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Brunswick and Victor recordings featuring Kid Ory, Leroy Harris, Paul Barbarin, Barney Bigard, and Punch Miller. Tracks include "Dead Man Blues," "Lazy Mama," "Speakeasy Blues," "Willie The Weeper," and more. CD

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Includes "Too Late", "Sweet Like This", "I'm Lonesome, Sweetheart", "St James Infirmary", "Edna", "Olga", "Shake It & Brake It", and many more. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "What You Want Me To Do", "Sweet Like This", "Too Late", "I'm Lonesome, Sweetheart", "Frankie And Johnny - Take 3", "New Orleans Shout", "Everybody Does It In Hawaii", "Frankie And Johnny - Take 4", "I Must Have It", "Rhythm Club Stomp", "You're Just My Type", "Edna", "Mule Face Blues", "Struggle Buggy", "Don't You Think I Love You", "Olga - Take 1", "Olga - Take 2", "Shake It And Break It", "Stingaree Blues", "Nelson Stomp - Take 2", "Nelson Stomp - Take 3", and "Stealing Love". CD

With 32 tracks including "Call Of The Freaks", "My Good Man Sam", "I Must Have It", "Saint James Infirmary", "Struggle Buggy", "Mule Face Blues", "New Orleans Shout", and "Shake It & Break It". CD

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With Louis Armstrong, Johnny Dodds, Honore Dutrey, Babby Dodds, Lil Hardin, Johnny St Cyr, Bill Johnson, and Stump Evans. CD

37 fresh transfers from the original discs. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

This is the kind of battle we like to see! Three heavy tenors – Nelson, King, and Jimmy Forrest – come head to head in a relaxed set of tunes cut in that Prestige blowing session mode, but tweaked with a bit more tightness, in the style of some of the label's emerging soul jazz sides of the 60s. Nelson's gutsy tenor will shock you if you haven't heard him in this sort of less restrained setting – and Forrest's work from this time is always a treat. Titles include "Blues For MF", "Anacruses", "Perdido", and "In Passing". Includes the bonus track "Soul Street". CD

The "new scene" of King Curtis here is a jazz one – as Prestige takes him into the studio, and backs up his tenor with accompaniment from Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Oliver Jackson – plus trumpet from Nat Adderley, billed on the back as "Little Brother" for contractual reasons! The tracks are long and open, with less of King's tenor tricks, and more of a laidback Gene Ammons-ish style of blowing. Titles include "Little Brother Soul", "In A Funky Groove", "Have You Heard", and "Da Duh Duh". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the sharpest work we've heard from Oliver Lake during the early 80s – a relatively free, improvised album that almost recalls some of his loft jazz recordings of the 70s! The group's a quartet – with Lake on alto, soprano sax, and flute – and other players include Baikida Carroll on trumpet, Donald Smith on piano, and Pheeroan AkLaff on drums – the last of whom brings this punched-up energy to many of the tunes – driving them forward, even when the horns are frenetic, in a way that really helps make the album a cut above. Smith gets in a few sensitive moments – and one number features some beautifully sweet flute from Lake – easily one of our favorite points on the record. Titles include "November 80", "Sop", "Clevont Fitzhubert", "King", and "Hmbay". CD

With selections by Louis Armstront, Count Basie, Sidney Bechet, Johnny Dodds, Sleepy John Estes, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Coleman Hawkins, Fletcher Henderson, Earl Hines, Ladnier-Mezzrow All Stars, Jimmy Lunceford, Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Fats Waller, and Jimmy Yancey. LP, Vinyl record album

Featuring Louis Armstrong, Bunk Johnson, Art Hodes, Johnny Dodds, Chicago Rhythm Kings, King Oliver, and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Includes 215 tracks by the Dixie Stompers, Ray Miller, Pual Whiteman, Bix Beiderbecke, Slim Lamar, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmichael, the Sizzlers, James P Johnson, Fats Waller, King Oliver, Bennie Moten, and more – plus a dense 60-page essay by saxophonist and music historian Allen Lowe! CD

A different James Brown album – but a nice one! James doesn't sing soul, so much as jazz – in front of large backings by Louis Bellson, with arrangements by Oliver Nelson that are in his best 60s soul mode – and which give the album a very very groovy feel overall! The record's not funky, but James' vocals are plenty darn soulful – and the album is proof that he could be a huge talent in just about any mode that he chose – shining with a brilliance that was irrepressible! James covers a few of his older tracks on the album, and sings a few other pop standards – and titles include nice versions of "It's Magic", "The Man In The Glass", "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", "That's My Desire", and "I Need Your Key (To Turn Me On)". CD features the previously unissued bonus track "There Was A Time" – plus the full, unedited versions of 4 other tracks – appearing here for the first time ever! CD

