With Marc Ribot on guitar. CD

John Zorn on alto sax, Marc Ribot on guitar, Jamie Saft on keyboards, Ikue Mori on laptop electronics, Trevor Dunn on bass, Joey Baron & Kenny Wollesen on drums & Cyro Baptosta on percussion. CD

A stunning celebration of one of the greatest pairings in Brazilian music – and in American music as well, given that both Airto Moreira and Flora Purim recorded plenty of these cuts up in our neck of the woods! Airto's percussion is the stuff of legend – a key force in Brazilian recordings in the late 60s, and then equally important in American jazz – in famous recordings with Miles Davis and other artists, and plenty of great records on his own! Flora's vocals are equally crucial – a soaring, fluid approach that forever changed the way that female singers approached jazz – bred in 60s bossa, but instantly something new by the time the 70s came along – especially when Airto was supporting her with great grooves! This huge package brings together material that both artists recorded – often under the name of one or the other, but often with the other artist present on the recording – with a heavy batch of work from the 70s and 80s, but also crucial cuts from other years too! 3CD set features 37 tracks and a really great package – with titles that include "Love Lock", "The Happy People", "Hungry On Arriva", "The Road Is Hard", "Samba De Flora", "O Canto Da Sereia", "Jeito Bom De Sofrer", "Papo Furado", "Xibaba", "Back Streets Of Havana", "Vera Cruz", "Flora's Song", "When Angels Crie", "Celebration Suite", "Casa Forte", "Black Narcissus", "A Secret From The Sea", "O Cantador/I Just Want To Be Here", "Jump", and "Hot Sand". CD

With 17 tracks including "Get Down On It", "Too Hot", "Cherish (12" version)", "Take It To The Top", "Let's Go Dancin", "Stone Love", and "Tonight (12" version)". CD

Fantastic music from Bheki Mseleku – a South African artist who was one of the strongest forces keeping the spiritual jazz flame alive in the 90s – and one who sadly passed away before he could see the rest of the world re-embrace music this strong! Bheki plays both piano and tenor sax – the former more than the latter, but both with a strong modal vibe – imbued with the best of the post-Coltrane spirits, and set up here with a great core trio that features Michael Bowie on bass and Marvin Smitty Smith – plus added work from Jean Toussaint on tenor, Steve Williamson and Courtney Pine on soprano, and Eddie Parker on flute! Songs are long, and have a great sense of flow – and titles include "Supreme Love", "The Age Of Inner Knowing", "Joy", "Celebration", "One For All", "Angola", "Blues For Africa", and "The Messenger". CD

Notable sidemen include Rickey Woodard on tenor sax, Bill Cunliffe on piano, and Luis Conte on percussion. Tracks include "Christmas Waltz", "It's Magic", "Merry Christmas, Darling", and "Moonlight In Vermont". CD

Includes performances by Stevie Wonder, Lou Reed, John Mellencamp, Johnny Winter, Ron Wood, George Harrison, The Band, Neil Young, Chrissie Hynde, Willie Nelson, and others. CD

Includes performances by Joan Baez, Kris Kristofferson, Country Joe McDonald, the Beach Boys, Merry Clayton, and Linda Ronstadt. LP, Vinyl record album

From the TV Special! CD

A tremendous tribute to the legendary Art Ensemble Of Chicago – a group who work here with only two of their surviving members, but with help from a constellation of jazz musicians inspired by their music! The group here is large, and includes AACM members and other younger talents – a fantastic lineup that mixes the core work of Famadou Don Moye on drums and percussion, and Roscoe Mitchell on reeds with work from Nicole Mitchell on flutes, Hugh Ragin and Fred Berry on trumpets, Tomeka Reid on cello, Jaribu Shahid and Junius Paul on basses, Enoch Williams and Titos Sompa on percussion, and Christina Wheeler on voice and a range of unusual electronic instruments! There's a very ambitious feel to the music – like some of Roscoe Mitchell's larger form creations, but with more of a spiritual jazz current that comes from the whole ensemble – and from vocal contributions from Moore Mother and Rodolfo Cordova Lebron. 2LP set features studio material – including "Saturday Morning", "Villa Tiamo", "Chi-Congo 50", "I Greet You With Open Arms", and "Fanfare & Bell". LP, Vinyl record album

