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ARS 
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Exact matches: 5
1
Esoteric (UK), Late 60s. New Copy 2CD ... $16.99
A pair of great albums from the overlooked Ars Nova – back to back in a single set! First up is the 1968 self-titled Ars Nova – a wonderful little set of post-folk rock – with lots of lovely baroque touches! Ars Nova were really short-lived group – known for only two rare records – but they've got a sound that perfectly sums up a generation! There's a wonderful LA late 60s sound here – somewhere between Love and The Byrds, with the baroque touches of the former and the best country influences of the latter – all wrapped up in earnest, honest songwriting that makes even the ambitious moments come across with surprising charm. A true lost relic, and the kind of record that should be in any late 60s cannon! Titles include "Album In Your Mind", "Pavan For My Lady", "General Clover Ends A War", "And How Am I To Know", "Fields Of People", "Automatic Love", and "Song To The City". Sunshine & Shadows is the second tripped-out set from Ars Nova – an under-remembered late 60s group who had a great talent for blending together a range of different styles! At some level, Ars Nova share qualities with some of the harder-jamming groups of their time – but they've also got a sound that expands to bring in folk, blues, jazz, and more baroque elements – played by the group with a lineup that includes some nice work on trumpet by Jimmy Owens, who at this point was a core member of the combo. Brooks Arthur handled the overall music direction, with a quality that recalls some of his work on Verve – and the album features the wonderful bossa-styled groover "Walk On The Sand", a romping soul jazz take on Jimmy Owens' "You Had Better Listen", and the cuts "Rubbish", "Please Don't Go Now", "Temporary Serenade", "She Promises Everything", and "Round Once Again". CD
2
Malmo Audioproduktion (Sweden), 1991. Used ... $4.99
... CD
(Out of print. CD case has a cutout hole.)
3
GAD (Poland), Late 80s. New Copy ... About January 5, 2021 (delayed)
... CD
4
Immediate, 1968. Near Mint- ... $14.99
The second, and possibly the most ambitious album the Brit psych-art soul unit led by Keith Emerson's showy, dense work on Hammond organ and keyboards. The group always had a theatrical approach, which really shows on the groups nuevo classical, psychological comedy song cycle! LP, Vinyl record album
(US pink label Immediate pressing.)
5
Candide, Early 60s. Near Mint- ... $16.99
Three works performed by the Ars Nova Ensemble, with Marius Constant conducting. The most interesting of these is "Polytope", a work for 4 orchestras scattered throughout the audience. "Medea" is a work for men's chorus, galets, and orchestra; and "Syrmos" is for a group of 18 string players. LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light wear.)
Close matches: 2
6
ARS, 1991. Very Good+ ... $14.99
... 12-inch, Vinyl record
(Promo.)
7
ARS Nova/
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has some wear.)
Partial matches: 498
8
Yellow/
Bob Sinclar serves up an overstuffed helping of singles from the latest run of the Africanism series – a long-running project that seeks to merge African rhythms with the clubbier styles of the recent Paris scene! Given the depth and soulfulness of Sinclar's own work, and his ear for an older groove, he's a perfect choice to head up the project – especially since he probably had a hand in at least half of the original tracks in the set! The mix runs for nearly 80 minutes long, and features a total of 16 tracks that include "Antigua", "Talibe", "Elegba", "Viet Dao", "Juju Beat", "Steel Storm", "Jumbo", "Voices", "Summer Moon", and "Kalimbo". CD
(Out of print.)
9
Alan Parsons Project —
Eye In The Sky ... LP Arista, 1982. Very Good ... Just Sold Out!
Includes the hometown favorite "Sirius"! LP, Vinyl record album
(German pressing in the foil embossed cover. Includes the printed inner sleeve.)
10
Riverside/
A teaming of two modern jazz talents from differing generations – one, pianist Joe Albany, rediscovered and re-recorded here after a number of years of obscurity during the 50s – the other, Warne Marsh, an emerging genius with one of the best tenor tones of his generation. The pair play together in an unusually spare setting – with no drums, and only bass work by Bob Whitlock for extra accompaniment. A real standout in the Riverside catalog – and recorded in LA, which makes one more distinction from the label's mostly New York output. Titles include "Daahoud", "Body & Soul", "I Love You", and "It's You Or No One" – and the record's a great one to hear Marsh in an unbridled setting. CD
(Out of print.)
11
Concord, 1995. Used 2 CDs ... $6.99
Includes three sets – the first with vocalist Karrin Allyson, the second with the Scott Hamilton Quintet, and the third with the Concord Jazz Festival All-Stars featuring Chris Potter, Benny Green, Ray Brown, Louie Bellson, and others. CD
(Out of print.)
12
Gene Ammons & His All Stars —
Groove Blues ... CD Prestige/
One of the tasty blowing session albums that Jug cut for Prestige – remarkable in the quality of the players (Coltrane, Mal Waldron, Pepper Adams, and others), and in the relaxed easy groove of the solid soulful tracks. There's 4 long cuts, and they all swing nicely nicely nicely! Titles include "Ammon Joy", "Groove Blues", and "Jug Handle". CD
13
Rounder, 1983. Near Mint- ... $2.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cut corner.)
14
Decca/
13 tracks. CD
(Out of print, punch through barcode & booklet.)
15
Storyville, Early 60s. Used ... $6.99
Louis Armstrong on trumpet & vocals, Billy Cronk on bass, Joe Darensbourg on bass, Danny Barcelona on drums, Billy Kyle on piano, Trummy Young on trombone & Jewell Brown onvocals. CD
(Out of print.)
16
Arsivplak (UK), New Copy ... About December 18, 2020 (delayed)
... LP, Vinyl record album
17
Arsivplak (UK), New Copy ... About December 18, 2020 (delayed)
... LP, Vinyl record album
18
RCA/
One of the spookiest albums we've ever heard from moog maestro Mort Garson – way darker and more complex than his Wozzard Of Id or moogy horoscope projects – with a feel that's much more like his legendary Black Mass album! Like that one, there's a fair current of supernatural running through the mix – an early use of the electronics to explore the darker corners of reality, served up with lots of cool 70s occult touches – in a way that's oddly more timeless than some of the later projects of this nature from the industrial generation. Garson's range of tones is wonderful – from fuzzy bassy bits, to sparkling keyboard lines, to lots of spacey sounds in between – and titles include "I Ching", "Tarot", "Deja Vu", "Seance", "Sorcerer", and "Astral Projection". LP, Vinyl record album
(Limited edition orange vinyl.)
