One of the key records from the Cadet/Concept scene in late 60s Chicago – a tremendous collaboration between pianist Ramsey Lewis and arranger Charles Stepney – and the kind of record that took soul and jazz to a whole new level! Ramsey on his own is great enough at this point – but add in Stepney's touch, and the record becomes something really brilliant – a blend of soaring strings, groovy rhythms, and spaciously stepping piano lines – all held together with a tremendous amount of creative imagination! The group here features a young Maurice White on drums and Cleveland Eaton on bass – both hitting a groove that's quite different than the Ramsey Lewis Trio sound of years back, with a lot more space, a lot hipper rhythms, and just the right sort of groove to match Stepney's sophisticated touches. The piano gets a bit electric at times, but is mostly acoustic overall – and titles include a great version of Minnie Riperton's "Les Fleur", a funky version of "Mighty Quinn", and the cuts "Afro Boogaloo Twist", "Maiden Voyage", "Ode", "Do You Know The Way To San Jose", "Only When I'm Dreaming", and "Eternal Journey". LP, Vinyl record album

The most righteous album ever from Kellee Patterson – her first record, and a set that's way different from her more soul-based sides of later years! The album's got Patterson working in a wonderfully soulful approach to jazz – a style that's not unlike the earliest work by Dee Dee Bridgewater, especially her seminal Afro Blue album – and which mixes Kellee's unique vocals with some very hip backings that are right in the best Black Jazz mode! Instrumentation is from a loose jazz combo, and the tunes are a mix of jazzy numbers and a few tighter tracks – a really rich array of sounds that comes together beautifully in the hands of producer Gene Russell. Titles include a stellar version of Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage", a great take on the Flip Nunez number "See You Later", and the tracks "Soul Daddy", "Be All Your Own", "Magic Wand Of Love", "You", and "Look At The Child". CD

One of the best retro-modern groups we've heard in years – a very groovy combo who really know their bag! The approach here is steeped in 60s references – Hammond organ grooving with guitar, percussion, horns, and some sweet female vocals – the whole thing swinging with the energy of a hip soundtrack from the glory days! As proof of that, the group perform 2 great covers – Ray Brown's "Polo Pony" and Gert Wilden's "Sexy Girls" – but even their own tracks are pretty great, and include the groovy "Bon Voyage" and "Tango Pornographie". CD

Just about any record with Maiden Voyage in the title turns out to be pretty darn great – and this record is no exception! The set's a sweet mix of electric and acoustic modes from Japanese tenorist Tatsuya Takahashi – played by his Tokyo Union group, and featuring electric piano and bass nestled in amidst the larger horn section – all in a great blend of big band jazz and funkier modes! The title track is a great cover of Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage" – taken in a spacious, open way that has some weird electronics bubbling underneath – and other highlights include a great wah wah funk version of "One Mint Julep", a stepping version of "Sir Duke" with some vocoder, and a driving big band version of "Giant Steps". CD

Phil Woods on alto saxophone, Roy Hargrove on flugelhorn, Bill Charlap on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Willie Jones III on drums. CD

A brilliant album – and real turning point for Herbie Hancock! After first coming onto the scene as the soul jazz hero between Blue Note funky classics like "Watermelon Man" or "Blind Man, Blind Man" – Herbie emerges here as a concerned modernist with a strand of spirituality that runs deeper than previously expressed. The key track in this vision is his brilliant modal number "Maiden Voyage" – one of those tunes that sounded totally fresh immediately, and which was picked up by many others as a jazz anthem during the 60s. The rest of the album's equally great – and features George Coleman on tenor, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums – all making for a very hip lineup that really lets Herbie open up stylistically! Other titles include "Dolphin Dance", "Little One", and an original version of "Survival Of The Fittest". CD

... CD

A really cool side project from Bjorn Wagner – of Mighty Mocambos and Bacao Rhythm & Steel fame – a set that's got some of the spacey touches you might guess from the cover, but mixed with funkier currents at the bottom, in a way that makes for a mighty nice groove! Bjorn's got plenty of experience in the deep funk side of the spectrum – and here, he's going for a leaner style that's sometimes clubby, sometimes more hard-edged – and served up with plenty of guest help along the way. And although there's lots of keyboards on the record, all instrumentation is live – on titles that include "Speedboat To Atlantis", "Superglider", "Saturn Moon Drive", "Space Of Mind", "Pyramide", "Dreaming Of You", and "Rainy Afternoon In Paris". LP, Vinyl record album

The most righteous album ever from Kellee Patterson – her first record, and a set that's way different from her more soul-based sides of later years! The album's got Patterson working in a wonderfully soulful approach to jazz – a style that's not unlike the earliest work by Dee Dee Bridgewater, especially her seminal Afro Blue album – and which mixes Kellee's unique vocals with some very hip backings that are right in the best Black Jazz mode! Instrumentation is from a loose jazz combo, and the tunes are a mix of jazzy numbers and a few tighter tracks – a really rich array of sounds that comes together beautifully in the hands of producer Gene Russell. Titles include a stellar version of Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage", a great take on the Flip Nunez number "See You Later", and the tracks "Soul Daddy", "Be All Your Own", "Magic Wand Of Love", "You", and "Look At The Child". CD

