Some of our favorite themes from the 70's and early 80's (the days when we were spending the most time in front of the tube), with 65 classics in all! Titles include What's Happening, Alice, Mork & Mindy, Moonlighting, Soap, Benny Hill, Chips, MacGyver, Incredible Hulk, Dukes Of Hazzard, Fantasy Island, The Young Ones, Too Close For Comfort, Who's The Boss, and lots lots more! CD

Notable players include Howard Johnson, Wayman Carver, Ernest Hill, Mezz Mezzrow, Teddy Wilson, Chu Berry, Wilbur De Paris, and Max Kaminsky. LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks by Herbie Nichols, Duke Ellington, Sonny Clark, Cecil Taylor, Chick Corea, Benny Green, Don Pullen, Andrew Hill and more – 12 tracks in all. CD

20 tracks produced by Allen Toussaint – one of the greatest talents to ever emerge from the New Orleans soul scene, working here in his earlier years, coming up with a rough and chunky groove that's virtually defined the sound of the city! Titles include "It Will Stand" by The Showmen, "Mother In Law" by Ernie K Doe, "Over You" by Aaron Neville, "Heavenly Baby" by Allen & Allen, "Te Ta Te Ta Ta" by Ernie K Doe, "It's Raining" by Irma Thomas, "A Certain Girl" by Ernie K Doe, "Whip It On Me" by Jessie Hill, "Fortune Teller" by Benny Spellman, "Lipstick Traces" by Benny Spellman, "39 21 46" by The Showmen, and "Ooh Poo Pah Doo (parts 1 & 2)" by Jessie Hill. CD

A beautiful box set, and one that's filled with amazing material by one of our favorite players of all time! Roland Kirk's work for Mercury has always been darn tough to come by on wax, and even though a number of titles have been reissued individually over the years, this box set is still the best way to approach his early and mid 60's work for Mercury and related labels. The set's got a whopping 10 CDs in all – plus a bonus CD of unreleased stuff – and it's filled with rare material, live tracks, big band tracks, and just plain ol' great hard-wailing straight ahead material by Roland. Players on the set include Jaki Byard, Benny Golson, Wynton Kelly, Roy Haynes, Andrew Hill, Elvin Jones, and Horace Parlan. Very nice, and one you won't tire of quickly! CD

Music from Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra, Sidney Bechet And His New Orleans Feetwarmers, Al Cooper And His Savoy Sultans, Chick Webb And His Orchestra, Coleman Hawkins And His Orchestra, Erskine Hawkins And His Orchestra, Claude Hopkins And His Orchestra, Benny Carter And His Orchestra, Lucky Millinder And His Orchestra, Teddy Hill And His NBC Orchestra, Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy, Jay McShann And His Orchestra, Count Basie Orchestra, Cab Calloway And His Orchestra, Duke Ellington And His Orchestra, Buddy Johnson And His Orchestra, The Buddy Tate Celebrity Club Orchestra, Tab Smith Orchestra, and Cootie Williams And His Orchestra. CD

A beautifully overstuffed collection of early work from New Orleans soul legend Allen Toussaint – a set that not only includes many of his key recordings from the scene in the 60s, but also some of his important productions for other artists too! The package begins with Toussaint in the lead on a series of sides on CD one – working either as himself, or as Al Touson, or with The Stones, The Rubyiats, or Allen & Allen – all with these choppy, loping, heavy-grooving rhythms that were Toussaint's huge contribution to New Orleans soul right from the start! Titles include "Whirlaway", "Whipped Cream", "Moo Moo", "Wham Tousan", "Omar Khayyam", "I Don't Need One", "Baby Do Liddle", "Tomorrow", "Fat Cat", "Banana Split", and "Java". CD2 features a series of recordings done for the Minit, Instant, and Sansu labels – all with Toussaint involved either as producer, arranger, or musician – on material that forever shaped the sound of New Orleans – titles that include "A Certain Girl" by Ernie K Doe, "Over You" by Aaron Neville, "I Like It Like That (parts 1 & 2)" by Chris Kenner, "Sophisticated Cissy" by The Meters, "Holy Cow" by Lee Dorsey, "I'm Evil Tonight" by Betty Harris, "Oogsey Moo" by Jessie Hill, "It Will Stand" by The Showmen, "Ruler Of My Heart" by Irma Thomas, "Fortune Teller" by Benny Spellman, and "Hot Tamales (parts 1 & 2)" by The Primemates. 50 tracks in all! CD

