titles include "The World Is Your Balloon", "Why Was I Born", "I've Got Sand In My Shoes", "You Came Along", and "Darn That Dream". CD

Nice post-Pere Ubu material in this box set, which includes Sound Of The Sand, Variations On A Theme, More Places Forever, Monster Walks The Winter Lake, Blame The Messenger, and Meadville. CD

A record we'd never part with – and easily our favorite album ever from The Who! Quadrophenia represents the group at its peak from all perspectives – songwriting, performance, and even studio presence – as the album's got a sonic sensibility that few other albums of the time can match! The set's a concept record – a story, like Tommy – yet it remains incredibly lean, without any overcluttered rock opera feel – so much so that most tunes stand mightily on their own, but also have a dense sense of texture when taken together as part of the double-length album. And we'll also say that the record's one of the few extended sets we always end up breezing through from start to finish – almost surprised by the time it comes to a close – and often hitting repeat to hear the whole thing over again! Titles include "I Am The Sea", "The Real Me", "Cut My Hair", "The Punk & The Godfather", "Sea & Sand", "5:15", "Bell Boy", "Love Rein O'Er Me", and "Is It In My Head". CD

A record we'd never part with – and easily our favorite album ever from The Who! Quadrophenia represents the group at its peak from all perspectives – songwriting, performance, and even studio presence – as the album's got a sonic sensibility that few other albums of the time can match! The set's a concept record – a story, like Tommy – yet it remains incredibly lean, without any overcluttered rock opera feel – so much so that most tunes stand mightily on their own, but also have a dense sense of texture when taken together as part of the double-length album. And we'll also say that the record's one of the few extended sets we always end up breezing through from start to finish – almost surprised by the time it comes to a close – and often hitting repeat to hear the whole thing over again! Titles include "I Am The Sea", "The Real Me", "Cut My Hair", "The Punk & The Godfather", "Sea & Sand", "5:15", "Bell Boy", "Love Rein O'Er Me", and "Is It In My Head". CD

A record we'd never part with – and easily our favorite album ever from The Who! Quadrophenia represents the group at its peak from all perspectives – songwriting, performance, and even studio presence – as the album's got a sonic sensibility that few other albums of the time can match! The set's a concept record – a story, like Tommy – yet it remains incredibly lean, without any overcluttered rock opera feel – so much so that most tunes stand mightily on their own, but also have a dense sense of texture when taken together as part of the double-length album. And we'll also say that the record's one of the few extended sets we always end up breezing through from start to finish – almost surprised by the time it comes to a close – and often hitting repeat to hear the whole thing over again! Titles include "I Am The Sea", "The Real Me", "Cut My Hair", "The Punk & The Godfather", "Sea & Sand", "5:15", "Bell Boy", "Love Rein O'Er Me", and "Is It In My Head". CD

Music from Giant Sand, The Replacements, Lucinda Williams, Calexico, Violent Femmes, Lincoln '65, Wannabe Texans, Meat Puppets, The Geraldine Fibbers, The Broken Family Band, American Music Club, Boiled In Lead, Rainer, and more. CD

Shame about the cover, but cheescake nudie image aside, the album's got all the poise, class, and grace you'd expect in some other classics from pianist Roland Hanna – a player who already attained majesty in his music, long before he started adding "Sir" to his name! There's a fair bit of classical numbers here, used as surprising vehicles for jazz expression by Hanna – not the usual "jazz meets classical" vibe that stays very faithful to the structure of the original compositions – but more just a basic inspiration for improvisational melodies, played by the trio in a way that has Roland's piano strongly out in the lead, with subtle accompaniment from Ron Carter on bass and Grady Tate on drums. Titles include "Prelude", "Like Grains Of Sand", "Serenade", "Apres Un Reve", "Based On Gustav", and "Going Home". CD

