Titles include "Beyond The Sea", "No One Emotion", "Please Don't Walk Away", "New Day", "Hold Me", "Stand Up", and "You Are The Love Of My Life". LP, Vinyl record album

George Benson more than earns the title on this one – given that most of the tracks feature backings from the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Frank Foster – a great ensemble who really help keep things soulful throughout! Despite the date of the set, the feel here is a bit more classic than most of Benson's work from the time – as the group bring a full acoustic soul to the record – a swelling, swaying brace of horns that seems to push George's vocals a bit more than usual – past that simply sweet style that was the usual Benson bag. There's a range and depth here that's really surprising – a quality that goes past the hokey title, which might make you expect less from the record – and although there's a few brief moments that get slightly contemporary, these pass quickly in favor of a classic groove. Titles include "On Green Dolphin Street", "Without A Song", "Ready Now That You Are", "Basie's Bag", "Skylark", and "How Do You Keep The Music Playing". CD

A super huge hit for George Benson – and the record that took him from being a funky jazz guitarist into an R&B superstar – opening up sides of his talent that first emerged on his 50s R&B recordings as Little George Benson, but taken here into some very hip 70s territory! The album features George both playing and singing over arrangements by Claus Ogerman – some of Ogerman's best of the 70s, work that mixes together his trademark pillow of sound with a slightly funky bounce that's perfect for Benson's groove. The result is incredible – and the album is filled with loads of great songs – including George's excellent version of Bobby Womack's "Breezin", the hit version of "This Masquerade", and the cuts "So This Is Love", "Six To Four", and "Affirmation". CD

A super huge hit for George Benson – and the record that took him from being a funky jazz guitarist into an R&B superstar – opening up sides of his talent that first emerged on his 50s R&B recordings as Little George Benson, but taken here into some very hip 70s territory! The album features George both playing and singing over arrangements by Claus Ogerman – some of Ogerman's best of the 70s, work that mixes together his trademark pillow of sound with a slightly funky bounce that's perfect for Benson's groove. The result is incredible – and the album is filled with loads of great songs – including George's excellent version of Bobby Womack's "Breezin", the hit version of "This Masquerade", and the cuts "So This Is Love", "Six To Four", and "Affirmation". LP, Vinyl record album

A super huge hit for George Benson – and the record that took him from being a funky jazz guitarist into an R&B superstar – opening up sides of his talent that first emerged on his 50s R&B recordings as Little George Benson, but taken here into some very hip 70s territory! The album features George both playing and singing over arrangements by Claus Ogerman – some of Ogerman's best of the 70s, work that mixes together his trademark pillow of sound with a slightly funky bounce that's perfect for Benson's groove. The result is incredible – and the album is filled with loads of great songs – including George's excellent version of Bobby Womack's "Breezin", the hit version of "This Masquerade", and the cuts "So This Is Love", "Six To Four", and "Affirmation". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes work with Jack McDuff, Lonnie Smith, Hubert Laws, Jimmy Smith, and others. Tracks include "Shadow Dancers", "White Rabbit", "A Foggy Day", "Nature Boy", "Love Ballad", "Mimosa", and "Let's Do It Again (single version)" – 32 tracks total. CD

Yipes! This one made everyone a bucket of money – especially Quincy Jones, whose new Qwest imprint the record was one of the first to grace. George has come a long way from his roots with Jack McDuff here – but in a way that kind of has us impressed, as he's grooving away slickly on guitar, laying down some smooth vocals that we never would have imagined from his mid 60s recordings. Includes the massive hit "Give Me The Night", a cover of "Moody's Mood", and the tracks "Star Of A Story (X)", "Midnight Love Affair", "What's On Your Mind", and "Dinorah, Dinorah". The sound of a million supermarkets and elevators during the 80s! CD

