The funky freaky soundtrack to Ralph Bakshi's animated feature Fritz The Cat – a really messed-up little film based around the original character created by Robert Crumb! Like the movie, the album's got a very skittish kind of feel – leaping from one genre to the next with each different track – but mostly featuring some older numbers from the Fantasy catalog, plus some key newer tracks for the set that are nice and funky! Original tunes include the bad-rapping "Fritz The Cat", by Ed Bogas and The Watson Sisters – plus the instrumentals "Duke's Theme" and "Bertha's Theme" by Ray Shanklin, and "The Riot" and "Winston" by Ed Bogas. Also includes "Love Light Of Mine" by The Watson Sisters, "Black Talk" by Charles Earland, and "Mamblues" by Cal Tjader. LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing collection of 40s and 50s jazz drawings by Gene Deitch – the complete anthology of his work for legendary jazz magazine Record Changer! Gene was an amazing artist and cartoonist, whose work helped solidify the legacies of some of the most famous cartoon characters in the American pop culture canon – from Popeye, to Tom & Jerry and beyond – but we're especially in love with his jazz-centric Record Changer era! Gene adored jazz and his love for it really shows! Cat On A Hot Thin Groove includes all of his magazine covers, cartoon panels and other bits from Record Changer – versatile work that ranges from fun, cartoon-y panels of "Jazz Cat" characters, to more elaborate and abstract illustrations. Wonderful, vital stuff – and it's very nicely anthologized here by Fantagraphics! Coffee-table scale paperback – 160+ pages of prime Deitch jazzy drawings with text accompaniment. Book

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Seminal sounds from trumpeter Ian Carr and his Nucleus group of the early 70s – maybe one of the few jazz rock groups that was ever able to work with a fair bit of jazz in their sound! Unlike his contemporaries, who often started in rock first, then added some horns – Carr was already coming off an important 60s legacy, co-leading a group with tenorist Don Rendell – so the vibe here is like an extension of that very rhythmic, very tonal modern work – but with the addition of electrified instrumentation – thanks to the guitar work of Chris Spedding and keyboards of Karl Jenkins – who plays some fantastic electric lines throughout! The vibe is maybe a bit in the territory of early 70s electric work by Miles Davis and Donald Byrd (pre-Mizell for the latter) – but there's maybe a farther-reaching concept at play on many of the records, at a level that always helped the group cross over to the prog crowd, and move beyond just a straight jazz audience. Other key players include Brian Smith on tenor and soprano saxes – a really fantastic part of the lineup – plus Jeff Clyne on bass and John Marshall on drums – and as the albums move along a bit, the lineup shifts slightly, and also opens up to guests who include Kenny Wheeler and Harry Beckett on trumpets, Tony Levin on drums, and Norma Winstone on voice. And although some of the albums have been reissued before, this is the first set to really dive in completely – and bring together material from the Vertigo Records releases that include Elastic Rock, We'll Talk About It Later, Solar Plexus, Belladonna, Labyrinth, Roots, Under The Sun, Snakehips Etcetera, and Alley Cat. CD

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One of the classic indie sets from this underground Detroit group – with Steven Schuetz on keyboards, David Reinstein on woodwinds, David Mason on guitars, Kenny Burch on bass, and Johnny Borders on percussion. Nina Kahle adds in vocals to a few tracks – which creates a strong soul/fusion blend. LP, Vinyl record album

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Al Stewart had been making fine records for many years before – but this is the album that broke him big all over the world – thanks to the title track "Year Of The Cat", plus "One Stage Before", "Flying Sorcery", "Broadway Hotel", "Lord Grenville", and "Midas Shadow". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful album from Dionne Warwick – probably her greatest record after the early years! The session was recorded with production by Thom Bell at Sigma Sound in Philly – and the style is a sweet blend of Philly modes, from fragile ballads to midtempo groovers, all done in a warm and intimate style that's never cloying, and which really gets at the depth of Dionne's soulful style. The record's one of those that you might have passed by for years, but which if you heard it playing at someone's house, you'd say "Dang! What the heck is that?" Great all the way through, and with tracks that include "Track Of The Cat", "His House & Me", "Once You Hit The Road", "This Is Love", and "Love Me One More Time". CD