Pivotal mid 80s Depeche Mode – the record where the lyrical heaviness started to really define where the group would go from here – marrying emotionally raw words with nascent darkness tinged dance pop – and some eerie slower songs, too. Includes "Black Celebration", "A Question Of Lust", "Sometimes", "Stripped", "Here Is The House", "World Full Of Nothing", "Dressed In Black", "New Dress" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet LA Latin soul from the great El Chicano! The album's still very much in the classic mode of their early years – with smoking organ and firey guitar chopped up by heavy timbales and percussion – and the band grooves hard in a stone Chicano groove that's great on just about every cut! Includes an update of their "Viva Tirado" hit, called "Viva Tirado Otra Vez", and done a bit faster – plus some great funky rocking tracks, like a cover of "I Feel Free", and the track "Satisfy Me Woman". The best tracks, though, are the hard jam session ones – like "El Grito", "Senor Blues", and "Juntos", all of which really open up the sound! LP, Vinyl record album

Von Freeman and Chico Freeman on saxophone, George Cables on piano, Santi DeBriano on bass, and Gene Jackson on drums. CD

... CD

Intimate live date with Sheila Jordan on vocals and Cameron Brown on bass! CD

... CD

Features appearances by Ray Brown, Roy Eldridge, Herb Ellis, JC Heard, Hank Jones, Jim Lucht, Oscar Peterson, Bill Potts, Flip Phillips, Max Roach, Earl Swope and Norman Williams. CD

Music from King Floyd, Barbara Acklin, Tyrone Davis, Marvin Gaye, Brook Benton, the Detroit Emeralds, Bloodstone, the Dells, William Bell, the Dramatics, Denise LaSalle, and more. CD

Features Toshiko Akiyoshi, Kenny Burrell, Charlie Byrd, Bill Charlap, Herb Ellis, Scott Hamilton, Gene Harris, Jack McDuff, Chris Potter, Poncho Sanchez, Mel Torme, Frank Wess, Denny Zeitlin, and more! CD

Musicians involved on 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11; Sam Braysher on alto saxophone, Ronan Perrett alto saxophone and clarinet, Adele Sauros on tenor saxophone, Alex Merritt on tenor saxophone, Michael Chillingworth on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, Steve Fishwick on trumpet, Tom Ollendorff on guitar, Conor Chaplin on bass, and Jay Davis on drums. Musicians involved on 3, 5, 10; Sam Braysher on alto saxophone, Ronan Perrett on alto saxophone and clarinet, Alex Hitchcock on tenor and soprano saxophone, Alex Merritt on tenor saxophone,Steve Fishwick on trumpet, John Turville on piano, Conor Chaplin on bass, and Jay Davis on drums. CD

Features tracks from separate live dates in 1955 and 1991, with contributions from Hank Jones, Barney Kessel, James Moody, Buddy Rich, Art Tatum, Clark Terry and more! – 8 tracks total. CD

Includes the songs "Artistry In Rhythm", "Be Bop Charlie", "Eager Beaver", "Night In Tunisia", "All About Ronnie", "Looking Up Old Friends", "Opus In Pastels", "Certain Circles", "My Old Flame", "A Baltazar Named Gabe (A Smith Named Greg)", "It's All Right With Me", and "Malaguena". CD

Tracks include "Fooling Myself", "Lester Leaps In", "How High The Moon", "Sometimes I'm Happy", and "Just You, Just Me". CD

Features work by Laurent Garnier, Norma Jean Bell, Ready Made, Federic Galliano, St Germain, Alexkid, Llorca, Nova Nova, and others! CD

A very cool collection – one put together in celebration of the centennial of the Hollywood sign that rises above Sunset Strip in LA – and which brings together a whole host of unusual performances by actors who sing, singers who act, and other artists who made some key contributions to the American film scene in the postwar years! Most of the music here is from the late 40s through 60s period that you'll usually find on Bear Family collections – but there's also some surprises from later years too – a few tracks near the end from later films, thrown in for good measure. As always with Bear Family, the package is as cool as the set list – a set of 61 titles that feature work from Jane Russell, Anthony Perkins, Julie London, Robert Mitchum, Sophia Loren, Henry Manciny, Jayne Mansfield, Telly Savalas, Hugo Montenegro, Twiggy, Richard Chamberlain, Ray Campi, Carl Parkins, Gene Ray, Laurel & Hardy, Gina Lollobridigda, Jerry Lewis, Fred Astaire, Val Kilmer, and dozens of others. CD