Sweetly jazzy soul from George Benson – a key classic from his great run at Warner Brothers Records, and the kind of record that George did better than anyone else at the time! Back in the 60s, we'd never have guessed that Benson's sweetly crackling vocals would dominate popular jazz more than his great guitar work – but hearing George here, it's clear that his soul work could easily outshine his guitar, especially when set up in a package like this! Atlantic soul maestro Arif Mardin produced, and as with his Chaka Khan productions for Warner at the time, he gives Benson a clean, clear modern style that's certainly pop, but also a lot less cluttered and clunky than modes used with other artists at the time. George is mostly on the vocal tip for the set, and Kashif helps out on one track – no surprise, given that Kashif was soon to walk down the path that Benson had started with his first few vocal albums in the 70s. Titles include "Love Will Come Again", "Use Me", "Late At Night", "In Search Of A Dream", "Lady Love Me", "In Your Eyes", and "Never Too Far To Fall". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderfully wicked album – one that sold so many copies that it's sometimes hard to remember how great it is! George takes on all of Abbey Road – or just about all of it – as he runs through some of the most beautiful tracks The Beatles ever wrote, like "Golden Slumbers", "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", "The End", "Because", and "You Never Give Me Your Money". The whole thing's set to some great baroque jazzy arrangements by Don Sebesky, and George digs the whole thing so much that he even sings a bit – vocalizing in a cool chromatic way that really works well with his guitar playing, and which would soon transform into a very popular style on his records of the 70s. Keyboards are by Bob James and Herbie Hancock – and there's plenty of other great jazz players in the mix! LP, Vinyl record album

Recent work from George Benson – smoother than his classic 60s work, but with a nice soulful groove that's a lean extension of his work in the 70s. And sure, it's a bit smooth jazz – but don't forget that George virtually invented the genre, and hearing his guitar work on the set, it's clear that he's still head and shoulders above most of the folks he inspired. Titles include "True Blue", "Marvin Said", "That's Right", "The Thinker", "Holdin On", "Song For My Brother", and "Footprints In The Sand", produced by Bluey of Incognito! CD

Titles include "Twice The Love", "Good Habit", "Tender Love", "Let's Do It Again", "Until You Believe", and "Stephanie". CD

Titles include "Ode To A Kudu", "We As Love", "Lady Blue", "Windsong", "Weekend In LA", "It's All In The Game", and his classic take on "On Broadway". With Phil Upchurch on rhythm guitar, Ronnie Foster on keyboards, Jorge Dalto on piano and keyboards, Stanley Banks on bass, Harvey Mason on drums, and Ralph MacDonald on percussion. CD

One of the moodiest sessions on CTI from the early days – and a landmark album that took George Benson from the funky jazz scene into the upper reaches of 70s jazz. The record was put together by Don Sebesky, and it's a lot more high concept than some of George's earlier work – and proof that he was a totally great player who just needed a push in the right direction to find his own vibe. Other players include Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, and Airto – and titles include "California Dreaming", "El Mar", "White Rabbit", and "Little Train". LP, Vinyl record album

With George Benson on guitar and Al Jarreau on vocals – plus special guests Patti Austin, Jill Scott, and Paul McCartney. CD

A split CTI package – with a record apiece by Hubert Laws and George Benson! Hubert Laws is first with In The Beginning – moody work from one of the most groundbreaking flute players of the 70s – and a real standout in the legendary catalog of CTI Records! Hubert Laws was not only richly talented, but he was also capable of a large number of styles – and this double-length set for CTI has him moving past the electric funky jazz that was the usual manner of the label. The set features backing by a range of different keyboardists – from Bob James, to Clare Fisher, to Richard Tee – plus tenor by Ronnie Laws, percussion by Airto, drums by Steve Gadd, and guitar by Gene Bertonicini. All tracks are long, and the material spans funk, jazz, and even a bit of classically influenced playing. Titles include "Mean Lene", "Restoration", "Moment's Notice", and "Reconciliation", and "In The Beginning". Next up is George Benson In Concert Carnegie Hall – one of his hardest-hitting albums of the time! In a way, the record returns George to his early years at CTI – particularly the album Beyond The Blue Horizon – as the set's got a stripped down smaller group, working in a tight blend of electric jazzy bits that's very nice! Ronnie Foster lays down some great keyboards on the set, Hubert Laws is on flute, and George himself plays a hollow body with a nice soulful tone – stretching out on some straight jazz on most cuts, but also hitting a few of his smoother notes from the mid 70s. Titles include "Sky Dive", "Take Five", "Octane", "Summertime", and "Gone". CD

