Democracy got a mighty challenge in 2020, and the Jazz At Lincoln Center group did as well – kept away from performing for a big part of the year, but able to finally regroup and give the world this wonderful suite of tracks composed by Wynton Marsalis! Over the years, Marsalis has become such a frontman and public figure, we sometimes forget that at the core, there's a great ear for creative music – both on the charts, and in performance – something that definitely comes to the forefront here as Wynton solos in a lineup that also features solo performances from Ted Nash on flute and alto, Elliot Mason on trombone, Walter Blanding on tenor and soprano, Dan Nimmer on piano, and Obed Calvaire on drums and percussion. The tunes on the set work together both as separate songs and a unified whole – give a spirit that's hopeful and majestic, on titles that include "Out Amongst The People", "Deeper Than Dreams", "Sloganize Patronize Realize Revolutionize", "It Come Round Gin", and "That's When All Will See". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible tribute to the legendary Strata Records in Detroit – performed by Jazzanova with a host of other guests – and at a level that's maybe the greatest thing the group has ever given us on record! The vibe here is a lot more Strata and spiritual than the style you'd expect from Jazzanova – as they take on tunes by label legends like Lyman Woodard, Kenny Cox, Sam Sanders, Maulawi, and other talents from the same Motor City underground of the 70s that gave the world Tribe Records. Instrumentation is a blend of Fender Rhodes and lots of live jazz work on flute, tenor, trombone, and trumpet – sometimes topped with vocals from Sean Haefeli, who really helps open up the soulful side of the tunes! Wonderful throughout, better than we might have even guessed – with titles that include "Joy Road", "Face At My Window", "Ortotundes", "Loser", "Scorpio's Child", "Creative Musicians", "Lost My Love", "Inside Ourselves", and "Saturday Night Special". CD

An incredible tribute to the legendary Strata Records in Detroit – performed by Jazzanova with a host of other guests – and at a level that's maybe the greatest thing the group has ever given us on record! The vibe here is a lot more Strata and spiritual than the style you'd expect from Jazzanova – as they take on tunes by label legends like Lyman Woodard, Kenny Cox, Sam Sanders, Maulawi, and other talents from the same Motor City underground of the 70s that gave the world Tribe Records. Instrumentation is a blend of Fender Rhodes and lots of live jazz work on flute, tenor, trombone, and trumpet – sometimes topped with vocals from Sean Haefeli, who really helps open up the soulful side of the tunes! Wonderful throughout, better than we might have even guessed – with titles that include "Joy Road", "Face At My Window", "Ortotundes", "Loser", "Scorpio's Child", "Creative Musicians", "Lost My Love", "Inside Ourselves", and "Saturday Night Special". LP, Vinyl record album

From our perspective in the 21st Century, the film career of director David Lynch is the stuff of legend – long and loudly hailed – yet for the man himself, the road to success was a long one – and even along the way, Lynch struggled with countless creative difficulties and personal issues that sometimes made the path between thought and expression a very long one! Here, Lynch himself recounts a lot of those years of struggle, with plenty of help from co-writer Kristine McKenna – who weaves together all sorts of material from dozens of interviews with people in Lynch's life and career, both personal and professional – voices that are added to David's own to provide a very illuminating picture of the real world that's obscured by the cinematic image. Hardcover edition is 577 pages, with many black and white images throughout. Book

Free jazz, and lots lots more – a lost nugget from an especially creative period in the Dutch scene, headed up by cellist Tristan Honsinger! At some level, the music echoes other improvised work by Honsinger – but at others, it also reflects the criss-crossing of genres and scenes that were taking place during these key years – a point after which free jazz had established itself, post-punk had opened up new waves of expression, too-prog tendencies had settled down, and the higher art world had opened their arms to embrace them all! The songs are both instrumental, and feature occasional vocals from Tiziana Simona Vigni – whose role with the sextet is not unlike some of Irene Aebi's performances with Steve Lacy, although maybe a bit more freewheeling and open-ended – more in a Recommended Records vein – a label that might have been a good home for this set, were it not issued by Data Records. In additional to Honsinger on cello and additional voice, the record also features Toshinori Kondo on trumpet, Jean-Jacques Avenel on bass, Sean Bergin on saxes, and Michael Vatcher on percussion – on titles that include "Quandro Era Estate", "Picnic", "Violets", "Teeth", "Orient Express", "Laly", "Romy", and "After The Rain". CD

A fantastic new chapter in music from Cecile McLorin Salvant – a singer who's only been with us for a little more than a decade, has already gotten a Grammy and a MacArthur Genius Grant – yet hasn't let that stop her from being even more creative than ever! Cecile's still very much a jazz singer at the core, but there's also an expressive range here that we might never have guessed on her earlier records – and that's saying a lot, as those albums really blew us away! The singer's really breaking out of just the world of jazz vocals here – rising with star power, ala Gregory Porter or Esperanza Spaulding – but also maybe going deeper at the same time too. Titles include a surprising remake of "Wuthering Heights", plus "Thunderclouds", "Unquiet Grae", "Moon Song", "Trail Mix", "The World Is Mean", "Obligation", "Optimistic Voices/No Love Dying", "I Lost My Mind", and "Dead Popular". CD

A fantastic new chapter in music from Cecile McLorin Salvant – a singer who's only been with us for a little more than a decade, has already gotten a Grammy and a MacArthur Genius Grant – yet hasn't let that stop her from being even more creative than ever! Cecile's still very much a jazz singer at the core, but there's also an expressive range here that we might never have guessed on her earlier records – and that's saying a lot, as those albums really blew us away! The singer's really breaking out of just the world of jazz vocals here – rising with star power, ala Gregory Porter or Esperanza Spaulding – but also maybe going deeper at the same time too. Titles include a surprising remake of "Wuthering Heights", plus "Thunderclouds", "Unquiet Grae", "Moon Song", "Trail Mix", "The World Is Mean", "Obligation", "Optimistic Voices/No Love Dying", "I Lost My Mind", and "Dead Popular". LP, Vinyl record album

Jimmy Smith live was a killer – especially in the early days, when this one was recorded! Back in the late 50s, when Jimmy was shocking the world with his fantastically creative approach to the organ, Blue Note cut some of the first strong-selling live albums by following Jimmy to the clubs – where he would really let loose with some incredible work on the Hammond B3. The albums recorded that time shine far brighter than Jimmy's studio work – as Smith really opens up on nice long tracks, working with his trio that features Eddie McFadden on guitar and Donald Bailey on drums. Titles on this first volume include "After Hours", "My Funny Valentine", "Slightly Monkish", and "Laura". CD

Jimmy Smith at the organ – and already very much at the top of his game – as an early record like this not only exposed the world to the talents of the young keyboard wizard, it also helped the Hammond find a whole new place in the world of jazz! The set's one of a flurry of crucial recordings that Smith made for Blue Note in 1957 – and it features long tracks that are very much in the raw, open, solo-filled style that Jimmy was doing in the clubs on the east coast scene – graced with superb work from Lou Donaldson on alto sax, Kenny Burrell on guitar, and Art Blakey on drums! The solos are pretty free, and wonderfully creative – and titles on this volume include "Summertime", "All Day Long", and "Yardbird Suite". CD

Speed, space, and plenty more – all going on in the hands of a quartet led by drummer Masahiko Togashi – a Japanese player who's at his most youthfully creative on this album! Togashi was part of a new generation of musicians on his scene who were moving past conventional jazz modes – not just the free jazz styles that European improvisers were bringing to the music, but also maybe a more organic approach that was years ahead of its time, and not as widely recognized by the rest of the world until many years later. Togashi himself plays a big range of percussion instruments and vibes next to his drums – and the rest of the group features the great Masahiko Sato on piano, Mototeru Takagi on tenor and bass clarinet, and Yoshio Ikeda on bass – all moving effortlessly through a variety of modes of expression, on titles that include "Presage", "Speed & Space", "Expectation", and "Panorama". LP, Vinyl record album

