Groovy Christmas! This set's got 18 loungey and jazzy tunes plucked from the vaults of Capitol/EMI and related labels – plus a few even groovier "surprise bonus tracks"! The whole thing's very much in the hipster Ultra Lounge style – and tracks include "Jingle Bell Rock" by Wayne Newton, "Frosty The Snowman" by The Ventures, "Christmas Island" by Bob Atcher & The Dinning Sisters, "Exotic Night" by Martin Denny, "Happy Holidays" by Peggy Lee, "Sleigh Ride/Santa Claus' Party" by Ferrante & Teicher, "Warm December" by Julie London, "The Merriest" by June Christy, "The Christmas Waltz" by Nancy Wilson, "Snowfall" by George Shearing, and lots more! CD

Sublime 70s material from Art Blakey – a double-length set that pulls together most of the tracks from the albums Buhania and Anthenagain, and also throws in a previously unreleased number too! Blakey's groove at this point in his career is quite different than the Jazz Messengers style of the 60s – equally soulful, yet in very fresh ways – really stretching out to embrace the sounds and players of the new generation – with Woody Shaw's trumpet and Carter Jefferson's tenor making some especially strong appearances – and some really standout electric piano work from Cedar Walton, which shapes the sound of the set wonderfully. Jon Hendricks turns in some beautiful vocals on versions of "Moanin" and "Along Came Betty" – and other tracks include the famous "Mission Eternal", sampled by Tribe Called Quest – plus "Without A Song", "Gertrude's Bounce", "Siempre Mi Amor", "One For Trane", "Fantasy In D", and "Chant For Bu". CD

The great altoist Sonny Criss is one of our favorite-ever reed players, and this beautiful session from his late 60's "comeback" period is a loving portrait of the wide range of his deep deep talents! On the surface, the record is deceptively simple, and only features Criss' work on alto sax, alongside with a piano trio led by Walter Davis. On hearing, though, the album is a rich tapestry of many soulful colors, all wrought by Sonny in a tone that had travelled the world – and which had been beaten down by years of struggle. All tracks are great, and titles include "On A Clear Day", "Blues In The Closet", "Wee", and "A Million Or More Times". CD

Hard to figure out where this material is from – and the notes don't help much! Side one contains "Jitterbug Waltz" and "Music Matador" – both pretty clearly from the sessions Dolphy cut with Alan Douglas. Side two, though, features three tunes – "Juggin Around", "Awful Mean", and "Litty Ditty" – that are very different, and which supposedly include Cannonball, Benny Green, Tommy Flanagan, and Gene Ammons. They're very different, and some pretty nice soul jazz material, but we're not really sure if Dolphy's on them! LP, Vinyl record album

Super-righteous work from William S Fischer – the ultra-hip arranger who was one of the most important forces in the late 60s underground soul jazz scene! Fischer is best known for his work with Eugene McDaniels, Eddie Harris, and Les McCann – almost akin to the sorts of collaborative influence that David Axelrod had with Cannonball Adderley or Lou Rawls, but with a style that was decidedly darker, and trippier. This album's one of the few ever recorded under his own name – originally done for the tripped-out jazz imprint Embryo, and featuring a unique blend of moog, strings, funk, and soul! Billy Cobham plays drums and percussion on the set, Bill Robinson sings on a few numbers, and Walter Sear adds in some extra moog next to Fischer's own work – but the real brilliance comes from the overall concept – funky one minute, laidback and trippy the next, very much in the spirit of some of the righteous crossover funk, soul, and rock recordings coming from McDaniels and Axelrod at the time! Titles include "Patience Is Virtue", "Saigon", "Green Forever", "Chains", "Electrix", "Capsule", and "There's A Light That Shines". LP, Vinyl record album

Missouri has never sounded so beautiful before – and, in some ways, maybe neither have guitarist Pat Metheny and bassist Charlie Haden! The album's a real standout for both musicians during this time in their career – almost a back to basics with the kind of sound that they really put forth in the 70s, especially on ECM – with these subtle, simple, almost painterly progressions that are completely mesmerizing – even though they always understate their presence. Tunes are from a variety of sources – and include great reworkings of "Cinema Paradiso", "Two For The Road", "The Moon Song", "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress", and "Precious Jewel" – plus the originals "Waltz For Ruth", "Our Spanish Love Song", "First Song", "Message To A Friend", and "Tears Of Rain". CD

An amazing record by one of England's greatest jazz talents ever! This very rare album was recorded in the US, under the supervision of Roland Kirk – who also plays on the record, along with Walter Bishop Jr, Sam Jones, and Louis Hayes. Tubby's tone is fantastic – with all the raw mature cutting solo power that's made his early 60s sessions some of our favorite jazz records ever. Putting him on a record with Kirk was a genius move – as Kirk's approach brings out a nuttiness in Hayes that you don't always get in his otherwise more straight-laced British groups. Titles include "Lady E", "Afternoon In Paris", "I See With My Third I", and "For Heaven's Sake". Nice long tracks, too! CD

Singer Jose James has always had a classic vibe to his vocals – but that quality is maybe put forward even more here on this well-crafted Christmas album – a set that somehow manages to bridge the gap between classic Holiday records and the more contemporary work that James has given us on recent records! The focus here is very strongly on his voice – upfront and unadorned, and presented at a level that reminds us that James has been one of the freshest new singers in jazz over the past decade or so – working with help from Aaron Parks on piano, Ben Williams on bass, and Jaharis Yokely on drums – plus a few great solo spots from Marcus Strickland on tenor. Titles include the beautiful "Christmas In New York" – plus "My Favorite Things", "Christmas Day", "The Christmas Waltz", "This Christmas", and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". LP, Vinyl record album

A great date from the later revival years of altoist Frank Morgan – thanks to a warm performance from the Cedar Walton trio! One of the great things about late Morgan is the way in which he's able to really fit himself into different settings – still holding onto his soulful roots, but also fluidly picking up the best elements of the groups he works with – such as the rich tones and soaring styles that Walton brings to this session! Cedar's piano always sounds great with a horn, and the warmth in Morgan's alto is quite a different match than some of Walton's tenor-driven sessions – and bassist Tony Dumas and drummer Billy Higgins keep things in just the right subtle side of the spectrum to fit the mood. Titles include "The Rubber Man", "Yes & No", "Manha De Carnaval", "Now's The Time", "Three Flowers", and "Third Street Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most obscure albums in this great series focusing on the stars of MPB – and one that certainly sticks to the more far out regions of Brazilian music! The set contains a great book with photos of and writings on the artists – percussionist Djalma Correa, reed player Hermeto Pascoal, and singers Tom Ze and Walter Franco. The work on the album's all pretty rare too – and the set includes "Toc" and "Cademar" by Ze, "Cabeca" and "Agua E Sal" by Walter Franco, "Tudo Madeira" by Djalma Correa, and "Plin", "Missa Dos Escravos", and "Chorinho Pra Ele" by Hermeto. LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful album from the great Cedar Walton trio that featured Sam Jones on bass and Billy Higgins on drums – a really beautiful group of musicians who completely transformed the sound of the piano trio in the 70s! The group played together often in the 70s, and they've never sounded better than on an album like this – freely soulful and dancing, with Walton in firm command of his talents – sometimes coming on with the strength of his early 60s material, but always opening up with a more exploratory vibe too. Walton worked often in this mode for the decades that followed this set – but this Japanese album is almost the start of that great legacy, and still one of the best from this group! Titles include "Con Alma", "Suite Sunday", "Suntory Blues", and "Fantasy In D". CD