A sweet 70s collection of late 60s work from George Benson – tracks recorded in 1968 for Verve, originally from the albums Giblet Gravy and Goodies! The set list here really does a great job of picking out the best numbers – the kind of clean, lean tunes that were pushing Benson from his soul jazz roots towards a much bigger audience – yet still without any of the commerciality of later years to come. Players on the tracks include Herbie Hancock on piano, Billy Cobham on drums, Ron Carter on bass, and Johnny Pacheco on percussion – and arrangements are by Horace Ott and Tom McIntosh. Titles include "Billie's Bounce", "Low Down & Dirty", "Thunder Walk", "Doobie Doobie Blues", "What's New", and "I Remember Wes". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little record from the days before George Benson had totally hit his smooth jazz sound of the 70s, and was being pushed by Columbia as a hard wailing soul jazz leader! The record features his classic quartet with Lonnie Smith on organ – grooving away hard hard hard, sometimes even harder than George! Benson's fresh off his work with the Jack McDuff quartet, and his style's nice and lean, with some good riffs, and a very tight approach to the strings. Titles include "The Cooker", "Benny's Back", "Bossa Rocka", and "Benson's Rider". CD

A great little record from the days before George Benson had totally hit his smooth jazz sound of the 70s, and was being pushed by Columbia as a hard wailing soul jazz leader! The record features his classic quartet with Lonnie Smith on organ – grooving away hard hard hard, sometimes even harder than George! Benson's fresh off his work with the Jack McDuff quartet, and his style's nice and lean, with some good riffs, and a very tight approach to the strings. Titles include "The Cooker", "Benny's Back", "Bossa Rocka", and "Benson's Rider". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet 70s funk from George Benson – an album that's a bit smoother than some of his earlier work, but still free from the commercial polish of his later hits! Maestro David Matthews is at the helm for this session – and most numbers have a full backing from players who include some of the best of the CTI/Kudu generation – including Ronnie Foster and Bobby Lyle on keyboards, Joe Farrell on flute, Fred Wesley on trombone, Eric Gale on rhythm guitar, Dave Friedman on vibes, and Steve Gadd on drums – who manages to kick in a nicely funky undercurrent, even on some of the mellower numbers. George's guitar is filled with warmly chromatic hues – gliding away nicely on titles that include the slow funky "Em", plus "Siberian Workout", "Shell Of A Man", "Hold On I'm Coming", "One Rock Don't Make No Boulder", and "Theme From Good King Bad". LP, Vinyl record album

A great old school session from George Benson – and maybe one of his best albums in years! The setting of the album is just what you'd expect from the title – a tribute to the late, great Nat King Cole – with vocals by George that have an uncanny way of matching Cole's phrasing, yet which also have that warm, raspy sound we love so much from Benson – and some of his excellent scat work too! Arrangements are by Randy Waldman and Nelson Riddle – and have this classic blend of strings and jazz that works perfectly for the set – and Benson gets help from guests who include Wynton Marsalis and Til Bronner on trumpets, plus Indina Menzel and Judith Hill too. Titles include "Route 66", "Nature Boy", "Ballerina", "Smile", "Walkin My Baby Back Home", "Unforgettable", "Too Young", and "Straighten Up & Fly Right". LP, Vinyl record album

