Really beautiful sounds from bassist David Wertman – an unsung hero of the late 70s spiritual jazz scene around New England, and one who delivers this gem in close partnership with singer Lynne Meryl! Meryl's got this warm, fluid style that's a lot like the way that some of the better Bay Area groups were using jazz vocals a few years before – a mode inspired by overseas singers like Flora Purim or Urzula Dudziak, but used here alongside soulful instrumentation that draws a lot from the more inside currents of the loft jazz scene! Wertman's bass is at the core, and tremendous throughout – full of fire and force, and sometimes matched with a bit of percussion – a musical force that's handled here more fully by Tony Vacca, who employs a range of instruments – next to piano and prepared piano from Tom McClung, and these strong trombone solos from Tim Atherton – a player who really sends the whole thing over the top with his contributions! Most tracks have a great modal groove – and titles include "Forest Dance", "Camel", "Flute Song", "New Earth", "Sing My Love Song", and "Dance Of The Mideast Madness". This expanded edition brings in more rare cuts from other releases – eight bonus tracks that include "How Come", "Up In The Sky", "Sci Fi Fantasy", "Blessing Of Love", "Golden Light", and "You Are My Love". CD

Produced by Duke Bootee, edited by the Latin Rascals. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A true revolution in Cuban music – not the familiar cha cha and pachanga modes of the pre-Castro years, but instead the huge wave of fresh styles and combinations that sprung up in the years to come! The tracks here aren't the kind of Cuban sounds that are locked in time by the all-star representations of the scene that circle widely – and instead, this music represents the younger, more experimental side of the scene – continually creating new styles and hybrids during the 70s and 80s, even at a time when most of the records weren't making it out to the world at large! Make no mistake, there's certainly elements of older Afro Latin rhythms, and Latin jazz instrumentation – but those are blended with new approaches to rhythm, instrumentation, and the overall role of the musicians and singers – on tracks that will really open up your ears. Gilles Peterson helped put the package together for Soul Jazz – and the whole thing's got the same hybrid hallmarks as his more recent recording forays in Havana – with cuts that include "Cancion Con Todos" by Grupo De Experimentacion Sonora Del Icaic, "Hast Las Cuantas" by Grupo Monumental, "Luna Wanestain" by Emiliano Salvador, "Te Quiero Porque Te Quiero" by Pablo Milanes, "Un Lamento Heco Cancion" by Los Reyes 73, "Dacapo" by Raul Gomez, "La Patica" by Paquito D'Rivera, "Rompe Cocorioco" by Juan Pablo Torres, "Mi Ritmo Caliente" by Juan Formell & Los Van Van, "Chequere Son" by Grupo Irakere, "El Son Del Campeon" by Conjunto Rubavana, and "Con Cadencia Y Con Dulzura" by Las D'Aida. CD

Forget any cliches you might have in mind about Cuban music – that idea that all the "old guys" of the Buena Vista Social Club were responsible for most of the sounds of Havana – because here, you'll hear amazing sounds from the younger generation – an amazing array of talents who were really transforming the scene in the 70s and early 80s! Sure, there's some familiar elements here – many of the artists start with older Afro Cuban roots – but the music also really takes off with all sorts of weird and wonderful touches – bits of funk, soul, jazz, and even some electronics – used in really compelling ways that definitely live up to the "experiments" in the title, but continue to provide the sort of groove you'd imagine from Cuban music. We loved the previous volume in this series, and we might well say that the second one is even better – with a stunning set list of tracks that includes "El 456" by Los Brito, "Luces En La Pista" by Raul Gomez, "Tema De El Rancheador De La Naturaleza" by Leo Brouwer, "Y Que Bien" by Juan Pablo Torres, "Quemando" by Los Latinos, "Muevete Con Las Fuerzas Del Corazon" by FA 5, "Amame Y No Piensas Mas" by Farah Maria, "La Rumba" by Luis Carbonell "Llegue Llegue" by Juan Formel & Los Van Van, "Para Que Niegas" by Los Papines, "Baila Mi Guaguanco" by Grupo Raices Nuevas, "Como Arrulos De Palma" by Tambores De Enrique Bonne, "Expreso Ritmico" by Ricardo Eddy Martinez, and "Aqui Estamos" by Grupo Sintesis. CD

With music from Natasha Barrett, Jose Manrique, Paul Koonce, Love Mangs, Fabio Cifariello Ciardi, Emanuele Casale, and Gilles Racot. CD

A really cool idea for a collection – a set that brings together vintage 70s tracks and more contemporary cuts – all with a globe-spanning ear for a groove, and an approach that's as heavy in soul as you'd expect from the title! This isn't your usual collection of sample tracks or funk classics – as the selection moves way past the obvious, and does a brilliant job of combining tracks we never would have thought to put together – while also introducing us to a number we'd never heard before too! Titles include "Every Time I See Him" by Metropolis, "Eva" by Robson Jorge & Lincoln Olivetti, "O Galho Da Roseira" by Airto, "Apocalypse Now Ho" by Nar'Chiveol, "Wache" by Francisco, "After All" by Soylent Green, "Space Queen" by King Errison, "Robot Man" by Yusef Lateef, "Stay This Way (lunar dub)" by Brand New Heavies, "Le Train" by Chene Noir, "Southern Freez" by On, "The PL (ext edit)" by Typesun, and "Le Cyclope" by Daniel Humair, Francois Jeanneau, and Henri Texier. CD

