An incredible record from Shelly Manne – one of his only dates recorded at The Manne Hole, even though it was his own club – and a killer live recording that was issued in a rare 2LP format for the time! The style here is similar to Manne's excellent recordings at the Blackhawk – open-ended, stretched out, and more freely expressive hardbop than on his 50s sides – played by a group that features plenty of excellent tenor from the great Richie Kamuca, plus trumpet from Conte Cantoli, piano from Russ Freeman, bass from Chuck Berghofer, and drums from Manne himself. As with the Blackhawk date, many of the tunes are familiar, but open up mostly as longer solo vehicles – completely transformed by the efforts of the group and their freewheeling lines. Titles on this second volume include "What's New", "A Gem From Tiffany", "On Green Dolphin Street", and "If I Were A Bell". CD

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A live set from the Oscar Peterson Trio – with Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and Peterson on piano – plus a little extra help from drummer Bobby Durham. Tracks include "Falling In Love With Love", "Billie's Bounce", and "I Wished On the Moon". CD

Pink Floyd rose out of the same London scene that gave the world a huge amount of psychedelic records in the late 60s – but with a set like this, they're clearly head and shoulders above most of their contemporaries – already working with a boundless sense of imagination and impeccable instrumentation, on a record that's full of delight and surprise at every single twist and turn! The group still sport Syd Barrett vocals and lyrics here, but are also really opening up their guitar spaceship too – soaring to the heavens on the tremendous "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun" – and sending the whole thing home with the cuts "Let There Be More Light", "Corporal Clegg", "Jugband Blues", "See Saw", and "A Saucerful Of Secrets". LP, Vinyl record album

Rootsy material recorded for Epic in the 60s, before the group went over to Stax and started cutting secular soul! These sides are much more in a traditional gospel quartet mode – but the group's powerful vocals and strongly soulful approach makes the tracks rock with the strength of some of their secular material. Titles include "It's Been A Change", "Waiting For My Child", "Pray On", "John brown", "The Tramp On The Street", and "How Great Thou Art". LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool project – one that was initiated by the late Tony Allen in collaboration with Detroit keyboardist/percussionist Jeff Mills – and which is carried forth here by a trio with a really soaring, far-reaching vibe! Percussion is at the core – played both by Mills and by Prabhu Edouard, who adds in all this great work on tablas, which grounds the acoustic side of the record – as Jean Phi Dary plays keyboards along with Mills, and really sends the whole thing climbing to the skies! There's a mix of jazz and broken beat energy going on here – although the beats certainly aren't broken, and we're using that reference to indicate some of the best spiritual inspirations of the 4Hero generation. Yet these guys are definitely onto something new, and very much their own – on titles that include "Rising Water", "Words Of Wisdom", "Peace Pipe", and "Metamorphosis". LP, Vinyl record album

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Includes additional bonus tracks, alternate takes, full length and instrumental versions! CD

Features John Simmons on bass, Jo Jones on drums, Joe Bushkin on piano, Dicky Wells on trombone, and Bill Coleman on trumpet. LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing sounds from Cambodia – gong-based ensembles recorded live at different funeral ceremonies over the course of a few short years – all with a musical approach that's really stunning! In some ways, these groups share qualities with Indonesian gamelan ensembles – as their instruments work in ways that are rhythmic and melodic at once – but there's also a looser, almost more improvisational approach going on here – maybe in part because of the emotionally-charged settings in which they perform. The field recordings capture the instruments in a really great way – and often have snippets of other live sounds too – voices and location elements that never dominate, but only seem to enhance the music! LP, Vinyl record album

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Mad music from the Dutch scene of the 70s – music recorded either in The Netherlands, or the Dutch part of Belgium – pulled together here in a collection that's filled with ear-opening funky gems! The music here isn't straight soul, funk, or jazz – but rather criss-crossing musical styles that often have a little bit of each – often with these qualities that remind us of better-known soundtrack or folk-funk songs from the time – but which take on very different qualities, given the difference in language! There's plenty of great drums throughout, loads of killer keyboards, and basslines that can make just about any sort of song a funky nugget – and as with other titles on the Sdban label, the whole thing's a real revelation – a gateway to music that we never would have discovered otherwise – but now find that we can't live without. Titles include "Eva's Pakje" by Jimmy Frey, "Zomerliefde" by Laurentius, "Onheil" by Lamp & Lazerus, "Gemendg Gevoel" by Herman De Bruycker, "Wie Weet" by Spectrum, "Het Oink Beest" by Elly & Rikkert, "Maan Dag" by Daan Broos & Dapokaster, "Nooit Meer" by Josine Van Dalsum, "Handicap 2000" by Daan Broos, "Het Huis Van Wilde Tederheid" by Luk Bral, and "Hollandse Taal" by Moeder En Haar Jongens. LP, Vinyl record album

