The standout LP from The Dream Warriors – a quirky hip hop group who first sprung onto the scene in the wake of De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest. The duo were Canadian, and had a style that was a bit more open-ended than others – with room for odd samples and a keen sense of humor. Both of these are displayed well in the album's classic track "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style" – a pretty great number that sampled heavily from Quincy Jones' "Soul Bossa Nova", many years before the track became better known as the theme from Austin Powers. Other tracks include "Follow Me Not", "Ludi", "Tune From the Missing Channel", and "Wash Your Face in My Sink". " CD

Beautiful work from a crack group of jazz legends, together billed as The Cookers – Billy Harper on tenor, Eddie Henderson and David Weiss on trumpet, Craig Handy on alto & flute, George Cables on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Billy Hart on drums – kind of a dream lineup, working here with the same sort of spiritual energy you'd expect from a 70s session of this nature! The music is filled with love and joy – and has just the right sort of groove to really make the soloists take off – and titles include Cables's "Spookarella" and "Sweet Rita Suite Part 2: Her Soul", Harper's "Priestess" and Capra Black", McBee's "Close To You Alone", "Ladybugg" and "U Phoria", and an great opening take on Freddie Hubbard's "The Core". CD

Soulful beats with more than a hint of a hip hop influence – no surprise, considering that the album features guest appearances by Bahamadia, What What, Roots Manuva, The Dream Warriors, and Blade. Lots of heavy downtempo beats, a great one to kickback and herbalise to! Titles include "Who's The Realist?", "Moon Sequence", "Mind In The Frame", "Shattered Soul", "Let It Go", "When I Shine", and "Starlight". CD

A really unique setting for the saxophone talents of David Murray – set up here with the Pierre Dorge New Jungle Orchestra, on a record that really pushes that group even more than usual! Part of the strength of the set is the work of the soloists – not just Murray on tenor and bass clarinet, or Dorge on guitar – but also Horace Parlan on piano, and Harry Beckett on trumpet – both players who get in some strong moments that really help shape the long songs on the set – in a lineup that also includes Per Jorgensen on trumpet, Jorg Huke on trombone, Jacob Mygind on soprano and tenor, and Jesper Zeuthen on alto and bass clarinet. The set includes the Murray originals "Gospel Medley", "Song For Doni", and "Shakil Warriors" – and Dorge tunes "Do Green Ants Dream" and "David In Wonderland". 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 set that goes back to the old school – but the old school of the late 80s/early 90s, not the early days of the South Bronx – in a very cool collection of cuts that bring together hip hop, club, and a bit of mainstream soul – all from a time when musical styles were really percolating together! The track list speaks for itself, and features classics that include "Back To Life" by Soul II Soul, "Too Blind To See It" by Kym Sims, "Big Fun" by Inner City, "My Definition Of A Boombastic Jazz Style" by Dream Warriors, "People Everyday (metamorphosis mix)" by Arrested Development, "They Reminisce Over You" by Pete Rock & CL Smooth, "Where I'm From" by Digable Planets, "Hey Ya" by Outkast, "What U Waitin 4" by Jungle Brothers, "Soul Flower" by Brand New Heavies with Pharcyde, "Push It" by Salt N Pepa, "Can I Kick It" by Tribe Called Quest, "Apparently Nothin (soul river mix)" by Young Disciples, "Always There (David Morales mix)" by Incognito, "Groove Is In The Heart" by Deee-Lite, and "Feel So Good" by Mase. LP, Vinyl record album

Set of material from the mid 80's – one featuring Ornette reunited with his classic quartet of Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, and Billy Higgins; the other with his Prime Time group that included Bern Nix, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, and Denardo Coleman. The whole set's a "30 Years Of Harmelodic Music" tribute, and includes the tracks "Space Church", "In All Languages", "Latin Genetics", "Peace Warriors", "Music News", and "Feet Music". Some tracks are done by both bands, and are a good illustration of how Ornette's style had grown in the 30 year period. CD

2 LP set of material from the mid 80's – one featuring Ornette reunited with his classic quartet of Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, and Billy Higgins; the other with his Prime Time group that included Bern Nix, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, and Denardo Coleman. The whole set's a "30 Years Of Harmelodic Music" tribute, and includes the tracks "Space Church", "In All Languages", "Latin Genetics", "Peace Warriors", "Music News", and "Feet Music". Some tracks are done by both bands, and are a good illustration of how Ornette's style had grown in the 30 year period. LP, Vinyl record album