One of the most open-ended sessions ever recorded by the Great Jazz Trio of Hank Hones, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams – a live set from the Village Vanguard, and one that features them really stretching out on 4 longer tracks! Jones' work on piano is an especially nice treat here – as he's still got the poise that we know from his more restrained studio sessions, yet also seems to really loosen up with the warm rhythm accompaniment of Carter and Williams. The session features a great obscure gentle groover titled "Wind Flower", plus a really introspective take on Miles Davis' "Nardis", and the tunes "Lawra" and "Confirmation". CD

A bit of a change for The Great Jazz Trio, but a great one too – given that Buster Williams is on bass here, instead of the usual Ron Carter – working with drummer Tony Williams and pianist Hank Jones to really make things sparkle! Buster's bass is always a treat, and this album's no exception – a set that's filled with some surprisingly soulful moments on the bottom, which really seems to push the group nicely on the longer tracks in the set. Jones sounds a bit different here than before – in a good way – and titles include versions of "Love For Sale", "Secret Love", "Autumn Leaves", and "Someone To Watch Over Me". CD

Featuring Don Alias, Tom Barney, Ray Brown, Kenny Burrell, Betty Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Peter Delano, Al Foster, Charlie Haden, Omar Hakim, Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove, Joe Henderson, Bruce Hornsby, Antonio Carlos Jobim, JJ Johnson, Hank Jones, Abbey Lincoln, Jeff Lorber, Christian McBride, John McLaughlin, Jackie McLean, Pat Metheny, Art Porter, Renee Rosnes, Stephen Scott, Jimmy Smith, Gary Thomas, Steve Turre, Kenny Washington, Vanessa Williams, and Yosuke Yamashita and The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band conducted by Don Sickler. CD

The title's a strange one, and it only gets at just part of the package – as this 4CD collection is overflowing with a wealth of work that was used in cinema, much of which also had another life before showing up on soundtracks! That's definitely the case with the material on the first 2CDs – work used in the Peter Bogdanovich-directed films Paper Moon, The Last Picture Show, and At Long Last Love – a combination of classic country, 30s swing, and rare Cole Porter tunes from the 78rpm era – 54 tracks that include work by Hank Williams, Lefty Frizell, Johnny Ray, Bob Wills, Jo Stafford, Paul Whiteman, Bing Crosby, Jimmie Davis, Blue Sky Boys, Eddy Duchin, Lee Wiley, and many others! CD3 and CD4 are more "influences" of director Peter Bogdanovich – and CD3 features material from the soundtracks to Orson Welles films that include Citizen Kane, Magnificent Ambersons, Compulsion, and Touch Of Evil – plus Orson Wells On Citizen Kane, in conversation with Huw Wheldon. CD4 features the influence of director John Ford – and features soundtrack material from The Searchers, Rio Grande, and Three Godfathers. 4CDs, 122 tracks, and a heck of a lot of music! CD

Tortured souls and troubled hearts – served up here in a dark set of narratives from the classic years of country music! As with previous volumes in this excellent series, the package goes way beyond the big hits, to turn up lots of great songs from the shadowy corners of country – songs about bad deeds and poor choices – handled by a variety of different singers who really keep things interesting! There's way more love of the music here than the sense of kitsch you might expect from the cover – and although you might first find the songs appealing from a gimmicky perspective, we can bet that you'll be getting the message before long. Titles include "Dead Man's Cave" by Bobby Griggs, "Marbone Swamp" by Bill Browning & The Dark Hollow Boys, "Endless Sleep" by Hank Williams Jr, "There Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down" by Bobby Grove, "Dark Day In Dallas" by Tex Ritter, "Bury Me Face Down" by Cowboy Copas, "No Hiding Place" by Sunshine Boys Quartet, "Satan's Jeweled Crown" by The Louvin Brothers, and "East Dallas Dagger" by Durwood Daily. (Note: most of the contents are the same as the LP 777 in the series – but the CD has 32 titles in all!) CD

Music from Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, the Louvin Brothers, the Carter Family, Roy Acuff & His Crazy Tennesseans, Webb Pierce, Patsy Cline, Buck Owens, Ernest Tubb, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and more. CD

Art Blakey on drums with Clifford Brown, Kenny Dorham, Bill Hardman, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Marsalis, and Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Lou Donaldson, Bobby Watson on alto saxophone, Benny Golson, Johnny Griffin, Hank Mobley, Bill Pierce, and Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Bobby Timmons, Cedar Walton, and James Williams on piano, Spanky DeBrest, Charles Fambrough, Jymie Merritt, Curly Russell, Doug Watkins, and Reggie Workman on bass. CD

