A collection of tunes by jazz guitarists – put together by Guitar Player magazine, and featuring rare tunes by a variety of different players. Our standout favorite is Lee Ritenour's version of "Valdez In The Country" – the great Donny Hathaway funk instrumental, handled here with a very different approach than the original! Other tracks range from straight jazz to swing to bossa – and titles include "Contrary-ness" and "Two For The Blues" by Barney Kessel & Herb Ellis, "Allison II" and "Django" by Joe Pass, "Guitar Player" and "Counting My Tears" by BB King, "Spain" and "Toronto Under the Sign Of Capricorn" by Larry Coryell, and "Lament In Tremolo Form" and "Feelings" by Laurindo Almeida. LP, Vinyl record album

Proof that there's few labels better at digging up an interesting groove than the mighty Jazzman imprint – home to a consistently great series of reissue 45s over the past 10 years or so! The Jazzman groove goes way beyond the standard deep funk line – into a realm of groovy styles that includes soundtrack bits, primitive electronics, female jazz vocals, socking 60s soul, and a whole lot more – all served up perfectly in this wonderful little set! And as with other Jazzman volumes, it's not just the music that makes the set great, but the way it's put together – as Gerald Jazzman manages to sort tunes and lay them out one by one in a style that really changes up the groove – pushing our expectations with each new number, and really keeping things fresh throughout! This one's way way way more than just a pile of rare funk tracks – a truly loving document of one label's commitment to the depth of music in all its forms – served up over a batch of 12 rare tunes! Titles include "Let's Go" by James Reese & The Progressions, "Baby True" by Gettysbyrg Address, "Hunk Of Heaven" by Lemuria, "Pretty Bird" by Terea, "Transfert 2002" by Le Groupe X, "Scherzi Pesanti" by Remigio Ducros, "One" by Mary Lou Williams, "Bobby's Mood" by Soul Toronadoes, "California Soul" by Marlena Shaw, and "Baltimore Oriole (King version)" by Lorez Alexandria. CD

Sublime bossa groovers from Italy! The first volume of this series was one of our favorite compilations that year it was released – and this second volume is equally as great! Schema groover Gerardo Frisina serves up a hand-picked batch of 16 tunes, mostly classic numbers from the late 60s and early 70s, pulled from the ranks of Italian soundtrack, jazz, and easy listening albums – all with a flair for making the bossa even groovier than it already is! Electric keyboards abound – and the rhythms run from dreamy to driving to slightly funky, always at the right pace for the material, and always making the set dance with delight! Titles include "Incontro All'Aereoporto" by Piero Piccioni, "Allora, Il Treno" by Bruno Nicolai & Edda Dell'Orso, "Avances" by Gerardo Frisina, "Wind" by Red Redford Sound System One, "Bossalonga" by Mustang, "Unreality Landscape" by Angel Pocho Gatti, "Susan Theme" by Daniele Patucchi, "Per Lei" by Stefano Torossi, and "Colpa Tua" by Giancarlo Gazzani. CD

A mindblowing look at a really stunning musical moment in Indonesia – a postwar period when older sounds from the nation were updated with more western-styled instrumentation – yet often at a level that still retained all of the charm of their roots! If you dig Indonesian gamelan or vocal performances, you'll find plenty to love here – as rhythmic and melodic elements from those worlds are mixed with jazz instrumentation, electric guitar, and plenty of percussion that often seems to draw a bit from Latin inspirations as much as it does from larger local ensembles and their musical legacy. The style is maybe a bit like musical shifts that were taking place in other Southeast Asian nations at the time – but the results are far less slavish to western pop, and still really retain all the cultural care of earlier years – sometimes in ways that are a lot more lean and personal, with extremely beautiful sounds throughout. Maybe one of the best collections the Soundway label has ever given us – with the usual detailed notes, and tracks by artists who include Orkes Kelana Ria, Mus DS, Zaenal Combo, Yanti Bersuadara, Band Nada Kentjana, Orkes Tropicana, Nada Kantjana, and Chris Byantoro. LP, Vinyl record album