A really cool idea for a collection – a set that brings together vintage 70s tracks and more contemporary cuts – all with a globe-spanning ear for a groove, and an approach that's as heavy in soul as you'd expect from the title! This isn't your usual collection of sample tracks or funk classics – as the selection moves way past the obvious, and does a brilliant job of combining tracks we never would have thought to put together – while also introducing us to a number we'd never heard before too! Titles include "Every Time I See Him" by Metropolis, "Eva" by Robson Jorge & Lincoln Olivetti, "O Galho Da Roseira" by Airto, "Apocalypse Now Ho" by Nar'Chiveol, "Wache" by Francisco, "After All" by Soylent Green, "Space Queen" by King Errison, "Robot Man" by Yusef Lateef, "Stay This Way (lunar dub)" by Brand New Heavies, "Le Train" by Chene Noir, "Southern Freez" by On, "The PL (ext edit)" by Typesun, and "Le Cyclope" by Daniel Humair, Francois Jeanneau, and Henri Texier. LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A really fantastic little collection – a look at the way that sounds from the Caribbean changed over nicely when brought to the UK scene – where immigrants from former British territory really helped to transform the sound of London in the 70s! The music here is served up in a range of different styles – certainly reggae, but with plenty of funk and soul too, mixed with other elements from the islands – all brought into new play together when taken up in the UK! Right from the start, the English artists were starting to put their own spin on things – so the cuts within offer up all these great new directions – maybe even more surprises than you're used to finding on some of the other collections from the Soul Jazz label! The presentation of material is superb, and there's some very detailed notes as well – with cuts that include "No Time For Hello" by Harry Beckett, "Ooh Boy" by Sandra Reid, "Don't Call Us Immigrants" by Tabby Cat Kelly, "RK1" by The Terrorist, "Black Pride" by Brown Sugar, "Don't Let It Go To Your Head" by Black Harmony, "Positive Vibrations" by Pebbles, "Love Money" by Funk Masters, "Ragga Trip" by Ragga Twins, "Be Thankful For What You've Got" by Winston Curtis, "Fug" by Cymande, "Sticks Man" by Black Slate, "Rising To The Top" by Dee Sharp, "Misty Winter" by Digital Mystikz, "Compelled" by Cosmic Irden, and "Still In Love" by Janet Kay & Alton Ellis, and "Java Bass" by Shut Up & Dance. CD

A really fantastic little collection – a look at the way that sounds from the Caribbean changed over nicely when brought to the UK scene – where immigrants from former British territory really helped to transform the sound of London in the 70s! The music here is served up in a range of different styles – certainly reggae, but with plenty of funk and soul too, mixed with other elements from the islands – all brought into new play together when taken up in the UK! Right from the start, the English artists were starting to put their own spin on things – so the cuts within offer up all these great new directions – maybe even more surprises than you're used to finding on some of the other collections from the Soul Jazz label! The presentation of material is superb, and there's some very detailed notes as well – with cuts that include "No Time For Hello" by Harry Beckett, "Ooh Boy" by Sandra Reid, "Don't Call Us Immigrants" by Tabby Cat Kelly, "RK1" by The Terrorist, "Black Pride" by Brown Sugar, "Don't Let It Go To Your Head" by Black Harmony, "Positive Vibrations" by Pebbles, "Love Money" by Funk Masters, "Ragga Trip" by Ragga Twins, "Be Thankful For What You've Got" by Winston Curtis, "Fug" by Cymande, "Sticks Man" by Black Slate, "Rising To The Top" by Dee Sharp, "Misty Winter" by Digital Mystikz, "Compelled" by Cosmic Irden, and "Still In Love" by Janet Kay & Alton Ellis, and "Java Bass" by Shut Up & Dance. LP, Vinyl record album

A really great idea for a collection – one that brings together postwar modern music in all of its many formats – from avant jazz, to early electronics, to Indian music, 20th Century classical, and even a bit of straighter jazz moments too! The package is very ear-opening – as it offers the chance to hear instrumentalists next to compositional talents that had inspired them – and the collection provides a way to hear different strains of sonic experimentation that were sometimes running parallel to each other, sometimes criss-crossing in strange ways. There's a wealth of musical discoveries throughout – and the 4CD set is overflowing with key cuts from Ornette Coleman, Bela Bartok, Edgard Varese, Daphne Oram, Jean Sibelius, Eric Dolphy, Ravi Shankar, Pierre Henry, John Cate, John Coltrane, Humphrey Searle, Arnold Schoenberg, Bill Evans, Olivier Messiaen, Luigi Nono, Charles Ives, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Bruno Maderna, Julian Bream, and many others. CD

An essential re-publishing of an important British journal from the end of the 70s – one that called for a "liberatory arts and culture movement throughout the Third World" – and which featured a host of different contributors from around the world! The publication only lasted three issues – all of which are reproduced here – and it pulled no punches in its combination of culture and politics – beginning with its "Preliminary Notes For A Black Manifesto" in the very first issue – and running through a range of different subjects handled by a list of contributors that includes Ariel Dorfman, Guy Brett, Ayyub Malik, David Medalla, and Babatunde Lawal. All three rare issues are presented here in their original black and white – collected as a single volume. Book

Produced by Sonia Pottinger, with the Revolutionaries as backing band! 10 tracks in all, including "The International Herb", "Jah Rastafari", "It A Guh Dread", "Rally Round Jahoviah's Throne", "The Land We Belong", "Ethipians Waan Guh Home", "Chiney man", "I Tried", "The Shepherd", and "Too Long In Slavery". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the classics "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" and "I'll Tumble 4 Ya". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic funk from Brazil – the kind of cuts you'll totally dig if you love the classic work of Banda Black Rio and Azymuth – but which are even more obscure! The collection's a great one – full of tracks that blend together funky rhythms, jazzy instrumentation, and that special sunny flavor of soul music that Brazil was turning out after the samba soul generation – wonderful work that shows that the scene down there had plenty of groups who would have given Earth Wind & Fire a run for their money, had they had any access to American audiences! Titles include "Pode Acreditar" by Grupo Natureza, "Passaro Selvagem" by Os Carbonos, "Tema R" by Aloisio, "Brazil Very Happy Band" by Brazil Very Happy Band, "Se Voce For A Salvador" by Brilho, "Sol De Verao" by Lafayette, "Deixa" by Cornelius, "Vida Agitada" by Paul Jeronimo, and "Contigo" by Adriana. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A true revolution in Cuban music – not the familiar cha cha and pachanga modes of the pre-Castro years, but instead the huge wave of fresh styles and combinations that sprung up in the years to come! The tracks here aren't the kind of Cuban sounds that are locked in time by the all-star representations of the scene that circle widely – and instead, this music represents the younger, more experimental side of the scene – continually creating new styles and hybrids during the 70s and 80s, even at a time when most of the records weren't making it out to the world at large! Make no mistake, there's certainly elements of older Afro Latin rhythms, and Latin jazz instrumentation – but those are blended with new approaches to rhythm, instrumentation, and the overall role of the musicians and singers – on tracks that will really open up your ears. Gilles Peterson helped put the package together for Soul Jazz – and the whole thing's got the same hybrid hallmarks as his more recent recording forays in Havana – with cuts that include "Cancion Con Todos" by Grupo De Experimentacion Sonora Del Icaic, "Hast Las Cuantas" by Grupo Monumental, "Luna Wanestain" by Emiliano Salvador, "Te Quiero Porque Te Quiero" by Pablo Milanes, "Un Lamento Heco Cancion" by Los Reyes 73, "Dacapo" by Raul Gomez, "La Patica" by Paquito D'Rivera, "Rompe Cocorioco" by Juan Pablo Torres, "Mi Ritmo Caliente" by Juan Formell & Los Van Van, "Chequere Son" by Grupo Irakere, "El Son Del Campeon" by Conjunto Rubavana, and "Con Cadencia Y Con Dulzura" by Las D'Aida. LP, Vinyl record album

