Featured guests include Chieli Minucci, George Jinda, Omar Hakim, Mark Egan, Dave Weckl, Michael Bearden, Robbie Kondor, Szakcshi, and Bemshi. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A tight 80s set from drummer Billy Cobham – a record that really shows the soulful focus he was bringing to his music at the time! There's definitely a GRP vibe to the set – but given the boundless energy that Cobham brings to his work on drums, the overall sound packs plenty of punch – much more so than some of Billy's contemporaries on the label. Cobham plays mostly acoustic drums, but uses a few rhythm patterns too – and most of the tracks feature small groupings of players – including Randy Brecker on flugelhorn, Tom Scott on lyricon, Grover Washington Jr on tenor, and George Duke on keyboards. Titles include "Two For Juan", "Same Ole Love", "Coming Attractions","The Juggler", "Sign O The Times", and "You Within Me Within You". CD

An 80s fusion smoker from Billy Cobham – a set that's a lot more soulful and subtle than you might guess from the title, or from Billy's image on the cover – filled with warm keyboards, and nice little groove overall! The album's supposedly dedicated to Nelson Mandela – but while the songs have some slight African roots and titles, the overall feel is more in a soaring fusion mode – nicely restrained from Cobham's jamming 70s years, and with some nice little hooks that really send the tunes home. Billy plays both acoustic drums and some drum programs – and titles include "A Light Shines In Your Eyes", "Zanzibar Breeze", "Desiccated Coconuts", "Summit Afrique", "Tinseltown", "Schmagofatz", and "Times Of My Life". LP, Vinyl record album

In the electric universe of the GRP label, Chick Corea makes a bold move with his Akoustic Band here – even if the overall conception of the cover and the group's fashions have kind of an "electric" 80s look to it! The group here is a trio – with John Patitucci on bass and Dave Weckl on drums – and Corea's flowing piano lines are at the forefront of the group's work, initiating the tunes with a surprisingly heartfelt feel, and showing some of the sense of space and sound he developed on his electric recordings. Titles include "Spain", "Circles", "TBC", "Morning Sprite", "Bessie's Blues", and "My One & Only Love". CD

Chick Corea on piano and synthesizer, Eric Marienthal on saxophone, Frank Gambale on guitar, John Patitucci on bass , and Dave Weckl on drums. CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A record that's got a slightly goofy cover, but a sound that's much richer than you might expect – thanks in part to great work on the album from percussionist Manolo Badrena! Some of the music here echoes the earlier fusion of guitarist Steve Khan – but other tunes bring in some warmer, Brazilian-y elements – including a bit of vocalization from Badrena, with occasional chorus work from Lani Groves and Vivian Cherry. The rest of the group features frequent partner Anthony Jackson on bass and Dave Weckl on drums – and titles include "Sise", "Silent Screen", "Mambosa", "Butane Elvin", "Botero People, and "Kamarica". CD

Excellent work from a crucially overlooked artist! John certainly cut some schmaltzy tunes in his days, but all the work on this set is amazing – and is pulled from his massive late 60s years at Cadet, and his early 70s work for Impulse. Klemmer's tone is amazing – crystal-perfect right out of the box, and able to work perfectly in both tight soul jazz settings, or freer post-Coltrane rundowns. Much of Klemmer's best work has never been reissued, and until that happens, the 10 tracks on here will give you a great taste of his genius. Titles include "Look To The Sky", "Constant Throb (part 1)", "Tone Row Weaver", "There's Some Light Ahead", "Crystaled Tears", "Waterfall II", and "Later With Them Woes". CD

... CD

Live at the Crescendo Club December 1954. CD

A really great collection of momentous early recordings from the Basie Band! CD

Sweet jazzy soul from Angie Bofill – recorded in 1979 with Dave Grusin, who gives the album a smooth edge that really works perfectly with her vocals! The set's a perfect blend of the more soulful elements in the fusion scene of the late 70s, combined with Angie's warm vocal style and some excellent songwriting. Titles include "I Try", "Angel Of The Night", "What I Wouldn't Do", "Rainbow Child", "The Voyage", and a great cover of "People Make The World Go Round". LP, Vinyl record album

