Includes the songs "Dog Bottom", "Jungle Mamma", "Heebie Jeebies", "(I'm Left With The) Blues In My Heart", "Lona", "Blue Minor", "Don't Be That Way", "What A Shuffle", "Blue Lou", "Go Harlem", "Clap Hands! Here Comes Charlie", "That Naughty Waltz", "I Got Rhythm", "Squeeze Me", "Harlem Congo", "Midnight In A Madhouse", "Spinnin' The Webb", "Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away)", "Who Ya Hunchin'?", and "In The Groove At The Grove". CD

The last Warner Brother album by Tony Joe White, and a set that mixes the raw feel of his Monument Records years with these great laidback numbers that have a surprising amount of soul, and a nice undercurrent of funk! White's a powerhouse here – completely confident, but also able to relax into a groove even more than before – and the album's got some surprisingly sensitive acoustic guitar work that seems to show a whole new side of his charms. Titles include "Saturday Night In Oak Grove Louisiana", "California On My Mind", "Backwoods Preacher Man", "No News Is Good News", and "Did Somebody Make A Fool Out Of You". LP, Vinyl record album

A very groovy album by Laurindo Almeida – one of his best bossa cookers in a swinging 60s mode! The album features lots of great acoustic guitar from Laurindo, but spun over fuller arrangements by Lex De Azvedo, Clare Fischer, and Dick Grove – all of whom get that right sort of jaunty, breezy style to really showcase the evolution of the bossa on the west coast scene of the 60s! Production is great – handled by Lex – and really still lets the gentle acoustic guitar step out in front of the rest of the group – on groovy titles that include "The Look Of Love", "Windy", "I Love You", "When I Look In Your Eyes", "A Beautiful Friendship", and "Alfie". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album ever from The Chambers Brother – a much rootsier set than the psychedelic soul that later earned them fame in the 60s! The set's heavy on influences from folk, blues, and gospel – and pitches the group more towards the crossover college scene than the mainstream soul crowd – thanks to an appreciatively rootsy style of production that really has the vocals and acoustic instrumentation presented without any other augmentation. Tracks were recorded live at The Unicorn in Boston and the Ash Grove in LA – and most numbers are covers, with versions of "Summertime", "Your Old Land", "It's All Over Now", "Reconsider Baby", "People Get Ready", "Tore Up", and "Money". CD

You may not know the name of Royston Ellis, but you've certainly heard "Paperback Writer" by The Beatles – a song that was inspired by Ellis' work on the UK scene in the early 60s! Royston would go on write novels and more, but early on he was a youthful rebel poet – one of the first figures to recite with a rock 'n' roll band backing him – and he inspired many writers and rockers to come, including the young Jimmy Page – who provides a forward to this volume! The work here is early experimental, very beatnik-oriented poetry – but poetry that's often got the free form and the hard punch of the sorts of work coming out over here on City Lights or Grove Press – the sorts of books that are echoed perfectly in this long-overdue American paperback presentation of Royston's work! 128 pages, softcover. Book

Gary Meek on tenor with Terri Lynne Carrington on drums, Brian Bromberg on bass, and Mitchel Forman on piano. Also featuring Randy Brecker on trumpet and flugelhorn, Bruce Forman and Michael Lend on guitar, and Airto Moreira on percussion. Tracks include "What Happened To My Good Shoes?", "When You're A Monk", "Suite For Maureen", "Pacific Grove Fog", and "Lost Dreams". CD