19
RCA, 1981. Very Good+ ... $4.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light creases and some light stains at the bottom.)
20
Okka Disk, 2007. New Copy ... $9.99 13.99
An electric improvised set from Chicago – one that features piano, electric piano, and synthesizer by Jim Baker – plus bass and guitar from Brian Sandstrom, drums and percussion from Steve Hunt, and a variety of saxophones from Mars Williams! The album's somewhat unassuming at points – free, but often a bit restrained – so that quieter, more tuneful moments sit alongside some of the fuller expressions of the quartet. Baker's piano is a key force in the sound, but when Williams opens up on saxophone, he really takes over – and titles include "Feudal Gestures", "Goat & Adding Machine Ritual", "Futile Jester", "Hail To Thee Malthusia", "Somebody Rang A Bell", and "Space On Experiments In Animals". CD
21
EMI/
With 28 tracks including "Iron Horse", "Magnificent Seven", "The Menace", "The Agressor", "Spinnerree", "Moody River", "Rodeo", and "Zapata". CD
(Out of print, mark through barcode.)
22
Tompkins Square, Late 60s/
Unheard music from guitar genius Robbie Basho – a selection of tracks that were never issued at the time, all rescued from Basho's archive of over 100 reel to reel tapes! Robbie gave us some groundbreaking records on Takoma, Vanguard, and Blue Thumb – which established him as one of the most important guitarists of the new acoustic generation to rise up in the 60s, alongside important contemporary John Fahey. But Basho also kept on evolving in his music before his untimely early death in 1986, even though he was often not getting the attention from labels that he deserved – which is why a package like this is so great! The tapes were a bit murky on details – but the tracks appear to include some work from the late 60s, contemporaneous with Basho's early recordings for Takoma – but they also move well into the later years, at a time when Robbie's spiritualism was rising even more, through his devotion to Sufism. There are many vocal passages on the set, done in that surprisingly majestic mode that Basho had in the later years – a more well-developed style than his early singing – and the set, of course, features countless moments of sublime work on 12 string guitar. 5CD set features 54 tracks in all – and a 48 page booklet of notes, essays, and photos. CD
23
Count Basie —
Count Basie The Golden Years Vol 1 – 1937 ... CD EPM (France), 1937. Used ... $9.99
Featuring Billie Holiday & Jimmy Rushing. CD
(Out of print.)
24
Fun House (Japan), 1995. Used ... $6.99
Featuring Grover Washington Jr, Cryus Chestnut, Christian McBride and James Carter! CD
(Out of print 1997 Japanese pressing.)
25
Big Cheese (France), 1994. Used ... $8.99
... CD
(Out of print.)
26
Roulette, 1954. Used 2 CDs ... $11.99
A smoking set of all-star performances – recorded at Carnegie Hall in 1954, and with a sense of tremendous talent that may well blow away some of the Jazz At The Philharmonic sets of the time! The material here is heavy on Count Basie performances – excellent material from that period when he was really hitting full power again on Verve – with strong solos from Frank Foster and Frank Wess on reeds, plus work from Joe Newman on trumpet! Lester Young's tenor also joins Basie's group at one point – and Sarah Vaughan sings with the group too – but the set also features some more Verve-like performances – from Charlie Parker on alto, and Billie Holiday on vocals, who gets almost one side of the record to herself. There's a huge amount of material on the double-length set – and titles include "My Funny Valentine", "Cool Blues", and "The Song Is You" by Charlie Parker; "Them There Eyes", "My Man", and "Lover Man" by Billie Holiday; "Saturday", "Time", "That Old Devil Moon", and "Don't Blame Me" by Sarah Vaughan; and "Lullaby Of Birdland", "Sure Thing", "Perdido", "Blues Backstage", and "You For Me" by Count Basie. CD
(Out of print.)
27
Sony/
A nice collection of overlooked work from Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – not the oft-reissued material from the group's years at Blue Note, but instead some slightly more obscure sides recorded for Columbia and RCA! The work here also represents a time when Blakey was experimenting a bit more with the group – a stretch right before he settled into some of the more-recorded groups with Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, and Bobby Timmons – but still had a great ear for important younger talent! Players here include Bill Hardman, Donald Byrd, and Lee Morgan on trumpets; Jackie McLean on alto; Johnny Griffin, Hank Mobley, and Benny Golson on tenor; and Horace Silver and Sam Dockery on piano! The set includes material from the albums Hard Bop, Drum Suite, Jazz Messengers, Night In Tunisia, and some of the French-only live recordings that Blakey did for RCA in the late 50s – and the set features 16 tracks that include "Nica's Dream", "Evidence", "Blues March For Europe No 1", "Along Came Manon", "Lester Left Town", "Night In Tunisia (live)", "Moanin With Hazel", "Night In Tunisia (take 3)", "Ecaroh", "Cubano Chant", "Almost Like Being In Love", "The Sacrifie", and "Couldn't It Be You (take 4)". CD
28
Columbia, 1971. Used ... $9.99
Okay, we admit it, we never really know whether we want to call Blood, Sweat & Tears a funky, soulful rock band, or a bunch of white guys making a respectable effort at cutting soul albums, but either way, the stuff sounds good to us! By this point the group had enjoyed enough chart success to stretch out a bit, but their signature horn driven combination of bluesy rock bluster and heavily charted jazz voiced riffery is still in place. Includes "Go Down Gamblin'", "John The Baptist (Holy John)", "Redemption", "Lisa Listen To Me", "High On A Mountain", "Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While)" and "Mama Gets High". CD
(Out of print.)
29
Blood Sweat & Tears —
Blood Sweat & Tears Greatest Hits ... CD Columbia, Late 60s. Used ... $1.99
... CD
30
Columbia, 1968. Very Good ... $6.99
A wild debut from Blood Sweat & Tears – one of those records that forever changed the face of popular music! The set's noteworthy not just for early vocals from Al Kooper – who was a key part of the group at their start – but also for key production work from a young John Simon – who helped arrange a bit, threw in a few musical touches, and really gave the group some focus on record – of the sort that would continue over the course of man albums. The set's got some added strings at points, and there's even some backup vocals from the duo of Valerie Simpson and Melba Moore. Titles include "Overture", "I Can't Quit Her", "Just One Smile", "Without Her", "My Days Are Numbered", "Morning Glory", and "So Much Love/
Also available Child Is Father To The Man (Gold CD with bonus tracks) ... CD 14.99(Stereo 360 Sound pressing. Cover has ring and edge wear.)
