Massively funky sound library work from Guy Pedersen – a bassist who already had a long legacy in French jazz by the time of this early 70s set, yet somehow manages to knock things out of the park in a completely different way! The bass is definitely at the core of most numbers – yet the basslines aren't always the familiar funky kind – as Guy opens up unusual tones and textures, and also brings in all sorts of interesting percussion – in ways that are never done, but which spice things up nicely, and almost create a sort of acoustic psychedelic vibe! Titles include "Purgatoire Mood 1", "Petit Moujik De Nuit", "Sing Song Bass", "Bass In Love", "Kermesse Non Heroique", and "Pretexte Pour Indicatifs". LP, Vinyl record album

Great grooves galore – a sweet selection of tracks from the late 60s onwards, none of which were made available to the public at the time! The French Tele Music company was one of those secret sound library labels – recording top shelf tracks during the 70s, but then only passing them along to TV, radio, and film producers – for possible use in later projects! This meant that there was a rich array of wonderful sounds that never made it to records that the public could buy in stores – and the result is a collection like this, which is overflowing with killer grooves that you're not likely to have in your record collection at all. Styles range from funky jazz to clubby grooves, with plenty of soundtrack-styled funk numbers in the mix – and titles include "Gang Train" by Bernard Estardy, "West Coast Drive" by Pierre Alain Dahan & Mat Camison, "Mitsuko" by Jean Jacques Debout, "Percussionissimo" by Hervey Roy, "Suspense Time" by Michel Gonet, "Meteor One" by Sauveur Mallia, "Pop Percussions" by Janko Nilovic, "Rocket 2" by Bernard Lubat, and "Les Copans De La Basse" by Guy Pedersen. 26 tracks in all – selected by Lord Funk & DJ LC! LP, Vinyl record album

Really beautiful work from Stephane Grappelli – a record that's got its roots in the sound of his older Hot Club work, but which also carries itself with a sense of modernism that really opens things up! The sound here is sparer and simpler at times – without as much of the gypsy swing cliches that could sometimes override Grappelli's work. Thanks should partially be given to guitarist Pierre Cavalli, whose work brings in some fresher 60s tones on the solos – standing out nicely nice to the group's other rhythm guitarist – who's working alongside bassist Guy Pedersen and drummer Daniel Humair. Titles include "Nuages", "Django", "Daphne", "Le Tien", "Minor Swing", and "Soft Winds". LP, Vinyl record album

Great later French material – with Hammond from Eddy Louiss and guitar from Jimmy Gourley – plus Marc Hemmeler on piano, Guy Pedersen on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums! LP, Vinyl record album

With Guy Pedersen on bass, Daniel Humair on drums, and Leo Petit and Claude Cavalli on guitar. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few older albums cut by this great French organist – a player who's perhaps best known to the world from his sessions with Stan Getz, which were released over here by Verve – but who cut a great number of excellent work that was only issued on the French market – such as this early 70s classic! Louiss has a really nice open-ended sound – one that's almost more Larry Young than Jimmy Smith at times – although overall, there's a relatively tight soul jazz feel to this set – even though most of the tracks are nice and long, too. The set's got Eddy playing organ with a combo that includes Jimmy Gourley on guitar, Kenny Clarke on drums, and Guy Pedersen on bass – and titles include "Night In Tunisia", "Tin Tin Deo", and "Four & Six/Summertime". CD

A second great serving of grooves from the French scene of the late 60s and early 70s – a package that also includes some rare sound library material too, and which shows that if you know where to look, French records can be a real treasure trove of funky cuts! We loved the first volume, but this second one may well dig even deeper – as much of the work here is new to our ears, and the cuts work together in a really great blend of funky instrumental modes – familiar elements from the time, but lots of great twists and turns too! Titles include "Mr Buzz" by The Flying Dutchman, "Soul Car" by Pierre Alain Dahan & Slim Pezin, "Riviera Express" by Bernard Estardy, "Ten Et Medor" by Alain Goraguer, "Belle Gueuse" by Claude Engel, "Lewis & Clark" by Raymond Guiot, "Red Medium" by Tonio Rubio, "Aubergine Time" by Bernard Lubat, "Bass Session" by Guy Pedersen, "Jelly Roll Dance" by Jean Pierre Martin, "Bass Duettino" by Raymond Guiot, "Nage Libre" by Hervey Roy, "Patio Bass" by Guy Pedersen, and "Bahia Bossa Nova" by Bernard Lubat. LP, Vinyl record album

Kenny Drew's the star of the set on piano – playing solo here on a session from 1978, with a young bassist Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen in 1966, and an early 80s set of duets with bassist Bo Steif on the remainder of the tracks! The album does a nice job of blocking things out – so that the earliest tracks begin the record – but with the kind of open, sensitive modes we're normally used to hearing from the Storyville label in their later years – clearly marking these guys as pioneers in giving a player like Drew the kind of space to express himself in ways that didn't always happen back home in the US. Titles include "Ode To Mariann", "Blues For Nils", "Whisper Not", "Bluesology", "Ack Varmeland Du Skona", "Everything I Love", "Yesterdays", and "A Simple Need". CD