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Al Cohn is one of those players who continued to stay great, even as the years went on – still growing and developing his amazing skills on tenor, although often without all the flair and fanfare of his contemporaries! But when Cohn got the right setting to show his skills, he could really take off – as he does in this overlooked gem for Concord Records – an album that really lives up to the promise of its title! Al blows these long, creative solos that don't hit you over the head at first, but really continue to amaze as they move along – and he's got some very sympathetic backing on the set, from a trio that features Herb Ellis on guitar, Monty Budwig on bass, and Jimmie Smith on drums. Titles include "O Grande Amor", "Russian Lullaby", "When Your Lover Has Gone", "I Remember You", and "When Day Is Done". CD

Chick Corea on piano, Christian McBride on bass, and Brian Blade on drums. CD

Chick Corea on piano, Christian McBride on bass, and Brian Blade on drums. CD

An all-acoustic trio date – with Corea on piano, Stanley Clarke on double bass, and Lenny White on drums – plus guest vocals from Chaka Khan! CD

One of the most perfectly realized albums during Jesse Davis' run of records for Concord – a set that beautifully balances his tender inner soul with the sharpness of his horn – all while always keeping things swinging! The core group features Jesse's alto with Mulgrew Miller on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums – a rhythm section that definitely keeps things on track throughout – although a few cuts also feature Tyler Mitchell on bass and Eric McPherson on drums – with some nice guest tenor from Antoine Roney. Titles include "CP Time", "Stop & Go", "Lil Mac", "Violets For Your Furs", "Testimonial", and "Cat Talk". CD

Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, Jack Hanna on drums, Plas Johnson on tenor saxophone, Harry Sweets Edison on trumpet, and George Duke on piano. CD

Herb Ellis on guitar, Ross Tompkins on piano, Monty Budwig on bass, and Jake Hanna on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

The Concord label gave guitarist Herb Ellis some of his greatest moments of the 70s – like this early cooker with guitarist Joe Pass – recorded live at the Concord Jazz Festival that gave the label its name! The 1973 performance has both players really opening up – never overwhelming each other, but driving with energy right from the start, then spacing out their own territory strongly on the solos. Backing is from bassist Ray Brown and drummer Jake Hanna – but the record leaves lots of room for guitar throughout – with tones and moments from both players that are a real surprise. Titles include "Seven Come Eleven", "Prelude To A Kiss", "Perdido", "Easy Living", and "Concord Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Born On The Bayou", "Bad Moon Rising", "Centerfield", "Who'll Stop The Rain", "Rambunctious Boy", "Fortunate Son", "Lookin' Out My Back Door", "Up Around The Bend", "Almost Saturday Night (Live)", "Down On The Corner", "Bootleg (Live)", "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?", "Sweet Hitch-Hiker", "Hey Tonight (Live)", "The Old Man Down The Road", "Rockin' All Over The World (Live)", "Lodi", "Keep On Chooglin' (Live)", "Green River", "Deja Vu (All Over Again)", "Run Through The Jungle", "Hot Rod Heart", "Travelin' Band", "Proud Mary", and Fortunate Son (Live)". CD

A limited package of reworked tracks from the great Source album from London saxophonist Nubya Garcia! The cuts here are often handled by artists as jazz-sensitive as Garcia herself, which makes the whole thing way more than just some beats thrown behind instrumentation – as you'll hear on titles that include "The Message Continues (Mark De Clive Lowe rmx)", "Source (Makaya McCraven rmx)", "Stand With Each Other (Tahira rmx", and "Together Is A Beautiful Place To Be (Shy One rmx)". LP, Vinyl record album

Recorded live at the Glasgow International Jazz Festival and Musikhusit Aarhus in Copenhagen –with Kenny Barron, Ray Drummond, and Ben Riley! CD

Stan Getz on tenor, accompanied by Kenny Barron on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Ben Riley on drums. Tracks include "Joanne Julia", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "Yesterdays", and "People Time". CD

Stan Getz on tenor saxophone, Jim McNeely on piano, George Mraz on bass, Victor Lewis on drums, and Chet Baker on trumpet. CD