Beautifully spiritual sounds from the contemporary LA scene – served up in a record that mixes generations old and new, and with a really wonderful sound throughout! There's a timeless quality to the record right from the start – maybe because the great Phil Ranelin begins the set with a vocal performance over mellow electronics – in a laidback spirit that's followed by the rest of the set too – as a shifting array of artists under the direction of Jesse Peterson turn out a record with a subtle righteous power! Peterson previously worked with Carlos Nino – and there's definitely a bit of Nino spirit here, but with a different vibe – in a lineup that includes Sam Gendel on reeds, Randal Fisher on flute, Fabiano Do Nascimento on guitar, Josh Johnson on alto and keyboards, Aaron Shaw on tenor, Carlos Nino on percussion, and Photay and Diego Gaeta on electronics – plus vocal work from Phil Ranelin, Laraaji, Mia Doi Todd, and Dwight Trible. Titles include "Alive To Feel", "Island Bells", "Pandanus Grove", "Tune Up", "Ocean Garden", "Floating Sunset", and "Arukitai". CD

A set of unreleased duets between trumpeter Roy Hargrove and pianist Mulgrew Miller – two players who are definitely in harmony throughout the recording! Most tracks are nice and long – taken with an open, lyrical sensibility – one that's driven strongly by Miller's sense of imagination on the piano, and which seems to have Roy Hargrove maybe opening up a bit more than some of his studio recordings of the time! Titles include versions of "Triste", "Con Alma", "This Is Always", "I Remember Clifford", "Never Let Me Go", "Invitation", Ruby My Dear", "Ow", and "Just In Time" – plus a nice reading of the Blue Mitchell tune "Fungii Mama". LP, Vinyl record album

A holiday record from Grover Washington – but one that's got a fair bit more to offer than just the usual Christmas tunes! The set mixes older favorites and lesser-known numbers – all done in that soulful fusion style that Washington brought to his records from other seasons of the years – set up here with the leader on alto, tenor, and soprano sax – amidst arrangements from vibist Joe Lock, and keyboardist Donald Robinson, and guitarist Hiram Bullock – all of whom play on the record. Lisa Fischer sings on one number, but most of the record is instrumental – and titles include "Breath Of Heaven", "The Magi's Song/A Child Is Born", "I Wonder As I Wonder", "Christmas Time Is Here", "The Love In His Infant Eyes", and "Christmas Day Chant". CD

A set that strongly continues the special spirit that Grover Washington brought to his music during the Elektra Records years – as one of the few artists who really found a way to move forward from the style of 70s jazz funk, but not fall into some of the smoother jazz cliches that were about to envelop his contemporaries! Part of the strength of the record lies in Grover's strongly soul-based sense of timing – allowing for just the right amount of space between the notes to remind you that you're listening to a jazz soloist first and foremost, even when a guest like Patti Labelle might step in for a bit of vocals. Titles include "Brazilian Memories", "Mixty Motions", "Can You Dig It", "I'll Be With You", "Things Are Getting Better", and "The Best Is Yet To Come". LP, Vinyl record album

A smoothed out late 70s set from Grover Washington Jr – a fairly slick affair of soul jazz – really honing in on the melodic soulful side of his sound for this one that balances a more crossover ready sound with spacier touches! The record features one a pop jazz take on "Just The Way You Are" that somehow works really well – or maybe we just can't beat off that tune's catchy melody as hard as we might want to. It also includes a nice version of "Loran's Dance", taken at a little faster tempo than Idris Muhammad's version, with some nice spacey synth floating around in the background, mellower numbers like the title track and "Maracas Beach" that are quite spare and nicely done. Also includes "Do Dat", "Step 'N' Thru" and "Santa Cruzin'" and "Marachas Beach". LP, Vinyl record album

An odd collection from a Kudu series you don't run across much. The title's a reference to performances by artists as sidemen on sides led by others, but showing off their contributions. The 5 tracks here are taken from some of our favorite CTI/Kudu releases, with 2 from Johnny Hammond's Wild Horses Rock Steady: "Who Is Sylvia?" and "Rock Steady", 2 from Idris Muhammad's Power Of Soul "The Saddest Thing" and "Loran's Dance", plus "Ganawa (Blue Moses)" of Randy Weston's Blue Moses. LP, Vinyl record album