One of the first albums in what was to become a very successful pairing – the bass of Ray Brown and the vibes of Milt Jackson, working here in a down-homier setting that was miles away from his work with the MJQ! The set's got a light jazzy backing on most tracks – with some guitar from Kenny Burrell, some piano by Hank Jones, and some organ by Wild Bill Davis – and about half the tracks on the set feature vocals by gospel singer Marion Williams, singing here in a jazz/gospel style that comes across with a lot less of the hoke than you'd expect. Titles include "What Kind Of Fool Am I", "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child", "Nancy", "Much In Common", and "Gravy Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the last records that Booker Ervin ever recorded, and one of the best! There's a depth of tone and conception here that goes far beyond even Ervin's already-great albums for Prestige – a mix of modernism and soulful expression that really points the way towards jazz expression in the 70s – although sadly, Booker was to leave the planet before getting a chance to stretch out in that era. All 6 tracks on the album are originals – and they sparkle with the imagination found on some of the most top-shelf Blue Notes of the time – work by Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley, or Wayne Shorter – played by a group that includes the amazing Richard Williams on trumpet (almost worth the price of the record alone), Bobby Few on piano, Lenny McBrowne on drums, and the little-known Cevera Jefferies on bass. Loads of dark edges, searing solos, and plenty of free flights into the sky – on titles that include "The In Between", "Tyra", "The Muse", "Mour", "Sweet Pea", and "Largo". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful live set from the legendary Great Jazz Trio of Ron Carter, Tony Williams, and Hank Jones – one of the group's key Japanese albums of the 70s! As the title implies, the set was recorded live at the Village Vanguard – in a setting that has the trio stretching out even more than on their already-spacious studio sides of the time. Williams is especially nice on the record – light and free on the kit, and miles away from some of his fusion work of the 70s. Jones' tones are warm and soulful, and Carter's bass work is always a treat in a setting like this. The album features a great take on "Naima", plus the tracks "Moose The Mooche", "Favors", and "12+12" – all done in nice long versions. LP, Vinyl record album

A very apt title – as Jackie McLean sits in for a soulful session with the Great Jazz Trio of Hank Jones, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams – all "old bottles" at this point in their career, but working together beautifully to brew some very mellow "new wine"! The album's easily one of the best in the trio's run of the time – as Jackie's alto sax really helps flesh things out a bit more than usual – and moves the album past the trio sound of their other records. McLean gets plenty of space to do his thing on the longer tracks – and the piano of Jones, bass of Carter, and drums of Williams have a solid, soulful approach that's really wonderful. Titles include 2 McLean originals titled "Appointment In Ghana Again" and "Little Melonae Again", both remakes of older tunes – plus "Confirmation", "Bein Green", and "Round Midnight". CD

A special all-country edition of the Oxford American's annual issue devoted to music of the south – and one that's overflowing with the kind of wonderful writing that's always set the publication apart from the mainstream music press! These aren't simple articles on the histories of big stars or records – and instead, each piece is a much more complicated musical portrait – really getting at the kind of complexity that you'll find in the best sounds of the south! This time around, articles include a look at Rackback Tom by John Jeremiah Sullivan, links between country and hip hop by Imani Perry, the country drumming of Buddy Harman by John Lingan, the rightful place of Tanya Tucker by Jason Kyle Howard, the high lonesome cry examined by Holly Haworth, and the "mostly true" legend of Hank Williams by David Ramsey. There's lots more too – articles on Pasty Cline, Pointer Sisters, Millie Jackson, Solange, Trio, Johnny Paycheck, Ralph Stanley, and plenty more – all as expertly done as the main features. Plus, the issue comes with a full bonus CD of music – work from The Miller Brothers, Lesley Riddle, Trio, Rhiannon Giddens, The Judds, Wanda Jackson, The Deslondes, Brother James Anderson, Margo Price, and others. A heck of a great deal for the price! Magazine

Emily Remler on guitar – with Hank Jones on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums. CD

An overlooked gem by the great Charlie Rich – an album recorded for Hi Records in the years before he broke big on Columbia in the late 60s – but at a level that certainly points the way towards his country fame to come! And yet, as with most of the best music by Rich – like his stunning Smash Records sides – there's a quality here that's quite far from both the mainstream, and conventional modes of expression – as Charlie almost seems to be drawing as much on soul music for inspiration as he is the sounds of Nashville – which might almost put this album in the territory of classic country soul material by singers like Ray Charles or Brook Benton. The whole thing's a perfect setting for that unique combination of talents that makes Rich so wonderful – and most tracks are Hank Williams hits, but redone completely. Titles include "I Can't Help It", "My Heart Would Know", "Take These Chains From My Heart", "Your Cheatin Heart", "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", "Cold Cold Heart", and "Nobody's Lonesome For Me". LP, Vinyl record album

