A pair of recordings from the mid 50s, with Herb Ellis on guitar and Ray Brown on bass. LP, Vinyl record album

With JJ Johnson on trombone, Sonny Rollins on tenor sax, Kenny Drew on piano, and Art Blakey on drums. Titles include "Half Nelson", "Mike's Blues", "Move", and "Squirrel". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest collections of music we've ever heard from the folks at Soul Jazz Records – and a batch of work that we never would have heard otherwise! The sounds here are from a unique point in Spanish music – one in which flamenco guitar mixed with Latin rhythms, gypsy culture, and even traces of postwar jazz and rock and roll – all to form one of the most vibrant musical blends we've ever heard! There's a live energy to this music right from the start, but the tracks also really benefit a lot from tight studio production too – which helps to bring all these disparate parts into strong focus when moving together – with a sense of energy that's really mindblowing. Forget any later Gipsy Kings or coffee bar cliches you might have, because this early music is definitely the real deal – and presented beautifully in this lavish package. Titles include "Nuestro Ayer" by Rabbit Rumba, "Si Compay" by El Nois, "El Pan Y Los Dietes" by El Piano De Chaco Y Sus Rumbas, "Levantate" by Antinio Gonzalez, "Che Camino" by Maruja Garrido, "La Fiesta No Es Para Feos" by Peret, and "Fui A Bahia" by El Gitano Portugues. (Note: This item is not for sale online until 7:00am on Sunday, April 23. It is in limited supply – and by nature of the Record Store Day rules it will be offered for sale first to customers who visit the Dusty Groove retail outlet in Chicago the morning of Saturday, April 22. It will not be pre-sold or reserved in any way. However, after 7:00am on April 23 we will offer up whatever we have left for sale online.) LP, Vinyl record album

The roots of British mod, served up here in a fantastic package that's overflowing with soulful, jazzy, and groovy gems that we might never have heard otherwise! The big British Invasion love of American sounds is no secret to anyone – but the cuts here are all from a moment before on the London scene, and represent some really wonderful experiments in ways of mixing together elements of jazz, soul, and blues – and coming up with something really fresh and unique! Tracks are a great mix of instrumental and vocal modes – and as usual with Ace, they're supported by detailed notes that really open up our understanding of both the music, and this point in time. Titles include "Danger Man" by Red Price Combo, "A New Kind Of Lovin" by Eden Kane, "Christine" by Miss X, "Sugar Baby (parts 1 & 2)" by Jimmy Powell, "When You Walked Out" by Alex Murray, "Chicago Calling" by Cyril Davies & His Rhythm & Blues All Stars, "King Of Kings" by Jimmy Cliff, "It Ain't Necessarily So" by Duffy Power, "Gurney Slade" by Max Harris, "Moanin" by Lynn Cornell, "I'm Just A Baby" by Louis Cordet, "Orange Street" by The Blue Flames, "Strawberry Fair" by Anthony Newley, "Sounds Like Locomotion" by Sounds Inc, and "Air Travel" by Chris Farlowe. CD

Tremendous grooves from the earliest (and best) years of the acid jazz scene – all recorded at a time when London was exploding with sounds from the 60s and 70s, and turning out some of the hippest music on the planet! Although the term "acid jazz" was soon mishandled and mis-managed here in the US, the earliest days of the movement were really a tremendous time in London – a period when folks returned to the core elements that made funk, jazz, and soul great – and shook off all of the too-electric and too-stiff modes that had crept in during the 80s! Most of the work here is in a really spare, stripped-down funky mode – a cross between soul jazz of the 60s and blacksploitation funk of the 70s, with possibly a few more contemporary elements thrown into the mix. And in these years way before the current deep funk revival, what's even more important is the way these songs were produced – with a warmth that other groups hadn't had in years, and a real love of the way these tracks might have sounded in older studios a few decades before. The package contains a number of key rare singles from the Acid Jazz label, other album tracks, and even a few classics that had a big influence on the London scene. Titles include the rare pre-Acid Jazz single "Got To Give" by The Brand New Heavies, the sublime "Rejoice In Righteousness" by Bukky Leo Quintet, and the tracks "Cut & Run" by Lay Zee Muthas, "Like A Gun" by King Truman, "The Killer" by Night Trains, "People Get Ready" by The Brand New Heavies, "Haw Right Now" by Patrice Rushen, "Earthly Powers" by Man Called Adam, "Mr PC" by Snowboy, "Spinning Wheel" by New Jersey Kings, "Let The Good Times Roll" by The Quiet Boys, and "Mighty Mouse" by Caesar Frazier. Loads of great notes too – a really detailed look at the London scene at the end of the 80s! CD