The continuing genius of the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band – a group who are certainly as experimental as their name would imply, but who can also come across with some warmer Sunshine Pop touches too! And it's that which makes the group so wonderful – the blend of freak and sweet, of fuzz and fun – all given a special shape in the studio through the genius of producer Jimmy Bowen, whose work here with Bob Markley is superb – and very much open to the best freedoms that Warner was offering its creative talents at the time! The song titles are equally superb – and titles include "A Child's Guide To Good & Evil", "Ritual #1", "Anniversary of World War III", "Eighteen Is Over The Hill", "As Kind As Summer", and "Our Drummer Always Plays In the Nude". LP, Vinyl record album

The box takes its name from a Red Noise song issued in 1979 – and the collection features a whole host of other crucial tracks from that important year in the British music scene – a time when punk was already fading some of its initial glow, but opening the door for a whole host of new groups and creative styles to make their way into the world – as you'll hear here on this really well-collected batch of tracks from right at the tail end of the 70s! The work here is by artists who'd soon raise to greater fame, maybe just represented here by an initial single or two – mixed with others that left a big mark at the time, but maybe didn't have the longer staying power – a blend that's a great reminder of how dynamic the UK scene was at the time, and much more receptive to newcomers than some of the more bloated American music outlets in 1979. Styles move way way past punk – and the box features a whopping 75 tracks in all, with work by Glaxo Babies, Dead Fingers Talk, Jonnie & The Lubes, The Members, Joy Division, John Cooper Clarke, Magazine, Sham 69, Three Party Split, Tubeway Army, Teardrop Explodes, The Skids, Clash, Jags, Undertones, The Ruts, Jam, XTC, The Regents, Spizzenergi, Madness, The Monks, Vapors, The Pack, Disco Zombies, Swell Maps, and many others! CD

3rd volume, and the righteous 70's soul and funk tracks keep on coming! Titles include "World Is A Ghetto" by War, "Ike's Mood" by Isaac Hayes, "Trouble Man" by Marvin Gaye, "Love TKO" by Teddy Pendergrass, "Breakout" by Johnny Hammond, "Ironside" by Quincy Jones, "Move On Up" by Curtis Mayfield, "Who Is He & What Is He To You" by Creative Source, "Melting Pot" by Booker T & The MGs, "Westchester Lady" by Bob James, and lots lots more! 25 tracks in all. CD

A really great collection of work from the legendary BYG/Actuel label – home not just to the famous avant jazz recordings that have made the company a legend, but also a host of other unusual sounds that don't often get the exposure they deserve! This collection finally gives that full range of BYG sounds their due – as it mixes some of the avant classics from Paris at the end of the 60s with other freely creative work from the French scene – including some great contributions from British artists who were as unbridled at BYG as the American musicians were with their jazz material! The set features tracks from the key years of the catalog – titles that include "Le Nouveau Monde" by Alice, "Terrestrial Beings" by Don Cherry, "Ancient Ethiopia" by Sun Ra, "Ragalia" by Areski & Brigitte Fontaine, "Le Cocotier (part 2)" by Coeur Magique, "Dexterity" by Art Ensemble Of Chicago, "Time Of Your Life" by Daevid Allen, "Change The World" by Gong, and "Willing To Fight" by Aynsley Dunbar. LP, Vinyl record album

Those crazy Cramps are at it again – serving up an insane array of rare 45s with a really mad mix of styles – the kind of sounds that you might hear if you fell asleep and woke up in a world of b-movies and 60s exploitation flicks! The styles are hard to peg – you might almost say "The Cramps" – and give enough of a hint – and these are all the real deal – the kind of weird and wonderful 7" singles that were recorded by the thousands back when studios were cheap, pressing plants did heavy business, and every local scene seemed to have some completely creative combos and producers. The package features 42 tracks in all – and titles include "Spunky Onions" by Billy Davis & The Legends, "Tomahawk" by Tom Brown & The Tom Toms, "Mr Custer Stomp" by The Scouts, "Sleeping In A Car" by Tyrone Bracken, "Yabba Dabba Doo" by Frankie Davidson, "Like Spellbound" by Tarantulas, "Kan Gu Wa" by The Scholars, "The Ghost Hop" by Surfmen, "Space Monkey" by Lisa Anders & The Victory Five, "Cerveza" by Boots Brown, "Shot Rod" by Conny & The Bellhops, and "Upturn" by Eddie Smith & The Hornets. CD

A totally wonderful compilation – and a fantastic way to dip into the world of Japanese city pop – a genre that most of us missed back in the day, in large part because most of these records never made it to the record racks in the US! As fans know, the movement was a huge crest of creative activity in Japanese music – a way of refining some of the best modes begun in the 70s by artists like Haruomi Hosono and Ryuichi Sakamoto (both of whom have a hand in some of the tracks here) – and mixing in some of the long love of American soul, funk, and jazz that had been brewing up for years. There's definitely a lot of soul inspiration on these cuts, even though lyrics are in Japanese – and the music also has some nice electric fusion moments too – although more of the sounds are from beats, keyboards, and basslines. Titles include an early cut by Pizzicato Five, "Boy Meets Girl" – plus "Love Sick" by Mari Iijima, "Pub Casablanca" by Osamu Shoji, "Tropical Love" by Teresa Noda, "Scandal Night" by Miharu Koshi, "Heartbeat" by Miho Fujiwara, "Tonkachi" by Atsuko Nina, "Bewitched" by Naomi Akimoto, "A Soka" by Susan, "Suiyoubi Madeni Shinitaino" by Yukako Hayase, and "Business Man (part 1)" by Makoto Matsushia. LP, Vinyl record album

A much-needed look at the really magical world of music in France – a scene that's always seemed to exist in its own sort of space, especially during the late 70s/early 80s years when most of these tracks were recorded! The French scene had some famous free jazz at the start of the 70s, but there was also another strain of unique sounds that were beyond categorization or comparison – music that took some of the creative inspiration of jazz and turned it towards global sources, acoustic instruments, analogue electronics, and even French vocal styles – creating work that was not only years ahead of its time, but which also was often missed on the global market, because it was so hard to label and categorize! This set brings together some of the best of those moments – music that's maybe a great second step if you've already dug sounds on labels like Saravah or Futura/Marge – and the whole package is wonderful throughout – filled with titles that even we might have missed otherwise. Tracks include "Gaal" by Noco Music, "Les Crocodiles" by Catherine Derain, "Reve De Voyage" by Remy Couvez, "Sokoto" by Structures Sonores Lasry Baschet, "Loreley" by Pan Ra, "Mahabaratha Kali" by Adjenar Sidhar Khan, "Bujumbura Lyon" by Workshop De Lyon, "Arabia" by Dynamo, "Love Always" by Jef Gilson, and "Moving Waves" by Andre Fertier & Clivage. CD