One of the last great albums that Hank Mobley ever cut! Although Mobley's 70s output was nothing compared to his 60s Blue Note work, this 1972 session for Cobblestone/Muse is a winner, and features the aging tenorist co-leading a crack quintet with Cedar Walton, and featuring Billy Higgins, Sam Jones, and Charles Davis. The set's freer than Mobley's Blue Note work, but the group's right on the money – and the record is dominated by fierce soulful solos. Walton plays both acoustic and electric piano, at times, the record feels as if it might have been issued on the Black Jazz label. Tracks include "Sabia", "Breakthrough", "Early Morning Stroll", and the beautiful "House On Maple Street". CD

An incredible collection – and one that fills in a crucially under-documented side of the New York dancefloor generation – the wealth of special mixes and edits that were made for that city's important DJs for their own use in clubs! The package sorts through a mountain of never-issued acetates, and goes way past conventional disco or rare club collections – to showcase the special mixing talents these DJs brought to their re-presentation of the material – which was usually done on tape, then pressed onto acetate discs for their own private use! Those rare treasures are brought forth here – in a beautiful package that's also overflowing with fantastic notes that finally give this lost history its due – all handled by Al Kent – who's a hell of a mixer himself, as well as an underground club historian. Vinyl part 1 features five different records, all with lots of space for the tunes to stretch out – and titles include "I Just Wanna Say I Love You (John Luongo rmx)" by Leon Collins, "What About Love (Tony Gioe rmx)" by Marboo, "Ten Percent (Walter Gibbons Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Double Exposure, "Inside America (Rick Gianatos disco queen acetate edit)" by Juggy Murray Jones, "Dancing Free (John Luongo rmx)" by Hot Ice, "Black Water Gold (Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by The Sunshine Band, "Magic Bird Of Fire (Francois Kevorkian Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Salsoul Orchestra, "It's Good For The Soul (Jay Negron Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Salsoul Orchestra, "My Love Is Free (Walter Gibbons disco madness rmx)" by Double Exposure, "Reaching Out For Happiness (Jonathan Fearing rmx)" by Fay Hauser, "Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Tom Savarese rmx)" by Love Symphony Orchestra, "The Beat Goes On & On (Jim Burgess rmx)" by Ripple, "I Wanna Be Near You (John Morales Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Ruby Andrews, "I've Been Looking For Somebody (Walter Gibbons rmx)" by TC James & The Fist O Funk Orchestra, "The Disco Scene (Rick Gianatos rmx)" by Lake Shore Drive, "Bumpsie's Whipping Cream (Tom Savarese rmx)" by TC James & The Fist O Funk Orchestra, and "Janice (Bobby DJ Guttadoro rmx)" by Skip Mahoney. LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible collection – and one that fills in a crucially under-documented side of the New York dancefloor generation – the wealth of special mixes and edits that were made for that city's important DJs for their own use in clubs! The package sorts through a mountain of never-issued acetates, and goes way past conventional disco or rare club collections – to showcase the special mixing talents these DJs brought to their re-presentation of the material – which was usually done on tape, then pressed onto acetate discs for their own private use! Those rare treasures are brought forth here – in a beautiful package that's also overflowing with fantastic notes that finally give this lost history its due – all handled by Al Kent – who's a hell of a mixer himself, as well as an underground club historian. Vinyl part 2 features five full records – all with lots of space for the tracks to stretch out – and titles include "My Number's Up (Tee Scott rmx)" by The Salsoul Orchestra, "The Love Bug Done Bit Me Again (David Todd rmx)" by Skyliners, "LA Sunshine (Robert Ouimet rmx)" by Aura, "Love Has Come My Way (Jim Burgess rmx)" by Tony Valor Sound Orchestra, "Handsome Ma (Bobby DJ Guttadoro rmx)" by Sparkle Tuhran & Friends, "Love Thang (Tee Scott rmx)" by First Choice, "Burn Me Up (Jellybean Benitez edit)" by Kay Gees, "Love Is The Message (Tee Scott rmx)" by Brooklyn Express, "Changes (Jellybean Benitez rmx)" by Chain Reaction, "J'Ouvert (Frank Sestito rmx)" by John Gibbs & The Jam Band, "By The Way You Dance (Bobby DJ Guttadaro rmx)" by Bunny Sigler, "It's Good For The Soul (Walter Gibbons disco madness version)" by Salsoul Orchestra, and "It's A Better Than Good Time (Walter Gibbons rmx)" by Gladys Knight & The Pips. LP, Vinyl record album

A really fantastic little package – one that presents a key look at the farther reaches of Mississippi in the 60s, 70s, and 80s – served up in rare photographs, essays, readings, films, and a great batch of music all collected by William Ferris! Starting in the mid 60s, Ferris sought to document the disappearing scene around him – and emerged as almost a one-man version of Smithsonian/Folkways – as you'll discover in this fantastic box, which includes 1 DVD of film footage, plus a CD of rare blues, another CD of gospel, and a third CD featuring interviews and stories from Alex Haley, Barry Hannah, Bobby Rush, Shelby "Poppa Jazz" Brown, James "Son Ford" Thomas, BB King, Ray Lum, Pecolia Warner, and others! As usual with Dust-To-Digital, the whole package is beautiful – and includes a fabric-covered box with a heavy, hardcover book that features rare photos by Ferris, plus writings by Scott Barretta, David Evans, and Tom Rankin. Music is by James "Son Ford" Thomas, Lovey Williams, Scott Dunbar, Tom Dumas, Lovey Williams, Sam Myers, Sonny Boy Watson, Mississippi Fred McDowell, James Hughes, Rose Hill Church, Walter Lee Hood, Fannie Bell Chapman, The Southland Hummingbirds, and many more! CD