31
Columbia, 1968. Used ... $14.99
A wild debut from Blood Sweat & Tears – one of those records that forever changed the face of popular music! The set's noteworthy not just for early vocals from Al Kooper – who was a key part of the group at their start – but also for key production work from a young John Simon – who helped arrange a bit, threw in a few musical touches, and really gave the group some focus on record – of the sort that would continue over the course of man albums. The set's got some added strings at points, and there's even some backup vocals from the duo of Valerie Simpson and Melba Moore. Titles include "Overture", "I Can't Quit Her", "Just One Smile", "Without Her", "My Days Are Numbered", "Morning Glory", and "So Much Love/
Also available Child Is Father To The Man ... LP 6.99(Out of print, limited edition Gold CD pressing – part of the MasterSound series.)
32
Universal (Netherlands), Late 60s/
... CD
(Out of print.)
33
Princeton Architectural Press, Late 60s/
Not rare tapes by The Smiths – but a book of rare interviews conducted by journalist Howard Smith – an overlooked counterculture figure whose questions and commentary here go way past the usual fluff! The book features complete interviews conducted between 1966 and 1972 – key American cultural years, in which Smith interacts with a diverse array of figures – including Norma Mailer, Yoko Ono, Jerry Garcia, Allen Ginsberg, Dick Gregory, George Harrison, R Buckminster Fuller, Sly Stone, Lou Reed, Frank Zappa, Andy Warhol, Pete Townshed, Jane Fonda, and dozens of others! There's a definite hippie bent to some of the subject matter – but a surprising amount of depth – the kind of insight and writing that Rolling Stone was known for at the start. 415 pages of very dense text, with some black and white images – softcover. Book
34
Mace, Mid 60s. Near Mint- ... $4.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
35
David Bowie —
Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars ... LP RCA, 1973. Near Mint- ... $29.99
Arguably one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time – and the key flowering of the partnership between David Bowie and Mick Ronson! The guitars here are heavy – so much so that the record's always crossed over big with crowds who are always suspicious of Bowie's artier work of the 70s – and represented a crucial moment when his groundbreaking music also found a large mainstream audience as well. And despite the fact that Ziggy's an androgynous space rocker with a spurious pedigree, the manufactured posturing of the album's come to be taken quite literally over the years – a vivid text of alienation, expression, and redemption – served up beautifully over a host of classic tracks that include "Five Years", "Soul Love", "Moonage Daydream", "Suffragette City", and "Ziggy Stardust" – all further proof of Bowie's 70s ability to slide in wherever he wanted with ease! LP, Vinyl record album
(180 gram UK Parlophone pressing from 2015. Includes the printed inner sleeve.)
36
CRI, 2000. Used 2CD ... $4.99
... CD
37
Johnny Bristol —
Love Takes Tears/
MGM, 1975. Very Good ... Just Sold Out!
One of the best solos singles by Johnny Bristol! "Love Takes Tears" is an excellent mellow soul number – built around a groove that's almost like "Love's Theme" by Barry White, but graced with warm vocals by Johnny that give the tune a very catchy hook! "Go On & Dream" is mellower, a great example of the gentle side of Bristol! 7-inch, Vinyl record
38
Proprius (Sweden), 1977. Near Mint- Gatefold ... $6.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
39
Bronner Brothers —
Million Dollars (voc, inst)/Neighbor, 1987. Near Mint- (pic cover)... $4.99
... 12-inch, Vinyl record
(In the printed sleeve.)
40
Brother Dan All Stars —
Let's Catch The Beat (180 gram orange vinyl pressing) ... LP Trojan/
A classic album from the late 60s run of Trojan producer Dandy – working here under the guise of Brother Dan All-Stars – with a lineup that features some secret help from the rest of the Trojan scene! The groove is mostly rocksteady, with the strongly soulful current that Dandy brought to his own records too – and there's a few points in which the rhythms actually crackle with a slight current of funk – in a way that shows the Transatlantic appeal of the work that Dan was doing at the time! Titles include "The Bunk", "Freedom", "Dream", "Lee's Farewell", "One More Dance", "Mello Music", "Life Can Be Beautiful", "Everybody Feel Good", and "Since I Met You Baby". LP, Vinyl record album
(Individually numered limited edition of 750 – on heavyweight orange vinyl!)
41
Wand/
Maxine Brown on Wand Records is really something amazing – not just because she began her recording career at the label, but also because she never again hit the heights of these recordings! Brown was a really important singer with these sides – still partly in the class and poise of some of the jazz-tinged vocalists that came before her – but also able to open up with a deeper soul vibe that paved the way for Aretha Franklin and so many other singers to come in the second half of the 60s! The production and presentation of these tracks is wonderful, too – great songwriting, and top-shelf studio charts that only lift, and never drown the brilliance of Maxine's unique voice. Titles include "One In A Million", "It's Torture", "Let Me Give You My Lovin", "Yesterday's Kisses", "Oh No, Not My Baby", "Gotta Find A Way", "Baby Cakes", "Why Did I Choose You", "Misty Morning Eyes", "Since I Found You", "Losing My Touch", "If I Had Known", "It's Gonna Be Alright", and the completely fantastic "If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody". CD
42
Wand/
Maxine Brown on Wand Records is really something amazing – not just because she began her recording career at the label, but also because she never again hit the heights of these recordings! Brown was a really important singer with these sides – still partly in the class and poise of some of the jazz-tinged vocalists that came before her – but also able to open up with a deeper soul vibe that paved the way for Aretha Franklin and so many other singers to come in the second half of the 60s! The production and presentation of these tracks is wonderful, too – great songwriting, and top-shelf studio charts that only lift, and never drown the brilliance of Maxine's unique voice. Titles include "One In A Million", "It's Torture", "Let Me Give You My Lovin", "Yesterday's Kisses", "Oh No Not My Baby", "Gotta Find A Way", "Baby Cakes", "Since I Found You", "It's Gonna Be Alright", and the completely fantastic "If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody". LP, Vinyl record album
43
Bvhaast (Netherlands), 1993. Used ... $4.99
... CD
(Out of print.)
44
Gavin Bryars —
Last Days – Balanescu Quartet ... CD Point, 1995. Used ... $5.99
... CD
(Out of print.)
45
Savoy, 1944. Near Mint- ... $4.99
... 78 RPM, Vinyl record
(Record has a slight dish warp.)