A killer set of hardbop tracks that shows what a great tenorist Benny Golson was during the late 50s – paired for the CD version with an obscure French session cut in 1958! The Benny Golson And The Philadelphians session features Benny on tenor with other Philly-mates, like Lee Morgan, Ray Bryant, Percy Heath, and Philly Joe Jones – and the set's got all the tightness of a late 50s Jazz Messengers set. Golson contributed 3 tracks to the set – his classic "Stablemates", plus "Blues On My Mind" and "Thursday's Theme". A nice one that you might overlook, but a great set with a lot of warmth and imagination! The French session has a looser Parisian rhythm section is more than compensated for by the presence of a young firey Bobby Timmons on piano. Titles on that one include Golson's "I Remember Clifford" and "Blues March", plus Ray Bryant's "Calgary", and a version of Timmons' classic "Moanin". CD

A smokin' hard bop side from a sort of amalgamation of players who played in and out of the Jazz Messengers around this time, but Philly Joe's sittin' in the drummers seat, so though the rhythms cook hard, that not quite as bombastic as Bu's. We've always loved Benny Golson, and though his playing was at it's most sublime in the Jazztet, he got to stretch out just a bit more and played with just a touch more fire in other contexts, like this session. Barry Harris is on piano, with Jymie Merritt and Philly Joe rounding out the rhythm section and Curtis Fuller joins Golson in the front line for a spry quintet setting. Six tracks: "Strut time", "Jubilation", "Symptoms", "Are You Real?", "Cry A Blue Tear" and "This Night". CD

The only full album ever cut by Benny Troy – a blue-eyed soul talent who's right at home in the Philly club setting of the album! Sure, Benny looks a bit cheesy on the cover – but the set's a great example of the way that the Philly scene was able to take an older singer and find a new way for them to soar in the right soulful setting – thanks to production from Billy Terrell, who also wrote most of the songs – with help from arrangers John Davis and Joe Renzetti in the studio. The best cuts are some of the funky clubby ones – and titles include Benny's classic "I Wanna Give You Tomorrow", which soars along with this wonderful electric sitar and a soaring east coast vibe – plus "Put Some Music In Your Soul", "Tearin Me To Pieces", "I've Always Had You", and "Ecstasy Passion & Pain". CD features bonus tracks - "Calm Before The Storm", "Stranger In Paradise (7" version)", "I Wanna Give You Tomorrow (7" version)", and "I Wanna Give You Tomorrow (disco 7" version)". CD

Buddy DeFranco plays tunes associated with Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw – but in a completely different way than before – with a wider-open swing for the 50s! The work here is all small combo, not big band – and there's a free-flowing groove that's totally great – a sound that carries echoes of the earlier years, but which comes across with that modern inflection to swing that made Buddy's years at Verve so great. Few players could come up with a balance of modes as great as this – and on the 2 sessions in the set, DeFranco's clarinet is caught alongside trumpet from either Don Fagerquist or Ray Linn, tenor from Georgie Auld, vibes from Victor Feldman, piano from Paul Smith or Carl Perkins, guitar from Barney Kessell or Howard Roberts, bass from Leroy Vinnegar or Joe Mondragon, and drums from Stan Levey or Milt Holland. First volume features 14 titles that include "Benny's Bugle", "A Smooth One", "Air Mail Special", "My Blue Heaven", "Seven Come Eleven", "Cross Your Heart", "Frenesi", "Indian Love Call", "Summit Ridge Drive", and "Stardust". CD

