A completely cooking little live set from Aretha Franklin – and a crowning moment not just in her career, but for Atlantic Records soul in general! Aretha's working here before a very enthusiastic crossover crowd at the Fillmore West in San Francisco – getting tight backing from the combo of King Curtis (Memphis Horns, Billy Preston, and Pretty Purdie in tow!) – and hitting a groove that's often rawer, grittier, and more deep-soul tuned than some of her studio sides from the time! The recording quality is totally great – and goes out of its way to preserve the presence of the audience, and showcase Aretha's own interaction and strong sense of personality. Ray Charles makes a surprising guest appearance on one track, but the whole show is really Franklin's own – a majestic little live date that features the tunes "Spirit In The Dark", "Respect", "Make It With You", "Don't Play That Song", "Dr Feelgood", and "Love The One You're With". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few albums ever made as a leader by tenorist Don Wilkerson – a hell of a talent who was usually working in the background of the Ray Charles band, but got this chance to step out as a leader for Blue Note – in a session that's also one of the rarest on the label! Brother Don plays lean and mean, in a nice tight group that features Grant Green on guitar, Sonny Clark on piano, and Billy Higgins on drums – all of whom give Wilkerson a freer setting than he ever got working with Ray Charles – a groove that's right in the best soul jazz pocket of early 60s Blue Note! The groove has a freer edge than on some of Wilkerson's few other albums, with touches that almost reach a Latin sound at times – an influence most likely from Green's exotic work on guitar, and Higgins' wonderfully free rhythms. Titles include "Pigeon Peas", "Camp Meetin", "Jeanie Weanie", and "Dem Tamborines". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few albums ever made as a leader by tenorist Don Wilkerson – a hell of a talent who was usually working in the background of the Ray Charles band, but got this chance to step out as a leader for Blue Note – in a session that's also one of the rarest on the label! Brother Don plays lean and mean, in a nice tight group that features Grant Green on guitar, Sonny Clark on piano, and Billy Higgins on drums – all of whom give Wilkerson a freer setting than he ever got working with Ray Charles – a groove that's right in the best soul jazz pocket of early 60s Blue Note! The groove has a freer edge than on some of Wilkerson's few other albums, with touches that almost reach a Latin sound at times – an influence most likely from Green's exotic work on guitar, and Higgins' wonderfully free rhythms. Titles include "Pigeon Peas", "Camp Meetin", "Jeanie Weanie", and "Dem Tamborines". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few albums ever made as a leader by tenorist Don Wilkerson – a hell of a talent who was usually working in the background of the Ray Charles band, but got this chance to step out as a leader for Blue Note – in a session that's also one of the rarest on the label! Brother Don plays lean and mean, in a nice tight group that features Grant Green on guitar, Sonny Clark on piano, and Billy Higgins on drums – all of whom give Wilkerson a freer setting than he ever got working with Ray Charles – a groove that's right in the best soul jazz pocket of early 60s Blue Note! The groove has a freer edge than on some of Wilkerson's few other albums, with touches that almost reach a Latin sound at times – an influence most likely from Green's exotic work on guitar, and Higgins' wonderfully free rhythms. Titles include "Pigeon Peas", "Camp Meetin", "Jeanie Weanie", and "Dem Tamborines". CD

A collection of 60s recordings for Atlantic, starting in 1965 with Cedar Walton on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums, and later in 1967 with Jodie Christian on piano, Melvin Jackson on bass, Richard Smith on drums, and Ray Barretto on percussion, and a 1968 date with Heywood Henry on baritone, Jimmy Owens on trumpet, Charles Rainey on bass, and Grady Tate on drums. Titles include "Listen Here", "Theme In Search Of A Movie", "Freedom Jazz Dance", "Live Right Now", "Love Theme From The Sandpiper", "and "Movin' On Out". LP, Vinyl record album

A completely cooking little live set from Aretha Franklin – and a crowning moment not just in her career, but for Atlantic Records soul in general! Aretha's working here before a very enthusiastic crossover crowd at the Fillmore West in San Francisco – getting tight backing from the combo of King Curtis (Memphis Horns, Billy Preston, and Pretty Purdie in tow!) – and hitting a groove that's often rawer, grittier, and more deep-soul tuned than some of her studio sides from the time! The recording quality is totally great – and goes out of its way to preserve the presence of the audience, and showcase Aretha's own interaction and strong sense of personality. Ray Charles makes a surprising guest appearance on one track, but the whole show is really Franklin's own – a majestic little live date that features the tunes "Spirit In The Dark", "Respect", "Make It With You", "Don't Play That Song", "Dr Feelgood", and "Love The One You're With". CD

A completely cooking little live set from Aretha Franklin – and a crowning moment not just in her career, but for Atlantic Records soul in general! Aretha's working here before a very enthusiastic crossover crowd at the Fillmore West in San Francisco – getting tight backing from the combo of King Curtis (Memphis Horns, Billy Preston, and Pretty Purdie in tow!) – and hitting a groove that's often rawer, grittier, and more deep-soul tuned than some of her studio sides from the time! The recording quality is totally great – and goes out of its way to preserve the presence of the audience, and showcase Aretha's own interaction and strong sense of personality. Ray Charles makes a surprising guest appearance on one track, but the whole show is really Franklin's own – a majestic little live date that features the tunes "Spirit In The Dark", "Respect", "Make It With You", "Don't Play That Song", "Dr Feelgood", and "Love The One You're With". CD

