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A quartet of live performances from Sun Ra – all recorded within the span of a single week in 1983 – at a time when the Arkestra was clearly covering a fair bit of territory in Europe! As you might guess from the title, the concerts here were recorded in Milan, Zurich, West Berlin, and Paris – all during the last week of October and first day of November – in a whirlwind series of sets that also included Montreux material that ended up on the Hiroshima album (not included in this package.) Ra's at the start of his key 80s growth here – able to open up to new audiences in a range of styles, from freely experimental to more traditionally jazzy – all in ways that link together many traditions in a single set, and show that his talents were rooted in a deep tradition of musical expression. The 5CD set features a huge amount of material – and apart from Ra on piano and keyboards, other "all star" players include Lester Bowie and Don Cherry on trumpets, John Gilmore on tenor, Archie Shepp on tenor and soprano sax, Marshall Allen on alto and flute, Richard Davis on bass, Philly Joe Jones on drums, and Don Moye on percussion. CD

A very hip batch of 60s soul jazz numbers – played with a hard, full swing by the combo of LA bassist Clarence Daniels – and featuring vocals on a few of the best tracks! Daniels' group has a sound that's full, but never too much so – a great mix of rootsier soul jazz modes and more sophisticated arrangements – with a depth that almost reminds us of Oliver Nelson at times – but also with a sound that draws on the earlier jump blues sound of the postwar LA scene, reforged a bit for the 60s! This fantastic collection mixes Clarence's one full album with some rare singles and a number of unissued tracks too – and about half the set is instrumental, with saxes from Curtis Peagler – and singers on the other tracks include Obie Jessie, Sandy Miller, and Clarence Daniels himself. Titles include "Hard Working Girl", "Daddy's Got A Shotgun", "I Got To Get Ready", "Instrumental #3", "You Dig It", "Hello California", "Do The Deal", "I'll Drive My Blues Away", "Street Girl", "What Can A Poor Boy Do", "Baby I'm Gone", "I'll Never Let You Go", and "Pastel". CD

Four sides of noisy, funky, stretched-out playing from Miles Davis – recorded at the Fillmore West, but with an intensity that matches some of Miles' crazy electric recordings from Japan during the early 70s! The music is a powerful blast of music that stretches out over the double-length set of the package – with a style that moves from heavy-duty avant playing, then back to more mellow grooving, then kicks it out nice and hard again – a heavy dose of rock mixed in with the fusion, but still plenty jazzy throughout. In all, the record is probably one of the most heavy-duty that the Miles electric group recorded in the 70s – and the lineup on the set features Steve Grossman on saxes, Chick Corea on electric piano, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and Airto on percussion. Tracks include "Spanish Key", "Directions", "Masqualero", "It's About That Time", "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "Bitches Brew", "Willie Nelson", and "Sanctuary". CD

A Kenny Dorham-billed version of the only full album ever issued by tenor player Rocky Boyd – but a set so great, it's definitely made a name for him over the years! Boyd's got a wonderful tone on the set – sharp and soulful, with an approach to the tenor that almost reminds us of early 60s Jackie McLean – particularly in the way that Jackie could hit dark corners with raspy, personal tone. The rest of the group's no slouch either – and features Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Walter Bishop Jr on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Pete LaRoca on drums – a lineup so great, they give the album a real Blue Note sort of polish – and the album's definitely one that would have been a better-known date, if it hadn't died quickly on the short-lived Jazztime label. The whole thing's wonderful – and titles include "West 42nd Street", "Avars", "Ease It", "Samba De Orfeu", and "Why Not". CD features bonus tracks too – alternates of 4 tracks on the album! CD

Recorded in Westminster Abbey, with some really fantastic sound – featuring guest vocals by Alice Babs! LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic solo work from Fuzzy Haskins – a key early member of the George Clinton P-Funk empire – breaking out here on his own with a fresh new take on the Parliafunkadelicment groove! The work here is pulled from two albums and other recordings (some unissued) that Fuzzy did for the Westbound label – home to his initial work with Funkadelic, and a very respectful spot to launch his solo career – which takes of in similar late 70s funk territory to some of his former associates, especially Bootsy Collins – but with a vibe that's definitely his own! Some of these tracks were ones that Fuzzy had written years ago, but held back from Funkadelic sessions – and they're performed here with help from familiar Detroit funk giants – including Bootsy on bass, Bernie Worrell on keyboards, and Donald Austin on guitar. Titles include "Gettin It Off", "Thangs We Used To Do", "Not Yet (12" version)", "This Situation Called Love", "Silent Day", "Gimme Back", "Cookie Jar (alt version)", "Mr Junk Man", "I Think I Got My Thang Together (12" version)", "Right Back Where I Started From", "The Fuz & Da Boog", "Sinderilla", "I Can See Myself In You", and "Silent Day". CD