Forget any cliches you might have in mind about Cuban music – that idea that all the "old guys" of the Buena Vista Social Club were responsible for most of the sounds of Havana – because here, you'll hear amazing sounds from the younger generation – an amazing array of talents who were really transforming the scene in the 70s and early 80s! Sure, there's some familiar elements here – many of the artists start with older Afro Cuban roots – but the music also really takes off with all sorts of weird and wonderful touches – bits of funk, soul, jazz, and even some electronics – used in really compelling ways that definitely live up to the "experiments" in the title, but continue to provide the sort of groove you'd imagine from Cuban music. We loved the previous volume in this series, and we might well say that the second one is even better – with a stunning set list of tracks that includes "El 456" by Los Brito, "Luces En La Pista" by Raul Gomez, "Tema De El Rancheador De La Naturaleza" by Leo Brouwer, "Y Que Bien" by Juan Pablo Torres, "Quemando" by Los Latinos, "Muevete Con Las Fuerzas Del Corazon" by FA 5, "Amame Y No Piensas Mas" by Farah Maria, "La Rumba" by Luis Carbonell "Llegue Llegue" by Juan Formel & Los Van Van, "Para Que Niegas" by Los Papines, "Baila Mi Guaguanco" by Grupo Raices Nuevas, "Como Arrulos De Palma" by Tambores De Enrique Bonne, "Expreso Ritmico" by Ricardo Eddy Martinez, and "Aqui Estamos" by Grupo Sintesis. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the crunchiest efforts we've heard from IG Culture in awhile – a record that's filled with the cosmic beats we've always loved in his music, yet firmly grounded on earth overall! The set mixes heavy rhythms with lots of vocals and rhymes – efforts from ID 4 Windz, Mr Mensah, Julie Dexter, K Banger, Bilal Salaam, and John Robinson – all wrapped and layered together in ways that are quite different from conventional hip hop, and which really resonate with the kind of collective, collaborative spirit we love in IG's music! There's an even darker feel here than usual – which we really appreciate – and titles include "Catalog Pieces", "Futures Back", "Black Renaissance", "Core Exit", "Truth", "Tangile Dream", "Outsider", "What's Happening", "The Sankofaz Peace Ark-Extra", and "Do The Math". CD

A heady dip into the musical frontiers of the postwar years – a set that digs deep into avant classical, jazz, and other styles – all to come up with sounds that later provided inspiration for The Beatles, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, and other landmark groups at the end of the 60s! Yet the styles here aren't rock at all – and instead showcase all these changes that had taken place long before the years of psych and prog, but in different forms of music – and even a bit of spoken word, as well – as some of these selections show just how much the recorded art form could work for unusual styles of vocal presentation. The four CDs feature a wonderful range of styles that all work together somehow – with work by Pierre Schaeffer, John Cage, Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, Cathy Berberian, John Coltrane, Gustav Holst, Arnold Schoenberg, Jack Kerouac, Ali Akbar Khan, The Goons, Dave Brubeck, Percy Grainger, Hilaire Belloc, Sabicas, Delia Derbyshire, and many others! CD