An early gem from trumpeter Tom Browne – a set that not only firmly established Browne as one of the best young players of his generation, but which also paved the way for a whole new direction for jazz funk in the 80s! The record is a perfect example of how great the mix of R&B rhythms and jazz fusion instrumentation could be – groovy enough to capture a whole new audience from the soul market, but still more than respectful of the solo talents of the leader – but all without any attempt at smooth jazz commercialism at all! There's some great hard funk moments on the set – and Browne approaches the music in a way that's nicely different than Donald Byrd or Freddie Hubbard, two older players who first helped forge this sound in the 70s – and whose path Tom's clearly taking, but with new directions of his own. There's almost more of a street-worthy vibe to the set – quite a surprise if you only know later records on the GRP label – and the arrangements are by Tom, Weldon Irvine, Lesette Wilson, and Dave Grusin. Titles include the funky classic "Funkin' For Jamaica", plus "Her Silent Smile", "Moon Rise", "Nocturne", "Forever More", and "Weak In The Knees". LP, Vinyl record album

A key bit of jazz funk from trumpeter Tom Browne – still grooving strong here, with a sublime mix of modern soul, funky jazz, and some of the 80s groove touches that showed up on the best GRP titles from the time! The album's got a smooth compressed groove – kind of post-Donald Byrd, with Tom taking solos over the top of most tracks, and occasional vocals , wither from a backing group, or an assortment of different lead singers. Players on the set include Bernard Wright, Dave Grusin, Bobby Broom, and Marcus Miller – and tracks include "I Know", "Midnight Interlude", "Let's Dance", "Night Wind", "Making Plans", "Thighs Hihg", and "Magic". LP, Vinyl record album

With Pat Metheny on guitar, Mitchel Forman on piano and keyboards, Will Lee on bass, and Peter Erskine on drums and percussion. CD

Gary Burton on vibraphone and Makoto Ozone on piano. CD

A double-length live set from Chick Corea's Akoustic Band – an ensemble with kind of a silly name, but one that marked a nice return to basics for Chick! The trio features John Patitucci on bass and Dave Weckl on drums – and both players have a good sense of feeling to match Corea's expressive work here on the acoustic piano. And although live, there's a sense of intimacy to the record that's very nice – not the "superstar" sort of live record you might expect from Chick, but a nicely subdued session overall. Titles include "On Green Dolphin Street", "Humpty Dumpty", "UMMG", "Round Midnight", "Hackensack", "Morning Sprite", and "La Fiesta". CD

Chick Corea on piano and keyboards, Eric Marienthal on saxophone, Mike Miller on guitar, Jimmy Earl on bass, and Gary Novak on drums. CD

Music from Duke Ellington And His Kentucky Club Orchestra, The Washingtonians, Traymore Orchestra, Duke Ellington And His Cotton Club Orchestra, The Hotsy Totsy Gang, the Jungle Gang, Bill Robinson accompanied by Irving Mills and His Hotsy Totsy Gang, The Six Jolly Jesters, and Earl Jackson And His Musical Champions. CD

Classic post-war material from Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra. The lineup shifts from track to track and features work by Johnny Griffin, Arnett Cobb, Kenny Dorham, and Charles Mingus. CD

Includes the songs "(It's No) Sin", "And So To Sleep Again", "Spellbound", "Lost In A Fog", "Carioca", "Midnight Sun", "If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)", "I Can't Get Started", "Ruby", "Song From Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart?)", "My Blue Heaven", "Honeysuckle Rose", "Organ Grinder's Swing", "Perdido", "Sweethearts On Parade", "The Man I Love", "Foolin' Around", "Time On My Hands", "Ornithology", "Body And Soul", and "Unlisted Blues". CD

Includes the songs "(It's No) Sin", "And So To Sleep Again", "Spellbound", "Lost In A Fog", "Carioca", "Midnight Sun", "If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)", "I Can't Get Started", "Ruby", "Song From Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart?)", "My Blue Heaven", "Honeysuckle Rose", "Organ Grinder's Swing", "Perdido", "Sweethearts On Parade", "The Man I Love", "Foolin' Around", "Time On My Hands", "Ornithology", "Body And Soul", and "Unlisted Blues". CD

