4 long tracks. CD

Featuring George Coleman on tenor, Kenny Garrett on alto, and Dave Valentin on flute! CD

With lots of percussion – thanks to Ray Barretto and Steve Berrios! CD

An incredible record from the young Hilton Ruiz – the kind of fresh-voiced session that first got the attention of a jaded jazz crowd in the 70s! Ruiz is playing here with equal parts Latin roots, soulful rhythms, and free-thinking solos – pushing the envelope of 70s soul jazz with a style that's a bit in the bag of that displayed by Chick Corea in the mid 60s, when he was making waves with Blue Mitchell, Stan Getz, and others. Ruiz clearly seems to know where "outside" is – but he stays enough on this side of the fence to keep things swinging and soulful, yet always holds the outer realm forth as a secret promise. Players on the set are all great – with Richard Williams on trumpet, Frank Foster on tenor and soprano, Buster Williams on bass, and Roy Brooks on drums – and titles include "Blues For Becky", "Excition", "Dedicated To The Cooker", and "The House That Love Built". CD also features a bonus track – "Origin". CD

Hilton Ruiz on piano with Charlie Sepulveda on trumpet, David Sanchez on tenor Saxophone, Papo Vazquez on trombone, Andy Gonzalez on bass, Ignacio Berrios on drums & timbales, Steve Berrios on timbales & percussion, Joe Gonzalez on bongos & chekere, and Giovanni Hidalgo on conga & cowbell. CD

A great early album by Hilton Ruiz – recorded at a time when he was coming off of work with Roland Kirk, with all the soulfulness that you'd expect him to pick up from such a setting. The album features a mixture of trio and quintet tracks, the latter of which are the best, as they feature Richard Williams and Frank Foster in the frontline on horns, plus rhythm by Buster Williams and Roy Brooks. These tunes bounce along nicely with a stretched out groove – searching modally, with some of those great 70s solos that Foster could lay out when he was at his best. Titles include "Origin", "Steppin Into Beauty", "The Last Profit", and "Excition". CD

Features Mongo Santamaria on congas and Sam Rivers on tenor and soprano sax! CD

Hilton Ruiz on piano, Jimmy Rowser on bass, Reuben Rodriguez on electric bass, Steve Berrios on drums, timbales, guiro and claves, Daniel Ponce on congas and bongos and Don Cherry on trumpet. CD

A fantastic collection of images from Times Square, pulled from the years before Disney took over – at a time when the action moved 24 hours a day, and at a non-stop pace! Bill Butterworth was right on the streets during the early 80s – and presents stunning full color shots of a range of figures from the Deuce – strippers, short order cooks, merchants, hustlers, b boys, Guardian Angels, and others – often in posed portraits in their environs, but occasionally captured in more candid ways too. The look and feel of the photographs is great – similar to some of the Powerhouse books on old school hip hop culture – and the whole thing is hardcover, and overflowing with great shots. Book

Recent record from jazz percussionist Babatunde, and one that has a great lineup of famous guests, like Jon Faddis, Charnett Moffet, Hilton Ruiz, and Kenny Barron. The CD's on a small California label, and is a bit of a low-budget affair. But that doesn't keep it from being a strong session, thanks in part to Babatunde's creative vision, and the talents of the supporting players. The music is fairly straight ahead, but played with a bit of a soul jazz groove, and with lots of room for solos. Cuts include "As Me Now", "Father Of Dreams", "Little Girls", and "Level Of Intent". CD

One of the greatest albums as a leader from tenorist George Coleman – an artist who we feel often never gave us enough with himself in the lead as well! George brings in that great edge he used on earlier sessions with other leaders, while still also really establishing himself as one of the most expressive tenorists of the 70s in a mainstream mode – almost that balance between straighter swing and sharper corners that Joe Henderson brought to key recordings at the time. The group here are very fluid, and able to shift wonderfully with George's lead – Hilton Ruiz on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – a masterful lineup who make magic throughout, on titles that include "Amsterdam After Dark", "New Arrival", "Lo-Joe", "Autumn In New York", "Apache Dance", and "Blondie's Waltz". LP, Vinyl record album