The depths of Louisiana soul know no bounds – not just the countless great singers and singles that came from the New Orleans scene, but the wealth of wonderful work that flowed from the rest of the state as well! This collection, like the others in the series, does a fantastic job of bringing forth a huge amount of under-documented Louisiana soul material – some of it issued on singles, some not released at the time – all given the fantastic treatment that we've always loved from Ace Records – which means very detailed notes, great sound, and everything you need to make the enjoyment of the compilation way more than just finding a set of songs online! Most of this material is from that time when R&B was shifting into soul – with plenty of bluesy currents in the mix – and titles include "Everybody Wants To Know" by Lester Robertson, "Tomorrow I'll Be Gone" by Elizabeth, "Come On Home" by Prince Charles, "Rocks On My Pillow" by Cookie & The Cupcakes, "It Happened So Fast" by Clifton Chenier, "I Wants You" by Ashton Savoy, "For Your Precious Love" by Sonny Martin, "Raise Some San" by Jay Nelson & His Jumpers, "Bye Bye Baby" by The Yellow Jacket, "My Life For Your Love" by Blues Boy Palmer, "Augustine" by Rockin Sidney, "Shake It Up" by Thaddeus Declouet, "Bop Cat Stomp" by King Charles, and even a few tracks by unknown artists, rescued from rare tapes – "I Found My Baby" and "Be My Baby Doll". CD

A pair of funky killers from tenorist Gene Ammons! Black Cat is one of the great funky albums that Gene Ammons cut for Prestige at the start of the 70s – quite different than his earlier work for the label, and a very different showcase for his tenor genius! The whole lineup here is amazing – a quintet that features heavy drums from Idris Muhammad, piano and Fender Rhodes from Harold Mabern, bass from Ron Carter, and some tremendously smoking guitar from the great George Freeman! Freeman goes nuts on the funky cut "The Black Cat" – and other tracks include "Jug Eyes", "Hi Ruth", "Something", and "Piece To Keep Away Evil Spirits". You Talk That Talk is a set done in collaboration with Sonny Stitt – and these two tenor giants meet in the period slightly before Ammons death, and they're grouped with some of the younger funky players on Prestige, like Leon Spencer, Idris Muhammad, and George Freeman. The sound is fairly traditional, but there's some nice funky moments. Tracks include "Out Of It", which was written by Harold Vick, "The People's Choice", written by Harold Ousley, and the title cut, which is a Leon Spencer original. The 14 track set includes the full titles from 2 LPs, plus 2 bonus cuts from a rare source! CD

Classic soul jazz material from trumpeter Donald Byrd – one of his most sinister (and most rare) albums for Blue Note! The group's a quintet, with frequent bandmate Pepper Adams on baritone, Duke Pearson on piano, and Philly Joe Jones on drums – all grooving with some of the tightness heard on other Adams/Byrd dates, but also a warmer, more open-ended approach to the music, especially on the solos! The tracks slink along with a dark little groove – and although Pearson's piano is often sweetly lyrical, it also has a nice hard sound that works well with the sharp-edged horn lines of Byrd and Adams. The album's very much in the vein of the pair's work on the Warwick label during the same time – and with excellent compositions that include "Say You're Mine", "Duke's Mixture", "The Cat Walk", and "Hello Bright Sunflower". CD

A runaway hit for reedman Tom Scott – and the record that helped to elevate him to the ranks of studio and fusion superstardom in the 70s! By the time of the record, Scott had already done some key work under his own name, and was contributing heavily to countless other sessions in the jazz, pop, soul, and soundtrack worlds. But this album's the one that really helped Tom get his groove out there – a particular approach to smooth fusion that still kept things plenty funky overall! Part of the credit for the set really goes to bassist Max Bennett and drummer John Guerin – who bring in a tightly snapping bottom that lets Scott get a bit smoother on the top with his saxes, in a style that's augmented by plenty of great keyboard work from Larry Nash. Titles include "Keep On Doin It", "Tom Cat", "Rock Island Rocket", "Mondo", "Refried", "Backfence Cattin", and "Love Poem". CD