It's hard to believe that the German Infracom label has been around for 30 years – maybe because the label was so future-thinking at the start, they helped set the tone for so much music to come! And if you're not hip to Infracom, the collection's a chance to dig the label in all its glory – as the set is filled with cosmic soul and jazzy club tracks that still stand as some of the hippest work to come from overseas in the past few decades – music that we've dug for years at Dusty Groove, served up in a package that really does justice to the label's legacy! Titles include "Freedom" by Gabriele Poso, "Hot Pot" by Mop Mop, "Who's Sorry Now" by Nekta, "Smoke & Regret" by Rime, "The Accessory" by Taxi, "Driver (Joash rmx)" by Matthias Vogt Trio, "Herbie's Delight" by Valique, "Love Is A State Of Mind" by Jhelisa, "Celebration Of Life" by Woodland Conclave, "You Can Dig" by Metropolitan Jazz Affair, "Tears" by Re:Jazz, "Calling" by Aromabar, "La Seule Fleur Dans Le Jardin" by Kosma, and "Something's Missing" by Dublex. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest collections of grooves you might ever hope to own – a batch of tracks that come from the unlikely prog underground in the UK – but which are full of heavy basslines, riffing guitars, and funky drums! A few years earlier, the UK scene was in love with American soul and blues – which came through in famous straighter recordings of those modes overseas – but by the time of these tracks, the scene had really found its own vibe – stretching out in ways that were famously filled-out, yet still influenced strongly by more soulful modes in all the right ways! The result is a wonderful blend of soaring instrumentation, sometimes trippy production, and very groovy rhythms – sort of the hybrid that you were getting in America by groups like Chicago or Santana, but served up here by some much more obscure underground acts. The 3CD set is a fantastic overview of this wonderful moment – and features 58 tracks, along with a big booklet of notes. Titles include "The Bitch" by Gasoline Band, "Somethin You Got" by Second Hand, "Home Is Where I Belong" by Quicksand, "He's Gonna Step On You Again" by John Kongos, "Bad Times" by Paladin, "Travelling Like A Gypsy" by Hanson, "I'm A Thief" by Juicy Lucy, "So Many People" by Skin Alley, "3D Mona Lisa" by Paul Brett Sage, "One Way Glass" by Trifle, "Wake Up My Children" by Siren, "The Devil Made Me Do It" by Curtis Knight Zeus, "Drinking My Wine" by Hardin & York, "Little Message" by Jody Grind, "Eyeballs" by Blue Mink, "Celebration" by Chillum, "Weren't Born A Man" by Dana Gillespie, "I Saw An Angel" by Pentangle, "Libel" by Hard Stuff, "Pigs Foot" by Pesky Gee, "I'm A Man" by The Web, and "Indian Rope Man" by Noir. CD

There's plenty of R&B Christmas collections on the market, but this is one of the best – a really well-done collection that goes way past the over-played hits, and features some really rare treasures in the genre! Although a holiday set, this one's put together with the same depth and care of Ace Records' usual rare soul collections – and features a well-chosen batch of obscure singles, mostly from the west coast and Memphis scenes of the 50s – all supported by great notes, top-shelf packaging, and a really overstuffed set list! Titles include "Christmas Celebration" by BB King, "Santa Claus Baby" by The Voices, "White Hot Christmas" by The Elves, "I Wanna Spend Christmas With You" by Lowell Fulsom, "I Want You With Me Christmas" by Jesse Belvin, "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus" by Oscar McLollie & The Honey Jumpers, "Crazy Santa Claus" by The Debonaires, "Gonna Have A Merry Xmas" by The Nic Nacs, "Merry Christmas Baby" by Mari Jones, "Christmas Bells" by Bobby Nunn, and "Xmas Baby" by Riff Ruffin. LP, Vinyl record album