A nice little 60s album by Johnny Hodges – one of the few post-Verve sessions that has him still playing in the hard swinging Ellingtonia small combo mode of the 50s! Players are all strong – and include Jimmy Jones, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Harry Carney, and Paul Gonsalves – and the tracks are mostly older numbers, but redone here with a bit more 60s bounce. Hodges' alto is, as ever, great – and titles include "Everybody Knows", "The Jeep Is Jumpin", "Main Stem", "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart", and "Open Mike". CD features lots of bonus tracks too! CD

... CD

One of the most perfectly-realized early Archie Shepp albums on Impulse Records – a set that brilliantly brings together all the different influences that inspired his sense of creation, but with a lean energy that takes everything far from its roots – and puts the music firmly in the best "new thing" territory of the mid 60s! The players shift around a bit from track to track – that sense of creative combination that really marked this moment in avant jazz expression – and about half the record features Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, in a lineup that also includes Henry Grimes and Barre Phillips on bass, and David Izenzon, Rashied Ali, and Joe Chambers on drums and percussion! Shepp contributed some of his most haunting compositions to the set – including "On This Night", "The Mac Man", and "The Pickaninny" – and the whole thing's amazing enough to make you an Archie Shepp convert for life! CD

Jay Beckenstein on saxophone, Tom Schuman on keyboards, Julio Fernandez on guitar, Scott Ambush on bass, and Joel Rosenblatt on drums and percussion. CD

Billy Taylor on piano, Victor Gaskin on bass, and Bobby Thomas on drums. CD

Smooth funky jazz from Tom Browne – caught here during his best early years! The record's his second best next to Love Approach, but it's got almost the same sort of feel, with tight late 70s studio jazz jamming – and a buttery smooth sound from Browne's post-Donald Byrd trumpet licks. Includes the great break cut "I Never Was A Cowboy", plus "Herbal Scent", "Throw Down", "What's Going On", and "Promises For Spring". LP, Vinyl record album

A great all-star group – recorded live in 1981 – with Chick Corea on acoustic piano, Joe Henderson on tenor, Gary Peacock on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums! CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

With Eddie Daniels on clarinet, Fred Hersch on keys, Roger Kellaway on piano, John Patitucci on bass, Al Foster on drums, and Steve Thornton on percussion. LP, Vinyl record album

20 early tracks. CD

Featuring Buster Williams, Brandford Marsalis, David Eubanks and Kenny Kirkland. CD

Featuring Alex Acuna, Dave Grusin, Abraham Laboriel, Judd Miller, Armand Sabal-Lecco, and Ricardo Silveira. CD

A nice little 60s album by Johnny Hodges – one of the few post-Verve sessions that has him still playing in the hard swinging Ellingtonia small combo mode of the 50s! Players are all strong – and include Jimmy Jones, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Harry Carney, and Paul Gonsalves – and the tracks are mostly older numbers, but redone here with a bit more 60s bounce. Hodges' alto is, as ever, great – and titles include "Everybody Knows", "The Jeep Is Jumpin", "Main Stem", "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart", and "Open Mike". CD features lots of bonus tracks too! CD

A comprehensive collection of work from a key, although under-recorded stretch in the career of Billie Holiday – material that comes after her early years at Columbia, and before her 50s revival at Verve! CD

Backed by Gene Harris and his Philip Morris Super Band – with Harry Sweets Edison, Plas Johnson, Kenny Burrell, and Gary Smulyan! CD

Dan Grissom, Jimmie Lunceford, Laforet Dent, and Willie Smith on alto saxophone, Earl Carruthers on baritone saxophone, Joe Thomas on tenor saxophone, Eddie Durham, Elmer Crumbley, Henry Wells, and Russell Bowles on trombone, Eddie Tompkins, Paul Webster, Sy Oliver, and Tommy Stevenson on trumpet, Willie Smith on clarinet, Al Norris and Eddie Durham on guitar, Ed Wilcox on piano, Moses Allen on bass, and Jimmy Crawford on drums. CD