The sounds here aren't that unusual at all – and in fact, they're mostly pretty darn groovy – a superb selection of sound library funk from the glory days of the European scene – collected here together in support of the book of the same name! In case you're new to the scene – the Euro sound library world of the 60s and 70s was a place where extremely creative musicians could come together and create their own sort of grooves without a worry for placement on the record charts – as most of these cuts were locked in the vaults, then licensed briefly for use on radio, TV, or commercials – which led to a few of these gems getting some famous, but anonymous play on classic cop or crime shows at the time. The compilation brings together some of the best examples of this scene – loads of cuts that have been our favorites over the years – a whopping 20 tracks that include "Half Forgotten Daydreams" by John Cameron, "Funky Fanfare" by Keith Mansfield, "Weeping Eelgrass" by Mladen Franko, "Mild Maniac" by Peter Patzer, "Dream Number Two" by Roland Hollinger, "Soft Wind" by Gary Pacific Orchestra, "Tropicola" by Stringtronics, "Survivor" by Klaus Weiss, "La Dimonstrazione" by Daniele Patucchi, "Feeling Tense" by Stefano Torossi, "Xenos Cosmos" by Janko Nilovic, "Night Breeze" by Franco Micalizzi, and "Fancy Good" by Electric Machine. CD

Jerry Bergonzi on tenor sax, Tiger Okoshi on trumpet, Joachim Kuhn on piano, Dave Santoro on bass, and Daniel Humair on drums. CD

One of our favorite-ever Miles Davis albums – and a groundbreaking soundtrack that forever changed the way that jazz music was used in film! According to legend, the sounds here were recorded by Miles on a hot Paris night – late in the studio, after a live performance – in a very intimate setting that had he and the combo creating these little poetic passages along with the action in the film! In addition to sublime and moody muted trumpet from Miles – the small group also features tremendous tenor work from the great Barney Wilen – a French modernist who's at the height of his powers – and beautiful bass from Pierre Michelot, whose rich tones really frame the whole proceedings. The rest of the group features bop pianist Rene Urtreger and American drummer Kenny Clarke – but the real charm comes from the interplay between Wilen, Davis, and Michelo. Titles include "Florence Sur Les Champs-Elysees", "L'Assassinat De Carla", "Diner Au Motel", "Evasion De Julien", "Nuit Sur Les Champs-Elysees", "Le Petit Bal", "Au Bar Du Petit Bac" and "Sur L'Autoroute". LP, Vinyl record album

Willie Colon declares Ruben Blades as the champ on the cover of this early solo set – and for good reason too, as the album's one of Blades' best! There's a clear, clean simplicity to the record that's totally wonderful – a purity of vision before some of Ruben's later crossover efforts – and a standout sense of voice that's a bit different than the work he'd recorded with Willie Colon as a leader. Of course, given the image on the front, Willie's never too far off – arranging some tracks, producing the record, and playing trombone as well – yet somehow, there's a slight divergence here from the usual Colon groove – and an initial expression of Ruben Blades' grander Latin vision. In addition to Colon, arrangements are also by Louie Ramirez and Louie Cruz – and the band's as tight as can be, and features Yomo Toro on cuatro, Sonny Bravo on piano, and Jose Mangual and Milton Cardona on percussion. Titles include "La Maleta", "Fue Varon", "Pueblo", "Me Recordaras", and "Lluvia De Tu Cielo". LP, Vinyl record album

Modal brilliance from Gerardo Frisina – possibly his greatest album ever, and a set that really shows his true transformation into a jazzman! The set's got a wide range of acoustic jazz instrumentation played live, and features none of the rhythm programs you might get on earlier Frisina records – a shift that has him moving in the same classic jazz space as labelmate Nicola Conte! As with Conte's recent records, there's a warmth and soul here that's undeniable – a feel that wraps up 50s Blue Note, 60s Italian jazz, and 70s MPS with ease – delivering something new and fresh for a younger generation in the process. Core instrumentation includes vibes, piano, tenor, flute, and trombone – and the set features guest vocals by Norma Winstone on one track, and Francesca Sortino on another. All other titles are instrumental, and tunes include "Titoro", "Joy Shout", "Will You Walk A Little Faster", "Tata Somba", "Mille E Una Notte", "High Hat", "Bubbly", and "Another Waltz". CD