Warm and mellow keyboards from the great Jorge Dalto – an obscure Japanese set from the early 80s, but one that has all the spacious grooves of his US classic from the 70s! Jorge plays a range of acoustic and electric keys here – mostly in a small group setting that features guitar from Barry Finnerty or George Benson – both of whom play with the warm touches that are just right for Dalto's keys. There's a bit of horns on the set – Art Webb on flute on one track, Tom Browne's trumpet on another, and the alto of David Sanborn on two more – and the great Nicky Marrero contributes some Latin percussion to some of the album's best numbers too. Titles include "You're Like An Angel", "It's Magic", "Like A Whisper", "Hotel Du Globe", "My Latin Brother", "Mountain Song", and "Poinciana". CD

One of the most formative periods of Miles Davis' career, with lots of new ideas taking shape – including Fender Rhodes from Herbie Hancock, guitar from George Benson and Joe Beck, and plenty of greta tenor from Wayne Shorter, bass from Ron Carter, and drums from Tony Williams! Includes material that appeared on the albums Miles Smiles, ESP, Sorcerer, Nefertiti, Water Babies, Miles In The Sky, and Filles De Killimanjaro – as well as unreleased tracks, alternates, and material that showed up on Directions and Circle In The Round. CD

Miles Davis makes the electric transition – in this groundbreaking set from the late 60s! The classic mid 60s quintet is still in place here – Wayne Shorter on tenor, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums – but the sound is looser, freer, and more spacious – often echoing some of the rhythmic concerns that would dominate Miles' music in a few more years, but without as much of a bombastic sound. Williams' drums are amazing – fierce one minute, then fading the next – and Herbie Hancock's use of both electric and acoustic piano really points at his own directions in coming years. George Benson plays one one track – "Paraphernalia" – introducing electric guitar to the Miles Davis sound – and other long tracks on the set include "Stuff", "Black Comedy", and "Country Son". LP, Vinyl record album

Miles Davis makes the electric transition – in this groundbreaking set from the late 60s! The classic mid 60s quintet is still in place here – Wayne Shorter on tenor, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums – but the sound is looser, freer, and more spacious – often echoing some of the rhythmic concerns that would dominate Miles' music in a few more years, but without as much of a bombastic sound. Williams' drums are amazing – fierce one minute, then fading the next – and Herbie Hancock's use of both electric and acoustic piano really points at his own directions in coming years. George Benson plays one one track – "Paraphernalia" – introducing electric guitar to the Miles Davis sound – and other long tracks on the set include "Stuff", "Black Comedy", and "Country Son". CD features 2 bonus alternate takes of "Black Comedy" and "Country Son". CD