A fantastic album from tenor legend Benny Golson – one in which he reinvents his sound for the 70s, but still keeps all the tight sense of arrangement we loved in his earlier work! Benny's going for a funky jazz groove on most cuts – a bit clubby, in a Kudu Records mode – with a fair bit of tracks recorded at Sigma Sound in Philly, some with a female chorus adding in vocal lines from time to time. But this approach isn't clunky or commercial, and actually works a lot better than so many other tenorists who tried this mode at the time – thanks both to Benny's sense of arrangement, which graces most tracks – and his way of hitting a solid, soulful solo that really fills out the tunes from the middle. The album is worth it alone for its sweet remake of "Killer Joe" – the tune he first made famous with the Jazztet, recut here with a nice 70s vibe! The cut begins with Benny doing a cool monologue at the beginning, then hitting the "New Killer Joe" groove – and other cuts include "Tomorrow Paradise", "Walkin & Stalkin", "Love Uprising", and "Timbale Rock". CD features some bonus tracks – including "I'm Always Dancin To The Music (orig 12" single)", "Walkin & Stalkin", and "The New Killer Joe" – in a version with Mortonette Jenkins on vocals. CD

A wonderfully experimental album from drummer Philly Joe Jones – and one that has just the right sort of "ethnic" feel to earn its "Around The World" title! Mostly, the ethnicity comes through in exotic reed work by Sahib Shihab, Herbie Mann, and Cannonball Adderley – who all play wonderfully on the album – alongside straighter sidemen who include Lee Morgan and Blue Mitchell on trumpets, Benny Golson on tenor, and Curtis Fuller on trombone. There's a bit of the Yusef Lateef late 50s sound on here – mixed with Philly's killer crack sock drum approach – a blend that comes off wonderfully throughout, and really makes the album a standout in Philly Joe's catalog from the time. Titles include "Land Of The Blue Veils", "Blue Gwynn", "El Tambores", and "The Tribal Message", which is a nice drum solo! CD also features a bonus take of "Stablemates". CD

Flip was one of the earliest stars on the Verve/Clef/Norgran labels – a true original, with a hard swinging tenor sound that really found its place with producer Norman Granz. The pair drifted apart as the 50s wore on, but Flip's returned to Verve for this recent session – a pretty tasty outing with a traditional feel, backed by great younger players like James Carter, Benny Green, Christian McBride, and Kenny Washington. The feel of the set recalls the best relaxed swing sessions of mid 50s Verve – and Phillips' tone on the tenor is as right on the money as ever! Titles include "Where Or When", "The Mark Of Zorro", "Grand Rose", "Susan's Dream", "Flip The Whip", and "Swing Is The Thing". CD

Incredible work from the team of Donald Byrd and Gigi Gryce – crisp modern jazz, filled with soul, and never failing to swing! During the time of these recordings, Gryce was one hell of an arranger – with a tight ensemble approach that worked magic in a small combo setting. He was also a tremendous alto player – with a tone that was unlike any other musician at the time, magically sharp, with a sound that always seemed to inspire a great deal of energy from his bandmates. He gets plenty of that here from trumpeter Donald Byrd – sounding better on these sides than on most of his other 50s recordings – thanks also to some great accompanists, who include Tommy Flanagan, Wendell Marshall, and Art Taylor. Some tunes feature additional horn work from players that include Benny Powell, Julius Watkins, and Sahib Shihab. Volume 1 in this Lonehill's Complete Jazz Lab Studio Sessions mixes 13 tracks originally released on the LPs Jazz Lab, Modern Jazz Perspective, plus mutual tracks with the rare compilation Jazz Omnibus. Titles include "Nica's Tempo", "Smoke Signal", "Over The Rainbow", "Sans Souci", "Speculation", "Stablemates", "Steppin Out", "Social Call", "Satellite", "An Evening In Casablanca" and more! CD

