The Jamfs are definitely coming on this one – as Johnny Griffin opens up into some of his most badass soloing of the 70s, caught here in an open-ended European styled mode! The album really features only 2 long tracks – recorded in the Cafe Montmartre style that Dexter Gordon used most famously at the time, but which Griffin also got a chance at as well, often with even more dynamic results. The group here features Art Taylor on drums, Rein De Graaff on piano, and either Henk Haverhoek or Koos Serierse on bass – and titles include "The Jamfs Are Coming/Wee Dot" and "All The Things You Are" – each taking up one side of the record! LP, Vinyl record album

One of Lalo Schifrin's first, and rarest soundtracks – and a bit more complicated than some of his later work. Given the setting of the film, there's a surprising number of jazzy tunes on here – including some cool easy breezy ones that are in keeping with Schfrin's best mid 60s work. These are also mixed with some more dramatic numbers, and a few tracks that have acoustic guitar playing a gentle lead style, similar to some of the tunes in The Fox. Titles include "Bean Time", "Egg Eating Contest", "Tar Sequence", "Ballad Of Cool Hand Luke", and "Road Gang". LP, Vinyl record album

Hard-swingin tracks from Ernie Wilkins – one of the most soulful arrangers of his time, working here in a wonderful all-star session from the 50s! The album's definitely got the "top brass" promised in the title – a lineup that features Donald Byrd, Ray Copeland, Idrees Sulieman, and Joe Wilder on trumpets – all working at a level that allows plenty of space for well-blown solos, but tied up in tighter ensemble formation overall – all with that Wilkins sense of swing that really set Ernie apart at the time. Rhythm is from a trip that includes Hank Jones on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Kelly Clarke on drums – and titles include "58 Market Street", "Trick Or Treat", "Speedway", "Dot's What", "Top Brass", "Imagination", and "Willow Weep For Me". Also features the album Trumpets All Out – an all-trumpet affair, one that features 5 different players on the instrument – Art Farmer, Emmet Berry, Charlie Shavers, Ernie Royal, and Harold Baker – supported by spare rhythm from the trio of Don Abney on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Bobby Donaldson on drums. There's a definite swing-based approach here – different than usual for some of Farmer's outings of the time – but the differences between the players are nicely pronounced, and the amazing thing about the album is how it manages to pack so much solo energy in such a relatively small space, in a way that still lets you hear the different voices clearly. Titles include "She's Just My Size", "Five Cats Swingin", "Blues In 6/4", "Trumpets All Out", and "Low Life". LP, Vinyl record album

A new year's always a new way to fall in love with contemporary soul music – thanks to the annual gems we always get in this great series from Expansion Records! For decades, the UK label has been one of the best outlets for new music from the neo soul underground – and in recent years, as so many releases are digital-only, their efforts with this collection series is even more important – as provides a massive overview of great contemporary soul cuts that may never make it to any sort of physical format at all! There's other cuts from album released mixed in with singles and more obscure cuts – and as always, the set list is superb – a batch of 35 tracks that include "Dot Dot Dot" by Marquel Jordan, "Something Like This (breakdown rmx)" by Tristan, "Don't Throw Our Love Away" by Ashley Scott, "Love Can Make You Feel So Happy" by Ipso Facto, "Slow Motion" by Kenya with Noel Gourdin, "This Is Worth It" by Blue Soul Ten, "While I'm Alone" by Alton McClain Scarborough, "Such A Good Feelin (Don-E chuffed mix)" by Rich Beggar, "Alone Again" by Ernie & The Family McKone, "Light Up My World" by Victor Haynes, "Soul Steppin (Soul Syndicate rmx)" by Shirley Jones, "Move Me No Mountain" by Lisa Dietrich, "I Believe" by Khari Cabral & Jiva, "Moods" by The R&R Soul Orchestra, "Here We Got Again" by Output/Input, "Now's The Time For Us" by Julian Joseph, and "If It Feels Good" by We Are One X-Perience. CD

A wonderfully hard-storming set – and a record that not only firmly put the Jazz Messengers on the map, but also set a whole new standard for live jazz recording! The group here is the early version of the Messengers – almost co-led by drummer Art Blakey with pianist Horace Silver – and featuring Clifford Brown on trumpet, just a few months before his early death – plus Lou Donaldson on alto and Curley Russell on bass. The presence of alto instead of tenor makes the sound slightly different than later incarnations of the group – and the overall approach is one that virtually defines the shift from straight bop to hardbop in the 50s – a mode that both Blakey and Silver were key in creating. Tracks include "Wee Dot", "Quicksilver" (alternate), "Now's The Time", and "Confirmation". CD

One of the few albums ever cut as a leader by pianist Lorraine Geller – a player who's probably best remembered for her work with saxophonist (and husband) Herb Geller, but who also really swings nicely on her own! The album has Lorraine working with an LA trio that features Leroy Vinnegar on bass and drumming by either Lawrence Marable or Bruz Freeman – all of whom bring in a very soulful undercurrent to the record, helping bridge the two sides of the LA scene of the time, and making the album way deeper than you'd expect from the slightly elegant cover and title! The tracks aren't as strikingly modern as work cut by her husband during the 50s, but are quite strong nonetheless – with many unusual titles that include "Clash By Night", "Madam X", "Mystery Theatre", and "Everybody's Blues". CD