A really unique record from Norma Tanega – a singer with roots in folk, but who works here in a mode that's very much her own! Norma sings and plays acoustic guitar as pictured on the cover – but the song styles and production are often very different than you might expect – slightly psychedelic at times, especially on the more love-oriented lyrics – and given some unusual arrangements by Herb Bernstein, working here under Bob Crew – who uses subtle elements to expand things around the edges, without getting in Tanega's way – so that there's a trippy quality to the songs that really fits the naivete of the lyrics. Titles include "You're Dead", "Walkin My Cat Named Dog", "A Street That Rhymes At 6am", "I'm Dreamin A Dream", "What Are We Craving", "No Stranger Am I", and "Hey Girl". LP, Vinyl record album

Sonny Burns is definitely a real cool cat – one of the hippest artists recording on the young Starday Records label – at a time when the great Pappy Daily was bringing a lot of his Texas indie genius to the company! Sonny's a singer who often sings country, but with the attitude of a young rocker – maybe that mix of rocka/hillbilly you'd find in the early work of George Jones – who was one of Burns' label mates at the time – although Sonny has maybe more of a honky tonk vibe that comes through especially well on the mellow tunes! The set features a whopping 31 tracks in all, with beautiful notes and other images – and, no surprise, there's also duets with George Jones on two tracks too. Titles include "Powder & Paint", "Another Woman Looking For A Man", "Satan's A Waitin", "Frown On The Moon", "Let's Change Sweethearts", "Six Feet Of Earth", "Wrong About You", "Tell Her", "A Place For Girls Like You", and "Heart Like A Dollar Sign". CD

One of our top 5 favorite Blue Note records of all time – a bold and powerful session from trumpeter Lee Morgan, but one that sat in the vaults for 15 years before release! The session was recorded around the same time as Morgan's hit The Sidewinder (which eclipsed its release at the time) – but it's got the soaring, searching energy of later Morgan work on records like Sixth Sense or Charisma – a whole new groove at the time, and one that's explored perfectly by a group that includes Jackie McLean on alto sax, Curtis Fuller on trombone, McCoy Tyner on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Art Blakey on drums. Modal lines come into play with older hardbop and soul jazz modes – and the result is an explosive batch of tunes that resonate with bold power throughout! Nearly all tunes are incredible originals by Lee Morgan – and titles include "Tom Cat", "Exotique", "Twice Around", and the completely captivating "Rigor Mortis". A treasure, and one not to pass up! CD

One of the only records ever recorded as a leader by alto player Monty Waters – a hip New York altoist who's appeared on records with Joe Lee Wilson, but rarely got the chance to lead a group on his own. This Japanese-only set from 1975 features Waters working with a quartet that includes Ronnie Boykins on bass, George Avaloz on drums, and Yoshiaki Masuio on guitar – playing together in a mode that's almost a lyrical take on some of Ornette's harmelodic recordings from the same time, a style that we evoke mostly because of the way that the guitar comps in behind the rhythm in parts, letting Waters blow over the top in solo formation. At other times, the guitar's in a more tradition role – but the lack of a piano in the group means that there's still quite a bit of freedom, although the group always manages to swing soulfully. Titles include "Modesto", "The Black Cat", "RPM", "J Love March", and "Apt #2H". CD

A bit bolder than Matthew Cassell's first album – but still with all the best elements nicely in place! This self-released EP expands Cassell's sound a bit with the addition of backing vocals, tenor, trumpet, and cello – but the core sound still comes mostly from Matt's great vocals, keyboards, and guitar – exceptionally well-crafted in a blend of jazzy and soulful elements, and wrapped around his own well-penned tunes. There's a freshness here that's more early 70s jazzy songwriter than you'd guess from the 1978 date of the set – a nice reminder that there were still some great indie moments in the Bay Area scene, even as some of its earlier acts were ascending to superstardom. Titles include the funky "All I'm Missing Is You", plus "More", "Fly Away", "Young Girl", and "Close To You Tonight". LP, Vinyl record album

Late work from Duke – a set that has that nicely mature approach to arrangements, with a group that includes Johnny Hodges on alto, Paul Gonsalves on tenor, Cootie Williams and Cat Anderson on trumpets, and Lawrence Brown on trombones. Titles include a "Johnny Hodges Medley" – plus "Boola Boola", "Chromatic Love Affair", "Put-Tin", and "Swamp Goo". LP, Vinyl record album

