Joe's firey Latin piano turns towards a number of tracks that are best known as standards, but which are given a nice Latiny tinge here in this classic Tico session. Titles include "Lover", "Cuban Nightingale", "Body & Soul", "September In the Rain", "Talk Of The Town", "Mucho Swing", "Love For Sale", and "Blue Moon". LP, Vinyl record album

A great set of Latin grooves – and despite the "calypso" in the title, this is pretty much a straight Latin album from Joe Loco, and it ranks as one of his best from the 50s. The grooves are nice and straight ahead, with searing percussion, and nice heavy piano from Joe. Who knows why they called it calypso? Maybe they were trying to cash in on the calypso craze of the 50s? Whatever the case, though, the album's a nice one, and includes great tracks like "Bongo Bob", "Tappin Joe", "Machicha", and "Pick Your Poison". LP, Vinyl record album

A solid groover from Joe Loco – cut in a pachanga style, as you'd guess from the title – but like all of his work at the time, the kind of a session that's really driven by his tight work on piano, no matter what the rhythm! Joe's heavy hand on the keys makes any sort of a record a rhythmic one – and on this set, he's out front of the rhythms creating these hypnotic lines that hold everything in place magically. A few cuts have some vibes and stronger percussion – and there's none of the flute or violin that you might expect from the genre. Titles include "Taffy Twist", "Splish Splash", "Pachanga Tweest #1", "Curtain Time", and "The Edge Of The Sea". LP, Vinyl record album

Years before Eddie Palmieri started adding some very "out" touches to his solos during the 70's, Joe Loco was transforming Latin jazz piano with a style that was a bit tighter, but no less "out". The tracks on this record are a perfect example of his well-earned "Loco" label, as they start out Cha Cha, but get pretty loopy in the piano parts. Titles include "Summertime", "Nightmare", "Moderna Muchacha", "Regalame Esta Noche", "Madness", and "Shakin". LP, Vinyl record album

Joe and his crazy piano are at the head of another lively set of Latin numbers – piano driven all the way, with some heavy percussion to make things groove! Tracks include "Loco Motion", "Tremendo Cha-Cha-Cha", "Paso Merengue", "Mama Inez", "Baion Baby", "Negra Consentida", and "Manhattan". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic Joe Loco material for Tico from the 50s – hard and heavy piano work, leaping around with almost as much inherent rhythm as the percussion that accompanies it! Loco's style gets a bit, well, "loco" at times – but never too much so – and titles include "Happy Mambo", "Cha Cha Cha #5", "Matty Singer Mambo", "The High & The Mighty", and "Sadie Thompson Song"! LP, Vinyl record album

The tight piano of Joe Loco takes on tunes that include "Hablame De Amor", "Silencio", "Lamento Borincano", "Arrancame La Vida", "Palmera", and "Maria Bonita". LP, Vinyl record album

A very nice album of tight hot Latin instrumentals, played by Joe Loco with his tremendous choppy approach to the piano! The title and notes seem to imply that there's a "rockin" sound to this one, but that's only because Joe wails so much, Mercury was trying to align the record with their rock n roll ones. Titles include "Rockeando Cha", "Hispanorama", "Back Alley Tango", "Watermelon Kisses", and "Rockin Con Ric". LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

Seemed like Joe was always in a mambo mood at the time he was making these sides for Tico – but that's A-OK with us, as the record's a corker – tight little grooves in Joe's best percussion/piano format! A few tracks even have some vibes, which makes for a nice sound – and titles include "Gee", "Way Marie", "Why Don't You Doo Right", "El Baion", and "Kismet". LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty wonderful album from Joe Loco – recorded with a quintet that includes Pete Terrace on vibes, plus bass, bongos, and timbales. The spare lineup is really wonderful – and they sound even more compelling because on most tracks they play super-super slow, in this strange otherworldly mix of piano and vibes that's extremely haunting. There's a few more uptempo numbers – like "Bongo Boy" and "Mambo Moro" – but most of the record is slow spooky versions of songs like "Stella By Starlight", "Invitation", and "Laura". LP, Vinyl record album

