An album that maybe marked the close of one chapter of The Kinks, and the start of another – music that still holds on to some of the best elements of their late 60s Village Green era, but which also moves the group into some of the headier territory of their Muswell Hill/RCA years too! Ray Davies has never sounded more earnest – still able to pull off wit when needed, but also more down to earth – and because of the massive title hit, the set was also one that put the group in front of the ears or more folks than had been hearing them in previous years. Titles include, of course, the mega-hit "Lola" – plus "This Time Tomorrow", "Apeman", "Strangers", "The Contenders", "Long Way From Home", "Rats", and "Top Of The Pops". CD

Fantastic work from Ledisi – an artist we've loved for almost 25 years, and who maybe sounds better here than she has in the last decade! There's this back to basics approach that maybe recalls some of her self-released albums at the start – but mixed with the maturity in all the years she's learned as both a songwriter and a singer – the sort of vocalist who should be right up there in the soul music pantheon right next to Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan! Robert Glasper helped a bit on the record – but as usual, Ledisi is the key driving force behind the set – making her equally skilled in the studio as she is on record. Titles include "WKND", "Without You", "Stone", "Wake Up", "What Kinda Love Is That", "Now Or Never", "Stay Gone", "Anything For You", and "Next Time". CD

Fantastic work from Ledisi – an artist we've loved for almost 25 years, and who maybe sounds better here than she has in the last decade! There's this back to basics approach that maybe recalls some of her self-released albums at the start – but mixed with the maturity in all the years she's learned as both a songwriter and a singer – the sort of vocalist who should be right up there in the soul music pantheon right next to Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan! Robert Glasper helped a bit on the record – but as usual, Ledisi is the key driving force behind the set – making her equally skilled in the studio as she is on record. Titles include "WKND", "Without You", "Stone", "Wake Up", "What Kinda Love Is That", "Now Or Never", "Stay Gone", "Anything For You", and "Next Time". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice little bit of recent pop from Brazil – done in a laidback and homey way that features plenty of American rock and roll touches, but which also has a gentle warmth that recalls classic MPB! There's less of the criss-crossing of styles here than on some of the other contemporary Brazilian work we've been stocking – but in this case, that's actually a plus, as Los Hermanos have a strength and presence that's totally great – one that's extremely captivating, despite any language difference, and which relies mostly on guitar work and vocals to deliver its punch. Titles include "Samba A Dois", "Ta Bom", "O Vencedor", "Ultimo Romance", "A Outra", "O Pouco Que Sobrou", "Deixa O Versao", and "Um Par". CD

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Two soundtracks on one CD! The Party is a great Mancini score for one of the goofiest films of the 60s! Peter Sellers stars as the sitar-playing Indian actor Hrundi Bakshi – next to the lovely Claudine Longet, who makes one of her few film appearances – and the whole thing's set to one of the greatest scores ever by Henry Mancini! The tunes are very groovy – with a few chorus vocal numbers, and some other wonderful tracks that mix together bits of sitar, guitar, and horn blasts – creating a very lively instrumental groove. Plus, the music is played by a tight group of LA jazzmen – with Plas Johnson on tenor, Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Jimmy Rowles on piano, and Shelly Manne on drums – all musicians who really make things cook! Titles include instrumental and chorus versions of "Nothing To Lose", plus "Chicken Little Was Right", "Birdie Num Num", "Party Poop", "Wiggy", and "Brunette In Yellow". The Great Race is from 1965 – 10 more titles in all! CD

Really beautiful work from Pat Metheny, but a set that showcases his work more as a composer than a performer – two longer tracks that both have a different sound than his regular material! "Four Paths Of Light" is a suite in four parts, performed by acoustic guitarist Jason Vieux with this really wonderful sound – almost a criss-crossing of some of Metheny's musical ideas with an older history of stringed instrumentation. "Road To The Sun" is another four part work, handled by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet – a group who take a surprisingly gentle approach to the material, with interwoven strings that match some of the complexity of Pat Metheny's own performance! LP, Vinyl record album

Really beautiful work from Pat Metheny, but a set that showcases his work more as a composer than a performer – two longer tracks that both have a different sound than his regular material! "Four Paths Of Light" is a suite in four parts, performed by acoustic guitarist Jason Vieux with this really wonderful sound – almost a criss-crossing of some of Metheny's musical ideas with an older history of stringed instrumentation. "Road To The Sun" is another four part work, handled by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet – a group who take a surprisingly gentle approach to the material, with interwoven strings that match some of the complexity of Pat Metheny's own performance! CD features a bonus track – a version of the Arvo Part tune "Fur Alina" – performed by Pat Metheny on a 42 string guitar! CD