Early in his career, Donald Byrd spent some time in Paris – where he not only got a chance to work in a whole new setting with some really great players, but he also got to record some fantastic sides that still stand as some of his best hardbop work! This rare album was originally issued on the French Brunswick label – and it features a quintet that includes Bobby Jaspar on tenor, Walter Davis Jr on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Taylor on drums. The set was recorded live – and the tracks are all quite long – really giving the group ample room to stretch out on hard-blowing solos with a lot of soul. Titles include "Ray's Idea", "Flute Blues", "Paul's Pal", "Dear Old Stockholm", and "The Blues Walk". LP, Vinyl record album

Seventies reissue of this session that was originally held under the leadership of Pete LaRoca, and released on Douglas records under the title Turkish Women at the Bath. LaRoca originally cut this set for the tiny Douglas label, and the session's an amazing bit of modernist jazz that features a rare non-Sun Ra appearance by tenorist John Gilmore. Gilmore's playing is fantastic, and quite different from that on some of his Ra albums – probably because the rest of the quartet features Chick Corea and Walter Booker, who groove in a very modal vein. The material's out, but not too out – and although Corea and Gilmore's solos are quite far-reaching, they also snap back nicely into the tight playing of the ensemble. And forget all of your biases against Corea – because at this young age, his playing is great! Titles include "Sin Street", "Dancing Girls", "Love Planet", and "Bliss". LP, Vinyl record album

The great altoist Sonny Criss is one of our favorite-ever reed players, and this beautiful session from his late 60's "comeback" period is a loving portrait of the wide range of his deep deep talents! On the surface, the record is deceptively simple, and only features Criss' work on alto sax, alongside with a piano trio led by Walter Davis. On hearing, though, the album is a rich tapestry of many soulful colors, all wrought by Sonny in a tone that had travelled the world – and which had been beaten down by years of struggle. All tracks are great, and titles include "On A Clear Day", "Blues In The Closet", "Wee", and "A Million Or More Times". LP, Vinyl record album

Great live material from Ted Curson – a Parisian performance that features Ted with a range of different artists, really opening up in ways that show the full range of his tremendous talents! Paris always seems to bring out the best in Curson (we consider ourselves fortunate to have caught him there live years back, sharing a stage with Rufus Harley) – and this set shows Ted really taking full advantage of the opportunities the scene offers him. Some cuts are straight small combo jazz – with Ted's trumpet burning it up over backing from the trio of pianist Alain Jean-Marie. Other numbers add in a bit of backup vocals, behind Curson's own bluesy lead. And still others feature added alto, flute, and percussion – making for a further level of expression that we don't usually hear on an album from Ted. Curson's vocal performances are peppered throughout the double-length set – and almost seem to be more crowd pleasing moments, where he might be expected to warble a standard for the overseas audience – but they do have a sort of charm, given the raspy style of singing – and one number, a hip take on "Summertime", is actually a funky groover that really makes happy that Ted decided to sing along (he gets some help on that number from soulful Sylvia Howard, too!) Titles include "Reava's Waltz", "Tears For Dolphy", "Caravan", "Dig", "Round Midnight", "Milestones", "Confirmation", "Cantaloupe Island", and "Pilma Boogie". CD

The only Blue Note album ever cut by pianist Walter Davis Jr – but a heck of a hard-swinging set, and possibly his greatest album ever! Although Davis is more frequently heard in trio formation as a leader, this set brings him back to the mode used during some of his bop sideman dates of some years before – two completely solid horn players in the frontline, Donald Byrd on trumpet and Jackie McLean on alto – both blowing with a tremendous amount of soul and spirit on each track! Jackie's nicely sharp edges helps push Davis strongly – and rhythm work by Sam Jones on bass and Art Taylor on drums also add strongly to the punch of the set as well. Titles are all original compositions by Walter – and tracks include "Smake It", "Rhumba Nhumba", "Minor Mind", and "Millie's Delight". LP, Vinyl record album

70s 2-fer that combines 2 classic Dolphy sessions – Looking Ahead and The Quest. Looking Ahead is Legendary meeting between Dolphy and Ken McIntyre – and a record that's filled with sharp-edged new ideas! The pair play alto and flute, and they're backed by Walter Bishop, Sam Jones, and Art Taylor. The rhythm's perhaps more soulful than you'd expect – but the reed work is amazing, and the record's got a slyly sinister edge that still holds up extremely well. Titles include "Lautir", "Curtsy", "Dianna", and "Head Shakin". The Quest is a session that was originally recorded under the leadership of pianist Mal Waldron. Like a lot of Waldron's records from the time, this set shows an amazing desire for new forms and modern ideas, and the mix of players – Dolphy, Booker Ervin, Ron Carter, Joe Benjamin, and Charlie Persip – pulls the material in a number of different ways. Carter plays bowed cello, as he did on Dolphy's Out There session, and he gives the set a dark moody feel. Ervin's in his best modernist mode, and he ably trades lines with Dolphy and keeps the whole thing moving nicely. Waldron's writing and arranging is superb, and the tracks feature a lot of weird time structures and unusual modal patterns. Includes the tracks "Status Seeking", "Warm Canto", "Warp and Woof", and "Fire Waltz". LP, Vinyl record album

We'll be the first to admit that the piano and compositions of John Lewis can sometimes be a bit stiff and academic – but that's definitely not the case on this great little record! The album features interpretations of Lewis' work by the great Farmer/Golson Jazztet – and is a pretty sweet batch of tracks that adds a lot of the emotion and soul that's usually missing from Lewis' music. Cedar Walton's playing the piano parts, which probably helps the groove a bit, and the group's tight hard sound puts in a "bottom" that you'd hardly hear when listening to John Lewis with the MJQ. In fact, Lewis isn't even on the record – just billed in the title because he contributed the compositions – classics that include "Odds Against Tomorrow", "Bel", "Milano", and "New York 19". CD

Super-righteous work from William S Fischer – the ultra-hip arranger who was one of the most important forces in the late 60s underground soul jazz scene! Fischer is best known for his work with Eugene McDaniels, Eddie Harris, and Les McCann – almost akin to the sorts of collaborative influence that David Axelrod had with Cannonball Adderley or Lou Rawls, but with a style that was decidedly darker, and trippier. This album's one of the few ever recorded under his own name – originally done for the tripped-out jazz imprint Embryo, and featuring a unique blend of moog, strings, funk, and soul! Billy Cobham plays drums and percussion on the set, Bill Robinson sings on a few numbers, and Walter Sear adds in some extra moog next to Fischer's own work – but the real brilliance comes from the overall concept – funky one minute, laidback and trippy the next, very much in the spirit of some of the righteous crossover funk, soul, and rock recordings coming from McDaniels and Axelrod at the time! Titles include "Patience Is Virtue", "Saigon", "Green Forever", "Chains", "Electrix", "Capsule", and "There's A Light That Shines". CD