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A rare look at a very obscure sound library from the European scene – the Belgian Selection label, home to some very groovy sounds from the late 70s! The music here resonates with Belgian soundtrack and jazz work of the period – and shares some musicians from those genres too – and the titles within mix funky jazz with larger arrangements – all instrumental, and handled in a strong array of styles – some upbeat, some midtempo, and some cool and laidback! Titles include "Black World" by Stern Selection, "Space Shuttle Jazz" by Jacques Siroul, "Crystal Waltz" by Rene Costy, "Chief Of Freen Bean" by Bob Porter, "No Thoroughfare" by Jordan Stevy, and "Osmoses" by Leonard D Messina. LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty incredible legacy of jazz from the scene in Belgium during the late 60s and early 70s – a place that never got the kind of exposure as the jazz worlds of the UK, Scandinavia, and Germany – but one that was making some really amazing work at the time! Take the "progressive" in the title a bit loosely – this is neither prog jazz rock, nor work that's too academic to be groovy – as the groups here are often a bit funky, and play with a surprising degree of soul – just the right space between the notes to make for tunes that cross over very well to fans of American funky jazz from the 70s, with some moments that also rival the best in Brazilian 70s jazz too! The rhythms are wonderful – sometimes full-on funky, sometimes more modal and spacious – and the tracks mix electric and acoustic instrumentation perfectly – mostly instrumental, but with a few vocals from time to time. Some of the artists are ones here you might not normally associate with Belgium – and that's just because they're finally getting their due here, in a well-collected package that also illuminates the connections with a great set of notes. Titles include "Vas Y Voir" by Brussels Art Quintet, "Pathetic Dreams" by Koen De Bruyne, "Archangelo" by Raphael, "Memphis Talk" by Philip Catherine, "Naima" by Lou MacConnell, "Pro Forma 1" by Babs Robert, "Utopic Cities" by Solis Lacus, "SUS" by Placebo, "Face Reality" by Jacques & Micheline Pelzer, "Tohubohu (part 1)" by Marc Moulin, "Open Sky" by Open Sky Unit, and "Sakara" by Clarke Boland Big Band. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic live performance from this legendary ensemble – and a record that brings a nice sort of edge to the group's already great sound! It's a bit hard to describe – but somehow the live recording quality seems to create more intensity, maybe more urgency to the way the group emotionally communicates – maybe partly just the echo and open space of the recording, but also maybe the way the group seems to open up with a fresh on-the-spot energy. In addition to Toshiko Akiyoshi on piano and Lew Tabackin on reeds, the lineup features saxes from Beverly Darke, Dick Spencer, Gary Foster, and Gary Herbig; trombones from Bill Reichenbach, Charlie Loper, Phil Teele, and Rick Culver; and trumpets from Bobby Shew, Mike Price, Richard Cooper, and Steven Huffstetter. Titles include the always-great "Warning Success May Be Hazardous To Your Health" – plus "Road Time Shuffle", "March Of The Tadpoles", and "Strive For Jive". CD

A second great performance from the Akioshi/Tabackin Big Band's performance at Newport in 1977 – and one we like even more than the first! The sound here is totally great – hard, focused, and flowing with a magical energy that made this group one of the few large jazz bands to flourish strongly in the 70s. There's almost a Clarke Boland legacy going on here – tightness that's really hard to carry off, but lots of long track that let the key soloist stretch out with boldly-voiced individual tones. Titles include the always-great "Warning Success May Be Hazardous To Your Health" – plus "Road Time Shuffle", "March Of The Tadpoles", and the extended "Minamata" suite. CD

A mad batch of funky grooves, with a world's worth of influences in the mix – elements of African, Indian, and other styles – all wrapped around some mighty funky instrumentation at the core! One track has a bit of sitar, another some Ethio organ, one more some Nigerian rhythms – and the album progresses with a lean vibe that makes each of these cultural references nicely unified next to the sharp funky instrumentation at the core! Without the global elements, the set would already be a great funk record – but with them alongside, it really soars to the skies – on titles that include "Mehal Safari", "Flugzeug String Machine", "Tilahun", "The Chase", "Stranger To Myself", and "Seven Wisdoms Of Plutonia". LP, Vinyl record album