A well-done set, and one that stretches from the pre-Verve years of these groupings, to the big run when they were starting to really shine on record! The first half features mid 40s material – with performances from Illinois Jacquet, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Flip Phillips, and Jack McVea on tenors – plus Willie Smith on alto, Buck Clayton and Shorty Sherock on trumpets, JJ Johnson on trombone, Nat King Cole on piano, and Les Paul on guitar. The second half features early 50s material, including three long ballad medley tracks – with performances from Benny Carter and Willie Smith on altos, Oscar Peterson on piano, Dizzy Gillespie and Roy Eldridge on trumpets, and Ben Webster, Lester Young, and Flip Phillips on tenors! LP, Vinyl record album

An expanded version of the first album to carry the Jazz At The Philharmonic formula into the studio – and a record that virtually coined the term "jam session" for 50s jazz! Norman Granz repeats the style he'd done so well in a live setting – and brings together a host of all-star players in a very relaxed, open environment – one that gives them all plenty of space to open up and hit some nice long solos. Players include Charlie Parker, Johnny Hodges, and Benny Carter in a three-alto frontline, plus Flip Phillips and Ben Webster on tenor, Barney Kessel on guitar, Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and JC Heard on drums. Side one features the original "Jam Blues", and side two features a "Ballad Medley", with each solo star taking one of the tunes in the set. Also features the material from vol 2 – "Funky Blues" and "What Is This Thing Called Love". LP, Vinyl record album

An expanded version of the first album to carry the Jazz At The Philharmonic formula into the studio – and a record that virtually coined the term "jam session" for 50s jazz! Norman Granz repeats the style he'd done so well in a live setting – and brings together a host of all-star players in a very relaxed, open environment – one that gives them all plenty of space to open up and hit some nice long solos. Players include Charlie Parker, Johnny Hodges, and Benny Carter in a three-alto frontline, plus Flip Phillips and Ben Webster on tenor, Barney Kessel on guitar, Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and JC Heard on drums. Side one features the original "Jam Blues", and side two features a "Ballad Medley", with each solo star taking one of the tunes in the set. Also features the material from vol 2 – "Funky Blues" and "What Is This Thing Called Love". CD

Music from Duke Ellington, Bob Crosby, Benny Carter, Glenn Miller, Harry James, Charlie Barnet, Claude Thornhill, Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, and more. CD

Music from Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Machito, Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter, Flip Phillips, Anita O'Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Blossom Dearie, Mel Torme, Jimmy Giuffre, Lee Konitz, and more. CD

A box packed with nothing but cracking hard bop! All of Lee Morgan's seminal 50s sides for Blue Note assembled in one package, including the albums Indeed!, Volume Two, Volume Three, City Lights, the Cooker and Candy. Morgan's quite young on these sessions, but his voice is fully formed and he plays with fire throughout, as do the sidemen, who include Horace Silver, Hank Mobley, Benny Golson, Gigi Gryce, Bobby Timmons, Philly Joe Jones, Art Taylor, Sonny Clark, Curtis Fuller, and Wynton Kelly. There's 37 tracks in all, spread out over 4 discs, including "Reggie Of Chester", "Little T", "Stand By", "Latin hangover", "D's Fink", "Slightly Hep", "Hasaan's Dream", "I Remember Clifford", "Mesabi Chant", "Domingo", "City Lights", "Kin Folks", "Heavy Dipper", "New-Ma", and "CTA". CD