Funky nuggets galore – and a fair bit of righteous numbers too – all brought together in celebration of one of the hippest record labels of the early 70s! Flying Dutchman was around for just a bit over five years – yet during that time, the label recorded all sorts of really wonderful music – a mixture of jazz, soul, funk, and other styles that really helped push the envelope at the time – as it took the torch from older labels like Impulse or Prestige, and really continued a big wave of new sounds and groovily experimental music! You'll no doubt recognize some of the cuts here – but the collection does a great job of digging deeper past the Flying Dutchman hits – bringing together some real surprises that showcase the way that the company was trying so many cool things at once, and creating music that's still the stuff of legends many years later. Titles include "Head Start" by Bob Thiele Emergency, "Peaceful Man" by Esther Marrow, "Mama Soul" by Harold Alexander, "Soulful Strut" by Steve Allen, "Heavy Soul Slinger" by Pretty Purdie, "Echoes" by Leon Thomas, "See Saw Affair" by Cesar, "Expansions" by Lonnie Liston Smith, "Bolivia" by Gato Barbieri, "125th Street & 7th Ave" by Oliver Nelson, "Whitey On The Moon" by Gil Scott-Heron, "Echoes" by Leon Thomas, and "Lament For John Coltrane (take 1)" by Bob Thiele. CD

A second set of material issued in celebration of the legendary Wattstax concert by Stax Records in LA in 1972 – and a set that mostly features material from the famous show at the Los Angeles Coliseum, but also includes some sly studio material that was pumped up with applause to fit nicely into the mix! Richard Pryor acts as the MC – although his tracks weren't recorded at the actual concert – and as with the original album, there's a mixture of some self-contained "show" passages here, plus individual songs by other artists too! David Porter delivers a mighty batch of tracks that include "Reach Out & Touch", "Ain't That Loving You", and "Can't See You When I Want To" – followed by a Johnnie Taylor show that includes "Steal Away", "Stop Doggin Me", and "Jody's Got Your Girl & Gone". Other live material includes work by Rance Allen Group, Kim Weston, Jimmy Jones, and The Golden 13 – augmented by additional cuts from The Emotions, Mel & Tim, and Little Milton too! LP, Vinyl record album

A second set of material issued in celebration of the legendary Wattstax concert by Stax Records in LA in 1972 – and a set that mostly features material from the famous show at the Los Angeles Coliseum, but also includes some sly studio material that was pumped up with applause to fit nicely into the mix! Richard Pryor acts as the MC – although his tracks weren't recorded at the actual concert – and as with the original album, there's a mixture of some self-contained "show" passages here, plus individual songs by other artists too! David Porter delivers a mighty batch of tracks that include "Reach Out & Touch", "Ain't That Loving You", and "Can't See You When I Want To" – followed by a Johnnie Taylor show that includes "Steal Away", "Stop Doggin Me", and "Jody's Got Your Girl & Gone". Other live material includes work by Rance Allen Group, Kim Weston, Jimmy Jones, and The Golden 13 – augmented by additional cuts from The Emotions, Mel & Tim, and Little Milton too! LP, Vinyl record album

Miche's at it again – and he's somehow managed to top the great sound of the first volume in the series – digging deeper into the past, coming up with more soulful numbers overall, then throwing in just the right touch of Brazilian grooves to even things out! As before, there's no unifying label or scene to these tracks – they're just brought together in celebration of a really joyous, positive, uplifting vibe – one possessed by each track alone, but which really steps out strongly as they all resonate together! Titles include "Save The Best For Last" by Alice Cohen & Fun City, "You & Me" by Mark Meadows, "Take To The Sky" by Mixed Generation Enterprize, "I Like What She's Doing" by Billy Boomer, "Straight Forward" by PJ City, "Realize" by Maxwell, "High On You" by Freedom, "Blow My Mind" by The Lost Family, "As" by The Family Tree, "A Luz Que Brilha Meu Viver" by Banda 22, "Misterio Brilhante" by Ze Da Lata, "Then I Reach Satisfaction" by Eleventh Commandment, and "Dame Solamente Amor" by Rogers Mitchell. CD