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A very hip album that shows that Mundell Lowe was much more than just a regular jazz guitarist. Lowe emerges here as a relatively hip modernist – working in a small combo that includes Ed Thigpen on drums, Billy Taylor on piano, and Les Grinage on bass, as well as occasional alto work by Gene Quill. The tracks have a slightly unusual groove to them – with Lowe handling both the regular solos, and also dipping into the rhythmic lines in an interesting way – and this style is heard to especially great effect on the three tunes with Quill. Titles include "Crazy Rhythm", "Blues Before Freud", "Love Me Or Leave Me", and "You Turned The Tables On Me". CD

A madly grooving late 60s French soundtrack by Jean-Pierre Mirouze – and a masterful one at that – with sounds that range from a moody, dramatic vocal tune to some killer instrumental funk! The haunting "Together" opens the record in a great way – with a mystical mellow vibe and English language vocals by Barry Green. Subsequent instrumental tunes have a similarly evocative or sultrier vibe – while others such as "Sexopolis" have heavy Hammond, massive rhythms, and a totally freaked-out groove! Includes "Tivoli Garden", "Ulla Et Georgie", "Karin On The Ryke", "Lovers Party", "Tivoly By Night", "Scene Du Port" and "Tandoori Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Art Pepper's most classic sets for Contemporary – a record that puts him in the company of the Miles Davis rhythm section – Jimmy Cobb on drums, Paul Chambers on bass, and Wynton Kelly on piano – who make up 3/5 of a quintet that also includes trumpeter Conte Candoli! The tracks open up a bit more from some of Pepper's 50s work in LA – arguably a bit tighter at times, and possibly a bit more "classic" – at least to longtime fans of the set. There's a bit less edge here than on some of Art's other 50s dates, but the album's still a great one – with titles that are a mixture of originals like "Getting Together", "Diane", and "Bijou The Poodle", plus a few other strong numbers, like Chambers' "Whims Of Chambers" and Dory & Andre Previn's "Why Are We Afraid?" CD

Max Roach's masterpiece! This album is one of his most perfectly realized visions – and it's a marvelous album that combines politics and modern jazz, yet still manages to swing! The players are some of the hippest that Roach ever worked with – and include Eric Dolphy, Booker Little, Clifford Jordan, and Julian Priester – and the album features some of the best-ever singing from Abbey Lincoln! Abbey's incredible on the track "Mendacity", an incredibly haunting Civil Rights-era number that should go right up there with "Strange Fruit", and which features wonderful alto work from Dolphy! She also sings wordlessly on the track "Garvey's Ghost" – and then sits out the rest of the set so that Max and the group can wail on the tracks "Praise For A Martyr", "Man From South Africa", and "Tender Warriors". Incredibly hip – and a perfect blend of soul, jazz, politics, and pure righteous spirit! CD

Two great albums from Lucky Thompson! First up is Plays Jerome Kern – wonderful work from that early 60s moment when Lucky Thompson was really opening up with a newly soulful sound – and mixing in some great soprano sax work with his tenor! The tunes are familiar, but the execution is wonderful – Lucky blowing easily in a quartet with Hank Jones on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Dave Bailey on drums – the last of whom really keeps things moving, even when mellow. Titles include " Long Ago And Far Away", "Lovely To Look At", "No More", "Look For The Silver Lining", "Who", "Dearly Beloved", "Why Do I Love You", "Why Was I Born", and "They Didn't Believe Me". Happy Days is an overlooked gem from Lucky Thompson's mid 60s years – that wonderful time when he'd returned to the fold even stronger than ever – filled with hip new musical ideas, and a great command for the soprano sax! This set's got Lucky working on both soprano and tenor, both of which are handled with these angular, soulful tones that are totally great – right at home in a group that features Tommy Flanagan on piano, George Tucker on bass, and Walter Perkins on drums – all marvelously sensitive rhythm accompanists. Jack Melady adds harp on 2 tracks on the set – a very nice touch – and titles include "Safari", "Cry Me A River", "People", "You Don't Know What Love Is", and "As Time Goes By". CD