Revelatory work from the great Art Pepper – presented here in a complete package for the first time ever. In Pepper's later years, his live dates were often more mindblowing than his studio sessions – especially when the tape was rolling over a long stretch, as was the case over the three nights of recordings presented here! Art's on alto, in a tight group with George Cables on piano – arguably one of his most sensitive accompanists in these years – plus David Williams on bass and Carl Burnett on drums – a lineup that remains firm through the seven sets of music captured in this collection. The package features 42 performances, including 23 performances that appear here for the first time ever, plus bits of banter and other between-song conversation – all wrapped up in a box with a 44 page booklet of notes. Titles include "For Freddie", "Without A Song", "Road Waltz", "Mambo Koyama", "Allen's Alley", "Begin The Beguine", "Landscape", "Valse Triste", "But Beautiful", "Roadgame", "For Freddie", "Donna Lee", "Samba Mom Mom", "Yours Is My Heart Alone", and "Arthur's Blues". CD

Tracks include "New Country", "Gardens Of Babylon", "Once Upon A Dream", "Tarantula", and the four part suite "Imaginary Voyage". CD

One of the greatest soundtracks ever from Leonard Rosenman – and a key example of his strong talent for mixing acoustic instrumentation with very offbeat and eerie electronics! Rosenman had offered up this blend on other important science soundtracks of the 60s – but probably hit his apex with this gem – penned for mid 60s film about a bunch of scientists who shrink down, and take a trip inside the human body! The electronics are sublime – used in these stark, sharp ways that are very compelling, and downright evil in nature – providing a real contrast to some of the warmer woodwind touches in the orchestrations, even when they try to echo the electric energy. The whole thing's pretty darn great – a lot bleaker musically than the actual film – and titles include "Proteus Moving Through Sac", "Group Leaves", "The Proteus", "The Chart", "Pulmonary Artery", "Get The Laser", and "The Human Brain". CD

A relatively straight score by Schifrin, done for this over-cast mid 70s film that starred everyone from Orson Welles and James Mason down to Katharine Ross and Ben Gazzara! There's a vaugely historical feel to the work, done in an orchestral mode with some slight exotic themes from time to time – but overall the soundtrack's one of Schifrin's least groovy from the 70s. Titles include "House Painter March", "Lament", "Hotel Nacionale", "Tragedy/Time Pulse", and "So Many Things I Wanted To Say". LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant brilliant work by Sleep Walker – a soaring, soulful album of spiritual jazz – one that we'd rank right up there with our favorites from the era of John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders on Impulse Records! The vibe here is incredible – jazz played live on tenor, soprano sax, piano, bass, and drums – spinning out in modal lines that groove tremendously, but not with any tricks or gimmicks that get in the way of genuine jazz expression. Sleep Walker are easily one of the deepest and most talented combos of the current club jazz scene – and their music never resorts to fake samples or heavy-handed rhythms to move the tunes along – just glows in the genius of its own bright light, spreading forth in waves of soul and sound that are tremendous from the first note of the album to the last! The record features guest work by Pharoah Sanders and Bembe Segue – and titles include "Ai No Tabi", "The Southern Cross", "Voyage", "Reminiscence", "Lost In Blue", "Kaze", "Afloat", and "Into The Sun". CD

... CD

An overlooked trio date from McCoy Tyner – and a record that's just the sort of musical journey you might guess from the title! Tyner's piano is as full of fire and flight as always – and the group has some especially great work from bassist Avery Sharpe, who changes his approach from track to track, along with McCoy – and really helps bring a wide-ranging sort of sound to the record – the sort you might normally expect from some of Tyner's records with a fuller ensemble! Drummer Louis Hayes completes the trio – and titles include "Jazz Walk", "Summertime", "Bon Voyage", "Yesterdays", "Don't Blame Me", and "Blues For Max". Great 2LP edition – with a bonus disc that features four alternate takes! LP, Vinyl record album