A really cool little package, and one that looks at the rise of reggae on the African scene of the 70s – including many tracks that mark a moment before that big 80s wave of African-based superstars that rose up to larger global fame! The cuts here are maybe a bit more homegrown and unusual – and there's a fair bit of work by West African acts who didn't always record in a reggae mode, but managed to add the rhythms to the palette of their albums in the 70s. As with all the titles on the Africa Seven label, the set list is great – with titles that include "I'll Be Your Man" by Christy Essien, "Bobby" by The Lijadu Sisters, "Darling I'm So Proud Of You" by Black Reggae, "Hello Friends" by Georges Happi, "Goodbye Friends" by The Mebusas, "Hop Sy Trong" by Tala Andra Marie, "I'll Cry" by Essama Bikoula, "All This Nonsense" by Carlos & Miki, and "Babette D O" by Pasteur Lappe. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the spookiest albums we've ever heard from moog maestro Mort Garson – way darker and more complex than his Wozzard Of Id or moogy horoscope projects – with a feel that's much more like his legendary Black Mass album! Like that one, there's a fair current of supernatural running through the mix – an early use of the electronics to explore the darker corners of reality, served up with lots of cool 70s occult touches – in a way that's oddly more timeless than some of the later projects of this nature from the industrial generation. Garson's range of tones is wonderful – from fuzzy bassy bits, to sparkling keyboard lines, to lots of spacey sounds in between – and titles include "I Ching", "Tarot", "Deja Vu", "Seance", "Sorcerer", and "Astral Projection". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the funkiest album ever from Marius Cultier – and definitely one of the records that perfectly shows off his wonderful post-colonial blend of sounds! There's bits of funk from both sides of the Atlantic going on here – roots in both Africa and the Caribbean, but fused through that new sense of freedom that an artist like Cultier found on the Parisian scene – where he could also explore some jazzier inspirations, and move the grooves into so many great areas! The album's got a wonderful vibe – a sound that appeals both to lovers of global funk from the 70s, and sweet fusion as well – thanks to some great work on Fender Rhodes and vibes by Cultier. Titles include "Sousaki", "Ouelele", "Missie Sirop", "Laini", "Ni Tellement Longtemps", and "Mazouk Souvenir". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most fantastic collections we've ever heard from DJ Amir – a set that may well blow away his classic On/Off Track sets for the depth of its spirit and feeling! Amir's been well-known as a crate digger for many years – and while digging for funk, soul, and hip hop on the New York scene, he's also come across plenty of rare Latin nuggets – not familiar salsa or crossover Latin Soul, but instead some much deeper numbers that show just how much spirit and imagination the music had when it was at its best! Most of the numbers here are from late 60s and 70s vintage – and many have this jazzy energy that goes way past just simple grooves, and which instead features the richer colors and complicated motions of some of Eddie Palmieri's music, especially in the 70s. Titles include the previously unreleased "Salsa (parts 1 & 2)" by Fito Foster – plus "Picadillo" by La Moderna Of New York, "Bomba" by Dax Pacem, "Paranoia" by Wayne Gorbea Y Su Conjunto Salsa, "Rogelio Tiene La Salsa" by Chino Y Su Conjunto Melao, "Yo No Bailo Con Juana" by Cortijo Y Kako, "Vete De Aqui" by Joey Aponte, "Asi Asi Descarga" by Mike Hernandez Y Su Sonora Casino, "Tembelque" by Louie Colon, "El Ritmo Soledad" by Orchestra Soledad, and "El Pulpo" by Joey Pastrana. CD

A crucial record in the early days of the global scene in the 80s – a set that lifts the music of King Sunny Ade from its roots in Nigeria, and mixes it up with some fresh elements that really open things up for a world's worth of ears! The approach isn't commercial – at least not in the modes of the later world music years – but there's occasional elements that echo the beat culture rising up in New York and London, mixed with the warmer sounds that were always at Sunny's music – especially that way of making the acoustic percussion and basslines come together in flowing waves of completely sublime sound! All tracks are nice and long – and titles include "Gboromiro", "Oremi", "Ire", "Iro", "Ogunja", and "Ase". CD

A pair of groundbreaking records from King Sunny Ade – both of which represent a new wave of interest in African music after the initial burst of the Fela Kuti generation! First up is Synchro System – fantastic work from King Sunny Ade – one of his first truly global releases, and an album that marked a whole new sound in his music! Sunny had been issuing lots of his own records back home in Nigeria – but this set has the juju master working in London, with really fantastic production that pushes his sound in really great ways – echoey waves of basslines and percussion, subtle but powerful vocals, and percolating guitar that takes on a whole new sonic sensibility in the setting! There's a richness to the texture that's amazing – almost as if Brian Eno produced – and titles include "Synchro Feelings Ilako", "Mo Ti Mo", "Penkele", "Maajo", "Synchro System", "E Saiye Re", "Tolongo", "E Wele", and "Synchro Reprise". Next up is Aura – a crucial record in the early days of the global scene in the 80s – a set that lifts the music of King Sunny Ade from its roots in Nigeria, and mixes it up with some fresh elements that really open things up for a world's worth of ears! The approach isn't commercial – at least not in the modes of the later world music years – but there's occasional elements that echo the beat culture rising up in New York and London, mixed with the warmer sounds that were always at Sunny's music – especially that way of making the acoustic percussion and basslines come together in flowing waves of completely sublime sound! All tracks are nice and long – and titles include "Gboromiro", "Oremi", "Ire", "Iro", "Ogunja", and "Ase". CD

Aesop Rock and Blockhead have worked together before, but this is the first album to be fully produced by the latter – who really gives the whole thing a crisp, straightforward vibe that adds plenty to the urgency of Aesop's lyrics! The set was done during the pandemic, and has a stripped-down approach that actually seems to make the distance and separation work to its advantage – a mode that really strips things down to the core, and maybe has the rapper sounding more important than he has in years. Titles include "More Cycles", "All Day Breakfast", "Fizz", "That Is Not A Wizard", "Difficult", "Legerdemain", "Wolf Piss", and "Jazz Hands". LP, Vinyl record album

Sounds like Herb Alpert, but it grooves in ways that we hardly expected – playful, creative, and filled with so many more rhythms than just the Tijuana groove we might have thought! There's a real deepening sense of instrumental pop going on here – as Herb explores some of the darker strains brought into the market by younger groups and artists on the scene, and through some of the cross-cultural recordings that were opening up as the global music market expanded in the mid 60s. The Brass still get in plenty of their jaunty licks in the set, but there's also more of a sense of Herb as a standout man of his own – a mature, all-adult sound that's got some great brooding emotion from time to time. Titles include the great sample cut "Treasure Of San Miguel", "Casino Royale", "Wade In The Water", "Shades Of Blue", "Bo Bo", "Lady Godiva", "Town Without Pity", "Gotta Lot Of Livin To Do", and "The Charmer". LP, Vinyl record album