Strawberry Moon has a number of laidback groovers, with some solid Washington originals such as the title track and some sweet covers. BB King plays and sings on "Caught A Touch Of Your Love", with Jean Carne guesting on "The Look Of Love". Grover's sax is soulful and sweet throughout, and the titles include "Strawberry Moon", "Summer Nights", "Keep In Touch", and "Maddie's Blues". CD

Then & Now is a nice one that has Grover working in a straighter jazz mode for the most part, taking a break from the soul and R&B groover –- the most timeless of the 3 albums compiled here! Players include Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Grady Tate and Darryl Washington. Titles include "Just Enough", "French Connections", "Stolen Moments", "Stella By Starlight" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Philip Bailey on vocals, Billy Childs on piano, Roy Hargrove on trumpet, Bobby Watson on soprano and alto saxophone, and Tony Williams on drums. CD

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Features Hargrove on trumpet and Antonio Hart on saxophone, with John Hicks and Geoffrey Keezer taking turns on piano, and Ralph Peterson and Al Foster on drums. CD

Roy Hargrove on trumpet and flugelhorn, Ron Blake on tenor and soprano sax, Cyrus Chestnut on piano, Rodney Whitaker on bass, and Gregory Hutchinson on drums. CD

Roy Hargrove on trumpet, Antonio Hart on alto saxophone, Tomoyuki Shima on bass, Masahiko Osaka on drums, and Yutaka Shiina on piano. CD

A funky collaboration of new and old players – as trumpeter Roy Hargrove explores a range of classic styles with a host of excellent guest stars! The RH Factor project includes work by Bernard Wright, Cornell Dupree, Karl Denson, and other funk luminaries – and it also features great vocal performances from the likes of Common, Q-Tip, Erykah Badu, and D'Angelo. The groove soars from Miles-inspired electric to the heavy funk of George Clinton – and makes plenty of side-trips in between – exploring a range of soulful jazz, both new and old, and coming off a lot better than we might have thought! Titles include "Pastor T", "I'll Stay", "Common Free Style", "Juicy", "The Stroke", "Poetry", "Liquid Streets", "The Joint", and "Forget Regret". CD

Grover Mitchell on trobone joined by Frank Wess on tenor flute, Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, and more. CD

We're normally not the biggest fans of Oscar Peterson, but on this set, he's working with tenorist Ralph Moore and trumpeter Roy Hargrove – and really gets past his usual trio sound! The album's got a strong and soulful frontline that really makes things happen – with Moore's tenor solos as impeccably placed as always, and Hargrove's trumpet strutting boldly at the top of the proceedings. Some of the strongest work on the set happens on Peterson's original compositions – and titles include "Rob Roy", "Blues For Stephane", "Cool Walk", "Ecstasy", "Truffles", and "She Has Gone". CD

One of Grover Washington's first albums as a leader – cut hot on the heels of some great work as a sideman, including some key funky dates with Charles Earland on Prestige! The sound here is a bit looser than some of Groover's smoother sides to come – a nice blend of his earthy jazz funk roots with the warmer sounds of the CTI/Kudu world – arranged and produced beautifully by keyboardist Bob James, who also plays both electric piano and harpsichord on the album! The cuts are a bit shorter than later on, but still totally tremendous – a sly, subtle approach to jazz funk that really took the keyboard/tenor mode into bold new territory for the 70s – a real genre-starting record that still sounds sublime all these many years later. Grover plays tenor and alto – no soprano sax yet – and other players include Richard Tee on organ, Billy Cobham or Bernard Purdie on drums, and Eric Gale or Cornell Dupree on guitar. Titles include "All The King's Horses", "Body & Soul", "Lean On Me", "Lover Man", "Love Song 1700", and "No Tears In The End". LP, Vinyl record album