A really well-done dip into the New York City blues scene of the 50s – one that presents a wealth of work we might not have heard otherwise, pulled from labels that include Old Town, Harlem, Jax, Wing, Dog, and Groove! There's a nice mix of material here that really shows the way the city was able to act as a crossroads for styles that were not necessarily homegrown, but could certainly find a home in its diverse community – as some cuts have more of a rural bent, others have some of the more electrified touches that were coming into urban blues, and a few have some of the jump/jazz styles of the R&B generation. Titles include "No Help Wanted", "I Believe You Got A Sidekick", "Bicycle Boogie", "Operator", "Slow Down Baby", "Paper Lady", and "Rip & Run" by Bob Gaddy; "You Better Heed My Warning", "Please Tell Me", "Feelin All Right", "No Tellin What I'll Do", and "What Your Love Means To Me" by Larry Dale; "A Letter To Lightnin Hopkins", "Worrying Over You", "Bluebird Bluebird", and "My Confession" by Brownie McGhee – and more by Cousin Leroy, Alonzo Scales, and Paul Williams too. CD

A treasure trove of spiritual jazz from saxophonist Idris Ackamoor – featuring his famous 70s recordings with The Pyramids, solo material, and even some previously unissued titles! The bulk of the collection comes from The Pyramids' albums Birth Speed Merging, Lalibela, and King Of Kings – all freely creative records that build upon traditions initiated by the AACM in Chicago, and taken further groups like The Artistic Heritage Ensemble, The Human Arts Ensemble, or Oneness Of Juju. Many tracks build freely from earthy percussion, bits of vocals, and spiraling solos on saxes and flute – with a sound that's incredibly soulful and righteous – very positive and progressive, and easily some of the best work of this nature from the time! 2CD set features Pyramids tracks "The Land Of Eternal Song (part 3)", "Mohgo Naba", "Queen Of The Spirits (part 3)", "Black Man Of The Nile", "Aomawa", "The River Ganges", and "Masenko Nights" – plus "Spiritual Rebirth", "Centurian", "Topanga", "Cubana", and "Africa" by Idris Ackamoor; as well as "The Shepherd's Tune" by The Collective. CD

One of the coolest collections of music we've ever heard from the folks at Soul Jazz Records – and a batch of work that we never would have heard otherwise! The sounds here are from a unique point in Spanish music – one in which flamenco guitar mixed with Latin rhythms, gypsy culture, and even traces of postwar jazz and rock and roll – all to form one of the most vibrant musical blends we've ever heard! There's a live energy to this music right from the start, but the tracks also really benefit a lot from tight studio production too – which helps to bring all these disparate parts into strong focus when moving together – with a sense of energy that's really mindblowing. Forget any later Gipsy Kings or coffee bar cliches you might have, because this early music is definitely the real deal – and presented beautifully in this lavish package. Titles include "Nuestro Ayer" by Rabbit Rumba, "Si Compay" by El Nois, "El Pan Y Los Dietes" by El Piano De Chaco Y Sus Rumbas, "Levantate" by Antinio Gonzalez, "Che Camino" by Maruja Garrido, "La Fiesta No Es Para Feos" by Peret, and "Fui A Bahia" by El Gitano Portugues. LP, Vinyl record album