Bugged out late 50s rock & roll from Esquerita – that wild cat who was once a geniune rival to Little Richard (we won't wade into to the "who came first" kerfuffle, thank you very much) if almost totally eclipsed by Richard's popularity. Gruff vocals peppered by piercing "whoos", fierce piano stomps, and straight up badass first wave rock & roll. Includes early acetates and more. Includes "Rockin' The Joint", "This Thing Called Love", "Please Come On Home", "Oh Baby", "Sarah Lee", "I Got A Lot To Learn", "What Was Wrong", "The Rock-A-Round" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A set of some the coolest material that the legendary trumpeter Maynard Ferguson cut throughout the 70s – from fiercely energetic, large combo takes on standards, to looser, more simmering styles of timeless jazz, to spacey jazz funk! Not to be confused with Ferguson's similarly titled early 60s set, this Maynard is a compilation of his creatively exploratory 70s years – on records like New Vintage, Live At Jimmy's, Carnival and the Bob James-produced Primal Scream – really showing the breadth of his astonishing range. Great stuff played with large groups and with Maynard at his most diverse. Includes "Airegin", "Stay Loose With Bruce", 'Round Midnight", "The Cheshire Cat Walk", "Chameleon", "Birdland", "Naima", "Got The Spirit" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks include "The Big Cat", "Tico Tico", "Big Bad Bob", "Billie's Bounce", and "Soft Eyes". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest albums ever by the consummate jazz hipster – Babs Gonzales! Babs was part singer, part poet, and part philosophy – working in a jive-heavy style that was filled with inside jokes on the New York jazz scene of the postwar years – and peopled with odd characters from that scene, including musicians, hustlers, hookers, and small-time crooks. Babs speaks and sings on the set, backed by arrangements from Melba Liston, played by a small combo that includes Kenny Burrell, Peck Morrison, and Roy Haynes. The whole thing's great – one of the best blends of hipster jive and jazz ever – and titles include "Dem Resolution Liars", "The Hat Box Chicks", "Dem Jive New Yorkers", "The Squares", and "The Cool Cat's Philosophy". LP, Vinyl record album

An early Warner Brothers classic from the Grateful Dead – a set that has them stretching out in maybe a more collaborative way than usual – using a few key guests to expand their freewheeling sound! Titles include "Cosmic Charlie", "China Cat Sunflower", "Doin That Rag", "Mountains Of The Moon", and "Dupree's Diamond Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

An early Warner Brothers classic from the Grateful Dead – a set that has them stretching out in maybe a more collaborative way than usual – using a few key guests to expand their freewheeling sound! Titles include "Cosmic Charlie", "China Cat Sunflower", "Doin That Rag", "Mountains Of The Moon", and "Dupree's Diamond Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Hello have cleaned up their look a bit from previous records, but they're still hitting hard in that glam-inspired groove we love so much! Guitars are fuzzy, the vocals flanged-out too, and even though the rhythms are tight, there's a spooky sort of mid-70s pop vibe going on overall – an undercurrent of nastiness that hides beneath the group's power pop look and catchy tune hooks. Production is relatively simple too – somewhat smoother than before, but still with more than enough rough edges in the right parts. Titles include "99 Ways", "Back Seat Talking", "The Cat Is Wild", "You Shot Me Down", "Oh Caroline", "How To Survive The Night", "Walking Midnight", "Elenore", and "Hi Ho Silver Lining". CD also features 8 more bonus tracks that include "Good Old USA", "Too Much Hesitating", "Night Watcher", "One By One", and "You Got Class Babe". CD

With Richie Kamuca and Jack Nimitz on saxes, Dick Collins and Bernie Glow on trumpets, and Billy Bauer on guitar. Titles include "Sentimental Journey", "Cool Cat On A Hot Tin Roof", and "Where Or When". LP, Vinyl record album

Heavy tenor work by this hip cat from the west coast – great postwar singles, including one with piano by a young Johnny Watson! LP, Vinyl record album