A great run of music from Grover Washington Jr – five full albums, plus lots of bonus tracks too! First up is Paradise – one of those records you see so much it's easy to forget how great it is! Grover's a real genius with the sax on this record – taking a "less is more" cue from Stanley Turrentine's 70s work, and toning down his playing to an even tighter style than on the Kudu albums of earlier years, to a level of ultimate economy that really leaves us breathless. Grover hits a rarified level here that we'd only reserve for a small few – like Steely Dan or The Crusaders, both groups who teeter on the same brink, and make it work perfectly. Titles include "Asia's Theme", "Tell Me About It Now", "Feel It Comin", "Icey", and "The Answer In Your Eyes". Winelight is a smooth smooth classic from Grover Washington Jr – a set that has a classy image on the cover, and a classic groove within – a completely sublime blend of jazz, soul, and funk, all given the sort of masterful finish that you might have found on the best records by The Crusaders at the time! The difference, though, is that Washington's the lead soloist throughout – crafting some especially nice lines on his trademark soprano sax – which he used in ways that made him one of the most important mainstream jazz artists of his time – and one of the few to really open the doors of the music to folks who might not have been listening otherwise. Grover's sense of space and timing is wonderful throughout – and titles include the classic debut with Bill Withers on "Just The Two Of Us" –plus "Winelight", "Let It Flow", "In The Name Of Love", "Take Me There", and "Make Me A Memory (Sad Samba)". On Come Morning, Grover Washington blows over some great arrangements from William Eaton – full, but lean too – and with the same sort of slinky groove that always worked best for Grover back at Kudu Records! The sound is tight, but never too slick – that magically soulful approach that always made Grover a real standout from his contemporaries – one of the few cats who could smooth out jazz without ever losing its soul – thanks to lots of well-crafted lead lines on soprano sax! Titles include "East River Drive", "Jamming", "Little Black Samba", "Be Mine", and "Reaching Out". Best Is Yet To Come is a set that strongly continues the special spirit that Grover Washington brought to his music during the Elektra Records years – as one of the few artists who really found a way to move forward from the style of 70s jazz funk, but not fall into some of the smoother jazz cliches that were about to envelop his contemporaries! Part of the strength of the record lies in Grover's strongly soul-based sense of timing – allowing for just the right amount of space between the notes to remind you that you're listening to a jazz soloist first and foremost, even when a guest like Patti Labelle might step in for a bit of vocals. Titles include "Brazilian Memories", "Mixty Motions", "Can You Dig It", "I'll Be With You", "Things Are Getting Better", and "The Best Is Yet To Come". Inside Moves has Washington soaring to the skies on soprano sax – as expressive a voice on the record as any soul singer might be – and maybe even more so on the few spots that do include vocals. Jon Lucien sings a bit on the record – and if you read these pages, you know how much we love him – but Grover's still the giant here, with a sense of timing and phrasing that few of his contemporaries could ever hope to match in a setting like this. Titles include "Jet Stream", "Sassy Stew", "Dawn Song", "Inside Moves", "Watching You Watching Me", and "Secret Stew". 5CD set features 19 more bonus tracks – all the single edits of songs from the albums! CD

Sweet funky jazz from Grover Washington – an early standout session from his classic years on Kudu Records, put together with hip arrangements from the mighty Bob James! The record's got the same spacious sense of grooving as James' first few for CTI – a style that's funky fusion, but a bit more laidback than most – not nearly as jamming, and with almost as much focus on lean rhythms as on key solos from the players in the group! Most tracks have a long, open sort of feel – and in addition to alto and tenor from Grover, other instrumentation includes organ from Richard Tee, guitar from Eric Gale, drums from Idris Muhammad, percussion from Airto, and electric piano from Bob James himself. Titles include versions of "Mercy Mercy Me", "Ain't No Sunshine/Theme From Man & Boy", "Until It's Time For You To Go", and "Inner City Blues". CD