A rare and sublime set from Lucky Thompson – recorded at a real turning point in his career! The title refers to the fact that Lucky's working back on American shores after some extended time in Europe – and that fact is nicely hammered home by the cover image, which has Lucky standing on the docks in New York, next to a ship marked "France"! And it's funny, because somewhere in that journey home, Lucky picked up a whole new set of influences – trading the tighter swing-based sound of his classic recordings for a freer, more exploratory style – one that clearly has a bit of inspiration from Coltrane, but which is handled by Lucky in his own unique phrasing and tone. Thompson's playing a fair bit of soprano sax on the record, as well as some of his more traditional tenor – and the group's a beautifully understated quartet, with Tommy Flanagan on piano, Willie Ruff on bass, and Walter Perkins on drums. Titles include "Evil Eva", "Slow Dough", "On Tippy Top", "Passionately Yours", and "Love". Added to the album is the equally great Kinfolks Corner – a record also done for the Rivoli label, and featuring a fair bit of soprano sax work from Thompson! The soprano gives Lucky a lighter, freer, more exploratory soul-based sound that's really unique – a bit Dolphy-inspired at times, but with a more inside approach, as in the work of Nathan Davis – so that even on numbers that might seem staid at the outset, the sax work has an edgey quality that's really wonderful. The session features Tommy Flanagan on piano, Frank Anderson on organ, Wally Richardson on guitar, and either Oliver Jackson and Walter Perkins on drums – and titles include "I'll Be Around", "Star Eyes", "Poor Butterfly", "Kinfolks Corner", "Who Can I Turn To", and "Caressable". CD

A classic early album for Ze Records, like other sets on Ze at the time a brilliant blend of funk, punk, rock, and soul – done with a post-P Funk approach to the grooves that puts plenty of bass on the bottoms, and which also flows lots of other interesting instrumentation into the grooves to keep things fresh. The production is stellar – soulful, bouncing, and joyously aware of every element of the full album's potential – and the whole album's a lively ensemble affair that features work by artists as diverse as Wayne Kramer, Marcus Belgrave, and Sweet Pea Atkinson! 8 tracks in all, including "Oh, Mr Friction!", "Out Come The Freaks", "It's An Attack", "Carry Me Back To Old Morocco", "The Sky's Ablaze" and "Tell Me That I'm Dreaming". CD

Maybe one of the coolest collection of soundtrack work we've ever heard, and maybe one of the most obscure as well – given that the tracks here were all done for Belgian films of the 60s and 70s, and include some rare work from composers you might know from bigger name European movies! There's a very jazzy vibe to many of these numbers – and the set echoes some of the great jazz and funk collections on the same label – with a similarly well-chosen batch of cuts that are balanced out beautifully, and presented in the kind of package with notes that let you know that these guys really know what they're doing! The whole thing's great, and very groovy – and titles include "Les Trucs Du Miroir" by Kryzstof Komeda, "Nach Shift" by Alain Pierre, "Boloero Pour Denise" by Jean Mari Bigman, "Poursuite Sur Les Dunes D'Ostende" by Francois De Roubaix, "Jonny's Theme" by Rocco Granata, "Theme 19" by Pieter Verlinden, "De Discotheek" by Bert Paige, "Courage Fuyons" by Vladimir Cosma, "Dancing" by Martial Solal, and "Tu M'Tapes Sur Les Nerfs. LP, Vinyl record album

Features tracks by Outside, Jhelisa, D Note, Cool Breeze, Circle In The Round, Monkey Business, High Steppers, Giant Step NYC, This I Dig, and Sunship. CD

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Kenny Burrell joins the quartet of Hammond hero Brother Jack McDuff – in a session that's not only a classic Prestige cooker from the 60s, but also one of Kenny's most hard grooving albums of the decade! Jack's tight group really seem to push Burrell into some great new territory – a different groove than his Blue Note or Verve sides, with a bit more grit overall – although still plenty of those perfectly-chosen notes on his solos. Harold Vick's tenor sax is the main reed element here, although Eric Dixon also plays flute on one track – and remaining players include Joe Dukes on drums and Ray Barreto on congas, a player who didn't often work with Jack, but who's very welcome here. Tracks are longish, with an open-ended soul jazz feel – not really blowing session numbers, given McDuff's tight sense of rhythm, but a nice change from the usual. Titles include "Grease Monkey", "Nica's Dream", "Love Walked In", and "We'll Be Together Again". CD

