Jiro Inagaki's definitely in the groove here – hitting hard with a sweet electric vibe, on a set that's easily one of his funkiest albums ever! The set's got a wicked mix of jazz and funk that's right up there with the best on 70s CTI or Kudu – but maybe even leaner overall, given the focused nature of the tunes – and their strongly rhythmic approach! Jiro's on both tenor and soprano sax, and also handles arrangements with Norio Maeda – and the set's especially heavy on Fender Rhodes and electric bass, carved up nicely by sweet guitar lines that almost have a Joe Beck sort of sound. Many tracks are originals, and all are definitely in a tight 70s mode – really stepping forward from some of the more formative funky years of Jiro's previous albums. Titles include "Joie De Vivre", "Crazy Medicine", "That's How I Feel", "Blue Blood", "Raven Speaks", and "Samba Chimba". LP, Vinyl record album

Mindblowingly baroque funk from Brother Jack McDuff – an album that takes the initial Blue Note tripped-out groove of Moon Rappin, and pushes it to a whole new level! Jack's working here with arranger Ray Draper to come up with some tunes that are miles away from the earlier McDuff albums on Prestige – very far-reaching and free-thinking, and using a blend of rock and soul-inspired rhythms to push McDuff's organ work very firmly into the 1970s! The group on the set's a largeish one – filled with hip players that include Joe Beck on guitar, Mike Manieri on percussion, Randy Brecker and Olu Dara on trumpets, Paul Griffin on piano, and Draper himself on percussion and tuba. The set features the tightly-stepping funky number "Who's Pimpin Who", which features some great vocalizations from Ray and Jack; the tripped-out "Classic Funke", which has McDuff really burning up the keyboard; the down-n-dirty "Wank's Thang", which also has some nice vibes; and the cuts "Y'All Remember Boogie", "Ya Ya Ya Ya Ya", and "Who Knows What Tomorrow's Gonna Bring". LP, Vinyl record album

The groovy 70's big band of Japanese arranger Bingo Miki hits the Montreux festival in 1979, and they're joined by a host of guest players that include Richard Davis, Jon Faddis, and Joe Beck. If you don't know Miki's work, the 70's stuff (like this album) has a cool electric orchestral sound that feels like it was lifted from a cop show, or a crime film. Most of the instrumentation is acoustic, with a large sax section in front, but there's also some guitar and electric bass that work well with the kicking rhythm section. This album was originally issued as a double, but this cool XRCD gatefold package fits all the material on one CD – and titles include "Zylvia", "Pitter Pat", "Sibelius' Testament", and "Alcazar". CD

A pretty compelling record from trombonist Bill Watrous – one of those players you always figure for a straight guy, but who always manages to throw in a curve ball at the right moment! This one's got Bill working with a large group in kind of a mixed electric big band style – and the tracks have the appeal of some of the European groups that were working in this mode during the early 70s – especially some of the larger ensembles on MPS! The grooves are more jazzy than funky, but still plenty great – and the horn sections really benefit from some great electronic help from Dick Hyman on moog and Fender Rhodes, and Joe Beck on guitar. Titles include "Dee Dee", "Ayo", "Fourth Floor Walk Up", "Zip City", and a nice version of Chick Corea's "Spain". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent set that spans the gamut of Miles' work on Columbia – from his early hardbop sides to his later experimental ones! All of the material on the 2LP set was unreleased until the time of this release in 1979 – and the album features Miles in the company of a wide variety of players that include George Benson, Cannonball Adderley, Bennie Maupin, Hank Mobley, Joe Zawinul, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Red Garland, and Joe Beck. Titles include "Teo's Bag", "Side Car (1 & 2)", "Sanctuary", "Guinnevere", "Circle In The Round", and "Two Bass Hit". CD