The sounds here aren't that unusual at all – and in fact, they're mostly pretty darn groovy – a superb selection of sound library funk from the glory days of the European scene – collected here together in support of the book of the same name! In case you're new to the scene – the Euro sound library world of the 60s and 70s was a place where extremely creative musicians could come together and create their own sort of grooves without a worry for placement on the record charts – as most of these cuts were locked in the vaults, then licensed briefly for use on radio, TV, or commercials – which led to a few of these gems getting some famous, but anonymous play on classic cop or crime shows at the time. The compilation brings together some of the best examples of this scene – loads of cuts that have been our favorites over the years – a whopping 20 tracks that include "Half Forgotten Daydreams" by John Cameron, "Funky Fanfare" by Keith Mansfield, "Weeping Eelgrass" by Mladen Franko, "Mild Maniac" by Peter Patzer, "Dream Number Two" by Roland Hollinger, "Soft Wind" by Gary Pacific Orchestra, "Tropicola" by Stringtronics, "Survivor" by Klaus Weiss, "La Dimonstrazione" by Daniele Patucchi, "Feeling Tense" by Stefano Torossi, "Xenos Cosmos" by Janko Nilovic, "Night Breeze" by Franco Micalizzi, and "Fancy Good" by Electric Machine. CD

A really cool package, and one that goes past the easy old school hits from the early years of hip hop – and which instead brings together all these unusual strands of sound that really show how creative things were, right at the start! There's a number of tracks here that are a great surprise – nuggets we loved back in the day, and which spring to live here amidst other well-chosen tracks – all served up with the usual super-great notes and overall presentation we love from the Soul Jazz label. Many tracks have great basslines or boogie-styled grooves – from that moment when hip hop, funk, and soul were maybe more strong bedfellows than they would be a few years later – and themes are a nice mix of politics and partying, on titles that include "Get Live 83" by Carver Area High School Seniors, "Super Rock Body Shock" by Eye Beta Rock, "Street Talk" by Funky Constellation, "Do You Like That Funky Beat" by Kool Kyle The Starchild, "Jam To Remember" by Just Four, "Eei Eei O" by Silver Star, "Magic's Rap" by Magic's Trick, "Real Rocking Groove" by Chapter III, "To The Beat Y'All" by Sangrita, "Rappin & Rockin The House" by Funky Four Plus One More, "Do It Any Way You Wanna" by Mike T, and "Girls Of The World" by The Just Four. CD

A really cool package, and one that goes past the easy old school hits from the early years of hip hop – and which instead brings together all these unusual strands of sound that really show how creative things were, right at the start! There's a number of tracks here that are a great surprise – nuggets we loved back in the day, and which spring to live here amidst other well-chosen tracks – all served up with the usual super-great notes and overall presentation we love from the Soul Jazz label. Many tracks have great basslines or boogie-styled grooves – from that moment when hip hop, funk, and soul were maybe more strong bedfellows than they would be a few years later – and themes are a nice mix of politics and partying, on titles that include "Get Live 83" by Carver Area High School Seniors, "Super Rock Body Shock" by Eye Beta Rock, "Street Talk" by Funky Constellation, "Do You Like That Funky Beat" by Kool Kyle The Starchild, "Jam To Remember" by Just Four, "Eei Eei O" by Silver Star, "Real Rocking Groove" by Chapter III, "To The Beat Y'All" by Sangrita, "Rappin & Rockin The House" by Funky Four Plus One More, "Do It Any Way You Wanna" by Mike T, and "Girls Of The World" by The Just Four. LP, Vinyl record album

You might think of the BBC as a network that's given the world some pretty stodgy programs over the decades – but the broadcast giant has also been a real powerhouse for experimentation, especially in the new field of electronic music – and its BBC Radiophonic Workshop is every bit as creative as some of the sound labs over in the US and Europe! The work here is partly sound library music, but also features some great experimental analog work, with 107 tracks including titles like "Amphitryon 38", "Science and Industry", "Martian March Past", "Environmental Studies", "Radiophonic Rock", "The Demon Headmaster", "Assignment (Kofi Annan)", and perhaps most famously the theme from Doctor Who. CD

Anthony Braxton, recorded in Paris at the end of the 60s – but in the company of two very familiar talents from his hometown – Wadada Leo Smith on trumpet and Leroy Jenkins on violin! Unlike some of Braxton's other Paris recordings, there's a very strong Chicago vibe going on here – as both of the album's long tracks unfold with thoughtful, almost gentle improvisation at times – a very different current of spiritualism than the post-Coltrane world, with all players picking up other instruments at times – in that mode-shifting way that made the early AACM so wonderfully creative! The set features two side-long titles – "Silence" and "Off The Top Of My Head". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge creative leap forward for Common! Com had been slowly moving from a Chicago street poet role into a more universally conscious hip hop soul from record to record to this point, but Like Water For Chocolate is the one that really catapulted him deep into that realm – especially given the excellent, mood setting production of Jay Dee/J Dilla and The Soulquarians. For a little while there, we missed the rawer Relativity era vibe, and we didn't fall as head over heels for Like Water For Chocolate as the world at large did, but in hindsight, maybe we just weren't ready for it – it's easily amongst the best hip hop albums of the period. Titles include "The 6th Sense", "Cold Blooded", "Dooinit", "Geto Heaven Part Two" with D'Angelo, "Time Travelin' (A Tribute To Fela)", "Heat", "The Light", "Thelonius", "Payback Is A Grandmother", "Funky For You", "A Film Called (Pimp)", "Nag Champa (Afrodisiac For The World)", "The Questions" and "A Song For Assata". CD

One of the most consistently creative piano trios in the world today – a group who are always pushing the boundaries of their sound, strongly keeping away from familiar territory and tradition – yet always with a sense of swing and lyricism that continue to appeal to fans of more conventional jazz! EST aren't really ever that "out", but they're always stepping into unexpected space – odd sounds from the piano, noises you can't really place, and ways of blocking out a tune that are quite different than a regular trio session – but which also don't have the tricks or easy gimmicks of some of the jamband-oriented side of the jazz spectrum. Titles include "The Goldhearted Minor", "Beggar's Blanket", "Goldwrap", "Dolores In A Shoestand", "Fading Maid Postludium", and "Slipping On The Solid Ground". CD

The early 70s last hurrah for the Mamas & The Papas – rich harmonies and a surprisingly creative breadth of styles on this long-delayed final album! The Cali rock scene, and the world at large, where quite a different in 1971 than they were in the late 60s – and to the Mamas & The Papas credit, they're really not out to replicate past glories. The vocals are still sweet and soaring, and there's an upbeat vibe, but it's more laidback one. It's got a bit of an early 70s soft rock vibe, which we love! Includes "People Like Us", "Pacific Coast Highway", "Shooting Star", "European Bluebody", "I Wanna Be A Star", "Step Out", "Snowqueen Of Texas", ""No Dough", Blueberries For Breakfast" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

David Bowie is on the front cover of Mojo yet again – this time in celebration of his fantastic Aladdin Sane album, which arose in the wake of Ziggy Stardust! Don't tell the rest of the world, but we like Aladdin better than Ziggy – and the article really gets at the special blend of sounds that made the record so great, and which marked the moment as a key creative shift for Bowie. And as usual with Mojo, the cover article is just the start – as there's lots more on Big Star, Alan Hull, Burt Bacharach, U2, Everything But The Girl, and John Lydon – plus the 60th birthday of The Kinks, and the usual huge Mojo section of reviews and music news too! Magazine

Nas' debut LP masterpiece Illmatic – a record that will probably stand forever as one of the greatest hip hop full lengths of its time! Nas has had some creative ups-and-downs over the years, but nothing can take away the impact of this damn near perfect slice of east coast street hop – truly one of the great, filler free, beginning-to-end classics with not a wasted second! Part of the strength of the record is the top-shelf choice of production – work from DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock and Q-Tip – all of whom help the young Nas really find his voice with the right sort of vibe – on titles that include "NY State Of Mind", "Life's A B***h", "Half Time", "One Love", "Memory Lane", "Represent", "The World Is Yours", and "It Ain't Hard To Tell". LP, Vinyl record album