Country music talent Eddie Hill is maybe best known to the world as the guy who gave the Louvin Brothers their first work, or as a big force on the Grand Old Opry – but he's also a hell of a guitarist who cut some fantastic sides during the postwar years – records that ring out with all sorts of great guitar modes that easily puts Hill right up there with some of the greats of his time! The package is the first to ever do justice to the strengths of Eddie's talents – and features singles recorded for Decca, Mercury, RCA, and Columbia, plus some rare Apollo Records work too – all brought together in a collection that has Hill stepping easily through a variety of hillbilly talents, always with plenty of vocal charm to match his instrumental strengths too. Titles include his classic "The Hot Guitar" – a commentary on all the rising hillbilly styles in 1951 – plus "The Gottalotta Song", "Black Denim Trousers & Motorcycle Boots", "High Wide & Handsome", "Lovin Spree", "Who Wrote The Letter To Old John", "My Sugar Booger", "Bless Your Little Thumpin Gizzard", "Melting Steel", "Mind Your Own Business", "Fire Ball Eight", "Buckshot", "Wild Cat", and "Hard Road To Travel". CD

Hodges leads a large group of Ellington players that includes Willie Cook, Clark Terry, Cat Anderson, Jimmy Hamilton, Harry Carney, Ray Nance, and Jimmy Woode. The overall sound has that Ellington-minus-Ellington, plus-Hoges feel of similar Verve sessions like these – with lots of nice strong Hodges tenor work in the foreground. Titles include "Digits", "Viscount", "Segdoh", "An Ordinary Thing", and "Little Rabbit Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Hodges leads a core group of Ellington's best players – like Ray Nance, Cat Anderson, Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, and others – through a nice set of swing tunes, laid out in arrangements that give the soloists lots of space, and which groove with a strong small group Verve mode. Titles include "Texas Blues", "The Happy One", "You Got It Coming", "Snibor", and "Hiya". LP, Vinyl record album

A great journey in sound – one undertaken by a New Zealand group who spent the second half of the 60s with a new name, and recording in London too! The combo first started out as The Four Fours in the southern hemisphere – a raw group with a sound that was maybe a bit influenced by the Brit Invasion era, but often carried off with a grittier, garagier vibe – one that offsets the more melodic moments with a nice sort of edge, and really keeps things interesting as the set unfolds through more than a dozen of the group's New Zealand singles for the Allied and Zodiac labels! The set then features later work by The Human Instinct – the new name for the group as they hit the British scene, where they recorded with a bit more psych in the mix – on singles here that were issued by Mercury and Deram. Later Human Instinct material has been reissued, but this is the first time the early side of their career has gotten its full due – on titles that include "Stingray", "From The Bottom Of My Heart", "Theme From An Empty Coffee Lounge", "Barrow Boy", "Jungle Cat, "It's Gonna Rain", "Time Slips Away", "One Track Mind", and "Don't Print My Memoirs" by The Four Fours – plus "A Day In My Mind's Mind", "Renaissance Fair", "Can't Stop Around", "Rich Man", "Pink Dawn", "Death Of The Seaside", and "Want To Be Loved By You" by The Human Instinct. CD

A killer compilation of rare Dilla instrumentals that hones in on his electronic-influenced side! It's the first time his archives have been mined with this sharp of a focus – but Dilla being the diverse cat that he was, it's STILL got a incredible stylistic sprawl! The beats are head nodding, soul steeped and insistent as can be, and that keeps it grounded in mesmerising, unpretentious hip hop throughout – but with lots of room for spacey synth atmosphere, spare bits of cosmic keys, bouncing electro funk accents and other touches. A nice exploration of rare instrumentals from his archives as we've seen in a single set – 41 untitled tracks running about 70 minutes all together, and it STILL leaves us wanting more. Compiled by Detroit DJs Alien Villainz, for Ma Dukes and the Dilla estate. LP, Vinyl record album

