One of those records that just makes us say "wow" right from the very first note – a perfect showcase for all musicians involved, and a really mighty meeting of the creative minds! We've really loved the strong return to form that Matthew Shipp has given us on piano in recent years – and of course, the basswork of William Parker is always tremendous – but they both somehow rise even more to the top alongside the drums of Gerald Cleaver and reeds of Daniel Carter – in a session that's wonderfully spiritual, very rhythmic, and often quite straight at times! There's a balance between the avant impulses of the players and the collective action of the group – almost recalling the loft jazz years, but more contemporarily righteous too – and this second volume features titles that include "Wordwide", "Mask Production", "Da Rest Is Story", and "Blinking Down". CD

One of those records that just makes us say "wow" right from the very first note – a perfect showcase for all musicians involved, and a really mighty meeting of the creative minds! We've really loved the strong return to form that Matthew Shipp has given us on piano in recent years – and of course, the basswork of William Parker is always tremendous – but they both somehow rise even more to the top alongside the drums of Gerald Cleaver and reeds of Daniel Carter – in a session that's wonderfully spiritual, very rhythmic, and often quite straight at times! There's a balance between the avant impulses of the players and the collective action of the group – almost recalling the loft jazz years, but more contemporarily righteous too – and this second volume features titles that include "Wordwide", "Mask Production", "Da Rest Is Story", and "Blinking Down". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most heavenly albums ever recorded – a sublime post-60s session by Joao Gilberto, one with even more fluid grace than his original bossa nova classics! The setting here is extremely spare – Joao on vocals and acoustic guitar, backed by only a slight bit of percussion – and recorded with an sound that's incredibly clear and incredibly precise – so that each gentle note, each slight rasp of the guitar comes through beautifully – as do Joao's breathily personal vocals! There's a sense of poise and presence here that Gilberto hardly matched again – and that's saying a heck of a lot, given how great most of his other records already are. The whole thing's tremendous – a true treasure, and easily one of the top classics in Brazilian music from the 70s. Titles include a landmark version of "Aguas De Marco", plus "Undiu", "Falsa Baiana", "Avarandado", "Na Baixa Do Sapateiro", "Izaura", "E Preciso Perdoar", "Valsa", and "Eu Vim Da Bahia". CD

One of Egberto Gismonti's fantastic records from the seventies, and is waaaay better than anything he did for an American label. It's a wild mix of strident jazz and odd "experimental" moments, with a lot of joy and a lot of wonderful emotions running through all the tracks. The album's filled with baroque arrangements, cool keyboards, and lots of Gismonti's haunting compositions! Titles include "Frevo", "Cancao Da Espera", "Selva Amazonica", "Saudacoes", and "Maracatu". LP, Vinyl record album

Essential funk in a single set – three killer albums from James Brown's legendary backing group! First up is Food For Thought – the classic first album by The JBs – James Brown's Fred Wesley-led backing band, and the force behind most of his greatest records of the early 70s! The band are incredible at this point – sharper, harder, and funkier than just about any other combo around – and that includes all the thousands of groups in the funky 45 underground who were always trying to copy their sound, but never got things this right! Not only are the rhythms the stuff of legend – but the use of the instruments is far far above the norm – as can be heard on the mindblowing "The Grunt", which was sampled heavily by Public Enemy to great fame – and which features a saxophone solo that sounds more like a whistling tea kettle! The set collects some of the group's best early singles, and includes all of the short little funky cuts that made them a legend right out of the box – "Pass the Peas", "The Grunt", "These Are The JBs", "Hot Pants Road", "Wine Spot", "To My Brother", "Blessed Blackness", "Theme From King Heroin", "Escapism (parts 1 & 2), and "Gimme Some More" – all together here in one tight little album of massive funky hard beats and breaks! Doing It To Death is an incredible album – a landmark piece of funk that nobody should be without, funk fan or not! The album is the second to feature James Brown's famous backing combo of the early 70s – and unlike their first one, which was really more of a collection of singles, this album has the group playing hard, long, and loud, in the free funk improvisational mode that was James' real contribution to the music at the time. The tracks are all incredibly long, with James at the forefront, egging the band on with shouts and comments – but also letting them open up large instrumentally, playing in a mode that's as much jazz as it is funky soul. The whole thing's peppered with some nice shorter segues between tracks – but the long cuts are the winners, and are some of the best funk ever recorded! Titles include "Mo Peas", "Doing It To Death", "La Di Da La Di Day", "You Can Have Watergate, Just Gimme Some Bucks & I'll Be Straight", and "Sucker". Last up is Damn Right I Am Somebody – quite possibly our favorite record by the JBs, ever! The set starts with a wonderful conversational bit – rapping and musing on the idea of "Damn Right, I Am Somebody" – showing the group in a political and righteous mode for the first time ever. The grooves then kick in – with the same heavy funk as on earlier records, but also a nice nod towards experimental production – from strange fade ups and fade downs, to stark time and rhythm changes, and even bits of electronics used to create some very cool moments in the grooves! The whole thing's as dead funky as can be, and is stuffed with insane classics like "Blow Your Head", "Same Beat", "Damn Right I am Somebody", "I'm Payin' Taxes, What am I Buyin'", and a great cover of Marvin Gaye's "You Sure Love to Ball"! CD

A record that could have been the biggest breakthrough in the career of the legendary Joyce – yet the set was never issued at the time! The late 70s session has Joyce recording in New York, under the guidance of studio maestro Claus Ogerman – who has a wonderful way of elevating the overall quality of the proceedings, while never getting in the way of that special magic that made Joyce so wonderful – especially on her albums for EMI! As with those records, Joyce plays acoustic guitar alongside her amazing vocal approach – a style that's unlike anything else we can describe – informed by jazz and Brazilian music, yet soaring and gliding in a completely sublime style – awash in color and light as it flies to the sky. Mauricio Maestro helped out heavily on the record too – and the other players include Mike Manieri on vibes, Michael Brecker on tenor, Joe Farrell on flute, and Nana Vasconcelos on percussion – on titles that include a fantastic early reading of "Feminina" – plus "Miserios", "Descompassadamente", "Pega Leve", "Ciclo Da Vida", "Coracao Sonhador", and "Moreno". CD