We're not sure what "soul-stream" is as a genre – but given the strength of this record, we'd be more than willing to grant it onto Curtis Fuller all by himself! The record's a gem that's even more obscure than Fuller's already-rare dates for Blue Note at the end of the 50s – a crack set done for the Warwick label, and one that features an all-star group who've got a great blend of modern edges and soulful rhythms. Alongside Fuller's trombone, other players include Yusef Lateef on tenor and flute, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Walter Bishop on piano, Buddy Catlett on bass, and Stu Martin on drums – making a rare early appearance here. Titles include "If I Were A Bell", "Do I Love You", "Chantized", "Flutie", "The Court", and "Mr L". LP, Vinyl record album

Curtis Fuller cooks it up nicely on this rare date for Epic from the 60s – a chance to hear the trombonist open up and move in a style that's a bit different than his work for Blue Note! The set's got a great undercurrent of soul – one that comes not just from Fuller's smoking solos, but also from the rhythm group – which features Les Spann on guitar, Walter Bishop Jr on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Buddy Catlett on drums. There's a few rough around the edges moments – the kind that are a great surprise in these early 60s Epic jazz sessions – and titles include "Teabags", "I'll Be Around", "Mixed Emotions", and "Playpen". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing record by one of England's greatest jazz talents ever! This very rare album was recorded in the US, under the supervision of Roland Kirk – who also plays on the record, along with Walter Bishop Jr, Sam Jones, and Louis Hayes. Tubby's tone is fantastic – with all the raw mature cutting solo power that's made his early 60s sessions some of our favorite jazz records ever. Putting him on a record with Kirk was a genius move – as Kirk's approach brings out a nuttiness in Hayes that you don't always get in his otherwise more straight-laced British groups. Titles include "Lady E", "Afternoon In Paris", "I See With My Third I", and "For Heaven's Sake". Nice long tracks, too! Beautiful reissue of the British version of this set – also issued in the US as Tubby's Back In Town. LP, Vinyl record album

A beautifully soulful set from Charles McPherson – and an overlooked gem from his early years at Prestige! The album's got Charles working with Cedar Walton on piano and Pat Martino on guitar – both of whom bring a fluid sense of soulfulness to the album, one that takes McPherson way past his boppish roots, into beautifully grooving, almost dancing territory. Rhythm is by Peck Morrison on bass and Lenny McBrowne on drums – and titles include "I Like The Way You Shake That Thing", "A Little Sugar Baby", "Once In A Lifetime", and "Without You". CD

A beautifully soulful set from Charles McPherson – and an overlooked gem from his early years at Prestige! The album's got Charles working with Cedar Walton on piano and Pat Martino on guitar – both of whom bring a fluid sense of soulfulness to the album, one that takes McPherson way past his boppish roots, into beautifully grooving, almost dancing territory. Rhythm is by Peck Morrison on bass and Lenny McBrowne on drums – and titles include "I Like The Way You Shake That Thing", "A Little Sugar Baby", "Once In A Lifetime", and "Without You". LP, Vinyl record album

An album with a very fitting title – as the whole set is practically a dictionary of soul music, for anyone who needs an understanding of the genre! The cover alone tells you that the set is something special – and the sounds within are even better – classic Otis Redding on Stax Records, at a time when he'd already gotten his initial groove going, and was really pushing into that later, more sophisticated style that had him crossing boundaries and opening up the music for a whole new generation! Key proof of this is his remake of "Try A Little Tenderness" – a standard that had been knocking around for years, but which is exploded with a whole new emotion in Otis' version – as are tunes like "Day Tripper" and "Tennessee Waltz", with results that are maybe not as completely sublime – but which still illustrate the way that Redding was reaching way beyond the indie soul scene with his appeal. But even better are the cuts intrinsic to the album – beautiful originals that include "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)", "My Lover's Prayer", "Ton Of Joy", "I'm Sick Y'All", and "She Put The Hurt On Me" – which really demonstrate Redding's growing strengths as a songwriter. LP, Vinyl record album

We've always loved the way that Cedar Walton kept maturing in his style over the years – and this 80s album is a wonderful example of the way he really took off during his third decade in jazz! At one level, the tunes are very simple and basic – familiar trio settings, with David Williams on bass and Billy Higgins on drums – but Walton manages to work this subtle magic on the tunes as the album moves on – some hip undercurrents of soul, warmly flowing lyricism, and fresh ideas that make even the better-known cuts stand out from other readings. Higgins' drums help a lot to this end – always shifting up underneath the piano – almost with their own sense of melody at times – and the round, warm tones of David Williams certainly help ground the album nicely too. Titles include the Walton numbers "Ground Work", "Fantasy In D", "Theme For Red", and Another Star" – plus versions of "Once I Loved" and "Girl Talk From Harlow". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare and unissued work from Muddy Waters – mostly from his first decade at Chess Records – a time when both Waters and the label were helping reinvent the sound of blues in the postwar years! Muddy's already-released material is already so strong, it's hard to imagine the need for a set like this – but the package is way more than just unused oddities, or cleanup from the Chess vaults – and instead features a stunning batch of work that would be more than enough of a legacy for any other bluesman on his own! The settings vary throughout – and accompanying players include Sunnyland Slim or Otis Spann on piano, Tampa Red or Jimmy Rodgers on guitar, Junior Wells or Little Walter on harmonica, and Willie Dixon on bass. Titles include "Born Lover", "let Me Hang Around", "Smokestack Lightnin", "Last Time I Fool Around With You", "Mean Disposition", "Little Anna Mae", and "Where's My Woman Been". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that manages to effortlessly tie together its horns and Fender Rhodes – wrapping them up in a seductive groove that makes the album a gem all the way through! The group are an obscure one, but they've got a very unique, individual vibe on this rare early 70s set – working with very heavy contributions on tenor, soprano, and bass clarinet from Rick Lawn – who also wrote most of the tunes on the set – next to the Rhodes of Joel Chase, a really fantastic player who's graced with a strong sense of space and timing that really opens up the sound! Bassist Tom Ives is great too – and the rest of the quintet includes drums from Al Colone and congas from Ken Parmele – on titles that include "Cleanin Up", "Sunflower", "Waltz For Barbara", "Schizoid", "Sour Cream", and "Pharoah's Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastically beautiful album that strongly proves the old jazz adage "It's not the song, but the singer"! The "singer" in this case is alto player Sonny Criss – and the songs are a middle of the road batch of compositions, like "Sunny", "Willow Weep For Me", "Up Up & Away", and "Scrapple From the Apple". Forget the songs, in this case, because it's the "singer" who adds all the genius, as Criss' solos are fantastically warm, lyrical, and imaginative – far more so than you could imagine by just reading the titles on the album. We love all of the late 60s albums by Criss on Prestige, but this one's one of our favorites, and is a beautiful example of the late altoists sheer creative power in action. Other players include Cedar Walton, Tal Farlow, and Bob Cranshaw. CD