46
Tim Buckley —
Starsailor ... LP Warner/
Amazing work from the legendary Tim Buckley – and one of the records that truly shows why his music was unlike anything else that ever came before! The blend of folksy and jazzy roots really takes off here – stretching forth at times with a spacious feel that's airy, yet full of feeling – as Tim's magnificent vocals are backed by key instrumentation from Lee Underwood on guitar and organ, plus a small lineup of tenor, flute, trumpet, and bass – all bringing some jazzy phrasing to the mix. Tim himself plays 12 string guitar, at a level that's both complex yet completely organic – and titles include the sublime "Song To The Siren", a heavenly tune that perfectly sums up his genius, and which would be enough of a legacy, even if it was the only cut he ever recorded – plus "Monterey", "Come Here Woman", "Jungle Fire", and "Starsailor". LP, Vinyl record album
(180 gram 4 Men With Beards pressing.)
47
Beatball (South Korea), Mid 70s. New Copy ... About February 19, 2021
One of the rarest (and best) soundtracks by this master of the British espionage thriller! The score's got a driving 70's crime/
48
Leo (UK), 2012. Used ... $8.99
Andrea Buffa on alto & tenor saxophone & bass clarinet, Fiorenzo Bodrato on double bass & Dario Mazzucco on drums & Carlo Actis Dato on tenor & baritone saxophone & bass clarinet. CD
(Crease through traycard artwork.)
49
Volt, 1962. Very Good- ... $14.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Label has light wear.)
50
Steeplechase (Denmark), 2020. New Copy ... $16.99 19.99
Saxophonist Chris Byars always has a great way of putting together a set of horn players – and here, his tenor is matched with alto from Zaid Nasser, bass clarinet from Stefano Doglioni, and trombone from John Mosca – all given piano-less accompaniment from the duo of Ari Roland on bass and Phil Stewart on drums! At some level, the music maybe echoes specific 50s modern modes – some west coast, some Gerry Mulligan styles – but there's also a much more contemporary vibe to the recording, one that comes partly from the mostly original material by the leader. The tunes bristle with a nice assortment of colors, and never overstate their inventiveness – and titles include "Nashville", "Arizona", "Keeper", "Moscow", "Third Culture Kid", and "Philadelphia". CD
51
Trojan (UK), 1970s. Used ... $11.99
Like so many vocalists, Junior Byles shone brightest under the guidance of Lee Perry, and this excellent retrospective collects more than just a few of the great Jamaican soul sides he'd cut under his production. All of these numbers have the spare loping groove, with nice organ lines and bouncing bass that were the hallmark of Scratch's early 70's work, laced with Byles' great roots vocals over top. 23 tracks in all, including "I've Got A Feeling", "Don't Know Why", "Coming Home", "Beat Down Babylon", "A Place Called Africa", "Poor Chubby", "Hail To Power", "Fever", "When Will Better Come", "Curly Locks" and "Dreader Locks". CD
(Out of print.)
52
Beef (Luxembourg), 1960s. Used ... $9.99
Avalon Baldroom 1968 & studio recordings. CD
(Out of print.)
53
Cars —
Cars ... LP Elektra, 1978. Very Good+ ... $14.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has light wear.)
54
Elektra (Germany), 1981. New Copy (reissue)... $21.99
A well-remembered classic from The Cars – one of those records that had the group finding a perfect way to tap into new wave energy from the underground, yet somehow manage to score some major hits at a time when American radio was still pretty shy of so many new sounds! This set still has the group pretty close to their Boston roots – commercial, but never too polished – and in addition to the title hit "Shake It Up", other tracks include "Think It Over", "Since You're Gone", "I'm Not The One", "Victim Of Love", "This Could Be Love", and "A Dream Away". LP, Vinyl record album
(Rhino Start Your Ear Off Right pressing. Limited edition – on neon green vinyl!)
55
Water Tower, 1979. Near Mint- ... $4.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
56
Fundamental, 1986. Used ... $11.99
... CD
(Out of print, barcode has a cutout hole.)
57
Eugene Chadbourne —
There'll Be No Tears Tonight ... CD Parachute/
One of the most compelling albums ever recorded by guitarist Eugene Chadbourne – a set billed as "free improvised country and western bebop" – and which features Chadbourne serving up these wild variations on tunes by Carl Perkins, Roger Miller, David Allen Coe, Bobby Bare, Merle Haggard, and other country music legends! The album's much more Eugene than Nashville – although Chadbourne does sing lyrics on all of the tunes, but in a way that's very offbeat and hardly unlike the originals at all – as is his guitar work, which is acoustic and all twisted and turned up in all the offbeat phrasings you might expect! Much of the record is Chadbourne on vocals and electric dobro – but the set also features some drums by David Licht, saxes from John Zorn, and cello from Tom Cora. Titles include "The Last Word In Lonesome Is Me", "I'm The Only Hell My Mama Ever Raised", "Georgia In A Jug", "Motel Time Again", "Dang Me", "Window Shopping", "Jealous Loving Heart", "Mr Record Man", and "Swingin Doors". CD
(Beautiful package – with a heavy Japanese-style paper sleeve!)
58
Blue Note, 2000. Used ... $4.99
Features Charlap's piano with the fantastic rhythm team of Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums! CD
(Out of print. Mark through barcode, disc has a promo stamp.)
59
Atlantic/
Titles include "Hard Times", "Rockhouse", "Sweet Sixteen Bars", "Doodlin", "How Long Blues", and "Blues Waltz". LP, Vinyl record album
60
Doc Cheatham —
Eighty seven Years Of Doc Cheatham – Legendary Pioneers Of Jazz ... CD Columbia, 1992. Used ... Just Sold Out!
Tracks include "Okay, Baby", "New Orleans", "Muskrat Ramble", "Wolverine Blues", "Round Midnight", "Have You Met Miss Jones?" and "Love You Madly". CD
(Out of print, punch through barcode.)
61
Ardent/
... CD
(Out of print.)
62
Vintage Jazz Classics, 1939/
Charlie Chrisian with the Benny Goodman Sextet, special Guest Stars Lester Young & Count Basie. CD
(Out of print.)
63
Blue Note, Late 50s/
8 tracks that do a pretty darn good job of summing up the genius of pianist Sonny Clark during his years at the Blue Note label! The recordings feature Clark in the company of some fierce hardbop groups – with players that include John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Paul Chambers, Donald Byrd, and Art Farmer. Titles include "Junka", "Cool Struttin", "Dial S For Sonny", "Shoutin On A Riff", and "Sonny's Crib". CD
(Out of print.)