A great collection of rare 78rpm material – showcasing the songwriting skills of Jelly Roll Morton, and just how strong his influence was on jazz in the 30s! The package features 22 tracks from vintage 78s – recordings by King Oliver, Lanin's Red Heads, Bennie Moten, Doc Cook & His Dreamland Orchestra, The Tennessee Tooters, Johnny Dodds, Benny Goodman, California Ramblers, Fletcher Henderson, Bob Crosby, Mary Lou Williams, Lionel Hampton, and others! CD

A great collection of rare 78rpm material – showcasing the songwriting skills of Jelly Roll Morton, and just how strong his influence was on jazz in the 30s! The package features 22 tracks from vintage 78s – recordings by King Oliver, Lanin's Red Heads, Bennie Moten, Doc Cook & His Dreamland Orchestra, The Tennessee Tooters, Johnny Dodds, Benny Goodman, California Ramblers, Fletcher Henderson, Bob Crosby, Mary Lou Williams, Lionel Hampton, and others! CD

Seven albums – most recorded for Prestige and New Jazz – with performances by Larry Young, Oliver Nelson, King Curtis, Seldon Powell, Joe Zawinul, Roy Haynes, and Ray Barretto. CD

A late 60s set, but one that recalls the sweet swinging style of Prestige Records' Swingville sessions from the early part of the decade! Illinois Jacquet sounds wonderful here on tenor (and a bit of bassoon on one track!) – blowing with plenty of open space amidst a lineup that includes Tiny Grimes on guitar, Wynton Kelly on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums. The approach is kind of a mix of Jacquet's mid 60s work for Argo/Cadet, with some of the late 50s non-bop swing sessions issued by Prestige – and titles include "The Galloping Latin", "Still King", "For Once In My Life", and "Every Day". CD

The second great session from two of Verve's biggest jazz stars of the 60s – organist Jimmy Smith and guitarist Wes Montgomery – an unlikely pair, to be sure, but one who work great together on the set! The real change here is in Wes' playing – as it's shifted from the mellower style used over larger backings on most of his Verve sets, back to the rootsier soul jazz tone of his earliest recordings from his days on the Indianapolis scene. Jimmy and Wes are working with a core combo that includes Grady Tate on drums and Ray Barretto on conga – making for a lean organ/guitar groove that's only got percussion to kick it along. Titles include "Call Me", "OGD", "King Of The Road", "Mellow Mood", and "Maybe September" – plus a great version of "Milestones" that features some hard swinging larger backings from Oliver Nelson! CD

With King Oliver on cornet. CD

Music from The Original Dixieland Five, King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, New Orleans Rhythm Kings, Clarence Williams' Blue Five, Bessie Smith, Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, Frankie Trumbauer And His Orchestra, Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang, Fats Waller & His Rhythm, Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five, Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra, Benny Goodman Trio, Duke Ellington And His Orchestra, Red Nichols And His Five Pennies, Bob Crosby And The Bob Cats, Sidney Bechet Quintet, Bud Freeman And His Famous Chicagoans, and Doc Cheatham And His New York Quartet. CD

A long-overdue look at the mini-soul empire of Leo Gooden – an tiny little enclave in East St Louis that was making some mighty hip music in the early 60s! Gooden wore many hats at the time – politician, club owner, and local businessman – but he also put together his own band and record label, and worked in a very hip mix of R&B and 60s soul jazz modes! Through his nightclub, The Blue Note, Gooden came into contact with a variety of great musicians, both national and local – and he brought their inspiration to play on sessions recorded here for his LG family of labels – issued on a handful of singles and two rare LPs. Although rough-edged at times, these tracks have a really great sound – kind of a grittier take on the Prestige Records groove of the 60s – helped out by musicians who include Oliver Nelson and Hamiet Bluiett – and singers who include Albert King and Charles Drain. The package is a bit loose on discographical details, but definitely includes all the best moments from these mighty years on the East St Louis scene – and the full story in the notes more than helps to fill in the gaps in Gooden's compelling tale. The titles by Leo's Five – Gooden's group – are all hip jazz instrumentals, often with a strong mix of Hammond, guitar, and tenor – and these titles include "Hold It", "Sunrise Serenade", "Something You Got", "Tippin", "Johnnie Come Marching Home (Country Style)", "Minor Over Matter", "Mop Water", "Fredrick's Dream", and "Cookin With Chezie Mae". Other cuts include "COD" and "Worsome Baby" by Albert King, "So Glad" and "Stop & Think About It Baby" by Charles Drain, "Winkee Do" and "Ugly Ugly" by Leo Gooden, and "Let's Do The Cat" by Jamie Ross. CD