A crowning moment in New Jack Swing – or New Jill Swing, as it were – a perfect step forward for Janet Jackson, as she continues to work with the duo of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with a vibe that was setting the scene for the rest of mainstream soul at the time! The album's got a larger overall feel than her previous set – partly because it makes use of the expanded CD recording style to add in interludes that link the tracks, and create a great flow through the record – while the lady herself still soars through plenty of catchy cuts that would win her some big hits! Titles include "Escapade", "Miss You Much", "Rhythm Nation", "Alright", "Love Will Never Do (Without You)", "Black Cat" and "Come Back To Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A crowning moment in New Jack Swing – or New Jill Swing, as it were – a perfect step forward for Janet Jackson, as she continues to work with the duo of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with a vibe that was setting the scene for the rest of mainstream soul at the time! The album's got a larger overall feel than her previous set – partly because it makes use of the expanded CD recording style to add in interludes that link the tracks, and create a great flow through the record – while the lady herself still soars through plenty of catchy cuts that would win her some big hits! Titles include "Escapade", "Miss You Much", "Rhythm Nation", "Alright", "Love Will Never Do (Without You)", "Black Cat" and "Come Back To Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Really raw work by Reverend Charlie Jackson – gospel in subject, but delivered in a style that's much more blues overall – thanks to a stripped-down presentation, and lots of electric guitar from the man himself! The Rev comes across here like some cat recorded out at a juke joint in the country – with the guitar ringing out with incredibly sharp edges, and Jackson singing with this earthy style that really puts the spiritual message in his music across! Titles include "Morning Train", "I Gave Up All I Had", "My Eternal Home", "All Aboard", "I'm Thinking Of A Friend", "Don't Let The Devil Ride", "This Old Building", and "Trouble In My Way". CD

One of the coolest records the Jazz Crusaders ever cut! The album's got their usual hard soul jazz quintet sound augmented by a bigger band – strangely uncredited on the record, but giving the group a lofty sound that pushes them into a whole new sound! The core style is still the LA soul jazz that the group virtually pioneered – but the added instrumentation gives them a hard-swinging feel that makes the album feel like a lost gem on MPS. Cool tracks include the group's strident reading of Edu Lobo's "Arrasto", a tenor-heavy version of "Walkin My Cat Named Dog", and the great original track "Turkish Black", which has some excellent organ work by Joe Sample! LP, Vinyl record album

Rare work as a leader from drummer Osie Johnson – two sessions recorded during the heyday of his career, when he was appearing as a sideman on countless other albums! The style here is similar to some of Johnson's other session work – particularly his contributions to the labels RCA and Bethlehem – as most of the numbers are relatively tightly arranged, and given a playful, slightly modern spin that usually features a fair bit of interplay between the horns in the group. Players vary here – both between the albums, and the tracks on each set – and key musicians include Frank Wess, Thad Jones, Ernie Wilkins, Dick Katz, and Benny Powell. The CD features both albums done for the Period label – and titles include "Johnson's Whacks", "Osmosis", "Don't Bug Me Hug Me", "Midnight Mirage", "Cokernut Tree", "Blues For The Camels", "Osie's Oasis", "Cat Walk", and "Flute To Boot". LP, Vinyl record album

Trumpeter Andrzej Kurylewicz is known best for small combo modern jazz recordings – but here, he leads a hip large ensemble in a series of recordings done for Polish Radio in 1964 – a lineup that mixes hard swing with some modern elements – and which includes performances from Michal Urbaniak on soprano sax, Jerzy Milian on vibes, and Zbigniew Namyslowski on alto! Kurylewicz himself plays trumpet, piano, and trombone – and titles are a mix of cool Polish jazz originals plus key American tunes – 19 titles that include "Wake Up George", "Room 1203", "Nancy Jo", "Lil Darlin", "Blues Without Words", "Cat The Scientist", "The Railway Station Cafe", "Sand", "Champs Elysees", and "Obsession". CD

An incredible end of the 60s effort that's essentially the final album by West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band – although credited as Markley! Bob Markley and Michael Lloyd co-produced and co-wrote most of the tunes but fellow WCPAEB members are photographed and credited – and the tunes themselves are short little blasts of richly strummed psychedelic folk with a trippy, often dark lyricism that sometimes bely some upbeat arrangements. Wonderful stuff – and the most unjustly overlooked set by an unjustly overlooked group! Titles include "Booker T & His Electric Shock", "Next Plane To The Sun", "Roger The Rocket Ship", "Elegant Ellen", "Little Ruby Rain", "Message For Miniature", "Sarah The Sad Spirit", "Truck Stop", "Zoom, Zoom, Zoom", "Sweet Lady Eleven", "The Magic Cat" and "Outside/Inside". CD

