Some of the heaviest cuts from the Numero Records catalog – brought together here on a cool compilation that follows the format of some of the Wu-Tang/Shaolin funk collections! The music is way more than break-oriented funk – as some of these tracks are deep soul numbers, but have this sock-solid energy at the core that really makes them powerful – every bit as hard-hitting as more overstated funk, and often with a subtle, sinister energy that really makes the songs sound wonderful together here as a whole! And despite the lack of the usual voluminous Numero Group notes and story behind the music, these tunes more than stand together on their own – telling their own rich story in soul, through tracks that include "Like A Ship" by TL Barrett & The Youth For Christ Choir, "Nevermore" by Renaldo Domino, "Never Walk Out On You" by Mitch Mitchell & Gene King, "Don't Be Surprised" by Lynn Williams, "Am I A Good Man" by Them Two, "This Time" by Family Connection, "I Need Your Love" by Skim Mahoaney & The Casuals, "Is There Any Love" by Trevor Dandy, "Dirt & Grime" by Father's Children, and "Ladies & Wonderful Girls" by Majestic Arrows. LP, Vinyl record album

Barry Harris stretches out wonderfully in a set of compositions by Tadd Dameron – most of them familiar jazz standards from a few decades before, transformed magically by Harris in a hip 70s piano trio mode! The group here features Gene Taylor on bass and Leroy Williams on drums – both of whom work nicely with Barry's newly discovered sweetness at the time – an approach that's sometimes a bit warmer than his work in the 60s, and which helps make these tunes stand out in newly sensitive readings. Titles include "The Tadd Walk", "Lady Bird", "Casbah", "Our Delight", "Soultrane", "The Chase", and "Hot House". LP, Vinyl record album

2 overlooked 70s gems from Barry Harris – both of them trio dates based around famous jazz composers! First up are 8 tracks in which Barry Harris stretches out wonderfully in a set of compositions by Tadd Dameron – most of them familiar jazz standards from a few decades before, transformed magically by Harris in a hip 70s piano trio mode! The group here features Gene Taylor on bass and Leroy Williams on drums – both of whom work nicely with Barry's newly discovered sweetness at the time – an approach that's sometimes a bit warmer than his work in the 60s, and which helps make these tunes stand out in newly sensitive readings. Titles include "The Tadd Walk", "Lady Bird", "Casbah", "Our Delight", "Soultrane", "The Chase", and "Hot House". Next up are 5 more tracks penned by Thelonious Monk, and played by Harris with a trio that includes Bill Lee on bass and Leroy Williams on drums! Harris hits the right angular modes to make Monk's music come alive, but also warms them up with a bit more sensitivity too – slight colorings in his choice of tone, and an almost more personal feel on some of the numbers, even when taken at a fast clip. Titles include "Epistrophy", "In Walked Bud", "52nd Street Theme", and "Light Blue". CD also features a solo version of "Pannonica" from 1984, and a reading of "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" from 1978 – recorded live in Montreux with Sam Jones on bass and Leroy Williams on drums. CD

Majestic male soul from Brunswick Records – the label who recorded some of the best material ever from singers like Gene Chandler and Jackie Wilson, and who also gave lots of other singers a great shot too! This set moves way past obvious Brunswick hits, and includes loads of lesser-known singles that are totally great – some funky, some laidback, and lots of them very very groovy – in that totally hip Chicago soul mode that Brunswick did so well. There's a number of artists here who only recorded briefly for Brunswick, before hitting fame elsewhere – and others who are remembered for the few rare gems they left behind at the label – all brought together here in a wonderful 25 track set. There's plenty of surprises throughout – and titles include "Doing The Feeling" by Alvin Cash, "Contract On Your Love" by Chuck Bernard, "I'll Bet You" by Billy Butler, "Sweet Sweet Revenge" by Alvin Valentine, "Hold On" by Marvin Smith, "This Melody Is For My Baby" by Ben Monroe, "Sweet Temptation" by Isaac Hayes, "Wrapped Up In Your Warm & Tender Love" by Richard Parker, "A Mean Thing" by Donald Height, "Just A Little Misunderstanding" by Johnny Williams, "You Got Me Walking" by Cicero Blake, "Once You Fall In Love" by Eddie Mcloyd, "Just A Thing Called Love" by John Parker, and "You Are" by Bobby Reed. CD

An unusual session in the 50s Bethelehm catalog – one that features work by pianist/arranger John Towner Williams, based around a selection of Harold Arlen tunes, and set to a variety of larger backings that include west coast players Herb Geller, Milt Bernhardt, and Gene Cipriano! The style here is heavy on the trombones – using a brace of them on most tracks to create a fluid sense of tonal color – almost in a post-Kai & JJ way, but a bit more traditional overall. There's still some nice space for solo work, despite the larger arrangements on the set – and titles include "My Shining Hour", "Let's Fall In Love", "Stormy Weather", "Hit The Road To Dreamland", "Get Happy", and "That Old Black Magic". CD

With Sam Taylor, Cleanhead Vinson, Billy Ford, George Treadwell, Gene Redd, Ed Burke, Edwin Johnson, and Rupert Cole. CD

Music from Cootie Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, Claude Thornhill, Chubby Jackson, Elliot Lawrence, the Metronome All-Stars, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Tadd Dameron. CD

A great collection of rare soul tracks from the west coast scene of the 60s – one that has the Ace/Kent label returning to the territory of some of their earliest compilations, but with lots of fresh and unreleased material in the mix! The Kent and Modern labels trace their roots back to the initial outpouring of postwar R&B on the Los Angeles scene – and by the time of the 60s, the companies were in a great position to pick the hippest, coolest cats from their city's soul underground – often recording so much music, only a portion of it was ever released back in the day! That's definitely the case here – as 8 of the 14 tracks on the collection never saw release in the 60s – making the collection a fantastic mix of rare and released Northern Soul from the city of angels. Titles include "Wanting You (alt)" by Jimmy Bee, "Lay This Burden Down" by Arthur Wright & His Orchestra, "Love Is Gonna Get You" by Peggy Woods, "Can It Be Me" by Mel Williams, "Baby Without You" by Gene & Gary, "Nobody But Me" by The Other Brothers, "Make Me Yours" by ZZ Hill, "Hey Stoney Face" by Mary Love, "No Puppy Love" by Johnny Copeland, "This Man Wants You" by Wally Cox, and "Get To Steppin" by Jackie Day. LP, Vinyl record album