A really cool collection of cuts that we might never have encountered otherwise – all brought together in celebration of 20 years of work from the If Music shop, who clearly just keep on refining their ears over the years! There's so many cuts here that fall in a special space between familiar genres – jazzy instrumentation mixed with folksy vocals, electronic rhythms mixed with warmer instrumentation, ethnic instrumentation fused with jazzy expression, and blends that really keep things interesting throughout – especially as most of these cuts are nice and long, and really explore the ideas at their core! Titles include "We Are Not Invisible" by Ola Szmidt, "Big Kalimba" by Greetje Bijma Kwintet, "Fidji" by Christine Schaller, "Sunday Sea Improvisation" by Tamar Osborn, "Fall In To Me (alt version)" by Emanative & Liz Elensky, "Turkish Showbiz" by Atilla Engin Group, "Dennison Point" by Tenderlonious, and "At The Speed Of Light" by Sarathy Korwar. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest recordings we've heard from pianist Dave Burrell in recent years – a series of stunning duets with trombonist Steve Swell! Like some of Burrell's wonderful work from decades back, the style is loose and somewhat free, but also has a sense of rhythm and forward-moving action – some vague modal impulse that has Dave spinning out these waves of pianistic sound that are instantly compelling – while Swell blows over the top in styles that range from tuneful and melodic, to much more free and bracing. All titles are Burrell originals, and tracks include "Fancy Trade Nightmare", "Battle At Vicksburg", "Battle At Gettysburg", "Church Picnic Celebration", and "One Nation". CD

This may well be THE Christmas album of the 20th century – a 50s issue of 40s singles cut by Der Bingle, packaged in a cover with a classic cover image that's ensured that the record stayed in print for dozens of Decembers in years to come! Given that Bing virtually owned Christmas on TV during the 50s, 60s, and 70s, the album's place in popular music is well-earned – and honestly, Bing's "aw shucks, I'm just reg'lar folks" sort of approach to these tunes really helped create a kind of common man secular side to the Holidays that forever transformed America's celebration of the season. Or maybe we're going to far with this one . . . But whatever the case, the album's a standard, and one we were certainly raised on. Titles include "Silver Bells", "Jingle Bells", "Silent Night", "White Christmas", "Adeste Fideles", "Faith Of Our Fathers", "I'll Be Home For Christmas", and "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". LP, Vinyl record album

This may well be THE Christmas album of the 20th century – a 50s issue of 40s singles cut by Der Bingle, packaged in a cover with a classic cover image that's ensured that the record stayed in print for dozens of Decembers in years to come! Given that Bing virtually owned Christmas on TV during the 50s, 60s, and 70s, the album's place in popular music is well-earned – and honestly, Bing's "aw shucks, I'm just reg'lar folks" sort of approach to these tunes really helped create a kind of common man secular side to the Holidays that forever transformed America's celebration of the season. Or maybe we're going to far with this one . . . But whatever the case, the album's a standard, and one we were certainly raised on. Titles include "Silver Bells", "Jingle Bells", "Silent Night", "White Christmas", "Adeste Fideles", "Faith Of Our Fathers", "I'll Be Home For Christmas", and "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas". CD

The third in Led Zeppelin's spectacular run of early albums – each one either matching or topping its predecessor, depending on one's personal favorite – and a record with an influence that's as massive as the sound! The record's got a pair of of Zep's best-remembered songs in "Immigrant Song" and their take on the traditional "Gallows Pole", but the whole thing is great – and a great balance of their earlier bombast with a lot more acoustic moments. Other tracks include "Friends", "Celebration Day", "Tangerine" and "Hats Off (To Roy Harper)". LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant standout in a late 60s world of blues rock – a set that goes way beyond what most of Steve Miller's contemporaries were doing at the time – to find a brave new world that's all its own! As before, the drums are key to the group's sound – harder and funkier than most of their contemporaries – with a propulsive energy that really pushes the group past any sort of sleepy cliches, and allows Miller to grab a whole host of other influences, and manage to forge them into the sound. Tim Davis is the mighty man on the kit – really kicking it throughout – and the group also features work from future jazz singer Ben Sidran on keyboards, and an appearance by Paul McCartney on one track too! Titles include "Space Cowboy", "Got Love Cause You Need It", "Celebration Song", "In My Dark Hour", "Kow Kow", and "Brave New World". LP, Vinyl record album

Heavy-jamming Afro Funk from Osibisa – the group's first 2 albums, back to back in one 2 CD package! Osibisa were one of the most popular Afro Funk groups of their generation – with a globe-spanning influence that made them as well-received over here in the US as they were in their post-colonial UK home. The sound on both sets is great – and captures the group at their raw early best – when they were mostly fusing together bits of jazz and soul with African rhythms, and going for a groove that was lightly playful, and infused with a strong sense of joy and celebration! Titles include "Oranges", "Akwaaba", "Ayiko Bia", "The Dawn", "Y Sharp", "Survival", "Move On", "Rabiatu", and the group's classic "Music For Gong Gong". CD