Don Grusin on piano, keyboards and vocoder, Gary Herbig on saxophone, Oscar Castro-Neves, Lee Ritenour and Michael Sembello on guitar, Michael Boddicker on synth, Abraham Laboriel and Nathan East on bass, Alex Acuna on drums, and Efrain Toro and Steve Forman on percussion with Kate Markowitz on vocals. CD

An incredible album from the man that changed the way the world hears the Hammond! This album was Larry Young's first for Blue Note – and it's a mindblowing batch of tunes that push the organ into realms that had never been heard of in jazz. Young's got a real penchant for a modal groove – no doubt inspired by his friend and sometimes collaborator John Coltrane – and he's working here with a totally hip group that includes Sam Rivers, Grant Green, and Elvin Jones. The tunes are amazing – dancing with delight as they push the envelope, but never go too far to get overindulgent – and the album's filled with classics that include Green's wonderful composition "Plaza De Toros", plus originals by Young like "Tyrone", "Backup", and "Ritha". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first collections to offer up the sorts of rare gems that have made Italian sound library records so worth digging for over the years – initially a 90s package, done before there was much information provided on the studios and players, and with the kind of porno cover that was initially used to sell grooves like this to the wider global scene of funk collectors! Forget the package, though, because the cuts are what matter most – an assortment of different funky numbers that are heavy on tight drums, funky basslines, and sweet keyboards – from mysterious sound library creators who include Sandro Brugnolini, Franco Bixio, Stefano Torossi, Raskovich, and Narassa. Titles include "Polyphony", "Diamonds", "Abiente Elegante", "La Gang", "Diatomea", "Capricorno", "Sweet Beat", and "Schizzo". CD