As the title might imply, Mimi Roman wasn't the most authentic of country singers in the postwar years – but she did cut some really wonderful material for the Decca label at the time, in a too-short legacy that's finally expanded here by a range of material from broadcast performances, demos, and rare acetates too! Mimi's got a wonderfully expressive voice – clearly putting on a bit of a twang for the material, but in a way that's more down to earth than some of the more polished female acts of the time – almost a precursor to the sort of bite that Wanda Jackson would soon deliver in full force! Sundazed did a wonderful job with this set – which includes details on the great range of material – and a whopping amount of titles that include "Four Foot Deep In Tear Drops", "He's My Marathon Man", "I'm Not A Child Any More", "The Wind Up", "Gotta Have My Baby Back", "Hank Williams Medley", "I Gotta Know", "You Mean All The World To Me", "You're The One", and "Fire In My Soul". CD

As the title might imply, Mimi Roman wasn't the most authentic of country singers in the postwar years – but she did cut some really wonderful material for the Decca label at the time, in a too-short legacy that's finally expanded here by a range of material from broadcast performances, demos, and rare acetates too! Mimi's got a wonderfully expressive voice – clearly putting on a bit of a twang for the material, but in a way that's more down to earth than some of the more polished female acts of the time – almost a precursor to the sort of bite that Wanda Jackson would soon deliver in full force! Sundazed did a wonderful job with this set – which includes details on the great range of material – and a whopping amount of titles that include "Four Foot Deep In Tear Drops", "He's My Marathon Man", "I'm Not A Child Any More", "The Wind Up", "Gotta Have My Baby Back", "Hank Williams Medley", "I Gotta Know", "You Mean All The World To Me", "You're The One", and "Fire In My Soul". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best ever records by Townes Van Zandt – cut during his early 70s studio peak – and contrary to the title, a good 25 years before he passed away! He's again working with producer Jack Clement, but this record pares down the slicker and bigger production touches that seemed out of place on the earlier Clement-produced Our Mother The Mountain – with every single sound in service of the song. Towne's voice was never better than it is here and it includes some of his most enduring songs. Those include "Poncho & Lefty", "If I Needed You" and "Fraulein" – each as eternal as anything Townes would ever write or record – but everything here is excellent. Other tracks include "No Lonesome Tune", "Sad Cinderella", "Don't Let The Sunshine Fool You", his great and faithful cover of Hank Williams' "Honky Tonkin'" , "If I Needed You", "Heavenly Houseboat Blues" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A surprising title – given that Sadao Watanabe was really stretching out a lot in the early 70s – but a fitting one too, as the set's a nice back-to-basics date from the amazing Japanese saxophonist! Sadao's working here with the Great Jazz Trio of Hank Jones on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums – a swingingly solid combo who really make things cook, even in a small space – sounding almost better here when topped by Watanabe's sharp-edged alto lines than on their own albums of the time! Sadao also plays a bit of flute, which is really a treat – and titles include "Confirmation", "Episode", "Gary", "3:10 Blues", "Chelsea Bridge", and "One For C". LP, Vinyl record album

A lost gem on late 60s A&M Records – cut at a time when the label was moving away from its mainstay of dreamy pop, and cutting some really wonderful work in a much rootsier mode! Steve performs his own tunes – as well as work by Pete LaFarge, Hank Williams, and Marvin Rainwater – all in this stripped-down, rootsy mode that reminds us of some of the hipper singer/songwriter sounds of the Tennessee scene in the same period – maybe even a bit like Don Nix. Both Graham Parsons and Gene Clark provide some guest instrumentation amidst the smaller lineup of players behind Young's guitar and vocals – and titles include "That's How Strong My Love Is", "My Sweet Love Ain't Around", "Holler In The Swamp", "Kenny's Song", "7 Bridges Road", "Coyote", and "I'm A One Woman Man". CD

Music from Hank Williams, T Bone Walker, the Ravens, Paul Williams, Roy Brown, Hank Snow, Howlin' Wolf, Peppermint Harris, the Larks, Rosaco Gordon, Johnny Ace, the Drifters, and more. CD

More greatness than usual for Duke Jordan – thanks to the presence of Charlie Rouse on tenor and Richard Williams on trumpet! Titles include "Truth", "Tall Grass", "Sultry Eye", and "Undecided Lady". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album in a brilliant run of work that Barney Kessel did for Contemporary Records in the 1950s – material that forever went onto shape the sound of jazz guitar, and which stands right up there with some of the best of his generation! In a way, the Kessel heard here is even fresher than in later years – as he's playing in a small group mode that breaks down new territory for his instrument – often with reeds from Bud Shank or Buddy Collette – in styles that have some of the slight spaciousness of the Chico Hamilton group, but a bit more straight swing overall. Other players include Arnold Ross or Claude Williamson on piano, Harry Babasin or Red Mitchell on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums – and the full length album compiles material from earlier 10" LP releases on Contemporary, plus a few more tracks – to make a full set of 12 songs that include "Easy Like", "Bernardo", "Vicky's Dream", "Salute To Charlie Christian", and "North Of The Border". CD features 2 bonus tracks. CD