A great record – and on that hardly ever shows up on the radar screen of Gil's career! The session was recorded with a very hip group that includes Billy Harper on tenor and flute, Elvin Jones and Alphonze Mouzon on drums, Joe Beck on electric guitar, and Herb Bushler on Fender bass. The sound is a bit electric, but is touched with Evans' far-reaching arranging style, so that it lapses into none of the cliches you might expect. Harper is a treat, as always, and he offers up the original composition "Thoroughbred", one of the nicest on the record. "Blues In Orbit", "Variation On The Misery", "Proclamation", and "Spaced". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the funkiest Buddy Rich albums of the 70s – a mad screaming affair that's overflowing with great tunes! The band on the set is very full – with a heck of a lot of trumpets in the brass section, set next to searing sax work by the great Pat LaBarbera. But even better is the rhythm section – which grooves in a hard electric funk mode, thanks to guitar from Joe Beck, bass from Tony Levin, and some surprisingly smoking drums from Buddy himself! Tracks are all very nicely grooving – and titles include "Kilimanjaro Cookout", "Nuttville", "Senator Sam", "Waltz Of The Mushroom Hunters", and "Big Mac". CD

All songs performed live and broadcast on 107.1 KGSR, Austin TX. Music from Kim Richey, Jesse Winchester, Beck, Kelly Willis, John Hiatt, Bob Schneider, David Gray, Steve Earle, Patti Smith, Gomez, the Jayhawks, Joe Ely, Willie Nelson, and more. CD

One of the most formative periods of Miles Davis' career, with lots of new ideas taking shape – including Fender Rhodes from Herbie Hancock, guitar from George Benson and Joe Beck, and plenty of great tenor from Wayne Shorter, bass from Ron Carter, and drums from Tony Williams! Includes material that appeared on the albums Miles Smiles, ESP, Sorcerer, Nefertiti, Water Babies, Miles In The Sky, and Filles De Kilimanjaro – as well as unreleased tracks, alternates, and material that showed up on Directions and Circle In The Round. CD

One of the few albums ever cut as a leader by bassist Richard Davis – and a very unusual session that features Joe Beck on guitar and Jack DeJohnette on drums. The groove is very free – as all players lanquidly explore the space of the session, not really going that "out", but, in the case of Beck and Davis especially, playing a lot more experimentally than you'd think. Titles include "Mr Nixon & General Thieu", "Song For Wounded Knee", "Watergate", "ITT & Allende", and "The Rise & Fall Of Tricky Dick". The politics kind of speak for themselves on this one! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few albums ever cut by Les DeMerle, one of the hippest drummers of his time – made legendary thanks to legions of samplers and beatheads in the 90s! This is certainly one of Les' best ever efforts – a tight batch of funky big band tracks, with lots of nice grooves, and a very hip lineup that includes Frank Foster, Joe Beck, Chris Woods, Arnie Lawrence, and Charles Sullivan – all coming together in some great tunes that have very unusual rhythms, and a great format that puts the drums in line with the hip playing in the reed section! The album includes Les' famous version of "A Day in the Life", which begins with a monster funky intro – plus the cuts "Fusion – Pro & Con", "Underground", "Deflections 1, 2, 3, & 4", and "Aquarius". CD

An excellent set that was recorded in 1971, but not issued until ten years later – by the small Artists House label, home to groundbreaking work by Ornette Coleman and James Blood Ulmer! Gil Evans works here with one of his hippest groups – a soaring lineup that features key work from the great Billy Harper on tenor – plus Johnny Coles on trumpet, Joe Beck on guitar, and the duo of Airto and Flora Purim on both percussion and vocals. Evans plays electric piano – which is always a treat – and Don Preston adds in moog on two tracks too – on titles that include "Zee Zee", "Where Flamingos Fly", "Nana", and "El Matador". CD

A great meeting of 70s disco talents here – as both Gregg Diamond and Joe Beck both work with Gloria Gaynor on this sweet little set – with an approach that makes for some of her nicest music of the time! Diamond's tunes have a definite Bionic Boogie feel – sharp-edged, but never too commercial, and with a nicely thoughtful approach to the rhythms overall – especially when they step along in a sweet midtempo groove! Beck's style is a bit more full, and almost in a Kudu Records mode – that style used a bit by Esther Phillips when she was picking up speed more in the 70s – a diva mode that's equally great for Gloria's magnificent vocals. Titles include "Why Should I Pay", "As Time Goes By", "Most Of All", "We Can Start All Over Again", "So Much Love", "This Side Of The Pain", and "Sweet Sweet Melody". LP, Vinyl record album