A second great set of standards from Keith Jarrett – and like the first one, a great reminder to many that the pianist was still very strongly schooled in jazz! Although Keith really opened up ways for pianists to stretch out in the 70s, his move to material like this in the early 80s was a great one – as it moved Jarrett away from some territory that was a bit overly-trod, and managed to bring a new sort of sensitivity to his music! Of course, the whole trio here is really part of the success – bass from Gary Peacock and drums from Jack DeJohnette – both, like Jarrett, players who'd more than had their chance to stretch out, explore new modes, and were bringing all that freedom and experience to play here in a setting that's outwardly conventional, but still plenty darn fresh. Titles include "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "Never Let Me Go", "So Tender", and "Moon & Sand". CD

Stunning live work from the great Pharoah Sanders – a set that's right up there with his best for the Teresa label in the 80s, but which also has some of the bite of his later Impulse material too! Tracks are long and modal – that groove that always seems to unlock the most soulful, mystical currents in Sanders' tenor – and the group is superb, with this beautiful work on bass from the young Curtis Lundy, plus John Hicks on piano and Idris Muhammad on drums – the latter of whom is in that looser mode he reopened in the 80s, and very different than his 70s funk years. Tracks are all nice and long – and titles include "Dr Pitt", "Greetings To Idris", "You Gotta Have Freedom", "It's Easy To Remember", and "The Creator Has A Masterplan". CD

Pharoah Sanders is working here with some excellent horn players in the frontline – Woody Shaw on trumpet and Gary Bartz on alto sax – both of whom really bring a lot of power to the record! As with some of Sanders' other Impulse albums of the period, the record only features two long songs – both of them great, and both of them balanced between more modal moments, and freer flights of jazz expression. Bartz and Shaw are obviously well suited for both of these sides of the spectrum – as are the other players, who include Lonnie Liston Smith on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Clifford Jarvis on drums. Nathaniel Bettis and Anthony Wiles play additional percussion – as do some of the other members of the group from time to time. Both tracks build with a stretched-out, organic quality – and titles include "Summun Bukmun Umyun" and "Let Us Go Into the House of the Lord". CD

Includes the songs "Just The Way You Are", "Come Back To Me", "Englishman In New York", "Let's Stay Together", "All Night Long", "Baby Come To Me", "Killing Me Softly With His Song", "If You Leave Me Now", "She's Out Of My Live", "We've Only Just Begun", and "Isn't She Lovely". CD

Features Gloria Estefan, Vikki Carr, Dave Valentin, Danilo Perez, Ed Calle, and others. CD

Arturo Sandoval on trumpet and flugelhorn, David Sanchez and Ernie Watts on tenor saxophone, Kenny Kirkland on piano, and Charnett Moffett on bass. CD

With Hilario Duran Torres on piano. CD

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Jacky Terrasson on piano, Lonnie Plaxico and Kenny Davis on bass, Mino Cinelu on percussion, and Cassandra Wilson on vocals. CD

Backed by Mulgrew Miller, Rod Williams and James Weidman on piano, Grachan Moncur III on trombone, Lonnie Plaxico on bass and Terri Lyne Carrington on drums! CD

Sexy ladies on the cover, and some equally sexy sounds underneath – served up in a perfect 60s Italian blend of jazz and bossa-based styles! Sweeping strings bring a nice sense of depth to some numbers, while others have a more intimate feel – either via spare guitar, or some jazzy elements on piano, sax, and organ – shifting instrumentation that really keeps things interesting throughout, and which makes the record feel like some rich narrative on its own, in sound – without any need for the images on the screen. The whole thing is wonderful – one of those Italian soundtrack treasures that delivers even more than it promises – and music was composed by Alessandro Alessandroni and Francesco De Masi, then orchestrated by De Masi, with some cool wordless vocal moments as well. Titles include a number of variations on "Lesbo" plus the sweet vocal opener "Qualsiasi Cosa", "Crepuscolo Sul Mare", and "IL'Isola Dell'Amore". CD

Includes "Blend", "Manha de Carnival", "Carmina Burana Fantasy", "Gospel Tune", "Little Maggie", "Memphis, Tennessee", "Triple Ballade" and "Carnival Jump". CD