Two early albums – back to back in a single set! First up is Mongo Explodes – a killer early album by Mongo Santamaria – almost an equal blend of jazz and Latin rhythms, and a great illustration of the unique contribution that he was making to both types of music back in the 60s! Mongo's group here is filled with some really great horn players – Nat Adderley on cornet, Marty Sheller on trumpet, Ronnie Capers on alto sax, and Pat Patrick on baritone – really hitting a hard-edged groove that's as filled with soul jazz solo inflections as it is with Mongo's great work on percussion! The reeds bring a sharp edge to the record that keeps on going throughout – pushing the set with a lot more soul than other Latin sides from the time, particularly those in the charanga mode. Most tracks are short and feisty, and titles include "Skins", "Fatback", "Dot Dot Dot", "Corn Bread Guajira", "Para Ti", "Sweet Tater Pie", and "Tacos". Next is Go Mongo – one of the best of the early Mongo LPs for Riverside, and a tight session of Latin jazz tracks by a group that includes Pat Patrick, Paul Serrano, and Al Abreu on tenor and flute. The reed parts are nice and hard, and a few tracks have vocals, but most are instrumentals. Titles include "Happy Now", "Tumba Le Le", "African Song", "Carmela", and the long groover "Congo Blue". LP, Vinyl record album

28 tracks from Arthur Alexander – a seminal force in the development of southern soul, featured here in some super-rare tracks from the Monument and Sound Stage Seven labels! Arthur's early hit "I'm Movin On" was recorded for Dot, and is pretty well compiled elsewhere – but this set pushes past that one, and takes us to a few years later, when Arthur was working out of Nashville, taking in equal parts 60s soul and country, mixing both into a sublime sound that should have gotten greater notice. The set features a number of issued singles, plus a wealth of previously unreleased material – and titles include "Baby For You", "The Other Woman In My Life", "Stay By Me", "Me & Mine", "Baby This Baby That", "In My Sorrow", "Miles & Miles From Nowhere", "Taking Care Of A Woman", "Concrete Jungle", "Another Place Another Time", "Call Me Honey", "The Migrant", "In The Middle Of It All", "Bye Bye Love", and "We're Gonna Hate Ourselves In The Morning". CD

Wonderful music throughout – and an album that's as beautifully written as it is played! The work represents one of the few long-form concept compositions from Nelson Riddle – an extended "Cross Country Suite" of trcks that take the listener on a tour of the US – performed here with full orchestrations that are very much in Nelson's best mode of the time, topped with some especially great solos from Buddy DeFranco! Buddy's sound here is tremendous – way more than straight clarinet jazz, and instead a really evocative approach to his instrument that brings forth an amazing array of sounds, tones, and feelings. The music is as seductive as the best late 50s jazz soundtracks – very expressive, but never over the top – and with a mature approach to its themes and sounds that really makes us wish they still made records like this! Titles include "Down East", "Gulf Coast", "The Rockies", "The Great Lakes", "Tall Timber", "Smoky Mountain Country", "El Camino Real", "Metropolis", and "Longhorn". LP, Vinyl record album

Although Manos Hadjidakis' soundtrack work of the 60s is mostly in the Greek-sounding mode, this one features him hitting a bit of a western soundtrack feel – to back a drama starring Terence Stamp, Ricardo Montalban, and Karl Malden. About half the tracks are instrumentals with an orchestral feel, and the others are similar, but have slight "westerny" touches – although not as much so as work for Italian films of the same time. Laurindo Almeida plays a bit of acoustic guitar on the album – and titles include "Blue's Solitude", "The Mexicans Are Coming", "Death Of Blue", "Nocturne", "Scherzo", and "Morning After Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Wild! This is an excellent compilation of material from Nordine's earlier Word Jazz albums on Dot – repackaged in a very hip version, for the hippie crowd that was rediscovering him at the time. The album includes an incredible selection of Nordine's weird productions, with lots of spacey sounds, odd vocal techniques, and an incredibly compelling approach to sonic narrative. Titles include "Outer Space", "Firefly", "Confessions of 349-18-5171", "Roger", "Looks Like Rain", "Lemming", "Original Sin", and "Smerd". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few truly strong and original jazz LPs on the Charlie Parker label – and one of the best early sides by Slide! Despite a hokey title and cover image, the record really has a lot going on – and shows Slide stretching out as an arranger from his days at Atlantic. Side one features the extended "Cloister" dance suite – a 4 part work composed and arranged by Slide, showing his more expansive approach to jazz, one that he'd realize more strongly in European settings of the 60s and 70s. Players include Willie Thomas, Hobart Dotson, Benjamin Jacobs-El, and George Coleman – and the piece comes off wonderfully, very hip, but still swinging and soulful. Side two features shorter numbers – all Gershwin, like "Summertime", "I Loves You Porgy", "It Ain't Necessarily So", and "Bess You Is My Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

Femi Kuti move over! This is a wonderful set of African funk tunes with a really classic feel – recorded recently, but with a strong adherence to the straight ahead grooves of the 70s. The group's got some really great electric piano on a number of cuts – snaking over heavier drums led by Najite Agindotan, who also sings lead vocals on the set. Warm, bouncy, and with lots of strongly rhythmic passages – a real winner that we might have missed if we weren't paying attention! Titles include "Showtime", "Lasisi", "Honesty", "ABI", and "Aorieo". CD

A righteous rockers classic from Delroy Williams – a set that's very personal, and very down to earth – and quite a strong antidote to some of the more commercial reggae material that was making the scene at the time! The record almost echoes some of the deepest soul currents of the rocksteady years, but with all the message-oriented music that the 70s brought forth – and handled with a lean production style by Agustus Pablo, who also adds in some of his own organ and melodica work too! Titles include "I Stand Black", "Little Less Talking", "Breaking My Heart", "Mountain Top", "Heathen Valley", "Learn", "Foxe's Hole", "Idren's Feel Nice", and "Crucial". LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible female pop from 60s France – not weepy ballads or old school Paris numbers, but the kind of hip-snapping, all-groovy material that made the 60s French scene so great! Loads of these tracks are new to our ears (and we love French grooves a lot!) – and this volume of the series seems to dig even deeper than before – through a range of rare 7" EP material and singles, to come up with some killer tracks that will move way beyond the bigger cuts you might know from Francoise Hardy or Brigitte Bardot. The production and instrumentation is superb throughout – often with these funky currents that make these tracks feel years ahead of their time – and as usual with Ace, the whole presentation is great – from ultra-clear sound through full notes on the music too. Titles include "Rouge Rouge" by Christie Laume, "Pour La Gloire" by Annie Philippe, "Demain" by Zouzou, "Cours Si Tu As Peur" by Fabienne, "A La Fin De La Soiree" by Sheila, "Cette Nuit" by Pussycat, "Angel Of Sin" by Charlotte Walters, "Les Prisons De Sa Majeste" by Delphine, and "Le Nenuphar" by Stone. LP, Vinyl record album