Roland Kirk's last album – and a return to traditional forms, as might be hinted at by the title! In a way, some of Kirk's later work is similar to that of Mingus – in that both had been pioneering modernists in their earlier years, then turned heavily towards the traditional forms that inspired their greatness in the first place. Of course, Kirk's work could never be totally "trad" – and even though the album has him running through more swing and boogie woogie material, it's still quite nutty, thanks to help from a hip group of players that includes William S Fischer, Steve Turre, and Hilton Ruiz. Titles include "Hey Babebips", "Make Me A Pallet On the Floor", "Watergate Blues", and "Dorthaan's Walk". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful late chapter in the jazz journey of Rahsaan Roland Kirk – and an album of subtle genius that's really opened up to us over the years! The setting here isn't as "hit you over the head" as on some of Kirk's Atlantic Records – because at one level, the tunes are mostly straight, and free of gimmicks – yet also still manage to conjure up the warmth, spirit, and soul that Roland brought to his best work. There's a slightly electric vibe running through some of the tunes, thanks to keyboards from Hilton Ruiz – and the album also benefits from organ work by Trudy Pitts and guitar from Billy Butler – both of whom are wonderfully restrained, in a way that matches the subtlety of the entire conception of the set. Titles include "Theme For The Eulipions", which features a great recitation from Betty Neals, plus cool chorus vocals – and other titles include "Goodbye Porkpie Hat", "Giant Steps", "Loving You", and "I'll Be Seeing You". LP, Vinyl record album

Long tracks with plenty of room for Coleman to solo – with rhythm by Hilton Ruiz on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums! CD

An incredible tribute to the greatness of Rashaan Roland Kirk – featuring mixed groups of soulful players who do a wonderful job of capturing the spirit of Kirk's groundbreaking work on reeds! None of these guys is really doing a lot of Kirk's "three in one" blowing – but they all do a wonderful job of reaching Kirk's level of imagination in terms of tone, space, and all-out sense of humor. Players include sometime Kirk bandmates – like Hilton Ruiz or Jaki Byard – plus Eric Alexander, James Spaulding, Craig Handy, Xavier Davis, John Stubblefield, Donald Harrison, Joe Lovano, and many others. All tracks are Kirk compositions – and titles include "Rip Rig & Panic", "Gifts & Messages", "Bright Moments", "My Delight", "The Inflated Tear", "The Haunted Melody", and "A Stritch In Time". Way more than a simple tribute album – and a great set of all-out creative jazz! CD

Later genius from Rahsaan Roland Kirk – a record of wonderful depth and soul, and a session that moves back to the straighter jazz focus of some of his work from the Mercury years – yet still keeps all the personality and charm of the best Atlantic sides! Roland's playing in a warm jazzy mode that still features some of his wit and tricks – but which also is even more nicely in a straight jazz vein on the album's best tracks – rolling out in a gently soulful 70s mode that features some slight electric touches, but which preserves a main focus on his own soulful work on a variety of saxes and flute. The lineup is great too – with a shifting group of players that include Hilton Ruiz, Billy Butler, Walter Perkins, and even the great Trudy Pitts – and titles include "Sugar", "Serenade To A Cuckoo", "The Christmas Song", "Los Angeles Negro Chorus", "Bright Moments", "Night In Tunisia", and "J. Griff's Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Pure brilliance from Babatunde Lea – an artist who sounds as deeply soulful in the 21st Century as he did on his first recordings from a few decades back! This time around, Lea's working with the wonderful Frank Lacy on trombone and trumpet – in a set of work that's all arranged by Lacy, with bold piano lines from Hilton Ruiz – whose playing here really takes us back to those early moments when we first discovered his genius – that unique blend of Latin and spiritual jazz roots that's perfect for a record like this. Things are plenty righteous, but very warm too – and the record stretches out magnificently without trying to hit anyone over the head – that beautiful balance you'd find in a rare Strata East record, maybe even more amazing here, given the contemporary date of the recording! Mario Rivera plays tenor, soprano sax, and flute – and titles include "Soul Pools", "Carolyn's Dance", "1055", "Round The World", "Ejercito Moreno", "Yerba Buena", and "Jackie & The Beanstalk". Also comes with a full bonus CD – Live At Rasselas – a quartet performance with Ernie Watts on tenor, Hilton Ruiz on piano, and Geoff Brennan on bass – on a 25 minute version of "Footprints". CD