A record that could have been the biggest breakthrough in the career of the legendary Joyce – yet the set was never issued at the time! The late 70s session has Joyce recording in New York, under the guidance of studio maestro Claus Ogerman – who has a wonderful way of elevating the overall quality of the proceedings, while never getting in the way of that special magic that made Joyce so wonderful – especially on her albums for EMI! As with those records, Joyce plays acoustic guitar alongside her amazing vocal approach – a style that's unlike anything else we can describe – informed by jazz and Brazilian music, yet soaring and gliding in a completely sublime style – awash in color and light as it flies to the sky. Mauricio Maestro helped out heavily on the record too – and the other players include Mike Manieri on vibes, Michael Brecker on tenor, Joe Farrell on flute, and Nana Vasconcelos on percussion – on titles that include a fantastic early reading of "Feminina" – plus "Miserios", "Descompassadamente", "Pega Leve", "Ciclo Da Vida", "Coracao Sonhador", and "Moreno". LP, Vinyl record album

A lost bit of 70s fusion from the west coast – a group led by percussionist Manolo Badrena, with lots of nice Brazilian jazz touches! Many of the tracks have lyrics – soulful and sunny, somewhere in between late 70s work by Flora Purim and Seawind – and the overall groove is like some of the excellent 70s work on CTI/Kudu Records – especially the electric session that would bring in some strong percussion on the bottom! The whole thing's really wonderful – with some keyboard lines that almost link the record to early albums by Azymuth – and musicians include Hugo Fattorso on Fender Rhodes and percussion, Abraham Laboriel on bass, and Maria Fatima and Sybil Thomas on vocals. Titles include "Clube Da Esquina", "Got Some", "Canales", "Fly Away", "Yana", "Amor Lejano", and "Claro Que Si". CD

Classic bossa mixed with more ambitious touches for the 70s – easily one of the greatest records ever to come from the team of Vinicius and Toquinho! The record has vocals by both, often layered on top of each other with a wonderfully spacious feel that spreads out beautifully between the speakers – and instrumentation features Toquinho's acoustic guitar supported by fuller, jazzier backings from Francis Hime and Edu Lobo – both of whom hit that sublime blend of warmth and space that made their own early 70s Brazilian albums so great! Titles include "Carta Ao Tom 74", "Como E Duro Trabalhar", "Samba Da Volta", "Samba Pra Vinicus", "Samba Do Jato", and "Canto E Contraponto", with a guest performance by Quarteto Em Cy. LP, Vinyl record album

A lost classic from one of the greatest Brazilian sax players ever! This obscure session originally came out on the Equipe label, and was even briefly issued in the US on the Tangerine imprint – and the record stands as one of the greatest sides of jazz that Moura ever cut! Paulo handled all the arrangements himself, and the group's an all star one that features Pascoal Meirelles on drums, Wagner Tiso on piano, Luiz Carlos on bass, plus additional tenor sax, trumpet, and trombone next to Moura's alto sax. The set's a beautiful batch of warmly painted tunes – awash with color and life, showing both Moura's talent for lyrical interplay, and his tendency to blow in edgier styles. Titles include "Travessia", "No Brilho Da Faca", "General Da Banda", "Outubro", "Nem Precisou Mais Um Sol", and "Das Tardes Mais Sos". LP, Vinyl record album

We'll admit that we don't know anything at all about Fernando Oly – but he's a hell of an artist, with a richness to his music that really seems to put him in the same territory as the 70s generation of Milton Nascimento and his associates! In fact, there's a lofty vibe to the record that reminds us of some of the earliest work by Toninho Horta – especially in the way that Oly's guitar lines blend with his spacious vocals, and really give the music a sense of majesty – a mode that's simple, but soulful – but in ways that are very organic, and almost feel as if Fernando's tapping into the rhythms of the planet, instead of any sort of organized recording mode. That quality is echoed especially in some of the album's compelling moments of percussion – and titles include "Chuva Da Montanha", "Cheiro De Roma", "Birimboca", "Pra Onde O Vento A Vela Levar", "Sonhos Claros", "Alto Mar", and "Barbara Bela". LP, Vinyl record album

The mid 90s instant classic! Outkast's debut set hem up as one of the most distinctive hip hop duos ever, right out of the gate, but it also helped to established the freewheeling, funky dirty south sound, thanks to genius Organized Noize production! The Outkast sound would get bigger and more wildly eclectic on the records to follow Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, but the consistent, funky southern swagger on this one holds up incredibly well. It sounds fresh to this day! Includes breakout hit "Player's Ball", "Crumblin Erb", "Git Up, Git Out", "Claimin' True", "Funky Ride", "Soouthernplayalisticadillacmuzik", "Ain't No Thang", "CallOf Da Wild", "Hootie Hoo" and a couple of interludes. LP, Vinyl record album

Pedrinho Sampaio is surrounded by keyboards on this late 70s gem from Brazil – and the record definitely makes it feel that way too – as Pedrinho handles a variety of different Yamaha organs and keyboards, plus some Roland strings as well! Yet there's also a nicely rounded group feel to the record – as the combo has guitar, bass, and drums – so that the whole session has a fluid groove that's not just driven by the keyboards – which is a good thing too, as Pedrinho provides some great vocals on most numbers – slightly soulful, and with a quality that's really down to earth. The whole thing's great – leaner and less commercial than if the record were done in the US – and with a vibe that's nicely between Brazilian soul and jazz of the period, with a very groovy sound throughout. Titles include "Rio Negro", "Manaus", "Correnteza", "Tranzamazonica", "Todas As Criancas Da Terra", "Pensando Em Pensar", and "Nocoes De Piano Harp". LP, Vinyl record album

Raul Seixas looks a bit less freaky on the cover here than on some of his 70s records, but his sound is still nice and lean, and definitely on the edgier side of MPB – as befitting his initial role in the group Secos E Molhados! Seixas has really learned how to express himself at a deeper level, and the record allows him a few more introspective tracks next to the harder rockers – maybe the maturing balance that Lou Reed was seeking in his music at the time – on titles that include "Segredo Da Luz", "Aquela Cosa", "So Glad You're Mine", "Carimbador Maluco", "Lua Cheia", "Quero Mais", "Nao Fosse O Cabral", and "DDI". LP, Vinyl record album

A wicked collaboration between Marcos Valle and Celso Fonseca – a set that's different than other recent work from both artists, and pretty darn great overall! The style's a bit fuller and more soulful than some other recent Valle albums – and Fonseca's got more force too – not nearly as gentle as on some of his own albums, and working with Marcos in a mode that recalls some of the best soul-based sound of Valle's records from years back! Both Marcos and Celso sing on the set – and Valle plays lots of Fender Rhodes, in ways that remind us that he was one of our favorite musicians to handle the keyboard back in the 70s – and most cuts on the record are co-composed by Valle and Fonseca. Titles include "Quase Perto", "Tres Da Tarde", "Pagina Central", "Pra Tocar Assim", "Faz De Conta", "Azul Cristal", "Voo Livre", and "Curvas Do Tempo". CD

