An obscure solo set from Italian bassist Giovanni Tommaso – best known for his work in the groundbreaking fusion group Perigeo in the 70s, but heard here in an obscure jazzy set at the start of the decade! The record's got plenty of surprises along the way – a well-recorded date that mixes the bass of the leader with other jazzy instrumentation, including a bit of soprano sax from Steve Lacy on one track – all augmented by just the right use of larger arrangements. Titles include "Jazz Gallery", "Steve", "Bass Pedal", "Due Per 5/4", "Strong Beat", "Walk Slow", "Mr Slam", "Clap Dance", and "Out". LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime work from saxophonist Eraldo Volonte – a rare mid 60s session recorded in Italy, and totally hip work all the way through! Volonte's got a tone here that's really tremendous – clearly Coltrane-influenced, especially on the tenor selections – but also stretching out with its own feeling too, especially on some of the album's more outside numbers, which feature Eraldo playing some great lines on soprano sax. There's a very open quality to the record – not exactly free jazz, but almost a "new thing" sense of sonic exploration – one that has Volonte's tenor and soprano sax aligned nicely with trombone from Dino Piana, piano from Franco D'Andrea, bass from Giovanni Tommaso, and drums from Franco Tonani. Titles include "Flamingo", "Mr Arpo", "Eclypso", "Tale", "Explorable", and "Ornette". CD

One of the most obscure 70s sides by Johnny Griffin – a really warm and wonderful set, recorded in Italy with an Italian rhythm section of Franco D'Andrea on piano, Giovanni Tommaso on bass, and Bruno Biriaco on drums. Tracks are all quite long, but never sloppy – and in a way, Griff solos with a more unified, to the point feel than on some of his other European albums of the period – rising to the feeling of the session, in which he's clearly admired by the Italian players he's working with. Titles include "Always Forever", "Keep Going", "For The Love Of", and "Music Inn Blues" – all original numbers. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best of the Schema/Rearward reissues of lost Italian jazz – and a sparkling session that features the work of a young Gato Barbieri, plus trumpeter Franco Ambrosetti, pianist Franco D'Andrea, and bassist Giovanni Tommaso. Drummer Franco Tonani leads the session – but the best work is by Ambrosetti, who's got a lot of Miles Davis in his horn at this point, and by D'Andrea, who's warm and lyrical, with none of the self-indulgence of later years. Barbieri lacks the fire of his great recordings, but his tenor's also nice and strong – and he adds some of the rougher edges to the session, in a nice counterpoint to Ambrosetti's sweeter horn. Titles include "Solar", "Vamos", "U Boat", "Drum Ding", and "Hard Mode", done in 2 takes. Great package, with a nice cover, and excellent attention to good sound! CD

A gem of a record from the great Piero Umiliani – and maybe one of his funkiest, grooviest projects ever! The set is more sound library funk than soundtrack – and features some very strong keyboard work in the lead on most track – including Fender Rhodes, moog, Hammond, and even Lowrey organ! Other instrumentation is nice and spare – lots of tight and slight rhythms – which lets the keyboards carry equal parts of the groove and the melody, in a really wonderful style! Players on the session include Umiliani on moog and Fender Rhodes, Oscar Valdambrini on trumpet, Giovanni Tommaso on bass, Franco D'Andrea on piano, Dino Piana on trombone, Antonello Vannucchi on Hammond, and Marcello Boschi on flute. The whole thing's wonderful – a deep deep treasure all the way through – and tracks include "Lady Magnolia", "Open Space", "Goodmorning Sun", "Railroad", "Safari Club", "Free Dimension", "Truck Driver", and "Music On The Road". LP, Vinyl record album