Benny Goodman's famous 1938 live date at Carnegie Hall – with Teddy Wilson and Count Basie on piano, Lionel Hampton on vibes, Johnny Hodges on alto, Cootie Williams and Buck Clayton on trumpet, and Lester Young on tenor – plus Gene Krupa on drums, on his famous reading of "Sing Sing Sing". CD

Benny Goodman's famous 1938 live date at Carnegie Hall – with work from Teddy Wilson and Count Basie on piano, Lionel Hampton on vibes, Johnny Hodges on alto, Cootie Williams and Buck Clayton on trumpet, and Lester Young on tenor – plus Gene Krupa on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Benny Goodman's famous 1938 live date at Carnegie Hall – with work from Teddy Wilson and Count Basie on piano, Lionel Hampton on vibes, Johnny Hodges on alto, Cootie Williams and Buck Clayton on trumpet, and Lester Young on tenor – plus Gene Krupa on drums, on his famous reading of "Sing Sing Sing". CD

A sparkling collection of club tracks from the contemporary underground – music that spans the Atlantic, but is nicely unified in a mix of thoughtful, well-crafted grooves! There's a quality here that might be thought of as post-broken beat – tracks that know all the best qualities of the previous generation, but also warm things up a bit with jazzy currents and a really magnificent sense of flow! The whole thing is very cohesive, and feels very different than a much more scattered compilation – with tracks that include "Mental Feelings" by Rick The Goldson Wilhite & Jon Easley, "Real Time" by Boo Williams, "PCM" by The Mechanical Man, "Surface" by Nemanja Krstic, "Tribute To The Sound" by Life Recorder, "Space Rele" by Gene Hunt, and "Escape Two" by Dan Piu. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Wynonie Harris, The Dominoes, Louis Jordan, Paul Williams, Jackie Brenston & His Delta Kings, Lloyd Price, Big Mama Thornton, Amos Milburn, The Clovers, Fats Domino, Guitar Slim, Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters, Bill Haley & The Comets, The Five Keys, Muddy Waters, Joe Turner, The Robins, Faye Adams, Gene & Eunice, Ruth Brown, Ray Charles, and The Orioles. CD

With Emmett Berry on trumpet, Dickie Wells on trombone, Earl Warren on alto and clarinet, Buddy Tate on tenor, Al Williams on piano, Gene Ramey on bass, and Herbie Lovelle on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Chicago Soul/New York Underground issue. Songwriter/manager Bernice Williams recalls the early days of Gene Chandler/The Du-Kays, and the true story of "Duke of Earl"; Northern Soul legends the Conquistadors tell tales of 1960s West Side Chicago teenage R&B (plus the first soul Jesus concept album); Do "The Chimp" with Chicago 60s garage rocker/R&B singer Jerry Mundo; H. Dwight Thompson tells tales of 70s NYC punk with the Heat and Klaus Nomi's first band! Relive the early Hip Hop parties of the Disco Fever nightclub; Nardwuar meets Jay-Z and N*E*R*D*; plus great interviews with Chris Montez and Doug Randle, and amazing tributes (by those who knew them) to Lux Interior, Michael Jackson, Billy Lee Riley, Sid Lavarents, Sky Saxon and (sadly) more. And amazing comix about Lennon, Danzig, Hagar, record store clerks, hot dogs, riots, and much more by the best underground cartoonists on earth! 120 pages. Magazine

Music from The Animals, The Cookies, Danny Williams, Kenny Karen, Penny Carter, Neil Sedaka, Gene Pitney, Pat Powdrill, Vic Dana, Kenny Chandler, and more - 31 songs in all. CD

Early work by one of the greatest voices on the alto sax in the 1950s – a player who worked with the deftness of other altoists of his generation, but a depth of soul usually reserved for the tenor! The setting is simple and perfect – as Phil Woods blows at the helm of a quartet that features John Williams on piano, Teddy Kotick on bass, and Nick Stabulas on drums – players who know how to get things moving, but allow plenty of room for the leader to fill space with his solos! Even at this early date, Woods' command of his instrument is amazing – and the record is easily one of the greatest introductions to his work you'll ever find. Titles include "Strollin With Pam", "Be My Love", "Slow Boat To China", "Woodlore", and "Falling In Love All Over Again". LP, Vinyl record album

Early work by one of the greatest voices on the alto sax in the 1950s – a player who worked with the deftness of other altoists of his generation, but a depth of soul usually reserved for the tenor! The setting is simple and perfect – as Phil Woods blows at the helm of a quartet that features John Williams on piano, Teddy Kotick on bass, and Nick Stabulas on drums – players who know how to get things moving, but allow plenty of room for the leader to fill space with his solos! Even at this early date, Woods' command of his instrument is amazing – and the record is easily one of the greatest introductions to his work you'll ever find. Titles include "Strollin With Pam", "Be My Love", "Slow Boat To China", "Woodlore", and "Falling In Love All Over Again". CD

A set that's heavy on roots reggae numbers, but which also maybe predates some of the more mainstream work in the field – especially some of the more easygoing tracks that were playing bit in American dorm rooms at the end of the 70s! Instead, these are cuts from a scene where the message in the music was plenty crucial, especially amidst the early 70s turmoil in Jamaica – where Studio One was close to the streets, and able to capture the moment with the same sort of brilliance and sharpness they brought to earlier generations of rocksteady and ska! The instrumentation is great, as some of the older players evolve into more spiritual modes – and titles include "Jah Righteous Plan" by Willie Williams, "Run Babylon" by Larry Marshall, "Babylon Rock" by Vin Gordon, "Behold The Land" by Joseph Hill, "Tenor On Call" by Tommy McCook, "Sun Is Shining" by Winston Matthews, "Satta" by Cedric Im Brooks, "Message Of Old" by Ken Boothe & Joe Higgs, "Sleeping Trees" by The Saints, and "Small Garden" by Zoot Sims. LP, Vinyl record album