A heavy dose of funky jazz – and one that goes way past the obvious too – to include some real gems from the 70s that even we'd passed up! The package is filled with stellar jazz from the Fantasy Records family – Prestige, Pablo, Galaxy and Fantasy proper – choice numbers by The Blackbyrds, Stanley Cowell, Charles Earland, Patrice Rushen and others – funky jazz, soul, boogie and Brazil-flavored numbers from the top shelf of the diverse period! It's a tight, well chosen compilation with numbers you simply could not overlook in putting a set like this together – productions by the Mizells, Donald Byrd, Earland and others – but there's a few of leftfield choices, too. Simply a great little snapshot of the funky jazz and soul period and the family of labels that generated so much of the most creative music to come from it! 14 tracks and nearly 80 minutes of grooves: Includes "Happy Music" by Blackbyrds, "Close To You" by Marlon McClain, "Let Me Love You (Let Me Be Me)" by Stanley Cowell, "Taj Mahal" by Paulinho Da Costa, "Nov Ano" by Azar Lawrence, "Moon Dreams" by Flora Purim, "Montevideo" by Opa, "Glide" by Pleasure, "Shout It Out" by Patrice Rushen, "If Only I Could Prove To You" by The 3 Pieces and more. CD

A landmark double-live album that was easily one of the most important soul record moments of the 70s! The concert was an all-star event held in LA to celebrate the anniversary of the Watts riots – but it features a killer lineup of talent from the roster of Stax Records – by then a proud independent with more than enough power to spread a nationwide message from Memphis to Los Angeles without any trouble! The record is nicely segmented – so that it offers up mini "sets" by each artist – really recreating the feel of the event, at a level that lived on in countless living rooms long after the concert was over. Titles include "Son Of Shaft/Feel It" and "I Can't Turn You Loose" by The Bar-Kays; "Ain't No Sunshine" by Isaac Hayes, "I Don't Know What This World Is Coming To" and "Hearsay" by The Soul Children, "I Like What You're Doing To Me" and "Gee Whiz" by Carla Thomas; "The Breakdown" and "Do The Funky Penguin" by Rufus Thomas, "Killing Floor" and "Angel Of Mercy" by Albert King"; "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers; and "Knock On Wood" by Eddie Floyd. Also includes 2 studio tracks recorded after the show – "Oh La De Da" by The Staple Singers, and "Lay Your Loving On Me" by Eddie Floyd. LP, Vinyl record album

One of those records that just makes us say "wow" right from the very first note – a perfect showcase for all musicians involved, and a really mighty meeting of the creative minds! We've really loved the strong return to form that Matthew Shipp has given us on piano in recent years – and of course, the basswork of William Parker is always tremendous – but they both somehow rise even more to the top alongside the drums of Gerald Cleaver and reeds of Daniel Carter – in a session that's wonderfully spiritual, very rhythmic, and often quite straight at times! There's a balance between the avant impulses of the players and the collective action of the group – almost recalling the loft jazz years, but more contemporarily righteous too – and this second volume features titles that include "Wordwide", "Mask Production", "Da Rest Is Story", and "Blinking Down". CD

Stanley Clarke's a lot more soul-based than fusion here – but that's A-OK with us, because we like this sort of work a lot better than his jamming jazz rock of the 70s! The record's got a great mellow soul vibe – laidback and gently stepping – sometimes in a way that's a bit commercial, but never with as many of the cloying styles as hurt other records like this at the time. Stan sings, plays bass and guitar, and other players include Greg Phillinganes on Fender Rhodes and mini-moog, Ndugu Chancler on drums, Michael Sembello on guitar, and Paulinho Da Costa on percussion. Titles include "Straight To The Top", "Let Me Know You", "You Are The One For Me", "Play The Bass", "New York City", and "Secret To My Heart". LP, Vinyl record album

A new record by the legendary Sergio Mendes – bursting into the 21st century on a catchy wave of Will I Am production – reworking gems from the Brazilian songbook and more with guest appearances by Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Q-Tip, India Arie, Black Thought, Chali 2Na, Marcelo D2, John Legend and others! Will I Am has been annoying hip hop purists for years thanks to the relentless candy-coated pop gloss of recent Black Eyed Peas records – but he brings an intelligent, reverent and educated approach to the Brazilian keys legend Sergio Mendes – whose familiar grooves are a lovely accomplice to the sparkling hip hop/pop background. The guest stars seem to be here out of genuine love of the music – and provide far more graceful appearances than we would have expected! A very sweet surprise with bright, warm, and lovely moments – almost good enough for us to forgive Will I Am for "My Humps"! Tracks include "Mas Que Nada" feat Black Eyed Peas, "Berimbau/Consolacao" feat Stevie Wonder & Gracinha Leporace, "That Heat" feat Erykah Badu & Will I Am, "Let Me" feat Jill Scott & Will I Am, "Please Baby Don't" feat John Legend, "Samba Da Bencao" feat Marcelo D2, "Yes, Yes, Y'All" feat Black Thought, Chali 2Na & others and much more! CD

The mid 90s instant classic! Outkast's debut set them up as one of the most distinctive hip hop duos ever, right out of the gate, but it also helped to established the freewheeling, funky dirty south sound, thanks to genius Organized Noize production! The Outkast sound would get bigger and more wildly eclectic on the records to follow Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, but the consistent, funky southern swagger on this one holds up incredibly well. It sounds fresh to this day! Includes breakout hit "Player's Ball", "Crumblin Erb", "Git Up, Git Out", "Claimin' True", "Funky Ride", "Soouthernplayalisticadillacmuzik", "Ain't No Thang", "CallOf Da Wild", "Hootie Hoo" and a couple of interludes. CD

A sublime little set all the way through – an early 60s date from the west coast scene – and one that was almost as important to that side of the country as the Verve bossa records were to New York! Bud Shank's in the lead on alto sax – no flute at all this time around – blowing sharp and soulfully, in a way that's even more deft than most of his other albums! But the equal star here is the young Clare Fischer – who plays piano in the group, and also contributed a host of original tunes to the set – fresh numbers that are way different than the usual "bossa-ized" standards, or American remakes of Brazilian classics. Ralph Pena is a key member of the group on bass – and Larry Bunker plays some vibes as well. Titles include "Joao", "Pensativa", "Samba Guapo", "Samba Da Borboleta", and "Que Mais?". CD