Not a vocal session from Ray Charles, but instead a set that showcases his great abilities in jazz – a side of Charles' talents that Atlantic was focusing on a bit more at the end of the 50s! The record's a collaboration with vibist Milt Jackson, who's nicely more loose and gritty here than in the company of the Modern Jazz Quartet – and in addition to piano, Ray also plays a bit of alto sax too – which comes as a nice surprise! Other players include the great Billy Mitchell on tenor sax, Skeeter Best on guitar, Oscar Pettiford on bass, and Connie Kay on drums – and titles include "Blue Funk", "Cosmic Ray", "Soul Brothers", and "How Long Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A great set of soul jazz from McPherson – recorded live, with a rolling groove that's in the Blue Note mode of the mid 60s – but even more open overall! The group's got a lot of hometown talent from McPherson's native Detroit – including Barry Harris on piano, Lonnie Hillyer on trumpet, and Ray McKinney on bass – and the mighty Billy Higgins handles the drums, always with a lean and fluid groove that works well with the extended energy of the set! McPherson's horn is sometimes a bit overshadowed by Hillyer's trumpet on the head arrangements – but given how much we like Lonnie, that's hardly a bad thing – and Charles more than comes into his own on the solos! The album features a catchy original called "The Viper", plus the tracks "Suddenly", "Shaw Nuff", and "Never Let Me Go". LP, Vinyl record album

A great set of soul jazz from McPherson – recorded live, with a rolling groove that's in the Blue Note mode of the mid 60s – but even more open overall! The group's got a lot of hometown talent from McPherson's native Detroit – including Barry Harris on piano, Lonnie Hillyer on trumpet, and Ray McKinney on bass – and the mighty Billy Higgins handles the drums, always with a lean and fluid groove that works well with the extended energy of the set! McPherson's horn is sometimes a bit overshadowed by Hillyer's trumpet on the head arrangements – but given how much we like Lonnie, that's hardly a bad thing – and Charles more than comes into his own on the solos! The album features a catchy original called "The Viper", plus the tracks "Suddenly", "Shaw Nuff", and "Never Let Me Go". The CD features the entire album Quintet/Live – plus 3 previously unreleased bonus tracks – "I Believe In You", "Epistrophy", and "Luminescence". CD

Lionel Hampton on vibraphone, Pepper Adams on baritone saxophone, Cat Anderson on trumpet and flugelhorn, Eddie Bert on trombone, Ray Bryant on piano, Doc Cheatham on trumpet, Arnett Cobb on tenor saxophone, Panama Francis on drums, John Gordon on trumpet, Chubby Jackson on bass, Charles McPherson on alto saxophone, Billy Mackel on guitar, Jimmy Mackel on trumpet and flugelhorn, Paul Moen on tenor saxophone, Joe Newman on trumpet and flugelhorn, Benny Powell on trombone, Earle Warren on clarinet, flute and alto saxophone, Bob Wilber on clarinet, and Teddy Wilson on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Ray Anthony, Yma Sumac, Billy May & His Afro Cubans, Les Paul, Hollywood Bowl Symphony, Concert Art Percussionists, Ballet Theatre Orchestra, Hollywood String Quartet, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Liner notes written by Charles Fowler. LP, Vinyl record album

Music by Billy Strayhorn, Charles Mingus, Miles, Davis, Ornette Coleman, and Mahavishnu Orchestra – arranged by Matt Haimovitz for his all cello big band! CD

A whole new side of Charles Tolliver's talents – a majestic big band album, with Charles' trumpet right out front in the lead! At some level, the album's an extension of Tolliver's larger group projects with Music Inc back in the 70s – but at another level, the feel here is totally different – much more complex and dynamic, with a rich array of colors and tones we'd never heard before in his work! The group's definitely a big band – with a full brace of trumpets, trombones, and saxes – all working together in very tight formation to realize Tolliver's musical vision. Solos are by Charles on trumpet on most tracks, plus Bill Saxton and Billy Harper on tenor, Staffort Hunter on trombone, Todd Bashore on alto sax, and Robert Glasper and Stanley Cowell on piano. Titles include "With Love", "Rejoicin", "Mournin Variations", "Right Now", "Suspicion", and "Hit The Spot". CD

A sublime setting for the sound of Charles Lloyd – a really special trio record, done with Bill Frisell on guitar and Thomas Morgan on bass – a group who work in a really open, airy style that really lets the tenor and flute of Lloyd stretch out and do some amazing things! The format is maybe not that different for Frisell, but makes for this great chapter in Lloyd's career – part of his continued inventiveness in later decades – which have almost proved to be more vibrant than the early years of his time on record. Tracks are nice and long – and titles include the originals "Dorotea's Studio", "Beyond Darkness", and "Song My Lady Sings" – plus a fantastic take on Billy Strayhorn's "Blood Count". CD

A great early album from David Pomeranz – a great 70s singer/songwriter who got the chance to record often, but never seemed to achieve the fame he deserved! This set's clearly got the Decca label investing heavily in David's talents – as he gets great production from Charles Callelo, who also helped with the arrangements – and uses an all-star group of jazz players who include Chick Corea and Jan Hammer on piano, Randy Brecker on trumpet, Joe Farrell on tenor, John Tropea on guitar, Billy Cobham on drums, and both Airto and David Friedman on percussion – players who really bring an instrumental complexity to the record that matches the inspiration of the well-penned tunes by Pomeranz. David himself also plays guitar and piano at times – and titles include "Dagger", "Hideaway Suite", "First", "Father Thoughts", "City Show", "I Need Time To Fly", "We Loved Just Fine", and "Day Prayer". CD