A classic set of spiritual fusion from this short-lived allstar group Compost – featuring Harold Vick, Bob Moses, Jumma Santos, and Jack DeJohnette! Vick's at his moody soulful best here, in a mode that's similar to his Strata East work – and the record also features occasional vocals by Lou Courtney and Jeanne Lee. They hit a fairy feverish, funky jazz mode throughout, and every player is in incredible form here. Titles include "The Ripper", "Moonsong", "Changing Streams", "Mon Cherry Popsicool", "Compost Festival", "Life Is Round", and "Buzzard Feathers". CD

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A really haunting little sound library record, and one that's very different than just about anything else we can think of in the genre! The set is filled with spare keyboards and electronics – almost in the territory of Terry Riley, but slowed down in pace – so that it's more spacious and meditative, with these elements that almost feel like they'd be perfect for tripping out in a planetarium and watching some nighttime star show! The work was originally used in the film In Kluis, but works beautifully here as a meditative album on its own – with titles that include "Fences", "Nude", "The Wall", "Tree Angle", "Observations", "Problems", "Inside", and "Desire". LP, Vinyl record album

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Kind of a painful movie, but a pretty sweet soundtrack! The set features a number of new works produced by Deodato, very much in the spirit of his Inutil Paisagem 60s bossa recordings – with wonderfully complex airy melodies, and a touch so light you can't believe there's actually a conscious act behind the music. The new titles feature vocals by Barbara Mendes and Carol Rogers – and include "Samba De Uma Nota So", "Mary Ann's Theme", "Suddenly", "Soul Mates", "Amor Em Paz", and "Juan's Theme". Most of the rest of the CD features older work from Jobim's years at Verve and CTI – including the tracks "Wave", "Aguas De Marco", "Chega De Saudade", and "Inutil Paisagem". Also features a semi-painful duet between Jobim and Sting – ouch! CD

One of the most supremely classic of all classic hard rock albums! As huge as the debut was, Led Zeppelin II is the record that proved that the group were going to be in it for the long haul – with a righteous raw power that's still being felt all these many decades later! Nobody else could touch this one – and the album is filled with iconic cuts that include "Whole Lotta Love", "Ramble On", and"Heartbreaker" – plus the ridiculous Bonzo showcase "Moby Dick", and "Bring It On Home". CD

Pure genius – just vocals and guitar from this legendary Memphis figure! LP, Vinyl record album

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Henry Threadgill on alto saxophone and flute, Tony Cedras on accordion and harmonium, Brandon Ross on electric and classical guitar, Stomu Takeishi on fretless bass, and JT Lewis on drums. CD

With Bill Easley on saxophone, Howard Alden on guitar, and Richard Wyands on piano. CD

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Maybe one of the coolest collection of soundtrack work we've ever heard, and maybe one of the most obscure as well – given that the tracks here were all done for Belgian films of the 60s and 70s, and include some rare work from composers you might know from bigger name European movies! There's a very jazzy vibe to many of these numbers – and the set echoes some of the great jazz and funk collections on the same label – with a similarly well-chosen batch of cuts that are balanced out beautifully, and presented in the kind of package with notes that let you know that these guys really know what they're doing! The whole thing's great, and very groovy – and titles include "Les Trucs Du Miroir" by Kryzstof Komeda, "Nach Shift" by Alain Pierre, "Boloero Pour Denise" by Jean Mari Bigman, "Poursuite Sur Les Dunes D'Ostende" by Francois De Roubaix, "Jonny's Theme" by Rocco Granata, "Theme 19" by Pieter Verlinden, "De Discotheek" by Bert Paige, "Courage Fuyons" by Vladimir Cosma, "Dancing" by Martial Solal, and "Tu M'Tapes Sur Les Nerfs. CD

Fantastic funk from the Belgian scene of the 70s – a really mad mix of sounds and styles, and a really revelatory set overall! Few people might use the words "Belgium" and "funk" in the same sentence – but that may well change after this sweet set gets a few spins – as the whole thing's a stunning array of groovers that not only match the best jazz, funk, and sound library tracks from other European scenes in the 70s – they also do a great job of taking on the best America had to offer too! Belgium was no stranger to soul and funk – given its fervent 60s soul collectors scene, and the nation's role as a crossroads in Europe – which left it open to plenty of influence from visiting musicians, including American artists as well. You can definitely hear all that coming into play here – as the work is nicely fresh, and very free of overdone cliches or easy references – as these guys all take the best bits that might have influenced them, and jumbled them up into something really new. The scope of sounds is wonderful – and titles include "Funky Tramway" by Mad Unity, "Sunshine Star" by Open Sky Unit, "Gimme Some More Of That" by Plus, "Funky" by Andre Brasseur, "Avenue Louise" by Black Blood, "Music & Co" by Les Helions, "Balek" by Placebo, "Librium" by Chicken Curry & His Pop Percussion Orchestra, "Top Less" by Alex Scorier, "Stories" by Chakachas, and "Ostinato Bass" by Rene Costy. LP, Vinyl record album