One of the all-time classic funk records from the 70s – a set that grabs you with the very first note, and lets you know that you've really stumbled onto something groovy! South Side Movement have a sinister groove that's very much their own – not like James Brown, The Meters, or just about anyone else – cooked up on the south side of Chicago at a time when the city was a real hotbed of creative activity in all sorts of different ways – and served up with the sort of sophistication that often marked some of the best Windy City groups of the time! Jimmy Van Leer produced, and the whole thing's got a mix of sophisticated instrumentation and straightforward funk that's wonderful – heard to great effect on the classic leadoff track "I Been Watching You" – and followed by so many other great gems that include "Mud Wind", "Superstition", "Can You Get To That", "La Dee Da", and "You're Gonna Lose My Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A low price, but a really great package – one that's overflowing with some of the best recent work from the mighty Schema Records! If you read these pages at all, you'll know we think that Schema's one of the greatest things going these days – a modern label, but one that's committed to the real jazz grooves of earlier years – the bossa, modal, and soul jazz styles of the 60s and 70s – played in a mixture of real instrumentation and just a bit of dancefloor production, with a sound that's instant classic on nearly every release! This package is a great introduction to the Schema label's genius, and even if you've got some of the tracks here on other releases, the set is a really great way to hear all this music in one place – kind of a "best of the best" that's totally great! Titles include "Bluesanova" by Gerardo Frisina, "Moon Vision" by Soulstance, "I knew The Way" by Invisible Session, "On A Clear Day" by Was A Bee, "Emotional Dancing" by S-Tone, "Stay (In Mood)" by Paolo Fedreghini & Marco Bianchi, "Afrolicious" by Dining Rooms, "Esquema Da Bossa" by Quintetto X, "Today's Sound" by Intensive Jazz Sextet, and "Dreaming Of The Past" by Rosario Giuliani Quartetto. CD

Beautiful sounds from a very unique label – one started in Paris by a Malian merchant in the 80s, in order to both present sounds from his homeland, and all of the wonderful new variations that were taking place on the cross-cultural scene in France! The body of work is partly a compelling document of culture in diaspora, but more importantly presents a nice range of grooves with a vibe that's very different than mainstream music from the time – especially some of the too-commercialized records that were shifting big numbers on the world music scene. Most of these tracks have a very down to earth presentation – professional, but never overdone – mixing older styles with electric instrumentation and just a touch of studio sweetening, but hardly much at all. Titles include "Duna" by Halima Kissima Toure, "Ayebo" by Hadja Soumano, "Bolinaame" by Diaby Doua, "Tenedo" by Ami Traore, "Alla Da Fo Na" by Halima Kissima Toure, "Soso" by Mah Kouyate, "Nogome" by Lassana Hawa Cissokho, and "Kori" by Mamadou Tangoudia. Most tracks originally issued on cassette or digital – and appear here on vinyl for the first time ever! LP, Vinyl record album

Killer reissue that combines both of the albums that Airto recorded for Buddah in the early 70s! The records were done with the help of Flora Purim and Hermeto Pascoal, plus Sivuca and Dom Um Romao – and they both boast perfect production, and just the right mix of Brazilian instrumentation and fusiony sounds. If you've ever heard one of Airto's weaker albums and wondered what the fuss was about, get this set and see how great he can be – because the record's got soaring jazzy Brazilian cuts that rank with the best stuff we stock! With the tracks "Andei", "Bebe", "Mixing", "The Tunnel", "On Sonho", Papo Furado", and "O Galho da Rosiera". 16 cuts in all! LP, Vinyl record album

Easily one of the greatest records that Brazilian percussionist Airto ever recorded – a stunning blend roots and jazzy currents, and a set that follows strongly off his work in the group Quarteto Novo! The set's got contributions from one of his key partners in that combo – reedman Hermeto Pascoal – and like Pascoal's material at this point, the whole thing is maybe one of the most perfect realizations of the musical vision that Airto was going for! There's none of the tighter, more polished sounds of his later fusion years – and this is the record that will show you just why his arrival on the American scene made such big waves at the time. Flora Purim also sings on the record – and titles include "Andei", "On Sonho", Papo Furado", and "O Galho da Rosiera". LP, Vinyl record album

A great album from one of Ivan Lins' best periods – a great shift in his music, with a sound that's made the album one of his all-time classics! The set has him adapting more of a jazzy sound than on earlier records – dropping some of the baroque arrangements for a sound that's leaner, meaner, and stripped down in a way that really gets the spirit of his great compositions across to the listener. The small backing combo features Gilson Peranzzetta, who plays some excellent electric piano, which gives the album a moody groove that places it somewhere between the early 70s work of Joao Donato and Milton Nascimento. Titles include "Lenda Do Carmo", "Sorriso Da Magoa", "Palhacos E Reis", "Corpos", "Demonio De Guarda", and "Nao Ha Porque". CD

The first really in-depth look at the life of the great Al Green – a book that traces the fascinating journey that led a young man from Memphis to the top of the soul charts in the 70s – only to leave the world of secular music for the church in the following decade, then go on to a surprisingly rich career in decades that followed! The book is especially great at the roots of Al's sound and style – and if you dig southern soul as much as us, you'll really appreciate the author's account of the long journey before Green rose to fame at Hi Records – the kind of journeyman work that's often eclipsed when an artist becomes a star. The book also includes an appendix with a discography and legal notes too – and is over 400 pages, hardcover, with some black and white images. Book

One of the hippest 60s sets from saxophonist Sahib Shihab – a large group album recorded with the Danish Radio Group – a great batch of modernists from the Scandinavian scene of the time! The album's still got the modal rhythms and long-flowing solos we love in Sahib's best 60s work – but the presence of the larger ensemble also fills up the sound a bit more too – letting in a wider range of colors and tones behind the solos, in a way that makes for a really expressive sound! Shihab's playing baritone sax and flute – and other players include Palle Mikkelborg and Allan Botschinsky on trumpets, Bent Jaedig on tenor and flute, Niels Husum on soprano sax and bass clarinet, Bent Axen on piano, and Louis Hjulmand on vibes. The whole thing's got a great sense of energy and soul – never too academic, as you might expect from a modernist outing like this – and Sahib keeps a strong, bold tone in his horns throughout! Titles include "Di Da", "Dance Of The Fakowees", "Mai Ding", "Not Yet", "Tenth Lament", "The Crosseyed Cat", and "Little French Girl". LP, Vinyl record album

