A little turntable, but with a mighty big sound – thanks to a vacuum tube that really improves the quality of the playback! In a world where so many small turntables are cheap and shoddy, the Gearbox Automatic is wonderfully overbuilt – a compact unit, but with a glass platter and belt drive – all built by Pro-Ject, including the tonearm – which is also fit with a great Ortofon cartridge! Although pricey, the unit is designed to open up, plug in, and play right away – with Bluetooth connectivity that will let you connect to any wireless speakers, or great RCA outputs that will let you plug into a full audio system for even better sound! The controls are simple and elegant – and the whole thing is encased in a clear body that lets you see everything inside. The turntable is also an unusual analog/digital hybrid – as it's internet-enabled, for track tagging and addition to your streaming services too. The unit has its own wifi network, which allows you to connect to your phone or device – so that you can see pop-up artwork of the album that's playing, and also add tracks from the record to your Spotify playlist as well. But even without all that digital mumbo-jumbo, the whole thing is totally cool – great sound, great design, and some higher-end audio components – but all in this very compact package! Turntable

Rare live work from Back Door – a Brit trio with plenty of connections to the blues rock scene of the time, but one who has a fair bit of jazzy undertones too! The live set's presented by Alexis Korner, who also plays some guest guitar on the record – but the core sounds come from the heady trio of Ron Aspery on saxes, Colin Hodgkinson on bass, and Tony Hicks on drums – with vocals from both Aspery and Hodgkinson too! The tracks arguably have a bit more bite than the group's recordings for Warner Brothers at the time – and the set's very well recorded, and pulled from the vaults of the BBC. Titles include "Walking Blues", "Folksong", "Roberta", "Forget Me Daisy", and "His Old Boots". LP, Vinyl record album

Pretty amazing work from Chiminyo – aka jazz drummer Tim Doyle, who also finds a way to trigger samples when he plays – creating this one-man sound on the record that really comes as quite a surprise! All three tracks on the EP were performed live by Chiminyo – and while he's handling drums and percussion, he also works his way through samples that are played live too – not a previously-recorded soundscape, but a complex blend of elements that move between electronic pulses, global sources, and bassy bits that are mighty nice – served up on the tracks "Kandy Lanx", "We'll Never Know", and "Dharma Bodies". LP, Vinyl record album

A great solo set from tenorist Binker Golding – an artist we usually hear on the Gearbox label as part of the Binker & Moses combo, but who maybe sounds even bolder and stronger here in the lead on his own! The set's a quartet date, with a relatively straight group – but the sound is wonderful – overflowing with new ideas, and this sense of voice from the leader that gets fantastic support from Joe Armon-Jones on piano, Daniel Casimir on bass, and Sam Jones on drums! Nobody's pushing too hard, or trying any tricks – yet there's a freshness and individual spirit to the record right from the very first note – unusual rhythms from the trio, and more confidence in Golding's sound than we've ever heard before. Titles include "Skinned Alive Tasting Blood", "Fluorescent Black", "You That Place That Time", "And I Like Your Feathers", and "Exquisite She Green". CD

A sharp blend of edgey guitar, offbeat vocals, and lots of other electronic elements – but still served up with plenty of warmth, thanks to the unique approach of Thiago Nassif! Nassif works here with contributions from Vinicius Cantuaria and Arto Lindsay – and in a way, his music is in a similar territory to both of those artists – but as unique as any of their recordings over the years too! Nassif clearly understands the deeper corners of Brazilian music, and has an ear for more experimental modes – but also finds a way to make music with a very personal statement, as he weaves together electric drums with real percussion, guitar loops and keyboards, and even some "Venom synth" of his own. Titles include "Pele De Leopardo", "Voz Unica Foto Sem Calcinha", "Plastico", "Trepa Trepa", "Feral Fox", and "Transparente". CD