Genius 70s work from Woody Herman – funky big band with electric touches, served up on a range of wonderful tunes! Woody's still at the helm of the group on saxes and clarinet – but as with other Fantasy and Cadet albums, the real thanks here goes to arrangers – who include Bill Stapleton, Alan Broadbent, Tony Klatka, and Richard Evans – who's making a brief post-Cadet appearance here to serve up a fierce version of his classic "First Thing I Do" – a jazzy reworking of the Joyce Williams tune, done here with a nice break, wah-wah guitar, and a real badass soundtrack style! Rhythm players include Joe Beck and Ray Barretto – and the whole album's great throughout. Titles include "Think On Me", "A Child Is Born", "Freedom Jazz Dance", "First Thing I Do", "Giant Steps", and a great take on Chick Corea's "La Fiesta", complete with electric piano! CD

Jay Leonhart on bass and vocals, Joe Beck and Mark Elf on guitar, Ted Rosenthal on piano, and Michael Leonhart on trumpet. CD

Three groovy 70s albums from Buddy Rich! Roar Of 74 is one of the funkiest Buddy Rich albums of the 70s – a mad screaming affair that's overflowing with great tunes! The band on the set is very full – with a heck of a lot of trumpets in the brass section, set next to searing sax work by the great Pat LaBarbera. But even better is the rhythm section – which grooves in a hard electric funk mode, thanks to guitar from Joe Beck, bass from Tony Levin, and some surprisingly smoking drums from Buddy himself! Tracks are all very nicely grooving – and titles include "Kilimanjaro Cookout", "Nuttville", "Senator Sam", "Waltz Of The Mushroom Hunters", and "Big Mac". Last Blues Album has a misleading title, as there's nothing "blues" about this set – as Buddy Rich is working with some of the best soul jazz players of the Groove Merchant label – on a set that's one of his few small combo albums from the 70s! The vibe is very relaxed and laidback, and even Buddy's tight drumming can't over-hype the sound. Tracks are longish and open – more in the Prestige jazz mode of the 60s than the usual funkier style of the Groove Merchant label – and the sextet features Jimmy McGriff on organ, George Freeman on guitar, Kenny Barron on electric piano, Illinois Jacquet on tenor, and Bob Cranshaw on bass. Titles include "Soft Winds", "Sweet Georgia Brown", "How Long", "Courage", and "Alright". Very Live At Buddy's Place is hard-swinging Buddy Rich from the prime early 70s years – not exactly an all-out funk affair, but still a great groover, with plenty of hip little big band numbers! The groove here is nice and lean – and Buddy and the group are working at Buddy's own club – hitting that trademark all-out Rich sound, but still leaving plenty of room for the soloists. The group's got some great soul jazz players – including Sonny Fortune on alto, Jack Wilkins on guitar, and Kenny Barron on piano – as well as some really smoking tenor work from Sal Nistico, who's always adaptable to a setting like this. The album's got a tasty version of Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon", plus other nice tracks that include "Sierra Lonely", "Nica's Dream", "Billy's Bounce", "Cardin Blue" and "Jumpin At The Woodside". CD

Gentle magic from singer Jimmy Scott – one of our favorite of his comeback recordings of recent years! The album features tracks that Jimmy Recorded over sessions done in 2000 and 2001 – working with a host of great jazz players like Eric Alexander, Joe Beck, Hank Crawford, David Newman, Grady Tate, and Cyrus Chestnut – all of whom bring a warm and mellow feel to the set, allowing Jimmy some good space to breeze around in understated brilliance. Titles include "Yesterday", "Those Who Were", "How Long Has This Been Going On", "Time On My Hands", and "If I Should Lose You". CD

Eleven songs from George Benson, Phil Upchurch, Eric Gale, Joe Beck, Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall, Grant Green, Gabor Szabo, and John McLaughlin. CD

A serious later session from Don Sebesky – one that shows that he's still capable of plenty of darkness in his music, even after scoring some smoother sets in the 70s! The album's definitely got something of a "jazz orchestra" feel – with a full orchestra that initiates the proceedings, and sets the scene with a low-toned, rumbling sort of style – before the album then opens up into some much more jazz solo-based work that has a much more redemptive feel! Players include Alex Foster on tenor, Jon Faddis on trumpet, Gordon Beck on piano, Richard Davis on guitar, and Joe Beck on guitar – all of whom get some nice space to state their cases as the album rolls on – on three long tracks that include "Bird & Bela In B", "Rite Of Spring", and "Sebastian's Tune". LP, Vinyl record album