Brazilian guitarist Sebastiao Tapajos usually records in a relatively mellow mode – but here, he's working with percussive backings from Pedro Dos Santos – who plays a wide variety of instruments, and really adds a lot to the sound of the set! There's kind of a bossa guitar with percussion vibe to the record – although Tapajos' style always moves past just straight bossa – and Pedro handles all sorts of percussion elements, and even brings in some cool vocal effects – on titles that include "Escola De Samba", "Laberinto", "Catedral", "Dora/Saudade Da Bahia", "Ganga", "Rio Das Ostras" "Emboscada", "Feitio De Oracoa", and "Sambaden". Features 9 bonus tracks – including "Ganga", "Catedral", "Samba Do Aviao", "Laberinto", "Cancion Del Fuego Fatuo", and "Tornei A Caminhar". CD

Maria Bethania recorded some of her best early material in a live setting – and this album is great testament to that fact! Unlike some of her Tropicalia contemporaries – whose live records could sometimes be a bit rough around the edges – Bethania's albums were always very well-put together performances done with tremendous musical backings – all quite sophisticated, sometimes even more so than her studio sessions, and magically recorded in a way that still preserved a strong sense of intimacy in her vocals! Titles include "Ponto De Oxum", "Minha Historia", "Lembrancas", "Rosa Dos Ventos", "Janelas Abertas No 2", "Movimento Dos Barcos", and "Flor Da Noite". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic illustration of the live music tradition on Brazil – one that really arose on records during the 60s, and blossomed strongly on 70s records like this – which feel almost more like an event than a recorded document! The concert features a magnificent meeting of Chico Buarque and Maria Bethania – both very strong talents on their own, balanced in this really great way amidst larger backings from Maestro Gaya – duetting on tunes that really turn into something special from their performance – never a challenge of egos, but instead a wonderful folding of strong ideals. Terra Trio provide the rhythms – and most numbers are Buarque originals – with titles that include "Flor Da Idade", "Vai Levando", "Bem Querer", "Noite Dos Mascarados", "Tanto Mar", "Gota D'Agua", "Com Acucar E Com Afeto", and "Sem Fantasia". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic illustration of the live music tradition on Brazil – one that really arose on records during the 60s, and blossomed strongly on 70s records like this – which feel almost more like an event than a recorded document! The concert features a magnificent meeting of Chico Buarque and Maria Bethania – both very strong talents on their own, balanced in this really great way amidst larger backings from Maestro Gaya – duetting on tunes that really turn into something special from their performance – never a challenge of egos, but instead a wonderful folding of strong ideals. Terra Trio provide the rhythms – and most numbers are Buarque originals – with titles that include "Flor Da Idade", "Vai Levando", "Bem Querer", "Noite Dos Mascarados", "Tanto Mar", "Gota D'Agua", "Com Acucar E Com Afeto", and "Sem Fantasia". CD

Not Sweet Soul, but deep soul – courtesy of one of the best artists recording for Atlantic Records in the 60s! The album's way more than a similarly-titled follow up to Conley's debut for the label – and stands beautifully on its own with a host of great numbers that are right up there with the best 60s soul on Atlantic! Production was handled both at Fame Studios and American Recording – giving a mixed Memphis/Muscle Shoals groove to the set that really keeps things fresh. Also keeping things fresh is a good selection of tunes that includes original Conley tunes "Aunt Dora's Love Soul Shack", "Run On", and "Shing A Ling" – plus the cuts "Stuff You Gotta Watch", "Take A Step", "Speak Her Name", "Ob La Di Ob La Da", and "Something You Got". CD

An excellent mid 90s album from Joyce – and one of the first really great records she made in years! The album's got a nice no-nonsense sound that returns Joyce to the sparer settings of her earlier work – and which paves the way for more recent strong efforts, like Hard Bossa or Tudo Bonito. The backing's mostly by a jazz quintet of piano, tenor sax, bass, and drums – and Joyce plays guitar and sings in both English and Portugese. Tracks include "Upa Neguinho", "Cantaloupe Island", "No Tabuleiro da Baiana", "Tenderly", "Speak Low", "Here There & Everywhere", and "Delirios De Orfeu". CD

Lesser-known work by Love – recorded immediately after the group's seminal records on Elektra, with a slightly different sound! The CD brings together tracks from the albums Out Here and False Start – both of which feature the band moving back to basics, working in a harder rocking style that has less of the baroque arrangements of albums like Da Capo or Forever Changes. Arthur Lee's still as incredible as ever – with that slightly mad vocal approach that gives even the most mundane tunes a real edge – and the guitar work's supported by an even heavier style of rhythm, one that almost gives a few tracks some nice funky moments. CD features 14 tracks in all, including "Gimi A Little Break", "Nice To Be", "Listen To My Song", "I'll Pray For You", "Love Is Coming", "Signed DC", "Gather Round", and "Love Is More Than Words Or Better Late Than Never". CD

A heady live set from The Meters – recorded in a small club outside of New Orleans, and with a groove that's a nicely gritty take on the sound that they were hitting on their Warner albums of the mid 70s! There's more vocals here than on the early records, but the group still really showcase their instrumentation too – with more guitar lines than before, plenty of organ, and some massive bass and drums as well! Titles include "Big Chief", "Just Kissed My Baby", "Feel Da Groove", "Hey Pocky Way", "People Say", "Jungle Man", and "Ain't No Use/Po Boy Jam". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful album from Miucha – the lovely bossa singer who recorded a few albums with Tom Jobim at the end of the 70s! The album's a much more mature effort than those records – with Miucha in the lead as a sophisticated, mature singer – working through a set of tracks that features tunes by some of Brazil's greatest composers – Edu Lobo, Carlos Lyra, Joao Donato, and others. Titles include "Voce Voce", "A Dor A Mais", "Vento Levou", "Refem Da Solidao", "Tempo De Amar", "Solidao", "Cor De Cinza", "Pode Ir", "Fox E Trote", and "Cancao Inedita". CD