A legendary album – and for good reason too – a set that's as mysterious as it is funky, and a record that's stayed at the top of our crates for years! The album features a really unusual collective of musicians, pulled together under the guidance of producer Paul Winley – a group that features George Benson on guitar, Dave Baby Cortez on organ, Willis Jackson on tenor sax, and Earl Williams on some massively funky drums! The music's a mix of funky jazz and gritty soul – put together with some really weird studio touches – including an uncredited male voice that comes in and out of the tracks, bad-rapping along with some very hip commentary. Ann Winley sings the female vocals on the set – often egged on by the dude – but the real charm of the record lies at the bottom – the wicked drums, funky basslines, and choppy instrumental bits that have gotten the set sampled plenty over the years. Titles include the classic "Smokin Cheeba Cheeba" alone, the groovy "Finger In It", a great breakbeat version of "Ain't No Sunshine" with a tenor solo by Willis Jackson, and the slow bluesy talking cut "Fed Up", a baaaad rap about a couple splitting up – done here in both vocal and instrumental versions. LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary album – and for good reason too – a set that's as mysterious as it is funky, and a record that's stayed at the top of our crates for years! The album features a really unusual collective of musicians, pulled together under the guidance of producer Paul Winley – a group that features George Benson on guitar, Dave Baby Cortez on organ, Willis Jackson on tenor sax, and Earl Williams on some massively funky drums! The music's a mix of funky jazz and gritty soul – put together with some really weird studio touches – including an uncredited male voice that comes in and out of the tracks, bad-rapping along with some very hip commentary. Ann Winley sings the female vocals on the set – often egged on by the dude – but the real charm of the record lies at the bottom – the wicked drums, funky basslines, and choppy instrumental bits that have gotten the set sampled plenty over the years. Titles include the classic "Smokin Cheeba Cheeba" alone, the groovy "Finger In It", a great breakbeat version of "Ain't No Sunshine" with a tenor solo by Willis Jackson, and the slow bluesy talking cut "Fed Up", a baaaad rap about a couple splitting up – done here in both vocal and instrumental versions. LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary album – and for good reason too – a set that's as mysterious as it is funky, and a record that's stayed at the top of our crates for years! The album features a really unusual collective of musicians, pulled together under the guidance of producer Paul Winley – a group that features George Benson on guitar, Dave Baby Cortez on organ, Willis Jackson on tenor sax, and Earl Williams on some massively funky drums! The music's a mix of funky jazz and gritty soul – put together with some really weird studio touches – including an uncredited male voice that comes in and out of the tracks, bad-rapping along with some very hip commentary. Ann Winley sings the female vocals on the set – often egged on by the dude – but the real charm of the record lies at the bottom – the wicked drums, funky basslines, and choppy instrumental bits that have gotten the set sampled plenty over the years. Titles include the classic "Smokin Cheeba Cheeba" alone, the groovy "Finger In It", a great breakbeat version of "Ain't No Sunshine" with a tenor solo by Willis Jackson, and the slow bluesy talking cut "Fed Up", a baaaad rap about a couple splitting up – done here in both vocal and instrumental versions. CD

One of the last great records ever cut by Jon Hendricks – one of our favorite singers of all time! The album's a bit of a "tour de force" – with Hendricks singing alongside a host of famous jazz musicians and vocalists, working in an all star setting that's sometimes too good for its own good, but at other times works magically! The best moments are those when Jon actually takes the lead himself, singing in that warm, raspy, honest style that's always made him the kind of a singer that brings meaning to lyrics that always leave us cold from other vocalists. The album's got a wonderful re-reading of the Italian classic "Estate", redone here with English lyrics as "In Summer" – and one of Hendricks finest moments on record! Other tracks include "Listen To Monk", "Sugar", "Freddie Freeloader", "High As A Mountain", "Trinkle Tinkle", and "The Finer Things In Life" – and players include Tommy Flanagan, George Benson, Wynton Marsalis, Stanley Turrentine, and Al Jarreau. CD

One of the last great records ever cut by Jon Hendricks – one of our favorite singers of all time! The album's a bit of a "tour de force" – with Hendricks singing alongside a host of famous jazz musicians and vocalists, working in an all star setting that's sometimes too good for its own good, but at other times works magically! The best moments are those when Jon actually takes the lead himself, singing in that warm, raspy, honest style that's always made him the kind of a singer that brings meaning to lyrics that always leave us cold from other vocalists. The album's got a wonderful re-reading of the Italian classic "Estate", redone here with English lyrics as "In Summer" – and one of Hendricks finest moments on record! Other tracks include "Listen To Monk", "Sugar", "Freddie Freeloader", "High As A Mountain", "Trinkle Tinkle", and "The Finer Things In Life" – and players include Tommy Flanagan, George Benson, Wynton Marsalis, Stanley Turrentine, and Al Jarreau. CD

A sweet sweet groover from the East Bay's Marvin Holmes – an artist who's still got all the same charm here as on his famous indie sides from the 70s! Marvin's always been very much his own man – and this great little album has him stepping along in a mix of smooth soul and funk, with maybe a bit of jazz on the bottom – sometimes tuned towards an 80s groove, sometimes with a classic sensibility that's really timeless! Holmes' guitar lines figure in strongly on a few cuts – almost in a George Benson mode, especially in the way they mix with his vocals – and the album's a great reminder that there's still plenty of soul to discover in the 80s underground. Titles include "You Girl", "Contraband", "It's About Time", "The Art Of Loving You", "Sharmicar", and "Can I Get Nasty". CD