Tracks include "Evidence", "We See", "Off Minor", "Hackensack", and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes". CD

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A smoking set from Phineas Newborn – recorded in 3 different modes for the record – solo, trio, and quartet! The quartet and trio sides feature some nice guitar from his brother Calvin Newborn – whose bluesier tones really help give the record a deeper feel than usual for Phineas, and help expand out the sound a lot. The trio material is drumless, which makes for a cool combination of piano, bass, and guitar – and even the solo tracks have a nice feel too – a bit more introspective, sprinkled throughout the record to balance out the sound nicely. Titles include "Overtime", "Come To Baby Do", "Land's End", "She", "Tin Tin Deo", and "Clarisse". CD

A groovy little Brazilian pop group – with touches of soul, bossa, and funk in the mix! The album is the group's second – and it's got some very nice tracks that were arranged by Waltel Branco, done in that mixture of 60s grooves and early 70s funky pop that's the hallmark of our favorite artists of the Blue Brazil generation. Lyrics are in Portuguese – but there's an expansive approach here that's all global, similar to the mindblowing work of Marcos Valle from the same time. Titles include "Nem Adeus", "Eliana", "Todo Meu Amor", "Sai De Lado", "Tema De Fanny", "O Mal Passara", and "Cada Um Na Sua". CD reissue also includes 2 bonus tracks – "Lana" and "Voce Fingiu"! CD

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Beautiful later work from Kenny Rankin – a spare solo set recorded at The Bottom Line in 1990, but a record that sparkles with all the brilliance of his best 70s sessions! Kenny's working totally alone here – accompanying his own vocals with acoustic guitar – and the format really demonstrates his amazing power and presence – a sweetly swinging sound that always has a fluid groove, even when there's no other rhythm to back it up! Rankin's tone is tremendous throughout – with those bell-like notes that made him a standout singer from the very first – and the tunes themselves are a great array of the sort of material he sang the best in the late 60s and early 70s. Titles include "She's A Lady", "Berimbau", "Haven't We Met", "Inside", "Peaceful", "Time & Love", "Always", "I've Just Seen A Face", "Doralice/Sunshine Of My Life", and "In The Name Of Love". CD

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Threadgill plays alto sax and bass flute and is joined by Ted Daniels on trumpet and flugelhorn, Bill Lowe on bass trombone, Diedre Murry on cello, Fred Hopkins on bass, and Newman Barker and Reggie Nicholson on drums and percussion. 4 tracks in all, including "Off The Rag", "The Devil Is On The Loose And Dancin' With A Monkey", "Gift", and "Sweet Holy Rag". CD

A key slice of work from the too-short career of the legendary Hank Williams – recordings he did for a regular radio show sponsored by Mother's Best Flour in Nashville during the year 1951 – a time when Hank was riding high with his talents, before leaving our planet all too soon! The work here is a nice change from some of Williams' studio records, and his other live performances – as there's a relaxed, easygoing quality that really gets at the kind of charms that set Hank apart from the rest – and which must have been wonderful coming into a home over a broadcast show like this! Because the show was regular, Hank didn't just perform his hits, but also handled a wider range of material – which makes the Mother's Best recordings so important to his catalog – as together, the tracks offer up almost as much as he recorded for MGM on record. This first volume features 49 tracks from the program – with titles that include "Nobody's Lonesome For Me", "Where The Old Red River Flows", "Cool Water", "Lonely Tombs", "I Saw The Light", "Seaman's Blues", "They'll Never Take", "Dear Brother", "Something's Got Hold Of Me", "When God Dips His Love In My Heart", "Calling You", "Move It On Over", "Alabama Waltz", and "Lord Build Me A Cabin". CD

A key slice of work from the too-short career of the legendary Hank Williams – recordings he did for a regular radio show sponsored by Mother's Best Flour in Nashville during the year 1951 – a time when Hank was riding high with his talents, before leaving our planet all too soon! The work here is a nice change from some of Williams' studio records, and his other live performances – as there's a relaxed, easygoing quality that really gets at the kind of charms that set Hank apart from the rest – and which must have been wonderful coming into a home over a broadcast show like this! Because the show was regular, Hank didn't just perform his hits, but also handled a wider range of material – which makes the Mother's Best recordings so important to his catalog – as together, the tracks offer up almost as much as he recorded for MGM on record. This second volume features 52 tracks from the show – titles that include "Dear Brother", "I'll Have A New Life", "Deck Of Cards", "Tennessee Border", "Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies", "Farther Along", "Just When I Needed You", "Why Should We Try Anymore", "Drifting Too Far From The Shore", "I'll Fly Away", "Cold Cold Heart", "Long Gone Lonesome Blues", "My Sweet Love Ain't Around", "Moanin The Blues", and "Wait For The Light To Shine". CD