A set of varied moods and settings – yet one that really does a wonderful job of fleshing out the Sun Ra aesthetic during these crucial years when Ra dubbed himself the "King Of The Sub Underground"! That humorous title is a reference to the fact that Ra and the Arkestra were still working with largely little mainstream exposure – despite the big growth of avant jazz at the time – and were instead working on beautiful recordings like these, often made without any thought of a larger market at all! The CD brings together material from albums originally issued with Sub-Underground in the title – also under other names as well, including Temple U – and the tracks represent the Arkestra really hitting some of their creative heights in a mix of live, studio, and rehearsal recordings. Titles include the brilliant "World Of Africa", recorded in 1968, but with a chunky groove and weird piano that almost feel like a precursor to Fela Kuti; the sublime "Love Is Always" and "Song Of Drums", recorded live with a spare group in a beautifully echoey setting; surprisingly great takes on "What's New" and "Autumn In New York", played by a small group with Ra on a slightly off-tune upright piano; the long "Cosmo Earth Fantasy" suite, with some very fierce sounds; and a nice live take on "Space Is The Place/We Roam The Cosmos", which jumps right into the groove at the start – with a pretty offbeat feel, and lots of cool vocal interplay! CD

Jimmy Smith live was a killer – especially in the early days, when this one was recorded! Back in the late 50s, when Jimmy was shocking the world with his fantastically creative approach to the organ, Blue Note cut some of the first strong-selling live albums by following Jimmy to the clubs – where he would really let loose with some incredible work on the Hammond B-3. The albums recorded that time shine far brighter than Jimmy's studio work – as you'll hear in this great 2CD set that brings back the rare Groovin At Smalls vols 1 & 2, plus a whole bunch of unreleased material! There's a total of 13 tracks in all – many of them very very long – and all of them featuring Jimmy on organ, Eddie McFadden on guitar, and Donald Bailey on drums. A whopping batch of nice tracks – and titles include "After Hours", "Walkin", "My Funny Valentine", "Laura", "Slightly Monkish", and "The Champ". CD

Later era greatness from Sonic Youth – a record we love just as much as thier first couple major label efforts, perhaps even more so! Murray Street came about after the mainstream's kinda-sorta-almost welcoming of SY, a post-90s world where they'd reached art rock elder status, and were seemingly free to follow their creative whims on big ol' Geffen Records. Jim O'Rourke was a full on band member at this point, giving that much more of a soar to the guitar sounds, which have an almost Television-like way of mixing accessible melody and freeform atmoshere. Titles include "The Empty Page", "Rain On Tin", "Karen Revisited", "Plastic Sun", "Sympathy For The Strawberry" and more. CD

An amazing run of music – and key sounds from a time when the Chicago avant garde was finally getting its due in the mainstream! The set features all Novus and Columbia recordings from both the Air trio of Henry Threagill, Fred Hopkins, and Steve McCall – a seminal group from the AACM in the Windy City – and the later recordings made by Threadgill as a leader – featuring even more expansive ideas, and an impressive ear for larger compositions in jazz! The set spans nearly 20 years, and features material from 11 different albums, including some unreleased music too – titles that include the Air albums Open Air Suit, Montreux Suisse Air, and Air Lore – and Threadgill sessions X 75 Vol 1, You Know The Number, Easily Slip Into Another World, Rag Bush & All, Carry The Day, Makin A Move, and Where's Your Cup – plus the previously unissued Vol 2 for X 75. The Air sessions are very earthy and spontaneous – that wonderful creative interplay that marked the AACM legacy at the time. And the Threadgill records start the same way, but show lots of new ideas coming into play – with contributions from Joseph Jarman on reeds, Amina Claudine Myers on voice, Frank Lacy on trombone, Ted Daniel on trumpet, Deirdre Murray on cello, Fred Hopkins on bass, Pheeroan AkLaff on drums, Myra Melford on piano, and a host of other important musicians, all coming together under the leadership of Threadgill. Notes are great, and the 8 CD set features 52 tracks in all – most of them quite long in length! CD

A totally wonderful compilation – and a fantastic way to dip into the world of Japanese city pop – a genre that most of us missed back in the day, in large part because most of these records never made it to the record racks in the US! As fans know, the movement was a huge crest of creative activity in Japanese music – a way of refining some of the best modes begun in the 70s by artists like Haruomi Hosono and Ryuichi Sakamoto (both of whom have a hand in some of the tracks here) – and mixing in some of the long love of American soul, funk, and jazz that had been brewing up for years. There's definitely a lot of soul inspiration on these cuts, even though lyrics are in Japanese – and the music also has some nice electric fusion moments too – although more of the sounds are from beats, keyboards, and basslines. Titles include an early cut by Pizzicato Five, "Boy Meets Girl" – plus "Love Sick" by Mari Iijima, "Pub Casablanca" by Osamu Shoji, "Tropical Love" by Teresa Noda, "Scandal Night" by Miharu Koshi, "Heartbeat" by Miho Fujiwara, "Tonkachi" by Atsuko Nina, "Bewitched" by Naomi Akimoto, "A Soka" by Susan, "Suiyoubi Madeni Shinitaino" by Yukako Hayase, and "Business Man (part 1)" by Makoto Matsushia. CD

A totally wonderful compilation – and a fantastic way to dip into the world of Japanese city pop – a genre that most of us missed back in the day, in large part because most of these records never made it to the record racks in the US! As fans know, the movement was a huge crest of creative activity in Japanese music – a way of refining some of the best modes begun in the 70s by artists like Haruomi Hosono and Ryuichi Sakamoto (both of whom have a hand in some of the tracks here) – and mixing in some of the long love of American soul, funk, and jazz that had been brewing up for years. There's definitely a lot of soul inspiration on these cuts, even though lyrics are in Japanese – and the music also has some nice electric fusion moments too – although more of the sounds are from beats, keyboards, and basslines. Titles include an early cut by Pizzicato Five, "Boy Meets Girl" – plus "Love Sick" by Mari Iijima, "Pub Casablanca" by Osamu Shoji, "Tropical Love" by Teresa Noda, "Scandal Night" by Miharu Koshi, "Heartbeat" by Miho Fujiwara, "Tonkachi" by Atsuko Nina, "Bewitched" by Naomi Akimoto, "A Soka" by Susan, "Suiyoubi Madeni Shinitaino" by Yukako Hayase, and "Business Man (part 1)" by Makoto Matsushia. LP, Vinyl record album

A very open, spacious sort of set from the German jazz scene of the 70s – one that's very different than both the hard-driving fusion of the time, and some of the more free jazz-styled work from the avant garde! There's a lean lineup here – a group that features a variety of flutes from leader Dieter Bihlmaier, mixed with the bass of Jan Jankeje and drums and percussion of Gerhard Ziegler – plus added vibes from Gerhard Dietz on the second half of the record, which really helps the sound take off. Overall, there's almost a style that's in the more experimental, spiritual side of the MPS/Saba world, with a similar care for the overall sound and conception of the set – on titles that include "Arco Oriental", "Roulette", "Ovation", "Maskerade", "Polyp's Lullaby", and "Echoes". LP, Vinyl record album

A superb score from composer Paul Glass – one that's also augmented by a number of excellent cuts by The Zombies too! Glass' music has a rich, woodwind-heavy style that almost feels like it's drawing a bit on the music of Charles Ives, but with a warmer, more sympathetic feel – bursting with these beautiful little tones that echo alongside light string explorations too – sometimes with modern touches, sometimes more lyrical, but always beautifully creative! These titles include "Chocolates For Bunny", "A World Of Dolls", "Bunny", and The Empty House At Frogmore End". Then, on a completely different level, the Zombies tracks are wonderful too – obscure numbers by the group which kind of prefigure the sound of Odessey & Oracle – with heavenly vocals from Colin Blunstone, and superbly-crafted arrangements and production. Zombies titles include "Nothing's Changed", "Just Out Of Reach", and "Remember You". CD