The second and best album by Morphine – rightly remembered as a much needed antidote to the grunge and mainstream alternative rock that was taking over pop culture at the time – and an enduring, ageless classic that would stand out in any era! Morphine's previous album was nearly as great, but Cure For Pain is nearly perfect. Mark Sandman's 2-string slide bass sound is indeed perfectly paired with his own vocals, the sax and drums doing the rest of the work instrumentally – there was only a couple years in which they'd really surprise us sonically with this setup, but what an amazing couple of years – and albums! Includes "Dawna", "Buena", "I'm Free Now", "All Wrong", "Candy", In Spite Of Me", "Thursday", "Cure For Pain", "Sheila", "Let's Take A Trip Together". LP, Vinyl record album

Joanna Newsom as richly lyrical, lushly arranged and weirdly beautiful as ever! Divers is the 5 years in the making follow up to her triple album Have One On Me, and if you found that one too thick a forest to take root in, this one's much easier to dive into – with 11 songs in 51 minutes – but it might be even greater in lyrical scope! As always, her distinctive voice is a very compelling instrument, and no other could convey the wordy brilliance of her songs. Recorded by Steve Albini and Noah Georgeson with clarity and immediacy, all the better for the diverse arrangements that range from light orchestal, to wispy folk, to anthemic, if largely acoustic art pop. At this point, if you've heard Joanna Newsom, you either "get it" or not. Our admiration grows with each effort, and we're pretty excited that an artist with a sound this far out of the ordinary can be as popular as she is. Includes "Anecdotes", "Sapokanikan", "Leaving The City", "Goose Eggs", "Waltz of The 101st Lightborne", "The Things I Say", "Divers", "Same Old Man", "You Will Not Take Heart Alive", "A Pin-Light Bent" and "Time, As A Symptom". CD

The genius first album from Gary Numan and Tubeway Army – a set that stripped down all sorts of influences from the early part of the 70s, filtered them through a punkish sort of energy, and came up with a great antidote to some of the more overblown projects from years before! There's plenty to love here if you love Bowie in Berlin, or the offbeat spirit of Roxy Music – yet the record's far more than just a second chapter to that generation – as Numan and the group have a way of sounding colder and more sinister, and really helping give birth to a spirit that so many others would steal in years to come! If you only know Numan's later solo work, you'll be nicely surprised here by the sharper edge and sometimes heavier guitar – an instrument played along with keyboards by Numan, with help from Jess Lidyard on drums and Paul Gardiner on bass. Numan produced the whole thing himself, with further genius energy in the studio – and titles include "Are You Real", "Listen To The Sirens", "Everyday I Die", "The Life Machine", "Shadow In Vain", "Jo The Water", and "The Dream Police". LP, Vinyl record album

Not girl pop, not chart hits, and instead a whole host of hard-burning tracks from the underground – a well-done collection that showcases a huge range of positive, powerful female musical expressions from the mid 70s onward! The set begins during the heyday of the early punk years, and focuses on a few key acts who were offering a great antidote to some of the more testosterone-fueled work of the time – then picks up some especially great pos-punk tracks, before making a brief stop in the early 90s, and ending up with a few key grrrl power cuts from the current century! As always with Ace records, the presentation is as great as the music – very detailed notes that tell as much of a store as the songs themselves – in support of a set list that includes "Survive" by The Bags, "Iama Poseur" by X-Ray Spex, "Kray Twins" by Mo-Dettes, "Popcorn Boy" by Essential Logic, "It's About Time" by The Pandoras, "Shakedown" by Au Pairs, "Das Ah Riot" by Bush Tetras, "Earthbeat" by The Slits, "Come On Now" by The Pussywillows, "Rules & Regulations" by We've Got A Fuzzbox, "What's Wrong With You" by Bratmobile, "Rebel Girl" by Bikini Kill, "I Gave My Punk Jacket To Rickie" by Mary Monday & The Bitches, "You're A Million" by The Raincoats, and "Expert" by Pragvec. LP, Vinyl record album

A truly incredible collection – even more wonderful than we might have guessed from the title and cover – and both of those are already pretty darn appealing! This package might well be the most comprehensive we've ever seen on the early days of punk in England – a package that goes way past the big names, way past the classic cuts, and really digs deep into the huge explosion of indie labels that fueled the scene – creating a legacy of rare singles and amazing sounds that the British scene hadn't seen in years! If you dig the Sex Pistols or Clash, there's dozens of other tunes here to love – some by artists you'll know from later fame, represented here on very early tracks – and lots more from acts who maybe only gave the world a handful of brilliant singles. The presentation is as stunning as the music – 111 tracks on 4CDs, inside a heavy 64 page book-style jacket – with page after page of notes on each song and band, and lots of images as well. Consider this whole thing an overdue primer on all the punk you missed – even if you lived back in the day – and lose yourself in the huge array of tracks by groups who include The Radiators From Space, Puncture, Some Chicken, The Panik, The Only Ones, Suspects, Tueway Army, The Boys, Acme Sewage Co, Raped, Bazoomis, Menace GLC, Sids, Rudi, Art Attack, Angelic Upstarts, Mean Street, Poison Girls, Chelsea, Demon Preacher, Leyton Brothers, The Dole, Riff Raff, The Tights, Social Security, Nicky & The Dots, No Way, The Wall, Hollywood Brats, Disco Zombies, Spizzoil, Horrorcomic, The Cravats, and lots lots more! CD