A really unique album from Yugoslavian group Angel's Breath – one recorded in Brazil, which might come as no surprise, given that one of the members of the duo is Mitar Subotic Suba – who you'll also know from his groundbreaking album Sao Paulo Confessions! Suba got his start in Serbia, but was crucial in the Brazilian advances in the 90s before his too-early death in 1999 – and the record's definitely got some of the same appeal as the best music of the scene from Chico Science or Arnaldo Antunes – especially in the way it uses offbeat guitar lines, crispy electronics, and unusual rhythms next to lyrics that often feel as poetically experimental as they are tuneful! The whole thing's very difficult to describe, but that really gives it a hell of a lot of charm – and if it were not for the turmoil in Yugoslavia at the time, the set might have seen bigger global attention from the same cultural scene who were embracing Brazilian experiments of the period. Titles include "Madalena", "Velvet", "Caura", "Assassino", "Aplauzi", "40 Seconds Of Love", and "Metak". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest rock concept albums ever – and arguably the crowning moment for Aphrodite's Child – an incredibly hip Greek group from the early 70s – featuring a young Demis Roussos on vocals, and Vangelis Papathanassiou on organ, piano, vibes, flute, and a lot of other instrumentation! Vangelis composed the whole set – as an extended piece based on the Apocalypse of St John – and the album was recorded in Paris, away from their native Greece – in a time of political unrest and cultural upheaval that's clearly referenced in the music! There's a really wide array of textures and moods on the set – from sinister to soft, freaky to peaceful, all laid out beautifully with a sense of poetry and power that few other groups could match! Irene Pappas performs a recitation, and also gives some sexy sounds on the classic "Infinity" – and other tunes include "The System", "Babylon", "Loud Loud Loud", "The Four Horsemen", "The Seventh Seal", "Aegian Sea", "The Marching Beast", "Capture Of The Beast", "Altamont", "Seven Trumpets", and "Hic Et Nunc". CD

An early musical moment from the Arica Institute – a spiritual collective whose many members supposedly recorded this album over the course of a night spent at the Electric Lady studio – with such a shifting lineup of sounds and participants, the album doesn't list any particular musicians at all! The work is on the farther side of cosmic jazz – almost hearkening towards more meditative modes at times – such as the later recordings of Laraaji – but with elements that are also borrowed from Indian music and other global sources, often presented and produced in a way that the sonic elements bubble into a heady aural space that's difficult to navigate without letting yourself go entirely. Titles include "Lake", "Wind", "Ocean", "Thorn", "River", "Candle", and "Utoh". LP, Vinyl record album

Warm, wonderful, and incredibly far-reaching in scope – possibly the most ambitious record cut by Azymuth in recent years – a perfect blend of jazzy fusion, Brazilian rhythms, and some of the London broken beat culture that the group have come into contact with through their label, Far Out. The sound is clean and spare – a dance between percussion and keyboards that reminds us how great Azymuth can sound when they keep things simple. A few cuts have vocals, but the overall approach is instrumental – and the record features production and programming by Roc Hunter, and was recorded by Kirk Degiorgio. Titles include "Tempo Classico", "Em Marica", "Partido Novo", "Sudade Do Doutor", "Nome Dele E Joan", "Algoado Doce", and "Rede De Espera". CD has 12 tracks in all. CD

A wonderfully soulful session from percussionist Babatunde Lea – and a shining example of the warm spirits and cross-cultural experimentation going on in the Bay Area scene of the 70s! The record mixes 70s soul jazz with bits of funk, Latin jazz, and breezy west coast touches – making for an album that's got some of the earthy charm of work on labels like Strata East or Black Jazz, mixed with the tighter soulful production of some of George Duke's early 70s sides for MPS. The vibe is incredible – a beautiful mix of warm vocals, tight soloing, and message-oriented grooves – and the whole thing's great all the way through! Titles include "Thailand Stick", "Use Your Hands", "Merely A Suggestion", "Levels Of Consciousness", "Thang", and "Plea From The Soul". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most obscure entries in this great series – complete with a big booklet of notes and photos! Features the songs of Lamartine Babo, recorded by artists who include Francisco Alves, Helena De Lima, Carlos Galhardo, Almirante, Silvio Caldas, and Babo himself. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most compelling albums in years from Billy Bang – and that's really saying a lot, given how much compelling music he's recorded! The set is put together in conjunction with a fascinating documentary on Bang's life, music, and time spent fighting in Vietnam – an experience that stayed with him for decades, scarred him, and which here has become a way of reaching back into the past, into the culture, as a way to find some sort of personal healing! The result is fantastic – as Bang's amazing work on violin comes in contact with a variety of Vietnamese artists – including Tran Manh Tuan on tenor, Duc Dau of the Phu Dong Family Band, and even the larger Hanoi Symphony Orchestra – all different musical partners who really help Billy expand his sound and resolve some of his decades-old conflicts – presented alongside some spoken passages from the film that are very striking, and a few solo numbers too. Titles include "Mystery Of The Mekong", "Song For Don Cherry", "New Saigon Phunk", "Jungle Lullaby", "Dan Da Traditional Lithophone", and "Moments For The Kiamia". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful hymn to the sun from saxophonist Laurent Bardianne – an artist who's not afraid to play with the rhythms a bit, while still offering up some jazz-based material at the core! Bardianne plays tenor in a quintet that also has lots of great Hammond organ from Arnaud Roulin – and both artists add in a bit of electronics too – but the most striking aspect of the record might be the rhythms, which are served up in blend of bass from Sylvain Daniel, drums from Philippe Gleizes, and percussion from Roger Raspail – all players with a real global sensibility, who push the music past standard jazz, with a very free-flowing vibe. The whole thing's very much in the best cross-cultural mode that we love from the French Heavenly Sweetness label – and titles include "La Vie La Vie La Vie", "Adieu My Lord", "Destination Danger", "Verte Gronouille", "Sarang", and "Kenya Sunrise". CD