Sublime sneering work from the great Richard Hell – a key album in the evolution of punk on the US scene! The record marks a huge shift after Hell left Television – harder, nastier sounds – almost on a par with the Dead Boys on Sire, but a bit more artistic too – especially given Hell's penchant for creative wordplay. The mighty Robert Quine is on guitar – and tracks include the seminal "Blank Generation" and "Love Comes In Spurts", plus "Liars Beware", "The Plan", Walking On The Water", and "Another World". CD

Sublime sneering work from the great Richard Hell – a key album in the evolution of punk on the US scene! The record marks a huge shift after Hell left Television – harder, nastier sounds – almost on a par with the Dead Boys on Sire, but a bit more artistic too – especially given Hell's penchant for creative wordplay. The mighty Robert Quine is on guitar – and tracks include the seminal "Blank Generation" and "Love Comes In Spurts", plus "Liars Beware", "The Plan", Walking On The Water", and "Another World". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge assortment of creative works from bassist Pascal Niggenkemper – a musician who really skirts the world of jazz and compositional music! Each CD here is fully packaged with its own artwork, and represents a different slice of Niggenkemper's music in a great way. CD1 is titled Beat The Odds – music for two cellos, two basses, amplifiers, and motors – with a sound that's really amazing! CD2 is titled Have You Ever Wondered – and features Pascal on bass with Corinne Salles on a carillon, and Ben LaMar Gay on trumpet, voice, and electronics. CD3 is titled La Vallee De L'Etrange – and features solo bass from Niggenkemper, but augmented in all these cool ways. CD4 is Le 7eme Continent Kipppunkt – with a group that features Joris Ruhl and Joachim Badenhorst on clarinets and amp, Liz Kosack and Philip Zoubek on clavicorde and electronics, and Julian Elvira on flutes and amp. CD5 is titled Levar Lenga – and has Pascal working in a larger group that mixes electronics, objects, and voice. And CD6 is titlee Revers Vers – and has Pascal's bass alongside a group of 8 voices – with some text by Jaumes Privat. The whole thing comes in a folded box, and is very limited. CD

Beautiful work from the glory days of the adult film – hundreds of posters that were used to publicize erotic cinema – often themselves a masterpiece in erotic aesthetics! Given that most of the posters were outside the theater, open to the public, there's a fair bit of hide and seek, teasing-type material here – at a level that's maybe even more creative than the images on the screen, especially when set to the typography and color filters of the late 60s/early 70s print world! The book features all posters in full color, and also intersperses some bits from magazines and other publications too – all at a level that's really playful, reveling in the style of the genre, while also poking a slight bit of fun. Graham Marsh was the art director, and you may know his name from a number of excellent album cover books – and overall, most images are softcore at best, with a small amount of nudity – although there are some heavier images from time to time. 352 pages, hardcover, and in full color. Book

You might think of the BBC as a network that's given the world some pretty stodgy programs over the decades – but back in the 60s, the broadcast giant was a real powerhouse for experimentation in the new field of electronic music – famous for its BBC Radiophonic Workshop, which was every bit as creative as some of the sound labs over in the US and Europe! The work here is partly sound library music, but also works equally well alongside experimental analog work – and the package features 30 short tracks that move between space moments to more jarring ones – served up by a few of the key giants of the field! Titles include "Radio Sheffield", "Artbeat", "War Of The Worlds", "Crossbeat", and "Autumn & Winter" by David Cain; "Radio Nottingham", "Boys And Girls", "Time And Tune", "Milky Way", and "Fresh Start" by John Baker; and "Mattachin", "The Delian Mode", "Door To Door", "Air", and "Blue Veils & Golden Sands" by Delia Derbyshire. LP, Vinyl record album

A great run of work from legendary drummer Ed Blackwell – pulled together from his creative projects for the Black Saint/Soul Note label! The set features two albums from the Old & New Dreams group – Old & New Dreams and Tribute To Blackwell – both of them great! Like Blackwell, the other members of the group all were once associates of Ornette Coleman – an all-star combo that features work from Don Cherry on pocket trumpet, Dewey Redman on tenor, Charlie Haden on bass, and Ed Blackwell on drums! The sound is quite Ornette-inspired at times – with a definite late 70s harmelodic groove – but given the organic, acoustic nature of the lineup, the sound is almost more faithful to Coleman's vision than Ornette's records of the time. The album also features a compelling trio date – Transit – with Karl Berger on vibes, Dave Holland on bass, and Blackwell on drums. In Willisau features wonderfully soulful duets – with Dewey Redman on tenor next to Blackwell's drums – and the Walls/Bridges album features a trio with Redman, Blackwell, and Cameron Brown on bass. The set also features Morning Song – recorded under the leadership of David Murray – one of Murray's straighter sides from the early 80s, and exactly the kind of record to prove to the world that he could be a strong tenor traditionalist while still bringing an inventive sound to play! Murray's tone is deep and soulful, and often quite lyrical – set nicely in a quartet that features warm piano from John Hicks, bass from Reggie Workman, and drums from Ed Blackwell. The Workman/Blackwell component ensure that things still have an edge at times, even when swinging – and the tunes are a mix of Murray originals and a few standards. Last up is the album From Bad To Badder – played by The American Jazz Quintet – a group with Blackwell on drums, plus Alvin Batiste, Harold Battiste, Ellis Marsalis, and Richard Payne – as well as a guest appearance from New Orleans legend Earl Turbington! 7 albums, 8 CDs, and a heck of a lot of music! CD

A trio of fantastic recordings from Anthony Braxton – all of them at a pivotal time in his career, and each with his reed work in a very different setting! First up is the double-length album The Complete Braxton – a record that's something of a document of Anthony Braxton during his brief period with the group Circle – but a set that also offers up an expanded take on their new idea of freedoms in jazz! Braxton plays alto, soprano, clarinet, and bass clarinet – using his angular reedwork amidst his own fantastic "equation" compositions – which allow for plenty of improvisation from shifting lineups that include Chick Corea on piano, Dave Holland on bass and cello, and Barry Altschul on percussion! The tracks also feature the great Kenny Wheeler on trumpet and flugelhorn – playing mostly at moments when the piano of Corea drops out – and one tune also features the London Tuba Ensemble, who make for an especially bracing sound! Titles include "67M F-12", "R76", "JNK", and a bunch of those compositions that just have pictures for the title! Silence features Anthony Braxton, recorded in Paris at the end of the 60s – but in the company of two very familiar talents from his hometown – Wadada Leo Smith on trumpet and Leroy Jenkins on violin! Unlike some of Braxton's other Paris recordings, there's a very strong Chicago vibe going on here – as both of the album's long tracks unfold with thoughtful, almost gentle improvisation at times – a very different current of spiritualism than the post-Coltrane world, with all players picking up other instruments at times – in that mode-shifting way that made the early AACM so wonderfully creative! The set features two side-long titles – "Silence" and "Off The Top Of My Head". Time Zones is one of Anthony Braxton's most compelling albums of the 70s – a series of sonic explorations recorded with electronic music artist Richard Teitelbaum – whose work on a variety of moog synthesizers makes for a very groundbreaking accompaniment to Braxton's work on soprano, alto, and bass clarinet! The album features two long improvisations – "Crossing" and "Behemoth Dreams" – both of which are maybe more in the organic territory of the AACM than some of the later experiments that have electronics and improvisation – a really special space that the pair create together that's different from earlier electro-acoustic work, and even the sound of MEV or AMM – a completely fresh approach to electronics in improvisation – graced with some very interesting moments from Braxton as well. CD