A wonderfully moody album from Abbey Lincoln – one that's a bit more laidback than some of her other efforts, but no less soulful! There's kind of a broken, jagged sound to the record – a late nite vibe that's blue and melancholy, and which gets some great support from the tenor sax of Archie Shepp – which often gets a chance to solo on most tracks! The rhythms are gentle, often a bit spare – and handled by Hilton Ruiz on piano, Jack Gregg on bass, and Freddie Waits on drums – and the set also features work from trumpeter Roy Burroughs. Tracks include three original compositions, "Painted Lady", "Throw It Away", and "Caged Bird", plus a sublime version of Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady". Also includes Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady", and Michel Legrand's "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life". CD

Greg Abate plays alto, tenor, and soprano saxes – with Claudio Roditi on trumpet, Hilton Ruiz on piano, Marshall Wood on bass, and Artie Cabral on drums. CD

One of the warmest, most sensitive albums we've ever heard from saxophonist Marion Brown – a record that really takes off strongly from the soulful spirit of his last few albums for Impulse Records in the early 70s! Like those great sets, the vibe here is nice and laidback – not the more bracing sound of Brown's earliest avant years, but a style that's almost more mature and confident – with Marion sliding beautifully into some extremely thoughtful lines on alto sax – working in a quartet with Hilton Ruiz on piano, Earl May on bass, and Warren Smith on percussion – plus occasional guitar by Karl Rausch. Most of the tracks progress with a slow development, opening up gently like the flowers in the title – feeling their space a bit tentatively at first, then really blossoming strongly in the light of their own spirit. Tracks include "Sweet Earth Flying", "Fortunato", "La Placita", and "Pleasant Street". LP, Vinyl record album

Rahsaan Roland Kirk takes on "other folks music" – that is, a host of tunes penned by other jazz artists – but as you'd expect, there's a really personal feel to the record overall – one that definitely makes the music Kirk's own by the end of the set! The album's a bit more subdued than some of his previous records, but no less creative – as there's a wonderfully understated quality to the record that really cements its charm – that undeniable Kirk genius at work, amidst an inventive lineup that includes Truty Pitts on electric piano, Hilton Ruiz on acoustic piano, Gloria Agnosti on harp, Richard Williams on trumpet, Roy Haynes on drums – and Roland himself on a great range of reeds – including tenor, flute, manzello, stritchaphone, reed trumpet, and harmonica! Titles include a great reworking of Frank Foster's "Simone", plus versions of Hilton Ruiz' "Arrival" , Trudy Pitts' "Anysha", Charlie Parker's "Donna Lee", and Kirk's own "Water For Robeson & Williams". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderfully moody album from Abbey Lincoln – one that's a bit more laidback than some of her other efforts, but no less soulful! There's kind of a broken, jagged sound to the record – a late nite vibe that's blue and melancholy, and which gets some great support from the tenor sax of Archie Shepp – which often gets a chance to solo on most tracks! The rhythms are gentle, often a bit spare – and handled by Hilton Ruiz on piano, Jack Gregg on bass, and Freddie Waits on drums – and the set also features work from trumpeter Roy Burroughs. Tracks include three original compositions, "Painted Lady", "Throw It Away", and "Caged Bird", plus a sublime version of Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady". Also includes Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady", and Michel Legrand's "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life". CD

One of the rarest albums ever issued by Sun Ra's Saturn Records label – and one of the few dates to ever feature baritone saxophonist Pat Patrick as a leader – Sun Ra's longtime partner in the Arkestra, and a hell of a player on his own! The record is a heavy baritone date – with Rene McLean, Charles Davis, James Ware, Reynold Scott, and George Barrow joining Patrick on the lead instrument, plus a bit of flute – blowing at a level that makes the whole thing feel like one of the best creative ensemble projects on Strata East from the period – very jazzy, but also reaching for lots of new ideas too! The music is a lot more soulful than Ra's usual work – less outside overall, but in a good way – and the group also features a young Hilton Ruiz on piano, plus Jon Hart on bass, Steve Solder on drums, and Babafemi Humphreys on congas. Titles include "Funny Time", "Uptighttedness", "Eastern Vibrations", "Sabia", and "The Waltz". LP, Vinyl record album