Funk from Belgium? Believe it or not, stranger things have happened – and we can promise that if you played these tracks back to back with more familiar grooves from other 70s sources, you'd quickly find that these Belgian grooves are right up there with the best of the bunch! The set's maybe a more sophisticated follow-up to the excellent Funky Chicken collection, which documented some grittier Belgian 70s material a few years back – and this one shows off a wickedly sharp batch of tunes that include funky fusion, sweet sound library numbers, and lots of really inventive cuts that are plenty funk, but often take some great chances too – in ways that almost make us think that the nation's scene was so small that musicians from different genres were often hanging out together, and breaking down lots of musical boundaries in the process! As with the other set, the presentation here is wonderful – not just fantastic music we'd never have discovered otherwise, but also very detailed notes and an overall punch that few other funky compilations can match. Titles on this second vinyl volume include "Guess We'd Better Break Up Now" by Etta Cameron, "Give It Up Or Turn It A Loose" by Philip Catherine, "Riff For Peggy" by Roland Thyssen, "We Love The Policemen" by Hearts Of Soul & Shampoo, "Smoke Signal" by Indian Sound Of Blackfoot, "Inner City Blues" by Leslie Kent, "Chewing Gum Delirium" by Free Pop Electronic Concept, "Akkerwinde" by Lieven, "Concerto For Right Foot & Orchestra" by George Hayes & His Philarpopic Orchestra, "Punktowiec" by Skleroptak, and "Soul Melody" by R Dero. LP, Vinyl record album

A much-needed look at the Dutch jazz scene in the 50s and 60s – a spot in Europe that was turning out some really fantastic modern material – at a level that's every bit as great as better-known work coming from France, Germany, and Scandinavia at the time! Many of the players here quickly became giants who would dominate on the Dutch scene for years to come – and even at this early point, their work is wonderful – occasionally graced with guest work from American players, but already more than great enough on its own – and filled with a mix of sharp rhythms, new ideas, and impeccable instrumentation throughout. As with other Sdban titles, the presentation is wonderful – not just a great set list, but an overall feel that makes the package as hefty as the music inside. Titles include "Four On Six" by Kwartet Martin Verlinden, "So Why" by Kwartet Leo Meyer, "Amsterdam Blues" by Diamond Five, "Lady Elisabeth" by Tony Vos Quartet, "Blues For Eddy" by Red & Brown Brothers, "Sem" by Frans Elsen, "Relaxin With Rhythme" by The Rhythme All Stars, "Mensen Van Morgen" by Herman Schoonderwalt, "Wives & Lovers" by Rita Reys & Oliver Nelson, "Comin Home Baby" by Trio Tony Vos, "Sing Sing Sing" by Leddy Wessel with Jack Van Poll, "Blues Minor" by Boys Big Band, and "Afro Blues" by Herbie Mann with Wessel Ilcken Combo. CD

With classics by The Miracles, The Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Brenda Holloway, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Four Tops, The Temptations, Jimmy Ruffin, Jr Walker & The All Stars, The Originals, Commodores, Smokey Robinson, Rick James, Dazz Band, Jermaine Jackson, and Lionel Richie. LP, Vinyl record album

Lots of raunchy tracks from the 50s! Features work by The Royals, Sultans, Julia Lee, Eddie Davis, Lucky Millinder, The Thoppers, Todd Rhodes, The Swallows, and others! CD

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The sounds of the Sahara have been making big waves in recent years – but way back at the start of the 70s, this legendary group really set the scene with a set of key recordings done in Casablanca! Ahl Nana were some of the first to mix the electric guitar with more regional instrumentation – often with a sound that's relatively spare, and which really lets the fuzzy tone of the instrument mingle with percussion and chorus vocals from the rest of the group – all at a level that's maybe slightly less psychedelic than recent Saharan guitar work, but no less hypnotic overall! The whole collection is a real revelation, and brings together these lost recordings for the first time outside of Africa – with ten titles that include "Hob Mene", "Nahnou Sigharou El Ouatane", "Zeinab Moussa", "Bayna Daouali", "Emolli Tidwall Eherne", and "Yer Sabou Yerkoy". LP, Vinyl record album