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John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, really setting fire here in a classic live performance from the mid 60s – one of those very long, open-ended concert dates that was arguably even more impressive than some of Coltrane's studio album! The set was recorded in 1965, but not issued until a few years after Coltrane's death – and it's an amazing representation of the bold steps forward that Trane was taking at the time – working with Sanders in a set of very spiritual expressions that run in these out, open ways that are even different from the Coltrane sound of the year before! The group still features McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – often hanging onto modal rhythms at the start, then dropping back once the horns open up – and Don Raphael Garrett plays bass clarinet, bringing a bit of Dolphy flavor to the set. Titles include "Tapestry In Sound", "Out Of This World", "Evolution", and "Cosmos". CD

Always the master storyteller, Kip Hanrahan turns his unique musical vision to source material from 1001 Arabian Nights – interweaving stories from the text with jazz-based expression, augmented by spoken and vocal passages. Carmen Lundy sings quite a bit on the record – which is a real treat to our ears, as its great to hear her in such a left-field project – and other artists on the set include Don Pullen, Milton Cardona, Mike Cain, Jack Bruce, JT Lewis, and Henry Threadgill. Tracks include "Diente De Oro", "Aziz & Azizah", "Dunya's Nocturnal Realization", "The Hasheater's Tale", "The Angel Charles & The Caravans Of Jinns & Dreams", and "The Jewish Doctor's Tale". CD

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A stunning little record from Pharoah Sanders – a double-length set that has all the soul and spirit of his Impulse Records classics, but with a very different vibe! There's a sense of focus here that's tremendous – as if Sanders has found a way to take the energy of his side-long performances and hone them to a level that's maybe even more expressive in its economy – maybe a streamlining of spiritual jazz for the new decade, but not at a level that tries to sound commercial or mainstream at all. Sanders is joined here by a host of equally well-voiced players who really match his energy – Joe Bonner and John Hicks on piano, Eddie Henderson on flugelhorn, Ray Drummond on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums – and the set also features a bit of great work on koto from Yoko Ito Gates as well. Titles include the classic "You've Got To Have Freedom" – a fantastic soaring anthem of joy – plus "After The Rain", "Soledad", "Greetings To Idris", "Doktor Pitt", "Think About The One", "Bedria", and "Yemenja". CD

Fantastic 80s work from Pharoah Sanders – with a vibe that's a perfect extension of his classic work for the Impulse label! The album has Pharoah working with an amazing group – Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, John Hicks and Joe Bonner on piano, Art Davis on bass, and either Elvin Jones or Billy Higgins on drums. The sound is remarkably fresh – soaring and spiritual, but also more focused than in earlier years, with a great amount of soulful warmth. And although extra elements are added – like vocals, vibes, and added percussion – Pharoah's solos still dominate the whole album beautifully. Titles include "Rejoice", "Origin", "Moments Notice", "Central Park West", "Farah", "Ntjilo Ntjilo/Bird Song", and "Nigerian Juju Hilife". CD

One of the first moments of genius from a young Pharoah Sanders – a set that builds on the energy of John Coltrane's Love Supreme generation – but takes it in a much more expansive direction! The album's got a sense of majesty that's years ahead of its time – righteous, positive, spiritual jazz that flows out with a timeless power, and a quality that almost out-Coltrane's Coltrane! All tracks are long, expressive, and freely flowing – building with a very organic sense of energy – totally free from any gimmicks or cliche. Players include Dave Burrell on piano, Henry Grimes on bass, and Sonny Sharrock on guitar – and Pharoah plays alto, tenor, and piccolo – and even vocalizes a bit. The album begins with the amazing "Upper & Lower Egypt" – which is a perfect illustration of the two sides of Pharoah's genius – free/out & spiritual/modal – and other titles include "Japan", and "Capricorn Rising". CD