A trio of fantastic recordings from Anthony Braxton – all of them at a pivotal time in his career, and each with his reed work in a very different setting! First up is the double-length album The Complete Braxton – a record that's something of a document of Anthony Braxton during his brief period with the group Circle – but a set that also offers up an expanded take on their new idea of freedoms in jazz! Braxton plays alto, soprano, clarinet, and bass clarinet – using his angular reedwork amidst his own fantastic "equation" compositions – which allow for plenty of improvisation from shifting lineups that include Chick Corea on piano, Dave Holland on bass and cello, and Barry Altschul on percussion! The tracks also feature the great Kenny Wheeler on trumpet and flugelhorn – playing mostly at moments when the piano of Corea drops out – and one tune also features the London Tuba Ensemble, who make for an especially bracing sound! Titles include "67M F-12", "R76", "JNK", and a bunch of those compositions that just have pictures for the title! Silence features Anthony Braxton, recorded in Paris at the end of the 60s – but in the company of two very familiar talents from his hometown – Wadada Leo Smith on trumpet and Leroy Jenkins on violin! Unlike some of Braxton's other Paris recordings, there's a very strong Chicago vibe going on here – as both of the album's long tracks unfold with thoughtful, almost gentle improvisation at times – a very different current of spiritualism than the post-Coltrane world, with all players picking up other instruments at times – in that mode-shifting way that made the early AACM so wonderfully creative! The set features two side-long titles – "Silence" and "Off The Top Of My Head". Time Zones is one of Anthony Braxton's most compelling albums of the 70s – a series of sonic explorations recorded with electronic music artist Richard Teitelbaum – whose work on a variety of moog synthesizers makes for a very groundbreaking accompaniment to Braxton's work on soprano, alto, and bass clarinet! The album features two long improvisations – "Crossing" and "Behemoth Dreams" – both of which are maybe more in the organic territory of the AACM than some of the later experiments that have electronics and improvisation – a really special space that the pair create together that's different from earlier electro-acoustic work, and even the sound of MEV or AMM – a completely fresh approach to electronics in improvisation – graced with some very interesting moments from Braxton as well. CD

Really creative work from Anthony Braxton – a 70s gem that has the reedman working in two different settings – both of them great! The first half of the record reunites Braxton with the electronics of Richard Teitelbaum – working here on some very cool moog, mixed with percussion – all in the best dark sounds of the Time Zones recording from the pair. Leo Smith is also in the group on trumpet – adding in a sense of space that's really wonderful – and Braxton himself works a variety of clarinets with really rich sounds – as the trio takes off on "Composition 36". The rest of the record shows that great old school side of Braxton – that crucial knowledge of the American jazz songbook that he only showed the world this strongly in the mid 70s – and which sparkles here as one of the best examples of that love! The remaining tracks feature Anthony on alto and Dave Holland on bass – working out some really special magic on "The Song Is You", "You Go To My Head", and "Embraceable You". CD

A pair of unusual Anthony Braxton albums – brought together here on a single CD! Silence features Anthony Braxton, recorded in Paris at the end of the 60s – but in the company of two very familiar talents from his hometown – Wadada Leo Smith on trumpet and Leroy Jenkins on violin! Unlike some of Braxton's other Paris recordings, there's a very strong Chicago vibe going on here – as both of the album's long tracks unfold with thoughtful, almost gentle improvisation at times – a very different current of spiritualism than the post-Coltrane world, with all players picking up other instruments at times – in that mode-shifting way that made the early AACM so wonderfully creative! The set features two side-long titles – "Silence" and "Off The Top Of My Head". Time Zones is one of Anthony Braxton's most compelling albums of the 70s – a series of sonic explorations recorded with electronic music artist Richard Teitelbaum – whose work on a variety of moog synthesizers makes for a very groundbreaking accompaniment to Braxton's work on soprano, alto, and bass clarinet! The album features two long improvisations – "Crossing" and "Behemoth Dreams" – both of which are maybe more in the organic territory of the AACM than some of the later experiments that have electronics and improvisation – a really special space that the pair create together that's different from earlier electro-acoustic work, and even the sound of MEV or AMM – a completely fresh approach to electronics in improvisation – graced with some very interesting moments from Braxton as well. CD

A record that really dives deep with a rich mix of creative rhythms and inventive horn lines! The album still has Jack DeJohnette staying true to his more avant roots – working with tenor from David Murray, alto and soprano sax from John Purcell, baritone and tuba from Howard Johnson, and bass from Rufus Reid – a lineup that's a bit bigger than on other Special Edition albums, and which is used to fill in even more colors and deeper elements than before. Some of the tunes are wonderfully vivid in approach – and titles include "Festival", "Third World Anthem", "Zoot Suite", "Ahmad The Terrible", and "New Orleans Strut". LP, Vinyl record album

The amazing Lizzy Mercier Descloux adds one more global feather to her cap with this sweet little album – a set recorded in Rio, with help from a host of Brazilian musicians – and some special guest work from legendary trumpeter Chet Baker too! The record warms up the sound a bit from some of Lizzy's earlier records – still quite creative in both the songwriting and overall approach, but almost given a warmer spin alongside instrumentation that includes accordion from Sivuca, cavaquinho from Alceu Maia, acoustic guitar from Neco, and percussion from Djalma Correa! Other instrumentation still includes some of the keyboards and rhythm lines you'd know from Lizzy's other Ze Record releases – and titles include "Simply Beautiful", "Fog Horn Blues", "My Funny Valentine", "One For The Soul", "A World Is A Wah", and "Scala Saga Samba". CD features the bonus tracks "Bravado" and "Let's Get It On". CD

The amazing Lizzy Mercier Descloux adds one more global feather to her cap with this sweet little album – a set recorded in Rio, with help from a host of Brazilian musicians – and some special guest work from legendary trumpeter Chet Baker too! The record warms up the sound a bit from some of Lizzy's earlier records – still quite creative in both the songwriting and overall approach, but almost given a warmer spin alongside instrumentation that includes accordion from Sivuca, cavaquinho from Alceu Maia, acoustic guitar from Neco, and percussion from Djalma Correa! Other instrumentation still includes some of the keyboards and rhythm lines you'd know from Lizzy's other Ze Record releases – and titles include "Simply Beautiful", "Fog Horn Blues", "My Funny Valentine", "One For The Soul", "A World Is A Wah", and "Scala Saga Samba". LP, Vinyl record album

A key part of the Dolphy puzzle, and a set of recordings that show a tremendously creative, yet largely-undocumented side of his work (hence the title Other Aspects). The tracks on the set were recorded in the few years shortly before his death in 1964, but they lay unissued until Blue Note shocked the world with this collection in the mid 80s. The Dolphy you hear on this LP is far different than the firey ensemble player of the Prestige recordings, or the angular modernist of his Out To Lunch sessions. Instead, these tracks show a more thoughtful, more spiritual side of the influential reed player – and clearly draw a link between his late work, and the avant soul jazz recordings of his 70's heirs on the Strata East label. Titles include "Jim Crow", "Inner Flight", and "Improvisations & Turkas". Darn Tough to find on vinyl, too! LP, Vinyl record album