Artists include King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Sonny Rollins, Erskine Hawkins, Eddie Durham and more. CD

Swinging organ tracks from Shirley, with large band backing by Oliver Nelson, very much in the mode of Jimmy Smith's albums with Nelson on Verve! Includes a nice reading of the theme from "Shot In The Dark", plus "Hoe Down", "Shadows Of Paris", and "Great Scott". Also includes a side of trio material, including one track that features Shirley on vocals. Titles on that stuff include "Make Someone Happy", "5 O'Clock Whistle", and "The Blues Ain't Nothin But Pain". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the deepest albums that Count Basie ever recorded – thanks to some great arrangements and backings by Oliver Nelson! Nelson's working in the same groovy mode he used with Jimmy Smith's excellent Verve sessions – and although the record doesn't have the same sort of star soloist in the lead, the Basie band members do a great job of trading off solos over the enigmatic backings crafted by Nelson. A number of the tracks have a Latin flair – and work on electric bass grooves that push the set farther than the usual Basie outing of the time – with a flavor that's right up there with the hippest Nelson sessions for Flying Dutchman, and maybe even a bit like spiritual ensemble material too. Titles include versions of Albert Ayler's "Love Flower" and Pharoah Sanders' "Japan", plus originals by Nelson like "Afrique", "Kilimanjaro", and "African Sunrise". CD

Wonderful 50s vocal work from Louis Armstrong – with backing from Sy Oliver, and some sweet trumpet solos too! LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderfully sweet work from trumpeter Charlie Shavers – a set that has Shavers blowing on ballads over larger orchestrations – in a style that's really our favorite side of his music! Charlie's horn already has a long legacy by the time of this record – a slightly mature style that sounds wonderfully as he drifts magically over string-heavy backings from Sy Oliver – in a mode that's warm and lush, yet also beautifully soulful, and manages to really personalize the familiar tunes in the set. Titles include "Stella By Starlight", "Ill Wind", "Stormy Weather", "Out Of Nowhere", "Stardust", and "I Cover The Waterfront". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most impressive albums ever from arranger Oliver Nelson – a set that really shows the full depth of his mighty talents! Side one features Nelson working with a larger orchestra – similar to the kind of ensemble he arranged for other artists in the 60s, but handled here with an open, searching sort of sound – really impressive modern jazz elements on the title track, then some sweeter, warmer soul sounds on a few shorter numbers too! Nelson plays soprano sax, and his use of the instrument is definitely Coltrane-informed at times – and a nice change from his more familiar alto. The flipside features just a quartet – Oliver again on soprano sax – plus Steve Kuhn on piano, Ron Carter bass, and Grady Tate on drums. With Kuhn on piano, bringing a nice modern edge that works perfectly with the soprano. Titles include "Sound Piece For Jazz Orchestra", "Patterns", "Flute Salad", "The Lady From Girl Talk", and "Elegy For A Duck". LP, Vinyl record album

The cover looks a bit kitschy and electric, but the album's a real back to basics album for Oliver Lake – a standout set from the time, and a wonderfully soulful session throughout! The album has Lake playing alto sax throughout – working with a hip quartet that includes Charles Eubanks on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Andrew Cyrille on drums – all players who could really go way outside if they wanted, but manage to hold right on the edge of a groove here with Lake – not really playing straight, but keeping a soulful pulse on most numbers – which also seems to drive Oliver into some tighter formation as well. His sharp alto really cuts nicely against the rhythm section – and the album's got a fresh, focused feel that may well make it one of the best Lake recordings for Black Saint. Titles include "Shiffs", "Peanut Butter", "Edge-ing", "Scene One", and "Zaki". CD

One of the most impressive albums ever from arranger Oliver Nelson – a set that really shows the full depth of his mighty talents! Side one features Nelson working with a larger orchestra – similar to the kind of ensemble he arranged for other artists in the 60s, but handled here with an open, searching sort of sound – really impressive modern jazz elements on the title track, then some sweeter, warmer soul sounds on a few shorter numbers too! Nelson plays soprano sax, and his use of the instrument is definitely Coltrane-informed at times – and a nice change from his more familiar alto. The flipside features just a quartet – Oliver again on soprano sax – plus Steve Kuhn on piano, Ron Carter bass, and Grady Tate on drums. With Kuhn on piano, bringing a nice modern edge that works perfectly with the soprano. Titles include "Sound Piece For Jazz Orchestra", "Patterns", "Flute Salad", "The Lady From Girl Talk", and "Elegy For A Duck". CD