A nice set by Diz at the 1965 Monterey Jazz Festival – backed by a great group of players – released here for the first time ever! The set opens with a fiery day after, and the set takes some equally hard charging turns plus some relaxed moments, too – and includes some surprises, too. Big Black is killing it on congas for this set – and the other players include James Moody on flute and tenor, Kenny Barron on piano, Christopher White on bass and Rudy Collins on drums. Other titles include "Trinidad, Goodbye", "Poor Joe", "Night In Tunisia", "Ungawa" and "Gega De Saudade (No More Blues)", plus a fun comedy sketch in the middle. CD

Benny Golson's one of those players who never lets us down – and here, into his 80th year in on the planet, the man's still burning strongly and soulfully! The set's got a very solid, put-together sort of sound – the quality that's always made us seek out Golson albums of any vintage, amazed at the depth of feeling and richness of creativity that Benny can bring to even a simple sort of date. This one's definitely a cut above, though – self-produced by Golson, and featuring a lineup with Eddie Henderson on trumpet and flugelhorn, Steve Davis on trombone, Mike LeDonne on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Carl Allen on drums – all rock-solid players who help Benny flesh out his sound beautifully here, reaching some nice sensitive points at times, then sliding back into warmly soulful grooves. Al Jarreau guests with vocals on a version of "Whisper Not" – and other titles include "Verdi's Voice", "Uptown Afterburn", "Gypsy Jingle Jangle", "From Dream To Dream", "Grove's Groove", "L'Adieu", and "Love Me In A Special Way". CD

With Grappelli on violin and Fender Rhodes, Mike Gari and Martin Taylor on guitar, and Jack Sweing on bass. LP, Vinyl record album

Includes 20 tracks on 2 CDs and features work with Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Airto Moreira, George Mraz, Joe Lovano, Christian McBride, and others. CD

Jim Hall on guitar, Steve LaSpina on bass, and Akira Tana on drums. CD

Scott Hamilton on tenor, Dave McKenna on piano, Phil Flanigan on bass, and Jeff Hamilton on drums. CD

Scott Hamilton on tenor saxophone, with Bucky Pizzarelli on acoustic and electric guitar. CD

The double tenors of Hamilton and Tate are joined by Nat Pierce on piano, Monty Budwig on bass, and Chuck Riggs on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Gene Harris on piano, Frank Potenza on guitar, Red Holloway on tenor saxophone, Ernie Watts on alto and tenor saxophone, Jack McDuff on organ, Luther Hughes on bass, Paul Kreibich on drums, and Niki Harris on vocals. CD

With Ron Eschete on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and Jeff Hamilton on drums. Titles include "Blues For Jezebel", "This Masquerade", "Don't Be That Way", and "Listen Here". CD

An unusual large group recording from this legendary pianist from the Three Sounds – definitely done in a Basie mode, with Gene on piano – and other players who include Jon Faddis and Snooky Young on trumpets, Marshal Royal on alto, Bob Cooper on tenor, Jack Nimitz on baritone, Thurman Green and Garnett Brown on trombones, Herb Ellis on guitar, and Ray Brown on bass. CD

Don't let the cover put you off – as the album's got all the deep soul and subtle touches we've come to love in the music of Stefon Harris over the years! There's just a slight urban undercurrent to the record, and if anything, the inventive rhythms and shifting instrumentation reminds us a lot of Harris' best albums for Blue Note over the past decade or so – a really creative reworking of the sound of vibes in jazz music – inspired strongly by the best artists on the instrument of the 70s, but tuned here with a newly modern edge. Marc Cary's on most tracks, playing both Fender Rhodes and acoustic piano – and Casey Benjamin plays alto sax on a number of tunes – although a few have a larger horn section joining in. Titles include "Gone", "Minor March", "Tanktified", "Christina", "Langston's Lullaby", "Blues For Denial", and "They Won't Go". CD

The Heath Brothers groove is nicely expanded by a set of added horns – all of whom bring a nice sense of fullness to the tracks, in a way that recalls some of Jimmy Heath's best arranging styles from years back! Jimmy's in the frontline on tenor and soprano sax, joined by Percy Heath on acoustic bass and cello, and Albert Heath on drums and percussion – and the rest of the combo features piano by Jeb Patton, trombone from Benny Powell, and 5 other brass players who deepen the tones and colors of the tunes quite nicely. There's a great choice of songs here too – a fair bit of Heath-penned tracks that show the thoughtful writing of Jimmy and his brothers – on tracks that include "A Harmonic Future", "I'm Lost", "13th House", "Move To The Groove", and "Three At Last" – plus a great take on Kenny Dorham's "None Shall Wander". CD