A key slice of work from the too-short career of the legendary Hank Williams – recordings he did for a regular radio show sponsored by Mother's Best Flour in Nashville during the year 1951 – a time when Hank was riding high with his talents, before leaving our planet all too soon! The work here is a nice change from some of Williams' studio records, and his other live performances – as there's a relaxed, easygoing quality that really gets at the kind of charms that set Hank apart from the rest – and which must have been wonderful coming into a home over a broadcast show like this! Because the show was regular, Hank didn't just perform his hits, but also handled a wider range of material – which makes the Mother's Best recordings so important to his catalog – as together, the tracks offer up almost as much as he recorded for MGM on record. This third volume features 43 tracks from the show – including "Dust On The Bible", "I Dreamed About Mama Last Night", "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You", "I'm Gonna Sing", "Hey Good Lookin", "Just Waitin", "Crazy Heart", "Lonesome Whistle", "Cherokee Boogie", "That Beautiful Home", and even Hank doing an advertisement for Mother's Best! CD

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Recorded between 1932 & 1956. CD

Includes 21 early recordings from Ella Fitzgerald & Her Orchestra. CD

A wonderful set of pulpy groovers from Mundell Lowe – leading an incredible combo of players on well known action themes from the late 50s! The set has a really great lineup, with Donald Byrd on trumpet, Jimmy Cleveland on trombone, Eddie Costa on piano, and Tony Scott on clarinet and baritone sax – all playing with a great mix of modes to fit the themes – rolling action jazz one moment, a bluesy, pulpy groove at another – with all of those textbook dramatic scores we'll love to infinity! Tracks include "Peter Gunn", "Mike Hammer Riff Blues", "77 Sunset Strip", "M Squad", and "Naked City". CD

Titles include "Put It In Your Mouth", "Robbery Song", "In The World", "F*ck Me For Free", and "Thug Sh*t", with production by Frankie Cutlass, EZ Elpee, Dr Butcher and others. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Lance Ferguson and The Bamboos have been around for many years – giving us albums for almost the space of two decades – and during that time, they've evolved from their roots as a lean funk combo to a much fuller ensemble, and one with an ear for the kind of tunes that have really helped them cross over big! We're not saying the group are going to become chart superstars anytime soon – but they've definitely got a style here that's full of catchy hooks, soulful lyrics, and a nicely focused sound – all while still holding onto the best elements of their funky roots! Mainman Lance is still in the lead, standing loud and strong – and the set features guest work from Durand Jones, Joey Dosik, and Ev Jones – on titles that include "While You Sleep", "Hard Up", "Power Without Greed", "The Thing About You", "If Not Now Then When", "I Just Heard You Leaving", "Ride On Time", "It's All Gonna Be OK", and "Nothing I Wanna Know About". LP, Vinyl record album

Gal Costa sings the best of Antonio Carlos Jobim – working here with a really sparkling sound in a live performance that covers the space of two CDs! The backing is by a very nice little jazz group, and Gal's at her best later styles here – hitting nice jazzy vocal passages, and singing freely without any clunky arrangements to hold her back. Cristovao Bastos leads the group and handled the arrangements – and he's as great as ever in this top-shelf setting – sophisticated, but nicely swinging – in a way that really keeps things fresh. Titles include "Fotografia", "Wave", "Derradeira Primavera", "Triste", "Anos Dourados", "Ligia", "Tema De Amor De Garbriela", and "Samba Do Avaio". CD

Henry Mancini's second album of stuff for the Peter Gunn TV show, and arguably better than the first one! The album's straight-ahead crime jazz – performed by a great set of players that includes Plas Johnson, Shelly Manne, Ted Nash, Paul Horn, and other west coasters. Tracks include "My Manne Shelly", "Timothy", "Goofin At The Coffee House", "Odd Ball", "Walkin' Bass", and "Spook!". CD

Features David Sanchez on saxophones, Larry Grenadier on bass and Ignacio Berroa on drums. CD