Four Christmas classics in one package – two from Verve, two from Chess Records! First up is the album Ella Fitzgerald Wishes You A Swinging Christmas – a wonderful Holiday album that's stayed fresh for years! Ella's got a perfect style to interpret these numbers – working with Frank DeVol and Russ Garcia in a set of lightly jazzy versions of Christmas favorites like "Sleigh Ride", "Jingle Bells", "Winter Wonderland", "White Christmas", "Frosty The Snowman", and one of the best versions of "What Are You Doing New Years Eve" ever recorded! The Sound Of Christmas album by Ramsey Lewis is a classic – and probably one of the best-selling Christmas jazz albums of all time! Ramsey and his classic trio with Redd Holt and Eldee Young serve up a tight set of grooves based around Holiday favorites like "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", "Winter Wonderland", "Here Comes Santa Claus", "The Christmas Song", and "Sleigh Ride" – and also carve out a few nice originals like "Christmas Blues" and "The Sound Of Christmas". Side one features the trio on its own, and side two features added arrangements by Riley Hampton – swirling around to expand the groove even more! Christmas 64 – also issued as Christmas Cookin – is as cookin a Christmas album as you'll ever find! Jazz organ giant Jimmy Smith works with Billy Byers to craft some sublime instrumentals that have his Hammond interpreting Christmas classics like "We Three Kings", "White Christmas", "Silent Night", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town". If you know Jimmy from the time, you know that he can really make tracks like these groove nicely – and take them to places you never expected! Last up is the album Have Yourself A Soulful Little Christmas, from guitarist Kenny Burrell – on which he grooves nicely and gently over arrangements by Richard Evans, perfectly crafted in that soul jazz mode of his 60s work for Chess – not Kenny's most challenging format, to be sure, but proof that he often works better in a more structured environment than a freer one. Titles include "Away In A Manger", "My Favorite Things", "Little Drummer Boy", "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", "Merry Christmas Baby", and "Go Where I Send Thee". LP, Vinyl record album

Ramsey Lewis had such great success with his first album of Christmas instrumentals for Chess Records, he soon hopped back in the studio for a second record – but one with a very distinct difference! This time around, the trio's a bit unusual – in that it features regular bassist Eldee Young, but also the great Steve McCall on drums – a percussionist who'd later really flourish in the 70s, and gain great fame for his work in the group Air! The presence of McCall is no surprise, though – Malachi Favors and Muhal Richard Abrams also make appearances on early 60s Chess jazz albums – but it does give the record a nicely special sort of sound, as does the added instrumentation on some tracks too. About half the set features the trio, and the rest features a bigger group that's arranged by King Fleming and Will Jackson – jazz trio with a bit of strings, including some nice harp, and a touch of trombone from John Avant. Titles include "We Three Kings", "Snowfall", "Plum Puddin", "Little Drummer Boy", "Snowbound", "Egg Nog", and "Jingle Bells". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest collections of music we've ever heard from the folks at Soul Jazz Records – and a batch of work that we never would have heard otherwise! The sounds here are from a unique point in Spanish music – one in which flamenco guitar mixed with Latin rhythms, gypsy culture, and even traces of postwar jazz and rock and roll – all to form one of the most vibrant musical blends we've ever heard! There's a live energy to this music right from the start, but the tracks also really benefit a lot from tight studio production too – which helps to bring all these disparate parts into strong focus when moving together – with a sense of energy that's really mindblowing. Forget any later Gipsy Kings or coffee bar cliches you might have, because this early music is definitely the real deal – and presented beautifully in this lavish package. Titles include "Nuestro Ayer" by Rabbit Rumba, "Si Compay" by El Nois, "El Pan Y Los Dietes" by El Piano De Chaco Y Sus Rumbas, "Levantate" by Antinio Gonzalez, "Che Camino" by Maruja Garrido, "La Fiesta No Es Para Feos" by Peret, and "Fui A Bahia" by El Gitano Portugues. CD