Ted Dunbar on guitar, Mickey Tucker on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, David Jones on drums, and special guest Dotti Anita Taylor on flute. CD

Gritty live work from twin tenor giants Gene Ammons and Dexter Gordon – recorded in an open-ended style that's a bit like some of Gordon's famous early work on the Central Avenue scene in LA, or Ammons' famous live "battles" with Sonny Stitt! The date was recorded in Chicago at the North Park Hotel – with sound that's a bit more "live" than some of the other Prestige sessions at the time – and an unusual lineup that features local players Jodie Christian and John Young on piano, Cleveland Eaton on bass, and Steve McCall on drums. The lovely Vi Redd makes a vocal appearance on the track "Lonesome Lover Blues" – and other titles include "The Chase", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", and "The Happy Blues" – all nice and long! LP, Vinyl record album

An album as incredible as its bulls-eye cover – the first record ever from a young Bob Dorough – and easily one of his most swinging sessions! The style here is a bit straighter jazz than on some of Bob's later work – vocalese inspired by Jon Hendricks, King Pleasure, Eddie Jefferson, and others – recorded with a small combo that includes Jack Hitchcock on vibes, Warren Fitzgerald on trumpet, Jerry Segal on drums, and Bob's longtime partner Bill Takas on bass. Many of the tunes are vocalized versions of bop numbers – done with a nicely quirky style that shows that the mad Dorough touch was already in place during these early years – on titles that include "It Could Happen To You", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", "Baltimore Oriole", "Yardbird Suite", "Devil May Care", and "Ow" – plus his great original "You're The Dangerous Type"! Also features a bonus alternate take of "Yardbird Suite". CD

A mid 70s repackaging of one of the best vocal jazz albums that Bethlehem ever produced, and a landmark recording in the vocalese tradition! The first record ever from a young Bob Dorough – and easily one of his most swinging sessions! The style here is a bit straighter jazz than on some of Bob's later work – vocalese inspired by Jon Hendricks, King Pleasure, Eddie Jefferson, and others – recorded with a small combo that includes Jack Hitchcock on vibes, Warren Fitzgerald on trumpet, Jerry Segal on drums, and Bob's longtime partner Bill Takas on bass. Many of the tunes are vocalized versions of bop numbers – done with a nicely quirky style that shows that the mad Dorough touch was already in place during these early years – on titles that include "It Could Happen To You", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", "Baltimore Oriole", "Yardbird Suite", "Devil May Care", and "Ow" – plus his great original "You're The Dangerous Type"! LP, Vinyl record album

A standout 70s set from Dexter Gordon – one that's a bit tighter than some of his longer-blown dates from overseas – and which almost sparkles with the same power as his 60s albums on Blue Note! The group here is nice and tight – with Kenny Drew on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Albert Heath on drums – all grooving in a style that's sharply focused, and which really sets the stage for Dex's wonderful tone on the solos. Pedersen's bass is great too – sometimes stepping out with a presence not usually heard on a set like this – and titles include the Gordon originals "The Apartment", "Antabus", and "Candlelight Lady" – plus "Wee Dot" and "Old Folks". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic French grooves from the end of the 60s – a killer set of jazz-based tracks recorded by trumpeter Ivan Jullien, with help from funky arranger Michel Colombier! Jullien recorded a fair bit of jazz and studio work around the time, and his playing here is razor-sharp – and supported by Colombier grooves that rival his best soundtrack material, his experiments with Pierre Henry, or his backings for singers like Serge Gainsbourg or Brigitte Bardot! Colombier also plays keyboards on the record, as does the great Maurice Vander – amidst a host of other great French jazzmen who include Pierre Gossez on sax, Roger Guerin on additional trumpet, and Eddie Louiss on organ. Drums are nice and funky on most cuts – and the whole thing kicks even more than most funky big band records on MPS! Includes the great break cut "I Remember Otis" – plus "Sonoro", "The Looser", "Talk", "An Oscar For Eddy", "Wake The Monster", "Edith", and "Crescendo". CD

Very nice jazz-oriented material that has Sarah working with Jimmy Jones, one of her best accompanists, or John Malachi, who was in Billy Eckstine's band at the same time Sarah was with the group. All the tracks have nice small combo instrumentation – and Sarah keeps things nice and warm vocally, free to get a bit more intimate than usual in the album's casual setting. Titles include "All Of Me", "Lover Man", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", "Prelude To A Kiss", and "You Hit The Spot". CD