The Bon Voyage album was UFO's best record in years – and this set features some of the best tracks on the album, all nicely remixed with different bits! The package is pretty darn groovy, and the set features 9 tracks in all – including "Tres Amigos (organic audio rmx)", "Good Luck Shore (Joujouka tfpp mix)", "Tres Amigos (Peshay mix)", "Flying Saucer (Kings Of Tomorrow rmx)", "Flying Saucer (Modaji Out There Somewhere mix)", "Flying Saucer (Life On Mars dub)", "Somewhere (Restless Soul Peaktime mix)". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Killer club cuts from the 70s and 80s, chosen by the Compost crew – all in support of their long-running Maiden Voyage club night! The Maiden Voyage vibe is quite different than the usual Compost groove – much more soul-based, and often in a mellow or midtempo mode – just the right balance of jazz and funk in the rhythms, with plenty of space for a soulful singer to take over the lead – and with a style that's much more sophisticated than mainstream disco! There's plenty of cuts on here from the best late 70s modern soul years – and even when the names are familiar, the tracks are often a bit more obscure – lesser-known gems brought together with a beautiful flare, in a package that's easily one of the best groovers we've heard in a long time! Titles include "Love Is On The One" by Xavier, "Love You Anyway" by Cameo, "Lihue" by Nohelani Cypriano, "Believe In Yourself" by Roy Ayers, "Georgy Porgy (disco)" by Toto, "Lovin Fever" by High Inergy, "She's Gone" by Norman Conners, "Very Special" by Debra Laws, "I Want Your Love" by James Mason, "I Want To Thank You" by Alicia Myers, and "Tenderness" by Diana Ross. LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful Japanese session from Art Farmer – one that has him working in a combo-plus-strings format that's really nice! The core group features Farmer on flugelhorn, Ron Carter on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and Masahiko Satoh on piano and Fender Rhodes – and they're backed up by a larger set of strings conducted by Satoh with a subtle, gentle sort of feel. There's an almost classic feel to most of the tracks, except for the few that have a bit more of an electric keyboard sound – and titles include "Goodbye Porkpie Hat", "Ruby My Dear", "Blue Bossa", "Naima", and "Maiden Voyage". CD

A standout session from Stan Getz – one of the real gems of his later years, and a masterpiece of well-blown and confident tones! Getz here has a near-perfect form – a poise and balance that comes from decades of woodshedding on tenor sax, but which is still deeply personal, and one of the most honest sounds we can think of on his instrument. At a time when other players were often bumping into other too-contemporary modes, Stan lays back and blows in a warm acoustic setting – with Kenny Barron on piano, George Mraz on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums – plus some additional percussion from Babatunde Lea, who works here in a relatively gentle manner. As with most of the Getz/Barron work of the later years, the balance here is beautiful – never too far-out or indulgent, despite the length of some of the tracks – and almost in that Sweet Rain style of playing that Stan first opened up into at the end of the 60s. Titles include "I Wanted To Say", "Yesterdays", "Dreams", "Falling In Love", and "Voyage". CD

... CD

40s soundtrack genius Miklos Rozsa makes a strange comeback here – recording in Rome for a 70s Sinbad film with special effects by Ray Harryhausen. The composer describes the recording as being in "his finest oriental mood" – which means that it's got lots of eastern themes laid out by Rozsa in orchestral format. Titles include "Temple Of The Oracle", "Sinbad's Decision", "Koura's End", "Night Time", "The Siren", "Making Of The Homunculus", "Night Time", and "The Destiny". CD

Totally wicked guitar work from the mighty O'Donel Levy – easily one of the hippest talents to ever work for the Groove Merchant label! Levy's got a sound here that's a bit like Wes Montgomery on some of his late 60s sides, but also a fair bit funkier overall – a style that's steeped in soul and schooled on advancements in the 70s generation of funk fusion and blacksploitation soundtracks. Backings are relatively large – arranged by Manny Album, with players who include Charles Covington on organ and electric piano and Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet. Tracks include covers like "I Wanna Be Where You Are", "People Make the World Go Round", and "Maiden Voyage" – plus some nice originals, like "Dawn Of A New Day" and "Baa Waa". CD

Beautiful harmonies from this legendary group – set to some great backings that include Hal Blaine on drums and Larry Knechtel on keyboards! There's a lot of nice non-hit material – titles that include "Ivy", "Mansions", "The Right Somebody To Love", "Too Late", "Twelve Thirty", "Nothing's Too Good For My Little Girl", "Meditation Mama", and "Midnight Voyage". LP, Vinyl record album

Just the first album from pianist Sean Mason, but a set that already feels like an effort from a much more mature musician – a set of original music that's overflowing with the kind of life and color that you'd be more likely to hear on some of the bigger-name efforts on this label associated with Jazz At Lincoln Center! It's pretty daring to begin your recorded career with an extended original suite – but Mason's clearly got the strengths to pull it off, and gets some especially great help from Chris Lewis on tenor and Tony Glausi on trumpet, both players who can wrap around each other and somehow create a sound that's even greater than the sum of its parts! The group also features Felix Moseholm on bass and Domo Branch on drums – and titles include "Final Voyage", "Lullaby", "Closure", "Kid", "Lavender", "Silky M", and "One United". CD