64
Emanon (Germany), 1969/
Amazing work from this legendary ensemble – with selections from Volcano, Rue Chaptal, At Her Majesty's Pleasure, and Off Limits. Packaged in a beautiful longbox, with a booklet rich in information, and a cool packaging style for the CDs! CD
(Out of print numbered limited edition.)
65
Sony, 1996. Used ... $1.99
We have to be honest, by this point we'd all but given up on George. But the truth is, Clinton and crew have pulled off a decent job of turning the tables on the whole G-funk scene, and taking a page or two out of their book, after they'd done the same to him for years! While we'd never claim this is best work, it's held up a fair bit better to the test of time than you might imagine! With "If Anybody's Gonna Get Funked Up (It's Gonna Be You)", "New Spaceship", "Flatman & Bobbin", "Sloppy Seconds", "Rock The Party" and "Get Your Funk On". CD
(Out of print. Barcode has a cutout hole.)
66
Muse, 1978. Near Mint- ... $4.99
With Ray Bryant on piano, George Duvivier on bass, Alan Dawson on drums, Buddy Tate on tenor sax, and Eddie Vinson on alto sax. LP, Vinyl record album
67
Snapper (UK), 1980s/
With 21 tracks including "Alfa Waves", "Dancer", "Times Of My Life", "Taurian Marauder", "Zanzibar Breeze", "Black Ink", "Slowbody Poppin", and the suite "Summit Afrique". CD
68
RCA, 1956. Very Good+ ... $9.99
A really great little live jazz date from the mid 50s – one that features a unique pairing of east and west coast players, working together as part of a Birdland Stars package tour! The group's an exceptionally balanced one – with players who are all strong enough to work together seamlessly, but who each bring together something different to the date – especially in the blend of west coast cool and east coast hot that comes up during some of the horn passages! Trumpets are by Kenny Dorham and Conte Candoli, tenor by Al Cohn, alto by Phil Woods, piano by Hank Jones, bass by John Simmons, and drums by Kenny Clarke – and with a balance like that, there's probably a bit more "east" than "west" on the set – but that's ok with us! The style is similar to some of the RCA work cut by Cohn or Woods, but a lot more open overall – tracks that are looser and less arranged, with some really great room for solos. Titles include "Hip Boots!", "For Kicks Only", "Ah Funky New Baby", and "Conte's Condolences". LP, Vinyl record album
(Mono pressing with deep groove.)
69
Savoy, 1944. Very Good+ ... $4.99
... 78 RPM, Vinyl record
(Red orchestra label pressing, which has an ink stamp on the A side.)
70
Resonance, Late 30s/
A mindblowing look at the early years of Nat King Cole – a set that stretches in a mighty wide space before Nat's big fame at Capitol Records – and which also greatly expands our understanding of the material he recorded during his Decca years too! The music takes Nat back to a time long before most folks know his music – with roots in the bluesier side of the Chicago scene, moving through jazzier modes of the swing generation, to the tight trio work that helped Cole shape the sound of a generation – and all before he even got a chance to record more as a singer, and with bigger backings too! There's definitely some early Decca Records material from the 78rpm years, but there's also lots of alternate takes, small label material for Philo, Excelsior, and other labels – then a stunning amount of transcription recordings that were done for radio and broadcast – plus a few live tracks too. Not all the work here was recorded under Nat's name, either – as there's tracks in which Cole features strongly in other combos – although most tracks are trio numbers, and guitar great Oscar Moore is in the lineup right from the start. The 10LP set features over 180 tracks in all, remastered with really great sound – plus a 16 page booklet that's filled with notes, photos, and lots more musical history! LP, Vinyl record album
(Hand-numbered limited edition pressing on 180 gram vinyl pressed at RTI!)
71
Blue Note, 1960s. Used ... $8.99
Ornette Coleman with Charlie Haden, David Izenzon, Jimmy Garrison, Scotty Holt,Billy Higgins, Charles Moffett, Denardo Coleman, Elvin Jones, LaMont Johnson & Dewey Redman. CD
(Out of print, BMG music club pressing.)
72
Joshua Abrams —
Cloud Script ... CD Rogue Art (France), 2020. New Copy ... About January 15, 2021 (delayed)
Tremendous work from Joshua Abrams – a set that's very different than some of his other work in recent years, but every bit as great! The set's got a lean group – Abrams on bass, Jeff Parker on guitar, Gerald Cleaver on drums, and the great Ari Brown on tenor – of Awakening fame – a group that delivers a more stripped-down version of some of Josh's more spiritual ideals – but in ways that also touch base with more conventional jazz expression! Make no mistake, there's nothing conventional about this set – the approach is very unique, and very striking – and the presence of the younger musicians really sets Ari Brown on fire, and reminds us of what a great soloist he can be when he's pushed to his limits. Titles include "Collapsing Novelty", "Duke Hill", "Echo Tracer", "In Place Of Memory", and "Coniunctio". CD
73
Eremite/
Brilliant work from composer/
74
Eremite, 2019. New Copy 2CD ... $19.99
A really fantastic album from bassist Joshua Abrams – a set that may well be his greatest to date – and that's saying a lot, given all the other work he's given us in recent years! The double-length set has Abrams working with this lineup of improvising jazz talents, but in a way that's very rhythmic, and very organic – slow-building songs that almost seem to mix jazz with inspiration from gamelan music, but with very spiritual currents overall – music that builds slowly and flows to the cosmos – almost in a way that reminds us of the seminal "On The Beach" by Phil Cohran & The Artistic Heritage Ensemble! Yet Abrams is very much in his own territory here – working with a lineup that features the leader on guimbri, Lisa Alvarado on harmonium and gongs, Mikel Avery on tam-tam and gongs, Ben Boye on electric autoharp and piano, Hamid Drake on tabla and tar, Ben Lamar Gay on cornet, Nick Mazzarella on alto saxophone, and Jason Stein on bass clarinet – with every member of the ensemble also performing on flutes. The sound is incredible – music to build a bridge to the heavens – and titles include "In Memory's Prism", "Finite", "Shadow Conductor", and "Agree". CD
75
Duke/
A double-header of a set – one that brings together rare work from two great 50s singers on the Duke/
76
Strut (UK), 2020. New Copy ... $12.99 13.99