Sweet funky jazz from Grover Washington – an early standout session from his classic years on Kudu Records, put together with hip arrangements from the mighty Bob James! The record's got the same spacious sense of grooving as James' first few for CTI – a style that's funky fusion, but a bit more laidback than most – not nearly as jamming, and with almost as much focus on lean rhythms as on key solos from the players in the group! Most tracks have a long, open sort of feel – and in addition to alto and tenor from Grover, other instrumentation includes organ from Richard Tee, guitar from Eric Gale, drums from Idris Muhammad, percussion from Airto, and electric piano from Bob James himself. Titles include versions of "Mercy Mercy Me", "Ain't No Sunshine/Theme From Man & Boy", "Until It's Time For You To Go", and "Inner City Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

If there's anyone we trust with a fusion groove, it's the great Grover Washington – as Washington's 70s albums for Kudu are still the blueprint for mixing saxophone solos with electric jazzy backing – a rich legacy he continued strongly into later years! This early 80s set has Washington soaring to the skies on soprano sax – as expressive a voice on the record as any soul singer might be – and maybe even more so on the few spots that do include vocals. Jon Lucien sings a bit on the record – and if you read these pages, you know how much we love him – but Grover's still the giant here, with a sense of timing and phrasing that few of his contemporaries could ever hope to match in a setting like this. Titles include "Jet Stream", "Sassy Stew", "Dawn Song", "Inside Moves", "Watching You Watching Me", and "Secret Stew". LP, Vinyl record album

Nothing too secret about this record – given that it was one of Grover Washington's biggest hits of the 70s, and for good reason too! The album features four long tracks – all stretched out and layered together with washes of funky, yet subtle sounds – in a perfect blend that let Washington really stretch out on his solos, blowing with a great deal of soul over some hip instrumentation that includes Dave Grusin on electric piano, Anthony Jackson on bass, Harvey Mason on drums, and Ralph McDonald on percussion. There's a lean quality to the record that's completely sublime (why can't they make sets like this anymore?) – and although smooth, things are never slick – wonderfully soulful throughout, in that magic mode that Grover hit on a handful of key 70s albums! Titles include "A Secret Place", "Not yet", "Dolphin Dance", and "Love Makes It Better". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the richest albums from the Kudu years of Grover Washington – a double-length set that shows the full range of his soul and imagination! The album was done in collaboration with Bob James – who arranged and conducted all tracks, and also plays keyboards on the date – and the style is kind of an added extension of other Washington work on Kudu, with added string and chorus bits to round out the sound! Things are still wonderfully soulful – thanks to James' sense of space and timing on the charts – and if anything, the added voices and orchestrations bring an almost soundtrack-like quality to the record – but one that still leaves plenty of room for Washington's solos on tenor, alto, and soprano sax! Most tracks are quite long – really stretching out with lots of room for fresh ideas – and titles include "Taurian Matador", "Don't Explain", "Easy Living/Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do", and "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life". LP, Vinyl record album

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Pure dark magic from Grover Washington – a record that was a megahit back in the 70s, but which still sounds amazing many decades later! There's a sound here that's completely sublime – and the album is to Grover's career what the first 2 CTI sets by Bob James were to his – a stretched-out, masterpiece of sublime jazzy energy – served up with a really spacious sound overall! Grover's sharp-edged sax is at the lead of the set – but the album's also awash in electric piano work from Bob James – and backings that are as lean, clean, and soulful as the best on CTI from the time. Titles include the killer "Black Frost" – a track that we never tire of – plus the hit "Mister Magic", and the cuts "Earth Tones" and "Passion Flower". CD

Man, it's like a talent bomb exploded! This set's stuffed with work by some of the greatest jazz funk players of the early 70s – Johnny Hammond, Bob James, Deodato, George Benson, Joe Farrell, Stanley Turrentine, Freddie Hubbard, Grover Washington Jr, Hubert Laws, and others – all playing together at a massive live concert recorded in Hollywood in 1972! And although you might worry that the collection of so many great talents on one stage might just create confusion – don't! The quality of the work is excellent – almost better than the best of the CTI studio sides, with a lean, clean sound that's really really tight – never overblown, just sweet electric funk with loads of great space for solo work. This first volume of the 3 LP set includes takes of "First Light", "California Dreaming" and a medley of "Inner City Blues" and "What's Going On". CD