A sharp blend of edgey guitar, offbeat vocals, and lots of other electronic elements – but still served up with plenty of warmth, thanks to the unique approach of Thiago Nassif! Nassif works here with contributions from Vinicius Cantuaria and Arto Lindsay – and in a way, his music is in a similar territory to both of those artists – but as unique as any of their recordings over the years too! Nassif clearly understands the deeper corners of Brazilian music, and has an ear for more experimental modes – but also finds a way to make music with a very personal statement, as he weaves together electric drums with real percussion, guitar loops and keyboards, and even some "Venom synth" of his own. Titles include "Pele De Leopardo", "Voz Unica Foto Sem Calcinha", "Plastico", "Trepa Trepa", "Feral Fox", and "Transparente". LP, Vinyl record album

Dan Rosenboom's a trumpeter with a mighty fierce sound – one that's pushed forward with his own bold lines, and with this kind of rumbling, deep-burning energy from the rest of the group! The approach is a bit hard to describe, but there's often this sense of the bass and guitar creating these dark currents at the bottom of the music, while the drums crackle sharply, and Rosenboom's horn soars out in the lead – blowing with plenty of sharp changes and an effortless sense of energy. Other players on the set include Gavin Templeton on alto and piano, Tim Conley on guitar, Lim Lefebvre on bass, and Gary Novak on drums – and titles include "Mr Lizard Said", "Lemonade", "Apes In Rapture", "Heliopteryx", "Green Moon", "Obsidian Butterfly", and "Nebulounge". CD

A pair of British tenor giants – heard here in a previously unissued live performance – the legendary Ronnie Scott and the up-and-coming Alan Skidmore – both playing together here in a well-recorded set for the BBC! Scott's soulful lead really helps shape the energy of the tunes, but Skidmore's youthful exuberance really sets things on fire – and arguably makes the music even more compelling than some of Ronnie's other sides from the time – with a quality that's definitely reaching out to some of the new territory he'd explore on his own a few years later. The rhythm section is more than well-suited to keep up with the energy of the saxophonists – Gordon Beck on piano, Jeff Clyne on bass, and Johnny Butts on drums – and titles include "Oleo", "The 1612 Overture", "Sonnymoon For Two", "Where Are You", and "Night In Tunisia". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunner of a set from legendary trumpeter Charles Tolliver – and a record that shows that he's lost none of his brilliance since the years of his 70s recordings for the Strata East label! The format here is a bit like those – long tracks by a small group, with an outward appearance of familiarity – but a clearly resonant sense of individuality right from the very first note! All tracks are originals by Charles, and have that soaring quality that's always made him one of the most righteous talents in jazz – working with a group here that features Jesse Davis on alto, Keith Brown on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Lenny White on drums. The group's also joined by the great Binker Moses on tenor on two tracks – and titles include "Suspicion", "Copasetic", "Emperor March", and "Blue Soul". CD

A stunner of a set from legendary trumpeter Charles Tolliver – and a record that shows that he's lost none of his brilliance since the years of his 70s recordings for the Strata East label! The format here is a bit like those – long tracks by a small group, with an outward appearance of familiarity – but a clearly resonant sense of individuality right from the very first note! All tracks are originals by Charles, and have that soaring quality that's always made him one of the most righteous talents in jazz – working with a group here that features Jesse Davis on alto, Keith Brown on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Lenny White on drums. The group's also joined by the great Binker Moses on tenor on two tracks – and titles include "Suspicion", "Copasetic", "Emperor March", and "Blue Soul". LP, Vinyl record album

A great solo set from tenorist Binker Golding – an artist we usually hear on the Gearbox label as part of the Binker & Moses combo, but who maybe sounds even bolder and stronger here in the lead on his own! The set's a quartet date, with a relatively straight group – but the sound is wonderful – overflowing with new ideas, and this sense of voice from the leader that gets fantastic support from Joe Armon-Jones on piano, Daniel Casimir on bass, and Sam Jones on drums! Nobody's pushing too hard, or trying any tricks – yet there's a freshness and individual spirit to the record right from the very first note – unusual rhythms from the trio, and more confidence in Golding's sound than we've ever heard before. Titles include "Skinned Alive Tasting Blood", "Fluorescent Black", "You That Place That Time", "And I Like Your Feathers", and "Exquisite She Green". CD