A tremendous return to form for reedman Idris Ackamoor and his Pyramids group – and a record that we love every bit as much as his classic material from the 70s! There's a power, righteousness, and urgency to this album that we haven't heard from Ackamoor in years – very much the kind of material that's both a message and a medicine for the planet – of the sort that first inspired Ackamoor's generation in the 70s – and which is rarely carried off in a contemporary context this well! Idris plays tenor, but also delivers some surprisingly wonderful vocals and a few very powerful spoken parts too – and the rest of the lineup features Margaux Simmons on flute, Bobby Cobb on guitar, Ruben Ramos Medina on bass, Jack Yglesies on percussion, Sandra Poindexter on viola and violin, and Giole Pagliaccia on drums. The vibe here is like the vintage Black Fire Records label at its best – and titles include "Salvation", "Theme For Cecil", "When Will I See You Again", "Shaman", "Tango Of Love", "Dogon Mysteries", and "The Last Slave Ship". CD
Also available Shaman ... LP 28.9977
Strut (UK), 2020. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ... $28.99 29.99
A tremendous return to form for reedman Idris Ackamoor and his Pyramids group – and a record that we love every bit as much as his classic material from the 70s! There's a power, righteousness, and urgency to this album that we haven't heard from Ackamoor in years – very much the kind of material that's both a message and a medicine for the planet – of the sort that first inspired Ackamoor's generation in the 70s – and which is rarely carried off in a contemporary context this well! Idris plays tenor, but also delivers some surprisingly wonderful vocals and a few very powerful spoken parts too – and the rest of the lineup features Margaux Simmons on flute, Bobby Cobb on guitar, Ruben Ramos Medina on bass, Jack Yglesies on percussion, Sandra Poindexter on viola and violin, and Giole Pagliaccia on drums. The vibe here is like the vintage Black Fire Records label at its best – and titles include "Salvation", "Theme For Cecil", "When Will I See You Again", "Shaman", "Tango Of Love", "Dogon Mysteries", and "The Last Slave Ship". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Shaman ... CD 12.9978
Cuneiform, 2009. Used ... $9.99
The second album from Chicago vibist Jason Adasiewicz and his Rolldown group – giving us some of the best vibes-led jazz in years! The group features players from the Chicago scene that are truly at the forefront of an exciting wave of modern jazz in the city, and anywhere else on the planet – coronet player Josh Berman, Aram Shelton on alto sax and clarinet, Frank Rosaly on drums, and Jason Roebke on bass – rolling along with sound that combines an avant energy with classic dexterity. The interplay is intuitive and dynamic, balancing tense and playful moments with precision. Wonderful! Includes "Green Grass", "Varmint", "Dagger", "Hide", "I Hope She Is Awake", "Punchbag" and "The Griots". CD
79
Riverside/
One of the greatest Cannonball Adderley albums from the Riverside years – a completely smoking live date recorded in San Francisco, often with long tracks that really let the group open up and do their thing! The lineup here is that classic one that first grabbed attention – the group with brother Nat on cornet, Sam Jones on bass, Louis Hayes on drums – and a young Bobby Timmons on piano, really cooking things up with tremendous drive, energy, and a sense of the groove! Titles include a great workout on Timmons' classic "This Here", plus originals "You Got It" and Spontaneous Combustion", and a great version of "Hi Fly". Soul jazz at its best, by one of the groups who gave the genre its name in the first place! CD
(Out of print. CRC pressing.)
80
Cannonball Adderley —
Love, Sex, And The Zodiac ... CD Fantasy/
A classic from Cannoball and producer-partner David Axelrod – truly great stuff and maybe even better than the Zodiac set Cannonball did for Capitol! The formula is similar to that one – with David Axelrod producing, electric keyboards by Hal Galper and George Duke, spacey solos by Cannonball and Nat Adderley, and some very hip recitations by Rick Holmes on love, sex, and the zodiac! Holmes is best known as the chappie who cut "Remember To Remember" years later with Roy Ayers – but this album's got a similar "wisdom and knowledge" feel that's pretty wonderful. Titles include "Aquarius: Humanity Plus", "Cancer: All Sides", "Leo: Rosebud", "Aries: Damn Right", "Gemini: Ecstasy", and "Virgo: For Pam". CD
81
Cannonball Adderley —
Things Are Getting Better ... CD Riverside/
An album that definitely lives up to its title – given the great change and evolution in the style of Cannonball Adderley's music – definitely pointed towards the soul jazz fame to come in the 60s! The group here has Adderley's alto in the company of some all-stars who may not be his regular group, but who definitely help keep the whole thing at a top-shelf level throughout – a quintet that features Milt Jackson on vibes, Wynton Kelly on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Art Blakey on drums. There's still a few echoes of Cannon's earlier bop recordings, but the sound is also moving towards the new modes to come – especially on the classic title cut "Things Are Getting Better". Other cuts include "Just One Of Those Things", "Sounds For Sid", "Groovin High", "Serves Me Right", and "Blues Oriental". CD
(Out of print. Booklet has light wear.)
82
Mango/
A pair of groundbreaking records from King Sunny Ade – both of which represent a new wave of interest in African music after the initial burst of the Fela Kuti generation! First up is Synchro System – fantastic work from King Sunny Ade – one of his first truly global releases, and an album that marked a whole new sound in his music! Sunny had been issuing lots of his own records back home in Nigeria – but this set has the juju master working in London, with really fantastic production that pushes his sound in really great ways – echoey waves of basslines and percussion, subtle but powerful vocals, and percolating guitar that takes on a whole new sonic sensibility in the setting! There's a richness to the texture that's amazing – almost as if Brian Eno produced – and titles include "Synchro Feelings Ilako", "Mo Ti Mo", "Penkele", "Maajo", "Synchro System", "E Saiye Re", "Tolongo", "E Wele", and "Synchro Reprise". Next up is Aura – a crucial record in the early days of the global scene in the 80s – a set that lifts the music of King Sunny Ade from its roots in Nigeria, and mixes it up with some fresh elements that really open things up for a world's worth of ears! The approach isn't commercial – at least not in the modes of the later world music years – but there's occasional elements that echo the beat culture rising up in New York and London, mixed with the warmer sounds that were always at Sunny's music – especially that way of making the acoustic percussion and basslines come together in flowing waves of completely sublime sound! All tracks are nice and long – and titles include "Gboromiro", "Oremi", "Ire", "Iro", "Ogunja", and "Ase". CD
83
Island (UK), 1983. Very Good ... $5.99
A nice 12" of an artist you don't often find on a single. Two excellent percolating Ju Ju tracks filled with layered guitars and percussion. 12-inch, Vinyl record
84
Electromat (Nigeria), 1980. Good ... $9.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has wear and aging, some light stains, some pen on front and back, and small tears in the top seam and opening.)