The second half of this legendary retrospective on the work and music of the great Bill Fay – a set that's different than the first volume in that it showcases later recordings that Fay was doing at home – really great material that ended up heralding a great later chapter in his career! If anything, there's even more depth and darkness to these tunes than the early work – a continued creative spirit that most of the world had not heard until this release! Titles include "Time To Wake Up Now", "My Eyes Open", "Solace Flies In", "All Must Have A Dream", "War Machine", "Keep Turning The Pages", "Fill This World With Peace", "Still Some Light", "All At Once", "Be At Peace With Yourself", and "I Thought I Heard Someone". CD

A great 60s album from pianist Eddie Higgins – one of his few records for Atlantic, and a set that definitely lives up to the seductive power of the title and cover! Eddie's maybe a bit more creative and open here than on some of his other records – more in a Chess Records trio mode than especially his later, more lyrical sides – with great work on rhythm from Richard Evans on bass and Marshall Thompson on drums! The album really reflects Higgins' placement on the Chicago scene of the 60s – and he's got a surprisingly strong left-handed groove at times – on titles that include "Soulero", "Tango Africaine", "Mr Evans","Love Letters", and "Shelly's World". LP, Vinyl record album

Chicago had the Art Ensemble of Chicago at the end of the 60s – and St Louis had the fantastic Human Arts Ensemble at the start of the 70s – a wonderfully creative jazz group who shared a lot of the same ideas of improvisation and artistic freedom as the AACM up in the Windy City! This album's maybe that group's lasting legacy – a fantastic record that's sometimes as funky as it is spiritual, as outside as it is tied to older jazz traditions – performed by a core lineup that includes Oliver Lake on alto and tenor, Lester Bowie on trumpet, Marty Erlich on alto and flute, James Marshall and JD Parran on additional reeds, Charles Bobo Shaw on drums, and Carol Marshall on vocals and small instruments! The group have a very special vibe – one that comes through especially strong on the side-long "Lover's Desire" – a nice slightly-funky number that has a groove that's sort of modal. Side two of the album features "Hazrat The Sufi", a long creative avant piece, with insane ensemble playing that's very much in the AACM mode – but with some touches that also point the way towards the later loft jazz scene in New York – especially the world in which Lake would become such a key participant. CD

The late 60s was a very groovy time in Polish music – a time when modern jazz and other modes were really coming to the forefront – at a level that also touched the world of animation, as you'll hear in this very cool set! The package has some really surprising contributions – music that's hardly what you'd expect to hear in a cartoon, and instead often at a level that matches some of the most creative modern jazz recordings of the time, such as those of Kryzsztof Komeda – maybe no surprise, as a series of tracks by Komeda begin the set! The package begins with the wonderful "Rondo", which has three tracks by Komeda – then moves to more music from "Mini", "Bajka", and "Pieniadz" – all by the Novi Singers, in styles that move between the harmony vocals of their own records, to some of the more unusual instrumentation they would use behind their lyrics. The set finishes up with a number of tracks from "Flirt" by Tadeusz Kocyba – work that's pretty darn fantastic in the way it uses simple studio techniques to get odd sounds out of familiar jazzy instrumentation. The whole thing's great – a really revelatory look at a side of the scene we never would have heard otherwise! CD

Great live work by Albert Mangelsdorff – recorded during the height of his creative years at MPS, at a time when he was easily one of the most creative trombonists in the world! Mangelsdorff has risen to new heights by the time of this record – pushing the instrument to a level that only a few might hope to match – maybe just Roswell Rudd or Grachan Moncur – although we'd argue that Albert has an even wider range of expression, especially over the course of different records. This set shows his fiercest, most unbridled side – a great live date recorded in Tokyo, with a group that includes Heinz Sauer on tenor, Gunter Lenz on bass, and Ralf Hubner on drums. The interplay between Sauer and Mangelsdorff is excellent, never too free, and with that bit of swing that Mangelsdorff always put into his work, no matter how modern the idiom. Tracks include "Sing & Swing", "Open Space", "Triple Trip", and "Mahusale" – and they all run for a fairly long time. CD

Nas' debut LP masterpiece Illmatic – a record that will probably stand forever as one of the greatest hip hop full lengths of its time! Nas has had some creative ups-and-downs over the years, but nothing can take away the impact of this damn near perfect slice of east coast street hop – truly one of the great, filler free, beginning-to-end classics with not a wasted second! Part of the strength of the record is the top-shelf choice of production – work from DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock and Q-Tip – all of whom help the young Nas really find his voice with the right sort of vibe – on titles that include "NY State Of Mind", "Life's A B***h", "Half Time", "One Love", "Memory Lane", "Represent", "The World Is Yours", and "It Ain't Hard To Tell". LP, Vinyl record album

The second album from Lou Ragland – the creative force behind the funk act Hot Chocolate, stepping out here in a great set of mellow soul tracks! The album's quite different from the heavy funk of the Hot Chocolate album – more of a message-oriented approach to soul, in the vein of similar 70s indie work by Mike James Kirkland. The arrangements are also bigger – not smooth, but ambitious, in a style that perfectly matches the higher vision Lou's going for in tracks like "Understand Each Other", "What Should I Do?", "The Next World", and "It's Got To Change". A pricey original – only pressed up in a small number of copies, many of which were destroyed – now finally out for the masses! LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing set of music – two rare albums from Ohio funk legend Lou Ragland, plus bonus tracks, and a whole set of unreleased sessions too – a huge amount of new music, even if you've got some of the previous reissues! First up is the legendary Hot Chocolate album – one of the greatest lost funk records of all time! The group is not the British pop band, but an Ohio funk group led by the great guitarist Lou Ragland. The album's originally from Canada, which makes it super rare – and these guys are funky funky funky, and kick some major booty with a heavy guitar sound that's just great! Some of the cuts are instrumental, and some of them have some excellent soul vocals that are produced with a nice deep sound that's brought out nicely by the excellent quality of the reissue. The record's got a bit of Sly Stone, a bit of Grant Green, and a bit of Mike James Kirkland – with a tasty raw indie soul vibe – and the original album was only pressed up at 500 copies. Titles include "So Dam Funky", "Ain't That A Groove", "Sexy Moods Of Your Mind", "Messin With Sly", and "What You Want To Do" – plus 8 more tracks from the same vintage – "Good For The Gander" by Hot Chocolate, "I Travel Alone" and Big Wheel" by Lou Ragland, "Red Robin" and "I've Got Something Going On" by Volcanic Eruption, and "I Can't Take It" and "What The Doctor Prescribed" by Lou Ragland & Hot Chocolate. Next is The Conveyor – the second album from Lou Ragland, stepping out here in a great set of mellow soul tracks! The album's quite different from the heavy funk of the Hot Chocolate album – more of a message-oriented approach to soul, in the vein of similar 70s indie work by Mike James Kirkland. The arrangements are also bigger – not smooth, but ambitious, in a style that perfectly matches the higher vision Lou's going for in tracks like "Understand Each Other", "What Should I Do?", "The Next World", and "It's Got To Change". Conveyor also comes with bonus tracks too – "Tend To Your Business" by Wildfire, plus "Since You Said You'd Be Mine" and "I Didn't Mean To Leave You" by Lou Ragland. And last up is an incredible batch of unreleased material – maybe the biggest and best so far from Ragland – tracks that have this really ambitious quality that mixes soul, funk, and larger orchestrations – especially some light strings, which really expand the sound, and push the music into this righteous territory that reminds us a lot of the creative experiments in Chicago during the Cadet/Concept years! Lou's vocals are great, and the message is totally righteous – and even though the tape quality is slightly aged, the soulful vibe really comes through – on cuts that include "Understand Each Other", "It Ain't My Fault", "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love", "Spend My Life Loving You", "Until I Met You", and "Brother Louie". Lovingly packaged by Numero – with a huge booklet of photos and history – and cool mini-LP sleeves too! CD