A real treasure from reedman Maulawi Nurudin – originally recorded as part of the Strata Records scene in Detroit, but done in Chicago in 1973 – and issued here for the first time ever! The vibe here is almost more Tribe Records than some of the other Strata sides – as Maulawi blows tenor and other reeds over these modal grooves with drums from Tani Tabbal, plus bass and keyboards from other unknown musicians – all in a laidback style that's rich and soulful – almost a spiritual jazz take on territory that would later be explored by Grover Washington Jr, especially given Maulawi's use of soprano sax! Titles include great takes on "Maiden Voyage", "People Make The World Go Round", and "I Say A Little Prayer" – plus the originals "Orotunds", "Where Is The Place", and an "Unknown Track". LP, Vinyl record album

Riff weren't one of the only groups on the scene in the early 90s to tie old school harmonies with hip hop and new jack production elements – but given their vocal work on this album, they may well be one of the best – as the set definitely puts the vocals first, and really lets them find their flow! The group may be sporting a street look on the cover, but they've got the sensual warmth of old school Isleys at their best – really letting their voices flow and drift into a tune, a reference that's maybe more than apt, given that the album features a great remake of the Isley classic "Voyage To Atlantis"! Other tracks include "To Whom It May Concern", "Baby It's Yours", "Adjust Your Love", "Don't Go Nowhere", "Judy Had A Boyfriend", "Waiting", and "There'll Never Be". CD features the bonus track "Judy Had A Boyfriend (12" mix)". CD

Sweet funky keyboards from the Japanese scene – a set recorded by Shigeo Sekito as part of an ultra hi-fidelity series in the 70s, but done with a lean groove that's much more like some of the late 60s instrumental gems we love so much! Shigeo moves between electric piano, organ, and some moogier moments – and the backing is spare, but with a nice groove on most cuts – including percussion that helps the tunes skip along in a bossa-styled movement at times! Titles include very cool versions of "Maiden Voyage", "For Heaven's Sake", "Days Of Wine & Roses", "Summertime", "Wives & Lovers", "Fly Me To The Moon", and "Just Met A Strawberry Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare Canadian funk from the 70s – played by a hip little group who've also got a jazzy flavor too! The Sidewinders are a bit like American ensemble funk acts of the time – in that they can have an upbeat, tight approach to the groove when they want – but they also have a great ear for some gentler moments too, and sparkle almost even more on some of the ballad numbers on the set. Even the fuller groovers have some great standout elements – including sax bits that soar nicely out of the larger horn section – and overall, the album's got a great sense of character and personality, and is far more than just a few cats from up north trying to copy an American groove. Titles include "I Like Your Stuff", "A Voyage", "I Like To Dance", "Time For Loving", "Flat Foot Hustlin", "Can't You Feel The Fire", and "Gift To The Sun". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the grooviest albums we've ever seen on the Ranwood label – a set based around the keyboards talents of John Wood – who plays Fender Rhodes, Hammond, vibes, and both Yamaha and Baldwin organs on the set! The group's a trio mostly – and is really dominated by Wood's lines on keys, which often seem to be overdubbed. And unlike other pop-oriented sets on Ranwood, the sound here is deeper and more jazz oriented at points – although also nicely spacey and stretched out at others too. Titles include "A Ray Of Sunshine", "She Loves", "Maiden Voyage", "Rose Garden", "One Teardrop", "And I'll Come Back", and "Till Love Touches Your Life". LP, Vinyl record album

A definite tempest from the start to the finish – and a brilliant live demonstration of the mighty powers of the VSOP group! The ensemble features soaring acoustic sounds from the quintet lineup of Wayne Shorter on tenor and soprano sax, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums – all musicians who were experimenting with a lot of different styles at the time, especially electric ones – but come together here in an all-acoustic mode that's filled with wonderful solos throughout. You can definitely hear some of the inspiration the players each took from their own projects – but it's also focused back into a more solid, soulful style here – really opening up on long tracks that include "Eye of The Hurricane", "Maiden Voyage", "Lawra", and "Red Clay". LP, Vinyl record album

Bobby Watson is definitely back home here – really re-rooted in the kind of greatness he was giving us on record many years back, at a level that's come back strongly in recent years – thanks to a top-shelf release like this! As you'll note on the cover, Bobby's got his key early musical partner in place – bassist Curtis Lundy, with whom he cut some of his finest in the 80s – and the alto giant's also got some other wonderful bandmates in the lineup – especially trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, whose upbeat tone and way of reaching up with his sound really matches the positivity in Watson's horn. Other players include the great Cyrus Chestnut on piano and Victor Jones on drums – and Carmen Lundy, makes a very welcome vocal return on the title "Our Love Remains". Other tracks include the Watson originals "Side Steps", "Bon Voyage", "Back Home In Kansas City", and "Blues For Alto" – and other tunes include "Red Bank Heist", "Mind Wine", "The Star In The East", and "Dear Lord". CD