Buddy certainly knew how to keep the customer satisfied – as you'll hear on this hip set of big band grooves, recorded by Buddy for Liberty Records in 1970, and issued here with a number of extra bonus cuts. The set's got Buddy working with a tight group of younger players, in a mode that's not exactly funky, but which owes a lot to the funking up of the big band scene that was going on during the late 60s. There's electric bass underneath most of the cuts, and bubbly organ emerges from the horns on a good number of titles. Tracks include "Groovin Hard", "The Juicer Is Wild", "Long Day's Journey", "Celebration", "He Quit Me", and more. CD

Miles away from the rougher, rootsier rock of their earlier work – and a great little club track with a catchy, poppy feel! The production is full, joyous, and soaring – just the kind of feel you'd hope for a tune in celebration of the mighty mighty weekend! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Second volume documenting the rich musical tradition of the Western African nation Burkina Fasso. Nine pieces in all, this set features more songs with balaphones, but also has numbers with flutes, gourd shakers, talking drums and the lutes heard on the other volume, and like that set features both vocal and instrumental songs. Includes "Allah Man Dogo", "Djongo", "Abdulai", "Fulani Ensemble", "Wenlega" and "Mossi Funeral Celebration". CD

There's plenty of R&B Christmas collections on the market, but this is one of the best – a really well-done collection that goes way past the over-played hits, and features some really rare treasures in the genre! Although a holiday set, this one's put together with the same depth and care of Ace Records' usual rare soul collections – and features a well-chosen batch of obscure singles, mostly from the west coast and Memphis scenes of the 50s – all supported by great notes, top-shelf packaging, and a really overstuffed set list! CD features 20 tracks in all – including "White Christmas" by Hadda Brooks, "Christmas Celebration" by BB King, "Christmas Time" by The Debonaires, "I Wanna Spend Christmas With You (parts 1 & 2)" by Lowell Fulsom, "My Christmas Baby" by Smokey Hogg, "White/Hot Christmas" by The Elves, "Santa Claus Boogie" by The Voices, "I Want You With Me Xmas" by Jesse Belvin, "God Gave Us Christmas" by Oscar McLollie & His Honey Jumpers, and "Christmas Bells" by Bobby Nunn. CD

Funky nuggets galore – and a fair bit of righteous numbers too – all brought together in celebration of one of the hippest record labels of the early 70s! Flying Dutchman was around for just a bit over five years – yet during that time, the label recorded all sorts of really wonderful music – a mixture of jazz, soul, funk, and other styles that really helped push the envelope at the time – as it took the torch from older labels like Impulse or Prestige, and really continued a big wave of new sounds and groovily experimental music! You'll no doubt recognize some of the cuts here – but the collection does a great job of digging deeper past the Flying Dutchman hits – bringing together some real surprises that showcase the way that the company was trying so many cool things at once, and creating music that's still the stuff of legends many years later. Titles include "Head Start" by Bob Thiele Emergency, "Peaceful Man" by Esther Marrow, "Mama Soul" by Harold Alexander, "Soulful Strut" by Steve Allen, "Heavy Soul Slinger" by Pretty Purdie, "Echoes" by Leon Thomas, "See Saw Affair" by Cesar, "Expansions" by Lonnie Liston Smith, "Bolivia" by Gato Barbieri, "125th Street & 7th Ave" by Oliver Nelson, "Whitey On The Moon" by Gil Scott-Heron, "Echoes" by Leon Thomas, and "Lament For John Coltrane (take 1)" by Bob Thiele. LP, Vinyl record album

Important early work from Jaki Byard – one of his first records as a leader, and a wonderful set of quirky piano trio tunes! Jaki's working here with Ron Carter on bass and Roy Haynes on drums – in a format that's similar to other trio records of the time, but which is really pushed to the limit by Byard's unique conception of the keys, and his unabashed ability to play well and whimsical at the same time! And by "whimsical", we're not saying "goofy", or "silly" – but really just are referring to Jaki's clearly unabashed love of all things musical – a joyous celebration of many strands of jazz, all coming together in a sound that's all his own! (Jaki worked often with Roland Kirk – and that's a good point of comparison.) Titles include "Cinco Y Quatro", "Giant Steps", "Garnerin A Bit", "To My Wife", and "Mellow Septet". CD