A great date from the later revival years of altoist Frank Morgan – thanks to a warm performance from the Cedar Walton trio! One of the great things about late Morgan is the way in which he's able to really fit himself into different settings – still holding onto his soulful roots, but also fluidly picking up the best elements of the groups he works with – such as the rich tones and soaring styles that Walton brings to this session! Cedar's piano always sounds great with a horn, and the warmth in Morgan's alto is quite a different match than some of Walton's tenor-driven sessions – and bassist Tony Dumas and drummer Billy Higgins keep things in just the right subtle side of the spectrum to fit the mood. Titles include "The Rubber Man", "Yes & No", "Manha De Carnaval", "Now's The Time", "Three Flowers", and "Third Street Blues". CD

A sweet trio set from guitarist Greg Skaff – set up here with the greats Ron Carter on bass and Tootie Heath on drums! Greg's often heard in a fuller setting – including records with a Hammond B3 in the mix – but this record showcases his cleaner, leaner sounds – a great tone played on a hollow-body guitar, given just the right amount of subtle rhythm accompaniment from Carter and Heath! Greg's clearly the driving creative force in the set – and by that, we mean that Ron and Tootie do a great job of following his lead – and Heath is an especially well-balanced drummer, really keeping the sound right. Titles include "Little Waltz", "Mr RC", "Old Devil Moon", "Angelica", "Caminando", "Ill Wind", "Polaris", and "Lady Of The Lavender Mist". CD

A rare recording from Charlie Mariano's "lost" years in Japan – an under-documented period of his career next to earlier American work and later 70s European fusion! At the time of the set, Charlie was living in Japan with (then) wife pianist Toshiko Akioshi – and opening up tremendously from a musical standpoint – exploring new sounds and new modes of expression that really took him a long way beyond the straighter jazz of his roots. This set has Charlie working with Japanese reedman Sadao Watanabe, in a session that features both players on alto sax, but also using folkloric flutes as well – mixing the crisper sax work with earthier, more organic tones that really make the album sound tremendous! This aspect of the record is featured on 2 long tracks – "God Has Mercy" and "Stone Garden Of Ryoanji" – both of which were written by Mariano, and which have a wonderful "jazz meets world" feel – nicely balanced by the more traditional jazz numbers "I Thought About You" and "Iberian Waltz", the latter of which is still a relatively exploratory Mariano number that runs for over 16 minutes! CD

The music of Roscoe Mitchell, served up here in a really amazing setting – all solo vibes, handled by Jason Adasiewicz, in a style that's very different than Roscoe's original versions of these tunes! If you've ever heard Adasiewicz solo, you'll already dig what's going on here – work on vibes that's deeply resonant, warmly chromatic, and full of some of the most human, honest, open expressions we've ever heard on the instrument! Jason's always been part of the avant underground in Chicago, but he's also a very spiritual player too – a quality that really comes out in a setting like this – as he unlocks very different currents in tunes that Mitchell originally presented on his own albums, or with the Art Ensemble Of Chicago. The whole thing is wonderfully hypnotic throughout – and titles include "Congliptious", "Old", "Carefree", "The Waltz", "Toro/Jo Jar", "The Key", "A Jackson In Your House", and "Daddy Rollin Stone". CD

A big international record from Amon Duul – and for good reason, too – as the set's filled with catchy little tracks that have this really cool blend of prog and glam! The style's almost like Roxy Music at points – with the vocals all compressed in the guitars, and this sinister vibe in the instrumentation – played by a group who clearly know how to stretch out more, but instead pack a lot of experimentation into shorter, groovier space. The vocals are in English, but accented – which gives them a further offbeat vibe – and titles include "The King's Chocolate Waltz", "Emigrant Son", "La Krautoma", "Metropolis", "Gala Gnome", and "Mr Kraut's Jinx". LP, Vinyl record album

One of their all-time classics! If you've ever bought an Art Ensemble album and said "Hmm, what's all the fuss about?", get this one. It'll change your mind. The band is in perfect form – and hits an incredible blend of free thinking modernism and soulful soloing, peppered with a healthy dose of humor. The tracks are shortish, and very tight – and titles include "Jackson In Your House", "Song For Charles", "The Waltz", and "Get In Line". LP, Vinyl record album

The complete recording of Tony Bennett and Bill Evans as a duo – the Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album from '75 and the '76 follow up Together Again – back to back, plus a bonus CD of alternate takes! If you've ever doubted the real jazz sensibility of Tony Bennett, the Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album is the one to change your mind – because Tony's working here in a marvelously unadorned setting – with only the piano of Bill Evans to back him up! The record's a rare gem from years after Bennett was cracking the pop charts, but was willing to pull back to the jazz of his roots – and the session's equally rare for Evans, who rarely worked with vocalists at this point in his career. The simplicity of the album is its strength – and together, the pair really sound tremendous – slightly faltering at times, but in a way that exposes a sense of humanity you might not find in other records, especially those by Bennett. Titles include "When In Rome", "Some Other Time", "The Touch Of Your Lips", "My Foolish Heart", "Waltz For Debby", and "Young & Foolish". Together Again is another gem, following the form of the first duos record exceptionally well, perhaps with Evan's piano a bit more prominent in the sound, and another fine batch of tunes, including "The Bad And The Beautiful", "Lucky To Be Me", "A Child Is Born", "Lonely Girl", "You Must Believe In Spring" and more. The bonus CD features alternate takes of material from the 2 albums, with versions of "You And Foolish", "The Touch Of Your Lips", "Some Other Time", "When In Rome", "Waltz For Debbie" and multiple versions of "The Bad And The Beautiful", "A Child Is Born", and more. CD

If you've ever doubted the real jazz sensibility of Tony Bennett, then this is an album to change your mind – because Tony's working here in a marvelously unadorned setting – with only the piano of Bill Evans to back him up! The record's a rare gem from years after Bennett was cracking the pop charts, but was willing to pull back to the jazz of his roots – and the session's equally rare for Evans, who rarely worked with vocalists at this point in his career. The simplicity of the album is its strength – and together, the pair really sound tremendous – slightly faltering at times, but in a way that exposes a sense of humanity you might not find in other records, especially those by Bennett. Titles include "When In Rome", "Some Other Time", "The Touch Of Your Lips", "My Foolish Heart", "Waltz For Debby", and "Young & Foolish". LP, Vinyl record album