A reworked vision of Blue Note Records for the 90s – put together by Bob Belden, and featuring some excellent remakes of classics from the Blue Note songbook! Each tune has a slightly different flavor – and all work is played by the best artists of the then-revived label – a great way of showing the new talent Blue Note discovered, the old talent it helped bring back, and the rich legacy of sound they were still capable of sending forth! Titles include "Blue Train" by Greg Osby, "Evidence" by Ron Carter & TS Monk, "Maiden Voyage" by Dianne Reeves & Geri Allen, "Un Poco Loco" by Jacky Terrasson, "Tom Thumb" by John Scofield, "Una Mas" by Eliane Elias, "Song For My Father" by Rene Rosnes, "Recado Bossa Nova" by Gonzalo Rubalcaba, "Tanganyika Dance" by Kurt Elling, and "Alligator Boogaloo" by Junko Onishi & Freddie Hubbard. CD

A huge amount of 12" singles, stuffed into one mighty nice 4CD set – maybe not the greatest of all time, but still pretty darn wonderful overall! The set does an especially great job of looking at a late 70s moment when some of the hipper soul artists were able to get the extra space of a 12" single to really open up their sound – grooves that move past the shorter space of a 7", and really do plenty in the process – often in ways that are much more interesting than some of the overplayed disco of the time. There's 43 long grooves on the set – all 12" singles – and titles include "Space Age" by Jimmy Castor, "You Are A Star" by Aquarian Dream, "Flashlight" by Parliament, "Good Times" by Chic, "Ten Percent" by Double Exposure, "I Should've Loved Ya" by Narada Michael Walden, "Fantastic Voyage" by Lakeside, "You're My Occupation (ext)" by Chaz Jankel, "Expansions" by Lonnie Liston Smith, "And The Beat Goes On" by the Whispers, "You Got The Floor" by Arthur Adams, "Do It Any Way You Wanna (Tom Moulton mix)" by People's Choice, "Do What You Wanna Do" by T-Connection, "Twilight (inst)" by Maze, "You + Me + Love" by Undisputed Truth, "More Bounce To The Ounce (parts 1 & 2)" by Zapp, "Now That We Found Love (disco mix)" by Third World, "Hi Tension" by Hi Tension, "Dancing In Outer Space" by Atmosfear, "Money's Too Tight To Mention" by Valentine Brothers, "Searching" by Change, and "Running Away" by Roy Ayers. CD

Numero does it again – unleashing an amazing batch of work for the first time ever – all packaged in a very limited Record Store Day set! The collection features material that was pressed up at the tiny Boddie pressing plant in Cleveland – a wonderful range of local artists from the late 60s through the mid 80s – all served up with the usual Numero flair! The set's a rich discovery of sounds we'd never have heard otherwise – and although it's slanted heavily towards rare funk and soul, there's also some compelling indie rock sides too – especially some homegrown, dark-toned sounds from the 80s – clearly influenced by the styles in the UK underground. The set features 17 tracks in all – including "Don't Stop Smiling" by Jus Us, "Just A Dream" by Imperial Wonders, "Love Is On The Way" by Bill Spoon, "Let Me Go" by The Harmonics, "I'm Gonna Treat You Good" by The Donations, "Good For The Gander" by Hot Chocolate, "Woman You're Gonna Pay For This" by Wicked Lester, "The Voyage Of The Nautilus" by Russell Potter, and "Snakepit" by Berlin West. LP, Vinyl record album

2 CDs of artists recording for LTJ Bukem's Good Looking label, with the atmospheric "intelligent" sound he became known for, though we prefer to just call it smooth jazzy jungle: Big Bud "Freedom", Blame "Alpha: 7", Seba "Remedy", Blu Mar Ten "She Moves Through", Artemis "Sun Voyage" and Big Bud "Mystique". CD

A great overview of work on the legendary Three Blind Mice label from 70s Japan – a crucial imprint that gave exposure to the new generation of Japanese jazz musicians who were forging a fresh sort of ideas apart from their counterparts in the US! Three Blind Mice was always a label that was dedicated to the best quality of sound – not just in the top-shelf recording techniques they employed, but also in the way they let their artists approach the material – often without any sort of concern for commercial potential or crossover appeal – a quality that's really kept the TBM material very fresh over the years! Most tracks are nice and long – far from short crossover fusion or pop jazz of the period – and titles include "Derrick's Dance" by Teruo Nakamura, "Tones For Joan's Bones" by Fumio Karashima, "New Shade Of Blue" by Naosuke Miyamoto, "Sunset On The Street" by Sunao Wada with Minoru Ikeno, "Feel Like Makin Love" by Isao Suzuki, "Lady T" by Isoo Fukui, "Sunday Thing" by Toshiyuji Miyama & The New Herd, "Maiden Voyage" by Tatsuya Takahashi & The Tokyo Union, "Ain't Nothin New Under The Sun" by Ayako Hosokawa, and "Nardis" by the trio of Masabumi Kikuchi, Hideo Kanai, and Masahiko Togashi. LP, Vinyl record album