The first album in a brilliant run of work that Barney Kessel did for Contemporary Records in the 1950s – material that forever went onto shape the sound of jazz guitar, and which stands right up there with some of the best of his generation! In a way, the Kessel heard here is even fresher than in later years – as he's playing in a small group mode that breaks down new territory for his instrument – often with reeds from Bud Shank or Buddy Collette – in styles that have some of the slight spaciousness of the Chico Hamilton group, but a bit more straight swing overall. Other players include Arnold Ross or Claude Williamson on piano, Harry Babasin or Red Mitchell on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums – and the full length album compiles material from earlier 10" LP releases on Contemporary, plus a few more tracks – to make a full set of 12 songs that include "Easy Like", "Bernardo", "Vicky's Dream", "Salute To Charlie Christian", and "North Of The Border". LP, Vinyl record album

A bit jazzier than usual – thanks to work from Herbie Hancock on keyboards, Wayne Shorter on saxes, Ron Carter on bass, and both Tony Williams and Harvey Mason on drums! Titles include "Love Theme From Spartacus", "Golden Hours", "Gardenia", "La Llave", "Jharma Kala", and "Song For My Brother" LP, Vinyl record album

Jazz harp genius Amanda Whiting takes on a host of older tracks here – and completely makes them her own, thanks to some very sensitive, spiritual handling of the material! The group is a trio – Deej Williams on bass and Tony Robinson on drums – and they take the tunes in a style that's very open, but gently rhythmic – allowing Whiting's work on the strings to open up all these beautiful currents on the songs – really transforming them, at a level that reminds us of the way that Dorothy Ashby could take a simple tune and lift to the heavens with her own famous work on the instrument! Titles include a great reading of Freddie Hubbard's "Little Sunflower" – plus the famous Astor Piazzolla tune "Libertango", and takes on "Caravan", "Can't Get You Out Of My Head", and "In A Sentimental Mood". LP, Vinyl record album

A massive amount of musical discoveries from the Louisiana scene – a set that features a huge amount of unissued tracks from back in the day – but all with the kind of vibe that matches some of the best early soul and R&B on labels like Specialty, Minit, and Imperial! The wealth of sounds from the swamp state are mindblowing – because even though Louisiana gave us plenty of hits in the 50s and 60s, there was so much more talent bubbling just underneath – thanks not just to some top-shelf artists who never fully got their due – but also a great network of studios and labels too. Only a few of these tracks ever came out as singles around the time they were recorded – more were issued later on reissues in the 80s, and a lot more appear here for the first time ever – in a package that might well be the best so far in this excellent series. Titles include "Don't Know Why" by Little Nolton, "Give It Up" by Lonesome Sundown", "I Keep Crying" by Cookie & The Cupcakes, "Crying Crying" by Sticks Herman, "Baby If You Want To Play"b y James Freeman, "But You Thrill Me" by King Charles, "I Got It Made" by Guitar Jr, "Boogie With Calypso" by Joe August, "Don't Say" by Tabby Thomas, "Baby's Got Bad Feet" by Eddie Williams, "I Know" by Elizabeth, "I Would Be A Sinner" by Charles Sheffield, "Baby Baby Come To Papa" by King Carl, and "Mama's Little Girl" by Van Preston. CD

An excellent gimmick from the United Artists label – a way of mixing their strong run of 60s soundtrack hits with the world of jazz – thanks to Count Basie and his group taking on a whole host of themes from the successful James Bond films! Count Basie brings a soulful swing to the work of John Barry, who scored most of these cuts – hitting hard on the tracks with his own smoking piano, and an orchestra filled with some of his best players – including Al Grey on trombone, Eric Dixon on saxes, and Freddie Greene on guitar – plus guest tenor work from Eddie Lockjaw Davis, an artist who wasn't credited on the session at he time. Arrangements are by Chico O'Farrill and George Williams – and titles include "Thunderball", "From Russia With Love", "007", "Girl Trouble", and "Goldfinger". CD