A decade's worth of groundbreaking funk and African rhythms – all of it recorded by Hugh Masekela for his legendary Chisa label! Back in the 60s, Hugh cracked the American charts with a playful version of South African jazz – but he was also an even hipper cat than you'd guess from his hits, and worked with a variety of incredible acts to expand his sound – a good number of whom ended up recording for Hugh on the Chisa label, in a unique blend of American soul and African inspiration that was years ahead of its time! The Chisa sound was one of the first true forays into pan-global grooving – and it brought the sounds of Africa to the American mainstream at a level that few had managed before. Some groups were unique projects done for record – like the Johannesburg Street Band, which featured members of The Crusaders alongside Masekela – but others featured a variety of ex-patriots living in the US, with key singers and players who shine brightly under Hugh's guidance. This set really digs deep, and offers up some of the most heavily African-tuned tracks from Chisa's catalog – 14 titles that include "Witch Doctor" and "Ahvuomo" by Baranta with Miatta Fahinbulleh, "Joala" and "Za Labalaba" by The Zulus, "Awe Mfana" by Johannesburg Street Band, "Macongo" and "U Se Mcani" by Letta Mbulu, "Tepo" by Baranta, "Aredze" by The Zulus, "Mahlalela" by Letta Mbulu, and "Afro Beat Blues" by Ojah with Hugh Masekela. CD

One of the best early albums from the legendary Moondog – a set that got wider circulation than his first few releases, and really helped expand his reach beyond New York City! Moondog's still at his simple best here – working in a blend of rhythmic percussion, stringed instruments, flute, and other rootsy instrumentation – all with echoes of Eastern styles, but served in a way that definitely has more of a touch of American exotica! All numbers are played by small groups – or even solo by Moondog – and any vocalizations take on almost an instrumental feel – sliding in alongside sound effects, animal noises, and other obscure utterings. The album's almost the art world equivalent of Martin Denny – but has a lot more depth than easy kitsch – and is still tremendously powerful stuff all these years later! Titles include "Caribea", "Big Cat", "Frog Bog", "To A Sea Horse", "Surf Session" and "Trees Against The Sky". This reissue is the original version of the record that was also issued as Moondog on Prestige. LP, Vinyl record album

Lost genius from trumpeter Lee Morgan – a session recorded for Blue Note in 1967, but not issued until the late 70s – and even then, only for a very short time! The session has Morgan moving into that wonderful last stage of his career – working in tight formation towards a sound that still had that groovier hardbop styles of earlier recordings, but which also unfolds towards a more ambitious spiritual jazz mode. The writing on the session is superb – original tunes that crackle with energy in a surge of dark notes and shadowy moods, inspiring the soloists to express themselves at levels that rank with their best work of the time! The group features David Newman on tenor – sounding completely different, and far more righteous, than on his Atlantic sides of the 60s – plus Cedar Walton on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. A great sound overall – right up there with Tom Cat or The Gigolo for lyrical modernism – and with titles that include "Sneaky Pete", "The Mercenary", "Sonic Boom", and "Mumbo Jumbo". CD

Lost genius from trumpeter Lee Morgan – a session recorded for Blue Note in 1967, but not issued until the late 70s – and even then, only for a very short time! The session has Morgan moving into that wonderful last stage of his career – working in tight formation towards a sound that still had that groovier hardbop styles of earlier recordings, but which also unfolds towards a more ambitious spiritual jazz mode. The writing on the session is superb – original tunes that crackle with energy in a surge of dark notes and shadowy moods, inspiring the soloists to express themselves at levels that rank with their best work of the time! The group features David Newman on tenor – sounding completely different, and far more righteous, than on his Atlantic sides of the 60s – plus Cedar Walton on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. A great sound overall – right up there with Tom Cat or The Gigolo for lyrical modernism – and with titles that include "Sneaky Pete", "The Mercenary", "Sonic Boom", and "Mumbo Jumbo". Plus, the album is expanded here by 6 more tracks – all recorded in 1969, and only briefly issued on a 2LP late 70s album called The Procrastinator. These tunes have a slightly different, almost sadder feel – with a group that includes Julian Priester, George Coleman, and Harold Mabern – on more wonderful originals that include "Cla Til Da", "Uncle Rough", "Mr Johnson", and "The Stroker". CD