A superb album from vocalist Johnny Hartman – a later date, but one that we'd rank right up there with his important Impulse Records material of the 60s! In fact, the album's something of a return to greatness for Hartman – the kind of date that should have become a jazz standard, had ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Sarah Vaughan —
Divine One ... LP Roulette, 1960. Near Mint- ...
$4.99
Sarah Vaughan definitely earns her divine nickname here – singing sublimely here in a warmly jazzy setting from her early years at Roulette Records! The style's a nice extension of Vaughan's best sides at Mercury – and is almost a nice back-to-basics approach, the kind of reminder that ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(70s yellow label Emus pressing. Cover is frayed a bit at the top right corner, in nice shape otherwise with light aging.)
A vocal jazz classic! Joe Williams had come to great fame as the singer with the Basie band during the 50s, but this beautiful album is unlike his usual work with the group – and shows a sophisticated vocal side of Joe that's really amazing. The album was arranged by Jimmy Mundy, with lush ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A fantastic album that brings together all of the European winners of the recent Downbeat polls – like Karin Krog, John Surman, Albert Mangelsdorff, Francy Boland, Daniel Humair, and Niels Henning Orsted-Pedersen. The sextet is a lively batch of free-swinging European jazz stylists, with ... (Jazz, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Japanese pressing, with insert. Cover has some light wear.)
Alicia Hall Moran —
Heavy Blue ... CD Yes, 2015. New Copy ...
$13.9919.99
Alicia Hall Moran's a singer that's unlike anyone else we can think of – a vocalist with the skills to handle a complex classical repertoire, but very much dedicated to opening up a new sort of spirit in music – similar to the instrumental territory explored by pianist Jason Moran, who ... read moreCD
Alicia Hall Moran —
Here Today ... CD Yes, 2017. New Copy ...
$16.9919.99
The striking image on the cover is a great indication of what you'll hear within – as singer Alicia Hall Moran opens up and completely reworks music from the American songbook, while also adding in some great compositions of her own! The record features songs you'd normally hear in the ... read moreCD
Music from Louis Armstrong, the Mills Brothers, Adelaide Hall, Frances Langford, Fred Astaire, Billie Holiday, Ethel Merman, Bing Crosby, Pearl Bailey, Shirley Booth, Mae Barnes, Joe Williams, and more. CD
Not socking soul, but laidback jazz – an under-acknowledged side of James Brown's career, presented fully in this excellent collection of work from the 60s! The package shows a growing sophistication in James' music as the 60s moved on – not just in his vocals, which were surprisingly ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreCD
Early all-jazz work from Nat King Cole – beautiful piano work, in a group with JJ Johnson on trombone, Jack McVea and Illinois Jacquet on tenor, Shorter Sherock on trumpet, and Les Paul on guitar! Tracks are long, and include "Tea For Two", "Bugle Call Rag", "Blues&qu ... read moreCD
A wonderful live performance by vocalist Leon Thomas – and a set that seems to link together both his own excellent solo material of the time, and his key Impulse recordings with Pharoah Sanders! The group here is a small one – with the wonderful Oliver Nelson on alto sax, showing off ... read moreCD
(Part of the "Solid Records – Jazz Giants" series!)
The complete early recordings of The Free Design – one of the most heavenly vocal groups ever recorded! The lineup features two gals and two guys – singing together in ways that take the earlier harmony modes of the 60s into some very special territory – a bit like some of the ... read moreCD
A rare gem by singer Jackie Paris – an underrecorded LA singer from the 50s and 60s, with a sound and style that's somewhere between early Mark Murphy and later Bobby Troup! Paris has less of the vocalese approach of some of his contemporaries – and is also lacking the heavy vocal ... read moreCD
(UHQCD pressing!)
Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 —
Live At Expo 70 ... CD A&M (Japan), 1970. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
A killer set by Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 – recorded in Japan in 1970, and never issued in the US! The album's the rarest that Sergio ever cut, and it's a real gem – a live show that features the group moving at double-speed, turning out incredibly lively versions of some of their ... (Brazil, Vocalists)read moreCD
(Out of print, 2002 Japanese pressing with bonus track, includes obi.)