With Steve Lacy on soprano saxophone. CD

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The birth of modern jazz guitar – seminal sides recorded by Charlie Christian, working in small group format with Benny Goodman in the '40's. Christian's tone on the instrument is fantastic – and even though the style of the tracks is more in the swing era mode, there's a direct line between his playing and later work by Grant Green and other 60s jazz guitar giants. 16 tracks in all, including "Six Appeal", "Waiting For Benny", "Seven Come Eleven", "Airmail Special", "Breakfast Feud", and "Wholly Cats". CD

A romping little session from Buck Clayton and Buddy Tate – served up in a looser, more relaxed setting than the former's albums for Columbia, and a slightly more swing-based mode than the latter's dates for Chess! Both horn players get plenty of room to solo in the open-ended Swingville mode – Buck on trumpet and Buddy on both tenor and clarinet – and the group's a nice one too, since Sir Charles Thompson's playing piano, Gene Ramey's on bass, and Gus Johnson's on drums. Titles include "Blue Creek", "Blue Breeze", "Blue Ebony", "Rompin At Red Bank", and "Dallas Delight". CD

A broad leap forward for Detroit, from a few years back, with Carl Craig establishing himself as a visionary not only amongst the first wave of techno artists, but for the new beat generation too – alongside like minded producers like Kirk Degiorio and Larry Heard. Electronic music imbued with a sense of human warmth, and one of the few techno full lengths we enjoy listening to front to back. 15 tracks in all, with 4 more than the LP, some quite short, others song length, including "Goodbye World", "Alien Talk", "Dreamland", "Butterfly", "Suspiria"and "Frustration". CD

Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis on tenor, Count Basie or Dolo Coker on piano, John Heard on bass, and Jimmie Smith on drums. CD

Post-disco work from The Emotions – breaking free a bit here from the Earth Wind & Fire influence, and grooving nicely with a sweet 80s feel! The girls' voices are still quite wonderful – some of the deepest harmonies in the female soul world at the time – and the tunes kick it up nicely in a blend of snapping bassy club tracks and mellower cuts that sweetly sway with their great vocals! Loads of wonderful tracks – and an album not to miss! Titles include the wicked funky "Love Lies" - plus "Turn It Out", "There'll Never Be Another Moment", "Now That I Know", "When You Gonna Wake Up", and "Here You Come Again". CD

A record that blew the world away when it was first released – and still continues to delight all these many years later! Brian Eno had first rose to fame in Roxy Music – where his sonic sensibilities and ear for electronic experimentation really added a lot to their initial albums – and here, on his own, he's in somewhat side-stepped territory – mixing things up in the art/glam generation of Roxy and Bowie, but also already showing a darkness that really sets him apart from the pack! The first three songs alone are a hell of a statement from any musician in the 70s, and the titles alone almost get at their impact – "Needles In The Camel's Eye", "The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch", and "Baby's On Fire" – all songs that offer a rare blend of ferocity and humor that wouldn't emerge elsewhere until the punk movement. Yet Eno's hardly the forerunner of punk, but he's also not glam, metal, or anything else – a supremely impactful artist with this record, completely in his own space – like a rare breed that might include The Velvet Underground, Gram Parsons, or Bowie. Titles include "Needles In The Camel's Eye", "The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch", "Baby's On Fire" "Blank Frank", "Some Of Them Are Old", "Cindy Tells Me", "On Some Faraway Beach", and "Dead Finks Don't Talk". CD

A genius album from the Four Freshmen – one that reinvents their older harmony sound for the Sunshine generation! The album's surprisingly wonderful throughout – and has a liveliness and sense of joy that was missing from some of the group's later Capitol sides. The tunes are mostly contemporary ones – 60s pop numbers done by the group with a snapping, lively, mod kind of approach – in a format that works as well for the group as it did for Mel Torme on his similar sides at the time. But the harmonies are especially amazing here – and the album's almost as if the Freshmen were saying to all the post-Beach Boys groups: "Hey, look, we invented this goshdarn style of singing – and we still do it best, even on tunes you recorded first!" Titles include "Soul Coaxing", "Cherish/Windy", "Walk On By", "Come Fly With Me/Up Up & Away", "Here's To You", "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", and "Daydream". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool concept – the minimalist orchestrations of Philip Glass, based around tracks from the Berlin years of David Bowie and Brian Eno! CD