A really wonderful album of obscure jazz recordings from the Chicago scene of the 70s – way more than just the usual school band record, as the tracks here are mostly originals, and performed by a very inventive group of musicians! Governor's State University was a very hip place at the time – a public college at the end of the main train line running through the south side of Chicago – which made the school a place of great opportunity and expression for the city's African-American community. Rather than a junior college, GSU had higher levels of learning – and had an especially strong jazz program, as you'll hear in this set – which features both sextet performances and work by a larger ensemble – both imbued with some of the best creative legacy of the Chicago scene. Things never go far outside, but there's definitely a deeper understanding of musical reaches taking place here – and the core quartet features Walter Henderson on cornet, John Pate on piano, Eugene Vineyard on tenor, Ronald Askew on guitar, Jeff Simon on bass, and Curtis Prince on drums. These players are in the larger group – which also features William Howell and Gerald Myrow on trombones, Vincent Carter and Steele Seales on saxes, and Kenneth Brass and Melvin Williams on trumpets. Titles include "Crabmeat", "Song For Suzanne", "Keishaz", "Give It One", "Listen Here", and "Spanish Samba". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest releases ever from the Okka Disk label – a legendary set that stands as a great testament to the global improvising scene that exploded in Chicago during the 90s! Back in the early years of FMP, nobody would have thought to use the name "Peter Brotzmann" and "Chicago" in the same context – but by the time of these recordings, the legendary reedman had been spending quite a bit of time in the Windy City – working strongly alongside that decade's fresh generation of improvisers, at a level that also helped Brotzmann discover new energy in his music too! The lineup here is great – both octet and tentet groups that operate in an improvising orchestra tradition – with players that include Ken Vandermark on tenor and bass clarinet, Mars Williams on tenor and alto, Jeb Bishop on trombone, Mats Gustafsson on baritone and fluteophone, Joe McPhee on pocket cornet and valve trombone, Fred Lonberg Holm on cello, Kent Kessler on bass, Michael Zerang and Hamid Drake on drums and percussion, and Brotzmann himself on tenor, clarinet, and tarogato. The set features three different live recordings, and one long studio set recorded over two days – a fantastic collection of music. Titles include "Burning Spirit (For Kazuka Shiraishi)", "Other Brothers", "Old Bottles No Wine, "Aziz", "Foolish Infinity", "Immediate Music", "Makapoor", "Foolish Infinity", "Other Brothers" and "Divide By Zero". CD

Plenty of spirit, and plenty of soul – a 70s classic from organist Doug Carn, and a record that took his instrument, and jazz in general, to a whole new level for the decade! Carn's got this burning, righteous quality on his keys – a vibe that certainly owes something to Larry Young, but also takes off even further – working in a spiritual ensemble that also features his wife Jean Carn on vocals – sounding way more like a righteous jazz singer than on her later soul sides for Philly International! Other players are great, too – and include Charles Tolliver on flugelhorn, Garnett Brown on trombone, George Harper on tenor and soprano sax, Buster Williams on bass, and Alphonse Mouzon on drums. Tracks include "New Moon", "Trance Dance", "My Spirit", "Blue In Green", and "Arise & Shine". CD

A really classic album from The Emotions – much harder and grittier than their earlier singles from Chicago, and quite different than their later sounds in the Earth Wind & Fire generation! The style here is almost funk – and definitely gets pretty close on a few cuts – thanks to sharp production from David Porter and Ronnie Williams, who dredge up some of the deeper sounds of the Stax label at the time, and match them with the trio's impeccable vocals! The record's got a down-looking vibe that really lives up to the cover image – a kind of subtle pride that really comes through in the music, and which may well make this album the greatest the girls ever cut. Titles include the stellar cut "Blind Alley" – a famous sample from years back, and a wonderful funk tune on its own – plus "Boss Love Maker", "Love Ain't Easy Onesided", "Show Me How", "Love is The Hardest Thing To Find", and "Boy I Need You". LP, Vinyl record album

Ralph J Gleason might just be one of the coolest cats to ever write about music – a key part of the San Francisco scene during the postwar years – where his talents helped illuminate both the worlds of art and music during the beat generation – then really helped shine a spotlight on all the cultural changes in the city during the 60s – which even led to Gleason's role in the founding of Rolling Stone magazine! Gleason always had a great eye (and ear) for things that were new and special, but never in a way that was slavish to the moment – or to its creator – and the book features an initial section on his writings on jazz and blues – with essays on John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Carmen McRae, BB King, John Handy, Vince Guaraldi & Bola Sete, Cal Tjader, Ben Webster, the San Francisco Jazz scene, and other diverse topics. The second section features Gleason on folk and rock – with bits on Jefferson Airplane, Hank Williams, Lenny Bruce, Odetta, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and others – and the final section features articles on politics and culture – covering topics that include Richard Nixon, radio payola, Law & Order, flower children, and other slices of society, seen from the Gleason viewpoint. Book is hardcover, and 309 pages. Book

A fantastic album by Slide Hampton – one of his best, and one of his rarest! Like a number of other important players of his generation, Slide got his start on the American scene, but moved to Europe during the 1960s – where he really began to open up. This excellent session was recorded in Paris in 1962, and it features Slide leading an octet through some of the most complicated arrangements of his early years. Players include some great underground American players, like trumpeter Richard Williams, bassist Butch Warren, tenorist George Coleman, and trombonist Benjamin Jacobs-El, whose frequent co-tromboning with Hampton always made for an excellent sound. As on Slide's Atlantic sides, the group swings like a mofo – staying tight on the choruses, but really breaking out from the pack with some amazing solo work. Titles include "Star Eyes", "Straight No Chaser", "Confirmation", "Exodus", and "A Moment's Notice". CD