A huge book of jazz reviews from the UK – all penned by journalist Chris Searle from the Morning Star – and presented here with a bonus 2CD set of rare material from the UK scene! The CD is really incredible – and is almost worth the price of the package alone – as it features never-issued work that echoes some of the ideas in the book – served up by some of the luminaries we've come to love from the Jazz In Britain label! There's a huge amount of material from various groups led by pianist Chris McGregor – titles that include "New Year Carnival", "Sun Song", "Night Poem", and "Sabendye Baye" – plus more cuts that include "Saalfelden Encore" by Trevor Watts, "Live At The Albert" by Mujician, "Number Three" and "Sixes & Sevens" by John Stevens, "Six Piece Group Improvisation" by Splinters, and "How About You" by Bruce Turner. The book covers more contemporary musicians in UK performances – almost 400 pages of reviews from the Morning Star, on artists who include Susan Alcorn, Denys Baptiste, Fred Frith, Anthony Braxton, Mary Halvorsen, Oliver Lake, Frank Lowe, Myra Melford, Archie Shepp, Henry Grimes, and dozens of others. Book

Straight, strong, and soulful sounds from guitarist Kenny Burrell – quite possibly one of his best albums of the 60s, thanks to a really well-focused sound throughout! The groove here is nice and tight – a cooking little rhythm section that features Richard Wyands on piano, Martin Rivera on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums – snapping away on the kit on some of the best tracks, and really helping Burrell to hit this groove that's mighty nice! Kenny seems to have a bit more bite than usual too – and even the laidback tunes have plenty going on to keep our ears happy. Titles include "La Petite Mambo", "Suzy", "The Tender Gender", "Girl Talk", "Isabella", "If Someone Had Told Me", and "Hot Bossa". LP, Vinyl record album

A great set of tracks that represents some of Chris Connor's first recordings as a solo act – culled from earlier ep and 10" releases, and issued here on a full LP with a total of 14 tracks. Backing is by three groups – the Ellis Larkin Trio, Vinnie Burke's Quartet, and Sy Oliver's Orchestra – and Chris is in fine fine form, vocalizing with that icy tone we love so much, a bit sad, and a bit mellow, but always heartfelt, without the forced emotion of other singers of her generation. Titles include "Stella By Starlight", "Goodbye", "Spring Is Here", "Ask Me", "Lullaby Of Birdland", "Try A Little Tenderness", and "He's Coming Home". LP, Vinyl record album

A pivotal album from this hip Japanese jazz group – one that really sees them finding their own path forward, and working with really unusual material and stretching out on some longer tracks than before! The tunes here ere arranged by Masahiko Sato, Masao Yagi, Norio Maeda, and Kiyoshi Yamaya – most of whom wrote the material, along with Oliver Nelson – the latter of whom might be a good reference here, as the group are breaking down older large jazz group modes, and finding a way to soar with a new sense of spirit and soul – similar to Nelson's best recordings! Leader Hara blows some great tenor solos, and other players include Takao Naoi on guitar, Toshiko Ogawa on piano, and Hiroshi Suzuki on trombone – on titles that include "Flexibility", "Flute Salad", "Elegy For A Duck", "Dark Horse", "Little Giant", "Patterns", and "Orbit 8:11". LP, Vinyl record album

Groovy Lena Horne from the 60s – an album that's a heck of a lot hipper and more swinging than most of her sets from a decade before! That unmistakable Horne style of singing is still very much in place here – but the backings are often tightly punctuated, with a gently soulful groove that definitely lives up to the title, and which serves up most of the tracks with a nice little sense of rhythm. Ray Ellis is working here with Lena on the backings – and his style is arguably a bit groovier than usual too, with more of the syncopations you might find in mid 60s Quincy Jones or Oliver Nelson. Titles include "I Got A Worried Man", "What The World Needs Now Is Love", "Love Bug", "Taste Of Honey", "I'd Like To Hear It Sometime", and "You Know What To Do". LP, Vinyl record album