Includes the songs "Nightmare", "Indian Love Call", "Back Bay Shuffle", "Any Old Time", "Traffic Jam", "Comes Love", "What Is This Thing Called Love?", "Begin The Beguine", "Oh! Lady Be Good", "Frenesi", "Serenade To A Savage", "Deep Purple", "Special Delivery Stomp", "Summit Ridge Drive", "Temptation", "Star Dust", "Blues (Parts 1 & 2)", "Moonglow", and "Moon Ray". CD

Landmark British metal from Motorhead– inarguably one of the greatest albums ever in the genre! If there's a flaw to Ace Of Spades, it's that Lemmy & Co.'s signature song – the title track, of course – is so damned amazing, you want to drop the needle on it 10 times in a row before going on to the rest of the record. If only more rock & roll albums had this "problem". Other tracks include "The Chase Is Better Than The Catch", "Love Me Like A Reptile", "Shoot You In The Back", "Fast And Loose", "Fire, Fire", "Jailbait", "Bite The Bullet", "The Hammer", "Dance", "Live To Win" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

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Mel Lewis on drums, Earl McIntyre on bass trombone, Gary Smulyan on baritone saxophone, Kenny Werner on piano, Ralph Lalama on tenor saxophone, Glen Drewes on trumpet, Jim Powell on trumpet and flugelhorn, Ted Nash on alto saxophone, Dennis Irwin on bass, Ed Neumeister on trombone, Joe Mosello on trumpet, Dick Oatts on alto and soprano saxophone, Doug Purviance on bass trombone, Stephanie Fauber on french horn, Joe Lovano on tenor saxophone, John Mosca on trombone, and Earl Gardner on trumpet. CD

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Quite a popular live album from Ella – recorded in Berlin at the height of the cold war years – featuring a famous recording of "Mack The Knife" that almost blew away Bobby Darin's hit with the cut! The album's nicely free of some of the stodginess of some of Ella's Songbook albums from the same time – with light and jazzy backing by a group that includes Jim Hall, Paul Smith, Wilfred Middlebrooks, and Gus Johnson. Titles include "Mack The Knife", "How High The Moon", "Too Darn Hot", "Gone With The Wind", "Misty", and "Summertime". Features bonus tracks not on the original album! CD

A wonderful reunion of the team of Frank Foster and Frank Wess – caught here in an easy-going and laidback style that's miles away from their work with Count Basie! The youthful rhythm section of Kenny Barron, Rufus Reid, and Marvin Smitty Smith really adds a lot to the set – giving the record a later sort of soul jazz vibe, one that's perfect for the pair to solo over in open-ended lines. Both Franks play tenor sax, and Wess plays flute and alto as well – while Foster does some excellent work on soprano sax. Titles include "Bay Street", "Two For The Blues", "But For The Likes Of You", "Nancy With The Laughing Face", "Your Beauty Is A Song Of Love", and "A Time For Love". CD

Includes 20 bossa nova classics from the 60s and features work with Walt Wanderley, Stan Getz, and Eumir Deodato! CD

Classic early bop material from Dexter Gordon – originally issued as 78s in the 40s, and packaged here in a hip 50s album with a very groovy cover! The set features work from 1945, 1946, and 1947 – with Gordon in different three different groups – one with Leo Parker on baritone and Tadd Dameron on piano, one with Leonard Hawkins on trumpet and Bud Powell on piano, and one with Argonne Horton on piano. Titles include "Setting The Pace (parts 1 & 2)", "Dexter's Riff", "So Easy", "Long Tall Dexter", "Dexter Digs In", and "Dexter's Deck". CD

A live date with Benny Green on piano and Russell Malone on guitar. Tracks include "When Lights Are Low", "Sing", "A Bientot", "Moment's Notice/Lazy Bird", and "Quiet Girl". CD

The best work by Guy – one of those soul groups that showed up on the scene just when we'd lost faith in soul groups, and breathed whole new life into the harmony format! The trio was a key part of Teddy Riley's new jack sound – but they had a deeper quality that's helped them last strongly for years. The set's a nice overview of their work, and features 17 tracks in all – including "Teddy's Jam", "I Like", "Spend The Night", "Round & Round", "Groove Me", "Teddy's Jam 2", "Why You Wanna Keep Me From My Baby", "Wanna Get With You", and "Piece Of My Love". CD

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

Features Michael Brecker on tenor and soprano sax, John Scofield on electric and acoustic guitar, Dave Holland on acoustic bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and Don Alias on percussion. CD

