... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A 70s album on Miami's powerhouse TK Records – but a set that's got a real northeast pedigree, given that arrangements were handled by John Davis, and the whole thing was recorded at the New York branch of Sigma Sound! Peggy Santiglia handles the lead vocals, but many of the tracks are long-spun numbers in the best disco-suite mode – almost a record of 12" single cuts, but maybe a bit more concise! Davis is in prime form throughout – with modes that sometimes get a big funky in the best late 70s club tradition – and titles include "Fantasia/Carnival", "Sweet Sweet City Rhythm", "Go On And Dance To The Music", and "Alice Street". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Gal's in the prime of her sexy diva style here – singing in a sweet warm style with smooth jazzy arrangements that bring out a whole new side of her career. Obviously, the album's not as groundbreaking as some of her early work – but the quality is very high, and Gal's voice is always wonderful, no matter what the setting. Arrangements are by Gilson Peranzzetta and Lincoln Olivetti – and titles include "Meu Bem, Meu Mal", "Canta Brasil", "Roda Baiana", "Festa Do Interior", "Massa Real", and "Estrela, Estrela". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... CD

... CD

Amazing work from a young Chico Buarque – a record that seems to draw on all the best elements of 60s Brazilian pop, and forge them into a sound that's all its own! At one level, there's a post-bossa style of larger arrangements here that recalls the work of Edu Lobo – handled by Maestro Gaya in a mode that recalls some of the best bits of the time on the Elenco or Forma labels. But at another level, there's also a personal and slightly folksy style that reminds us of the initial power of Geraldo Vandre – a sound that's clearly present in Buarque's work, and which stands in a direct line to the best strengths of the emerging Tropicalia generation. The set's filled with classics that include "Carolina", "Roda Viva", "O Velho", "Ate Pensei", "Sem Fantasia", and "Desencontro" – and a few tracks feature Chico in duets with either Toquinho, Cristina, or MPB4! LP, Vinyl record album

An album with as much depth and richness as the title might imply – a wonderful record from Chico Buarque's newly sophisticated years at the end of the 70s! The set's got a quality that's almost timeless – an interwoven blend of styles that features some of Chico's modes from earlier years, but also an influence that's almost European at times – an approach that has Buarque rising up with some of the great global singer/songwriters, transcending standard MPB with a sense of confidence and personality that's really amazing. Arrangements are by Francis Hime, Tom Jobim, and Roberto Menescal – and most tracks have some prominent guitar played gently, but effectively next to the vocals – handled by players who include Octavio Burnier, Arthur Verocai, and Geraldo Azevedo. Titles are nearly all originals by Chico – with tracks that include "Vida", "Ja Passou", "Fantasia", "Qualquer Cancao", "Nao Sonho Mais", "Bye Bye Brasil", "Morena De Angola", and "De Todas As Maneiras". CD

A swirling array of tones, colors, and sounds – written and arranged by JJ Johnson, conducted by Gunther Schuller, and with Dizzy at the helm, blowing some of his most complicated solos ever. The approach is firmly in the Verve jazz orchestra tradition – and recalls the earlier brilliance of such projects in the hands of Ralph Burns, done here with a great depth of expression, and none of the coldness that you might expect from Schuller's participation. Clearly, there's a Miles/Gil Evans influence here, but the crew retains their identity strongly – and Dizzy's hot tone on the trumpet provides a broder spectrum than Miles ever could. Titles include "Fantasia", "Ballade", "Jubelo", and "The Sword Of Orion". CD

A great 70s album from this excellent Brazilian harmony group! Their sound is a different from that of Quarteto Em Cy or Tamba Trio, and their singing is less filled with straight jazzy harmonies than it is some off-kilter vocal lines that weave together and challenge each other throughout the tracks – in a really beautiful way. While they're best known for their groundbreaking work from the 60's, this LP's a good batch of tracks from the 70's that still retains the feel of the group. Cuts include "Fantasia", "Angelica", "Nascente", and a cover of Caetano Veloso's "Tropicalia"! LP, Vinyl record album

Hypnotic sound library material from Italian composer Daniela Casa – some of her rarest work from the mid 70s – recorded in her home studio and never before released commercially! It's very compelling work, with a range of styles from minimalist soundtrack music, to fairly heavy psych, to sitar-driven strings, to airy flute pieces and beyond. It was recorded for use in radio, television and film, but it honestly works just as well as melodic, if experimental instrumentals that masterfully blends and straddles genres. Titles include "Ricerca Dela Materia", "Pericolo", "Dimensione Concreta", "Grosse Cilindrate", "Avventura", "Visione Surreale", Occultismo", "Fantasia", "Motocross", "Dimensione Astrata", Ugnoto", "Circo Del Bimbi", "Sovrapposizione Di Immagini" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Casino has a smaller, tighter lineup than some of Al DiMeola's other records of the time, but the overall sound is still pretty far-reaching – thanks to a mix of keyboards from Barry Miles, and a blistering array of acoustic and electric guitars from Al himself! Steve Gadd propels the group with some very heavy drums, and Anthony Jackson plays bass – on titles that include "Egyptian Danza", "Chasin The Voodoo", "Senor Mouse", "Casino", and "Fantasia Suite For Two Guitars". LP, Vinyl record album