Like Dave Brubeck's legendary Time Out set? Try this one – a great record that takes off from the concept of the first, but which goes in some very fresh new directions – using the same great group with Paul Desmond on alto, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums! Dave's still working out some nutty time signatures here – but apart from the science, the thing that really makes the record cook is Desmond's alto – icy, edgey, floating, and always a treat – almost even more amazing in the space of some of these offbeat numbers. Titles include "Maori Blues", "Far More Drums", "Bluetee", "Far More Blue", and "It's A Raggy Waltz". CD features 2 bonus tracks "Slow & Easy" and "It's A Raggy Waltz (live at Carnegie Hall)". CD

Easily the crowning moment of genius for the legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet – the moment when all things came together magically, and the group somehow elevated themselves to a whole new level in jazz! At the time of the set, Brubeck, Paul Desmond, and the rest had already been making plenty of waves with their creative yet swinging approaches to modern jazz – heard on a number of successful albums for Fantasy and Columbia in the 50s. But with this record, they really knocked one out of the park – blending Desmond's cool alto, Brubeck's unusual piano phrasing, Joe Morello's melodic drum work, and Eugene Wright's pulsating bass into a waltzing, almost modal groove that crossed over to many camps at the time! The classics "Take Five" and "Blue Rondo Ala Turk" were both hits on their own – but all titles are great, and include "Kathy's Waltz", "Strange Medow Lark", "Everybody's Jumpin", and "Pick Up Sticks". LP, Vinyl record album

Dave Digs Disney – and hence, so do we! The album's one of the first to ever pay tribute to the great compositions heard in Disney films – and it features the magical sound of the Brubeck Quartet, turned upon a host of familiar numbers, and transforming them into longer vehicles for jazz improvisation. Given Dave's great sense of play with rhythm and timings, the tunes really get changed up in these versions – in a way that takes best advantage of the modal rhythms and jazz waltz styles that many of them share. Paul Desmond's alto work is as impeccably-handled as ever, and Joe Morello's sprightly drums seem perfectly at home with the tunes – as does Dave's warmly lyrical work on piano. Titles include "Alice In Wonderland", "Give A Little Whistle", "One Song", and "Someday My Prince Will Come". LP, Vinyl record album

Dave Digs Disney – and hence, so do we! The album's one of the first to ever pay tribute to the great compositions heard in Disney films – and it features the magical sound of the Brubeck Quartet, turned upon a host of familiar numbers, and transforming them into longer vehicles for jazz improvisation. Given Dave's great sense of play with rhythm and timings, the tunes really get changed up in these versions – in a way that takes best advantage of the modal rhythms and jazz waltz styles that many of them share. Paul Desmond's alto work is as impeccably-handled as ever, and Joe Morello's sprightly drums seem perfectly at home with the tunes – as does Dave's warmly lyrical work on piano. Titles include "Alice In Wonderland", "Give A Little Whistle", "One Song", "Someday My Prince Will Come", and "Very Good Advice". CD

An early version of the quartet – with Paul Desmond on alto, Bob Bates on bass, and Joe Dodge on drums. Titles include "Audrey", "Jeepers Creepers", "Stompin For Mili", "A Fine Romance", and "Brother Can You Spare A Dime". CD

Classic early live material from the Dave Brubeck Quartet – already humming along nicely with some great alto sax from Paul Desmond! The group's in fine form here – a bit more relaxed and open than on their Columbia recordings – with plenty of creative piano lines from Dave, showing just a slight dose of modernism, and lots more of that cool, icy alto sax work that made Desmond a standout right from the start. Rhythm is by Ron Crotty on bass and Joe Dodge on drums – and titles include "Laura", "Lullaby In Rhythm", "For All We Know", "All The Things You Are", and "I'll Never Smile Again". CD