A treasure trove of late 70s French disco funk – actually sound library material from the Tele Music archives – featuring positively killer bass lines, keys and drums, with a warmth and a groove that just slays so much of the better known dancefloor material of the era! Includes great stuff by Spatial & Co, Disco & Co, Voyage and Arpadys – should be classic cosmic disco all the way! The vinyl version features 7 tracks: "Bass Power", "Electric Maneges", "Exotic Guide", "Future Vision" and "All The Bass" by Spatial & Co, ""Phantom Rock" by Disco & Co, and "I Love You Dancer" (instrumental version) by Voyage. LP, Vinyl record album

A deep dive into the work of a wonderful record label – the Strata imprint from Detroit at the start of the 70s – a company who served up some very spiritual sounds in the short time they were issuing records! Don't confuse Strata with Strata East – although the labels do have some similarity – as Strata also brought in a bit more electricity on some of its cuts, and some slight touches of funk as well – a very special brew in which the Detroit jazz underground of the time were mixing things up in so many different ways – really given a lot of freedom to explore styles that are still ahead of their time all these many years later! Key albums on Strata have been reissued in recent years, but the set also features some overlooked gems by more obscure artists too – titles that include "Maiden Voyage" by Ursula Walker, "Salsa (part 1)" by Fito Foster, "Time Is Wasting" by TJ, "Joy Road" by Lyman Woodard Organization, "All But Blind" by Mixed Bag, "Island Song" by Kenny Cox, "Face At My Window" by Sam Sanders, "People We Got To Do Better" by The Soulmates, "You're The One" by TJ, "Noh Word" by Contemporary Jazz Quintet, "Tune For LN" by Larry Nozero, "Where Is The Place" by Maulawi, "Saturday Night Special" by Lyman Woodard, and "Beyond The Dream" by Kenny Cox. LP, Vinyl record album

The classic debut of Air – one of the fresher avant pop albums of the late 90s to say the least, and one of the best since then, too! Perhaps the greatest achievement here is how they deftly layer such broad influences of the preceding few decades – from soaring string film schools, to nascent electronic pop, to fusiony jazz keyboards and much in between and beyond – into a wholly original vibe all Air's own that's as breezy today as it was at the end of the 90s. Includes "La Femme D'Argent", the standout classic "Sexy Boy", "All I Need", "Kelly Watch The Stars", "Talisman". "Remember", "You Make It Easy", "Ce Matin La", "New Star In The Sky" and "Le Voyage De Penelope". LP, Vinyl record album

The third album from Brian Auger & The Trinity – and the first to feature the group recording without vocals from Julie Driscoll! The sound here is just as soulful as before – a tight take on American soul jazz and funky soul of the 60s – pushed along by Auger's mighty work on the Hammond organ, and featuring (this time around) some male lead vocals, which seem to give the album an even deeper feel than earlier work! Auger's included some great covers of American tunes like "I Want To Take You Higher", "Listen Here", and "Maiden Voyage" – all redone with some great Brit beat group touches – and the album also features a great take on Faure's "Pavane", and Auger's own "Just You Just Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing sounds from Robert Glasper – easily one of our favorite fresh jazz talents of the past decade or so! There's really nobody like Glasper, and you'll hear that from the very first notes of this set – a flurry of marvelously blocky chords – wrapped together in these waves of sound that are completely seductive – complex at one point, but perfectly organic at another – almost to the piano what Coltrane was to the tenor – although Glasper's sound is nothing like Coltrane – if that won't confuse you enough! The rhythms leap along with Robert's piano in an equally joyous way – stretching out, finding new space, and taking the music into rich new territory – more than enough to make this record one of Blue Note's best so far of the 21st Century. Titles include "G & B", "Of Dreams To Come", "FTB", "One For Grew", "Tribute", and "Maiden Voyage/Everything Is In The Right Place". LP, Vinyl record album

Though there are a number of different LPs using the VSOP title in a few different ways, this was the first, a double album recorded live at the Newport Jazz Festival, featuring Herbie leading groups that represented a number of different points in his career. The first lineup later recorded under the name VSOP, and was a re-grouping of the classic Miles quintet, with Freddie Hubbard in Miles' place, in fine form here, the group playing nice expansive lines as they stretch out. They take on "Maiden Voyage" and "Nefertiti" and really stretch out on "Eye Of The Hurricane". Sides 3 and 4 are the real treat, with Herbie's early electric band that had recorded the spacey Warner's LPs playing "Toys" and "You'll Know When You Get There", and then the funk band that was contemporanious with the release of the LP, featuring Headhunters Paul Jackson & Bennie Maupin, and some heavy wah wah funk from Wah Wah Watson, on "Hang Up Your Hang Ups" & "Spider". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Herbie Hancock's great acoustic moments of the 70s – quite a contrast to his more dynamic electric work of the time, with the subtle, sensitive approach of some of his Japanese trio sessions! Likewise, Chick Corea reminds us that he's great on the acoustic keys too – and works here alongside Herbie on these long-spiralling tracks with no other instrumentation at all – just sublime twin-piano magic as both players bring their voices together, then rise up individually – on titles that include "Maiden Voyage", "Button Up", "Liza", "La Fiesta", and "February Moment" – all coming out very fresh and different here! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest Bobby Hutcherson albums for Blue Note – a classic session recorded in quartet form, with a style that seems to set a whole new standard for the vibes in modern jazz! The group here is sublime – Herbie Hancock on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums – all working with Bobby in cool, blocky chords, with a sound that lies somewhere on the road to "out", but has more of a swing than Hutcherson's "new thing" recordings! The balance is a perfect one – exciting and fresh, but still always soulfully grooving – and titles include a sublime version of Herbie's "Maiden Voyage" – plus originals by Hutcherson that include "The Omen", "Aquarian Moon", "Rojo", and "Head Start". LP, Vinyl record album