Titles include "Rainy Night In Tokyo", "When Sly Calls", "How The Garden Grows", "Sunday Morning Here With You", "Amazon", and "Never Satisfied". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve.)
Frank Sinatra —
Nice & Easy ... LP Capitol, 1960. Near Mint- ...
Just Sold Out!
Great late Frank Sinatra at Capitol Records – a set that still grooves in all the Nelson Riddle brilliance of the early 50s years, but also points the way towards the mature masculinity that Frank would find working at Reprise! The title tune, "Nice and Easy", is a classic swinger ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(80s green label pressing in a barcode cover, with light wear and aging.)
We're not sure if the match is perfect, but it's still pretty darn nice – a live performance that has Ella Fitzgerald singing in front of the Count Basie Band – all recorded before a very enthusiastic audience at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1979! The set's a nice capper to one of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A tasty little 2LP set – one that collects the excellent late 50s vocal work cut for the Bethlehem label by Chris Connor! At the time, Chris had a sound that she virtually invented – icy vocals backed by small combo jazz, in a very spare and subtle setting – and the sound was, ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A rare one from Nina Simone – a set that was issued during her years on RCA, but on the smaller Stroud label – run by husband Andy Stroud! The set's what you'd guess from the title – a tribute to Billie Holiday, but one that's way more than just a copycat of Lady Day's mode ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
One of the more obscure albums by Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross – a session of Basie tunes, performed with backing by the Count, plus additional lead vocals by Joe Williams, the voice most closely associated with the Basie group at the time! The style is similar to the trio's Sing A Song Of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Yellow label Emus pressing with plain text logo.)
Very groovy 70s work from Annie Ross – an album that's quite different than her vocalese records of the 50s, but equally great in its own sort of way! Ross is still singing jazz here, but there's often a bit of soul in the mix too – that hip blend of styles that you might find in the ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Back cover has some light aging, and a light yellowed shadow of tape where an old article had been taped. Front is nice.)
A beautiful album of sad-tinged tunes – the standout album from singer Sandy Stewart, best known for the title hit, but great throughout! Sandy's soft, fragile voice is backed by the orchestra of Nick Perito – in a string-laden style that only seems to further emphasize the sad tones ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Gold label stereo pressing. Label on Side 1 has a small name in pen.)
A later pressing of classic early work from Jimmy Scott – airy ballads and love songs, done in that incredible vocal style that has made Scott an enduring legend for countless years! Backings are very nice – sad and dreamy, perfectly fitting the mood of the tunes. The record's one of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
An expanded version of this classic – with 6 more bonus tracks, 4 of which were arranged by Ennio Morricone! The core album is incredible 70s work from the lovely Astrud Gilberto – a rare effort for the CTI label that has her teaming up with arranger Eumir Deodato and saxophonist ... (Brazil, Vocalists)read moreCD
(Out of print, includes obi.)
Barbra Streisand —
People ... LP Columbia, 1964. Near Mint- ...
Just Sold Out!
... LP, Vinyl record album
(360 sound stereo pressing with black text.)
Judi Silvano —
Vocalise ... CD Blue Note, 1997. Used ...
$1.99
Features Joe Lovano on tenor. CD
(Mark through barcode, promo stamp on CD, and large promo sticker on front cover.)
