With Al Grey, Bill Hughes, Groer Mitchell, Melvin Wanxo, and John Watson Sr on trombones; Paul Cohen, George "Sonny" Cohn, George Minger, and Waymon Reed on trumpets; Bobby "Jersey Bounce" Plater, Eric Dixon, Curtis Peagler, JC Williams, and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis on saxophones; Freddie Green on guitar, Norman "Dewey" Keenan on bass, and Harold Jones on drums. CD

A very hip batch of 60s soul jazz numbers – played with a hard, full swing by the combo of LA bassist Clarence Daniels – and featuring vocals on a few of the best tracks! Daniels' group has a sound that's full, but never too much so – a great mix of rootsier soul jazz modes and more sophisticated arrangements – with a depth that almost reminds us of Oliver Nelson at times – but also with a sound that draws on the earlier jump blues sound of the postwar LA scene, reforged a bit for the 60s! This fantastic collection mixes Clarence's one full album with some rare singles and a number of unissued tracks too – and about half the set is instrumental, with saxes from Curtis Peagler – and singers on the other tracks include Obie Jessie, Sandy Miller, and Clarence Daniels himself. Titles include "Hard Working Girl", "Daddy's Got A Shotgun", "I Got To Get Ready", "Instrumental #3", "You Dig It", "Hello California", "Do The Deal", "I'll Drive My Blues Away", "Street Girl", "What Can A Poor Boy Do", "Baby I'm Gone", "I'll Never Let You Go", and "Pastel". CD

One of the weirdest, wildest albums from percussionist Big Black – a set that stretches out with a vibe that's a lot trippier and jazzier at times than some of his other work! Part of the album's strength comes from the arrangements – which are partly handled by Phil Moore, an artist who created all these other great album projects in the late 60s – often, like this one, a cool mix of exotic currents with new trends in funk and jazz – served up here by a lineup that features Moore on piano, Herman Riley and Chester Washington on tenors, Bruce Langhorn and the mysterious Brother Soul on guitars, and Thurman Green on trombone. Curtis Peagler adds in some alto and flute, and Owen Marshall plays the wild hose-a-phone, plus a host of percussion instruments too – while Big Black himself handles congas and a bit of vocals. Side one features the long jamming "Lion Walk" – and side two features "Tell Me, Do Your Conscience Bother You", "Love Sweet Like Sugar Cane", and "Come On Down To The Beach". LP, Vinyl record album

With Red Callendar on bass, John "Ironman" Harris on drums, Dinky Morris on saxophones, Jimmie Noone on tenor and clarinet, Curtis Peagler on alto, Snooky Young on trumpet, and special guest Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis on tenor. Titles include "Big Fat Daddy", "Piney Brown", "Finance Company Blues", "How Long Blues", and "Reel Ya Deel Ya Dee Dee Dee". LP, Vinyl record album

A supremely wonderful album from The Modern Jazz Disciples – a great little combo who had a much more cooking sound than any other groups of the time with "modern jazz" in their name! The group have a distinctly soul jazz sort of approach, but one that has enough modern touches to warrant their name – and although the group hailed from the Ohio scene, which was one of the reasons why they probably never got their due back in the day, a record like this really stands as a great testament to the wonderful energy that was going on in local US jazz spots in the postwar years! The horn work in the set is really wonderful – played by Curtis Peagler on alto sax and William Hickey Kelly on normaphone and euphonium, both horns that really add some unusual colors to the set. Rhythm is tight, sharp, and extremely soulful – thanks to fluid piano from William Billy Brown, bass from Lee Tucker, and drums from Roy McCurdy, who'd later go on to greater fame. Titles include "Disciples Blues", "Slippin & Slidin", "Little Taste", "Perhaps", and "Huck's Delight". LP, Vinyl record album