A tremendous recording from the Art Ensemble Of Chicago – done during the same Paris stretch as their Great Black Music classics on the BYG/Actuel label – and a set that easily matches, if not tops, those classics! You can really hear the group finding their own space here – taking some of the free jazz explorations of the Chicago scene in the late 60s, and forging them with an even earthier use of both percussion, and the more offbeat sonic possibilities of their own instruments – often with a sense of surprise that you don't always get from some of their later albums. Titles include the side-long "The Spiritual" – plus "Toro", "Lori Song", and "That The Evening Sky Fell Through the Glass Wall and We Stood Alone Somewhere?" (And they wondered why they never got their songs on the radio!) LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe one of the most hard-burning performances ever recorded by this legendary South African jazz combo – a set dedicated to trumpeter Mongezi Feza, a key member of the group who'd passed away just a short time before the recording! The session was done in London, right after all four remaining members had come together for a memorial for Mongezi – and throughout the set, you can feel the raw emotion that's driving the performance – bold, freewheeling and very expressive sounds from the lineup of Dudu Pukwana on alto sax, Chris McGregor on piano, Johnny Dyani on bass, and Louis Moholo on drums – all players who pick up extra percussion and vocalize at points – almost in the tradition of the AACM, but more emotive too. The set features a double-length performance, titled "Blue Notes For Mongezi" – divided into four movements. LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite-ever Miles Davis albums – and a groundbreaking soundtrack that forever changed the way that jazz music was used in film! According to legend, the sounds here were recorded by Miles on a hot Paris night – late in the studio, after a live performance – in a very intimate setting that had he and the combo creating these little poetic passages along with the action in the film! In addition to sublime and moody muted trumpet from Miles – the small group also features tremendous tenor work from the great Barney Wilen – a French modernist who's at the height of his powers – and beautiful bass from Pierre Michelot, whose rich tones really frame the whole proceedings. The rest of the group features bop pianist Rene Urtreger and American drummer Kenny Clarke – but the real charm comes from the interplay between Wilen, Davis, and Michelo. Titles include "Florence Sur Les Champs-Elysees", "L'Assassinat De Carla", "Diner Au Motel", "Evasion De Julien", "Nuit Sur Les Champs-Elysees", "Le Petit Bal", "Au Bar Du Petit Bac" and "Sur L'Autoroute". LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite-ever Miles Davis albums – and a groundbreaking soundtrack that forever changed the way that jazz music was used in film! According to legend, the sounds here were recorded by Miles on a hot Paris night – late in the studio, after a live performance – in a very intimate setting that had he and the combo creating these little poetic passages along with the action in the film! In addition to sublime and moody muted trumpet from Miles – the small group also features tremendous tenor work from the great Barney Wilen – a French modernist who's at the height of his powers – and beautiful bass from Pierre Michelot, whose rich tones really frame the whole proceedings. The rest of the group features bop pianist Rene Urtreger and American drummer Kenny Clarke – but the real charm comes from the interplay between Wilen, Davis, and Michelo. Titles include "Florence Sur Les Champs-Elysees", "L'Assassinat De Carla", "Diner Au Motel", "Evasion De Julien", "Nuit Sur Les Champs-Elysees", "Le Petit Bal", "Au Bar Du Petit Bac" and "Sur L'Autoroute". LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite-ever Miles Davis albums – and a groundbreaking soundtrack that forever changed the way that jazz music was used in film! According to legend, the sounds here were recorded by Miles on a hot Paris night – late in the studio, after a live performance – in a very intimate setting that had he and the combo creating these little poetic passages along with the action in the film! In addition to sublime and moody muted trumpet from Miles – the small group also features tremendous tenor work from the great Barney Wilen – a French modernist who's at the height of his powers – and beautiful bass from Pierre Michelot, whose rich tones really frame the whole proceedings. The rest of the group features bop pianist Rene Urtreger and American drummer Kenny Clarke – but the real charm comes from the interplay between Wilen, Davis, and Michelo. Titles include "Florence Sur Les Champs-Elysees", "L'Assassinat De Carla", "Diner Au Motel", "Evasion De Julien", "Nuit Sur Les Champs-Elysees", "Le Petit Bal", "Au Bar Du Petit Bac" and "Sur L'Autoroute". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best Buddy DeFranco albums from the 50s – an open-ended session that features a quartet with Sonny Clark on piano, and some longer tunes than usual! Buddy blows it wonderfully warm – taking the clarinet to places not imagined in the decade before – and working with Sonny in a tight small group format that really swings with a light and breezy edge – thanks to a gentle groove from Eugene Wright on bass and Robert White on drums. The interplay between Sonny Clark and Buddy DeFranco is definitely one of the great jazz pairings of the 50s – as you'll hear on tracks that include "Titoro", "Mine", "Gerry's Tune", and "Now's The Time". CD

Here's a case where the word "covid" doesn't have to be thought of in ways that make you shudder – as the always-inventive reedman Dave Rempis used the dark days of 2020 to find new ways of expression, and make a deeper exploration of different sides of his music! One of those sides is featured here in a series of beautiful solo performances – alto, tenor, and baritone readings of works from a variety of inspirations – Joe McPhee, Duke Ellington, Dudu Pukwana, and others – balanced with another unusual side, which is a series of outdoor performances with other musical partners, done during the summer of 2020 in a very distanced way! We're not going to say that you can "hear" the distance in the performance, but there's definitely a quality of improvising activity that's a bit different than usual – as Dave's reeds come into play with the cell of Tomeka Reid, bass of Joshua Abrams, and drums of Tim Daisy and Tyler Damon. The 2CD set does a wonderful job of presenting the material – mixing the solo tracks with the duo and trio moments – on titles that include "Glitch", "Isfahan", "Knox", "Toron", "Skin & Bones", "The Song Is You", "B My Dear", "I The Wild", and "On Green Dolphin Street". CD