A rare meeting of these two American giants of the tenor sax – brought together at the end of the 60s in Europe, both recording late in their careers, but with a laidback and open approach that's really wonderful! The format here is quite loose – a bit like some of the late hours, swing-based sides on Prestige at the end of the 50s – with longish tracks that let both players state their solos in clean, well-recorded phrasings – with gentle support from a trio that includes Tete Montoliu on piano, Peter Trunk on bass, and Albert Tootie Heath on drums. There's a few faltering moments at times, but they also add a nice degree of humanity to the record – kind of a dimming genius that might not have been allowed on an American session by either player, but which speaks volumes here for the time and distance both players had travelled! Titles include "Caravan", "Sundae", "Blues For Dottie Mae", and "Perdido". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most legendary albums from groundbreaking Brazilian music pioneer Tom Ze – and a record that introduces itself with an equally legendary cover image! (Hint: that's not an eyeball on the front.) Ze had already been recording a bit by the time of this record – but this set is easily his most experimental album ever – a record that even makes the work of the late 60s Tropicalia generation sound a bit more catchy and tuneful – as Tom's drawing here from all sorts of strands of avant poetry and instrumentation. The vibe is almost like some of the most experimental Saravah Records albums of the period – unusual songwriting served up in an approach that mixes hard percussion, spare production, quirky guitar, and some of the strangest vocals ever recorded in Brazil. Titles include Complexo De Epico", "A Noite Do Meu Bem", "Dodo E Zeze", "Brigitte Bardot", and "O Riso E A Faca". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer selection of Spanish female pop – music that echoes British and French female work of the time, but which often has a different vibe as well! Part of that difference is the Spanish language of the lyrics, which seems to encourage some differences in the rhythms – but there's also some nice shifts in production, arrangements, and overall presentation – as the music moves from 60s soul-inspired mod modes, through 70s perfect pop gems, to some later numbers that show a bit of an influence from the dancefloor! Actually, most of these tracks are pretty upbeat and grooving, and would be right at home in a set for dancers – in a heady lineup of 24 tracks from artists who include Los Antifaces, Marion, Soledad Miranda, Teresa Maria, Franciska, Marian Conde, Elvira, Dolly, Eros, Nena Catherine, Doris Y Rossie, and others you're not likely to find in your local record racks! Titles include "Mas" by Enterprise, "Si Un Chico Fuera Yo" by Marion, ""Mairandote" by Suzie, "Mucho Mas" by Teresa Maria", "No, No, No" by Elvira, "Listen Here" by Dolly, "Casa Forte" by Doris Rossie and lots more. LP, Vinyl record album

Mighty sounds from a legendary Detroit soul producer – the great Dave Hamilton, a talent who issued a number of key singles back in the day, but who's left behind an even larger legacy of excellent unreleased work! This collection draws from both sides of that spectrum – and features upbeat Northern Soul gems that were issued on small labels like Topper and Demo-Ristic – mixed with other tracks that lay in Dave's vaults until their discovery at some point in the 90s! Together, the tracks are a wonderful illustration of the deep deep trove of material that lurked in the Detroit scene far in the shadows of Motown – artists who were eclipsed by the big names at the time, but who sound mighty darn fresh all these many years later. Titles include "What Should I Do", and "Who Are You Trying To Fool" by Little Ann, "Sweep It Out The Shed" and "Challenge My Love" by Tobi Lark, "Love Friends & Money" by James Lately, "You Won't Miss The Water" by Chico & Buddy, "Talkin About My Baby" by Dottie & Millie, "You Got Me Turned Around" by OC Tolbert, "Shoop Doop" by Dave Hamilton, and "You Did" by Priscilla Page & Rony Darrell. LP, Vinyl record album

Killer grooves from the Kenyan scene of the 70s – sounds that are very spare, and very timeless – often just percussion, a stringed instrument, and chanted vocals – all served up in a very driving, hypnotic blend! The set collects tracks from a time when the initially rural nyatiti style had moved into the cities, particularly Nairobi – and seemed to pick up an intensity along the way, so that the relatively lean and traditional mode somehow gained greater urgency, and in a way that makes for a surprising amount of power with just a few key elements! Titles include "Adele Obonyo" by James Obwanda, "Ojul Otieno" by Ochieng Ragwel, "Odola Richard" by Oganga Joginda, "Ndonji Oyang O" by Lucas Odote, "Samuel Ayany" by Ogola Opot, and "Dr Were Were" by Ogwang Lelo K'Okoth. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best studio albums ever from the legendary Von Freeman – and a date that really captures some of the careful essence of his live performances in Chicago! Unlike the previous Atlantic album, which tried to fit Von into a more expected bag, this easygoing Nessa session really lets him open up and take off – blowing tunes that are straight ahead, but always with that offbeat style that turns the songs inside out – making them rich exploratory fields for inventive and creative solos! The group fits Von's longtime credo of never upstaging the leader – which gives his tenor lots of room to blow – and players include John Young on piano , David Shipp on bass, and the great Wilbur Campbell on drums. Titles include a great version of Mancini's "Mr Lucky", plus "Swinging The Blues", "Polka Dots And Moonbeams", and "Have No Fear Soul Is Here". This great Nessa CD version has a killer bonus track, too – the Freeman-composed "Boomerang". CD

At the time of this album, Johnny Hartman definitely was the voice that is – a singer with a new level of maturity for the 60s, and a voice that's far more masculine than the geeky look of the photo on the cover! Hartman's sound here is smooth and warm, but never in a too-commercial way – a great antidote to some of the bigger singers of his generation, and cast perfectly here in some lightly jazzy arrangements by Bob Hammer. A few tracks feature backing by a quartet led by Hank Jones – and the rest feature a slightly larger group with 2 guitars and some nice Latin percussion. Titles include "Funny World", "Waltz For Debbie", "It Never Entered My Mind", "Let Me Love You", "My Ship", "The Day The World Stopped Turning", "Slow Hot Wind", and "The More I See You". CD

The sound of the trio is loud and clear on this set – captured before a very appreciative crowd at the London House in Chicago, and featuring Peterson at his inventive best! The tracks on the set stretch out longer than most of the group's studio sessions from the time, and the album's recorded in a great way that also includes Oscar's mumbling at the keys – that humming and grunting style that isn't always caught on record, but which adds a great deal of grit and humanity to the record – especially considering his fluid grace on the piano! As usual, Ray Brown is on bass and Ed Thigpen's on drums – and titles include "Tricotism", "On Green Dolphin Street", "Thag's Dance", and "Kadota's Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

The team of Coltrane and Mobley seems like a strange pairing from the perspective of the history books – but at the time, the pair were two of the brightest new stars on the tenor, each with a sound and style that would make them huge, so it was no surprise that they were brought together for a blowing session like this on Prestige. The set's got a nice open ended feel – with 4 long tracks that give the players plenty of solo room, and a group that includes Donald Byrd on trumpet, Elmo Hope on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. Titles include "On It", "Weeja", "Avalon", and "Polka Dots & Moonbeams". LP, Vinyl record album