Easily the crowning moment of genius for the legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet – the moment when all things came together magically, and the group somehow elevated themselves to a whole new level in jazz! At the time of the set, Brubeck, Paul Desmond, and the rest had already been making plenty of waves with their creative yet swinging approaches to modern jazz – heard on a number of successful albums for Fantasy and Columbia in the 50s. But with this record, they really knocked one out of the park – blending Desmond's cool alto, Brubeck's unusual piano phrasing, Joe Morello's melodic drum work, and Eugene Wright's pulsating bass into a waltzing, almost modal groove that crossed over to many camps at the time! The classics "Take Five" and "Blue Rondo Ala Turk" were both hits on their own – but all titles are great, and include "Kathy's Waltz", "Strange Medow Lark", "Everybody's Jumpin", and "Pick Up Sticks". CD

Captured in performance at the 1956 American Jazz Festival in Newport, RI. Brubeck plays with his quartet, with Paul Desmond on saxophone, Norman Bates on bass, and Joe Dodge on drums; and Johnson and Winding are accompanied by Dick Katz on piano, Bill Crow on bass, and Rudy Collins on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual Dave Brubeck set from the start of the 60s – surprisingly on Fantasy, given his Columbia fame of the time – and with a slightly different lineup that features the great Bill Smith on clarinet! Smith's got a cool modern sound that's not unlike Jimmy Giuffre – icy but expressive too, and both a great fit for the band because and apart from their usual work with Paul Desmond! Eugene Wright's still on bass, and Joe Morello plays some wonderfully time-kept drums – on titles that include "The Piper", "Frisco Fog", "Lydian Line", "Ballade", "One For The Kids", "Catch Me If You Can", and "Peace Brother". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful later work by the Dave Brubeck Quartet – an overlooked gem from their 60s Columbia sessions, and an album that features interpretations of tunes written by the great Matt Dennis! Dennis had a way with a tune that often put dark corners in the back of lovely melodies – and this subtle sense of emotion is a perfect foil for the understated talents of Paul Desmond's alto work on the set. Brubeck himself is nice too – less trick-oriented than usual, in a way that lets us focus on the colors of his tone – and drummer Joe Morello and bassist Eugene Wright are in top form, as usual. Titles include "Violets For Your Furs", "Let's Get Away From It All", "Little Man With The Candy Cigar", "Will You Still Be Mine", and "Everything Happens To Me". CD

Way more than just a gimmicky bossa nova session – and a surprisingly great showcase for the inventive rhythms of the Brubeck group, and the sensitive alto work of Paul Desmond! The record's got a really different feel than some of Dave's other work for Columbia – in that the modernism is put slightly on the back burner – letting drummer Joe Morello snap out with some lightly gliding percussion that's a bit more straight ahead than usual, and which offers a unique take on the bossa groove. Paul Desmond's the real star of the set, though – and his alto steps out here with the best gentle presence of his later work for RCA and A&M – beautifully blown throughout, and with a tone that most other players would die for! Titles include "Bossa Nova USA", "Coracao Sensivel", "Theme For June", "Lamento", and "Cantiga Nova Swing". LP, Vinyl record album

A live gem from the classic Dave Brubeck Quartet – and a great reminder that the group could almost be even more exciting in a concert setting than on their studio albums! The date is 1962, and the combo is in perfect form – sublime alto from Paul Desmond, and always-inventive rhythms from Joe Morello on drums and Eugene Wright on bass – fused perfectly with Dave's piano, but also very open and spontaneous here – with this extra sort of crackle that makes us know that although working at the level of perfection, these guys are still just mere mortals too! The set features a 12 minute take on "Brandenburg Gate" with a solo by Desmond that's simply stunning – and other cuts include "Since Love Had Its Way", "King For A Day", "Good Reviews", and "Cultural Exchange". LP, Vinyl record album

A previously unissued live recording from Dave Brubeck and his classic quartet – Paul Desmond on alto saxophone, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums1 CD

A great little live set – nicely extended, with the kind of surprises that Brubeck could bring to his concert appearances! The group's his classic quartet – with Paul Desmond on alto, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Never-heard live work from Dave Brubeck's legendary quartet – recorded overseas right at the time they were first breaking big on Columbia Record – and with a creative modern energy that shows them right about to leap into Time Out territory! The tunes here are mostly familiar, but given wonderfully fresh readings, thanks to Dave's sense of timing – augmented with the creative rhythms of Joe Morello on drums and Eugene Wright on bass – and topped with the always-sublime work of Paul Desmond on alto sax! The recording quality is wonderful – and titles include "Watusi Drums", "For All We Know", "One Moment Worth Years", "The Duke", "Someday My Prince Will Come", "Two Part Contention", and "The Wright Groove". LP, Vinyl record album