A great BBC Jazz Club 45 session from legendary British jazz quintets led by tenor Ronnie Scott & drummer Phil Seamen! As program, it's fun stuff – with both groups assembled for a live broadcast and introduced by an announcer – and the music itself is terrific. Scott's group taking on an exciting, energetic hard bop approach. The Seamen quintet's work is reviting, as well. Scott's players include Jimmy Deuchar on trumpet, Terry Shannon on piano, Lennie Bush on bass and Allan Ganley on drums. Seamen's includes Joe Harriot on alto, Dave Goldberg on guitar, Johnny Weed on piano and Major Holley on bass. A really nice, worthy comercial release of the program – for the first time ever! Titles include "My Heart Belongs To Daddy", "Gone With The Wind", "Speak Low", "Poinciana", "I'll Take Romance", "Bass House", "Big Man", "IPA Special" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

The team of Moses Boyd and Binker Golding join up here with Simon Ratcliffe as Village Of The Sun – on two long tracks that take their spiritual jazz leanings to a whole new dimension! Boyd plays drums, Golding blows tenor with a deeply soulful sound – and Ratcliffe provides some fuller backings that have a very cosmic vibe on the leadoff track – almost a Carlos Nino sort of spiritual approach! "TED" has more of a groove – still acoustic elements from Binker and Moses, but with a clubby pulse that's in a Schema Records club jazz style – yet with a lot more soul on the tenor! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Really fantastic material from legendary pianist Abdullah Ibrahim – a set cut with a larger group of musicians, which we like even more than Ibrahim's work in a solo or trio format! The group here is his Ekaya ensemble – who flesh out Abdullah's larger musical ideas in a really great way – providing this sensitive soul and spirit for his work on piano – which, after all these years, still echoes the rhythmic impulses that made him such a standout in the 60s – but which also has this matured approach to color and tone that's really wonderful – and beautifully illuminated by the group! Players include Cleave Guyton Jr on alto and flute, Lance Bryant on tenor, Andrea Murchison on trombone, and Marshall McDonald on baritone – and the rhythm section features great work from Will Terrill on drums, and Noah Jackson on bass and cello. Titles include "Jabula", "Tuangu Guru", "ZB2", "Dreamtime", "Nisa", "Tonegawa", and "Devotion". CD

A really amazing little record – one that's partly in the "jazz meets Indian" mode of Joe Harriott's experiments of the 60s – but a performance that also brings in a lot more from spiritual jazz, even though most of the instrumentation is more traditional! The set is live, and the tracks are all long – led by Sarathy Korwar on tablas and drums – a player with very pulsating approach, even when gentle – which sets the tone for the ensemble's mix of flute, acoustic guitar, keyboards, flute, sitar, santoor, tabla, alto, and mridangam – all spun out with lots of modal energy, working well together as a force in sound – but also taking some great solo moments too. Titles include great remakes of "The Creator Has A Master Plan" and "Journey In Satchidananda" – plus "Hajj", "Earthy", "Mishrank", "Malkauns", "Mind Ecology", and "A Street In Bombay". LP, Vinyl record album

Theon Cross plays a tuba, but don't hold that against him – as he's already given us some mighty great music in The Sons Of Kemet – and really steps out here as a leader in a core trio that features the great Moses Boyd on drums and Nubya Garcia on tenor! A few tracks features Wayne Francis stepping in instead of Garcia – but apart from one track that adds trombone, and two that add guitar – the core approach of the record is drums, tenor, and tuba – with Cross handling his instrument with the richness of an acoustic bass at times, and bursting out as a soloist at others! The tenor really gets a lot of play in the mix – and we totally love Nubya from her other work – and the album's a fantastic explosion of fresh power from the London scene. Titles include "Activate", "Candace Of Meroe", "Letting Go", "Radiation", "CIYA", "LDN's Burning", "Panda Village", and "The Offering". CD