Music that's a definite "sekrety" to most of us western listeners – as the set brings together some rare and overlooked soundtrack material from the great Polish composer Andrezj Korzynski – served up here in a range of modes that really show him going strong well into the 80s! A number of tracks showcase that great ear for odd, offbeat sounds that has made Korzynski such a key rediscovery in recent years – served up both on electric instrumentation with nice variations in styles and techniques, but also with some larger orchestrations that are pretty darn great too. As with other Gad label titles, the presentation here is wonderful – and the 2CD package features 54 tracks in all – titles from the projects Akademia Pana Kleksa, Pan Kleks W Kosmosie, and Podroze Pana Kleksa – plus bonus material too! CD

Naoki Nishi's not the biggest name from the glory days of the Japanese piano trio scene, but he's a great musician, and one with a lyrical quality that really links his style to that of important American greats from the time – maybe some of the warmth of Hank Jones, but mixed with some of the longer form ideas of Cedar Walton too! There's also a nice sense of space between his notes, but not in a Bill Evans way, as the through line is always clear – and given nice support here from Osamu Kawakami on bass and Michael Reznikoff on drums. Titles include the originals "A Little Song", "Monstar", "Dewdrops", and "Giant From The West" – plus versions of "Ugestu" and "On Green Dolphil Street". CD

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Includes music by the Earl Sims Sextette, Four Aces, George Bledsoe, Iona Wade, Sister Rock-a-way, Scat Man Crothers, Ollie Jackson, Peppy Prince & his Orchestra, Walter Fuller, and more – 24 tracks total. CD

A funky psychedelic kaliedoscope of grooves from India – killer numbers from the 70s and into the early 80s – Psych Funk Sa-Re-Ga, from the folks who put together the equally heavy Psych-Funk 101 and Brazilian Guitar Fuzz Bananas compilations! Most of cuts here have a raw, fuzzed out undercurrent of psychedelia – guitars that buzz or lead searingly, depending on the needs of the number – with heavy, funk-based drums and/or hand percussion with rumbling bass rhythms. From that core, they bust out mightily with more furious percussion, rhythms, mad horn arrangements, and vocals that work as either a sweetener or for even more wild-eyed excitement! In short, global psychedelic funk rhythms with regional Indian folk and classical flourishes, blended with mod, soul, garage and soundtrack influences from around the globe. It's a funky, psychedelic fusion of east and west that's billed as a seminar, but this is no academic endeavor – it's a psych funk party all the way! Includes "The Mod Trade" by The Black Beats, "Psychedelia" by X'Lents, "Somebody To Love – Edit" and "Gairaag Dance Music – Edit" by Kalyanji Anandji, "Dance Music From Hare Rama Hare Krishna" by RD Burman, "Lekar Ham Diwana Dil" by RD Burman feat Asha Bhosle & Kishore Kumar, "Mary Long" by Atomic Forest, "Dharmatma Theme Music" by Kalyanji Anandji, "Phir Teri Yaad" by Hemant Bhosle feat Asha Bhosle, "Thanimayil" by Ilaiyaraaja fet Vani Jairam & Chorus and more. 20 tracks in all – with a thick booklet of notes on each track, plus loads of photos, original album & poster art, and more. CD

A hard-swinging session that's much hipper than you might guess from the "hi fi" or "west coast" in the title – recorded with none of the cliches that both tags might make you think – and instead a well-crafted set of solos from the mighty Richie Kamuca! Back in the 50s, Kamuca really had a tremendous tone – one that was often buried in larger groups, but occasionally got to take the solo spotlight on gems like this – stepping out with a raspy, almost gritty undercurrent – a sense of deeper soul in the sound that was uncommon for the west coast scene, and which we might almost compare to the similar qualities of a young Charlie Mariano on the alto sax. Although the group here is fairly largeish – with Bill Holman on baritone sax, Frank Rosolino on trombone, Conte Candoli on trumpet, and Vince Guaraldi on piano – Kamuca's clearly the main solo star, and is set up nicely in some subtle arrangements by Holman. Titles include "Linger Awhile", "Star Eyes", "Stella By Starlight", "Blue Jazz", and "Way Down Under". CD