A cooking little 10" session from the great west coast tenorist Bob Cooper – a great blend of modern and warmer west coast styles – served up with plenty of great work on tenor! Players here include Bud Shank on reeds, Howard Roberts on guitar, Shelly Manne on drums, and Claude Williamson on piano – working with Bob on 2 different sessions, both of them great. Tracks have that tightly arranged Cooper style, but also break out with some really great solos – especially from Bob and Bud – and titles include "Lisbon Lady", "Solo Plight", "The Way You Look Tonight", "She Didn't Say Yes", and "Excursion". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe not the first album to ever pay tribute to the music of the great Bill Withers – but certainly one of the best we've ever heard, thanks to the mighty vocals of Jose James! Over a relatively short career, James has proven to be a singer who can handle himself in just about any setting – but he really seems to be especially perfect, here – working with classic songs by Withers, but making them completely his own, through a raspy vocal approach that really seems to transform the tunes in Jose's hands! And despite a cover image that has James standing with an acoustic guitar, that instrument here is played by Brad Allen Williams – in a great small combo setting that also features excellent Fender Rhodes, organ, and piano from Kris Bowers. Lalah Hathaway guests on a great remake of "Lovely Day" – and other tunes include "Who Is He", "Hello Like Before", "Better Off Dead", "The Same Love That Made Me Laugh", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Grandma's Hands", "Lean On Me", "Kissing My Love", "Just The Two Of Us", "Hope She'll Be Happier", and "Use Me". CD

During the 50s, King Records was one of the biggest labels in R&B – and as the soul years of the 60s approached, the company kept the flag flying strong with a host of new artists, underground soul and blues singers who helped define the new sound of the decade with a rich approach to the music. This set features 24 tracks from those years – mostly obscure numbers by artists that have long fallen by the wayside, but who recorded for King next to James Brown, Little Willie John, and other important early soul artists – often matching or beating their intensity with their brief turn in the studio! The set features tracks that were mostly singles on the King and Federal labels – with titles that include "My Kinda Girl" by Hannibal, "You're Welcome To The Club" by Lee Shot Williams, "Just A Little Bit" by Tiny Topsy, "Thanks Mr Postman" by Bobby King, "I'm Shakin" by Little Willie John, "Burnt Toast & Black Coffee" by Mike Pedicin, "I'm Better Off Now" by The Premiers, "She Made My Blood Run Cold" by Ike Turner, "You Won't Want Me Around" by Mike Williams, "You're Using Me" by The King Pins, and "Don't Be So Mean" by William Patton. CD

A set that's a bit of a companion to the Brotzmann Chicago Tentet album Broken English – as it was recorded with the same lineup, on the same days – but a record that's also got a very different vibe of its own, thanks to the never-ending imagination of all the members of the group! As on the afore-mentioned record, the group here is expanded by two key guests – bassist William Parker and trumpeter Roy Campbell – east coast heavyweights brought in to an already great lineup that features reeds from Peter Brotzmann, Mars Williams, Mats Gustafsson, and Ken Vandermark – plus Joe McPhee on trumpet and valve trombone, Jeb Bishop on trombone, Kent Kessler on bass, Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello and violin, and both Michael Zerang and Hamid Drake on drums. Yet even with the two guests musicians, the Tentet manages to really feel the space around each individual musician in the lineup – working with amazing sensitivity, instead of overdone bombastic energy – creating sounds of chance and change on titles that include "Lightbox", "Short Visit To Nowhere", "Ellington", and "Hold That Thought". CD

Two albums from tenorist Junior Cook! Good Cookin' has 6 tracks with Walter Booker on bass, Al Dailey on piano, Slide Hampton on trombone, Bill Hardman on trumpet and flugelhorn, Mario Rivera on baritone sax, and Leroy Williams on drums. Somethin's Cookin' is a nice little cooker from Junior – with no pun on the artist or title intended! The album's one of Cook's few sets as a leader, and arguably has an even better focus than most of the rest – thanks to strong production from Cedar Walton, who's also backing Junior for the record with his trio of Billy Higgins on drums and Buster Williams on bass. The groove is nice and fluid – in the best Walton way that combines warmth with a sense of free-soaring energy – and Junior's solos seem a bit more hard-bitten than before, but still with that sense of lyrical warmth that he developed with Horace Silver. Titles include "Chi Chi", "Hindsight", "Heavy Blue", "Illusion Of Grandeur", "Fiesta Espanol", and "Detour Ahead". CD

A really classic album from The Emotions – much harder and grittier than their earlier singles from Chicago, and quite different than their later sounds in the Earth Wind & Fire generation! The style here is almost funk – and definitely gets pretty close on a few cuts – thanks to sharp production from David Porter and Ronnie Williams, who dredge up some of the deeper sounds of the Stax label at the time, and match them with the trio's impeccable vocals! The record's got a down-looking vibe that really lives up to the cover image – a kind of subtle pride that really comes through in the music, and which may well make this album the greatest the girls ever cut. Titles include the stellar cut "Blind Alley" – a famous sample from years back, and a wonderful funk tune on its own – plus "Boss Love Maker", "Love Ain't Easy Onesided", "Show Me How", "Love is The Hardest Thing To Find", and "Boy I Need You". CD