Killer work from the classic late 50s years of the Jazz Messengers – and an album that Blue Note didn't choose to release until the end of the 70s! The record's a historic one – as it mark's Wayne Shorter's first session with the group, and the first time that they recorded his great composition "Lester Left Town" – a wonderful tune that sounds a bit different here than on the later Jazz Messengers recording of the composition. Shorter's talent is already burning brightly at this point – as is that of trumpeter Lee Morgan – and other group members include Walter Davis Jr on piano, Jymie Merritt on bass, and Blakey on drums. Titles include "Lester Left Town", "Haina", "The Midget", "Celine", and "Africaine", which has a guest appearance by Dizzy Reece on congas! CD

Quite an unusual record from Art Blakey – a rare big band session, recorded with a lineup that's quite different than the usual Jazz Messengers! Turns out, Blakey's quite good in this setting – and has the same firey energy to direct a larger ensemble that he has when working with a smaller quintet. The added players here really help him express some new musical ideas with greater depth – almost like the added percussionists on some of his drum-heavy Blue Note dates of the late 50s. Members of the group include John Coltrane and Al Cohn on tenor, Sahib Shihab on alto, Donald Byrd and Idrees Sulieman on trumpet, Melba Liston on trombone, and Walter Bishop on piano – and titles include "Last Date", "The Outer World", "Midriff", "Tippin", and "Pristine". LP, Vinyl record album

Four great albums from reedman Arthur Blythe – all together in one collection! First up is Lenox Avenue Breakdown – a stunning Columbia Records debut from Blythe! At the time of the date, Blythe had already spent years working in the jazz undergrounds on both coasts – developing a searing sound on alto sax that's perfect for the focused structure of this album – almost a tone poem of sorts, offering up a portrait of the Harlem scene that was a key part of Arthur's life at the time. The sounds are sharp, but also have a sense of energy that really holds them together – guiding the players through long readings of well-penned tunes by Blythe that are filled with loads of energy and life! Players include James Newton on flute, James Blood Ulmer on guitar, Bob Stewart on tuba, Cecil McBee on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and Guillermo Franco on percussion – and titles include "Odessa", "Slidin Through", "Down San Diego Way", and "Lenox Avenue Breakdown". In The Tradition is a gem – as the set represents the modern musician taking on a host of older jazz currents, while carving things out with his own special sort of soul! Half the tunes are familiar favorites, the other half originals – and Blythe moves far past his avant roots, to showcase his deep understanding of so many different shades of jazz – blowing alto beautifully throughout, in a very hip quartet that features Stanley Cowell on piano, Fred Hopkins on bass, and Steve McCall on drums! Titles include great takes on "Naima", "Jitterbug Waltz", "Caravan", and "In A Sentimental Mood" – plus the originals "Break Tune" and "Hip Dipper". Illusions is maybe the boldest of Arthur Blythe's albums for Columbia Records – as the set bristles with newly creative energy right from the start, and provides a great showcase for some of the criss-crossings of styles and rhythms that were taking place on the New York scene at the time! The lineup alone announces something special – a cool combination of James Blood Ulmer on guitar, John Hicks on piano, Fred Hopkins on bass, Abdul Wadud on cello, Bob Stewart on tuba, and Steve McCall on drums – working together in some slight variations at times, often with these angular edges that are perfectly sharpened by Arthur's amazing work on alto sax. The music's never too free, but quite outside for a major label at the time – balanced out so that it's never overindulgent at all. Titles include "Bush Baby", "Miss Nancy", "My Son Ra", and "Carespin With Mamie". Blythe Spirit is a set that showcases the never-ending growth and imagination of reedman Arthur Blythe during this fruitful period of his career – and his ability to effortlessly blend together different elements in his music – especially sides of the New York loft jazz scene, and the Chicago-based AACM! The tunes are beautiful – mostly originals, and showing a richer spirituality than even a year before – while still working in that compellingly rhythmic mode that Arthur was hitting during these years – in a lineup that features Blythe on alto, Abdul Wadud on cello, Kelvyn Bell on guitar, Steve McCall and Bobby Battle on drums, John Hicks on piano, Amina Claudine Myers on organ, and Fred Hopkins on bass. The mix of electric and acoustic elements is fantastic – very fresh, even all these many years later – and titles include "Misty", "Spirits In The Field", "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", "Reverence", and "Contemplation". CD

Like Dave Brubeck's legendary Time Out set? Try this one – a great record that takes off from the concept of the first, but which goes in some very fresh new directions – using the same great group with Paul Desmond on alto, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums! Dave's still working out some nutty time signatures here – but apart from the science, the thing that really makes the record cook is Desmond's alto – icy, edgey, floating, and always a treat – almost even more amazing in the space of some of these offbeat numbers. Titles include "Maori Blues", "Far More Drums", "Bluetee", "Far More Blue", and "It's A Raggy Waltz". LP, Vinyl record album

A mighty fresh Christmas album from pianist George Burton – one that goes way past familiar territory, with an unusual mix of tunes next to familiar Holiday favorites – and served up with a mix of sounds and styles that really sets things apart from the pack! George plays acoustic piano, but this isn't just another piano trio Holiday outing – as the set also features Burton on some harmonium, and a small string grouping in the lineup, next to the bass and drums in the group – plus inventive arrangements, and vocals on nearly every tune – sung on most by Nancy Harms, and by Aryssa Leigh Burrs on one more. Titles include "Fum Fum Fum", "Little Altar Boy", "We Three Kings", "Jesu Parvule", "Christmas Waltz", "Some Children See Him", "Christmas Time Is Here", and "The Holly & The Ivy". CD

A mighty fresh Christmas album from pianist George Burton – one that goes way past familiar territory, with an unusual mix of tunes next to familiar Holiday favorites – and served up with a mix of sounds and styles that really sets things apart from the pack! George plays acoustic piano, but this isn't just another piano trio Holiday outing – as the set also features Burton on some harmonium, and a small string grouping in the lineup, next to the bass and drums in the group – plus inventive arrangements, and vocals on nearly every tune – sung on most by Nancy Harms, and by Aryssa Leigh Burrs on one more. Titles include "Fum Fum Fum", "Little Altar Boy", "We Three Kings", "Jesu Parvule", "Christmas Waltz", "Some Children See Him", "Christmas Time Is Here", and "The Holly & The Ivy". LP, Vinyl record album