A double-live set, recorded at Madison Square Garden in 1970 – with titles that include "The End", "Peace Frog", "Celebration Of The Lizard", "Ship Of Fools", "Crawling King Snake", "Build Me A Woman", "Five To One", "Roadhouse Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderfully creative work from Pierre Dorge and his New Jungle Orchestra – a set that often features gentle, sensitive musical moments – although always handled with the sort of offbeat style we've come to expect from Dorge! Pierre is at the head of the group on guitar, and other instrumentation includes tenor, soprano sax, bass clarinet, trombone, piano, and trumpets – plus some nice use of percussion to help underscore the Africanist leanings of the rhythms. Dorge composed the album as a celebration of the elephant – and you can definitely hear that focus in the way the horns come together – often with a joyous sort of feel that reminds us a bit of the rare use of saxes in the work of Dollar Brand. Titles include "Oda Eugenia", "A Night In Hong Kong", "Malam Lagu", "Sunday In Zurich", "Wedding Music", "To Mr Dolphy", "Malamin Jobarteh", "Moonlight In The Woods", and "From The Same Tribe". CD

The title reads like a typo, but the album's a great set of smooth fusion from Freddie Hubbard – self-produced, and almost a summation of all the styles he'd mastered in the 70s! The session's never too over the top or too ambitious – just features Freddie working with a hip group in a laidback setting – blowing lean and mellow lines that almost take him back to his best CTI funk. The group features Billy Childs on keyboards, Hadley Caliman on tenor and flute, and some guest work by George Duke and Paulinho Da Costa – on titles that include "Skagly", "Rustic Celebration", "Happiness Is Now", and "Cascais". LP, Vinyl record album

Given Dino's talent for celebration, there's nobody else we'd rather spend Christmas with – a fact that's confirmed by this great little set! The package features 14 Holiday tunes – all recorded by Dino during his classic years at Capitol, and done in that laidback and boozy style that made just about any tune a pleasure when sung by Dean. Titles include "A Marshmallow World", "Jingle Bells", "Blue Christmas", "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm", "Winter Wonderland", "Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow", "White Christmas", "Silent Night", "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer", and "Baby It's Cold Outside". CD

A much groovier record than you might expect – hardly the older-styled jazz session normally associated with Jay McShann, and more of a wide-ranging session that brings in some great contemporary touches! The album's something of a celebration for Jay – and it features wonderful guest work from players who include Gerry Mulligan on baritone and soprano sax, Herbie Mann on flute and tenor sax, John Scofield on guitar, Doc Cheatham on trumpet, and Eddie Gomez on bass. A few tunes have an older Kansas City sort of swing, but others have a vamping groove that's really great – and these numbers really stand out in the set with some great solo moments. Titles include "Crazy Legs & Friday Strut", "Blue Feeling", "Jumpin The Blues", "Dickie's Dream", and "I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water". CD

A much groovier record than you might expect – hardly the older-styled jazz session normally associated with Jay McShann, and more of a wide-ranging session that brings in some great contemporary touches! The album's something of a celebration for Jay – and it features wonderful guest work from players who include Gerry Mulligan on baritone and soprano sax, Herbie Mann on flute and tenor sax, John Scofield on guitar, Doc Cheatham on trumpet, and Eddie Gomez on bass. A few tunes have an older Kansas City sort of swing, but others have a vamping groove that's really great – and these numbers really stand out in the set with some great solo moments. Titles include "Crazy Legs & Friday Strut", "Blue Feeling", "Jumpin The Blues", "Dickie's Dream", and "I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most beautiful albums we've ever heard from pianist Enrique Villegas – a celebration of his 60th birthday, and one that mixes these extended titles with spoken introductions in Spanish, all with a very laidback vibe! The record's one of the most relaxed, intimate sets we've ever heard from Villegas – recorded with a trio that includes Oscar Alem on bass and Osvaldo Lopez on drums, plus some flute and tenor from Ara Tokatlian. The music really defies any expectations you might have about Enrique from other records – with long meditations on "Free", "La Rosita", "Caminito", and "St Louis Blues". CD