The last-ever recording of drumming great Buddy Rich – and a set that we'd put right up there next to his best records of the previous two decades! Buddy's in familiar formation here, but the sound is wonderful – recorded live at Ronnie Scott's nightclub in London, with this mixture of band tightness and solo freedoms that's really striking – all driven by the kind of energy that always made Buddy one of the few folks who could help a larger ensemble continue with vitality into later years! The formation of the whole group is great – that bold, brash, Buddy Rich sound – and soloists include Steve Marcus on tenor, Bob Bowlby on alto, Tom Garling on trombone, Greg Gisbert on trumpet, and Matt Harris on piano – each of whom get some key solo moments on the set. Titles include "Wind Machine", "Night Blood", "Ready Mix", "Winding Way", "Love For Sale", "Just In Time", and "Harco Shuffle". 3LP version features a 31 minute long take of "Good News" – with a very long tenor solo from Steve Marcus! LP, Vinyl record album

Dan Rosenboom's a trumpeter with a mighty fierce sound – one that's pushed forward with his own bold lines, and with this kind of rumbling, deep-burning energy from the rest of the group! The approach is a bit hard to describe, but there's often this sense of the bass and guitar creating these dark currents at the bottom of the music, while the drums crackle sharply, and Rosenboom's horn soars out in the lead – blowing with plenty of sharp changes and an effortless sense of energy. Other players on the set include Gavin Templeton on alto and piano, Tim Conley on guitar, Lim Lefebvre on bass, and Gary Novak on drums – and titles include "Mr Lizard Said", "Lemonade", "Apes In Rapture", "Heliopteryx", "Green Moon", "Obsidian Butterfly", and "Nebulounge". CD

One of the most amazing jazz vocalists of our generation returns here with an incredible group – a majestic combo to match all the spiritual inclinations in his music – with work from Kamasi Washington on tenor, Mark De Clive-Lowe on piano, Miguel Atwood Ferguson on viola, and both Carlos Nino and Derf Reklaw on percussion! Dwight Trible on his own is already more than enough to get us to run out and buy a record – but here, the combination of his unique voice with these musicians makes for an album that's an instant masterpiece – and one that even has lots of new colors and styles compared to some of Dwight's previous work! Songs include numbers by older west coast spiritual jazz heavyweights – like Horace Tapscott, Linda Hill, Nate Morgan, James Leary, and Jesse Sharps – mixed with some of Trible's own songs, and versions of work by Carmen Lundy, Oscar Brown Jr, and Donny Hathaway. From top to bottom, start to stop, the album's a treasure – with tracks that include "It's All About Love", "Thank You Master", "Song For My Mother", "Brother Where Are You", "Some Other Time", "These Things You Are To Me", "Desert Fairy Princess", and "Mothership". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing collection of music – the legendary Fontana Records run of albums by tenor giant Tubby Hayes – a key player on the UK bop scene of the 50s, but one who took off in all these great new directions with these classic albums for the Fontana label in the following decade! The package features twelve full albums done by Tubby as a leader – all newly remastered by Gearbox, and packaged here with bonus material that was not on previous reissues – a number of alternate takes across the entire Fontana catalog! Each album comes in an LP-styled jacket with original cover art, save two, which are combined – and albums include Tubbs, Tubbs In New York, Palladium Jazz Date, Equation In Rhythm, Down In The Village, Late Spot At Scotts, Tubbs Tours, Return Visit, 100% Proof, Mexican Green, The Orchestra, and the 2CD version of the newly-discovered Grits, Beans, and Greens. There's a big booklet of notes, too, with rare photos and other images – and the whole package is wonderful throughout! CD