Lots of heavy duty piano work from Joe Loco – working here in a cool combo with Frank Guerrero on vibes and Luis Rivera on guitar – and plenty of percussion too! Titles include "Tabu", "Piel Canela", "Teach Me Tonight", "La Montana", "To Each His Own", "Sway", and "Guitarra Romano". LP, Vinyl record album

Great stuff from Joe – played in the company of a hard small group with some very nice vibes! The mix of vibes with Joe's heavy piano style is a great one – and the record has a strong no-nonsense jazz mambo style that makes it way better than some of Joe's other albums from the time! Titles include "Chevriko", "Perdido", "Mambo Azul", "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue", and "Anna". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the rare Fantasy Records sessions cut by Latin piano genius Joe Loco – even cooler than some of his work for bigger labels! Titles include "Catalina", "There's A Small Hotel", "Rockadine", "Bella Merecumbe", "Piragua", "Imagination", and "Perdido". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice one by Joe Loco – one of his strongest of the 60s, and a tight batch of Latin soul tracks that has a lot more fire than some of his other records! The group's bigger too – with a crackling sound that's got all the youthful integrity you might expect from a title like Puerto Rico '68. The title cut "Puerto Rico 68" is a great number – subtitled "Camel Hop", and with a strong "Camel Walk" groove. Other tracks include "Chua Chua Boogaloo", "Shing-Ah-Ling", and "Oh Yeah" – and the album also features a cover of "Bang Bang". LP, Vinyl record album

Hard early work by Joe Loco – featuring the piano of the mad genius set in spare striking percussion arrangements with some occasional extra horn work! The best cuts have Joe really going to town on the keys, playing strange choppy little solos that are filled with the kind of imagination that shows that the roots of avant garde piano work of the 60s lies in the Latin players of the 50s. Titles include "Vaya", "Anaboaca", "Siboney", "Pan Con Queso", "Rhumba Rhapsody", and a great version of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A real step forward for Joe Jackson, and a record that has plenty of jazz in the mix – as you might guess from its cover's hommage to a Sonny Rollins 50s album on Blue Note! Titles include "You Can't Get What You Want", "Be My Number Two", "Loisaida", "Happy Ending", "Not Here Not Now", "Cha Cha Loco", and "The Verdict". LP, Vinyl record album

Caribbean styles hit the American scene – then get transformed into something completely different in this huge collection of recordings that span styles that include jazz, Latin, R&B, soul, and blues! In some cases, the Caribbean element comes through in the song structure – which might be lifted directly, then reworked for an American audience. But at other times, the influence is more in the rhythms or instrumentation – used as inspiration to then create something new – a bit in the way that American soul would provide the inspiration for reggae in the 60s. The package has the usual fantastic Fremeaux presentation – with a big booklet of historical notes, in both French and English, to support 66 titles that include "Jamaica Farewell" by Sam Cooke, "Salty Fish Aki Rice" by Ruth Wallis, "Bajan Girl" by Lionel Belasco, "Sly Mongoose" by Sam Manning, "El Gallero" by Dioris Valladares & Angel Viloria, "El Mambo Diablo" by Tito Puente, "Hey Little Girl" by Professor Longhair, "Un Poco Loco" by Bud Powell, "Chee Koo Baby" by Lloyd Price, "Shrinking Up Fast" by Camille Howard, "Ojai" by Joe Lutcher, "Salee Dame" by Albert Nicholas & Baby Dodds, "Inside" by Hector The Ram, "Run Come See Jerusalem"b y Stan Wilson, "I Learn A Merengue" by Robert Mitchum, "Afro Blue" by Cal Tjader, "La Maricutana" by Damiron & Chapuseaux, "Magical Joe" by Herb Jeffries, "Begin The Beguine" by Charlie Parker, "Make It Do" by Slim Gaillard, "Guitarambo" by Mickey Baker, and "Don't Touch Me Nylon" by The Charmer (aka Louis Farrakhan). CD