A real heavy-hitter – one of the few albums of hardbop that Gryce cut for Prestige, done in a more relaxed, more soulful, more down-n-dirty style than some of his more arranged work from the 50s. The groove's still pretty modern on the set – thanks to a great group that includes Richard Williams on trumpet, Richard Wyands on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Mickey Roker on drums – all of whom play together with the comfortable ease of a hardbop blowing session. Titles include "Back Breaker", "Blues In The Jungle", "Jones Bones", and "Down Home". CD

You might not know the leader Howard Ludcraft, but the set's a tight bit of west coast jazz – filled with excellent work from an all-star lineup that includes Art Pepper on alto, Bob Cooper on tenor, Bud Shank on alto and flute, Buddy Collette on baritone, Claude Williamson on piano, Charlie Mariano on tenor and alto, Stu Williamson on trumpet, Conte Candoli on trumpet, Frank Rosolino on trombone, Pete Jolly on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, ans Shelly Manne and Stan Levy on drums! LP, Vinyl record album

The record we've been waiting years for Jeff Parker to make – a fantastic funky set that shows off a whole new side of his talents! Parker's guitar has been on plenty of great albums over the past decade or two, but this set may well be one of his greatest moments so far – a really unusual, really personal set that takes his music to a whole new level – partly schooled by vintage funk, as you might guess from the cover – but also partly set up in a spirited new direction that propels Jeff farther forward than any other record! Parker plays guitar and a range of keyboards – and the album almost has a laidback Shuggie Otis vibe at points, but is a lot more complex overall – thanks to excellent rhythm work from Paul Bryan on bass and Jamire Williams on drums – who ground the sound, but can take off freely with Parker, too – as does Josh Johnson on alto, flute, and some other keyboards too. The whole thing almost puts Jeff into Robert Glasper territory – in its unique blend of jazz, funk, and soulful currents – but very unique, a genre unto his own, really well-deserved after all these years. The album's brilliant from start to finish, with cuts that include "Executive Life", "Para Ha Tay", "Here Comes Ezra", "Jrifted", "Visions", "How Fun Is It To Year Whip", and "Get Dressed". CD

A hell of a great jazz guitarist – working here in a really wonderful setting – a live date that both lets Jimmy Raney hit some beautifully intimate moments out front, but also lets him swing a bit too – thanks to help from Sam Jones on bass and Leroy Williams on drums! Raney still has that raspy tone that we first fell in love with on his 50s records – a clarity on the strings that easily made him one of the most important jazz guitarists of the time – but he's also got a more mature sense of chromes, which creates this beautiful dance of tones as his fingers move along the strings of the guitar – always clear in his vision, but still working with a sense of surprise that always keeps things interesting. Titles include "How About You", "Darn That Dream", "Here's That Rainy Day", "Stella By Starlight", "Watch What Happens", and "Anthropology". LP, Vinyl record album

A drum-heavy spectacular that returns Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich to their big band roots – thanks to some hard-swinging arrangements from George Williams! The tracks are a bit shorter and done with a larger group than on some of the other Rich or Krupa sides for Verve – but there actually seems to be even more drum pyrotechnics here, possibly because the players' efforts are compressed into such a tight space! Production is a bit odd – with the drums so high in the mix that they sometimes come across with more treble than bass – but that really highlights some of the most inventive moments on the top of the kit as well. Titles include "Duet", "Perdido", "Evolution", "Night Train", and "Hawaiian War Chant". LP, Vinyl record album

Four albums from the great Ben Sidran – a mighty hip jazz singer, and a great pianist too! First up is Free In America – a great little set all the way through – and about as classic as you can get for Sidran in the 70s! The album's got a bit more soul in the mix, but still has some jazzy elements in the backings – and where things were sometimes messed up in the past, they're much more straightforward here – in ways that make the record really sparkle nicely! Ben's voice is still really compelling, and as on his best albums, there's some nice funky grooves in the mix that keep things fresh. Players include Phil Upchurch on bass and guitar, Woody Shaw on trumpet, David Newman and Sonny Seals on saxes, and Richard Tee on organ. Titles include the great instrumental "Let's Make A Deal" – a fast groover with guitar and keyboards riffing away, sounding like some lost jazz funk gem from the Fantasy Records catalog – plus "Beg For It", "Cuban Connection", "Free In America", "New York State Of Mind", and "Feel Your Groove". Doctor Is In is one of Ben Sidran's biggest records from the 70s – a smooth combination of jazz, fusion, soul, and a bit of New Orleans groove! There's still a very unique feel to Sidran's music here – a sense of personality that really makes the whole thing sparkle – and which keeps the record from sounding too much like anyone else. Grooves are a great mix of jazz and soul elements – in territory that certainly has a 70s LA sort of quality, but which never gets too poppy or commercial – thanks to Ben's vocals, and mostly small combo backings from players who include Phil Upchurch on bass, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Larry Carlton on guitar, and Tony Williams on drums. Nick DeCaro adds in a bit of extra strings from time to time – and titles include "Silver's Serenade", "Charlie's Blues", "Be Nice", "Goodbye Porkpie Hat", "One Way Grave", and "See You On The Other Side". Little Kiss In The Night is one of our all-time favorites from the great Ben Sidran – thanks to a strong dose of fusion in the mix! The grooves here are somehow a bit sharper than the few Sidran records before – with a quality that almost reminds us of Fantasy Records soul from the mid 70s, or some of the best jazz-tinged R&B sets of the time – all linked back nicely to Ben's rootsier elements from the start. As always, Sidran's got some really top-shelf musicians on board to help him find his groove – including Phil Woods on alto sax, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, and Arthur Adams on guitar – and arrangements on many numbers are by Mike Melvoin, who sounds even funkier here than we'd expect. There's a great instrumental on the set called "The Cadillac Kid", which has a nice hard fusion groove – and other cuts include "Face Your Fears", "Doing You", and "Moose The Mooch". Live At Montreux is tightly funky work from Ben Sidran – thanks to a strong lineup of players, and the open-ended relaxed setting of Montreux! The tracks here are a bit longer than some of Ben's studio sides for the label at the time – and almost hearken back to the more open flow of his Blue Thumb years – with plenty of room not only for Sidran's great vocals, but also from instrumental contributions from Steve Khan on guitar, Mike Mainieri on vibes, and the Brecker Brothers on horns. Titles include "I Remember Clifford", "Eat It", "Song For A Sucker Like You", "Midnight Tango/Walking With The Blues", and "Come Together". CD