A heady set from these two longtime funk legends – Eric Krasno on guitar and Stanton Moore on drums – working in a tight trio that also features Eric Finland on Hammond, Wurlitzer, and Mellotron – all in a sharply soulful groove that definitely lives up to the legacy of both players! Krasno has a nicely sharp edge at times, which really rings out wonderfully in the lean setting – and although the trio get a few guest visits from Cory Henry, Branford Marsalis, and Robert Randolph, we like them best on their own. Titles include "Stay High", "Lost Cause", "Fever", "Nobody's Baby", "Carried Away", "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free", and "A Natural Woman". CD

A heady set from these two longtime funk legends – Eric Krasno on guitar and Stanton Moore on drums – working in a tight trio that also features Eric Finland on Hammond, Wurlitzer, and Mellotron – all in a sharply soulful groove that definitely lives up to the legacy of both players! Krasno has a nicely sharp edge at times, which really rings out wonderfully in the lean setting – and although the trio get a few guest visits from Cory Henry, Branford Marsalis, and Robert Randolph, we like them best on their own. Titles include "Stay High", "Lost Cause", "Fever", "Nobody's Baby", "Carried Away", "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free", and "A Natural Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Steve Kuhn on piano, David Finck on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums. CD

With Laurindo Almeida on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, Bud Shank on alto, and Jeff Hamilton on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

With Laurindo Almeida on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, Bud Shank on alto, and Shelly Manne on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

A real lost gem from the mid 70s – and one of the few albums ever recorded by the Harold Land/Blue Mitchell lineup! The group's got a warm fire that follows nicely off of Land's work with Bobby Hutcherson in the early 70s – but which also benefits from Mitchell's strongly flowing trumpet lines in the lead – and in a way, the set's almost got the feel of some of Mitchell's strong mid 60s sessions on Blue Note – soul jazz, but inflected with a lyrical sense of freedom that really leaps out on the solos. Other members of the group include Reggie Johnson on bass, Kirk Lightsey on piano, and Albert Heath on drums – and titles include "Mapenzi", "Blue Silver", "Everything's Changed" and "Inner Voice". CD

Peter Leitch on guitar, Neil Swainson on bass, Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums, and special guest John Swana on trumpet and flugelhorn. CD

With Chuck Clark on tenor, John Halle on piano, Jeff Carney on bass, and Erik Von Buchau on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty sweet set from the legendary Ramsey Lewis – possibly his best in years – all original material performed with his impeccable trio! If title Songs From The Heart has you expecting smooth, commercial fluff, you'll be pleasantly surprised. It's exceptional trio jazz all the way. Lovely and tender, but precise and very moving material. It includes songs Ramsey wrote, quite surprisingly, for the Joffrey Ballet Company, and other pieces he wrote to perform with the Turtle Island Quartet. Straight forward, lyrical jazz from Ramsey's piano to your soul, backed masterfully by bassist Larry Gray and drummer Leon Joyce, plus some equally wonderful solo pieces. Titles include "To Know Her Is To Love Her", "Touching, Feeling, Knowing", "Clouds In Reverie", "The Spark", "Conversation", "The Way She Smiles", "The Glow Of Her Charm", "Long Before She Know", "Watercolors" and more. CD

Heady work from this supergroup on the London jazz scene – a moody electric ensemble that was initially put together to explore the music of Miles Davis, but who have a soaring sound that's very much all their own! If you know the work of some of the players in the lineup, you'll instantly recognize that you're in very genre-breaking territory – a world past conventional jazz, served up with contributions from Nubya Garcia and Shabaka Hutchings on saxes and flute, Theon Cross on tuba, Nikolaj Torp Larsen on electronics and melodica, Raven Bush on violin and electronics, Dave Okumu on guitar, Benji B on turntables and "sonic recycling", and Tom Skinner and Dan See on drums and percussion. The set was put together by Martin Terefe, who also plays guitar in the group – and the whole thing really takes off from early 70s Miles electric territory, on titles that include "Raven Flies Low", "Morning Prayers", "Bassics", "Miles Chases New Voodoo In The Church", and "London Brew". CD