One of Mongo's biggest records of the early 70s – and an important early side for Atlantic Records! Moving to Atlantic from Columbia, Mongo hipped things up even more – picking up on important trends in soul, rock, and the Latin underground of the time. Atlantic gave Mongo the freedom to open things up a bit more – and fill his grooves with a bit more funk, jazz, and Chicano soul than heard on earlier albums. The result is a wonderful blend of styles that crackles with electricity from track to track. Arrangements are by Mongo's longtime partner, Marty Sheller – and titles include "Hip Hug Her", "Sunshine Of Your Love", "Hold On, I'm Coming", "On Broadway", and "In A Gadda Da Vida", which is a real trip! LP, Vinyl record album

Legendary sounds from the Staple Singers – a set of albums for Stax Records that really helped push the group from the gospel folk underground into the soul music mainstream – and which also helped transform the rest of the scene in the process! The Staple Singers had recorded previously for Vee Jay, Epic, and other labels – but when the group hit Stax, at a time when the label was newly set free in the late 60s, the mix of forces really turned out to create something special – message-oriented soul music that drew on the strength of the group's gospel experience, but delivered themes that were every bit as righteous from a secular perspective too – all set to music from the great studio forces who were making Stax so wonderful at the time! This set features six full albums, all from the original tapes – Soul Folk In Action, We'll Get Over, Staple Swingers, Be Altitude Respect Yourself, Be What You Are, and City In The Sky – plus a special Singles Live & More album of bonus tracks! Bonus tracks include "Stay With Us", "Brand New Day", "Walking In Water Over Your Head", "I Got To Be Myself", "Oh La De Da", and "Trippin On Your Love" – plus Live At Wattstax recordings of "I'll Take You There", "Respect Yourself", "Heavy Makes You Happy", "Are You Sure", and "I Like The Things About Me". Comes in a heavy box, with all original album sleeves, remastered from the original tapes. CD

Allen Toussaint's complete recordings for Warner – a trio of classic albums from one of the greatest forces in Crescent City soul, plus rare live tracks – in a perfect 2CD set! Includes the complete Life Love & Faith, Southern Nights and Motion albums – from a creatively fruitful 70s period when Toussaint was mixing a bit of funk into the heavy soul mix, and even some mellow LA soul touches – coming up with a blend of styles without ever betraying his New Orleans roots! New Orleans legends like Leo Nocentelli, Zig Modeliste, Art Neville and George Porter Jr factor in to the Life Love & Faith and Southern Nights sessions, along with LA sessions all stars like Richard Tee, Victor Feldman, Paulinho Da Costa, Larry Carlton and producer Jerry Wexler on the Motion sessions – this this excellent Rhino CD anthology also include 10 previously unreleased live records! Titles include Soul Sister", "Victims Of The Darkness", "Am I Expecting Too Much", "Out Of The City", "Goin Down", "Electricity", "Fingers & Toes", Southern Nights", "Basic Lady", "Last Train", "Worldwide", "You Will Not Lose", "When The Party's Over", Motion", "Night People", "Just A Kiss Away", "Declaration Of Love", "Viva La Money" and more from the studio recordings, plus "Touch Of Love", "Brickyard Blues", "What Is Success", "Shoo-Ra", "Last Train" and more live tracks! CD

An amazing little box set – filled with 10 rare bossa nova albums from the Brazilian underground of the 60s – almost all of which we'd never heard before! The records here were mostly issued on small labels at the time – the kind of sets that never circulated widely outside of Brazil, and which often have unusual and striking sounds that are quite different from mainstream bossa work on labels like Verve or Elenco! There's a fair bit of jazz on most albums, and the instrumentation varies nicely throughout – sometimes more sax up front, sometimes more acoustic guitar, or offbeat horn arrangements, odd percussion, and lots of other sweet touches! Each CD features two full albums, completely with cover art and other details of the records – and the set features the albums Balanco E Bossa Nova by Ritmistas Da Bossa, Sambalanco by Orquesta Moderna De Samba, Isso E Bossa Nova Mesmo by Conjunto Sambossa, Saxsambando by Os Saxsambistas Brasileiros, O Balanco E A Bossa by Conjunto Masterplay, Samba Do Bom by Conjunto Samba De Balanco, Samba Pra Frente by Samba Trio, A Musica Maravilhosa De Antonio Carlos Jobim by Bossa Brass, and the self-titled 1964 album by Os Azes De Bossa. CD

A fantastic collection of work from a real golden age in hip hop – a period that you'll probably guess from the image of the Native Tongues posse on the front – served up here in a compilation that brings together classics from De La Soul, The Jungle Brothers, Monie Love, and many others! The set list is superb – and while most of the tracks are well-remembered gems, and not the kind of rare cuts we usually hear from Ace Records – taken together, they're a tremendous reminder of a time when hip hop really came alive – bursting with wit, wisdom, and a whole new sense of musical imagination! As usual with Ace, the liner notes and other details are great – making this way more than just a slap-dash mix of hits – and titles include "You're Not Coming Home (Mase's funkay recall mix)" by Groove Garden, "Age Ain't Nothin But A #" by Chi Ali, "Bonita Applebum" by Tribe Called Quest, "Sunshine Men" by Freestyle Fellowship, "Peachfuzz" by KMD, "K Sera Sera" by Justin Warfield, "It's A Shame" by Monie Love, "Doin Our Own Dang" by Jungle Brothers, "OPP" by Naughty By Nature, "Doowutchyalike" by Digital Underground, "A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays" by De La Soul, "The Choice Is Yours" by Black Sheep, "All For One" by Brand Nubian, "My Definition Of A Boombastic Jazz Style" by Dream Warriors, "Mama Gave Birth To The Soul Children" by Queen Latifah with De La Soul, "Where I'm From" by Digable Planets, and "We Run Things (It's Like Dat)" by Da Bush Babees. CD

A fantastic collection of work from a real golden age in hip hop – a period that you'll probably guess from the image of the Native Tongues posse on the front – served up here in a compilation that brings together classics from De La Soul, The Jungle Brothers, Monie Love, and many others! The set list is superb – and while most of the tracks are well-remembered gems, and not the kind of rare cuts we usually hear from Ace Records – taken together, they're a tremendous reminder of a time when hip hop really came alive – bursting with wit, wisdom, and a whole new sense of musical imagination! As usual with Ace, the liner notes and other details are great – making this way more than just a slap-dash mix of hits – and titles include "You're Not Coming Home (Mase's funkay recall mix)" by Groove Garden, "Age Ain't Nothin But A #" by Chi Ali, "Bonita Applebum" by Tribe Called Quest, "Sunshine Men" by Freestyle Fellowship, "Peachfuzz" by KMD, "K Sera Sera" by Justin Warfield, "It's A Shame" by Monie Love, "Doin Our Own Dang" by Jungle Brothers, "OPP" by Naughty By Nature, "Doowutchyalike" by Digital Underground, "A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays" by De La Soul, "The Choice Is Yours" by Black Sheep, "All For One" by Brand Nubian, "My Definition Of A Boombastic Jazz Style" by Dream Warriors, "Mama Gave Birth To The Soul Children" by Queen Latifah with De La Soul, "Where I'm From" by Digable Planets, and "We Run Things (It's Like Dat)" by Da Bush Babees. LP features two bonus tracks – "Case Of The PTA" by Leaders Of The New School and "What's Up Doc (K-Cut's fat trac rmx)" by Fu Schnickens. LP, Vinyl record album