One of Astrud Gilberto's greatest albums – and quite possibly our personal favorite! The record features beautifully understated arrangements by Joao Donato, Don Sebesky, and Claus Ogerman – and the instrumentation is a haunting mix of bossa rhythms with darker orchestrations that ... (Brazil, Vocalists)read moreCD
Early work by Carmen McRae – and a wonderfully titled set that's certainly Torchy all the way through! Carmen's singing in a lush, romantic style – working with backings from Jack Pleis and Ralph Burns – in a mode that features larger orchestrations, but which still very much has ... read moreCD
Why the heck don't they make records like this anymore? The whole thing's incredibly groovy – a blend of Sunshine Pop and vocal harmonies – put together with a high-art theory, but grooving with some really cool late 60s backings! There's a great drummer in the group who really makes ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Fantastic work from one of the grooviest singers of the 60s – the amazing Mina, a vocalist who hardly made waves on this side of the Atlantic, but who served up a wealth of wonderful material from the Italian scene at the time! You might know Mina from a few key soundtrack contributions she ... read moreCD
Great late Frank Sinatra at Capitol Records – a set that still grooves in all the Nelson Riddle brilliance of the early 50s years, but also points the way towards the mature masculinity that Frank would find working at Reprise! The title tune, "Nice and Easy", is a classic swinger ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A set that wasn't initially conceived as a full album by Gil Scott-Heron – but one that's come to be an essential part of his catalog, thanks to the always-relevant title theme! The album's actually a classic collection of work from the early years of Gil Scott-Heron at the Flying Dutchman ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreCD
One of the most sublime albums we've ever heard from Perry Como – a set that definitely takes its Latin lightly, and instead really goes for the best sort of mellow side of the Como sound! There's definitely a few bossa touches in the mix – a bit of acoustic guitar or light percussion ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Ella's performing songs written by or associated with Duke–what could be better? Titles include "Rockin' In Rhythm", "Caravan", "Take The A Train", "Clementine", and "Perdido", all performed with the with the big band. CD
(Out of print Verve Master Edition. Inner case has a small tear along the spine and slipcover has some wear. Barcode has a cutout mark.)
Sarah Vaughan —
Sarah + 2 ... LP Roulette, Early 60s. Near Mint- ...
Just Sold Out!
Sarah Vaughan's most stripped-down session – a record that really does just have "plus 2" added to the lady's lovely vocals! Backing here are only by Barney Kessel on guitar and Joe Comfort on bass – accompanying Sarah in a moody, mellow, late nite mode that's far different ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
How can we even begin to describe the genius of Lambert Hendricks and Ross? The group was a jazz vocal supergroup that merged three talents that had already made a big name in the bebop vocalese field – Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, and the lovely Annie Ross – and the project was an ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A full set of vocal performances by the legendary Fred Rogers – mostly tracks from later years, and all done with superb accompaniment from Johnny Costa – who provides the spare, sprightly piano lines that always make the Mister Rogers lyrics sparkle so much! You'll recognize most of ... (Children's, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A fantastic later album from Gil Scott-Heron – a set that came out in the mid 90s, at a time when Gil had been away from the studio for many years – but definitely hadn't lost any of the qualities that made him so great in the first place! Despite the space of a decade, the album picks ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A set of Billie Holiday's important 40s recordings for the Commodore label – with titles that include "God Bless The Child", "Billie's Blues", "Lover Man", "No Detour Ahead", "Don't Explain", "He's Funny That Way", and "My ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Sealed Soulmate pressing. Cover has some very light wear.)
Incredible work from Carmen – one of her last great albums! The set was recorded in 1988 – but it's got an "instant classic" feel that makes it one of the best vocal jazz albums of its generation. Carmen's working with a small group that includes Charlie Rouse, Larry Willis, ... read moreCD
(Out of print.)
Leon Thomas with Freddie Hubbard —
Piece Of Cake ... LP Palcoscenico (Italy), 1979. Near Mint- ...
$39.99
A very hip set from spiritual jazz vocalist Leon Thomas – a live date with Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Hadley Caliman on tenor, and Billy Childs on keyboards! Includes nice versions of Hubbard's "Little Sunflower" and Coltrane's "Cousin Mary". LP, Vinyl record album
A really great later album from Anita – one recorded live in Berlin, with some backing by the George Arvanitas trio – at the time when they had the kick-ass rhythm section of Jacky Samson on bass and Charles Saudrais on drums. Anita's in a much more swinging groove than usual – ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Totally totally cool LP that has this groovy group playing with Oliver Nelson – who plays soprano on most tracks. The sound is very groovy, and very Now Sound, with a female vocal duet, and mod swingin' jazzy lyrics. The LP's got a nice version of "My Favorite Things", a cool ... (Jazz, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Sealed original pressing!)
Vanessa Rubin —
Sings ... CD Novus/RCA, 1995. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
A great follow-up to Dee Dee Bridgewater's classic Live In Paris set – and like that one, an incredible session of vocal work that shows that even after many years making soul records, Dee Dee could still cook with an incredible sense of jazz! The longish tracks feature plenty of playful ... read moreCD
Great 60s work from Mose Allison – a key record cut at that time when his influence was being felt strongly on the other side of the Atlantic – by younger London singers like Georgie Fame and Zoot Money! Mose is almost answering back with this great little record – hitting things ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Green and blue label pressing. Cover has a cutout mark, and some light aging on the back.)