Mid 70's 2LP set that combines fantastic early work from Gil Evans and Tadd Dameron. The Gil Evans tracks are shorter and less ambitious than some of Evans' work on Impulse, but the group is excellent – and even in a shorter format, the conception of the work still contains plenty of rich new ideas. Players include Louis Mucci, John Carisi, Steve Lacy, Willie Ruff, Paul Chambers, Nick Stabulis, and Lee Konitz on alto. Titles include "Ella Speed", "Big Stuff", "Jambangle", "Nobody's Heart", and "Remember". Tadd Dameron's contributions here are from a wonderful modernist session – and one that's especially great because it's filled with fresh themes that get past some of his over-reissued standards! Players here include Clifford Brown and Idrees Sulieman on trumpets, Gigi Gryce on alto, Benny Golson on tenor, and Dameron on piano. Titles include "Philly JJ", "Choose Now", "Theme Of No Repeat", and "Dial B For Beauty". Also included are readings of classic Dameron compositions – like "The Scene Is Clean", "Fontainebleau", and "Delerium" – all played by a great little group that includes Dameron on piano, plus Joe Alexander on tenor, Sahib Shihab on alto, Kenny Dorham on trumpet, and Henry Coker on trombone. LP, Vinyl record album

Includes three tunes from a 1945 session by the Capitol International Jazzmen, with Bill Coleman on trumpet, Buster Bailey on clarinet, Benny Carter on alto, Coleman Hawkins on tenor, Nat King Cole on piano, Oscar Moore on guitar, John Kirby on bass, Max Roach on drums, and Kay Starr on vocals; four tunes by the Metronome All Stars from 1947 and 1951, with sidemen that include Dizzy Gilletpie, Buddy DeFranco, Flip Phillips, Nat King Cole, Buddy Rich, Miles Davis, Max Roach, and others; and a side's worth of material from Louis Bellson's Just Jazz All Stars from 1952, with Clark Terry, Juan Tizol, Wardell Gray, Billy Strayhorn, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

An expanded version of the first album to carry the Jazz At The Philharmonic formula into the studio – and a record that virtually coined the term "jam session" for 50s jazz! Norman Granz repeats the style he'd done so well in a live setting – and brings together a host of all-star players in a very relaxed, open environment – one that gives them all plenty of space to open up and hit some nice long solos. Players include Charlie Parker, Johnny Hodges, and Benny Carter in a three-alto frontline, plus Flip Phillips and Ben Webster on tenor, Barney Kessel on guitar, Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and JC Heard on drums. Side one features the original "Jam Blues", and side two features a "Ballad Medley", with each solo star taking one of the tunes in the set. Also features the material from vol 2 – "Funky Blues" and "What Is This Thing Called Love". CD

The first album to carry the Jazz At The Philharmonic formula into the studio – and a record that virtually coined the term "jam session" for 50s jazz! Norman Granz repeats the style he'd done so well in a live setting – and brings together a host of all-star players in a very relaxed, open environment – one that gives them all plenty of space to open up and hit some nice long solos. Players include Charlie Parker, Johnny Hodges, and Benny Carter in a three-alto frontline, plus Flip Phillips and Ben Webster on tenor, Barney Kessel on guitar, Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and JC Heard on drums. Side one features the original "Jam Blues", and side two features a "Ballad Medley", with each solo star taking one of the tunes in the set. Also features the material from vol 2 – "Funky Blues" and "What Is This Thing Called Love". CD

Features Zoot Sims on tenor and soprano sax, Benny Aronov on piano, Major Holley on bass, and Mickey Roker on drums. CD

Some of our favorite work ever by Esther Phillips – served up on a compilation that does a great job of sorting through her classic 70s sides for Kudu, CTI, and Mercury! Back in the 60s, Esther sung in a sad and bluesy sort of soul style – but in the 70s, at the time of these recordings, Esther picked up a sweet electric vibe, really hipping up her sound with lots of funky guitar, bass, and keyboards. The result is tremendous – as you'll hear on this set – as Esther works with arrangers that include Pee Wee Ellis, Bob James, Benny Golson and Harvey Mason to cut some wickedly soulful tunes! The set includes 18 tracks in all, with titles that include "Use Me", "Home Is Where The Hatred Is", "That's All Right With Me", "I've Never Found A Man", "Brother Brother", "From A Whisper To A Scream", "All The Way Down", "Black Eyed Blues", "Native New Yorker", "Changing", "SOS", "We've Got A Good Thing Going", "You Think Of Him", "Bedtime Stories", and "I Hope You'll Be Very Unhappy About Me". CD