The best album of Christmas jazz you could ever buy! Why? Well, the record's totally hip – with way more going on than just the usual jazz versions of Christmas carols. But unlike other hip Christmas albums, this one also never loses the feeling of the season – and although the work is a bit more challenging than usual for a holiday album, it also always swings, and in a very festive style! This CD mixes together music from both the original Jingle Bell Jazz album and the classic God Rest Ye Merry Jazzmen album from the 70s – but leaves off some tracks from the former to make room for the latter. Titles include "Deck The Halls" by Herbie Hancock, "Blue Xmas" by Bob Dorough and Miles Davis, "Jingle Bells" by Duke Ellington, "We Three Kings" by Wynton Marsalis, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Paquito D'Rivera, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Dexter Gordon, "White Christmas" by Lionel Hampton, "I'll Be Home For Christmas" by McCoy Tyner, and "Deck Us All With Boston Charlie" by Lambert Hendricks & Ross. CD

Music from the Original Memphis Five, the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, Red & Miff's Stompers, Jell Roll Morton Trio, Duke Ellington, Paul Whiteman, Joe Venuli's Blue Four, the Missourians, Henry Allen, Fats Waller, and more – 25 tracks in all. CD

A treasure trove of music from one of the hippest jazz players ever – the legendary Rufus Harley, a saxophonist by trade, but one who could also play the bagpipes as well! Harley had a really unique way of using the bagpipes as a free-flowing modal soloing instrument – one that's clearly influenced by the best work of John Coltrane in the early 60s, and which really takes the instrument back to its original pre-Scottish roots in Africa! This wonderful set brings together 4 of Harley's best albums ever – Bagpipe Blues, Tribute To Courage, Kings/Queens, and Scotch & Soul – all gems recorded for Atlantic Records in the 60s, and which are presented here with 2 bonus tracks as well! Harley plays both bagpipes and saxophone on the record – the latter in a way that's equally compelling as the former – and the 2CD set features a whopping 28 tracks in all, supported by liner notes and other details. Titles include "Ali", "Where Have All The Flowers Gone", "Pipin The Blues", "Sufur", "Scotch & Soul", "Feeling Good", "Taurus The 20th", "Bagpipe Blues", "Kerry Dancers", "More", "Sunny", "A Tribute To Courage", "About Trane", "Eight Miles High", and "Love Is Blue". CD

A treasure trove of music from one of the hippest jazz players ever – the legendary Rufus Harley, a saxophonist by trade, but one who could also play the bagpipes as well! Harley had a really unique way of using the bagpipes as a free-flowing modal soloing instrument – one that's clearly influenced by the best work of John Coltrane in the early 60s, and which really takes the instrument back to its original pre-Scottish roots in Africa! This wonderful set brings together 4 of Harley's best albums ever – Bagpipe Blues, Tribute To Courage, Kings/Queens, and Scotch & Soul – all gems recorded for Atlantic Records in the 60s, and which are presented here with 2 bonus tracks as well! Harley plays both bagpipes and saxophone on the record – the latter in a way that's equally compelling as the former – and the 2CD set features a whopping 28 tracks in all, supported by liner notes and other details. Titles include "Ali", "Where Have All The Flowers Gone", "Pipin The Blues", "Sufur", "Scotch & Soul", "Feeling Good", "Taurus The 20th", "Bagpipe Blues", "Kerry Dancers", "More", "Sunny", "A Tribute To Courage", "About Trane", "Eight Miles High", and "Love Is Blue". CD

