Fantastic large concept work from avant reed genius John Tchicai – two never-issued tracks that make for a key addition to his recorded legacy! The first side features the very earthy "Beautiful United Harmony Happening", a piece done with a smaller version of the Cadentia Nova ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)
A treasure trove of sweet soul tunes – a set that's heavy on that late 60s/early 70s period when harmony vocals were really taking off on the east coast scene – and one that also throws in some surprising gems from other years too! There's barely a groove to most of these tracks – ... CD(Soul CD)
A funky female duo from the P-Funk empire – one of George Clinton's few girl-based projects of the 70s, and a group who are markedly more funk-based than Parlet! Vocals are by the duo of Lyn Mabry and Dawn Silva – but the main sound of the set comes from the tightly crafted rhythms ... CD(Soul CD)
A fantastic look at a really unique moment in American pop and rock – a time when some groups were using larger arrangements to make things wonderfully complex in the backgrounds – all while still creating tunes that were pretty darn catchy! The shift is very different than the love of ... CD(Rock CD)
The Westbound debut of Denise LaSalle – and a killer bit of southern soul recorded down in Memphis with Willie Mitchell, despite the Detroit address of the label! The set is a real burner throughout – one that features mostly original material by Denise, recorded with a spare and ... CD(Soul CD)
A rare UK-only album from the great Norma Tanega – and a set that's very different than her quirky folk of the 60s! Here, Tanega's got a vibe that's rich and almost righteous – working next to singer Don Paul, whose presence on the record really balances out her style at times – ... CD(Folk/Country CD)
Saxophonist Noah Howard made some of his best music overseas – and this album definitely ranks right up there with his best – a stunning live quartet performance that maybe has Howard sounding more spiritual than ever before! The piano-less lineup features Itaru Oki on trumpet, Jean-Jac ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)
A real stroke of genius from pianist Andrew Hill – and a surprising one too! After an initial legacy of groundbreaking experimental sides for Blue Note, Hill returns to his "grass roots" on this excellent session of straight ahead, fairly funky, soul jazz piano tunes! In the notes ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)
Late live work from saxophone legend Peter Brotzmann – and music that shows that he was still burning brightly, even in the final decade of his life! The set was recorded in 2015, and no doubt gets a lot of its energy from the freewheeling drums of Paal Nilssen-Love, who is very much a ... CD(Jazz CD)
A great session that was recorded by Freddie Hubbard in the 60s, but not issued by Blue Note until the mid 70s – and only then as part of a short-lived double length set! This version is the first real issue of the material – with the original cover art intended for the session in the ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)
Pianist Renee Rosnes is definitely crossing paths here – mixing jazz and Brazilian music, and at a level that maybe tops any of her previous recordings in the style! There's a warm, mature quality to the set that avoids any easy cliches or overly-commercial leanings – and the whole ... CD(Jazz CD)
One of our favorite albums by Gladys Knight – a set that seems to have a lot more edge than some of her later work, thanks to some rumbling production from the legendary Norman Whitfield! In a way, Norman's almost applying the Temptations sound to Gladys here – using fuller bass at the ... LP, Vinyl record album(Soul LP)
Never-issued recordings from a legendary late 60s avant jazz project – the Cadentia Nova Danica ensemble, best known for two rare albums issued back in the day – far too few for such a groundbreaking group! That short legacy is expanded wonderfully here – with three long live ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)
Sublime early soul jazz from the Jazz Crusaders – a seminal set that really has the group taking off right away! The use of "freedom" in the title is well placed – as the set definitely shows the players stretching out a bit on their solos – hinting at the magic that ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)
An excellent mid 70s session by alto player Noah Howard – recorded in Berlin, but very much in the best spirit of his excellent French recordings of the time! Howard's working here in a quintet – with Takashi Kako on relatively free piano, Kent Carter on bass, Oliver Johnson on drums, ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)
Matt Berry's been making records for years, and he just keeps on getting better and better – to a point where, even if he weren't a great talent on the screen, he'd be well-respected for his wonderful records like this! Berry's love of keyboards and classic sounds is very much in full force ... CD(Rock CD)
A landmark album that had one of the best versions of the Jazz Messengers taking a big step forward – thanks to some increased songwriting by the group's young tenor genius – Wayne Shorter! Shorter's tunes take up all of the second half of the record, and all of them have gone onto ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)
Never-issued genius from pianist Cecil Taylor – a tremendous live performance from a time when Cecil was at the height of his powers! The group here is a really compelling sextet – with frequent partner Jimmy Lyons on brilliant alto throughout, next to Ramsey Ameen on violin, Alan ... CD(Jazz CD)
A fantastic set by one of the all-time great also-rans of the LA scene in the late 60s – a group who've got this fantastic blend of tuneful and sinister elements – psych mixed with all sorts of darker currents – and served up with a special quality that still makes this album a ... LP, Vinyl record album(Rock LP)
A really sweet 70s soundtrack from the great Vince Guaraldi – one that's very heavy on electric piano, and which also has some other keyboards as well – delivered with a nicely intimate group on most numbers, in ways that almost take Vince back to the trio years of his earliest jazz ... CD(Jazz CD)