Accompanied by Bob Zottola on trumpet and flugelhorn, Clint Sharman on trombone, Frank Wess on tenor and flute, Hank Jones on piano, Jim Mitchell on guitar, George Duvivier on bass, and Grady Tate on drums. LP, Vinyl record album
Nicolas Bearde is a singer with equal parts experience in jazz and soul – which makes him a perfect artist to take on the music of Nat King Cole – which he does here in a way that may well be better than any other Cole tribute we've heard, including a recent effort by Gregory Porter! ... read moreCD
Leon Thomas takes his vocals to new heights – moving past the straight spiritual jazz modes of his work with Pharoah Sanders, to embrace a whole host of new styles too! There's a slight trace of the blues promised in the title, but always inflected through a more soulful approach overall ... read moreCD
Leon Thomas' first album for Flying Dutchman – and one of his best ever! The vibe is very similar to his work with Pharoah Sanders – with long modal tracks that bring out the best side of Thomas' spiritual vocalizations – especially on the 17 minute track "Pharoah's Tune ... read moreCD
One of Esther Phillips' biggest comeback albums from the 70s – a classic set that takes her deeply soulful vocal approach, and sets it to some sweet jazz funk backings – served up by guitarist Joe Beck, who almost gets equal credit on the album cover! The rest of the lineup is equally ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreCD
One of Chet Baker's most classic albums of the 50s – a record that features both vocals and strong trumpet solos – all from a time when Baker was one of the hottest things going in jazz! The album's different from records from previous years, in that it moves Baker from LA to New York ... (Jazz, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Nice pressing – heavy cover and vinyl – and cut from analog masters done by Kevin Gray!) This item will not be delivered to you before Friday, March 5.
An important early live show for Nina Simone – a move from the world of small nightclubs (as mentioned in the title of her first record), to the classy Town Hall venue – working in front of an audience filled with left-leaning listeners who were the perfect crowd to get the unique bag ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
One of the hippest takes ever on the Porgy & Bess score – done in duet format by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, in a fuller spirit than their other albums for Verve! Like many late 50s albums of Gershwin's score, this one was issued in advance of the film with Sidney Poitier – ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereophonic Verve Records Inc pressing, with booklet intact. Cover has 4 inch splits in the top seams, small splits in the bottom seams, some heavy wear at the spine, and a name in pen on the front of the booklet.)
Mario Biondi —
Dare ... LP Sony (Italy), 2021. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ...
$34.99
Mario Biondi looks a bit angelic on the cover, but his vocals are still nicely down to earth – that wonderfully raspy charm that made us love his music right from the start, and which makes Mario one of the key folks to carry forward the legacy of older jazz singers like Mark Murphy or Mose ... (New Grooves, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Abbey Lincoln —
People In Me ... LP Inner City, 1978. Very Good+ Gatefold ...
$13.99
A great session that was recorded in Tokyo in 1973 – featuring Abbey backed by a small group that includes Dave Liebman on sax and flute, Al Foster on drums, and Hiromasa Suzuki on piano. The record's pretty darn hip – and it's a nice version of Abbey's haunting approach to vocal jazz, ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Features former Davis band members Ron Carter and drummer Al Foster – plus guess trumpet from Roy Hargrove. CD
(Out of print.)
Jon Hendricks & Company —
Love ... LP Muse, 1982. Very Good+ ...
$0.99
Jon's going back to the Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross format here – working with a group of singers known as Company (featuring family members Michele and Judith Hendricks), running through vocalese versions of jazz tunes with the same solo line trading style used by LHR in the 50s and 60s. ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Mario Biondi —
Dare ... CD Sony (Italy), 2021. New Copy ...
$26.99
Mario Biondi looks a bit angelic on the cover, but his vocals are still nicely down to earth – that wonderfully raspy charm that made us love his music right from the start, and which makes Mario one of the key folks to carry forward the legacy of older jazz singers like Mark Murphy or Mose ... (New Grooves, Vocalists)read moreCD
A pair of late 60s Columbia classics from Tony Bennett – back to back on a single CD! First up is Tony Makes It Happen – a very jazzy album, with a group that features Joe Wilder and Joe Newman on trumpets, Urbie Green on trombone, Joe Soldo on flute, and orchestrations from Marion ... read moreCD
Gene Ammons, Etta Jones, & Jack McDuff —
Soul Summit Vol 2 ... LP Prestige, 1963. Very Good- ...