Sweet funky jazz with some really wonderful keyboards – a double-length set that brings together two rare albums from Argentine combo Quinteplus! The group here clearly have a love of the Cannonball Adderley style of soul jazz – particularly that Cannon groove as the 60s wore into the 70s, and his quintet began to open up their rhythms a bit more. Most numbers have some very sharp trumpet and tenor in the frontline, directed strongly by electric piano lines that step out spaciously with a wicked blend of funky and modal inspirations. The drums and bass are pretty great too – tightly punched, yet often with a nice sense of space that almost recalls the brilliance of the Adderley group when David Axelrod was handling them on Capitol Records! The package features 2 full albums – Quinteplus and En Vivo – with titles that include "Ode To Billie Joe", "Jose Blues", "Pochoclito", "Blackman El Justiciero", "Zamba De Mis Pagos", "El Marques", "Loberman El Hombre Loco", and "Los Ejes De Mi Carreta". CD

An all-star collection, and one that features key Fania work from years that are even before the big 70s boom – titles that include "El Pito" by Joe Cuba, "Muneca" by Eddie Palmieri, "Oye Como Va" by Tito Puente, "Juana Pena" by Willie Colon, "El Malecon" by Orchestra Harlow, "Huracan" by Bobby Valentin, "Richie's Jala Jala" by Ricardo Ray, "Quitate La Mascara" by Ray Barretto, and "Tu Loco Loco Y Yo Tranquilo" by Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound. LP, Vinyl record album

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". CD

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". LP, Vinyl record album

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". CD

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". LP, Vinyl record album

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". This newly remastered edition includes additional notes and photos, and alternate takes of "Blue Train" and "Lazy Bird"! CD

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". This edition includes alternate takes of "Blue Train" and "Lazy Bird"! CD

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". This edition includes alternate takes of "Blue Train" and "Lazy Bird"! CD

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". This beautiful 2LP version features heavy cover and vinyl – and a full bonus album of material that includes "Lazy Bird (alt take 1)", "Lazy Bird (alt take 2)", "Blue Train (false start)", "Blue Train (alt take 7)", "Moment's Notice (alt take 4)", "Blue Train (alt take 8)", and "Moment's Notice (incomplete alt take 5a)". LP, Vinyl record album

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". 2CD version features a full bonus album of material that includes "Lazy Bird (alt take 1)", "Lazy Bird (alt take 2)", "Blue Train (false start)", "Blue Train (alt take 7)", "Moment's Notice (alt take 4)", "Blue Train (alt take 8)", and "Moment's Notice (incomplete alt take 5a)". CD

Girl rock galore – a cool little set that brings together important female cuts from the late 70s punk years, then moves forward to show just how much the underground exploded from the 90s into the 21st Century! The set's got plenty of the energy you'd expect from the title – and as with other collections on Ace, the track list is superb – lots of great choices throughout – and supported with a very detailed booklet of notes that ties everything together, and really fills you in on some of the lesser-known artists in the set. CD features 24 tracks in all – and titles include "Spirit FM" by Bad Moves, "Take It Off" by The Donnas, "Out Of Time" by Vibeke Saugestad, "I'll Be Alright" by Baby Shankes, "We Only Come Out At Night" by The Sugar Store, "Peter Gunn Locomotion" by The Delmonas, "Hanging On The Telephone" by Blondie, "Cmon & Kiss Me" by Sun 60, "The Teens Are Square" by The Courettes, "Teenage Kicks" by Dawn Chorus & The Bluetits, "In The City" by Cocktail Slippers, "Juvenile Thrills" by The Launderettes, "Dancing With Joey Ramone" by Amy Rigby, "Rock Boys" by Suzy & Los Quattro, "Take It All Away" by Girlschool, "Unforgiven" by The Go Gos, and "Da Doo Ron Ron/I Wanna Be Sedated" by The Dollyrots. CD