A massive set of music – and one that includes all the rare Palm label recordings made by reedman Byard Lancaster in Paris during the 70s! First up is Us – a set that features a really freewheeling trio brought together under the leadership of reedman Byard Lancaster – a group that features the great AACM drummer Steve McCall, who you'll know from his work in another trio, Air – and bassist Sylvain Marc, who plays an electric version of his instrument on the set! There's a very strong AACM vibe to the music – a balance between personal, spiritual moments – and others that have the trio really taking off, especially when McCall really kicks it up on drums – a performance that really seems to show the versatility of Lancaster, as he blows beautifully on alto, tenor, and flute. Both McCall and Byard have some great solo moments – and the title track actually gets a bit funky too, in sort of an early Joe McPhee mode! Titles include "Just Test", "Us", "John III", "Flore", and "McCall All". Next is Mother Africa – one of the boldest statements ever made by reedman Byard Lancaster – a really freewheeling live set recorded in Paris, and done with the hard-burning energy that marked some of the classic late 60s sessions for BYG! Lancaster's key musical partner here is trumpeter Clint Jackson III, who's equally on fire here – effortlessly moving next to Byard as the pair chop up sound and space while spinning out these really amazing improvisations – in the company of Jean-Francois Catoire on both acoustic and electric bass, Keno Speller on percussion, and Jonathan Dickinson. And while the album definitely resonates with the very free jazz in Paris in 1969, it also has some moments of structure that really balance things out as well – almost working as a bridge to the loft jazz scene, especially with some of the spiritual currents that Byard brings to the music. Titles include "We The Blessed" and "Mother Africa". The album Exactement features some of the most beautiful, most introspective music ever recorded by the great Byard Lancaster – a set that brings his work on reeds and piano into play with the percussion of Keno Speller! Lancaster is clearly the driving force here – there are a lot of fantastic solo passages, many with a more tuneful sense of structure than some of Byard's freer work – and his work on piano, flute, bass clarinet, and soprano sax is stunning throughout – augmented by Speller in just the right ways! One track uses an octavoice to create a really wonderful sound – almost a more spiritual take on territory explored by Eddie Harris – and the double-length set is overflowing with brilliance, with tracks that include "Keno Exactement", "Virginia", "Dr Oliver W Lancaster", "Palm Sunday", "C Marianne Alicia", and "Providence Baptist Church". Funny Funky Rib Crib is a rare French session from American reedman Byard Lancaster – and easily one of his funkiest albums ever! The set's got a hip mix of avant jazz and groovier rhythms – bits of guitar and keyboards alongside sharper reeds and percussion – all in a way that's a bit like some of the funky French work cut by Hal Singer! Byard's still as progressive as ever, but focused more on the groove than before – not in a commercial way, but in a style that pushes his music strongly forward to the people. Lancaster plays mostly sax, but also a bit of flute and piano, and even vocalizes on one cut too – and other players include Francois Nyombo on guitar, Francois Tusques on electric piano, Clint Jackson on trumpet, Joseph Traindl on trombone, Del Rabenja on tenor, and both Marc Sylvain and Steve McCall on drums. Titles include "Rib Crib (parts 1 & 2)", "Dogtown", "Loving Kindness", "Work & Pray", and "Just Test". The set also features the rare extended track "Love Always" – originally for the sessions that created Mother Africa. LP, Vinyl record album

Great music from jazz guitarist Mundell Lowe – a set that was originally written as the soundtrack for an early 60s sexploitation film, Satin In High Heels – but which works equally well as a jazz album on its own! Lowe's in a slightly different setting than on some of his earlier records – working with larger arrangements that include a rich array of sounds and tunes from Eddie Costa on piano and vibes, Clark Terry and Joe Newman on trumpets, Al Cohn and Oliver Nelson on tenor, Jimmy Cleveland on trombone, and Phil Woods on alto sax – an all-star lineup who make the music sound way better than you might expect! Lowe's guitar gets a lot of center space in the sound – providing the right sort of slinky, crime jazz-styled elements – and titles include "Coffee Coffee", "Lake In the Woods", "Pattern Of Evil", "Blues For A Stripper", and "East Side Drive In". Nice jazzy sound, and a very sexy theme! LP, Vinyl record album

