A wonderful set from this mighty ensemble – a record that opens up immediately in a range of complex colors and tones, yet all with a quality that still manages to swing throughout! That balance is part of the real strengths of pianist/arranger David Matthews at this point in his career – able to draw on a few decades' worth of innovation in big band material, yet all without hitting you over the head with it – almost a return to the more organic shifts of sounds you'd get in a 50s arranger like Ralph Burns. The players are all great – and include Randy Brecker and Byron Stripling on trumpet, George Young and Chris Hunter on saxes, and Danny Gottlieb on drums – and titles include "Doxy", "Spanish Blue", "Sir Duke", "One Black Orchid", and a great take on Duke Jordan's "No Problem". CD

Pure greatness from one of the first key labels on the Jamaican scene – the mighty Treasure Isle, a hotbed of new innovation during the ska generation! The set features work from Justin Hinds & The Dominoes, The Skatalites, Baba Brooks, Monty Morris, Stranger & Patsy, and Owen & Leon. LP, Vinyl record album