A truly fantastic record, and one that's become the stuff of legend over the years – a rare CTI album that was only ever issued in Japan – and which may well be one of the coolest sessions recorded during the A&M years of the label! Trombonists JJ Johnson and Kai Winding had recorded two other records for CTI during the period – both great – but this set has them stretching out in this really expansive mode that's completely unique – long tracks put together with complicated arrangements that really blow away anything else they ever did – funky, soulful, but also moving towards higher ideals too – a fantastic testament to the newfound arranging skills of Johnson, who handled most of the record. The group also features some amazing keyboard work from both Herbie Hancock and Bob James – who get plenty of room to roam – plus guitar from George Benson, bass from Ron Carter, and drums from Grady Tate – a superb lineup who really make the whole thing shine. The depth of this music is hard to describe in words, but the whole thing's wonderful – and the set features just four long tracks – "Dontcha Hear Me Callin To Ya", "Musings", "Mojo", and "Recollections". LP, Vinyl record album

A trio of Earl Klugh albums from the mid-to-late 70s – Earl Klugh, Living Inside Your Love and Magic In Your Eyes – in a 2CD set! Earl Klugh is the guitarists debut – a player whose sound went onto dominate late 70s fusion in a big big way! Klugh's clearly stepping here into a space allowed by George Benson at the time – a blend of jazz and R&B that's warmer and mellower than work previously done on Blue Note in the decade (or on CTI and Kudu for that matter) – one that's less focused on rhythm than it is on tone, and the kind of setting that allows Earl to shine wonderfully. There's a lot less of the cheesiness here that would hurt Klugh's later albums, and the overall presentation is nicely retrained – arranged by Dave Grusin at a time when he still knew how to bring a good deal of soul into a session, avoiding cliche and letting the soloist step forth unmarred. Other players include Lee Ritenour, Harvey Mason, and Grusin himself – and Klugh plays both electric and acoustic guitar, on tunes that include "Angelina", "Slippin In The Back Door", "Vonetta", "Waltz For Debby", and "Wind & The Sea". Living Inside Your Love is his second album for Blue Note – and like the first, a nicely stripped-down album that we like a lot better than his later work! Klugh's sound and tone are still very pure here – set up in some nice small group arrangements by Dave Grusin, and recorded in a way that brings out all the sweetness in Earl's approach, without falling into the cheesy qualities that it inspired in so many other, weaker players. If anything, Klugh's style is stronger and more confident than on his first outing – on titles that include "Kiko", "The April Fools", "Captain Caribe", "Felicia", and "Living Inside Your Love". Magic In Your Eyes is another sweet early effort from Klugh, with the title track plus "Alicia", "Julie", "Rose Hips", "Cry A Little While", "Cast Your Fate To The Wind" and more. CD