The first album from Steely Dan, and a really nice chapter in their career – one that's maybe a bit less iconic than the late 70s records, but in a way that really keeps things interesting! There's definitely less jazz and polish than on the later albums – but already, the group are writing the kinds of songs that nobody ever seemed to pen before, and which few other groups could match later – despite the countless legions who tried! The guitars are all nice and strong – that sharp Skunk Baxter edge that helped get the group firmly onto the charts right away – on titles that include their classic singles "Do It Again" and "Reelin In The Years", the oft-showcased "Dirty Work", and other cuts that include "Kings", "Midnite Cruiser", "Only A Fool Would Say That", "Fire In The Hole", "Brooklyn Owes The Charmer Under Me", "Change Of The Guard", and "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again". LP, Vinyl record album

A great double header from Honest Jons – a 2CD set that brings together volumes 7 and 8 of their London Is The Place For Me series! Volume 7 is first – a fascinating look at musical modes in London during the big years of postwar immigration – a time when former residents of the crumbling British Empire were flooding to London for jobs and a better way of life – often bringing along a huge amount of cultural experience in the process! This set follows wonderfully in the spirit of previous volumes of the series – bringing together a range of different sonic styles that were originally recorded in London as 78rpm singles – where a new wave of Caribbean and West African immigrants were fusing older styles with a newly modern sensibility, and often a fair bit of jazz as well! The set list is wonderful – a great array of well-chosen material – and titles include "Wa Sise" by Willie Payne & The Starlite Tempos, "The Emperor Of Africa" by The Mighty Terror, "Royal Wedding" by The Lion, "Modern Telephone" by Dai Dai Simba, "Sons & Daughters Of Africa" by Lord Beginner, "Caroline" by Trinidad Steel Band, "Ema Foju Ana Woku" by West African Rhythm Brothers, "Kana Kana" by Billy Sholanke, "Boul Ve Se" by Calypso Rhythm Kings, and "My Handy Man" by Marie Bryant. Volume 8 features a huge collection of work from the great Lord Kitchener – maybe one of the most important singers to move the music of the Caribbean to British shores during the postwar years – a time when he was a strong voice to new waves of immigrants arriving in London, and when he was also making a lot of inroads for criss-crossing post-colonial culture too! The base style is calypso, but Kitchener always handles the music with a spirit that's all his own – modern, witty, and urbane – often with some nice currents of jazz in the instrumentation, and plenty of social commentary that made music like this a great precursor to later righteous moments in jazz, funk, soul, and reggae. Titles include "No More Taxi", "Food From The West Indies", "Come Back In The Morning", "Pirates Of Paria", "Drink A Rum", "If You Brown", "Life Begins At Forty", "Mistress Jacob", "Africa My Home", "Kitch In The Jungle", "Tie Tongue Mopsie", and "London Is The Place For Me". CD

The deep soul, funk and dancefloor jazz generators at Record Kicks are celebrating 10 years – with this excellent anniversary compilation of pivotal material from their roster – and some previously unreleased gems! Record Kicks has been a global torch carrier for the funky and soulful music from day one – and putting out records that celebrate the classic era music we love and paving the way for its future. This excellent anniversary compilation is both a solid refresher course for all of us longtime fans, and a great place to hop aboard for the newbies! 21 tracks in all: "I'm A Good Woman" by Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers, "I Can Give" by Dojo Cuts, "Gimme One More Chance" by Diplomats Of Solid Sound, "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" by Baby Charles, "Spider Baby" by Link Quartet with Eddie Roberts, "Soul Power (Lack Of Afro remix)" by Kokolo and lots more from the label's canon – plus some great previously unreleased jams like "Zojoji Blackbird" by Third Coast Kings, "Crisis Point" by The Liberators, "Day After Day" by Susan Cadogan & The Crabs Corporation and more. CD

Fantastic solo work from Ginger Baker – a musician who only seemed to get better and better the farther he moved away from Cream and Blind Faith! A set like this really gives Ginger a chance to open up and explore all the many musical currents that were grabbing his interests – served up here in a mix of jazz, funk, rock, and soul delivered by a lineup who are every bit as stunning as the music on the album! In addition to plenty of work from Baker on drums, the set features jazz contributions from the excellent Harold McNair and Chris Wood, who both play saxes and flute – plus drums from the legendary Phil Seamen – as well as a heck of a lot more sax and organ from Graham Bond, plus bass from Ric Grech, guitar and vocals from Denny Laine, organ and vocals from Steve Winwood, percussion from Neemoi Acquaye, and lots more contributions from a lineup that's almost too big to mention. The results are wonderful – and titles include "Toady", "Let Me Ride", "We Free Kings", "12 Gates Of The City", "Do U No Hu Yor Phrenz R", and "Sweet Wine". CD