One of the wildest albums ever from the great Robbie Basho – as you might guess from the cover! Basho first made waves with his solo guitar work (and a bit of vocalizations) for the Takoma label, during the early years of John Fahey – but as the 60s ended, Robbie had more of a spiritual awakening – which really changed up certain aspects of his music. The set's still got some beautiful long-spun guitar passages – acoustic work that makes Basho maybe an even closer tie to Sandy Bull than Fahey – but Robbie also sings a bit too, in this weirdly trilling voice that almost feels as if it's been pulled from some 15th century pagan culture, but infused with a new missionary spirit. Most of the set is instrumental, but these vocal moments are wonderfully haunting too – and titles include "Venus In Cancer", "Eagle Sails The Blue Diamond Waters", "Kowaka D'Amour", "Song For The Queen", "Cathedrals Et Fleur De Lis", and "Wine Song (Sweet Wine Of Love)". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic collection of work from The Beach Boys – a set that features two of our favorite albums from the group, plus lots of unreleased rare material! Sure, we love Pet Sounds and Smile – but year after year, we keep on finding new musical magic in the records Sunflower and Surf's Up – both done at a time when the group were grappling with the realities of adult life, changing cultural modes, and their own sense of mortality, both as human beings and pop stars. There's a wonderfully collaborative feel to the music here – all the other group members bringing a lot to the table, not just Brian – and that sensibility is so different than the earlier years of the group, and even different than the Brian-led moments of the mid 60s. If you've not heard these records, you'll be stunned – and if you love them as much as us, you'll love to hear all the bonus material included within! 2CD set features newly remastered versions of the albums Sunflower and Surf's Up – plus 23 bonus tracks that include "Loop De Loop (1969 mix)", "Susie Cincinnati (2019 mix)", "Two Can Play (2019 mix)", "I Just Got My Pay (2019 mix)", "Where Is She (2019 mix)", "This Whole World (alt ending)", "When Girls Get Together (2019 mix)", "Back Home (alt version)", "Add Some Music To Your Day (alt version)", "Good Time (2019 mix)", "It's A New Day", "Disney Girls (live 1982)", "Surf's Up (live 1973)", "Disney Girls (backing vocals excerpt)", "You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone (track & backing vocals)", "All Of My Love/Ecology", "Sweet & Bitter", "My Solution", "Awake", "Behold The Night", "Live Again (extended 2019", "4th Of July (2019 mix)", and "Lady (1970 stereo mix)". CD

Three very inventive improvisers, all coming together in a set of performances inspired by the work of artist/writer Robert Henri – but with sounds that are definitely all their own! The mix of Michael Bisio's bass and the cello of Fred Lonberg-Holm is great – and Kirk Knuffke blows both regular and soprano cornet with these cool compressed notes that often make this nice bridge from the lower sonic reaches! Lonberg-Holm adds in some electronics – sometimes in ways that make it difficult to tell which source he's using, electric or acoustic – and titles include "R Henri", "Things Hum", "Orange Moon Yellow Field", "Both Keys Belong To You", "Use Them", and "A Dog Likes To Gnaw A Bone". CD

A really fantastic album from Jaimie Branch – one that's even more powerful than the first Fly Or Die set – which is saying a heck of a lot, given that that record hit most of us with a pretty hard punch! The sound is even more groundbreaking than before – moving well beyond jazz, although there's plenty of that in the mix too – to reflect Branch's connection to so many different musical communities in the contemporary scene! Jaimie brings a lot of anger and frustration at the current political situation into the music – a great reminder that with the right focus, jazz can be used for so many different cultural aims – especially when handled this well, in a lineup that features Jaimie on trumpet, electronics, and a bit of voice – with Lester St Louis on cello and percussion, Jason Ajemian on bass and percussion, and Chad Taylor on drums, mbira, and xylophone. The record also features guest work from Ben Lamar Gay and Marvin Tate on voice, Matt Schneider on 12 string guitar, and Dan Bitney on percussion and synth – and titles include "Prayer For Amerikkka (parts 1 & 2)", "Lesterlude", "Love Song", "Simple Silver Surfer", "Bird Dogs Of Paradise", "Nuevo Roquero Estereo", and "Twentey Three N Me Jupiter Redux". CD

A really beautiful project from the great Dee Dee Bridgewater – a set that has the singer paying tribute to the city and culture of New Orleans, but in a way that's free of the hoke you'd find in other projects of this nature! Dee Dee approaches the music – as with all of her albums – from a rock-solid, jazz vocal approach – focusing first on her tremendous skills as a singer – her fantastic ability to interpret material and really make it her own – then finding space for other flourishes that color the compositions, with great help from Irvin Mayfield, who's at the instrumental helm of the project. And the tunes aren't just some post-Katrina soppy numbers trying to recreate the past – but a wonderful array of different selections that both echo the still-thriving, still-essential jazz culture in the city, and the range of 20th century expressions of its music. Way better than you might guess – and one of Bridgewater's best in years! Titles include "Treme Song/Do Whatcha Wanna", "Dee Dee's Feathers", "Big Chief", "One Fine Thing", "Whoopin Blues", "Congo Square", and "C'Est Ici Que Je T'Aime". CD

A fantastic project from this contemporary South African performance ensemble – one that seeks to weave together older strands of sound from the nation's rich cultural heritage, and link them to a more contemporary mode of expression, as befits the group's role in the younger generation! Some of the tunes here have older origins – initially created by artists who include Mongezi Feza, The Malopoets, Johnny Dyani, and others – but they are taken in all these new directions in ways that mix jazzy touches with soulful South African expression – handled by the group in a mix of tenor, alto, keyboards, guitar, bass, and drums. Siyabonga Mthembu handles lead vocals, and contributed a lot of lyrics to the set – and there's also vocal contributions from other group members too. Titles include "We Madoda", "Together", "Kea Bereka", "Anishilabi", "You Think You Know Me", and "For Mo". LP, Vinyl record album

A surprisingly successful mix of styles, and the kind of cross-culturally pollinated work that's been getting Carlinhos Brown a lot of attention over the past few years. This was Brown's first solo album – recorded after his work with Timbalada, with production by Wally Badarou and Arto Lindsay, and the usual requisite guest appearances by Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil, Maria Bethania, and Marisa Monte (why is it that albums by US artists – apart from rappers – are never filled with so many guest appearances?) Brown works through a range of styles in this musical blend – from modern funk grooves to string-laden ballads – and the production by Lindsay and Badarou ties things nicely together. Titles include "Covered Saints", "Comunidade-Lobos", "O Bode", "Bog La Bag", "Angel's Robot List", and "Zanza". CD