David Murray finds a fantastic new outlet for his many talents here – working with the younger songwriter Saul Williams – who delivers some fantastic lyrics throughout! Saul's as much a spoken word artist as he is a singer – and his passages on the album have this righteous power that takes us back to the hippest sort of music like this from the 70s – but also filtered through some of the lyrical possibilities of the better side of the hip hop generations, especially in the way the power of his messages come across! Murray is fantastic, too – really soulful and swinging, both on tenor and clarinet – and the songs often have Williams or Murray soloing first, then the other taking over. The rest of the group is pretty great as well – with Orrin Evans on piano, Craig Harris on trombone, Jaribu Shahid on bass, Nasheet Waits on drums, and a bit of Fender Rhodes from Jason Moran. Almost all tracks are originals – with titles that include "A Mirror Of Youth", "Kush", "Forever Brothers", "Music Of The Mind", "Deep In Me", "Positive Messages", "Obe", and "Citizens" – and the album also features a version of the Sun Ra tune "Enlightenment". CD

The great first album from Ten Years After – recorded at a time when the group were maybe more strongly linked to the bluesy sounds of the beat group generation than in later years – although still with a hint of some of the trippy touches to come! There's a surprisingly strong dedication to American blues roots at many moments – not just on some of the songs by Sonny Boy Williamson or Willie Dixon – but, maybe thanks to producer Mike Vernon, or more likely the genius of Alvin Lee, the guitars are already getting a bit fuzzy at times, and the keyboards have some unusual tones that you never would have heard on the south side of Chicago. Titles include "I Can't Keep From Crying Sometimes", "Spoonful", "Feel It For Me", "Help Me", "Adventures Of A Young Organ", "I Want To Know", and "Losing The Dogs". CD

The first in a trio of excellent (and numbered!) trio sides that Cedar Walton cut for Red Records in the 80s – and a great start to the whole series! The album's got an open, fluid feel that almost seems ready-made for the CD generation – Walton stretching out in those longer takes that soon became the norm in the later years of his life – working here with David Williams on bass and Billy Higgins on drums, and getting plenty of space to muse openly on the keys of the piano. The instrument used for the record seems to be a big "grander" than usual for Walton – as the tones ring out and resonate strongly, furthering the flow of the music – on cuts that include "Lover Man", "Holy Land", "Voices Deep Within Me", "My Ship", and "Every Time We Say Goodbye". CD

A long-awaited follow-up to one of our favorite compilations of King Records soul music – a set that does a perfect job of showing the label's strong roots in R&B, and it's important force in 60s soul! The package offers up tracks with a really great sound – definitely the grittier edge than you'd expect from the R&B in the title, yet lots of "new breed" styles as well – a more mature, more soul-based approach to the grooves that offers up a great way to harness the raw energy at the core! The set's filled with rare gems from old King, Federal, and DeLuxe label singles – including some overlooked work by bigger name singers – and titles include "Two Hearts" by The King Pins, "I'm Tore Down" by Freddie King, "Send Me A Picture Baby" by Mel Williams, "Love Man" by Hal Hardy, "Geneva" by Eugene Church, "Wild Child" by Donnie Elbert, "Your Letter" by Willie Wright & His Sparklers, "Say Hey Pretty Baby" by Lula Reed, "Let Me Walk With You" by Eddie Kirk, "Stop Talking To Your Child" by James Duncan, "It Hurts Inside" by The 5 Royales, "Let's Have A Good Time" by The Hi Tones, and "When You Move You Lose" by Lee Shot Williams. CD

An excellent hard bop side from the late 80s, an era when the new "young lions" were getting a lot of press, and some nice recordings were being made with any eye on the future while their feet were firmly planted in tradition. This set features two players of Cindy's generation in the front line: Wallace Roney and Kenny Garrett, with some older masters filling out the rest of the group: Joe Henderson, Buster Williams and Larry Willis. The recordings are filled with energy and imaginative playing as they run through originals like "Arcane", "Late Autumn", "Dual Force" and "Mirrored Glances". CD

A treasure trove of west coast jazz work from the mid 50s – one that features a number of unusual sessions! First off, the set includes 4 tracks that were initially recorded under the leadership of Shorty Rogers, most likely for RCA – and featuring players that include Bud Shank, Bob Cooper, Jimmy Giuffre, and Pete Jolly – on titles that include the Giuffre originals "Safari", "Ballade", and "Scarf Dance". Next up are 15 tracks from the rare Best From The West 10" jazz LPs for Blue Note – originally billed as a "blindfold test" under the supervision of Leonard Feather, and some of the label's only west coast jazz sessions of the 50s! The musicians on the original record were not named – probably because of contractual reasons – but artists include Conte Candoli, Jimmy Giuffre, Charlie Mariano, Howard Roberts, Marty Paich, and others – all coming together with a fresh, clean sound that's very much in the spirit of some of the best west coast work for labels like Pacific Jazz or Capitol at the time! This CD reissue includes both of the original 10" albums on one set – along with much-needed notes on the players. Titles include "Santa Anita", "Culver City", "Burbank Bounce", "Arcadia", "Here's Pete", "Santa Monica", and "Blindfold Test No 1". The set then features 9 more tracks from sine 1957 sessions produced by Howard Lucraft, also done as a study in West Coast jazz – featuring compositions by Lucraft that include "Smog A La Mode", "Jazz For Gene", "Larrisa", and "California Zephyr – played by 3 different groups of players that include Bud Shank, Conte Candoli, Stu Williamson, Frank Rosolino, Charlie Mariano, and Buddy Collette. Last up are 4 more tunes from a 1955 session that features Stu Williamson, Herb Geller, Jack Montrose, and Bob Gordon – on tracks that include "Id", "I'm Forever Counting Geigers", and "Skip To Me Loot". 38 tracks in all – with full notes on the sessions and players! CD

Plenty of spirit, and plenty of soul – a 70s classic from organist Doug Carn, and a record that took his instrument, and jazz in general, to a whole new level for the decade! Carn's got this burning, righteous quality on his keys – a vibe that certainly owes something to Larry Young, but also takes off even further – working in a spiritual ensemble that also features his wife Jean Carn on vocals – sounding way more like a righteous jazz singer than on her later soul sides for Philly International! Other players are great, too – and include Charles Tolliver on flugelhorn, Garnett Brown on trombone, George Harper on tenor and soprano sax, Buster Williams on bass, and Alphonse Mouzon on drums. Tracks include "New Moon", "Trance Dance", "My Spirit", "Blue In Green", and "Arise & Shine". LP, Vinyl record album