Two Pharoah Sanders classics – back to back on a single CD! Tauhid is one of the first moments of genius from a young Pharoah Sanders – a set that builds on the energy of John Coltrane's Love Supreme generation – but takes it in a much more expansive direction! The album's got a sense of majesty that's years ahead of its time – righteous, positive, spiritual jazz that flows out with a timeless power, and a quality that almost out-Coltrane's Coltrane! All tracks are long, expressive, and freely flowing – building with a very organic sense of energy – totally free from any gimmicks or cliche. Players include Dave Burrell on piano, Henry Grimes on bass, and Sonny Sharrock on guitar – and Pharoah plays alto, tenor, and piccolo – and even vocalizes a bit. The album begins with the amazing "Upper & Lower Egypt" – which is a perfect illustration of the two sides of Pharoah's genius – free/out & spiritual/modal – and other titles include "Japan", and "Capricorn Rising". Jewels Of Thought is a wonderful reunion of Pharoah Sanders and vocalist Leon Thomas – and a set that captures a lot of the same energy as the pair's previous record – Karma! Thomas' vocals are in wonderful form for the set – stretching out soulfully on the extended classic "Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah" – a title that has much of the same grace and power as "The Creator Has A Master Plan. The rest of the players on the date include Lonnie Liston Smith on piano, Richard Davis and Cecil McBee on basses, and Idris Muhammad and Roy Haynes on drums – and unusually enough, each of the double bassists and drummers gets their own channel of sound to work with! The other long track on the album is the extended "Sun In Aquarius" – which is a bit more outside, but still pretty great! CD

Classic spiritual soul jazz from Pharoah – recorded with an all star lineup that includes Lonnie Liston Smith, Cecil McBee, Roy Haynes, and Michael White. The album's got a strong influence from the members on the set – particularly Lonnie Liston Smith, who seems to bring in a very nicely soulful approach to a few of the numbers, and Michael White, whose spiritual consciousness is still a bit rough-hewn and personal at this point. The record oddly shifts mood from track to track – going from the mellow soul of "Astral Traveling", into the loud free jazz of "Red Black & Green", to the modal grooving of "Thembi", and into the spiritual joy of "Love" and "Bailophone Dance" – all of which makes for a really wonderful album, one of Pharoah's strongest statements of the time! CD

Latin big band led by trumpeter Arturo Sandoval – with special guests Michael Brecker on tenor saxophone, Tito Puente on timbales, and Patti Austin and Rey Ruiz on vocals. CD

Titles include "Manteca", "The Man With A Horn", "My Funny Valentine", "Round Midnight", "I Can't Get Started", "Up Jumped Spring", and "Concerto For Cootie" – 19 tracks total. CD

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A classic Vegas moment for Sinatra – with accompaniment by Count Basie, and arrangements from Quincy Jones, to boot! The set features some great spoken bits – really one of the first chances the American mainstream got to taste the Vegas vibe – and titles include "It Was A Very Good Year", "Fly Me To The Moon", "The Shadow Of Your Smile", "Come Fly With Me", "Street Of Dreams", "One For My Baby", and "My Kind Of Town" – plus the previously unreleased track "Luck Be A Lady". CD

A beautiful early album from Cassandra Wilson – a singer who already had a really deep sound, right at the start – and definitely hit her stride with music like this! The album mixes jazzy currents with rootsier elements – some of them from a more global perspective – and the production is nicely understated, so that Wilson's strongly in the lead throughout. Titles include "Sankofa", "Black Crow", "I Can't Stand The Rain", "Children In The Night", "Hellhound On My Tail", "Come On In My Kitchen", and "Tell Me You'll Wait For Me". CD

Accompanied by Mulgrew Miller on piano, Lonnie Plaxico on bass, and Terri Lyne Carrington on drums. CD

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Features Steve Coleman and Greg Osby on alto, Robin Eubanks on trombone, and Graham Haynes on trumpet. CD

A pivotal set from Cassanda Wilson – and a record that firmly established her as one of the freshest new singers in jazz at the time! The album's awash in rootsy, dusky tones – and has an earthiness that's clearly inspired by older blues, but expressed by Cassandra in voicings that are more clearly jazz-based. Titles include an unusual range of covers – used in this way many years before the Starbucks generation of vocalists made it common place – with covers that include "Last Train To Clarksville", "Harvest Moon", "Skylark", and "Love Is Blindness" – alongside originals that include "Until", "A Little Warm Death", "Find Him", "Solomon Sang", and "Memphis". CD

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