... CD

A really classic session – one that features an all-star lineup of players who were in the Dizzy Gillespie band of the mid 50s – stepping out here in a smaller group on their own for a one-off date on the Specialty Records label! Specialty normally recorded R&B at the time, but they knock it out of the park with this one – really letting the players stretch out with lots of soulful energy – in a lineup that includes the young Lee Morgan on trumpet, Al Grey on trombone, Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul West on bass, and Charlie Persip on drums – plus the fantastic Billy Root on baritone – a really great player who only recorded a bit back in the day! Arrangements are nice and hip – done by Benny Golson and Roger Spotts – and titles include "About Time", "DDT", "Whisper Not", and the very long "Dishwater" – a nice uptempo workout, Dizzy style! CD

Recorded live at Hunter College in New York City. CD

JJ Johnson, Kai Winding, Eddie Bert, Jimmy Cleveland, Bob Alexander, and Urbie Green on trombone, Nat Adderly on cornet, Bart Varsalone and Tom Mitchell on bass trombone, Hank Jones and Tommy Flanagan on piano, Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Wilbur Little on bass, Candido Camero on congas and bongos, and Albert Heath and Osie Johnson on drums. CD

Soulful blues and bluesy soul – a sweet split CD of work from Al King and Arthur Adams – both singers originally from the south, but relocated to the California scene for the best recordings of their career! Al King's got a great vocal approach – not really blues, and more in the soulful style that certain 60s singers were taking as a new approach to the genre – somewhere in the territory of Bobby Blue Bland, but without Bobby's trademark rasp. The cuts here all feature laidback backings and a mellow groove that really lets King inflect the notes wonderfully – and titles include "Without A Warning", "Get Lost", "Maybe My Last Song", "My Name Is Misery", and "Better To Be Yourself". Arthur Adams is a name you're bound to recognize from countless 70s sessions – with singers, on soundtracks, and even with jazz artists like The Crusaders – but the cuts here represent Art at the earliest point in his career – fresh on the LA scene from Texas, singing and playing guitar with plenty of soulful southern modes! Tracks here feature both Adams on his own, and dueting with either Edna Wright or Mary Love – on titles that include "She Drives Me Out Of My Mind", "I'm Lonely For You", "I Need You", "Is That You", "Let's Get Together", and "Gimme Some Of Your Lovin". CD

A group with a sound like no other – one that features home-made electronics and amplification, and an array of highly-percussive instrumentation that includes thumb pianos, megaphones, microphones, and old car parts! Konono's been making this music for the past 25 years – working in the suburbs of Kinshasa as a collective of musicians experimenting with the relation of sound and rhythm – using a fair bit of distortion to push the boundaries of their style. There's a unique relationship here between traditional African rhythms and newer electronic music – almost a primitive electronica, if you will – but with a style that goes way beyond such a facile tag. Titles include "Paradiso", "Mama Liza", "Kule Kule", "Lufuala Ndonga", and "Masikulu". CD

... CD

A massive collection of genius from Led Zeppelin – and material that has gone onto become a crucial part of their all-too-small catalog over the years! The work here was all recorded for the BBC in the years 1969 through 1971 – offering up a much wider picture of the group during these formative years, handled by some top-shelf production – which makes these tracks way better than some of the bootlegs and demos that fans had to rely on before these sides hit the record racks. CD

With Urbie Green on trombone, Buddy Tate on saxophone, Dave McKenna on piano, Steve LaSpina on bass, and Barrett Deems on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

With Flip Phillips on tenor, Red Norvo on vibes, Teddy Wilson on piano, Slam Stewart on bass, and Specs Powell on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark record in the west coast jazz scene – not only for the music, but for its understanding of addiction on the scene! The album brings together a set of jazz players currently spending their time at Synanon – the Santa Monica-based program of drug rehabilitation that was working some incredible magic with longtime addicts in the early 60s. Synanon had been a temporary home to more than a few great players over the years, and this set brings together some of its lesser-known residents – one of whom was guitarist Joe Pass, who would rise from the session as a real success, and go onto record heavily after this record. The rest of the group includes Dave Allan on trumpet, Ronald Clark on bass, Arnold Ross on piano, Candy Latson on bongos, Bill Crawford on drums, and Greg Dykes on baritone sax. Tracks are pretty long, and more solo based than the usual Pacific Jazz sides – and titles include "CED", "Aaron's Song", "Projections", "Stay Loose", "Hang Tough", and "Last Call For Coffee". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Features live performances and previously unreleased tracks – 47 tracks total. CD