Damn wonderful work from Woody Shaw – a sublime set for Columbia Records, and one that's head and shoulders above most major label jazz of its generation! Woody's still in his most soulful modes here – the soaring, spiritual, joyous tones we always love in his Muse Records work from a few years before – delivered here with a tightness and vision that even goes beyond those records – thanks to help from Mulgrew Miller on piano, Gary Bartz on alto sax, Steve Turre on trombone, Stafford James on bass, and Tony Reedus on drums. As with most of Shaw's best records, this is truly a great group effort – from the bold tones of Turre, to the soul-drenched pulsations of James, to the highly rhythmic modes from Miller's piano – all fused together perfectly under Woody's magical vision as a leader, and set fire on tunes that include "United", "Katrina Ballerina", "Pressing The Issue", and "The Greene Street Caper", and "Blues For Wood". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the hippest jazz ever played at Vassar College – and previously-unreleased work from avant legend Joe McPhee, recorded right around the same time as his classic Nation Time record! One CD features a smoking performance by McPhee on tenor – working with a group that also includes Byron Morris on alto sax – really stretching out on a mixture of original tunes and some surprisingly free takes on standards – familiar songs blown openly, almost with a Coltrane Quartet sort of approach! But the other CD is even more amazing – and even more obscure – as it features a group with vibist Ernie Bostic, alto saxophonist Otis Greene, and Hammond player Herbie Leaman – all musicians we really don't know at all – but who sound wonderful together! The mix of organ and vibes is completely sublime – and tracks are very long and airy, with a haunting feel that's unlike anything we've ever heard before. The Bostic group plays "Flowers For Mattie B", "Bag's Groove", and "Resolution" – and McPhee's combo takes on "Green Dolphin Street", "Spring Street", "Muntu", "Maybell's Blues", "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise", and "Stella By Starlight". CD