A great 2-fer – with 2 different classics from Dave Brubeck! First up is Gone With The Wind – a surprisingly nice little album from Brubeck – one that's mostly comprised of old-fashioned type tunes, but which all take on a hip new light in the hands of his classic quartet! As usual, Paul Desmond's one of the main assets of the set – working with Brubeck to forge a slightly off-beat and swinging approach that brings plenty of nice moments to tunes like "Gone With The Wind", "Ol Man River", "Shortnin Bread", "Camptown Races", and "The Lonesome Road". Time Out is easily the crowning moment of genius for the legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet – the moment when all things came together magically, and the group somehow elevated themselves to a whole new level in jazz! At the time of the set, Brubeck, Paul Desmond, and the rest had already been making plenty of waves with their creative yet swinging approaches to modern jazz – heard on a number of successful albums for Fantasy and Columbia in the 50s. But with this record, they really knocked one out of the park – blending Desmond's cool alto, Brubeck's unusual piano phrasing, Joe Morello's melodic drum work, and Eugene Wright's pulsating bass into a waltzing, almost modal groove that crossed over to many camps at the time! The classics "Take Five" and "Blue Rondo Ala Turk" were both hits on their own – but all titles are great, and include "Kathy's Waltz", "Strange Medow Lark", "Everybody's Jumpin", and "Pick Up Sticks". LP, Vinyl record album

Two classic early albums from San Francisco pianist Dave Brubeck! Jazz at Oberlin was famously recorded at the mid-Ohio college and haven of bohemiana, and a growing hotbed of jazz activity centered around students in the college's conservatory of music at the time of the recording! Dave and crew made the trip at the request of the kids – breaking from their mostly San Francisco-based recording career to cut what would end up becoming a very successful album in Dave's catalog, and begin a whole "at" or "goes to" series in his career – followed up at many other locations. The group's the early quartet with Paul Desmond on alto, Ron Crotty on bass, and Lloyd Davis on drums – and tunes include long and jamming versions of "The Way You Look Tonight", "How High The Moon", and "Stardust". College Of The Pacific is another great live set from the Dave Brubeck Quartet – already humming along nicely with some great alto sax from Paul Desmond! The group's in fine form here – a bit more relaxed and open than on their Columbia recordings – with plenty of creative piano lines from Dave, showing just a slight dose of modernism, and lots more of that cool, icy alto sax work that made Desmond a standout right from the start. Rhythm is by Ron Crotty on bass and Joe Dodge on drums – and titles include "Laura", "Lullaby In Rhythm", "For All We Know", "All The Things You Are", and "I'll Never Smile Again". CD

A great set – unissued material from the same concert that gave us the original College Of The Pacific album! Classic early live material from the Dave Brubeck Quartet – already humming along nicely with some great alto sax from Paul Desmond! The group's in fine form here – a bit more relaxed and open than on their Columbia recordings – with plenty of creative piano lines from Dave, showing just a slight dose of modernism, and lots more of that cool, icy alto sax work that made Desmond a standout right from the start. Rhythm is by Ron Crotty on bass and Joe Dodge on drums. CD

The Dave Brubeck Quartet goes to college – a pretty good place for the combo, considering how many fans they had on campus in the 50s! The sound here is never too academic for the setting, though – just the same sort of Brubeck groove first forged in the small clubs in San Francisco – played beautifully by an incarnation of the quartet that includes Paul Desmond on alto sax, Bob Bates on bass, and Joe Dodge on drums. The long, bluesy "Balcony Rock" is a real gem, with some standout work by Desmond that reminds us that he could be a great improvisor in an extended format – and other tracks include "Out Of Nowhere, "Le Souk", "The Song Is You", "Don't Worry Bout Me", and "Take The A Train". CD

One of the most obscure of Brubeck's Columbia modern sessions – and one of the best! Side one features more "time" oriented tunes played with the Quartet that included Paul Desmond, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello – but side two features the extended "Elementals" work, written for the quartet with jazz orchestra conducted by Rayburn Wright. Desmond's alto is fantastic on that track – floating, eerie, and quite sophisticatedly swinging – and the others ("Cable Car", "Iberia", "Shim Wha", and "Unisphere") are all strong examples of the quartet's simple genius. CD