Live work by Chico Buarque – a surprisingly nice set overall, and a great demonstration of the way the energy of his live albums almost took over force from his studio sets at this point in his career! The double-length performance features some great musical direction from Cristovao Bastos – and mixes together some of Chico's more upbeat modes with other tunes that have a moodier feel, quite spare, dark, and somber – touching on a side of Chico that's not always heard in studio work from the time! Titles include "Vai Passar", "O Que Sera", "Joao E Maria", "Rio 42", "Todo O Sentimento", "Partido Alto", "Desalento", and "A Rita". Amazing package, too – comes in a hardcover book-style jacket, with a bonus 42 page book that also includes full color images, with lots of vintage photos, plus notes on the record in Portuguese! The whole thing's sort of an update of the old Abril Cultural style of the 70s – brought into the CD generation. CD

A contemporary legend in Latin music – one that was done in collaboration with the film of the same name – organized by Ry Cooder, directed by Wim Wenders, and put forth as a reminder to America that Cuban culture was still going strong, even decades after we turned our backs on the nation! The "social club" in the title is well-put – as there's a relaxed, easygoing approach to the music here – warmly collaborative efforts from some of the greats of the scene in Havana – many of whom were able to enjoy renewed global attention, thanks to the efforts of the record and film. The lineup features Ruben Gonzalez on piano, Eliades Ochoa on guitar, Cachaito on bass, and Guajiro on trumpet – plus famous vocal contributions from Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, and Omara Portuondo. Titles include "Chan Chan", "Dos Gardenias", "El Carretero", "Candela", "Viente Anos", "El Cuarto De Tula", "De Camino A La Vereda", "Murmullo", and "Orgullecida". CD

A contemporary legend in Latin music – one that was done in collaboration with the film of the same name – organized by Ry Cooder, directed by Wim Wenders, and put forth as a reminder to America that Cuban culture was still going strong, even decades after we turned our backs on the nation! The "social club" in the title is well-put – as there's a relaxed, easygoing approach to the music here – warmly collaborative efforts from some of the greats of the scene in Havana – many of whom were able to enjoy renewed global attention, thanks to the efforts of the record and film. The lineup features Ruben Gonzalez on piano, Eliades Ochoa on guitar, Cachaito on bass, and Guajiro on trumpet – plus famous vocal contributions from Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, and Omara Portuondo. Titles include "Chan Chan", "Dos Gardenias", "El Carretero", "Candela", "Viente Anos", "El Cuarto De Tula", "De Camino A La Vereda", "Murmullo", and "Orgullecida". 2CD version features a bonus disc with 19 previously unissued rare tracks – titles that include "Vicenta", "La Pluma", "Descarga Ruben", "La Cleptomana", "Ensayo", "Mandinga", "Siboney", and alternate takes of titles on the record too! Also comes with a big booklet of notes and images too! CD

Prepare to discover a pianist with an amazing sense of tone – an artist who's equally well-skilled on both acoustic piano and Fender Rhodes, and who has a fantastic way of resonating with the bass and drums in his trio – and other guest instrumentation on the set too! It's difficult to describe the genius of George Burton in easy words, but it's right there on the record, and delivers pure brilliance right from the start – a musician who's definitely not a narcissist, and who uses his keys strongly, but as part of the overall sound of the record – driven on by the bass of Noah Jackson and drums of Wayne Smith – then peppered with all these beautiful contributions from Jason Palmer and Terell Stafford on trumpet, Tim Warfield on tenor and soprano, Ilan Bar Lavi on guitar, and Chris Hemingway on alto. The set was produced by Derrick Hodge, and has some of the sonic imagination of his own wonderful records – on titles that include "Ecidnac", "In Places", "Stuck In The Crack", "Second Opinion", "Song 6", "From Grace To grass", and "Ambition & Pride". CD

One of the most striking Egyptian jazz recordings of the 70s – and maybe one of the most avant, too – an unusual recording done at the German Culture Institute in Cairo, and an early collaboration between Hartmut Geerken and Salah Ragab! Ragab plays drums and percussion – but the approach is very different than his more rhythmic Cairo Jazz Band dates – as the group here really live up to the "free jazz" in their name – and come across more like the Sun Ra Arkestra during their greatest moments of free improvisation! Other players include Farouk Abdel Rahman on alto and percussion, Abdel Hakim Zael on baritone sax, Moohi El-Din Osman on bass, and Mahmoud Ayoub on tenor – and Geerken himself plays a wide range of percussive instruments and other items – including a "toy car producing the sound of a siren". Titles include "Liberty For Iratilim", "Turnus", and "Diagnosis For Percussion". LP, Vinyl record album

Features a big booklet of notes and photos of both artists – and a set of songs written and recorded by both, plus versions by Elza Soarez, Voz Do Morro, Clara Nunes, and Paulinho Da Viola! LP, Vinyl record album

A great document of the work of Cartola – the aging samba singer who was being strongly rediscovered in the 70s! Like other albums in this series, this one comes with an excellent booklet – featuring 12 pages of color photos of Cartola, as well as writing on his music in Portuguese. Tracks include interpretations by a number of different artists – with titles that include "Divina Dama" by Francisco Alves, "Acontece" by Gal Costa, "O Sol Nascera" by Nara Leao, and "Preconceito" by Paulinho Da Viola. LP, Vinyl record album