An incredible album from the man that changed the way the world hears the Hammond! This album was Larry Young's first for Blue Note – and it's a mindblowing batch of tunes that push the organ into realms that had never been heard of in jazz. Young's got a real penchant for a modal groove – no doubt inspired by his friend and sometimes collaborator John Coltrane – and he's working here with a totally hip group that includes Sam Rivers, Grant Green, and Elvin Jones. The tunes are amazing – dancing with delight as they push the envelope, but never go too far to get overindulgent – and the album's filled with classics that include Green's wonderful composition "Plaza De Toros", plus originals by Young like "Tyrone", "Backup", and "Ritha". CD

The latest masterpiece in this fab fab series! Like the other versions, this one grabs wild funky and groovy tunes from lost Italian exploitation films of the 60s and 70s – a virtual treasure trove of incredible tunes! The cuts blast together one into the other, rolling along on a mad groove plucked out of time, mixing crime and jazz and funk and sleaze into a blend as beautiful as the lovely set of notes inside. Some of the cuts on this CD have shown up on other compilations, but the overall quality of the packaging is incredibly high, and the set sounds great together. Tracks include "Tema Di Oscar" by Berti Pisano, "Il Profeta" by Armando Trovajoli, "L'Eta Del Malessere" by Stefano Torossi, "Amore Amore Amore" by Piero Piccioni, "Playgirl 70" by Piero Piccioni, "Right Or Wrong" by Piero Piccioni, "Crazy", by Wes & The Airdales, "Let's Find Out" by Isabel Bond, and "Quand Ero Un Bebe" by Il Cantori Moderni. CD

Another blistering treasure trove of Canadian reggae! You heard us right, this batch of deep and heavy roots comes all the way from Toronto, and though it may be geographically isolated from the Caribbean, the vibes are deeply rooted foundation rock, not unlike some of the other astoundingly great material the folks at Light In The Attic have reissued. Jerry Brown's Summer Records imprint churned out no small number of tremendous reggae cuts, as this excellent compilation documents, working with West Indian ex-pats, visiting luminaries and local talent, too! The tracks run the gamut from bright and crisp to murky smoked out but it's all unbelievably great and will open your eyes to a whole new scene in the same way that the refreshing Jamaica Toronto set did! 15 tracks in all, including "Love Makes The World Go Round", "Warrior" and "Jah Jah Live Forever" by Johnny Osbourne, "Sufferer" and "Awakening" by Earth, Roots & Water, "Run Them A Run" by Willi Williams, "Reach My Destiny" by Noel Ellis, "Dreadlock Lady" by Jerry Brown, "Come Together" by Bobby Gaynair and Earth, Roots & Water, and "Mankind" by Adrian Homer Miller and Earth, Roots & Water. Plus as a bonus, there's a DVD layer on the CD, with 20 minutes of excellent archival footage of Jerry Brown and his artists in the studio and at the dance! CD

Beautiful later work from the great Chico Buarque – an album that still shows him very much at the top of his game, and maturing into an even more wonderful artist than he was as a young man! The depth of songwriting is wonderful – expressive without over going too far over the top – and the arrangements are tight, but never too commercial – kind of with the lofty space you'd find in work by Milton Nascimento or Lo Borges. The set features guest appearances by Edu Lobo and Joao Donato – and titles include "O Velho Francisco", "Catando No Toro", "Cade Voce (Leila XIV)", "Bancarrota Blues", and "Lola". LP, Vinyl record album

Great lost work by Buddy DeFranco – rare Verve sides recorded with Sonny Clark that show a whole new side of the clarinetist! Forget what you might think about his playing – because these tracks have a tight swinging boppish groove, and Clark's piano work makes the whole thing move nicely, without some of the hoke of other DeFranco sessions. The package features 27 titles in all – with some great originals by Clark – and titles include "Cable Car", "Monogram", "Mine", "Titoro", "Sonny's Idea", "Jack The Fieldstalker", and "Minor Incident". Great stuff! CD