A really wonderful collection of grooves that first came to light in the 90s – one that had the Blue Note label digging back in their catalog and completely re-thinking their approach to reissues – given the new popularity of jazz in the hip hop sample world! As you'd guess from the title, the music here is very strongly oriented in the mode of "breaks", or tracks that were sampled for later hip hop and club recordings – classic jazz tunes from the glory days of Blue Note that have gone onto live again, thanks to the keen ears and inventive work of more contemporary DJs and producers. After all these years, The Blue Breakbeats series still stands as one of the best illustrations of the funkier side of the label – and titles on this third volume "Howling for Judy" by Jeremy Steig, "Mystic Brew" by Ronnie Foster, "Get Out Of My Live Woman" by Joe Williams, "Soul" by Jackie McLean, "Put On Train" by Gene Harris & The Three Sounds, "Light My Fire" by Shirley Bassey, "Ode To Billie Joe" by Lou Donaldson, "You've Made Me So Very Happy" by Lou Rawls, "Walk Tall" by Cannonball Adderley, "Sho-Nuff Mellow" by Reuben Wilson, "Don't Call Me N*gger Whitey" by Gene Harris, "Blacks & Blues" by Bobbi Humprhey, "Dominoes" by Donald Byrd, "Ground Hog" by Duke Pearson, "Goin Down South" by Bobby Hutcherson, "Down Here On The Ground" by Grant Green, "It's Your Thing" by Lou Donaldson, and "Flat Backin" by Blue Mitchell. CD

The third volume in one of the most popular soul series we've ever stocked! The CD features 25 rare soul tunes – from a variety of northern and southern sources, all of them hard-to-find gems with a deep soul sound that's dripping with sincere emotion and raw songsmithery. Brit soul DJ/collector/writer Dave Godin put the set together – and it would be hard to find a more loving collection of tunes with such a no-nonsense approach to the material. Titles include "Thanks For Yesterday" by Eddie & Ernie, "I'm Undecided" by Toussaint McCall, "Who Are You Gonna Love" by Rozetta Johnson, "I Paid For The Party" by The Enchanters, "Too Far Gone To Turn Around" by JR Bailey, "My Deceiving Heart" by The Impressions, "I'm Missing You" by Loretta Williams, "Let Me Down Easy" by Betty Lavette, "Don't Leave Me Baby" by Ray Gant & The Arabian Knights, "Like It Stands" by Robert Ramsey, and "Look At The Boy" by Jean Plum. CD

The third volume in one of the most popular soul series we've ever stocked! The CD features 25 rare soul tunes – from a variety of northern and southern sources, all of them hard-to-find gems with a deep soul sound that's dripping with sincere emotion and raw songsmithery. Brit soul DJ/collector/writer Dave Godin put the set together – and it would be hard to find a more loving collection of tunes with such a no-nonsense approach to the material. Titles include "Thanks For Yesterday" by Eddie & Ernie, "I'm Undecided" by Toussaint McCall, "Who Are You Gonna Love" by Rozetta Johnson, "I Paid For The Party" by The Enchanters, "Too Far Gone To Turn Around" by JR Bailey, "My Deceiving Heart" by The Impressions, "I'm Missing You" by Loretta Williams, "Let Me Down Easy" by Betty Lavette, "Don't Leave Me Baby" by Ray Gant & The Arabian Knights, "Like It Stands" by Robert Ramsey, and "Look At The Boy" by Jean Plum. CD