Man, it's like a talent bomb exploded! This set's stuffed with work by some of the greatest jazz funk players of the early 70s – Johnny Hammond, Bob James, Deodato, George Benson, Joe Farrell, Stanley Turrentine, Freddie Hubbard, Grover Washington Jr, Hubert Laws, and others – all playing together at a massive live concert recorded in Hollywood in 1972! And although you might worry that the collection of so many great talents on one stage might just create confusion – don't! The quality of the work is excellent – almost better than the best of the CTI studio sides, with a lean, clean sound that's really really tight – never overblown, just sweet electric funk with loads of great space for solo work. This second volume of the 3 LP set includes takes of "Blues Force", "Rock Steady", "People Make The World Go Round" and a medley of "Ithe From Love Story", "Pavane" and "Fire & Rain". CD

Man, it's like a talent bomb exploded! This set's stuffed with work by some of the greatest jazz funk players of the early 70s – Johnny Hammond, Bob James, Deodato, George Benson, Joe Farrell, Stanley Turrentine, Freddie Hubbard, Grover Washington Jr, Hubert Laws, and others – all playing together at a massive live concert recorded in Hollywood in 1972! And although you might worry that the collection of so many great talents on one stage might just create confusion – don't! The quality of the work is excellent – almost better than the best of the CTI studio sides, with a lean, clean sound that's really really tight – never overblown, just sweet electric funk with loads of great space for solo work. This third volume of the 3 LP set includes takes of "Funkfathers", "Cherry", "Bowl Full Of Blues", "Cherry Red" and "God Bless The Child". CD

An unusual later set from the great Dexter Gordon – and a record that features the surprising addition of Hammond organ! Shirley Scott's on the record with Dex, and plays organ on half the cuts (Kirk Lightsey handles piano on the others) – bringing a soulful depth to the record which then seems to inspire Gordon to move into the sort of territory we might have expected from Stanley Turrentine back in the 60s! Grover Washington's on the record, blowing soprano sax on a few cuts with Scott – and reminding us of his deeper soul jazz roots – and other players include David Eubanks on bass and Eddie Gladden on drums. Titles include "Besame Mucho", "Skylark", "Sticky Wicket", and "For Soul Sister" – plus an interview with Dex! LP, Vinyl record album

A rare 70s funk outing for trombonist Urbie Green – a player who first made his name on cool jazz sessions of the 50s, but who really breaks out here with a whole new vibe! Green never stopped playing over the years – honing his craft on countless sessions for dozens of artists in the 60s and 70s – and here, he steps strongly back into the limelight amidst some very hip arrangements from David Matthews – whose funky vibe turns out to be a great fit for Green's sound! Musicians include Matthews on electric piano, John Scofield on guitar, and Grover Washington Jr on tenor and soprano sax – and Grover's soulful sound makes for a nice contrast to the more compressed tone of Green. The album includes versions of Charles Mingus' "Ysabel's Table Dance", Chick Corea's "Captain Marvel", and Horace Silver's "Senor Blues" – all done in slightly Latin electric-tinged styles! CD

A massive groover from the great Johnny Hammond – the famous 60s organist from the soul jazz scene, getting a whole new sound for the 70s here on the CTI label! Johnny was always one of those players who was ready to try something new – and the open, extended format of the label really helps him find new energy after his previous albums – to a level that points at his collaborations with Larry Mizell in years to come. The record's got arrangements by Grover Washington and Leo Johnson – on tracks that feature a complicated set of rhythms that push past the straighter funk grooves of Johnny's Prestige years. Drums and bass dance around nicely at the bottom, tenor and trumpet groove out the melody, and Johnny washes across the whole thing with some widemouth action on the organ! Titles include "Blues Selah", "Workin On A Groovy Thing", and "Breakout". CD