Easily the crowning moment of genius for the legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet – the moment when all things came together magically, and the group somehow elevated themselves to a whole new level in jazz! At the time of the set, Brubeck, Paul Desmond, and the rest had already been making plenty of waves with their creative yet swinging approaches to modern jazz – heard on a number of successful albums for Fantasy and Columbia in the 50s. But with this record, they really knocked one out of the park – blending Desmond's cool alto, Brubeck's unusual piano phrasing, Joe Morello's melodic drum work, and Eugene Wright's pulsating bass into a waltzing, almost modal groove that crossed over to many camps at the time! The classics "Take Five" and "Blue Rondo Ala Turk" were both hits on their own – but all titles are great, and include "Kathy's Waltz", "Strange Medow Lark", "Everybody's Jumpin", and "Pick Up Sticks". CD

Rare material from the sessions for one of the greatest jazz albums ever – the legendary 1959 Time Out album by the Dave Brubeck quartet – expanded here with unreleased outtakes from the recording date, which include two tracks that were not even on the original record! The sound of the group is legendary – the crisp alto of Paul Desmond next to the ever-shifting, always-rhythmic piano of Brubeck – the man who brought modern jazz to the masses – aided with the fantastic bass of Eugene Wright and razor-sharp drum work of Joe Morello – every bit as great here as on the album that was released! The first five tracks are pretty close to the originals, with slight variations – a testament to the well-rehearsed nature of the group – but the added tunes really show the record in formation, as does the extra banter between the band that's included at the end. New titles include "Watusi Jam" and "I'm In A Dancing Mood" – alongside alternate takes of "Blue Rondo A La Turk", "Take Five", "Cathy's Waltz", "Three To Get Ready", and "Strange Meadowlark". CD

Features a long list of guest musicians including Roy Hargrove, Jon Hendricks, Joe Lovano, Gerry Mulligan, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride and George Shearing. CD

With Bill Smith on clarinet, Joe Morello on drums, and Gene Wright on bass. Titles include "By Jupiter", "The Unihorn", "Pan's Pipes", "Siren Song", and "Baggin The Dragon". LP, Vinyl record album

Dave Digs Disney – and hence, so do we! The album's one of the first to ever pay tribute to the great compositions heard in Disney films – and it features the magical sound of the Brubeck Quartet, turned upon a host of familiar numbers, and transforming them into longer vehicles for jazz improvisation. Given Dave's great sense of play with rhythm and timings, the tunes really get changed up in these versions – in a way that takes best advantage of the modal rhythms and jazz waltz styles that many of them share. Paul Desmond's alto work is as impeccably-handled as ever, and Joe Morello's sprightly drums seem perfectly at home with the tunes – as does Dave's warmly lyrical work on piano. Titles include "Alice In Wonderland", "Give A Little Whistle", "One Song", "Someday My Prince Will Come", and "Very Good Advice". CD

The last-ever live performance of the legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet with Paul Desmond – recorded in 1967, but issued here for the first time ever! The group was the stuff of legend in the 50s and 60s – Dave's incredible approach to piano and time signatures, supported by amazing rhythm progressions from bassist Eugene Wright and drummer Joe Morello – topped by some completely sublime work on alto sax by the mighty Paul Desmond! Throughout the 60s, the group really expanded their sound wonderfully – through a set of richly exploratory albums for Columbia Records, taking their core approach into a wide range of new styles and formats that really made for some beautiful music. Here, they deliver a stellar swan song – working in a live performance that brings back a few classics, and also shows some of the new territory they'd taken too – all recorded beautifully, at a level that makes the record a perfect pairing with their studio albums for Columbia – almost as if the label had been holding back a gem after all these years. Titles include "For Drummers Only", "La Paloma Azul", "Three To Get Ready", "Someday My Prince Will Come", "I'm In A Dancing Mood", "Set My People Free", "Take Five", and "You Go To My Head". CD