Featuring Charlie Parker! Tracks include "Swingmatism", "Fore Day Rider", "One Woman's Man", "Red River Blues", "Hootie's Ignorant Oil" and "Lonely Boy Blues". CD

With a mixture of US jazz and Brazilian players – including Dave Grusin, Bob James, Joao Bosco, Carlinhos Brown, and Caetano Veloso! Titles include "Night Rhythms", "Latin Lovers", "Rio Sol", "Humana", "Linda", and "New York/Brazil". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A real highlight from the early career of Art Tatum – mid-30s 78rpm material for Decca – presented here a lot better than later public domain pressings, with great notes and 20 tracks in all! CD

Some of the hippest hardbop ever recorded by Chess – two albums' worth of material, all of it great! CD

A masterpiece of smooth jazzy funk – and super-hip session headed up by the young keyboardist Bernard Wright! Wright's working here with an insider crowd of jazz funk players that includes Bobby Broom, Dave Grusin, Marcus Miller, and Don Blackman, whose funky style is very similar to Wright's. The record sort of picks up the groove where some of the Fantasy Records sessions of the 70s left off – mixing together jazz and soul into a captivating blend that's made even better by Dave Grusin's tight production. And despite what you might think about the crap that Grusin headed up later in the 80s, the early days of the GRP label were amazing years for jazz funk. Includes Don Blackman's sample classic "Haboglabotribin", a nice version of Weldon Irvine's "Music Is The Key", and the cuts"Just Chillin' Out", "Master Rocker", and "Bread Sandwiches". Great all the way through, though – and a record that still delights us year after year! LP, Vinyl record album

Includes 40 tracks by Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Fats Waller, Wild Bill Davison, Muggsy Spanier, Hot Lips Page, Bud Freeman, Jess Stacy, Bunk Johnson, and Roy Eldridge – plus a nice 50 page booklet with photos and notes. CD

Teodross Avery on tenor and soprano saxophone, Roy Hargrove on flugelhorn and trumpet, Charles Craig on piano, Reuben Rogers on bass, and Mark Simmons on drums. CD

Gary Burton on vibraphone, John Scofield on guitar, Marc Johnson on bass, and Peter Erskine on drums. CD

With John Patitucci on bass, Dave Weckl on drums, Eric Marienthal on saxophone, and Frank Gambale on guitar. LP, Vinyl record album

With John Patitucci on bass, Dave Weckl on drums, Eric Marienthal on saxophone, and Frank Gambale on guitar. LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks include "Panama", "Wolverine Blues", "My Inspiration", "Dixieland Shuffle", "Skaters' Waltz", "Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea", and "The Old Spinning Wheel". CD

Features Barry Brown on bass and Tommy Campbell on drums. CD

Features Stanley Turrentine, Ray Brown, Christian McBride, and Lewis Nash. CD

... CD

Solo and small ensemble material from Jelly Roll Morton – working solo and with his groups the Hot Six and Hot Seven. Tracks include "Panama", "Naked Dance", "Buddy Bolden's Blues", "Michigan Water Blues", and "Mama's Got A Baby" – 25 tracks in all. CD

... CD

Nice late larger arrangements from Claus Ogerman – with tenor solos from Michael Brecker! CD

Tracks include "Carmel", "Woman You're Driving Me Mad", "Sunrise", "Rainbow Seeker", and "Night Flight". CD

Great material from the mid 50s – a mix of modern ideas of arrangement with the deeper soul of Lucky's horn! CD

Featured guests include Brian Wilson, Elvis Costello, Marc Ribot, Bruce Hornsby, Branford Marsalis, Jerry Garcia, Willie Dixon, and Neil Young! CD

Great ensemble material recorded for the Commodore label in New York – with Lester Young on tenor sax and clarinet, Buck Clayton on trumpet, Freddie Green on guitar, Joe Bushkin on piano, Walter Page on bass, and Jo Jones on drums. 22 tracks in all, including lots of alternate takes. CD