$14.99
A set that's less a "summit" than a great collection of groovy work for Prestige Records in the 60s – tracks that didn't make it onto other full albums of the time, but which feature material by some of the most soulful talents on the label! Tenorist Gene Ammons is the main star ... (Jazz, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono yellow & black label NJ pressing with deep groove and Preview Copy stamp. Cover has some wear and aging, with a Preview Copy stamp and some pen on back.)
A pretty great group from Michigan funky drummer Leonard King – not really an orchestra, but instead a jazz trio, with two different basses working hard alongside Leonard's drums and vocals! The groove is great – sometimes very raw, sometimes more lyrical – as the basses are both ... (Jazz, Vocalists)read moreCD
Very rare early work from Italian maestro Piero Piccioni – music composed for an Italian TV show at the start of the 60s – served up in a mix of jazz and other groovy styles! The real surprise here is that most of the tunes are vocal numbers, sometimes sung by artists you'll know from ... (Soundtracks, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Joe Williams —
With Love ... LP Temponic, 1972. Very Good+ Gatefold ...
$1.99
The title's an apt one, because Billie Poole sings here in a mode that's steeped in styles borrowed strongly from gospel and blues – but delivered more in a jazz-based mode overall! The backing here is one aspect that makes the record especially strong – a quartet with Kenny Burrell on ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Blue label Bill Grauer Productions Inc pressing, RM 458, with microphone logo and deep groove. Cover has some wear, with a mostly split spine.)
A wonderfully intimate album from Ann Sally – a Korean singer by birth, but currently one of the most exciting talents on the Japanese scene! The album's a beautiful set of covers – and is done with a light, acoustic touch that's quite different than some of Ann's other works. At some ... (Neo Soul, Vocalists)read moreCD
Sweet soul from Carmen McRae – a great 70s album for Blue Note, and one that has the classic singer moving into some very groovy material! The feel here is much more soul than jazz – at least the jazz of the torchy style from Carmen's roots – but as you'd guess from McRae, the ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
The great Georgie Fame hardly sounds wounded here – as the singer's in the middle of a great return to form in the 90s – a decade that saw him cutting some tremendous albums like this! Fame's in his home turf of London – working with a small combo at Ronnie Scott's, and turning ... read moreCD
A beautiful classic from mid 60s Verve – and the kind of a session that we wouldn't have expected to come off so well! In a style they were using with older artists at the time, Verve brought Ella and Duke into the studio together – with Duke's band and compositions providing the ... read moreCD
Features Bud Shank on flute and saxophone, Russ Freeman and Pete Jolly on piano, Shelly Manne on drums, and others. Tracks include "Someone To Watch Over Me", "This Is Always", "Let's Get Lost", "Moon Love", "Sweet Lorraine", and "I Fall In ... (Jazz, Vocalists)read moreCD
A sexy little set from singer Meg Myles – recorded live before a very adult nightclub crowd – with a great set of tunes to match! The record's got a lot more energy than Meg's previous material from the 50s – and Myles really has a way of swinging things with a sensual sort of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Black label stereo pressing with deep groove. Cover has bumped corners at the bottom.)
A collection of recordings from 1945 through 1947, with accompaniment by Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, The Earl Rodgers Choir, The Richarld Maltby String Orchestra, and others. LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has some highlighting on the liner notes on back.)
Very obscure record made by the enigmatic Leo Gooden, a politician and night club owner from East St. Louis who made a few records on his own tiny LG label. Gooden's an interesting guy – probably more interesting than he is musically capable – and we're always amazed at the people he ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing.)
Donna Byrne —
Byrnin' ... CD Ol' Socks, 1998. Used ...
$6.99
A seminal album from Dee Dee Bridgewater – a set that carries forward some of the soul styles she had at the start of the 80s, but one that also points the way towards her return to jazz in the 90s as well! The production is fairly electric – lots of keyboards and guitars, and mostly ... read moreCD