A trio of CTI classics from reedman Hubert Laws! First up is Morning Star – one of the most sublime Hubert Laws albums for CTI – a set that features his incredibly soulful flute work floating over these beautiful large arrangements by Don Sebesky – all ticked by some sweet electric piano from Bob James! The sound is perfect – that balance of soul and sophistication that really made CTI a groundbreaking label at this point – and which made it a perfect place for a hip artist like Hubert to really hit his stride! And in fact, Laws may not have ever hit this height again – as even though later albums are all still pretty great, and plenty soulful, this set's got an extra something special that we never tire of hearing! Titles include "No More", "Morning Star", "Let Her Go", and "What Do You Think Of This World Now?". The next album features maybe some of the coolest music ever recorded at Carnegie Hall – a wonderful venue that's perfect for the blend of soul and space of the CTI Records years of Hubert Laws! Laws' lead lines on flute really stretch out beautifully in the setting – given ample room to roam amidst a lineup that features Dave Friedman on vibes, Ron Carter on bass, and Bob James on piano and electric piano – all on tracks that have the same open, breathy quality as Hubert's sublime Afro Classic album. Like that set, there's a subtle dose of funk in the mix, but more focus on an airier mode up top – stretched out beautifully over a medley of Chick Corea's "Windows" and "Fire & Rain" – and on a 20 minute take of "Passacaglia In C Minor". Chicago Theme is one of Hubert Laws' funkiest records for CTI – recorded with a full group funky style that's plenty darn great, and a lot harder-hitting than some of Hubert's more laidback sessions for the label! Arrangements are by Bob James and Laws – working here with a large batch of players who come together beautifully, almost in the style of a funky 70s cop show soundtrack! James plays keyboards, and other players include George Benson, Phil Upchurch, Stanley Clarke, Randy Brecker, Don Grolnick, and Ron Carter – on titles that include James' own "Chicago Theme", a great cover of "Midnight At The Oasis" with wonderful drums from Steve Gadd, who also kicks it nice and large on Laws' own "I Had A Dream". Other tracks include "Going Home", "I Had A Dream", and "Inflation Chaser". CD

Two classic greasy grooves – hot off the grill from chef Jack McDuff! Hot Barbeque is one of our favorite all-time Jack McDuff albums, and one that features his classic quartet in totally amazing form. George Benson's wailing on guitar, and proving that he was a genius, even at this tender young age (and in fact, maybe only at this age!), Red Holloway's on tenor, and the amazing Joe Dukes' is skipping away on drums, dancing all over the place under Brother Jack's great groovy solos. With the short vocal ditty that comprises the title cut, plus other long groovers including "The Party's Over", "Happy Dip", and "Cry Me A River". All this, and the cover's got a great photo of Jack chompin' on a slab of ribs! The other half of this CD is one of three live sides McDuff cut, all with similar covers, but this one's got the red and orange lettering. Red Holloway blows and hollers over the fingerpoppin' grooves delivered by a young George Benson on his first major gig, and the soulful drums of Joe Dukes. Features cookin' live versions of "Rock Candy", "Sanctified Samba" and "A Real Goodun'". Jack McDuff Live is a killer, and one of three live sides McDuff cut for Prestige during the 60s – a monster session of stretched-out jazzy grooves, with many fine little dancers, and a raw soulful feel throughout! The group's one of Jack's best – as Red Holloway's tenor blows and hollers over the fingerpoppin' grooves delivered by a young George Benson on his first major guitar gig – and the soulful drums of Joe Dukes scatter across the place, taking the whole band into some incredible rhythms! Titles include cookin' live versions of "Rock Candy", "Sanctified Samba", "Undecided", and "A Real Goodun'". CD

Sweet soulful lines from guitarist Jimmy Ponder – working here in a warm set of bigger backings that almost give the record the same feel as classic late 60s outings from Wes Montgomery, or some of the CTI work by George Benson! Backings are put together by Brad Baker – in that same great mix of jazz and soul he used with his B Baker Chocolate Company material – and although there's a bit of chorus vocals on the album (sung by a group that includes Gwen Guthrie and Jocelyn Brown), the main focus is on the soulful, chromatic lines of Ponder's guitar – which have a poise and focus here that really tops some of his earlier work. The groove is pretty super-dope throughout – that great late Groove Merchant approach to funky jazz – and titles include "Love Me Right", "Chasing That Face", "A Trip To The Stars", "A Clue", and "Turn". LP, Vinyl record album