3 albums on 3 CDs. First is Bird & Diz – a classic meeting of two giants from the early years of bop – altoist Charlie Parker and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie – brought together here in a session that Norman Granz would later list as one of the truest realizations of his vision for recording jazz music! Parker's sharp lines are a great contrast to the robust horn work of Diz – and the players work here with a rhythm section that features Thelonious Monk on piano, Curley Russell on bass, and Buddy Rich on drums. Titles include "Relaxin With Lee", "Leap Frog", "Oscar For Treadwell", and "Mohawk". Next is Jazz At Massey Hall – a legendary concert recorded at Massey Hall in Toronto, with a previously-unmatched quintet of superstar bop players: Charlie Parker on alto, Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet, Bud Powell on piano, Charles Mingus on bass, and Max Roach on drums. The quintet runs down "Perdido", "Salt Peanuts", "All The Things You Are", "Wee", "Hot House" and "A Night In Tunisia". Also included is Diz 'N' Bird In Concert – not the famous Verve Records pairing of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker – but instead a more obscure live date from 1947, but one that really lets you hear the genius that happens when both players take the stage! The tunes have this approach that really hits at the most creative side of bop at the time – maybe even more open, expressive, and filled with larger ideas than some of the early singles that were coming out in 1947 – in a way that makes the whole thing a really important document of the complexity that was in the music, right from the start. The pair really stretch out on a fantastic two part reading of "Night In Tunisia (parts 1 & 2)", then soar through "Groovin High (parts 1 & 2)", "Confirmation", and "Dizzy Atmosphere". The second half of the set features some more live material, but just with Dizzy Gillespie in the lead, from 1953 – with Bill Graham on alto and baritone, plus a bit of vocals from Joe Carroll. Titles include "Swing Low Sweet Cadillac" and "Tin Tin Deo". CD

Some of the last work ever recorded by trombonist Frank Rosolino – really wonderful laidback live material that has Frank blowing in an open, spacious sort of way! The album's a great chance to hear the creativity and soul of Rosolino's trombone at its best – and has a very different feel than most of his early work – which, while great, always had a tighter west coast approach. The group here is a Canadian one – no surprise, as the material was recorded in Toronto – and features great guitar from Ed Bickert, plus Don Thomson on bass, and Terry Clarke on drums. Titles include the group's long, melodic treatment of Monk's "Round Midnight", and other titles including "Sweet And Lovely", "Who Can I Turn To", and "I Thought About You". LP, Vinyl record album

Paul Desmond on alto – with Ed Bickert on guitar, Don Thompson on bass, and Jerry Fuller on drums. CD

Dave Santoro on bass, Jerry Bergonzi on tenor saxophone, Renato Chicco on piano, and Tom Melito on drums. CD

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A mindblowing musical discovery – funky music made in Canada by expatriate Jamaicans – easily some of the most obscure post-colonial grooves we've ever dug! The sound here is a lot less reggae-based than you'd expect – as most of the tunes are in a really nitty gritty funky 45 sort of mode – filled with strong influences from American soul of the late 60s and early 70s, but often done with a style that's a bit dirtier and fuzzier, especially at the bottom of the rhythms. There's a few traces of Jamaican production styles on the records, but overall the album's more like finding a lost stash of rare 45s from some smaller American funk scene – all work that's totally darn fresh, and beautifully presented here in a lavish booklet filled with enough notes and vintage images to rival the work coming out of the Numero camp of late! Great stuff all around, with titles that include "Chips Chicken Banana Split" and "Fugitive Song" by Jo Jo & The Fugitives, "Eternal Love" by The Sheiks, "Memories" by Noel Ellis, "Right On" and "I Wish It Would Rain" by The Cougars, "Grand Funk" by Jackie Mittoo, "Love Is The Answer" by Ram, "You're So Good To Me Baby" by Eddie Spencer, "Mr Fortune" by The Hitch-Hikers with Mighty Pope, "Fire (She Need Water)" by Wayne McGhie & The Sounds Of Joy, and "I Believe In Music" by Bob & Wisdom. CD