A great lost date from the wonderful Gigi Gryce – a set that features the altoist in an sextet, but often swinging with a looser vibe than on some of his better-known albums from the 50s! There's a mix of soulful and modern here that's not unlike the Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet – both players of Gryce's same postwar generation, and coincidentally recording for Mercury at the same time. Although the groove here is definitely different – less emphasis on the bottom, and more on the top – not just Gryce's wonderfully raspy alto, but also the trumpet of Richard Williams too. All other players are great as well – and Eddie Costa brings in some sweet vibes – in a lineup that also features Richard Wyands on piano, and either Reggie Workman or George Duvivier on bass, and either Walter Perkins or Bob Thomas on drums. Tracks include "Reminiscing", "Gee Blues Gee", "Blue Light", and "Night In Tunisia". CD

A great lost date from the wonderful Gigi Gryce – a set that features the altoist in an sextet, but often swinging with a looser vibe than on some of his better-known albums from the 50s! There's a mix of soulful and modern here that's not unlike the Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet – both players of Gryce's same postwar generation, and coincidentally recording for Mercury at the same time. Although the groove here is definitely different – less emphasis on the bottom, and more on the top – not just Gryce's wonderfully raspy alto, but also the trumpet of Richard Williams too. All other players are great as well – and Eddie Costa brings in some sweet vibes – in a lineup that also features Richard Wyands on piano, and either Reggie Workman or George Duvivier on bass, and either Walter Perkins or Bob Thomas on drums. Tracks include "Reminiscing", "Gee Blues Gee", "Blue Light", and "Night In Tunisia". LP, Vinyl record album

A great post-Miles/post-Herbie space funk jam – produced by Skip Drinkwater before he got into his later, more well-known slick Jazz-funk style. Eddie's set up with some of the hippest players of his generation – including Bennie Maupin, Buster Williams, Billy Hart and Patrick Gleeson, who kicks out some amazing work in a moogy synth mode! Herbie Hancock also plays Fender Rhodes and Clavinet on the album – and titles include "Inside Out", "Dreams", "Fusion", "Discoveries", and "Moussaka". LP, Vinyl record album

Unissued live work from the great Shirley Horn – recorded in Las Vegas right before her big comeback recordings of the 90s – at a time when Shirley was hardly getting a chance to make an album! That lack of attention hardly matters to Horn, though – as she faces this performance with all of the class, charm, and undeniable soul of her bigger label material – both singing and playing piano with that unique sense of phrasing that made her a standout from the 60s onward – easily one of the coolest jazz talents of her generation – and an artist that we'd rank up there with Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, and a rare few others. The album's got a few especially nice long tracks – which have Shirley stretching out with great long solos on piano, too – in a trio that features Charles Ables on bass and Steve Williams on drums. Titles include "Meditation", "The Boy From Ipanema", "Hi Fly", "Just For A Thrill", "Blues For Big Scotia", "Lover Man", and "Isn't It Romantic". CD

Fantastic work from reedman Charles McPherson – a player who was really coming back to basics in the mid 70s, but also finding a way to stretch out with a sound that was different than his initial albums of a decade before! Charles has moved way past the straight bop that first got him notice – yet he's also got this deft way of making changes that hardly denies that legacy at all, and instead turns to a newly fluid sense of expression that might well make McPherson one of the most soulful altoists of his generation – especially in the long legacy of great records that flowed from this period. The group features Barry Harris on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Leroy Williams on drums – and tracks are nice and long, with titles that include "Tokyo Blue", "East Of The Sun", "Desafinado", "Orient Express", and "Bouncing With Bud". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic work from reedman Charles McPherson – a player who was really coming back to basics in the mid 70s, but also finding a way to stretch out with a sound that was different than his initial albums of a decade before! Charles has moved way past the straight bop that first got him notice – yet he's also got this deft way of making changes that hardly denies that legacy at all, and instead turns to a newly fluid sense of expression that might well make McPherson one of the most soulful altoists of his generation – especially in the long legacy of great records that flowed from this period. The group features Barry Harris on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Leroy Williams on drums – and tracks are nice and long, with titles that include "Tokyo Blue", "East Of The Sun", "Desafinado", "Orient Express", and "Bouncing With Bud". CD features two bonus tracks – "Groovin High" and "Blue N Boogie". CD

A perfect summation of the Woody Shaw genius in the 70s – bold, righteous jazz – delivered with a soaring, joyous message that's impossible to deny! By the time of this release, Shaw had matured to a point where he was easily one of the most important voices on the trumpet in his generation – a 70s player who pulled together strands of the previous generation – from Coltrane to Lee Morgan to Larry Young – all wrapped up in amazing music like this! The set's a major label date, but it's got a righteous power to rival the best indie label sessions from companies like Strata East or Muse – and the lineup features other key spiritual players of Shaw's generation – including Carter Jefferson on tenor, James Spaulding on alto and flute, Rene McLean on alto, Onaje Allen Gumbs on piano, Steve Turre on trumpet, Buster Williams on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. Titles include the sublime "Woody III" suite, plus "Escape Velocity", "Organ Grinder", and "To Kill A Brick". LP, Vinyl record album

Burning work from Lonnie Smith – one of the few players from the 60s Hammond generation who can still grab our ears as strongly as ever! Over the past few decades, Smith's developed a sound that's even freer than before – but still equally groovy – a gliding, open approach to organ jazz that's almost brought in some pages from the Larry Young book, but still comes off with all the swing and soul that Lonnie brought to his best early sides on Blue Note! This session's a brilliant trio date – just Smith's Hammond, the guitar of Jonathan Kreisberg, and drums of Jamire Williams – a wonderful combo who soar beautifully together – hitting modes that remind us of Larry Young/Grant Green collaborations at some points, and Don Patterson/Pat Martino grooves at others. Smith's got a great ear for bottom tones here – and even at quieter points, manages to get our speakers bumping on the shelves – a true testament to the richness of sound you'll hear on cuts that include "Sweet & Lovely", "Spiral", "Beehive", "Sukiyaki", "Frame For The Blues", and "Mellow Mood". CD