Features Roy Hargrove on trumpet – with help from Antonio Hart on alto, John Hick and Stephen Scott on piano, Christian McBride on bass, and Al Foster or Billy Higgins on drums. CD

Roy Hargrove on trumpet & flugelhorn, Ron Blake on tenor & soprano sax, Cyrus Chestnut on piano, Rodney Whitaker on bass, and Gregory Hutchinson on drums. CD

Early genius from Barry Harris – a live date recorded at San Francisco's Jazz Workshop, and one that has him gently grooving in a mix of sharp edges and lyricism! In a world where many up and comers were tempted by the fruits of the soul jazz sound, Harris remains nicely true to himself – and plays here with a style that's almost introspective at times, certainly filled with the flowing modes of pianistic expression that would emerge in other players more strongly in years to come. The trio features Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums – and titles include "Curtain Call", "Lolita", and "Morning Coffee", plus jazz standards like "Woody N You", "Star Eyes", and "Moose The Mooche". CD

The title's a stupid one, but Stefon Harris is one of the boldest voices on vibes in the past 20 years – a great player with a sound that resonates strongly with older work by Bobby Hutcherson and Walt Dickerson! Like both of those players, Harris has a way of approaching the vibes that is freshly modern, yet also strongly rhythmic and swinging – a groove that comes out even on the more experimental numbers in the set, and which makes the album resonate with colors and tones that few others on the instrument can match. The overall sound here is marked by Greg Osby's presence in the group and his production – but thankfully, those elements are a bit underplayed – and other players on the record include Steve Turre on trombone and Jason Moran on piano. Titles include "Feline Blues", "There Is No Greater Love", "Of Things To Come", "Bass Vibes", "Collage", "The Alchemist", "Chorale", "Faded Beauty", and "After The Day Is Done". CD

16 tracks pulled from Billie's classic recordings for Verve in the 50s – and packaged in a nice little cover that links it to the rest of the Diva series! The tracks are a good overview of Billie's later work, and titles include "Billie's Blues", "Don't Explain", "Them There Eyes", "Gimme A Pigfoot & A Bottle Of Beer", "Fine & Mellow", "Strange Fruit", "God Bless The Child", "Love Me Or Leave Me", and "All Or Nothing At All". CD

20 tracks in all – from early Detroit classics to later duets with Carlos Santana and Canned Heat! CD

Co-produced by George Duke. CD

Includes 18 tracks from the albums Fervor and Lost & Found. CD

Titles include "Aqualung", "My God", "Slipstream", "Locomotive Breath", "Wind UP", and "Mother Goose". CD

With George Mraz on bass & Dennis Mackrel on drums. CD

The classic late 70s solo debut by Chaka Khan – one that made Chaka a major star, and deservedly so! This beautiful album showed that she could stand very well on her own two feet without the help of Rufus, thank you. Of course, she's got some fantastic help from Arif Mardin, who works as much magic with Chaka here as he'd done with Aretha Franklin a decade before. Includes the original version of "I'm Every Woman", which still sound great to this day – plus "Love Has Fallen On Me", "Roll Me Through The Rushes", the nice "We Got The Love" duet with George Benson, "Some Love", "Life Is A Dance", "A Woman In A Man's World", "I Was Made To Love Him" and "Sleep On It". CD

A key transitional album for The Kinks – a record that took them from the lighter "picture postcard" rock of their late 60s albums, into the headier concepts that would mark most of their early 70s work! The concept here is fortunately a light one – a faux-hillbilly sort of groove, carried off by Ray and the group in a nice mix of London Muswell and East Tennessee. The tunes are nicely short and focused, with some older styles of music that almost give the record a Tom Waits-ish feel at times – and titles include "Muswell Hillbilly", "Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues", "20th Century Man", "Skin & Bone", "Alcohol", and "Have A Cuppa Tea". CD also features 2 bonus tracks – "Mountain Woman", and Kentucky Moon". CD

Features Russell Malone on guitar and Paul Keller on bass – with Diana Krall on vocals and piano! CD

Features Charles Lloyd on reeds, flutes, piano, and percussion – with additional percussion from Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland. CD

With Steve Slagle on alto sax, Gary Smulyan on baritone sax, Dennis Irwin on bass, Charles Russo on clarinet & bass clarinet, Lewis Nash on drums, Michael Parloff & Steve Slagle on flute, James Weidman & John Hicks on piano. CD