The "one" here is the soprano saxophone – used exclusively by Evan Parker on the six improvised tracks on the set – each one very different than the other, and really showing the diversity and variation that Parker can bring to a performance! Often, the sound is very dense – tones and notes flowing effortlessly on top of one another – but clearly with this ear for sounds that often go beyond music, and a command of the instrument that rivals that of Steve Lacy in a similar setting – almost as if the record is Evan Parker's way of trying to claim a soprano saxophone title in the world of improvised music! LP, Vinyl record album

A great little set that brings together the short but fantastic legacy of Risco Connection – a late 70s project led by Studio One drummer Joe Isaacs, after moving from Kingston and setting up shop on the scene in Toronto! Joe calls on plenty of his older roots in early reggae, but also serves up cuts that have a strong nod towards contemporary club – slowing down the rhythms from the pace of disco, but also not really working in a reggae groove either – and instead coming up with a really unique hybrid of both – one that's peppered by vocals from a variety of different singers, often has nice keyboard touches in a moogy/spacey style, and which also features dubby reworkings of most of the tunes too! As usual, Strut do a great job of putting together the material with nicely detailed notes – and titles include two versions each of "It's My House", "Good Times", "Ain't No Stoppin Us Now", and "Sitting In The Park" – plus "I'm Caught Up", "Argument", "Stopping", "Bringing Out The Sunshine", "Risco Music", and "Reggae Music". CD

A great little set that brings together the short but fantastic legacy of Risco Connection – a late 70s project led by Studio One drummer Joe Isaacs, after moving from Kingston and setting up shop on the scene in Toronto! Joe calls on plenty of his older roots in early reggae, but also serves up cuts that have a strong nod towards contemporary club – slowing down the rhythms from the pace of disco, but also not really working in a reggae groove either – and instead coming up with a really unique hybrid of both – one that's peppered by vocals from a variety of different singers, often has nice keyboard touches in a moogy/spacey style, and which also features dubby reworkings of most of the tunes too! As usual, Strut do a great job of putting together the material with nicely detailed notes – and titles include two versions each of "It's My House", "Good Times", "Ain't No Stoppin Us Now", and "Sitting In The Park" – plus "I'm Caught Up", "Argument", "Stopping", "Bringing Out The Sunshine", "Risco Music", and "Reggae Music". LP, Vinyl record album

Jerry Bergonzi on tenor sax, Renato Chicco on piano, Dave Santoro on bass, and Andrea Michelutti. CD

Maybe one of the most hard-burning performances ever recorded by this legendary South African jazz combo – a set dedicated to trumpeter Mongezi Feza, a key member of the group who'd passed away just a short time before the recording! The session was done in London, right after all four remaining members had come together for a memorial for Mongezi – and throughout the set, you can feel the raw emotion that's driving the performance – bold, freewheeling and very expressive sounds from the lineup of Dudu Pukwana on alto sax, Chris McGregor on piano, Johnny Dyani on bass, and Louis Moholo on drums – all players who pick up extra percussion and vocalize at points – almost in the tradition of the AACM, but more emotive too. The set features a double-length performance, titled "Blue Notes For Mongezi" – divided into four movements. LP, Vinyl record album

Nice 2LP set that brought the US some of the great recordings cut by the Art Ensemble while they were in Paris (some of which have also come out under the Black Lion imprint). All of the material was recorded in the Polydor Studios in Paris in 1969, and the tracks include "The Spiritual", "Tutankhamun", "Toro", "Tthintthedalen", and "Lori Song". The feel of the tracks is very laidback, spare, and similar to the material on People in Sorrow, which was recorded during the same period. LP, Vinyl record album