A brilliant set from the Chicago scene – a trio that features cornet from Rob Mazurek, drums from John Herndon, and some mighty vibes from Jason Adasiewicz – easily one of the most important players on his instrument in the past decade! There's a mixture of freeness and togetherness here that really reminds us of the 60s new thing generation – like Bobby Hutcherson coming together with Tony Williams – yet infused with the genre-crossing energy that all three players embrace – that rich legacy that both Mazurek and Herndon bring to the session, and help show the way for a new chapter in the music of Adasiewicz. Proof that Delmark is suddenly as hip again as it was in the late 60s – with cuts that include "Orange Blossom", "Double Demon", "Vodou Cinque", "Skull Cave", and "Triple Hex". CD

A dream of a set from the folks at Numero Group – a special package that digs through all their many collections and archive projects, and comes up with some of the funkiest cuts in the bunch! Unlike some of their other compilations, this one focuses on the groove first – and the groove is nice and funky, hard and gritty, and feels like you're sitting next to the turntable, playing a stack of rare funk 45s, one after the other! Titles include "Function Underground" by We The People, "Jungle" by Young Senators, "Let Me Come Within" by Renaldo Domino, "Iron Leg" by Mickey & The Soul Generation, "Get It Right" by Soul President, "First Thing I Do In The Morning" by Joyce Williams, "Party Time" by Black Soul Express, "Money Won't Save You" by Boscoe, "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" by Robert Moore, "You Made Me Suffer" by Andrew Brown, and "Watch The Dog That Bring The Bone" by Sandy Gaye. CD

The largest set so far in this excellent series of American soul releases from Mississippi Records – and like the previous volumes, an expansive set that really digs deep into the most soulful corners of the 60s and 70s! The work here is a mix of obscure tracks and overlooked gems from bigger names in soul – heavy on the kinds of vocals we love from the deep soul generation, but with maybe a few funky touches along the way! As with other volumes, there's a great booklet that's a huge addition to the package – filled with detailed notes – and the 3LP set features 30 tracks that include "Don't Be Surprised" by The Diamonettes, "I'm Lonely For You" by Bettye Swann, "Somewhere Crying" by Irma Thomas, "My Heart Cries For You" by The Invincibles, "Send Her Home To Me" by Johnny Moffett, "Tell Her" by Fred Williams & The Jewel Band, "Get In A Hurry" by Ben E King, "Like A Fish" by George Freeman, "A Woman Will Do Wrong" by Helene Smith, "22nd Century" by Nina Simone, "I'm Hurted" by Mamie Perry, "Can't Go On" by Johnny Steele, "Darling Don't Come Back" by Bobby Thomas & The Afros, "White On Rice" by Clarence Reid, "Louisiana" by Percy Mayfield, "I Submit To You" by Slim & Ann, and "Baby Please Don't Go" by Rose Mitchell. LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of classic blues that influenced the heavy rock generation – with older tracks from some of the best Chess artists of the early electric days! Titles include "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" by Muddy Waters, "Don't Start Me Talkin" and "Sad To Be Alone" by Sonny Boy Williamson, "Juke" and "Blues With Feeling" by Little Walter, "I'm A Man" by Bo Diddley, "I Feel So Bad" by Little Milton, and "Moanin For My Baby" and "Red Rooster" by Howlin Wolf. LP, Vinyl record album

Plenty of spirit, and plenty of soul – a 70s classic from organist Doug Carn, and a record that took his instrument, and jazz in general, to a whole new level for the decade! Carn's got this burning, righteous quality on his keys – a vibe that certainly owes something to Larry Young, but also takes off even further – working in a spiritual ensemble that also features his wife Jean Carn on vocals – sounding way more like a righteous jazz singer than on her later soul sides for Philly International! Other players are great, too – and include Charles Tolliver on flugelhorn, Garnett Brown on trombone, George Harper on tenor and soprano sax, Buster Williams on bass, and Alphonse Mouzon on drums. Tracks include "New Moon", "Trance Dance", "My Spirit", "Blue In Green", and "Arise & Shine". CD

It's hard to go wrong with the New Mastersounds – and even after so many years, and so many records, these guys are still totally at the top of their funky game – one of the tightest, hardest, sharpest combos around – one of the first in the 21st century generation of deep funk acts, and still one of the best! Eddie Roberts, as always, is a monster on guitar – both in terms of his solos and his sense of riffing rhythms – and the group features plenty of C3 organ and other keyboards from Joe Tatton, plus some guest vocals on a few cuts from Lamar Williams. Titles include "Gonna Get In My Way", "Hot Tub", "Let Me In From The Cold", "Georgie Famous", "Meet You In The Sunshine", "Northern Lights", "Before", and "High On The Mountain". LP, Vinyl record album

An underground soul jazz classic – massive grooves from drummer Steve Reid, and exactly the kind of set that's gotten him so much attention in recent years! There's a mixture of freedom and tightness here that's really wonderful – some of the looser elements of the loft jazz generation, mixed with an inherent sense of rhythm that always set Reid's records apart from the rest – a groove that comes not just from his own pulsations on the drum kit, but also from the elliptical basslines of Richard Williams on electric and Luis Angel Falcon on acoustic, and the mixed organ and piano lines of keyboardist Les Walker. Joe Rigby brings some really sharp-edged sax work to the record, alongside the trumpet of Ahmed Abdullah, who really sounds wonderful here – bringing a spirituality to the album that's clearly borrowed from his time with Sun Ra. The album includes the great groover "Lions of Judah" – which has a very Ra-like quality – plus other great cuts "Long Time Black", "Sixth House", "Nova", and "Free Spirits Unknown". CD

There's plenty of rocksteady people here – served up in a killer selection of work from the small JDI label in Kingston – an imprint named after the Johnson's Drive-In club where most of the acts worked! The cuts here have a lean, gritty vibe – that really special quality that comes from the early 45s of this generation, when the Jamaican scene was really experimenting with new sounds of its own – all set to production styles that really let the best elements in the tunes pop strongly, especially the jazzy horns and organ lines! The Diamonds Band or Los Caballeros Orchestra back up all the singers – and titles include "Beware Rudie" and "Control Your Temper" by Roy Panton, "Rock Steady People" by Lloyd Williams, "Rude Boy's Prayer", "Danger Man", and "Press On" by Desmond Tucker – plus instrumental cuts "Expo 67" and "Look Away" by The Diamonds – and "Rigmarole" "Hot Nosh", and "Make Yourself Comfortable" by Los Caballeros. CD