A classic meeting of east and west coast artists of the third stream jazz sphere of the late 50s – one that features the team of John Lewis and Percy Heath of the Modern Jazz Quartet working alongside the west coast tenor of Bill Perkins, plus the guitar of Jim Hall and drums of Chico Hamilton! The whole album's got quite a unique feel – one that's as airy as that of the MJQ work of the time, but not nearly as academic or sleepy – thanks to a nice biting tone from Perkins' tenor, which really seems to stretch out in the space provided by Lewis. There's almost a similarly sublime quality here as on Lewis' album with Sacha Distel – Afternoon In Paris – which featured a similar use of space for great tenor sound (in that case, the tenor of Barney Wilen.) Titles include "2 Degrees East 3 Degrees West", "Easy Living", "Skylark", and "I Can't Get Started". LP, Vinyl record album

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A classic set that brings the east coast tenor of Sonny Rollins into contact with a west coast rhythm section of Ray Brown and Shelly Manne! Despite Rollins' silly look on the cover, and the album's overall "western" theme, the session's a brilliant one – right up there with Sonny's strongest trio sides of the late 50s, and a key link in a string of excellent recordings for Blue Note, Prestige, and Riverside! The lack of a piano really opens up the style of the set – letting Sonny explore freely on his solos, while Brown's bass and Manne's drums do more than enough to keep the rhythms going on their own. Solos aren't as "out" as on the Village Vanguard sessions, but certainly every bit as inspired – and titles include "I'm An Old Cowhand", "Solitude", "Come, Gone", "Way Out West", and "Wagon Wheels". CD features 3 bonus tracks! CD

One of the first true moments of brilliance from pianist Randy Weston – an early effort for a larger group – of the sort that allowed him to work out even more complicated patterns and rhythms in his music! The jagged Weston approach to a piano line is very firmly in place, even at this early point in his career – and Randy's deeper modern ideals are carried off perfectly by the album's sextet lineup – which features Ahmed Abdul-Malik on bass, Cecil Payne on baritone, and Ray Copeland on trumpet. Some of the tracks are in trio formation, but still quite striking themselves – and the set features a few great early Weston compositions – like "Loose Wig", "Theme For Teddy", and "J&K Blues" – plus nice takes on "In A Spanish Town", "Well You Needn't", and "How High The Moon". CD

They liked things raw in Texas in the 60s – a place where garage bands often worked heavily in fuzz and freak, so much so that they often had a psychedelic current in their music! This set really lives up to that legacy, and also digs deeper than most to a source of tracks that's completely rare – the tiny Sea Ell label, which is presented here in a host of shortly-circulated singles, plus rare demo material too! CD1 features 22 tracks that comprise all the singles on the label – we think with a and b-sides for most – on work by The Coachmen, Knights Bridge, The Intruders, George Washington & The Cherry Stompers, Derby Hatville, Satyn's Children, and The Wolves. CD2 features demo material – five 1967 demos by the Smokin Bananas, plus 15 more 1966 demos by The Intruders. CD

Four sides of noisy, funky, stretched-out playing from Miles Davis – recorded at the Fillmore West, but with an intensity that matches some of Miles' crazy electric recordings from Japan during the early 70s! The music is a powerful blast of music that stretches out over the double-length set of the package – with a style that moves from heavy-duty avant playing, then back to more mellow grooving, then kicks it out nice and hard again – a heavy dose of rock mixed in with the fusion, but still plenty jazzy throughout. In all, the record is probably one of the most heavy-duty that the Miles electric group recorded in the 70s – and the lineup on the set features Steve Grossman on saxes, Chick Corea on electric piano, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and Airto on percussion. Tracks include "Spanish Key", "Directions", "Masqualero", "It's About That Time", "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "Bitches Brew", "Willie Nelson", and "Sanctuary". CD