85
Artezanal/
Fantastic stuff – and one of the greatest records ever by Brazilian keyboardist Antonio Adolfo! The album was recorded at the end of the 70s, and has a sound that's a lot like the best fusion work by Azymuth – a great mix of jazz and funk, plus more dynamic Brazilian elements – all wrapped together in a way that a rare few hybrids do this well! There's great keyboards right up front in the mix – and the backing has some tight percussion that crackles along and gives the album a heavy bottom and a great groove. The album was originally only issued on the tiny Artezanal label – but it feels like a lost gem from the classic funk years at Fantasy Records – internationally funky, far past just a Brazilian music gem. Titles include the massive break cut "Cascavel", plus other nice tracks like "Viralata", "A Marcha", "Assanhada", "Vermelhinho", and "Brincadeira Em Mi Bemol". LP, Vinyl record album
86
Far Out (UK), 2007. New Copy ... $7.99 16.99
The return of a legend – and a tremendously groovy little record! Brazilian keyboardist/
87
PS Artbooks (UK), Mid 50s. New Copy ... $9.99 49.99
Stunning work from the glory days of the 50s horror comic – issues of the legendary publication Adventures Into The Unknown – one of the first and most important comics to plumb the depths of supernatural and science fiction! The publication inspired countless imitators, but was always a cut above the rest – thanks to a careful editorial policy that really focused on strong stories and high quality artwork – at a level that makes these issues a delight to read all these many years later! This volume, like others in the PS Artbooks series, features beautiful color reproductions of issues that would cost you a fortune to buy in the original – all wrapped up in a high quality, hardcover package. And while some of the other comics of the time were floundering at this point – due to the imposition of the comics code – Adventures Into the Unknown kept going strong, as they were never as seedy as some of the others. The stories here are filled with great art from Harry Lazarus, Ken Bald, Ken Landau, Ogden Whitney, Pete Riss, John Rosenberger, and other overlooked giants of the field. Book is 272 pages, hardcover, and in full color. Book
88
PS Artbooks (UK), Mid 50s. New Copy ... $9.99 49.99
Stunning work from the glory days of the 50s horror comic – issues of the legendary publication Adventures Into The Unknown – one of the first and most important comics to plumb the depths of supernatural and science fiction! The publication inspired countless imitators, but was always a cut above the rest – thanks to a careful editorial policy that really focused on strong stories and high quality artwork – at a level that makes these issues a delight to read all these many years later! This volume, like others in the PS Artbooks series, features beautiful color reproductions of issues that would cost you a fortune to buy in the original – all wrapped up in a high quality, hardcover package. And while some of the other comics of the time were floundering at this point – due to the imposition of the comics code – Adventures Into the Unknown kept going strong, as they were never as seedy as some of the others. Includes lots of fantastic art from Ogden Whitney – plus more from Harry Lazarus, Kurt Schaffenberger, Creig Fiessel, John Rosenberger, and others who do a perfect job of mixing the cartoony with the spooky. Book is 272 pages, hardcover, and full color throughout. Book
89
Mainstream/
A killer album of Afro Funk – with a very unusual origin! In the wake of Manu Dibango's big hit (and some kind of failure to register the copyright), many many versions of "Soul Makossa" were recorded and released, some good, some bad. This album is a good example of that situation – kind of a quickie project issued by Mainstream Records to cash in on the hit – but it's also an amazing bit of lost funk, and a record that's lasted for years in the hearts of beatheads! The group's a studio combo headed by Richard Fritz – and includes funky drummer Paul Humphrey, organist Charles Kynard, and guitarist David T Walker – all players we can trust to keep things groovy. The record does include a version of "Soul Makossa" that's pretty great – but even better is the breakbeat classic "House Of The Rising Funk", apparently the same version of the track that was issued on a 45 under the name The Chubukos. Other nice ones include "Kissing My Love", "Hot Mud", "Get It", "Hot Doggin", and "Let Me Do My Thing". CD
90
Boom Shot, 2016. New Copy ... $6.99
You might remember Tony Aiken for his classic funk album Unity, from the 70s – and here, he's back again – after nearly 40 years away from the studio! The album's got a style that's a lot more reggae-influenced than before – maybe not totally a reggae record, given the other influences that Tony brings to bear – but a style that's definitely Jamaican overall, especially in the rhythms! The project features a big number of guests – as you can probably guess from the images on the front cover – all given a soulful spirit by Tony's lead. Package lists no song titles at all – but there are 10 tracks total. CD
91
Air —
Pocket Symphony ... CD Astralwerks, 2007. Used ... Just Sold Out!
Air going strong in the late 00s – still riding at a creative peak, years after breaking through – balancing inventive soundscapes and gratifying hooks as great as they've done since Moon Safari! Includes a couple a few tracks featuring and/
(BMG music club pressing.)
92
Airto —
Seeds On The Ground – The Natural Sounds Of Airto (blue vinyl pressing) ... LP Buddah/
Easily one of the greatest records that Brazilian percussionist Airto ever recorded – a stunning blend roots and jazzy currents, and a set that follows strongly off his work in the group Quarteto Novo! The set's got contributions from one of his key partners in that combo – reedman Hermeto Pascoal – and like Pascoal's material at this point, the whole thing is maybe one of the most perfect realizations of the musical vision that Airto was going for! There's none of the tighter, more polished sounds of his later fusion years – and this is the record that will show you just why his arrival on the American scene made such big waves at the time. Flora Purim also sings on the record – and titles include "Andei", "On Sonho", Papo Furado", and "O Galho da Rosiera". LP, Vinyl record album
(Limited edition of 1000 – on blue vinyl!)