A really beautiful record from the Ambiance ensemble – a group led by reedman Daoud Abubakar Balewa – a musician with the same underground prominence as Plunky Nakabinde and Idris Ackamoor during the same generation! Like both of those artists, Daoud has a way of moving effortlessly between spiritual jazz and more soul-based styles – heard here on one of his standout records from the early 80s, which blends his own work on a variety of saxes with nicely flowing accompaniment on piano, percussion, guitars, and a slight touch of Fender Rhodes – mostly instrumental, but with a few vocal moments from time to time! The vibe is late spiritual jazz – not as tightly tied to Coltrane-based modes, and nicely finding its own space in the universe – on titles that include "Eastwind", "Something Better", "Into A New Journey", and "The Arrival" – plus versions of "Black Narcissus", "500 Miles", and "Windows". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of later albums from Stax Records' guitar genius Steve Cropper! On the cover of Playin My Thang, Steve Cropper's looking a lot more loose and upfront than he ever did on albums he cut with Booker T & The MGs – and maybe that's because he's emerging here as a more more of a lead artist as well – singing next to his classic work on guitar, while still letting his strength on that instrument carry most of the vibe of the set! There's still plenty of classic Cropper elements in place here, including backing by the Memphis Horns – and at some level, Steve's vocals are always a lot more understated than his guitar – as if he knows that's what we really came for. The set's got a number of original titles – including "Give Em What They Want", "Playin My Thang", "Fly", "With You", "Ya Da Ya Da", and "Why Do You Say You Love Me". Night After Night is a surprisingly nice later set from Stax guitarist Steve Cropper – a record that definitely has some of the modern elements you'd guess from the image on the cover, but which also has a huge amount of contributions from the Memphis scene – from session musicians, to backup vocalists, to all sorts of other elements that give the record a vibe that's very much in keeping with Cropper's legacy from the MGs onward! In other words, forget the slickness of the package, and be surprised at the more soulful, roots-based sound on most numbers – a set of cuts that include "Sad Eyes", "Hold Your Fire", "Can't Break The Habit", "Heartbeat", "Make You Feel Love Again", and "Night After Night". CD

A deep dive into the genius of Faust – material recorded by the groundbreaking experimental collective at their home base during the early 70s, none of issued at the time! The work here stands as a seminal addendum to the too-small catalog of the group's material from these days – and the sounds within really show Faust at their most creative – moving through the kind of sonic territory that you'd know from their records, but presented here as if you've discovered an album that you somehow passed by! Some tracks are spare and moody, others driving and jamming – and throughout the material, Faust show that really unique ear for mixing live instrumentation and studio experimentation – all at a level that was very much their own, even in the heady company of the Krautrock generation. The material was originally part of the expensive Faust box set, but is presented here as a standalone release – and titles on volume one include "Naja", "Flaflas", "Mechankika", "Vorsatz", "Bonne Soupe Au Fromage", "Acouphenes", "Fin De Face", "Weird Sounds Sound Bizarre", and "Es Ist Wieder Da". CD

A deep dive into the genius of Faust – material recorded by the groundbreaking experimental collective at their home base during the early 70s, none of issued at the time! The work here stands as a seminal addendum to the too-small catalog of the group's material from these days – and the sounds within really show Faust at their most creative – moving through the kind of sonic territory that you'd know from their records, but presented here as if you've discovered an album that you somehow passed by! Some tracks are spare and moody, others driving and jamming – and throughout the material, Faust show that really unique ear for mixing live instrumentation and studio experimentation – all at a level that was very much their own, even in the heady company of the Krautrock generation. The material was originally part of the expensive Faust box set, but is presented here as a standalone release – and titles on volume one include "Naja", "Flaflas", "Mechankika", "Vorsatz", "Bonne Soupe Au Fromage", "Acouphenes", "Fin De Face", "Weird Sounds Sound Bizarre", and "Es Ist Wieder Da". LP, Vinyl record album

A Brazilian tribute to football – but one that's given a distinctly London twist – as core rhythms by Wilson Das Neves, Dom Um Romao, and others are mixed up and augmented by Da Lata, Zero dB, Roc Hunter, Fauna Flash, and Osunlade! The album's got a depth and compelling quality that goes far beyond other records by Grupo Batuque – as tightly-played percussion riffs are mixed with sound effects, crowd noise, and commentary from football games – all in a rich sonic tapestry that goes past simple samba or batucada! The whole thing's almost like an audio document to the greatness of the sport and its importance in Brazilian culture – but thanks to the globe-spanning efforts of Far Out, the added production help should help settle more than a few disputes at the World Cup! Titles include "Torcida Do Flamengo", "E Ruim (Zero dB rmx)", "Ole Ola", "Isto E Samb", "Na Cancao Do Samba", "Ole Ola (Fauna Flash rmx)", "Na Batida Do Agogo (Osunlade rmx)", and "Berimbal Capoeira (Da Lata rmx)". CD

Really wonderful early work from Grupo Um – an important Brazilian combo with ties to the more experimental side of scene, including previous experience with the legendary Hermeto Pascoal! The group's debut album was issued in 1979, titled Marcha Sobre A Cidade – but this earlier recording was done a few years before, and now finally gets exposure as the real starting point for Grupo Um! The trio features brothers Lelo Nazario on a piano, prepared piano, and Fender Rhodes – and Ze Eduardo Nazario on drums, percussion, and berimbau – both joined by the legendary bassist Zeca Assumpcao, who played on countless great records in the 70s. The music is jazz at points, but more experimental at others – and is often even farther off than some of the more adventurous work by Pascoal during the decade – as the trio aren't afraid to break down their styles, even from the previous tracks on the record – effortlessly moving between melodic moments and more avant-styled sounds. Yet there's also a warmth here that's maybe missing from the later Grupo Um records – an innocence and freshness that really comes through on titles that include "Jardim Candida", "Organica", "Onze Por Oto", "Porao Da Teodoro", and "Cortejo Dos Reis Negros". CD