Heady work from this supergroup on the London jazz scene – a moody electric ensemble that was initially put together to explore the music of Miles Davis, but who have a soaring sound that's very much all their own! If you know the work of some of the players in the lineup, you'll instantly recognize that you're in very genre-breaking territory – a world past conventional jazz, served up with contributions from Nubya Garcia and Shabaka Hutchings on saxes and flute, Theon Cross on tuba, Nikolaj Torp Larsen on electronics and melodica, Raven Bush on violin and electronics, Dave Okumu on guitar, Benji B on turntables and "sonic recycling", and Tom Skinner and Dan See on drums and percussion. The set was put together by Martin Terefe, who also plays guitar in the group – and the whole thing really takes off from early 70s Miles electric territory, on titles that include "Raven Flies Low", "Morning Prayers", "Bassics", "Miles Chases New Voodoo In The Church", and "London Brew". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Howard Aldren on guitar, plus special guests Chris Potter on alto sax and Ken Peplowski on tenor. CD

With Dick Oatts and Ken Peplowski on reeds, Randy Sandke on trumpet, and Frank Vignola on guitar. CD

Features Frank Wess on tenor sax and flute, plus Howard Alden on guitar. CD

Features Chris Potter on tenor saxophone and flute, and Conrad Herwig on trombone. CD

Features work from old music partners George Benson on guitar and Red Holloway on tenor! CD

A solo piano album – tracks include "Dream A Little Dream", "Me & My Shadow", "Shadow Of Your Smile", "Deep In A Dream", and "Shadow Land". CD

The title tips you off to the unique sound of the session – no bass at all in the group – just the tenor of Scott Hamilton, piano of Dave McKenna, and drums of Jake Hanna! LP, Vinyl record album

With Mary Fettig on alto saxophone. CD

Marian McPartland on piano, Rufus Reid on bass and Joe Morello on drums. CD

Marian McPartland on piano – with Jerry Dodgion on alto saxophone, Steve La Spina on bass, and Joey Baron on drums. CD

Piano duets by Marian McPartland and Willie Pickens – recorded live at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase in Chicago. CD

A solo piano recital – tracks include "The Man I Love", "You've Changed", "Money Blues", "A Cottage For Sale", and "Soft Winds". CD

With Remo Palmier on guitar, Lou Levy on keys, Ray Brown on bass, and Jake Hanna on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

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Solo guitar by Joe Pass – a beautiful little album that's a perfect showcase for the new sensitivity in his music during his years at Pablo records! The Joe Pass heard here is light years away from the guitar player who made a few gimmicky records a decade before – and this album has Joe coming across with a gentle, but sophisticated approach to his instrument that we never would have expected in the past! Titles include "Night & Day", "My Old Flame", "Here's That Rainy Day", "Sweet Lorraine", "All The Things You Are", and "Round Midnight". CD

With Chris Potter and Mark Turner on saxophones, Danilo Perez on piano, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and others. CD

Michel Petrucciani on piano, Palle Danielsson on bass & Eliot Zigmund on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Snakey lines and some nicely dark corners from saxophonist Chris Potter – a set that shows off his skills on tenor, soprano sax, and bass clarinet – but, more importantly, one that also acts as a beautiful demonstration of his writing skills too! Potter's got a great way of mixing modern moments and soulful currents in his music – never getting too obtuse for his own good, and often holding onto an inherent rhythmic quality that really pulls us in – at least on a record like this! The rhythm section's nice and tight, but never uptight – with Brad Mehldau on piano, Larry Grenadier on bass, and Billy Hart on drums – and titles include "Rhubarb", "South for The Winter", "Nero's Fiddle", "Book Of Kells", "The Forest", and "Pelog". CD

A stone cooker from Tito Puente's great back to basics years of the 80s – a time when he was really moving towards the Latin jazz of his roots – working without any singers, or any contemporary gimmicks, and letting loose with tight combos and top-line jazz players! This set features Puente on vibes, timbales, and percussion – grooving nicely with the great Sonny Bravo on piano, whose bold lines definitely help shape the grooves – giving them plenty of New York 60s pulse, alongside work by Jimmy Frisuara on trumpet and trombone, Mario Rivera on soprano and tenor, and Ray Gonzalez on trumpet. Bobby Rodriguez handles bass, and Johnny "Dandy" Rodriguez brings in added percussion with congalero Jose Madara – and tracks include "Take Five", "Mambo Diablo", "Pick Yourself Up", "Eastern Joy Dance", "China", and "No Pienses Asi". LP, Vinyl record album