If you grew up in Chitown, like we did, you'll know that Jerry Butler never got old – and through the years he continued to make some pretty darn great music, even when he was falling far from the limelight in the rest of the country! This album's a great little early 80s effort that steps off from territory that Jerry explored on his LPs for Philly International – a smoothly stepping, sophisticated soul style that's a fair bit like work happening over at Chi-Soul records in its waning years. Jerry's voice is still incredible, and sounds really great on the mellower tunes on the set – perfect numbers for his maturing vocals, in a similar mode to Walter Jackson's late work. Titles include "No Fair Falling In Love", "All The Way", "Don't Be Afraid To Show How You Feel", "Ask Me What You Want", "Simple Beautiful", and "Night Life In The City". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best of Donald Byrd's early Blue Note albums – a sparkling set of hardbop tunes with a really souful edge! The album's one of a few that feature Byrd working with baritonist Pepper Adams – a frequent partner on his best recording dates of the late 50s, of which this set is one of the best. The rest of the group includes a rhythm section of Walter Davis, Sam Jones, and Art Taylor – all grooving nice and hard – plus tenor work by the great Charlie Rouse, whose raspy tone really gives the set a tremendous amount of depth. Tracks are a good blend of originals by Byrd and Davis, swinging with the lyrical beauty of a Horace Silver set of tracks – and titles include "Devil Whip", "Bronze Dance", "Clarion Calls", and "The Injuns". CD

One of Donald Byrd's most fantastic records for Blue Note – and one of three gems that he recorded with the great Sonny Red on alto sax! Byrd and Red work magnificently together – and the two of them play with a tightness and funkiness that's missing from a lot of their other records as leaders – this really sharp edge that makes Sonny sound even better than ever, and a slight funkiness in Byrd's trumpet – which really seems to point the way towards his groove of the 70s! Hank Mobley joins the group on tenor, Walter Booker is on bass, McCoy Tyner's on piano, and Freddie Waits is on drums – and the groove is tight and funky, with a mix of hard bop soloing and funkier Blue Note rhythm playing. Red burns throughout, especially on his own "Mustang", and on the cut "Dixie Lee". Other tracks include "Fly Little Bird Fly", "On The Trail", and "I'm So Excited By You". Plus, this CD reissue also includes 2 non-LP bonus cuts! CD

Wonderful work from an unsung hero of the soulful jazz underground of the 70s! Although Joe Chambers came to great fame as the writer and drummer behind some of Bobby Hutcherson's best records late 60s, he didn't really ever make that many records under his own name as a leader – and this date is not only one of the few that he cut that way, but also one of the best! Joe's powerful presence on the record is tremendous throughout – and he works with an ultra-hip lineup that shifts throughout the album, and really gives the whole thing an almost Strata East vibe – with work from Cedar Walton on Fender Rhodes, Woody Shaw on trumpet, Harold Vick on flute and tenor, Cecil McBee on bass, and Ray Mantilla on percussion. The whole thing is as uplifting as you might expect – and tracks include "Medina", "The Almoravid", "Early Minor", "Jihad", and "Gazelle Suite". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from our favorite stretch of music from the legendary Gene Chandler – an artist who started out on Vee Jay Records, but really hit his prime here at Brunswick! Chandler was a key singer in the early years of soul – and some of his first recordings had strong appeal to doo wop and R&B crowds – but by the time of this set, Gene was really moving into some more mature, more sophisticated styles – an approach that easily rivals that of Chicago soul contemporaries Jerry Butler and Walter Jackson! Chandler's often a bit more upbeat and swinging than either of those – especially Jackson – but here, he shares a similar open, emotive quality – much more adult than before, and delivered with a confidence that's very different than earlier weepy pop. A number of cuts here are duets with the great Barbara Acklin – and titles include "Will I Find You", "Show Me The Way To Go", "The Girl Don't Care", "Love Won't Start", "There Was A Time", "Teacher Teacher", "Anywhere But Nowhere", "This Bitter Earth", "Familiar Footsteps", "My Love", "There Goes The Lover", and the sublime "Suicide" – maybe one of our favorite Gene Chandler tracks ever! CD

A wonderful wonderful soul album from the great Gene Chandler – quite possibly our favorite work ever from this under-acknowledged Chicago singer! Chandler's way past his "Duke Of Earl" years on this record, and is hitting his stride as one of Chicago's best soul singers of the late 60s – working with a style that's harder than ever before – and a bit more sophisticated, too – with touches of that masculine maturity that Walter Jackson helped to bring to the scene. Carl Davis produced, and backings are by Sonny Sanders and Gerald Sims – providing a great Chicago groove over tunes penned by Curtis Mayfield, Billy Butler, and Otis Leavill – as well as Davis, Sanders, and Sims – all representing the unusual depth in Windy City soul at the time. Tracks include "To Choose", "Nothing Can Stop Me", "You Can't Hurt Me No More", "The Girl Don't Care", "Good Times", "Here Come The Tears", and "Fool For You". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare session as a leader from trumpeter Johnny Coles – a player who cut some great work in the groups of James Moody and Gil Evans, but who shines even more brightly on this classic Blue Note album! Coles really has an ear for finding the hippest side of his instrument – and he blows with a style that's unlike anyone else we can think of – and certainly far from the mellower tones of his previous leader set for Columbia. This album's got a great mix of hardbop and modern ideas – right up there with the best Blue Note had to offer at the time – and the group's filled with equally hip players who include Joe Henderson on tenor, Leo Wright on alto and flute, Duke Pearson on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and either Pete LaRoca or Walter Perkins on drums. Titles include "Heavy Legs", "Hobo Joe", "Jano", and "Little Johnny C". Very hip, very hard, and very swingin! LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty sublime album from Bill Evans – one that has him playing both Fender Rhodes and Steinway, overdubbed together, for an effect that's laidback and completely wonderful! The Fender Rhodes was a natural choice for Evans – given his fluid lyrical style, and on this set (and on his equally great record for MGM) Bill opens up with an approach that really suits him well. Each track features him shifting back and forth between electric and acoustic modes, dancing from one to the other in a way that makes the instruments come together beautifully – supported by some incredibly soulful bass work by Eddie Gomez, and drums by Marty Morrell. Titles include "Sugar Plum", "Funkallero", "Waltz for Debby", "TTT", "Re: Person I Knew", and "Comrade Conrad". LP, Vinyl record album

Magical trio recordings from the classic trio that featured Bill Evans on piano, Scott LaFaro on bass, and Paul Motian on drums – a massive 3CD set of music, and one that brings together the complete June 1961 Village Vanguard recordings! The revolutionary bass work of LaFaro, and free-thinking rhythms of Motian really helped open up Evans' work on piano at the time – and their influence is heard to best effect on this spontaneous live set, spread out over the course of 22 tunes, recorded throughout the afternoon and evening on June 25, 1961. The package features one newly-discovered take, plus a number of alternates, spoken bits from Bill, and even a few final bars of music. Titles include "Solar", "Milestones", "All Of You", "Gloria's Step", "My Man's Gone Now", "Detour Ahead", "My Romance", and "Waltz For Debby". CD