Great live work from the Dave Brubeck Quartet – a batch of recordings from Boston's legendary Storyville night club! The lineup features Dave on keys and the mighty Paul Desmond on alto sax – already stepping out here with a clear, crisp tone that's simply beautiful – a style that's a surprisingly nice match for the Boston scene of the 50s, which was budding similar altoists like Charlie Mariano and Boots Mussulli – recorded here with bass by Bob Bates, and drums by Joe Dodge. Tracks are relatively long, and titles include "Back Bay Blues", "When You're Smiling", "Here Lies Love", and "Gone With The Wind". LP, Vinyl record album

Never-heard live work from Dave Brubeck's legendary quartet – recorded overseas right at the time they were first breaking big on Columbia Record – and with a creative modern energy that shows them right about to leap into Time Out territory! The tunes here are mostly familiar, but given wonderfully fresh readings, thanks to Dave's sense of timing – augmented with the creative rhythms of Joe Morello on drums and Eugene Wright on bass – and topped with the always-sublime work of Paul Desmond on alto sax! The recording quality is wonderful – and titles include "Watusi Drums", "For All We Know", "One Moment Worth Years", "The Duke", "Someday My Prince Will Come", "Two Part Contention", and "The Wright Groove". CD

A sweet live set from Dave Brubeck's early years on Columbia Records – recorded in New York, but with all the calculated cool and modern tones Brubeck first forged in the San Francisco scene of the 50s! Paul Desmond's on board on alto sax – really getting a lot of space to stretch out on the album's extended performances, with a haunting, floating tone that really sends us. Remaining members include Bob Bates on bass, and Joe Dodge on drums – and tracks include "Lover", "Love Walked In", "The Duke", "Little Girl Blue", and "Fare Thee Well Annabelle". LP, Vinyl record album

The Dave Brubeck Quartet goes to college – a pretty good place for the combo, considering how many fans they had on campus in the 50s! The sound here is never too academic for the setting, though – just the same sort of Brubeck groove first forged in the small clubs in San Francisco – played beautifully by an incarnation of the quartet that includes Paul Desmond on alto sax, Bob Bates on bass, and Joe Dodge on drums. The long, bluesy "Balcony Rock" is a real gem, with some standout work by Desmond that reminds us that he could be a great improvisor in an extended format – and other tracks include "Out Of Nowhere, "Le Souk", "The Song Is You", "Don't Worry Bout Me", and "Take The A Train". LP, Vinyl record album

Live recording from 1967 in Paris – with Paul Desmond on alto, Gene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Like Dave Brubeck's legendary Time Out set? Try this one – a great record that takes off from the concept of the first, but which goes in some very fresh new directions – using the same great group with Paul Desmond on alto, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums! Dave's still working out some nutty time signatures here – but apart from the science, the thing that really makes the record cook is Desmond's alto – icy, edgey, floating, and always a treat – almost even more amazing in the space of some of these offbeat numbers. Titles include "Maori Blues", "Far More Drums", "Bluetee", "Far More Blue", and "It's A Raggy Waltz". LP, Vinyl record album

Dave Brubeck's probably best known for the instrumental work by his classic quartet on Columbia Records, but during his years at the label, he also recorded some great work with singers too! Most of the tracks on the set are from the years 1960 and 1961 – a time of intense recording for the Brubeck group on Columbia, and a time when Dave's combo was paired with other artists on a variety of different sessions. The most famous of these tracks are probably the ones that feature Carmen McRae, and others are from The Real Ambassadors album – which included Louis Armstrong and Lambert Hendricks & Ross – and a great overlooked date with Jimmy Rushing, who was wrapping up Columbia work at the time. The core combo here features Paul Desmond on alto sax, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums – and titles include "Take Five", "Travelin Blues", "In The Lurch", "Weep No More", and "My One Bad Habit" with Carmen McRae; "My Melancholy Baby", "Ain't Misbehavin", "There'll Be Some Changes Made", and "Blues In The Dark" with Jimmy Rushing; "Since Love Had Its Way" and "Summer Song" with Louis Armstrong; "The Real Ambassador" and "Cultural Exchange with Armstrong and Lambert Hendricks & Ross; "That Old Black Magic" with Tony Bennett; and the incredible "Autumn In Our Town" with Ranny Sinclair – issued here for the first time ever, and a marvelously dark tune that carries echoes of later work by Karin Krog and Monica Zetterlund! CD