Bob Dylan and his incomparable band take on old school pop standards for the second album in a row – and it's a real charmer! Fallen Angels has a lot in common with the preceding Strangers In The Night, as they're again taking on songs recorded by, and in some cases popularized by Sinatra, but this one goes a bit deeper into the classic American songbook – and it's all the better for it. Dylan's reputation as a songwriter is borderline biblical, while his reputation as a conventionally gifted singer is, well...something else – so there's a sly allurement here that's not lost on the headliner. He's paying earnest tribute to the songs themselves – which in the course of pop history have been overshadowed by the voices singing them – and on that front, it's masterful! Still, Dylan's raspy croon is pretty darn charismatic itself on this material, making it another late career gem. Longtime Dylan players Charlie Sexton, Stu Kimball, Tony Garnier, George Recile and Donnie Herron make the instrumental magic happen, along with newer Dylan player (though longtime session guitar ace) Dean Parks – but extra credit to Herron, whose steel guitar sound makes it extra special. Includes "Young At Heart", "Maybe You'll Be There", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", "All The Way", "Skylark", "Nevertheless", "All Or Nothing At All", "It Had To Be You", "Melancholy Mood", "That Old Black Magic" and "Come Rain Or Come Shine". CD

A standout 70s set from Dexter Gordon – one that's a bit tighter than some of his longer-blown dates from overseas – and which almost sparkles with the same power as his 60s albums on Blue Note! The group here is nice and tight – with Kenny Drew on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Albert Heath on drums – all grooving in a style that's sharply focused, and which really sets the stage for Dex's wonderful tone on the solos. Pedersen's bass is great too – sometimes stepping out with a presence not usually heard on a set like this – and titles include the Gordon originals "The Apartment", "Antabus", and "Candlelight Lady" – plus "Wee Dot" and "Old Folks". CD also features the bonus track "Stablemates" – from the same session, but previously unissued. CD

One of the loosest, most open albums from Ronald Shannon Jackson & The Decoding Society – and a set that's a great antidote to some of the later records for bigger labels! Jackson's still got a very inspiring sound at this point – a polyrhythmic groove that's virtually the blueprint for the post-loft scene in New York – driven onward here by performances from key contemporaries who include Billy Bang on violin, Byard Lancaster on soprano sax and alto, Charles Brackeen on tenor and soprano, Vernon Reid and Bern Nix on guitars, Melvin Gibbs on bass, and Erasto Vasconcelos on percussion. Tracks are all tightly structured, but well up with free sounds from the musicians – and titles include "Sortie", "Nightwhistlers", "Eastern Voices/Western Dreams", "Shaman", "Dancers Of Joy", "Arising", and "Orange Birthday". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare meeting of these two American giants of the tenor sax – brought together at the end of the 60s in Europe, both recording late in their careers, but with a laidback and open approach that's really wonderful! The format here is quite loose – a bit like some of the late hours, swing-based sides on Prestige at the end of the 50s – with longish tracks that let both players state their solos in clean, well-recorded phrasings – with gentle support from a trio that includes Tete Montoliu on piano, Peter Trunk on bass, and Albert Tootie Heath on drums. There's a few faltering moments at times, but they also add a nice degree of humanity to the record – kind of a dimming genius that might not have been allowed on an American session by either player, but which speaks volumes here for the time and distance both players had travelled! Titles include "Caravan", "Sundae", "Blues For Dottie Mae", and "Perdido". CD

Incredible deep soul – and a wealth of tracks you've probably never heard before! Sure, the King label's best known for it's work in 50s R&B and 60s James Brown soul – but this 24 tracks set shows that King (and related labels) were still working hard in the late 60s and early 70s to come up with the best of the southern soul underground – a massive batch of lesser-known artists who were burning the soul light bright. The quality of the work here is fantastic – as great as the best on Stax at the time, and then some – as the tunes really glisten with a newness and freshness that keeps us going through the set list again and again. Titles include "Precious Minutes" by Elaine Armstrong, "Beggin Just Ain't My Bag" by Dan Brantley, "Money Can't Buy True Love" by James Duncan, "One Woman" by Pat Lundy, "Darling Darling I Love You" by Johnny Soul, "Everywhere I Go" by Bobby & The Expressions, "Never Let A Love Grow Cold" by Allison, "Lost My Faith In You" by Charles Vickers, "I'm A Fool In Love" by LH & The Memphis Sounds, "All Woman" by Dottie Clark, "She Wrote It I Read It" by Junior McCants, and "Counting Teardrops" by James K-Nine. CD

Incredible work by the great Eddie Harris – an album that was initially recorded for Vee Jay during his early tenure at the label, but not issued for years! The album's one of Eddie's greatest from the time – a really far-reaching blend of soul jazz, hardbop, and some of the more exotic influences running through the Chicago scene from whence he came. Two tracks on the album are especially long groovers – "Cuttin Out" and "Shakey Jake" – both in the 15 minute mark, and extended jammers with Ira Sullivan on trumpet, Bunky Green on alto, and Melvin Rhyne on organ. The first two tracks on the set feature Eddie in a lineup with Willie Pickens, Raphael Don Garrett, and Ira Sullivan – on the modal groovers "The Dancing Bull" and "Antidote". And the last 4 tracks on the CD are pulled from the album "Half & Half" – an 8 track release that initially featured 4 tunes with Eddie blowing with a vocal group, and these other 4 that have him working with a very hip group that includes Charles Stepney on piano, Melvin Jackson on bass, Joe Dorio on guitar, and Marshall Thompson on drums. Titles include "Half & Half", "KC Blues", "Lawrence Of Arabia", and "Yea Yea Yea". CD