Never-issued material from this legendary pianist – a set of recordings done in Denmark during the mid 60s – some of which feature Bill Evans in familiar trio format, others which have him playing in the much more unusual solo and "with orchestra" modes! We're especially big fans of the latter – a mode that Evans only used on a handful of records, and which seems to free him in some ways on the piano – almost creating a painterly sense of sound, as he works with superb support from Palle Mikkelborg, who directs the larger group – while the Evans trio with Eddie Gomez on bass and Marty Morrell on drums is at the core. The set also features six never-heard solo tracks – a beautiful demonstration of Evans at his intimate best – mixed with a few other trio recordings – two with Eddie Gomez on bass, and either Alex Riel or Marty Morrell on drums – plus two more with the unusual lineup of Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and either Riel or Alan Dawson on drums. Together, the tracks paint this amazing picture of Bill Evans at a real high point in his creative life – all never-heard before, with titles that include "Very Early", "Treasures", "Walkin Up", "Time Remembered", "Waltz For Debby", "My Bells", "Elsa", "Re Person I Knew", "Nardis", "Quiet Now", and "Emily". CD

Sublime late 90s work from the great Art Farmer – blowing here on flugelhorn with superb backing from the European Jazz Trio – a combo who are perfect at unlocking those lyrical lines that can make Farmer's best work so great! The trio features Marc Van Roon on piano, Frans Van Der Hoeven on bass, and Roy Dackus on drums – players with this easygoing groove that's warmed up nicely by the presence of Art's horn as he blows those concise, well-executed and compressed notes that make his solos a masterpiece of effective yet understated expression. Titles include "Sweet Sweep", "Plein Soleil", "Hello", "Che Voule Questa Musika Stasera", "In Your Own Sweet Way", and "Waltz". CD

A trio of albums from this great modern piano giant! Progressive is excellent work from pianist Don Friedman – a set that's definitely progressive, but which also has a heck of a lot of warmth too – that fantastic balance of new ideas and lyricism that made Friedman one of the freshest pianists to emerge in the 60s, and which continued strongly through the course of later records like this! The trio features Frank Luther on bass and Billy Hart on drums – both players who can move openly with Friedman, yet keep things swinging too – a balance that's maybe not instantly heard on record – in ways that are better than we could ever hope to put in words. Titles include "Billie's Bounce", "Stella By Starlight", "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life", "Moment's Notice", "I Remember You", and "All The Things You Are". Invitation is a set that's filled with standards, but really opened up in that amazing way we've come to expect from the great pianist Don Friedman! The record's maybe a bit down to earth in its overall setting than some of Don's other dates from the 70s, but right from the start, Friedman finds a way to leave his mark on the tunes – working with excellent bass from George Mraz, and drums from Ronnie Bedford – the latter of whom is a great drummer who brings a surprising crackle to the record at times! Titles include great versions of "Invitation" and "Little Boat" – plus "You Go To My Head", "It Could Happen To You", "Gone With The Wind", and "I Can't Get Started". On The Composer, Don Friedman's acting as a composer as well, and is set up in a nicely different setting! The album features a core group with Martin Wind on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums, augmented by a string quartet who bring a wonderful sense of flavor to the music – opening up all the fantastic colors and tones in Don's tunes – almost amplifying his wonderful work on the piano, and never getting in the way of the jazz aspect of the record at all! The feel is very different than a "with strings" session – almost as if there's an extra paintbrush in Friedman's toolbox – and on a few tracks, the group is also joined by the baritone sax of Gary Smulyan, who further deepens the colors of the record. Titles include "Summer's End", "Friday Morning", "Waltz For Marilyn", "Red Sky Waltz", "Delayed Gratification", and "Memory Of Scotty". CD

Fantastic Stan Getz material from the 60s – a beautiful live set recorded right around the same time as Stan's Getz-A-Go-Go album – and, like that one, also features great vibes from Gary Burton and a bit of guest vocals from Astrud Gilberto! The main focus is on Stan's core sound with the group – those tremendously open lines that he started to blow in the post-bossa years – from this really under-recorded time in his career, with a sound that most folks didn't hear fully until his classic Sweet Rain album a few years later. In addition to Burton, the core group also features Gene Cherico on bass and Joe Hunt on drums – and on a few of the final tracks, Chet Baker plays some guest flugelhorn. Astrud sings on "Girl From Ipanema" and "Eu E Voce" – and other titles include "Stan's Blues", "Sweet Rain", "Nix Pix Flix", "Waltz For A Lovely Wife", "Tonight I Shall Sleep", "Singing Song", and "I Waited For You". CD

One of the greatest Stan Getz albums ever – even though it wasn't issued until the 90s! The set's a rare unreleased session from 1964 – recorded by Getz with a fresh, free-thinking approach – but abandoned by Verve because they were making so much money with Stan's bossa nova sides of the time! Stan's working here in his great mid 60s quartet with vibist Gary Burton – heard briefly on record on the Getz Au Go Go album, which Verve made mostly a bossa session – but stepping out here with the kind of truly fresh sound that made its first, long-overdue recorded appearance on this set. The whole album has a fluid, lyrical style that's similar to that used by Stan for the wonderful Sweet Rain album – a sense of rhythm and timing that was modern, yet never forgot the melody – clearly inspired by Stan's earlier bossa experiments, but way way past their basics. The blend of vibes and sweetly-blown tenor is amazing – and titles include "6 Nix Quix Flix", "Waltz For A Lovely Wife", "Out Of Focus", "Sweet Sorrow", and "Nobody Else But Me". CD

Fantastic Stan Getz material from the 60s – a beautiful live set recorded right around the same time as Stan's Getz-A-Go-Go album – and, like that one, also features great vibes from Gary Burton and a bit of guest vocals from Astrud Gilberto! The main focus is on Stan's core sound with the group – those tremendously open lines that he started to blow in the post-bossa years – from this really under-recorded time in his career, with a sound that most folks didn't hear fully until his classic Sweet Rain album a few years later. In addition to Burton, the core group also features Gene Cherico on bass and Joe Hunt on drums – and on a few of the final tracks, Chet Baker plays some guest flugelhorn. Astrud sings on "Girl From Ipanema" and "Eu E Voce" – and other titles include "Stan's Blues", "Sweet Rain", "Nix Pix Flix", "Waltz For A Lovely Wife", "Tonight I Shall Sleep", "Singing Song", and "I Waited For You". CD