Great music from jazz guitarist Mundell Lowe – a set that was originally written as the soundtrack for an early 60s sexploitation film, Satin In High Heels – but which works equally well as a jazz album on its own! Lowe's in a slightly different setting than on some of his earlier records – working with larger arrangements that include a rich array of sounds and tunes from Eddie Costa on piano and vibes, Clark Terry and Joe Newman on trumpets, Al Cohn and Oliver Nelson on tenor, Jimmy Cleveland on trombone, and Phil Woods on alto sax – an all-star lineup who make the music sound way better than you might expect! Lowe's guitar gets a lot of center space in the sound – providing the right sort of slinky, crime jazz-styled elements – and titles include "Coffee Coffee", "Lake In the Woods", "Pattern Of Evil", "Blues For A Stripper", and "East Side Drive In". Nice jazzy sound, and a very sexy theme! CD

A record that's every bit as groovy as you might guess from its cover and title – filled with sweet Hammond organ lines from Henryk Lysiak, who really opens up his solos in a great way! The look of the set might make you think that it's less jazz than easy instrumental, but Henryk's definitely a player who knows how to solo – and works here on tracks that feature slightly larger backings, but in a way that then makes it clear that the organ is the star of the show – a bit like the way that Oliver Nelson's charts worked so well for Jimmy Smith on Verve, but served up here with more of a 70s vibe overall! Titles include "The Happening", "Inner City Blues", "Carry Your Own Load", "My Cheri Amour", "How About You", "For Once In My Life", and "Yester Me Yester You Yesterday". CD

A Basie tribute, but a really smoking one – thanks to some hard swinging arrangements from Manny Albam, and plenty of heavy Hammond from the great Jimmy McGriff! The tracks are mostly numbers from the Count Basie songbook of the 50s and 60s, but they're strongly reworked here with a swinging 60s vibe – played with lots of strong horn work in the background, all used as a perfect foil for Jimmy's leaner organ solos over the top! The style's quite similar to other big band organ work of the time – particularly records made by Jimmy Smith in collaboration with Oliver Nelson, or Jack McDuff with Benny Golson – and McGriff's organ comes through nice and clean in the mix, with that sharply fluttering sound that really made him one of the true standouts of the 60s. Titles include "Hob Nail Boogie", "Cute", "Every Day", "Blues Go Away", and "Slow But Sure". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic funk from one of the hippest combos currently working on the planet – the mighty Misha Panfilov Sound Combo, a group who effortlessly blend 70s-style funk with some sweet spacey sounds! The "astral" in the title here is very well-placed – as there's a slightly cosmic vibe to the cuts – almost as if Stereolab had formed a funk combo, as there's all these cool moogy and thereminy bits all throughout the music – while the drums pound with funky intensity, the guitars riff with non-stop sharpness, and the whole thing grooves like the kind of funk we should have sent out on the Voyager probe! Titles include "Offbeat Comet", "Solar Blast", "Caveman", "Kopli Highway", "Oliver Robotron", "Space Jogging", "Lunar Sleepwalk", and "Planetarium". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic stuff – and a jazz remix project with a real difference! The difference here is that instead of taking older jazz tracks and re-doing them in dance music versions, the set takes original dance tracks and re-does them in jazz versions! The result is wonderful – a warm-voiced album that's one of our favorite releases of the year, and proof that there's a beating heart of soul in the hipster underground! The set brings together talents that are known for their work in bridging both worlds of music – and performers on the record include Till Bronner, Erik Truffaz, Nathan Haines, Matthias Vogt, and Oliver Bott. Instrumentation includes vibes, piano, trumpet, tenor, and lots of wonderful guest vocals – and the album features covers of "Cupid & Orlando" by Aromabar, "Release Your Mind" by Soulpatrol, "People Come Running" by Taxi, "Torch Of Freedom" by Cleveland Watkiss, "The Way I Swing" by DJ Matt, "Arena" by Kosma, and "Mental Strength" by Megashire. CD

One of the most unique Sonny Rollins albums of the 60s – a soundtrack effort for a British film that starred a young Michael Caine – yet a set that's served up with all the sharp edges you might expect from some of Rollins' other records of the decade! The tenorist is in a slightly different setting here – working with a larger array of players that are arranged by Oliver Nelson – but not in that "swinging combo backing a soloist" that Nelson used on other projects, and there's a more unified, integrated approach going on here – Sonny's tenor blended with the alto of Phil Woods, baritone of Danny Bank, and trombone of either JJ Johnson or Jimmy Cleveland, depending on the track. A young Roger Kellaway adds in some nicely lyrical work on piano, Kenny Burrell is in the group on guitar – and titles include the long "Alfie's Theme" – plus the shorter "On Impulse", "Alfie's Theme Differently", Street Runner With Child", and "Transition Theme For Minor Blues Or Little Malcolm Loves His Dad" – all originals by Rollins. LP, Vinyl record album