Mud never cracked the charts big on our side of the Atlantic, but for a brief time in the 70s they were one of the hottest glam rock acts going – a group who were maybe a bit more down to earth than some of their flamboyant contemporaries, and able to mix slight currents of older rock modes with some of the sinister sounds that often made mainstream glam recordings feel like you were listening to something from the children of Clockwork Orange! This huge set goes farther than any other Mud collection we've seen before – beginning with that moment when the group moved over to RAK Records, and really found their sound – then spreading out through the rest of the 70s, when some of their other chart-topping contemporaries had given up steam, but Mud were still going strong – likely for some as an antidote to punk! Some of the later work here was recorded under other names – as Roly, Ring, and Les Gray – but the set's got a nicely unified vibe over the course of its 60 total tracks – and also includes detailed notes on the surprisingly long legacy of the group. CD

Very nice jazz-oriented material that has Sarah working with Jimmy Jones, one of her best accompanists, or John Malachi, who was in Billy Eckstine's band at the same time Sarah was with the group. All the tracks have nice small combo instrumentation – and Sarah keeps things nice and warm vocally, free to get a bit more intimate than usual in the album's casual setting. Titles include "All Of Me", "Lover Man", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", "Prelude To A Kiss", and "You Hit The Spot". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the rarest Newport albums ever issued – a split LP that features a side apiece by two of the coolest talents of the late 50s! Side one features work by the Randy Weston trio – with Weston on piano, George Joyner on bass, and GT Hogan on drums – performing great Weston originals that include "Machine Blues", "Hi Fly", "Beef Blues Stew", and an excerpt from the great "Bantu Suite"! Even groovier is work from the quartet of vibist Lem Winchester – a combo that also includes piano from Ray Santisi, bass from John Neves, and drums from Jimmy Zitano. The set is one of the few times that Winchester recorded away from Prestige Records in his all-too-short career – and the cover even bills him as "Patrolman Lem Winchester", with a picture of him in a police hat – a reference to his day job. Winchester titles include "Now's The Time", "Take The A Train", and "Polka Dots & Moonbeams". LP, Vinyl record album

Talk about standing in the shadows of Motown! This set's a whole batch of really rare tracks from the Detroit scene of the late 60s – some of which were only issued on tiny labels, and lots more of which appear here for the first time ever – all from the mighty deep vaults of soul producer Dave Hamilton! Dave's a lost legend from the Motor City – a cat who captured talent that was every bit as good as that appearing on bigger indies – like Westbound, Groovesville, or Ric Tic – but who also recorded more gems than he could issue back in the day – which is what makes his music so ripe for discovery all these many years later. The set's overflowing with cuts that rival some of the best Northern Soul singles of the period, and also includes some cool steppers that show the way that Dave could guess where Detroit sounds would go in the 70s – all with a quality and production level that's way more than you'd expect from Hamilton's tiny studio. CD features 24 tracks in all – lots never issued – and titles include "Happiness Is Here" by Tobi Lark, "Lean Lanky Daddy" by Little Ann, "Heavenly Thing" by The Mark-Keys, "You Did" by Priscilla Page, "What Should I Do" by Little Ann, "Blue Funk" by Dave Hamilton, "Talking Bout Love" by Tobi Lark, "Your Love Is What I Want" by The Ravins, "Just A Mistake" by The Ebonettes, "That's All She Wrote" by Gil Billingsley, "Love Friends & Money" by James Lately, "Sweep It Out In The Shed" by Tobi Lark, "I'm Pretending" by Priscilla Page, "Nothing In This World" by Dottie & Millie, "You Won't Miss The Water" by Chico & Buddy, and "Marriage Is Only A State Of Mind" by James Carpenter. CD

Yulesville is coolsville – especially when it comes in the form of a killer collection of rare Christmas singles from the folks at Bear Family! The package is awash in the kind of groovy, sometimes goofy Holiday singles that broke big in the early years of rock and soul – a nice antidote to the sort of sleepier work that usually graced the record racks in earlier years – and the kind of music that's perfect for sipping egg nog into the wee small hours of Christmas morning! There's plenty of gems here that we've never heard before, and plenty of other great nuggets too – titles that include "Rock & Roll Christmas" by Cordell Jackson, "Wishing Is For Fools" by The Melodeers, "Jingle Jangle" by The Penguins, "Jingle Rock" by Tommy Lee & The Orbits, "Big White Cadillac" by Little Joey Farr, "Xmas Bell Rock" by Barry & The Highlights, "Twisten Bells" by Santo & Johnny, "Sleigh Bell Rock" by Three Aces & A Joker, "Winter Wonderland" by Allen & The Flames, "The Cactus Christmas Tree" by The McGuire Sisters, "It's Christmas Everywhere" by Paul Anka, "All Winter Long" by Linda Laure, and "Christmas Kisses" by The Bookends & Ray Anthony. 33 tracks in all! CD

The team of Coltrane and Mobley seems like a strange pairing from the perspective of the history books – but at the time, the pair were two of the brightest new stars on the tenor, each with a sound and style that would make them huge, so it was no surprise that they were brought together for a blowing session like this on Prestige. The set's got a nice open ended feel – with 4 long tracks that give the players plenty of solo room, and a group that includes Donald Byrd on trumpet, Elmo Hope on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. Titles include "On It", "Weeja", "Avalon", and "Polka Dots & Moonbeams". LP, Vinyl record album

John, aka Johnny Frigo, who's best known to our set for the rare dynamite jazz dance sides he recorded later on, and to the jazz world at large for his work as a bassist, leads a small group on this rare, early full length for Mercury as a leader on his first instrument – the violin! It's a pretty sweet set, and really not at all the token late 50s swing set you'd expect from the title, and owes as much or more to the bop scene at the time. Frigo's lead violin gives the tunes kind of a cinematic sweep – and he's accompanied by Dick Marx on piano, Ray Brown on bass, Norm Jeffries on drums and others. Tracks include "What A Difference A Day Made", "Polka Dots And Moon Beams", "Blue Orchids", "Moonlight In Vermont", "Is Love Good To Me" and more. CD

