An unusual British jazz group gets even more unusual – with a sound that's even more mindblowing than some of their better-known records! The combo's headed by pianist John Mayer, who cut two fantastic Indo Jazz Fusions with reedman Joe Harriott in the late 60s – working here on an unreleased studio session from a few years later – with stunning guest work on harmonica from the great Larry Adler! At the core are the familiar Indo Jazz Fusions sounds – reeds from Stan Sulzmann on alto and flute, plus sitar from Clem Alford, guitar from Jim Moyes, bass from Jeff Clyne, drums from John Marshall, and tablas from Krishav Sathe – players who continue that jazz-meets-Indian spirit at the start of the set – then step back slightly on the Eastern tip from track two onwards – as Adler comes in with these amazingly eerie harmonica lines – a very strange but compelling blend with the energy of the rest of the group, and quite different than any of Larry's better-known recordings from earlier years. Once things get going, the mix of harmonica and Indian modes really steps up – a really cool mix, with lots of modal energy – on titles that include "Raga Malika", "Serenade", "Raga Megha", "Summertime", and "Sarabande". CD

A hefty look at the key role of composition in British jazz during the glorious modern uprising that began in the second half of the 60s – a book that features chapters on key figures from that moment, including Barry Guy, Mike Gibbs, Michael Garrick, Mike Westbrook, John Mayer, and Keith Tippet! Each of the artists had their own way of mixing stricture and improvisation – Mayer in his experiments with Indian music, Guy in his embrace of free jazz, Gibbs in the way he mixed rock influences with avant jazz – a legacy that continues to be hugely influential, all these many years later! And don't mistake "composer" with "classical" – as none of these artists made music that was jazz throughout, not some of the more highbrow experiments on the American scene of the postwar years – an approach that author Duncan Heining gets at well in these pages, then backs up with a great bonus 2CD set of material to illustrate his arguments. Hardcover book is over 300 pages, with some black and white images. Book

Mostly "east" – as the violin of the famous solist comes into play with the sitar of Ravi Shankar, plus tabla and tanpura! The vibe's a bit like some of the best John Mayer albums, although less jazz. LP, Vinyl record album

The legendary Betty LaVette in all her gritty glory – stepping out here in a style that's a nice change from her Anti Records material – maybe a bit more down to earth and tuned towards the vibe of an older southern soul crowd, instead of a more crossover indie market! There's plenty of sharp, bluesy guitar in the mix, which resonates strongly with LaVette's vocals – and even though the record features guest appearances from Steve Winwood and John Mayer, it's clear that Betty's a shining star who can eclipse them all. Titles include "Plan B", "Lazy", "I'm Not Gonna Waste My Love", "In The Meantime", "Sooner Or Later", "Don't Get Me Started", "Lazy", and "See Through Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes tracks by Latimore, Leela James, Detroit Emeralds, Smokey Robinson, John Legend & The Roots, Barry White, Mayer Hawthorne, Michael Jackson, and others. CD