There's plenty of R&B Christmas collections on the market, but this is one of the best – a really well-done collection that goes way past the over-played hits, and features some really rare treasures in the genre! Although a holiday set, this one's put together with the same depth and care of Ace Records' usual rare soul collections – and features a well-chosen batch of obscure singles, mostly from the west coast and Memphis scenes of the 50s – all supported by great notes, top-shelf packaging, and a really overstuffed set list! CD features 20 tracks in all – including "White Christmas" by Hadda Brooks, "Christmas Celebration" by BB King, "Christmas Time" by The Debonaires, "I Wanna Spend Christmas With You (parts 1 & 2)" by Lowell Fulsom, "My Christmas Baby" by Smokey Hogg, "White/Hot Christmas" by The Elves, "Santa Claus Boogie" by The Voices, "I Want You With Me Xmas" by Jesse Belvin, "God Gave Us Christmas" by Oscar McLollie & His Honey Jumpers, and "Christmas Bells" by Bobby Nunn. CD

Titles include "Christmas Celebration" by BB King, "It's Christmas" by Marvin & Johnny, "Let's Make Christmas Merry Baby" by Amos Milburn, "Silent Night" by Baby Washington, "It's Gonna Be A Lonely Christmas" by The Orioles, and "It's Christmas Time" by The Five Keys. LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of classic soul and R&B Holiday tunes on Kent – featuring "Merry Christmas Baby" by Charles Brown, "I Want You With Me This Christmas" by Jesse Belvin, "Christmas Time Is Coming" by Floyd Dixon, "It's Christmas" by Marvin & Johnny, "I Wanna Spend Christmas With You (parts 1 & 2)", and "Christmas Celebration" by BB King. LP, Vinyl record album

Miche's at it again – and he's somehow managed to top the great sound of the first volume in the series – digging deeper into the past, coming up with more soulful numbers overall, then throwing in just the right touch of Brazilian grooves to even things out! As before, there's no unifying label or scene to these tracks – they're just brought together in celebration of a really joyous, positive, uplifting vibe – one possessed by each track alone, but which really steps out strongly as they all resonate together! Titles include "Save The Best For Last" by Alice Cohen & Fun City, "You & Me" by Mark Meadows, "Take To The Sky" by Mixed Generation Enterprize, "I Like What She's Doing" by Billy Boomer, "Straight Forward" by PJ City, "Realize" by Maxwell, "High On You" by Freedom, "Blow My Mind" by The Lost Family, "As" by The Family Tree, "A Luz Que Brilha Meu Viver" by Banda 22, "Misterio Brilhante" by Ze Da Lata, "Then I Reach Satisfaction" by Eleventh Commandment, and "Dame Solamente Amor" by Rogers Mitchell. LP, Vinyl record album

With "Da Sh!t Ya Can't Fuc Wit", "Fa All Y'All", "Fire It Up", "Celebration time", "Funkdafied", "May Da Funk Be Wit 'Cha", "Ain't No Thang", "Come And Get Some", "Mind Blowin'" and "Give It 2 You". LP, Vinyl record album

She's got short blonde hair, in the manner of Doris Day in the 60s – but Barbara Dane is a much hipper singer – and one who can really live up to the promise made by the title of this collection! Dane emerged in the folk revival boom of the late 50s, but right from the start she was something completely different – almost as much of a blues singer as a folk artist – able to sing those modes in a completely unabashed, unself-conscious way – without any hoke at all, at a level that most other white female singers wouldn't take up until a decade later. This 2CD collection spans the full gamut of Dane's work, and is very heavy on her late 50s and 60s recordings for Folkway Records – with some surprisingly strong inclusions from later years too – a really great celebration of her unique genius. 38 tracks in all – including "Mama Yacey's Advice", "Come By Here", "It Isn't Nice", "I Am A Weary & Lonesome Traveler", "Mill Worker", "Song Of The Coat Maker", "Join The GI Movement", "Ballad Of Richard Campos", "I Don't Want Your Millions Mister", "Mother Earth", and "Study War No More". CD

An incredible record – with a great performance, and the ultra-creepy long version of "Celebration Of The Lizard"! CD