Stunning – and some of the best work we've ever heard from Shirley Horn! We know, we know – you've seen a bit too much of her in the jazz racks of late – but don't let that stop you from picking up this album, because it's amazing! Shirley returns to the spare, subtle simplicity of older albums like Travelin Light and Where Are You Going – working in a trio format that's so stripped down, so mellow, most of the work on the set is really just done by Shirley's vocals. And as when Shirley's singing at her best, the album is filled with tunes that you might have heard before – but which take on a whole new life and imagination in Shirley's hands. For some reason, she seems to find words in these songs we've never heard before – putting them over with new meanings, new emotions, and a sound that's incredibly sublime! Ahmad Jamal and Roy Hargrove make some slight guest appearances on the set, but forget about them – because the real magic is Shirley, sounding greater here than ever! Titles include "Forget Me", "Maybe September", "Everything Must Change", "May The Music Never End", "Take Love Easy", and "Watch What Happens". CD

A killer all-star session of funky fusion tracks – with a nice tight sound produced by Skip Drinkwater! Yesterday's Dreams differs a little from Alphonso's other strong mid 70s efforts in that it's not as spacey as a whole – but the rubbery, cleanly funky grooves are just as strong – and the record as a whole makes for more of a showcase for his excellent group of players! Bassist Johnson leads the session, but there's a huge amount of guests, such as Grover Washington, Patrice Rushen, Mike Clark, and Sheila Escovedo. Plus, Jon Lucien, Diane Reeves, Flora Purim, and Phillip Bailey all sing on the record! Titles include "One To One", "As Little As You", "Scapegoat", "Show Us The Way", "Tales Of Barcelona", and the future soul classic "Love's The Way I Feel 'Bout Cha". CD

Two very weird 70s soundtracks, back to back on a single CD – both for very offbeat movies about animals going wild! Elliot Kaplan handles the score for Food Of The Gods, which takes up two thirds of the CD – with music that often makes really cool use of horns with offbeat tones, which creates the sort of tension the folks in the audience must have felt as giant rats took the screen! There's 17 tracks from the film here – titles that include "Morgan Gets The Bird", "Worms Crawlin", "Rita's Pregnancy", "Rats Attack", "Lorna In Pit", and "More Rats Attack". Les Baxter handles the last third of the set – with tunes from the obscure 1972 film Frogs, done in a style that's very different than some of Baxter's famous exotica material! The main theme has these really spooky electronics in the mix – hardly a theme or song at all – and there's more electronics on other cuts too, almost like Les is in Andromeda Strain territory – although he throws in a groovy moment here and there. Titles include "Grover's Death", "Fourth Of July March", "Bella's Dance", "Frogs Piano", and "Main Title From Frogs". CD

Maybe one of the most soul-based records ever from percussionist Ralph MacDonald – partly because Ralph does a bit of singing, in addition to playing the heavy congas on the cover! Yet the record's still got the core jazz vibe of his other sets from the late 70s – served up with an all-star lineup that includes Grover Washington Jr on soprano and tenor, David Sanborn on alto, Randy Brecker on trumpet, Michael Brecker on tenor, Richard Tee on keyboards, and Eric Gale on guitar – all musicians who help give the whole thing the warm funky fusion vibe of late 70s albums on labels like Kudo or Tappan Zee! Some of the best cuts slide into a snapping 80s groove that opens up nicely with the instrumentation – and Ralph only sings a bit, leaving plenty of room for solos from the players. Titles include the great Latin-inflected groover "East Dry River" – plus "You Are In Love", "I Need Someone", "Tell The Truth", and "Always Something Missing". CD