A great entry in the series that first put the Numero label on the map – their incredible Eccentric Soul exploration of very local scenes! As with previous volumes, this one focuses on a tiny imprint that put out some great music, but which escaped the attention of so many others away from its hometown of Norfolk, VA – also known as "shiptown" because of its naval presence, hence the name of the label! The music here is mostly from that golden generation of late 60s/early 70s soul – and there's a tight roster of artists that also ensure a nicely unified sound throughout – really more like a family, each with a different personality – coming together to represent the strengths of this overlooked imprint. As always with Numero, the whole thing comes with detailed notes that get at the story behind Shiptown – and titles include "Prophesize" and "Start All Over Again" by Ida Sands, "There He Is" and "I'm Not Satisfied" by Dream Team, "Slow Down" and "I Deserve AS Little Bit More" by The Grooms, "My Mind Holds Onto Yesterday" and "Shadow In Your Foosteps" by Barbarta Stant, "Since You've Been Gone" by The Anglos, "I Got A Whole Lot To Be Thankful For" and "I Can't Get Used To Losing You" by Wilson Williams, "I Almost Blew My Mind" and "You're The One I Need" by The Positive Sounds, and "Too Many Skeletons In The Closet" by Nat Fross. LP, Vinyl record album

No need to be a connoisseur to enjoy this set – because the tunes here are all plenty darn groovy – rare soul numbers with an instant appeal to our ears, thanks to their freshness and the quality of the work! The package features rare singles and a bunch of previously unissued tracks from the vaults of the Kent/Modern labels – most recorded at the end of the 60s, in a range of soulful styles! Some numbers have a sweeter feel, but many echo the headier sounds of the times – bringing in some funkier or psychedelic soul influences, even when the themes might be a bit more conventional, or the grooves a bit more mellow. As always with Kent, the package features loads of notes on the music – enough to help even a novice become a connoisseur after a few listenings – and the CD features 24 titles that include "Cut Me Loose" by Gene Taylor, "Beverly" by Billy Watkins, "If I'd Lose You" by Jackie Day, "That Righteous Feeling" by Marvin Phillips & The Spinners, "My Name Is Misery" by Al King, "I've Gotta Get You Back" by Mary Love, "I'm Guilty" by Vernon Garrett, "Can't Count The Days" by Jeb Stuart, "Baby Baby Baby" by Leon Peterson, "The Ta Ta Song" by Little Henry & The Shamrocks, and "It's OK" by Esther Williams. CD

Your Christmas just got a whole lot funkier – thanks to a wonderful entry in this legendary series – maybe one of the coolest collections ever of hard-to-find Holiday grooves! As with previous volumes, almost all the tracks here are pulled from rare funky 45s – obscure original Christmas songs issued on 7" singles, most on very obscure labels – and together, the tracks offer up a really great way to re-think the sound of your house around the holidays – music that goes way past the overplayed tracks you always hear at the shops during December! These cuts are overflowing with new ideas, and offer a mighty fresh take on familiar spirits for the season – as you'll hear on titles that include "The Year Around Christmas" by Sam Applebaum, "Christmas Is" by Ruth Harley, "Santa Claus" by Ray Williams & The Space Men, "Christmas Strutt" by Hot & Sassy, "It's Xmas Time" by Wayne Champion, "Everybody Is A Santa Claus" by Fred Sebastian, "I Won't Be Home For Christmas" by Major Handy, "Christmas Presents" by Bobby Peterson, "It Feels Like Christmas" by Bill Deal & Pure Pleasure, and "Xmas Party" by Eddie & The De-Havelons. CD

Your Christmas just got a whole lot funkier – thanks to a wonderful entry in this legendary series – maybe one of the coolest collections ever of hard-to-find Holiday grooves! As with previous volumes, almost all the tracks here are pulled from rare funky 45s – obscure original Christmas songs issued on 7" singles, most on very obscure labels – and together, the tracks offer up a really great way to re-think the sound of your house around the holidays – music that goes way past the overplayed tracks you always hear at the shops during December! These cuts are overflowing with new ideas, and offer a mighty fresh take on familiar spirits for the season – as you'll hear on titles that include "The Year Around Christmas" by Sam Applebaum, "Santa Claus" by Ray Williams & The Space Men, "Christmas Strutt" by Hot & Sassy, "It's Xmas Time" by Wayne Champion, "Everybody Is A Santa Claus" by Fred Sebastian, "I Won't Be Home For Christmas" by Major Handy, "Christmas Presents" by Bobby Peterson, "It Feels Like Christmas" by Bill Deal & Pure Pleasure, and "Xmas Party" by Eddie & The De-Havelons. LP, Vinyl record album