Hypnotic sound library material from Italian composer Daniela Casa – some of her rarest work from the mid 70s – recorded in her home studio and never before released commercially! It's very compelling work, with a range of styles from minimalist soundtrack music, to fairly heavy psych, to sitar-driven strings, to airy flute pieces and beyond. It was recorded for use in radio, television and film, but it honestly works just as well as melodic, if experimental instrumentals that masterfully blends and straddles genres. Titles include "Ricerca Dela Materia", "Pericolo", "Dimensione Concreta", "Grosse Cilindrate", "Avventura", "Visione Surreale", Occultismo", "Fantasia", "Motocross", "Dimensione Astrata", Ugnoto", "Circo Del Bimbi", "Sovrapposizione Di Immagini" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of great albums back to back – both rare albums from a percussionist who worked with Sun Ra! First up is Mora volume 1 – a legendary early set from percussionist Francisco Mora Catlett – and a really sublime blend of spiritual jazz and Latin rhythms! Mora's percussion is definitely at the core – but the set also features wonderful contributions from Vincent Bowens on tenor and soprano sax, Jerome LeDuff on berimbau, Alberto Nacif on quinto, and Detroit jazz legend Kenny Cox on piano! There's a balance here that really matches the best Strata East energy of the 70s – an open, flowing approach that's completely sublime, and very righteous too – even more so than anything Mora's done since the 70s – making this record one of his greatest achievements ever. Tersa Mora sings a bit of vocals at times – and titles include "Afra Jum", "Five AM", "Rumba Morena", "Samba De Amor", and "Cultural Warrior". Mora 2 is a set recorded in Detroit, but one that's got a globe's worth of elements in the mix – originally recorded in the mid 80s, but not released until a brief CD issue in the early part of the 21st Century! Despite that history, the album's a really timeless record that encompasses a world's worth of elements in jazz! Francisco Mora Catlett's at the height of his powers here – leading the group with a sense of righteous majesty that takes us back to some of the most ambitious heirs of the post-Coltrane generation, but with perhaps an oddly rhythmic twist as well – such as you might find in some of the 70s classics of Bobby Vince Paunetto. Echoes of Latin, Afro, and spiritual jazz come together as one – soaring to the skies on soulful waves of sound – brought together with a sense of focus and spirit that really moves us a lot. Players include Marcus Belgrave and John Douglass on trumpets, Sherman Mitchell on trombone, Vincent Bowens on tenor and flute, Alex Harding on baritone and bass clarinet, Kenny Cox on piano, and Rodney Whitaker on bass – and titles include "Samba/Conga De Amor", "Amazona Prelude/Dawn", "Old Man Joe", "Por Que Paro", and "Afra-Jum (parts 2 & 3)". CD

A creative blend of jazz and other musical styles from David Ornette Cherry – son of Don Cherry, and an artist who really shares a similar sense of boundary crossing as his father! Cherry provides vocals, piano, and "soundscapes" on the record – mixing acoustic and electric modes with other instrumentation from a shifting lineup of musicians all through the set – very much in an Afro-futurist mode, and infused with a nice sense of politics through the lyrics – which are often processed in a way that fit in nicely with David's more electronic elements. There's a lot of acoustic elements in the mix – global percussion and flute elements, plus guitar too – on titles that include "So & So & So & So", "Ancestors Are Calling", "Frame Of Creativity", "Hidden Sounds", "Najour", "Cosmic Nomad", and "Cultural Workers". CD

A one off "side project" from Sonic Youth in the late 80s, with some tongue in cheek numbers and few that are more in the vein of their other ouput of the era, but all with a strong nod to the reigning pop culture of the day. Includes "Needle Gun", "G-Force", "Macbeth", "Burnin' Up (Mike Watt orig demo)", "Children Of Satan/Third Fig", "Two Cool Rock Chicks Listening To Neu", "Moby Dik", "Making The Nature Scene", "Tuff Titty Rap" and "Into the Groovey". CD

A book about a single song, but one that goes much farther than that as well – as author Joshua Clover uses the classic "Roadrunner" by Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers as a springboard for musings on much larger cultural picture! It's clear that Clover knows and loves the song to death – but as with most people who really get inspired by a key piece of music, "Roadrunner" has a quality that transcends both its roots and contents – taking the author on a journey that spans years and other media too, but always with one ear firmly tuned back to the original song for inspiration. The first entry in a very cool series to come – softcover, 132 pages. Book

Three great albums from Alice Coltrane – all late 70s albums for Warner Brothers that really show her taking off as both a solo performer and a spiritual force! First up is Eternity – seminal 70s work from one of the most righteous jazz musicians ever! On this set, Alice Coltrane moves past the rawer spiritual sound of her Impulse albums – working with a more focused vision and an approach to jazz that takes her way past the identity of just being "Mrs Coltrane", into territory that's a more perfect expression of her spiritual vision. The approach calls for more ambitious orchestrations, yet never in a way that overwhelms the jazz basis of the music – and Alice herself is on Fender Rhodes, organ, and harp – working with players who include Fred Jackson and Hubert Laws on reeds, Oscar Brashear on trumpet, George Bohannon on trombone, Charlie Haden on bass, Ben Riley on drums, and Armando Peraza on congas. Titles include "Spiritual Eternal", "Om Supreme", "Morning Workshop", "Wisdom Eye", and "Los Caballos". Radha Krsna Nama Saknirtana is pure spiritual loveliness from Alice, and a record that features a lot of additional playing by Indian musicians! Clearly, the Hari Krishnas have gotten to the lady here – as you can tell by the orange robe she's wearing on the cover, and the blank stare in her eyes – but that doesn't stop the album from being a nice one, filled with the soaring spiritualism of her best 70s work, and infused with a cross-cultural approach to jazz that makes for a wonderfully expansive sound. Tracks include "Om Namah Sivaya", "Hare Krishna", and "Govinda Jai Jai". Transcendence is a beautiful record from Alice Coltrane – a swirling mix of spiritual jazz and themes from Indian music! Alice plays organ, Fender Rhodes, and harp – building the sound as the album progresses, from simple airy strings to an earthier groove that features vocal refrains in unison with the keyboards, chanting away, over and over, stretching to the heavens in a cosmic groove! The record features a lot of variations on traditional Indian themes – including "Sivaya", "Ghana Nila", and "Bhaja Govindam" – plus the original tracks "Transcendence" and "Vrindavana Sanchara". CD

The last concert ever played by the great John Coltrane – and, as with some of his other recordings from 1967, a record that really shows the Great One stepping out into some territory we would have loved him to explore more, had he not left our world too soon! The group here has tremendous tenor from Pharoah Sanders – alongside work from Alice Coltrane on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Rashied Ali on drums – joined by the more obscure Algie DeWitt, who plays bata drum on the session – alongside other percussion work that's been credited to Jumma Santos. The setting is the African Culture Center in New York, headed by percussionist Olatunji – which makes the added percussion even more important for the recording – and the set features a short introduction by Billy Taylor, and 2 long tracks: "Ogunde" and "My Favorite Things". CD