A really well-done overview of work that Pharoah Sanders did for the Timeless label during the 80s – recordings that are not nearly as widely-circulated as his material for Impulse and Theresa, but which represents a key third slice of his career! The setting here is sometimes more conventional in terms of standard jazz productions – smaller groups who play a bit more inside, yet still are a perfect match for Sanders' spiritual vibe on the tenor – an instrument he often uses to cross bridges of jazz generations in these recordings – linking the 70s spiritualism to some of the energy of the younger 80s musicians who were moving things back to basics. Given that Pharoah never had a "basics" stage of his career, this later life material is a real surprise – a bit like the territory that Archie Shepp was hitting in a similar mode at the time – lessons learned from the fringes, brought back to transform the center. Titles include "Africa", "Times Past", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", "Soul Eyes", "Moniebah", "Moonchild", "You've Got To Have Freedom", "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes", and "Origin". Also includes an unreleased version of "Central Park West". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes music from Loretta Lynn, Mel Tillis, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Ray Price, Dottie West, Tom T Hall, Billy Swan, Sonny James, Charlie Rich, Tanya Tucker and more. 30 tracks in all. CD

Hardly the kind of music you'd want to keep in the basement – as the set's overflowing with classic soul from the 60s – especially the kind of underground nuggets we love so much! If we had to pick a style, we might say that the collection's heavy on Northern Soul rompers from the American indie scene way beyond Detroit – but there's also lots of other tasty flavors on here too, including some special west coast numbers and early funk tracks that really give the whole thing a great sense of variety – while still keeping to the upbeat, lively rhythms that make the set so great! Every track's a winner – and although most of these tracks never charted at the time, most have gone onto win big fame through constant circulation between DJs and collectors over the past few decades. Titles include "Sock It To Em Soul Brother" by Bill Moss, "The Horse" by Cliff Nobles, "Sign On The Dotted Line" by Gene Latter, "Peaches N Cream" by The Ikettes, "Tramp" by Lowell Fulsom, "I'll Never Forget You" by Marke & Chris Jackson, "Take It Baby" by The Showmen, "Ooh Wee Baby I Love You" by Fred Jackson, "Giving Up" by The Ad Libs, "With This Ring" by The Platters, "One Eye Open" by Maskman & The Agents, "Baby Please Come Back Home" by JJ Barnes, "Gotta Give Her Love" by The Volumes, and "Believe In Me Baby (part 1)" by Jesse James & The Dynamic Four. CD

Two different slices of Art Blakey – served up here in a 3CD set! Moanin isn't the Blue Note album of the same name, but a fantastic live set from 1968 – recorded after Blakey's classic Blue Note years, but with a group of fantastic players that includes a young Billy Harper on tenor, Ronnie Matthews on piano, and Julian Priester on trombone. Harper alone is worth the price of the CD – as his firey solos are great, and the whole album's an excellent peek at his early career! There's a sense of open freedom here that's quite different than the earlier Jazz Messengers groove – and this European date is a great complement to the better-known US live recording with the same group from the time. The set features a number of nice long tracks – like Slide Hampton's "Slide's Delight", Billy Harper's "Blues For Eros", Bobby Timmons' "Moanin", and the Jazz Messengers' standard "You Don't Know What Love Is". Sesjun Radio Shows 1 is fantastic radio performances from one of our favorite stretches of the legendary Jazz Messengers group – a time when the lineup featured a young Bobby Watson on alto and Valery Ponomarev on trumpet – two players who'd grow into fantastic leaders on their own, but who here help bring a lot of new life to the group! Watson is especially wonderful – contributing a few key compositions, and that soaring spirit in his horn, which really helped usher in a whole new generation for Blakey's group. James Williams is on piano too, and we actually love his work in this group more than on his later sets as a leader – and remaining players include David Schnitter on tenor on the first six tracks, and Billy Pierce on the horn on the remaining two – and either Dennis Irwin or Charles Fambrough on bass. Art's still the rock-solid core of the group – a tremendous leader who always gets fantastic performances out of young players – and titles include "ETA", "Dr J", "Free For All", "Along Came Betty", "ETA", and "Evaline". Sesjun Radio Shows 2 is live work from the great Art Blakey – a set that features two different performances from two really great groups! The first two cuts are from 1980 – from a time when the Jazz Messengers features up and coming 80s giants Bobby Watson on alto, Valery Ponomarev on trumpet, Billy Pierce on tenor, James Williams on piano, and Charles Fambrough on bass – all young musicians who'd evolve into leaders on their own in a few short years after these recordings, but who really sparkle here under Blakey's leadership! The cuts feature a great take on the Williams tune "1977 AD", and a long version of the Jazz Messengers standard "Blues March". The last four tracks feature a slightly later group – still with Fambrough on bass, but including wonderful tenor and soprano sax work from Jean Toussaint, plus trumpet from Terence Blanchard, alto from Donald Harrison, and piano from Johnny O'Neal – an equally great lineup, but in a completely different way. Titles include a great take on the Fambrough tune "Little Man" – plus "Polka Dots & Moonbeams" and "Moanin". CD

One of the most legendary albums from groundbreaking Brazilian music pioneer Tom Ze – and a record that introduces itself with an equally legendary cover image! (Hint: that's not an eyeball on the front.) Ze had already been recording a bit by the time of this record – but this set is easily his most experimental album ever – a record that even makes the work of the late 60s Tropicalia generation sound a bit more catchy and tuneful – as Tom's drawing here from all sorts of strands of avant poetry and instrumentation. The vibe is almost like some of the most experimental Saravah Records albums of the period – unusual songwriting served up in an approach that mixes hard percussion, spare production, quirky guitar, and some of the strangest vocals ever recorded in Brazil. Titles include Complexo De Epico", "A Noite Do Meu Bem", "Dodo E Zeze", "Brigitte Bardot", and "O Riso E A Faca". LP, Vinyl record album