A swirling array of tones, colors, and sounds – written and arranged by JJ Johnson, conducted by Gunther Schuller, and with Dizzy at the helm, blowing some of his most complicated solos ever. The approach is firmly in the Verve jazz orchestra tradition – and recalls the earlier brilliance of such projects in the hands of Ralph Burns, done here with a great depth of expression, and none of the coldness that you might expect from Schuller's participation. Clearly, there's a Miles/Gil Evans influence here, but the crew retains their identity strongly – and Dizzy's hot tone on the trumpet provides a broder spectrum than Miles ever could. Titles include "Fantasia", "Ballade", "Jubelo", and "The Sword Of Orion". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first ever albums by the Ramsey Lewis Trio – featuring an assortment of lively tracks with a touch of jazz-based humor, the kind that were winning them huge audiences in Chicago at the time! With Eldee Young and Redd Holt to back him up, Ramsey's got plenty of pyrotechnics in tow – which means that he does a great job on versions of familiar tunes like "Carmen", "I'll Remember April", and "Bi Mir Bist Du Shon" – as well as great originals like "Fantasia For Drums", "Dee's New Blues", and "Tres". LP, Vinyl record album

A really cool blend of jazz and electronics – done up in some of the ambitious modes of composer Bingo Miki's other work, yet with a style that's a lot more straight ahead overall! The jazz component of the record is served up strongly by tenorist Tatsuya Takahashi – who leads a group that's mostly acoustic, but which features lots of cool keyboard work from Mickey Yoshino – who soars in with spacey lines and weird melodies, and really expands on the rich tones and colors of the horns – always in ways that are a lot different, and a lot more creative than the usual 70s big band record with keyboards. Tracks are all quite long, with a richly illustrative feel – and titles include "Sketches Of Munch", "The Legend Of Garbo", "Andersen Fantasia", "Sibelius Testament", and "Children At Play". CD

A gem from the great Lloyd Miller – backed by modern Brit jazz funk maestros The Heliocentrics – and a credit to the legacies of all involved! Miller has worked timeless, hypnotic magic on an array of Middle Eastern and Asian instrumentation throughout his career, here playing piano, Indian santur, clarinet, Chinese sona, sitar, wood flute, oud and more – and this effort stands strongly with his best. He's accompanied by the masterful Malcolm Catto & The Heliocentrics – showing as much depth and versatility as ever in largely acoustic and improvisational setting – and the bottom line is that it's just as wonderful as their work with Mulatu. As much as we've flipped out over the Heliocentrics efforts as headliners to date, it's quite stunning how well they work backing such influential and legendary figures. Essential! Includes "Electricone", "Nava", "Mandala", "Spiritual Jazz", "Bali Bronze", "Modality", "Salendro", "Pari Ru", "Lloyd's Diatribe", "Fantasia" (Pts 1 & 2), "Chahargah", "Sunda Sunset" and more. CD

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

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

The music on this album is very orchestral, almost soundtrack-like, with the strings dominating in sweeping dramatic arrangements, with traditional Cuban elements coming through. Titles include "Fantasia Cubana", "Mosaico Cubano", "El Mambi", "La Bella Cubana", "Quiereme Mucho", and "Flor De Yumuri". LP, Vinyl record album

The excellent follow up to folk guitar great Harry Taussig's Fate Is Only Once album – appropriately titled Fate Is Only Twice – and it's only been 47 years since Fate struck for the first time! Fate Is Only Once was a mid 60s private press rarity, thankfully reissued by the obscure folk heroes at Tompkins Square – so it's fitting that Tompkins Square would see this worthy contemporary sequel into release. It's got a similarly brilliant mix of meditative, unfussy, but incredibly accomplished acoustic folk and blues instrumentals. A solo guitar stunner! Includes "Rondo In D – On Southern Tmemes", "Children's Dance", "Der Dritte Man Fantasia", "Living In The City", "In The Corner Of The Circle", "Perpetuum Mobile Revisited", "Azure", "Fate Is Only Twice" and more. CD

A strange mixture of styles for this enigmatic Brazilian keyboardist – and a record that has a bit of rock, a bit of classical, and an approach that you certainly wouldn't find from an American artist recording at the same time! Like a lot of Tiso's later work, this one has some moments that are great, and a number of others that aren't. The main thing here to get past is the 80s keyboards, which have a very heavy vocoder and synclavier kind of sound. Titles include "Alegria", "Fantasia Holistica", "Missa Do Brasil", "Manu Carue", and "Memoria". CD

A wonderful sound library set from Piero Umiliani, and one that's overflowing with contributions from some mighty hip jazz musicians on the Italian scene of the 70s – including Enrico Pieranunzi on both electric and acoustic piano, Oscar Valdambrini on trumpet, Dino Piana on trombone, and Bruno Tommaso on bass – all working with very cool organ and moog from Piero himself! There's flute on many tracks – played by both S Genovese and N Rapicavoli, both players we don't know at all – and the instrument is often used in these cool, compressed ways that are mighty nice – and which make a stunning sonic counterpart to the other instrumentation, especially when Umiliani turns up some of the odd effects in the production! Titles include "Regalita", "Babilonia", "Chiaroscuro", "Battimenti A Tarantella", "Flauto Notturno", "Penombra", and "Fantasia Italica". LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks include "Empathy", "Toshiko", "Dear Oscar", "Spoken Softly", "Blessing In Disguise", and "Fantasia". CD

Mindblowing minimalism from the legendary Sandy Bull – an artist who might have had acoustic roots in folk music, but who was instantly turning his music into something else – drawing on modal styles of Eastern music, European generations of expression on guitar, jazz-based improvisation – and maybe even prefiguring work to come from composers like Terry Riley and La Monte Young! This album's one of Bull's first, and it's pure genius right from the start – with a side-long performance on the incredible "Blend", which features slight drums from jazz musician Billy Higgins – which Sandy extrapolates these long passages on acoustic guitar. Side two features the fantastic "Carmina Burana Fantasy" on banjo – a kind of trans-historical performance that's right up there with John Fahey's best of the decade – alongside equally mindblowing "Non Nobis Domine" and "Little Maggie" – and the closing electric guitar genius of "Gospel Tune". LP, Vinyl record album