Proof that Tito Puente's later home at Concord Records was always a mighty nice fit – a move to a west coast outlet, which couldn't have been easy for the legendary New Yorker – but a place that always gave him a chance to cut no-nonsense Latin jazz sets like this! The group's got a bold, jazzy vibe throughout – thanks to strong horn work from reedmen Mario Rivera, Bobby Porcelli, and Michael James Turre – plus twin trombonists Sam Burtis and Jeff Cressman, and trumpeters Ray Vega and Ite Jerez! The mighty Sonny Bravo handles piano, and Bobby Rodriguez is on bass – so Tito's groove here cooks nicely throughout, especially given the extra line of percussionists on the set. Titles include "Azu Ki Ki", "Old Arrival", "Enchantment", "Sakura Sakura", "Vaya Puente", and "Sun Goddess". CD

A late solo album – tracks include "Imitations", "Mack The Knife", "How Insensitive", "When A Woman Loves A Man", and "While We're Young". CD

Mel Torme accompanied by George Shearing on piano, and Brian Torff on bass. Tracks include "Born To Be Blue", "Manhattan Hoedown", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "It Might As Well Be Spring", and "Give Me The Simple Life". CD

As you can probably guess from the title, Carol Sloane and Clark Terry recreate some of the vocal magic of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong on Verve back in the 50s – but all in ways that are still quite fresh overall! The album's got a much more contemporary feel than you might expect – not in a modern way, but more in the way the trio's used behind the vocals, and the way the whole set's recorded – very much in the manner of some of the best Japanese sessions like this from the same time. Sloane's vocals really seem at the head of the set on most numbers, as Terry only vocalizes part of the time – and plays trumpet or flugelhorn at others, but not on every track. Other players include Bill Charlap on piano, Marcus McLaurine on bass, and Dennis Mackrel on drums – and titles include "Can't We Be Friends", "I Won't Dance", "Tenderly", "Blueberry Hill", "Moonlight In Vermont", "Stars Fell On Alabama", and "Autumn In New York". CD

Backed by the Gene Harris Quartet! CD

With Monty Alexander on piano, Ben Wolfe on bass, and Clyde Lucas on drums – plus special guests Hendrik Meurkens on harmonica and vibes, and Dick Oatts on flute and soprano sax. CD

A Fuego Vivo is a live septet set with the latin vibes master out front of Mark Levine on keys, the great percussionist Panco Sanchez on congas, and Gary Foster on alto and flute. It's a pretty atypically frenetic set for such a late date – with wonderfully tight, yet still quite jamming takes on "Serenita", "Ponco Con Dos Amigos", "Mindanao", "Tesoro", "Santo Domingo", "Naima" and "The Continental". LP, Vinyl record album

The title's a bit of a joke, given the image of money on the cover – but the album's a tight little set from this classic Basie tenorist, recorded with a largeish group that would have made his old boss proud! Frank keeps things upbeat and soulful on most tracks – mostly blowing tenor, but also some of his famous flute, and some alto sax too – in the company of players who include Cecil Bridgewater and Greg Gisbert on trumpet, Scott Robinson on saxes, Steve Turre on trombone, and Richard Wyands on piano. The best numbers are actually some of the more laidback ones – and the album features originals by Wess and Robinson that stand out from the rest of the tunes. Titles include "Little Esther", "Short Circuit", "And So It Is", "Listen To The Dawn", "Tryin To Make My Blues Turn Green", "Blues In The Car", "Surprise Surprise", and "Small Talk". CD

Music from Rosemary Clooney, Laurindo Almeida, Karrin Allyson, Scott Hamilton Quintet, Ali Ryerson, Tania Maria, the Great Guitars, Manfredo Fest, JoAnne Brackeen and Carlos Barbosa-Lima. CD

Music from Rosemary Clooney, Rickey Woodard Featuring Cedar Walton, The Frank Vignola Quintet, The Gene Harris Quartet, Mary Stallings, Poncho Sanchez, Scott Hamilton, Howard Alden And Ken Peplowski, Caribbean Jazz Project, George Shearing, Rob McConnell And The Boss Brass, and more. CD

Laurindo Almeida on guitar, Charlie Byrd on guitar, Joe Byrd on bass, and Chuck Redd on drums. CD

With Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar. CD