A massive collection of work from Lakeside – one of the leading lights of the Solar Records label in the early 80s, and one of the label's key groups in helping to redefine funk in the decade! Lakeside take the large ensemble funk format of the late 70s, and give it a leaner, cleaner groove – really winnowing things down so that everything's right on the money, and the grooves come out great – while still also holding on to enough soul music energy in the vocals, songwriting, and presentation to set themselves apart from some of the more facile groove groups of the time. This 3CD set features 42 killers from Lakeside's glory days, pulled from their full range of recordings for Solar – titles that include "Rough Rider", "One Minute After Midnight", "Fantastic Voyage", "From 9:00 Until", "I Need You", "Strung Out", "Your Wish Is My Command", "The Urban Man", "Back Together Again", "We Want You", "Raid", "Turn The Music Up", "Real Love", "Untouchable", "Show You The Way", "Tinse Town Theory", "Money", "Party Patrol", "Still Feeling Good", "Bullseye", "U Got It Goin On", "All For You", "I Want To Hold Your Hand", "If You Like Our Music", "I Can't Get You Out Of My Head", "Shot Of Love", and "Your Love Is On The One". CD

A weird little record from underground romantic singer Lewis – an artist who's partially in a European tradition that runs from French singers up through the New Romantics generation – but one who's also a definitely individual, with an approach that's all his own! The album's got a slinky, classy sort of feel – one that befits Lewis' white suit on the cover, standing in front of a private jet and Mercedes – but the backings are also oddly dark, almost some ironic commentary on romance, with these moody undercurrents that almost make the whole thing feel like it comes from the Genesis P Orridge side of the universe! Let's put it this way: If you tried to use the record in an act of seduction, you might find yourself driving your partner out of the bedroom in a hurry – but if you're looking for a wonderfully weird, wonderfully oddball record, you've definitely found it. Titles include "We Danced All Night", "Bon Voyage", "As The Boats Go By", "So Be In Love With Me", "It's A New Day", and "Don't Stop It Now". CD

A fantastic album of spacey keyboards, and one of the most abstract albums from the team of Matt Cooper and Andreas Allen. The tracks have the band's usual slow funky feel (which we love!), but there's also a very strong focus on electronic keys – played in a bubbling 70s style that sounds like it was lifted from a lost soundtrack, or some killer CTI session. Titles include "Piano-scape", "The Moon After The Fall", "Sketchbook Of A Voyage", and "Finding ALH84001". There's some nice guest appearances, including a trumpet solo by Byron Wallen – and the whole album's a very tight package, and a must for fans of Marc Moulin, Slide Five, or Chris Bowden. CD

The complete Columbia Records studio sessions from pianist Denny Zeitlin – and a package that features a fair bit of unreleased material too – not just alternate takes, but loads of fresh new tunes recorded at the time – appearing here for the first time ever! Zeitlin's a hell of a pianist, especially during these years – a really fresh 60s talent who works with a sound that's both warmly lyrical and somewhat modern – stylistically rooted in Bill Evans' inspiration, but clearly his own man by the time of these recordings! Denny's never fully gotten his due, and reissues over the years have been spare – so this package is not only a much-needed look as his mighty talents, but also a key discovery of 12 previously unreleased numbers. Players include Charlie Haden, Cecil McBee, and Joe Halpin on bass – and Freddie Waits, Oliver Johnson, and Jerry Granelli on drums. Titles include "Blue Phoenix", "Spring Is Here", "Western Thing", "Slipstream", "Later", "Labyrinth", "The Journey Home", "Carole's Garden", "Skippying", "Carnival", "Dormammu", "Living Alone", "Night & Day", "Maiden Voyage", "Nica's Tempo", "Cathexis", and "Repeat". CD