Jean Luc Ponty is in very tight formation here – continuing that nice shift to sparer grooves he made at the start of the 80s – when the more cluttered fusion modes of the 70s seemed a bit outdated! Most of the music here comes from keyboards and violin – usually in ways that are never too jamming, and which often hit a spacious kind of groove that mixes equal parts rock and jazz with a few newer soul influences. Guests include Chick Corea and George Benson, but most of the music is by Ponty himself – and titles include "Open Mind", "Watching Birds", "Solitude", "Modern Times Blues", "Orbital Encounters", and "Intuition". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of 80s albums from the fusion master – back to back in a single set! On Open Mind, Jean Luc Ponty is in very tight formation – continuing that nice shift to sparer grooves he made at the start of the 80s – when the more cluttered fusion modes of the 70s seemed a bit outdated! Most of the music here comes from keyboards and violin – usually in ways that are never too jamming, and which often hit a spacious kind of groove that mixes equal parts rock and jazz with a few newer soul influences. Guests include Chick Corea and George Benson, but most of the music is by Ponty himself – and titles include "Open Mind", "Watching Birds", "Solitude", "Modern Times Blues", "Orbital Encounters", and "Intuition". Fables is almost a back-to-basics album for jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty – one that has him kicking things up with a bit more heavy fusion than on some of his other 80s records – almost jamming at times, and at least returning to some of the energy he had back in the 70s! Most of the record features a core group with Scott Henderson on guitar, Baron Browne on bass, and Rayford Griffin on drums – and Ponty's playing a few different electric violins, plus a bit of keyboards – on tracks that include "Radioactive Legacy", "Perpetual Rondo", "Cat's Tales", "In The Kingdom Of Peace", "Infinite Pursuit", and "Elephants In Love". CD

Jill Scott's a singer with a mighty generous spirit – and in addition to her own (all too few) recordings over the years, she's made some tremendous appearances on records under the leadership of other artists – a good deal of which are included in this set! Jill's not the kind of singer to just sleepwalk into the studio and deliver a few standard vocals when making a guest shot – and instead, she brings a new sense of life and energy to each different appearance in the set – coming across with a street-heavy vibe one minute, a more laidback cosmic mode the next, and a more classically-tuned soul sound at still another point. The set's a great illustration of the depths of Scott's rich talents – and even though we'd rather have Jill spending more time in the studio recording her own music, we're still plenty happy to have so many of her great guest appearances together in one package like this! CD features 14 tracks in all – including "Love Rain" with Mos Def, presented in "head nod" and "coffee shop" remixes – plus "Said Enough" with The Isley Brothers, "One Time" with Eric Roberson, "Good Morning Heartache" with Chris Botti, "Daydreamin" with Lupe Fiasco, "Let Me" with Sergio Mendes & Will I Am, "8 Minutes To Sunrise" with Common, "Sometime I Wonder" with Darius Rucker, "Slide" with Jeff Bradshaw, "The Rain" with Will Smith, and "God Bless The Child" with Al Jarreau & George Benson. CD

Great later work from Lonnie Smith – a set that's quite different than his initial Hammond material for Blue Note – but equally excellent in its own sort of way! The album has Lonnie playing both Fender Rhodes and organ – the former with this sweet, tight groove that's mighty nice – a bit like when Johnny Hammond or Jack McDuff touched the instrument on their own albums from the 70s – with all the chunky, funky qualities learned from their solos on the Hammond. Production is by Sonny Lester, and the groups here are relatively big, which gives a bit of a blacksploitation funk to the record – but part of the record also has a leaner group with Joe Lovano on tenor, blowing some beautifully extended solos – as well as George Benson on guitar. Titles include a great ten minute take on "Impressions" – plus "Apex", "Lean Meat", "When The Night Is Right", and "It's Changed". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Bobby Womack's biggest albums of the 80s – part of a set that helped reintroduce him to the soul music mainstream – and which has him standing tall as the superstar he is – with guest help from George Benson, Patti Labelle, and Wilton Felder! There's a new sort of sophistication to Bobby's music – never too smooth, especially on his vocals, which retain their original raspy charm – but a different vibe than the 70s, but one that's still very different than most mainstream soul of the time! Titles include "Tryin To Get Over You", "Through The Eyes Of A Child", "Love Has Finally Come At Last", "Who's Foolin Who", and "I Wish I Had Someone To Go Home To". LP, Vinyl record album