Great work from Jimmy Rowles – a pianist that really hit new levels of creative activity in the 70s, and who maybe sounds different here than on most of his other recordings from the time! Jimmy still has some of that world-weary, old man sort of quality – especially when he sings – but his attack on the piano can be pretty darn fierce at points, spurred on by a really strong trio that features Buster Williams on bass and Billy Hart on drums – not likely matches for Rowles, at least if you know his earlier records – but both players who really make this record crackle! Titles include "Duke's Dooji", "Pretty Eyes", "Skeleton In The Closet", and "Chess Players". LP, Vinyl record album

One of those Motown treasures that would have been a runaway hit, were it issued on a label with less going on – but which somehow got lost amidst the shuffle of all the other Motor City greatness of the time! Don't let obscurity make you think that Jimmy Ruffin's not giving his best, though – as the album's a stunner right from the start – one of those you pick up, check out, and wonder how you've lived with before – as Jimmy takes all the darker energy that the Four Tops and Temptations were bringing to their late 60s material, and gievs it an even spookier showcase with his fantastic lead vocals! The tunes are a mix of fresh numbers and under-recorded cuts, too – which further makes the record great – and the whole thing's got that special pre-Cali sound from Motown, that point when the label was really hitting some new creative moments. Titles include "Gathering Memories", "Just Before Love", "Honey Come Back", "Living In A World I Created For Myself", and "If You Will Let Me I Know I Can". LP, Vinyl record album

Jimmy Smith live was a killer – especially in the early days, when this one was recorded! Back in the late 50s, when Jimmy was shocking the world with his fantastically creative approach to the organ, Blue Note cut some of the first strong-selling live albums by following Jimmy to the clubs – where he would really let loose with some incredible work on the Hammond B3. The albums recorded that time shine far brighter than Jimmy's studio work – as Smith really opens up on nice long tracks, working with his trio that features Eddie McFadden on guitar and Donald Bailey on drums. Titles on this first volume include "After Hours", "My Funny Valentine", "Slightly Monkish", and "Laura". LP, Vinyl record album

Jimmy Smith at the organ – and already very much at the top of his game – as an early record like this not only exposed the world to the talents of the young keyboard wizard, it also helped the Hammond find a whole new place in the world of jazz! The set's one of a flurry of crucial recordings that Smith made for Blue Note in 1957 – and it features long tracks that are very much in the raw, open, solo-filled style that Jimmy was doing in the clubs on the east coast scene – graced with superb work from Lou Donaldson on alto sax, Kenny Burrell on guitar, and Art Blakey on drums! The solos are pretty free, and wonderfully creative – and titles on this volume include "Summertime", "All Day Long", and "Yardbird Suite". LP, Vinyl record album

The too short life of Albert Ayler was one of tremendous creative activity, and a degree of mystery as well – both aspects that the author delves into deeply in this really well-done look at the legendary avant saxophonist! Wilson spent months in the US, following the journey that Ayler took in his life and music – and put the story together through conversations with family members and contemporarys, such as Sunny Murray and Milford Graves – at a level that really illuminates all the greatness that Albert gave the world with his music. The first large section of the book is biography – but then Wilson also adds in a large look at his music, including reviews of most full albums – followed by more helpful index sections that really offer up a heck of a lot of detail! The book is small, but packed with information – softcover, 176 pages, and with black and white images throughout. Book

The Soul Power funky 45 powerhouse returns – with a great set of classic tunes selected by DJ Nico, all from rare funky 45 sources, all with that chunky, hunky, funky, deep groove that first put the label on the map as one of the best sources for rare funk material! The title's a bit striking – but once you get past that French colonial pandering, you know these guys really know how to pick their tunes! Titles include "Do Your Thing" by Kashmere Stage Band, "Goombay Funk" by Jay Mitchell, "Boss Action" by Enchanting Enchanters, "Can I Feel It" by Al Trahan, "I Need Love" by Larry Houston, "Find Yourself" by Marvin Holmes, "Moving World" by Creative Funk, "Funky From The Get Go" by Herbie Williams, "Music Turns Me On" by Mark Holder, and "Dance Party" by JC & The Soul Angels. LP, Vinyl record album

Massively beautiful jazzy sounds from the Cadet studios of the late 60's – one of the most fertile places in the world for creative interaction between musicians from a wide variety of different backgrounds and cultures. The mix of tracks runs from funky jazz to spacey soul – and titles include "The Moving Finger" by Dorothy Ashby, "Bold & Black" by Ramsey Lewis Trio, "Look At Me Now" by Terry Callier, "City Bump" by Jack McDuff, "Golden Ring" by American Gypsy, "Baiao" by Daniel Salinas, "Burning Spear" by Soulful Strings, and "Les Fleur" By Minnie Riperton. Great stuff throughout! CD

A much-needed look at the really magical world of music in France – a scene that's always seemed to exist in its own sort of space, especially during the late 70s/early 80s years when most of these tracks were recorded! The French scene had some famous free jazz at the start of the 70s, but there was also another strain of unique sounds that were beyond categorization or comparison – music that took some of the creative inspiration of jazz and turned it towards global sources, acoustic instruments, analogue electronics, and even French vocal styles – creating work that was not only years ahead of its time, but which also was often missed on the global market, because it was so hard to label and categorize! This set brings together some of the best of those moments – music that's maybe a great second step if you've already dug sounds on labels like Saravah or Futura/Marge – and the whole package is wonderful throughout – filled with titles that even we might have missed otherwise. Tracks include "Gaal" by Noco Music, "Les Crocodiles" by Catherine Derain, "Reve De Voyage" by Remy Couvez, "Sokoto" by Structures Sonores Lasry Baschet, "Loreley" by Pan Ra, "Mahabaratha Kali" by Adjenar Sidhar Khan, "Bujumbura Lyon" by Workshop De Lyon, "Arabia" by Dynamo, "Love Always" by Jef Gilson, and "Moving Waves" by Andre Fertier & Clivage. LP features the vinyl-only bonus track "Il Regalo Della Befana (part 3)" by Ghedalia Tazartes LP, Vinyl record album

A key album from a fantastic point in the career of trumpeter Chet Baker – his later years, a time when most of the world was ignoring Baker's talents, but Chet was still in a hugely creative mode, and turning out some of his freshest sounds in decades! There's a wonderful quality to the whole record – and vibist David Friedman is a key part of the sound, as he really matches the air inclinations of Chet, as the pair are backed by Buster Williams on bass and Joe Chambers on drums and percussion – a fantastic duo who only make things sound even better. 4 of the album's 6 tracks are Friedman originals – including "For Now", "Shadows", "Syzygies", and "Lament For Thelonious". CD features alternate takes of "Peace" and "Syzygies". CD

A lovely little tribute to one of our favorite songwriters of all time – the lyrical genius Tommy Wolf, whose compositions were first championed back in the 50s and 60s by Bob Dorough, Jackie & Roy, and Blossom Dearie! Wolf's got a wonderful way with a twist of a phrase – playful, but never too silly – just freshly original in a world of overdone standards, and a reminder that creative American songwriting didn't stop with Cole Porter and Harold Arlen! Bobbi's voice has a warmly sweet quality that makes for a slightly different approach to the material than others before her – and backing on the record is by a piano trio led and arranged by Chick Cicchetti. Titles include "There Are Days When I Don't Think Of You At All", "Say Cheese", "I'm Alright Til You Touch Me", "It's Nice Weather For Ducks", "You Smell So Good", "I've Never Been Anything", and "A Face Like Yours". LP, Vinyl record album