93
Pressure Drop (UK), Late 60s. New Copy 5CD set ... $32.99
An insanely huge amount of work from British rocksteady legend Laurel Aitken – especially when you consider that this set of 138 tracks was issued in the short space of just two years! In truth, Laurel's not the lead artist on all the cuts, but he had something to do with all of them – either as a singer, songwriter, producer, or other creative force – all bringing to a variety of UK labels the experience he'd build up as a formative member on the growing scene in Kingston! The work throughout is marked with the wit that always made Aitken such a standout, and which also links his contributions to Jamaican music with larger Caribbean culture – but never in the watered-down style of his later revival work. The scope of music is amazing, and in addition to dozens of tracks recorded under his own name, the package features cuts by The Gruvy Beats, The Classics, Inner Mind, Winston Groovy, Sonny Binns & The Rudies, Tiger, King Horror, Pama Dice, The Cimarons, Trevor Lloyd, Dice & Cummie, Dice The Boss, and others. CD
94
RCA (Japan), 1974. New Copy ... $18.99
Brilliantly bold work from pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi – an artist who's really coming into her own for the 70s – stepping out in a big band format that would win her a wide new audience on both sides of the Pacific! The album's one of the first to feature the ensemble co-led with husband Lew Tabackin – a group that features strong work from American players who include Dick Spencer and Gary Foster on alto saxes, Tabackin and Tom Peterson on tenor, Bill Perkins on baritone, Bobby Shew and Don Rader on trumpets, and Charles Loper and Jim Sawyer on trombones. The horns are only part of the picture, though – as the inventive writing and arranging from Akiyoshi is what really makes the album great – a strong sense of painting with sound, while still keeping things swinging – really unlocking all the best elements that had been opened up for larger ensembles in the previous few years. The set features all original tracks that include "Kogun", "American Ballad", "Henpecked Old Man", "Elegy", and "Memory". CD
(Blu-spec CD 2 pressing!)
95
RCA (Japan), 1975. New Copy ... $18.99
A 70s classic from the team of Toshiko Akioshi and Lew Tabackin – a duo who did for the jazz ensemble mode in their generation what Kenny Clarke and Francy Boland did in the 60s! The material here is wonderfully inventive – the kind of compositions that Toshiko wouldn't have even written in her smaller combo years – fleshed out here by a fantastic group that includes Lew Tabackin and Gary Foster on reeds, and Bobby Shew and Don Rader on trumpets – all in a setting where the voices of the individual members really get a lot of space to shine! Titles include "Since Perry", "Opus No Zero", "Long Yellow Road", "First Night", "Children In The Temple Ground", and "Yet Another Tear". CD
(Blu-spec CD 2 pressing!)
96
RCA (Japan), 1977. New Copy ... $18.99
It's hard to get at the brilliance of the 70s albums from Toshiko Akiyoshi and Lew Tabackin in words – but we'll try just a bit! The records are almost an anomaly – creative big band records at a time when most folks were leaving the format behind – put together by a duo who weren't really stars in the years before, at least on the American market – but who really found a way to shine in this new setting! Toshiko composed and arranged all the material – opening up a whole new depth in her songwriting – and she also delivers superb piano solos that have the dexterity of her earlier work, but also a new level of complexity too. Tabackin is wonderful as well – fantastic on flute and tenor – and also providing strong inspiration to reed soloists Dick Spencer and Gary Foster too. Emil Richards does a nice percussion solo on one track – and titles include "Notorious Tourist From East", "Deracinated Flower", "Yellow Is Mellow", and "Mobile". CD
(Blu-spec CD 2 pressing!)
97
PMG (Austria), 1975. New Copy (reissue)... $18.99
A stunner from the Afro Funk scene of the 70s – and the kind of record that makes us realize just how much greatness there is to discover! Years back, we thought we'd heard all the good cuts from the sub-Saharan continent – but a record like this really makes us sit up and take new notice – grabbed by the core funky rhythms of the combo, which feel like some lost east coast funky 45 on the harder moments, and which get some cool production and keyboard touches on other tracks – all to perfectly underscore the group's amazingly catchy vocals! The organ lines burn right on top of the basslines, creating these waves of soul that grab us right away – and titles include "Funky Girl", "Feel Alone", "Orule", "Be Yourself", "I Don't Want No-Body", and "Laila". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes download!)
98
Steeplechase (Denmark), 1973. Used ... $9.99
A lost treasure from the great Joe Albany – a well-recorded solo performance from the 70s, and one that really gets at the increasing complexity of Albany's music in his later years! Joe's maybe best-remembered for his contributions to bop, but he's also a player with a sound that really bridges generations of jazz – one that's able to encompass older modes of expression, but always give them some sharper modern edges – in ways that are sometimes subtle, but always completely sublime! This set has Joe working with amazing dexterity over a host of standards – some long, some short, a few in medleys – with this insane command of the keyboard that keeps on pulling out notes that are surprising, yet surprisingly right in the progression that Albany creates – represented here in a setting that gives the legend the same kind of intimate, solo focus that you might have heard on the best Art Tatum recordings. Titles include "Our Love Is Here To Stay", "If You Could See Me Now", "All The Things You Are", "As Time Goes By", "More Than You Know", and "Who Can I Turn To". CD
99
Elektra/
A great portrait of an under-recorded artist – Joe Albany's last album ever, recorded for Elektra records during their early 80s run of straight jazz sides! The record's got a spare, personal quality that's similar to Albany's other late work – but it's a bit more professionally put together too – not slick or commercial, but recorded quite thoughtfully, with clearly a lot of care in getting all of Joe's charms through on the record. There's a tentativeness to his keyboard work that's great – a sort of hesitation, then quick move forward with surprising grace – balancing beautifully in ways that warm us to his music even more than before. Other players include Al Gafa on guitar, George Duvivier on bass, and Charlie Persip on drums – but the record really has a main focus on Albany's piano lines. Titles include "Ruby My Dear", "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry", "Autumn In New York", "They Say It's Wonderful", "For The Little Guy", and "Too Late Now". CD
100
Blujazz, 2008. New Copy ... $11.99 15.99
Amazing work from singer Dee Alexander – a wonderfully soulful album of jazz vocals, and one that we'd rank right up there with our favorite records by Carmen Lundy or Dee Dee Bridgewater! Dee's a singer who's worked in Chicago for years, but we've honestly only begun to appreciate her talents of late – possibly because she's really hipped up her sound a lot over the years, picking up a range of spiritual, soulful influences that push her music to a whole new level – as you might have heard on her recent collaboration with IG Culture. The music on the set is wonderful too – work by Chicago players we know, but have never heard this strongly before – grooving in modal and soulful modes behind Dee's great vocals, with a lineup that includes Miguel De La Cerna and Michael Logan on piano, Harrison Bankhead on bass, and Leon Joyce on drums and percussion. Titles include versions of two tunes by AACM member Henry Huff – "Live" and "You & I" – plus the Alexander originals "Long Road Ahead", "Rossingnol", "Butterfly", and "C U On The Other Side". CD
