A nice lively batch of tracks, with a hard groove, some nice percussion, and a very striking sound. Titles include "El Pon", "Descarga A Las Doce", "Samba", "Gandinga", and "Mas Y Mas". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little record – one that showcases the continuing commitment of Dizzy Gillespie to exploring the world of Latin and Carribean rhythms! The set features Diz's great mid-60's combo with James Moody (on tenor and Latin flute), Kenny Barron (on piano and bass), and Chris White (on bass and guitar) – plus some added Latin percussion and occasional backing vocals by the group. Dizzy's sound is sparkling and shining, and soars ahead of the arrangements nicely – especially on groovers like "Fiesta Mojo", "Jambo", "Trinidad, Hello", and "Don't Try To Keep Up With the Joneses". Very groovy stuff, and packaged in an amazing gatefold cover, with very cool graphics, and a great booklet! LP, Vinyl record album

Double length live set with Benson on guitar and vocals, Mickey Tucker on piano, George Duvivier on bass, and Al Harewood on drums. Tracks include "Oleo", "Love For Sale", "Witchcraft", "Blue Bossa", "Lil Darlin", and "Dahlin's Delight". CD

George Benson on guitar and vocals, Mickey Tucker on piano, George Duvivier on bass, and Al Harewood on drums. CD

A masterful meeting of Eric Dolpy and The Latin Jazz Quintet – a record that shows a rare Latin side of Dolphy's talents, but one that's totally great! The core group here are the ensemble led by conga player Juan Amalbert with vibes, piano, bass, and percussion – a group who helped push the Latin jazz style of earlier 50s work into much hipper territory during the 60s – usually by adding in a reedman like Dolphy! Eric's blowing here on alto, flute, and bass clarinet – showing a great sensitivity to the core groove of the record, but also managing to cut in these edgier moments that really open things up! The mix of vibes and Dolphy alone is worth the price of admission – especially when heard in an "inside" way that's quite different than his later meeting with Bobby Hutcherson – but the overall groove really holds the record together wonderfully, and makes it appealing for fans of both Latin and modern jazz! Titles include "Mambo Ricci", "Sunday Go Meetin", "First Bass Line", "Caribe", and "Blues In 6/8". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of Dave's funkier albums of the time – with cuts that include "Captain Caribe", "Rondo", "City Lights", "Rag Bag", and "Mountain Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Dave's funkier albums of the time – with cuts that include "Captain Caribe", "Rondo", "City Lights", "Rag Bag", and "Mountain Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

Earl Klugh's second album for Blue Note – and like the first, a nicely stripped-down album that we like a lot better than his later work! Klugh's sound and tone are still very pure here – set up in some nice small group arrangements by Dave Grusin, and recorded in a way that brings out all the sweetness in Earl's approach, without falling into the cheesy qualities that it inspired in so many other, weaker players. Part of the charm of the set is the strong use of acoustic guitar on the sessions – played by Klugh in a manner that has some strong Brazilian references, and which provides a nice contrast to the other electric instrumentation used on the record. If anything, Klugh's style is stronger and more confident than on his first outing – on titles that include "Kiko", "The April Fools", "Captain Caribe", "Felicia", and "Living Inside Your Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant work from the Picante label – the Latin-styled offshoot of the main Concord Records imprint – home to some of the best west coast Latin music for the past few decades! At a time when so many other labels were going for hits and crossover material, Picante started things out right with a real back-to-basics approach to Latin jazz – one that stripped the music back down to its roots, and focused on key instrumental contributions from top-shelf players. This approach continued even when the label moved into some vocal work too – and when it took on the amazing Tania Maria, who brought a bit of Brazilian flavor to their roster too – and over the years, Picante's west coast work really took over the helm from New York gians like Fania or Alegre. This 4CD package is filled with Picante gems from the glory days of the label – and titles include "Spain" by Tito Puente, "Mambo Mindoro" by Cal Tjader, "Think Twice" by Monty Alexander's Ivory & Steel, "Up Late" by Jeff Linsky, "Soca Me Nice" by Mongo Santamaria, "Night In Tunisia" by Caribbean Jazz Project, "Ran Kan Kan (Thunderball vs Fort Knox Five rmx)" by Tito Puente, "La Voz Del Caribe" by Eddie Palmieri, "La Cuna" by Pete Escovedo, "El Shing A Ling" by Poncho Sanchez, "Bom Bom Bom Tchi Tchi Tchi" by Tania Maria, "Sonando" by Poncho Sanchez, "Evil Ways" by Carmen McRae & Cal Tajder, and lots lots more. 50 tracks in all! CD

Tight Nigerian boogie from Ben Jagga – done with a lean groove that really represents the change in styles during the 80s, while still holding onto modes that reference some of the funk from before! Ben's got this bright style of singing, and at times the record almost has a Caribbean vibe – that sort of special, sunny style that we love in some of the Caribe disco singles from the period – mixed with more of the mainstream R&B modes that were coming out of Lagos, particularly those that have a stronger electro soul influence. Titles include "You Are My Reason For Living", "Aliyenju", "Hold On Pretty Woman", "Just Forgive & Forget", and "Jack & Jill". CD

JJ Johnson and Kai Winding at the height of their dual powers – working together here beautifully at a level that both embraces the modern sound of the trombone in larger 50s ensembles, but also offers up the more fluid personality of the instrument in the smaller combo scene! The pair have a great way of coming together at the start, then splitting off to find their own space on the tunes – a wonderful antidote to some of the too-tight trombone lines of the 50s, and a great reminder that there's always a voice behind the horn. The group on the record features Dick Katz on piano and celeste, plus either Bill Crow or Milt Hinton on bass, and Shadow Wilson or Kenny Clarke on drums. Candido plays a bit of percussion on the track "Caribe" – and the pair play tromboniums on the tune "Tromboniums In Motion". Other tracks include "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe", "The Song Is You", and "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning". LP, Vinyl record album

Early Columbia work from the team of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding – recorded in their classic twin-trombone groove! Winding arranged the tracks on the set – and the group features Dick Katz on piano, Milton Hinton on bass, and "Shadow" Wilson on drums – plus some bonus congas by Candido on the excellent "Caribe". The other songs are "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe", "The Song Is You", "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning". LP, Vinyl record album