A much-needed look at a key force in Italian disco – the legendary Baia Degli Angeli, a club that was as important to Europe as the Paradise Garage was to New York! The CD features a great selection of numbers that played strongly on Angeli's dancefloor in the late 70s, most of which have a spacey electronic quality that links them strongly to some of the best underground club of New York at the time. The CD's mixed together in a way that recreates the feel of the legendary floor – and titles include "Midnight Madness" by Don Ray, "Zone" by Rhythm Makers, "Don't You Know Who Did It" by John Forde, "Pazuzu" by Tony Silvester & The New Ingredient, "Surprise" by Andre Gagnon, "Sweet Lady" by Chain Reaction, "Timing Forget The Timing" by Black Devil, "Magnifico Mambo" by Five Letters, "Come On & Rock" by Needa, "Point Zero" by Voyage, "Un Habit En La Bemol" by Flashback Roger Gravel, and "Monkey Star" by Arpadys. CD

A reworked vision of Blue Note Records for the 90s – put together by Bob Belden, and featuring some excellent remakes of classics from the Blue Note songbook! Each tune has a slightly different flavor – and all work is played by the best artists of the then-revived label – a great way of showing the new talent Blue Note discovered, the old talent it helped bring back, and the rich legacy of sound they were still capable of sending forth! Titles include "Blue Train" by Greg Osby, "Evidence" by Ron Carter & TS Monk, "Maiden Voyage" by Dianne Reeves & Geri Allen, "Un Poco Loco" by Jacky Terrasson, "Tom Thumb" by John Scofield, "Una Mas" by Eliane Elias, "Song For My Father" by Rene Rosnes, "Recado Bossa Nova" by Gonzalo Rubalcaba, "Tanganyika Dance" by Kurt Elling, and "Alligator Boogaloo" by Junko Onishi & Freddie Hubbard. CD

The classic debut of Air – one of the fresher avant pop albums of the late 90s to say the least, and one of the best since then, too! Perhaps the greatest achievement here is how they deftly layer such broad influences of the preceding few decades – from soaring string film schools, to nascent electronic pop, to fusiony jazz keyboards and much in between and beyond – into a wholly original vibe all Air's own that's as breezy today as it was at the end of the 90s. Includes "La Femme D'Argent", the standout classic "Sexy Boy", "All I Need", "Kelly Watch The Stars", "Talisman". "Remember", "You Make It Easy", "Ce Matin La", "New Star In The Sky" and "Le Voyage De Penelope". CD

One of Roy Ayers' greatest albums of the 70s – a set that tightens up the groove from previous Polydor productions, yet still keeps all the soul intact! The record picks up the style begun with the Mystic Voyage album, and pushes it to some slightly tighter territory – a more focused Roy Ayers sound that's totally great, and which makes the album sparkle wonderfully throughout! All aspects of Roy's talents are perfectly balanced here – his warm vocals and jazzy vibes, his uptempo grooves and mellower rhythms – played to perfection by a hip lineup of players that includes Philip Woo on electric piano, Justo Almario on tenor sax, and Steve Cobb on drums. Edwin Birdsong guests a bit on the record – bringing in a nice edge to a few tunes – the album's got a really unique dark undercurrent, even in smoother moments – that subtle Roy Ayers' approach that's always made him one of our all-time favorite artists. Titles include the wonderful jazz-tinged "Searching", a great midtempo stepper that we really love; the funky break track "The Memory", a righteous number that feels like work from earlier records; the clubby classic "One Sweet Love to Remember"; and the sweet instrumental "Vibrations", which has a mellow kickback feel! Other tunes include "Higher", "Domelo (Give It To Me)", "Baby I Need Your Love", and "Better Days". CD

Sublime duets between Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock – both 70s masters of the keyboard, but working here in an acoustic setting that's a great reminder of the talents both musicians had at the start! The tracks are very long, and balance structure with a lot of improvised intensity – often at a level that recalls some of the longform acoustic trio work that Herbie recorded for the Japanese market in the 70s, mixed with some of the sharper edges that Corea brought to his avant styles from the decade before! The presentation is wonderful – a very ear-opening record for fans of both artists – and titles include "Homecoming", "Bouquet", "The Hook", "Ostinato", "La Fiesta", and "Maiden Voyage". LP, Vinyl record album

All of Herbie Hancock's classic 60s recordings for Blue Note – packaged in one whopping set, along with a pretty fair number of previously unreleased takes! The 6CD set features 54 tracks in all – and is beautifully packaged in a book-like format that folds out nicely, and which also contains a good booklet with writings on the music, and full discographical notes! The set features all the material from the albums Takin Off, My Point Of View, Inventions & Dimensions, Empyrean Isles, Maiden Voyage, Speak Like A Child, and The Prisoner – plus the unissued tracks! CD

Includes the tracks "Watermelon Man", "'Round Midnight", "Cantaloupe Island", "Maiden Voyage", "Circle", "The Sorcerer", "Tell Me A Bedtime Story", "Hidden Shadows", "Chameleon", "Joanna's Theme", "Butterfly", "People Music", "Milestones", "4 A.M.", "Come Running To Me", "Finger Painting", "Stars In Your Eyes", "Rockit", "St. Louis Blues", and "Manhattan". CD