Two different slices of Art Blakey – served up here in a 3CD set! Moanin isn't the Blue Note album of the same name, but a fantastic live set from 1968 – recorded after Blakey's classic Blue Note years, but with a group of fantastic players that includes a young Billy Harper on tenor, Ronnie Matthews on piano, and Julian Priester on trombone. Harper alone is worth the price of the CD – as his firey solos are great, and the whole album's an excellent peek at his early career! There's a sense of open freedom here that's quite different than the earlier Jazz Messengers groove – and this European date is a great complement to the better-known US live recording with the same group from the time. The set features a number of nice long tracks – like Slide Hampton's "Slide's Delight", Billy Harper's "Blues For Eros", Bobby Timmons' "Moanin", and the Jazz Messengers' standard "You Don't Know What Love Is". Sesjun Radio Shows 1 is fantastic radio performances from one of our favorite stretches of the legendary Jazz Messengers group – a time when the lineup featured a young Bobby Watson on alto and Valery Ponomarev on trumpet – two players who'd grow into fantastic leaders on their own, but who here help bring a lot of new life to the group! Watson is especially wonderful – contributing a few key compositions, and that soaring spirit in his horn, which really helped usher in a whole new generation for Blakey's group. James Williams is on piano too, and we actually love his work in this group more than on his later sets as a leader – and remaining players include David Schnitter on tenor on the first six tracks, and Billy Pierce on the horn on the remaining two – and either Dennis Irwin or Charles Fambrough on bass. Art's still the rock-solid core of the group – a tremendous leader who always gets fantastic performances out of young players – and titles include "ETA", "Dr J", "Free For All", "Along Came Betty", "ETA", and "Evaline". Sesjun Radio Shows 2 is live work from the great Art Blakey – a set that features two different performances from two really great groups! The first two cuts are from 1980 – from a time when the Jazz Messengers features up and coming 80s giants Bobby Watson on alto, Valery Ponomarev on trumpet, Billy Pierce on tenor, James Williams on piano, and Charles Fambrough on bass – all young musicians who'd evolve into leaders on their own in a few short years after these recordings, but who really sparkle here under Blakey's leadership! The cuts feature a great take on the Williams tune "1977 AD", and a long version of the Jazz Messengers standard "Blues March". The last four tracks feature a slightly later group – still with Fambrough on bass, but including wonderful tenor and soprano sax work from Jean Toussaint, plus trumpet from Terence Blanchard, alto from Donald Harrison, and piano from Johnny O'Neal – an equally great lineup, but in a completely different way. Titles include a great take on the Fambrough tune "Little Man" – plus "Polka Dots & Moonbeams" and "Moanin". CD

Alyson Williams is anything but raw here – as this Def Jam Titles debut really marks the singer as one of the warmer, smoother talents of her generation – an artist who almost emerges as a superstar right from the start, at least with the sense of power and bearing she brings to her music! The set's got a few key duets – including two tracks with Chuck Stanley, and one more with Oran Juice Jones – but Alyson hardly needs to tie herself to the previous generation of Def Jam soul, as she's already ahead of the pack – and working with a voice that would sound every bit as great with 60s or 70s styled-arrangements as it does with the late 80s R&B sparkle of this set! Titles include "Just Call My Name", "I'm So Glad", "My Love Is So Raw", "Still My No 1", "Sleep Talk", "I Need Your Lovin", and "Masquerade". CD features bonus tracks "Sleep Talk (extended)" and "My Love Is So Raw (extended)". CD

Really beautiful later work from the great Mary Lou Williams – and one of the key records that shows just how much she'd evolved as a player since the early days! Part of the strength of the record is the rhythm work from Buster Williams on bass and Mickey Roker on drums – slightly more contemporary players who open up with a sense of warmth that Williams can't help but address – still work on the keyboard of the piano that's very much her own, and touched with the modern elements of her early days – but wonderfully sensitive in all the right ways, a richness that's perfect for the spiritual jazz generation of the 70s. Titles include the completely amazing "Baby Man", plus "Dat Dere", "Temptation", "Pale Blue", "Blues For Timme", "All Blues", and "Free Spirits". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderfully weird record from the mighty Mason Williams – a set that's filled with lots of cool little surprises at each new twist and turn – yet which also comes across with a really solid, tuneful feel overall! The album's got a bit of folk, a bit of moog, and a bit of kitsch – but has a way of serving it all up with the kind of warmth and wit we love so much in that unique late 60s Warner Brothers moment – the same sort of vibe you might get from Van Dyke Parks or Harpers Bizarre at their best. Some tunes have Mason Williams singing these beautifully poetic lyrics straight, while others evoke the playful feel of his appearances on the Smothers Brothers Show – but things are really balanced throughout, and give the record that sense of discovery we hardly ever find in albums these days. Titles include a new version of "Baroque A Nova" from Mason's first album, the cool electronic "Generatah Oscillatah" instrumental, the groovy "Last Great Waltz", a "One Minute Commercial", and a wild remake of "Cinderella Rockefella" – plus "Saturday Night At The World", "$13 Stella", and "Whistle Hear". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic early soundtrack from the great Pat Williams – cut around the same 60s stretch that he was doing his wonderful albums for Verve – in the years before he'd break bigger with TV work for The Bob Newhart Show and other 70s programs! The tracks have loads of easy, bossa, and sixties grooves running throughout – more dynamic than the usual mainstream soundtrack of the time, almost as if Pat was composing this music on his own, away from the film! Williams titles include "Villa Sweet Villa", "How Sweet It Is", "A Pair Of Boobie Traps", and "Face Up To It Baby". However, despite the greatness of Pat Williams' music, the real highlight of the whole thing might be the incredible "Montage" sequence – which was put together by a young Jimmy Webb, and which features some very groovy vocal passages, with sort of a Harper's Bizarre-esque strangeness to it – a sublime harmony track with a really heartbreaking vibe. The tune was later covered by others, but sounds wonderful here in the original version – which also includes Webb's vocal version of the title. LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet electric soul from Carol Williams – a rich voice from the disco generation, served up here with some great Philly club arrangements from Vince Montana! The groove is great, right from the get-go – thanks to rhythm from the team of Bobby Eli, Norman Harris, and Ronnie Baker – and Carol's vocals slide in strongly with a style that echoes soul styles from a few years before – and reminds us at this great point, the singer wasn't always subservient to the grooves on the cuts! Vince Montana plays a bit of vibes on the record – and titles include "Rattlesnake", "Just Feel", "My Time Of Need", "This Time May Be The Last Time", "Love Is You", and "Come Back". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic early soundtrack from the great Pat Williams – cut around the same 60s stretch that he was doing his wonderful albums for Verve – in the years before he'd break bigger with TV work for The Bob Newhart Show and other 70s programs! The tracks have loads of easy, bossa, and sixties grooves running throughout – more dynamic than the usual mainstream soundtrack of the time, almost as if Pat was composing this music on his own, away from the film! Williams titles include "Villa Sweet Villa", "How Sweet It Is", "A Pair Of Boobie Traps", and "Face Up To It Baby". However, despite the greatness of Pat Williams' music, the real highlight of the whole thing might be the incredible "Montage" sequence – which was put together by a young Jimmy Webb, and which features some very groovy vocal passages, with sort of a Harper's Bizarre-esque strangeness to it – a sublime harmony track with a really heartbreaking vibe. The tune was later covered by others, but sounds wonderful here in the original version – which also includes Webb's vocal version of the title. CD