A crucial album from percussionist Ralph MacDonald – a set that not only catapulted him into the limelight, after strong work on countless records for other artists – but a record that also gave Ralph some long-standing fame, thanks to some key groovers on the set! The album's got a percussion-heavy take on funky fusion – never too over the top, but with more of an edge than some of the more polished 70s sessions on CTI or Columbia – although done with similar players who include Bob James on keyboards, Grover Washington Jr on soprano and tenor, Eric Gale on guitar, and Richard Tee on percussion. Ralph's congas are very strongly up in the mix – and heard to famous effect on the classic "Jam On The Groove", a killer break cut from the old days, as well as a nice version of "Mister Magic", plus the tracks "Calypso Breakdown", "Sound Of A Drum", and "Where Is The Love". CD

A well-crafted set from the Manhattan Project – a quintet of 80s young lions who come together beautifully here – a lineup that features Roy Hargrove on trumpet, Kenny Garrett on alto and tenor, Donald Brown on piano, Ira Coleman on bass, and Carl Allen on drums! These artists are all strong individualists in their own way, but come together here with a very unified spirit that really helps things soar – on the kind of record that might have been missed at the moment, thanks to an understated cover – but which really shows the great new fires that were burning in American jazz a the time. Titles include "The Sacrifice", "Alluding To", "Dream Boat", "Depth", "Capetown Ambush", and "I Remember Clifford". CD

A grand connection from David Matthews – one of the keyboardist's fusion sets for the Japanese Electric Bird label, who gave Matthews a great showcase for his electric grooves in the 80s! The sound here is kind of an extension of the funky electric big band sides that Matthews scored for Kudu and CTI in the late 70s – smoother than his funky work from the early days, in the Japanese fusion style of the time, but with a bit more big band leanings – given a slightly larger lineup. Players include Grover Washington Jr on tenor and soprano sax, George Young on alto and flute, Gerry Niewood on tenor and flute, Joe Shepley on trumpet, Mark Egan on bass, and Earl Klugh on guitar – and titles include "Sugar", "Sails Of Your Soul", "Begin The Beguine", and "Soft & Funky". CD

James Moody celebrates his 70th Birthday in a really wonderful setting – a soulful, easygoing set of work recorded with a tight little combo, and some all-star guests! The performance is from a live date at the Blue Note, with Bill Cosby acting as the MC at a few points – and Moody plays tenor and alto, with a combo that features Mulgrew Miller on piano, Tod Coolman on bass, and Terri Lynne Carrington on drums – plus help from guest musicians who include Roy Ayers on vibes, Arturo Sandoval on trumpet, Chris Potter on tenor, and Grover Washington Jr on soprano sax. The overall vibe is mostly boppish, a bit less complex and varied than some of Moody's other late albums – and titles include "The Eternal Triangle", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", "Benny's From Heaven", "Bebop", and "Groovin High". CD

One of Esther Phillips' biggest comeback albums from the 70s – a classic set that takes her deeply soulful vocal approach, and sets it to some sweet jazz funk backings – served up by guitarist Joe Beck, who almost gets equal credit on the album cover! The rest of the lineup is equally great – with alto from David Sanborn, more horns from The Brecker Brothers, and even a bit of work from Steve Khan – all fusion superstars in their own right, but who never eclipse Esther's lead. Titles include a good version of Grover Washington's "Mr Magic" – with the same funky undercurrent as the original – plus the tracks "One Night Affair", "I Can Stand A Little Rain", "Hurtin House", "Turn Around Look At Me", and a semi-hit version of "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Esther Phillips' biggest comeback albums from the 70s – a classic set that takes her deeply soulful vocal approach, and sets it to some sweet jazz funk backings – served up by guitarist Joe Beck, who almost gets equal credit on the album cover! The rest of the lineup is equally great – with alto from David Sanborn, more horns from The Brecker Brothers, and even a bit of work from Steve Khan – all fusion superstars in their own right, but who never eclipse Esther's lead. Titles include a good version of Grover Washington's "Mr Magic" – with the same funky undercurrent as the original – plus the tracks "One Night Affair", "I Can Stand A Little Rain", "Hurtin House", "Turn Around Look At Me", and a semi-hit version of "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes". CD

Features guest saxophone from Grover Washington Jr. and guitar from Jeff Lorber. CD