Really wonderful early work from Grupo Um – an important Brazilian combo with ties to the more experimental side of scene, including previous experience with the legendary Hermeto Pascoal! The group's debut album was issued in 1979, titled Marcha Sobre A Cidade – but this earlier recording was done a few years before, and now finally gets exposure as the real starting point for Grupo Um! The trio features brothers Lelo Nazario on a piano, prepared piano, and Fender Rhodes – and Ze Eduardo Nazario on drums, percussion, and berimbau – both joined by the legendary bassist Zeca Assumpcao, who played on countless great records in the 70s. The music is jazz at points, but more experimental at others – and is often even farther off than some of the more adventurous work by Pascoal during the decade – as the trio aren't afraid to break down their styles, even from the previous tracks on the record – effortlessly moving between melodic moments and more avant-styled sounds. Yet there's also a warmth here that's maybe missing from the later Grupo Um records – an innocence and freshness that really comes through on titles that include "Jardim Candida", "Organica", "Onze Por Oto", "Porao Da Teodoro", and "Cortejo Dos Reis Negros". LP, Vinyl record album

A sublime little set all the way through – an early 60s date from the west coast scene – and one that was almost as important to that side of the country as the Verve bossa records were to New York! Bud Shank's in the lead on alto sax – no flute at all this time around – blowing sharp and soulfully, in a way that's even more deft than most of his other albums! But the equal star here is the young Clare Fischer – who plays piano in the group, and also contributed a host of original tunes to the set – fresh numbers that are way different than the usual "bossa-ized" standards, or American remakes of Brazilian classics. Ralph Pena is a key member of the group on bass – and Larry Bunker plays some vibes as well. Titles include "Joao", "Pensativa", "Samba Guapo", "Samba Da Borboleta", and "Que Mais?". LP, Vinyl record album

Three 6 Mafia may not have hit world domination with this set – but the record is a landmark in the growth of southern hip hop at the end of the 90s, and is a downright classic from the Memphis group! In some ways, the record takes off a bit from Texas sounds of a few years before – even some of the Geto Boys sense of terror mixed with paranoia – that undercurrent of personal struggle that can often redeem records like this, and take them past just thuggish cliches. Titles include "Prophet Posse", "Spill My Blood", "Tear Da Club Up 97", "Bodyparts 2", and "Weed Is Got Me High". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark double-live album that was easily one of the most important soul record moments of the 70s! The concert was an all-star event held in LA to celebrate the anniversary of the Watts riots – but it features a killer lineup of talent from the roster of Stax Records – by then a proud independent with more than enough power to spread a nationwide message from Memphis to Los Angeles without any trouble! The record is nicely segmented – so that it offers up mini "sets" by each artist – really recreating the feel of the event, at a level that lived on in countless living rooms long after the concert was over. Titles include "Son Of Shaft/Feel It" and "I Can't Turn You Loose" by The Bar-Kays; "Ain't No Sunshine" by Isaac Hayes, "I Don't Know What This World Is Coming To" and "Hearsay" by The Soul Children, "I Like What You're Doing To Me" and "Gee Whiz" by Carla Thomas; "The Breakdown" and "Do The Funky Penguin" by Rufus Thomas, "Killing Floor" and "Angel Of Mercy" by Albert King"; "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers; and "Knock On Wood" by Eddie Floyd. Also includes 2 studio tracks recorded after the show – "Oh La De Da" by The Staple Singers, and "Lay Your Loving On Me" by Eddie Floyd. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the all-time classic funk records from the 70s – a set that grabs you with the very first note, and lets you know that you've really stumbled onto something groovy! South Side Movement have a sinister groove that's very much their own – not like James Brown, The Meters, or just about anyone else – cooked up on the south side of Chicago at a time when the city was a real hotbed of creative activity in all sorts of different ways – and served up with the sort of sophistication that often marked some of the best Windy City groups of the time! Jimmy Van Leer produced, and the whole thing's got a mix of sophisticated instrumentation and straightforward funk that's wonderful – heard to great effect on the classic leadoff track "I Been Watching You" – and followed by so many other great gems that include "Mud Wind", "Superstition", "Can You Get To That", "La Dee Da", and "You're Gonna Lose My Love". CD features bonus tracks – the previously unissued "Done Got Good To Me", and the single mix of "Mud Wind". CD

Clear, clean, and tremendous tenor work from a young Eric Alexander – working here in one of his early partnerships with pianist Harold Mabern – in a way that really helps to re-direct Mabern's energy, and take him back to the glory days of his recordings in the 60s! Alexander's tenor has a classic sound here that's wonderful – focused and very sure of itself, and able to roll out on longer numbers with a great sense of imagination that avoids any too-easy notes or hackneyed choices. Mabern follows suit strongly – sounding better than on any of his trio records from the same period, and matching Alexander's youthful energy with some soaring lines of his own – often in a modal mode that seems to bring out the best in both players. Drums are by the rock-solid Joe Farnsworth, and bass is by John Ore – on tracks that include "Up Over & Out", "Eronel", "Flying Fish", "Blues For Mabe", "I Remember Clifford", and "Bewitched". CD

One of the greatest albums ever from Lorez Alexandria – an ultra-hip singer who recorded for Impulse and King, but who sounds especially wonderful on this rare date for Chess Records! The album's got a groove that definitely lives up to its title – a jazzy, bouncy sort of rhythm that's definitely "for swingers only", and which is a nice contrast to overdone torch or standard jazz vocal modes. Alexandria's singing is completely sublime – quite fluid, yet with a soulful depth that's really amazing – and her backing combo is equally hip – a group led by John Young on piano, and also featuring George Eskridge on guitar, Jimmy Garrison on bass, Phil Thomas on drums, and Ronald Wilson on flute and tenor – an obscure player whose reed work really makes the album sparkle! The song choices are great too – a mix of some under-recorded gems and a few blue-toned classics – all redone amazingly by Lorez with a sound that's quite unique. Titles include her classic Argo reading of "Baltimore Oriole", which begins with an amazing drum/bass passage that's worth the price of the album alone – and other tracks include "The End Of A Love Affair", "Baltimore Oriole", "All Or Nothing At All", "Mother Earth", "Love Look Away", and "Traveling Down A Lonely Road". CD