Over the course of his many years in music, bassist Buster Williams has only cut a relatively small amount of records as a leader – yet that fact definitely seems to make each one a real delight! That's certainly the case here – as Williams works with a very cool group who really open up in ways that echo the subtle spiritual legacy of the leader – a core combo that features superb work on vibes from Stefon Harris, tenor and flute from Bruce Williams, piano from George Colligan, and drums from Lenny White – all stretching out on long tracks that include some great originals by the leader. Jean Baylor joins the group on vocals on some numbers – giving the whole thing that extra-hip vibe that reminds us of a time when players of Williams generation would make records that followed their own muse, not the market place or the demands of a label – a bit like some of our favorite loosely-structured sessions from years back on Muse. Titles include "The Wisdom Of Silence", "Stairways", "Here's To Life", "Tayamisha", "In The Middle Of A Rainbow", and a great take on "Estate". CD

A spiritual jazz classic – one of the rarest albums of its type from the 70s! This legendary session was recorded by Roy Ayers' keyboardist Harry Whitaker – working here as the leader of the Black Renaissance group, a one-shot ensemble that featured Woody Shaw on trumpet, Azar Lawrence on saxes, Buster Williams on bass, and Mtume on percussion. The session was cut in New York in 1976, but only issued on a rare album that came out briefly in Japan. Yet somehow, the quality of the work and the depth of soulfulness have created a strong aura about the session – making it an oft-cited influence by a generation of DJs and soul jazz listeners. The album only features 2 long tracks – both of them strong ensemble numbers that build modally searching grooves in a Strata East-like style, peppered with voices, both sung and spoken, in a hip, socially conscious mode. Both tracks – "Black Renaissance" and "Magic Ritual" are excellent, on a par with the best 70s spiritual soul jazz! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most striking Don Pullen albums of the 80s – a beautifully open session that has the pianist co-leading a version of the 360 Experience group of drummer Beaver Harris – with an excellent lineup that also features Ricky Ford on tenor sax, Hamiet Bluiett on baritone, and Buster Williams on bass! The mix of players is unusual, and the sound here is as well – a record that easily steps between freer moments and more tuneful passages – imbued with the creative spirit of the loft jazz generation, but also taken a step further too – possibly via the album's production work by Hal Willner. There's some truly majestic moments on the album – and the whole thing is a great demonstration of the way that the farther fringes of the jazz universe were finding even more focused expression in the 80s – during a time when records like this really helped give musicians a great outlet for their new ideas. The set begins with the very long "Goree", which has additional work by Candido on percussion – and other tracks include "Land Of The Pharoahs", "Double Arc Jake", and "Newcomer". CD

Bring on the sun if it burns this strongly – as we're more than happy to get extra toasty in the light of such wonderful tracks as these! The set's a stunning look at the massive musical shift on the UK scene in the year of 1967 – a time when psych was certainly making its influence felt, but groups were also opening up in all these other sorts of ways too – really getting past the jaunty rhythms and catchy lyrics of a few years before – and instead somehow managing to make all these amazing things happen in just the space of a short 7" single! Some of the artists here are artists who were making more mainstream music a few years earlier, others are new acts that would soon become superstars, and a few more are genius groups who burst out strongly, then disappeared from view – all brought together in a great 3CD package, with 79 tracks in all, and very detailed notes. Artists include The Herd, Idle Race, Dave Davies, John Williams, Svensk, Universals, Australian Playboys, Tony Rivers, Great Uncle Fred, Artwoods, 23rd Turnoff, Vocal Point, Zombies, Nirvana UK, Lisa & Francesca, The Mirage, Virgin Sleep, Accent, Our Plastic Dream, David Bowie, Living Daylights, John's Children, Episode Six, Orange Bicycle, The Poets, Genesis, Crocheted Doughnut Ring, Piccadilly Line, Scott Henderson, Made In Sheffield, Caleb, and many others! CD

A spiritual jazz classic – one of the rarest albums of its type from the 70s! This legendary session was recorded by Roy Ayers' keyboardist Harry Whitaker – working here as the leader of the Black Renaissance group, a one-shot ensemble that featured Woody Shaw on trumpet, Azar Lawrence on saxes, Buster Williams on bass, and Mtume on percussion. The session was cut in New York in 1976, but only issued on a rare album that came out briefly in Japan. Yet somehow, the quality of the work and the depth of soulfulness have created a strong aura about the session – making it an oft-cited influence by a generation of DJs and soul jazz listeners. The album only features 2 long tracks – both of them strong ensemble numbers that build modally searching grooves in a Strata East-like style, peppered with voices, both sung and spoken, in a hip, socially conscious mode. Both tracks – "Black Renaissance" and "Magic Ritual" are excellent, on a par with the best 70s spiritual soul jazz! CD