A roots-oriented 70s classic from Willie Colon – one of his standout albums of the decade! Willie continues his "life of crime" approach for the early 70s – moving into an old west look on the cover, and matching that with a slightly rootsier sound on the album! The real difference is the presence of Yomo Toro – who plays cuatro on the album, and gives it a sound that stretches back to earlier Afro-Cuban styles – a groove that's a lot more rootsy, mixed in with the soaring salsa style of Colon in the 70s. Lead vocals are by Willie, Hector Lavoe, and Ruben Blades – and arrangements are by Marty Sheller and Willie. Tracks include "Toma", "Dona Tona", "Potpourri III", "Cua Cua Ra, Cua Cua", "I Feel Campesino", and "Que Bien Te Ves". CD

One of the strongest 70s statements from ex-Blue Notes drummer Louis Moholo – recorded in the company of fellow expatriots and UK avant jazzers that include Johnny Dyani, Evan Parker, Kenny Wheeler, Nick Evans, Radu Malfatti, and Harry Miller. The album shifts easily between strongly rhythmic passages that show Moholo's roots in the South African jazz scene, and other, freer sections that also illustrate his importance in the European avant scene of the 70s – and overall, the record's got a beautifully soulful quality that guides it well through all of these moments. Titles include "Wedding Hymn", "Khanya Apho Ukhona", "Ithi Gqi", "Amaxesha Osizi", and "You Ain't Gonna Know Me". LP, Vinyl record album

You may not know the Arlecchino Disco in Italy, but their DJs have come up with some mighty great grooves for this set – a mix of tracks from around the globe, served up in different styles – but working together here as a great demonstration of all the many colors in the funky spectrum! The approach is a bit like the older Mojo Club sets from the German scene, but maybe more strongly focused on heavier funk – and most tracks here are from the earlier half of the 70s, with titles that include "Mo Funk" by Debate, "Love Circuit" by Hamilton Movement, "Hot Pants Breakdown" by Soul Toronadoes, "Buckingham Palace" by Col Nolan, "The Best Day" by Marsha Hunt's 22, "Boogie Juice" by Brian Bennett, "Soulful" by The Apostles, "Popcorn Push Push" by Ernest Van Treose & The McDaniel Mary Street Band, "Life Is Like A Puzzle (part 2)" by Village Soul Choir, "Keep Movin On" by Sugar Billy, "I Feel Funky" by Matata, "Get Up Stand Up" by Malcolm's Locks, "Gimme Some" by General Crook, "Cuckoo Cuckoo" by Chanter Sisters, "Put Your Gun Down Brother" by Riot, and "Sweet Potato Collard Greens" by Sweet Les & Joe Frazier's Knockouts. CD

The title's a great one for this album – not just because tenorist Jerry Bergonzi always seems to have this forward-thinking, linear quality about his work – but also because his talents here intersect strongly with the alto sax of Dick Oatts! The pair really create some magic here – a balance between Bergonzi's bold tone and that raspier, more personal sound of Oatts – wrapped up beautifully with bass from Dave Santoro and drums from Andrea Michelutti – no piano at all, which only seems to further the fluid quality of the saxophones! There's a loose, free swing to the record – a quality that's still quite rhythmic, but which opens up without the piano and lets the saxophonists get very expressive – sparking stunning lines on original Bergonzi tracks that include "Creature Feature", "Tanzania", "Dig Oatts", "Itchy", "Arbonius Unt", and "Horton's Lament". CD

Completely unfettered solo saxophone work from Evan Parker – extremely intense, but not in an all-out blowing kind of way! Instead, Parker's got some incredible control on the valves here – playing with a frenetic sort of mode that's really incredible – freely improvising, but also really jamming too, with a dexterity that's simply amazing. That mix is what really set Parker apart from some of his contemporaries – a player who could be extremely sensitive at points, but also go head to head with some of the more fiercely-blown saxophonists of the European scene – and it's also a quality that's continued to make Parker so important as the decades move on. Titles include "Aerobatics 1", "Aerobatics 2", "Aerobatics 3", and "Aerobatics 4". LP, Vinyl record album