The first album from Steely Dan, and a really nice chapter in their career – one that's maybe a bit less iconic than the late 70s records, but in a way that really keeps things interesting! There's definitely less jazz and polish than on the later albums – but already, the group are writing the kinds of songs that nobody ever seemed to pen before, and which few other groups could match later – despite the countless legions who tried! The guitars are all nice and strong – that sharp Skunk Baxter edge that helped get the group firmly onto the charts right away – on titles that include their classic singles "Do It Again" and "Reelin In The Years", the oft-showcased "Dirty Work", and other cuts that include "Kings", "Midnite Cruiser", "Only A Fool Would Say That", "Fire In The Hole", "Brooklyn Owes The Charmer Under Me", "Change Of The Guard", and "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare bossa jazz from the start of the 60s – two great albums on a single CD! First up is Jazza Nova by Paulo Alencar – an amazing lost bossa jazz session recorded in Brazil, but issued here in the US by Atlantic! Paulo Alencar's group is supposedly filled with "all stars" – and even though they're not actually named, the record's got this fantastic jazzy vibe throughout – very much like some of the new experiments in bossa and samba jazz from some of the bigger names of the time – including the larger combo recordings by the young, pre-Brasil 66 Sergio Mendes! Fast rhythms and jazzy solo work throughout – on titles that include "West Samba", "It's Really Bossa", "Bossa No 2", "Where Was I", "Hello, America", and "Zirigidoom". Next is the album Cool Samba – a very nice album of bossa instrumentals, released in the US under the obscure name of "Joao & His Bossa Kings". Joao is listed on the label as Joao Meirelles – also known as JT Meirelles on his more famous Brazilian recordings – and we wonder if Battle gave him the name of "Joao" to make folks think he was Joao Gilberto, who was selling a lot of records at the time! Whatever the case, though, this is a great album of tight little bossa jazz tracks – served up with small combo instrumentation that includes alto, flute, piano, trumpet, and percussion. Titles include "Nacao Nago", "Solucao", "So Danco Samba", "Samba Toff", "Samba Sem Nome", and "Essa Nega Sem Sandalia". CD features the bonus track "Moeda Quebrada" by Paulo Alencar. CD

A really great idea for a record – and one that echoes the same "E & F" mode that Makaya McCraven brought to his previous album! The approach here is as unique as the drummer himself – in that McCraven went back to the sessions for the core album, and pulled out material that's recast into a completely different record altogether – not a remix project, or a batch of alternate takes – but new music from the ground up, as Makaya continues his groundbreaking style of using live jazz performance as the basis for a record that's eventually cut-up and reassembled! Performances were recorded in Chicago, Cali, Brooklyn, and London – with players who include Brandee Younger on harp, Joel Ross on vibes, Dezron Douglas on bass, Ashley Henry on Fender Rhodes, Nubya Garcia on tenor, Jeff Parker on guitar, Miguel Atwood Ferguson on violin, Carlos Nino on percussion, Junius Paul on bass, Tomeka Reid on cello, and Shabaka Hutchings on tenor – an amazing lineup that gets plenty of space to shine in the hands of Makaya. Titles include "Everybody Coo", "Mak Attack", "The Hunt", "Beat Science", "Kings & Queens", "Traveling Space", "Butterss Fly", "Universal Beings Part 2", "Her Name", "Half Steppin", and "The Way Home". LP, Vinyl record album

Two solo albums from Geoff Muldaur – recorded long after his jug band years, and his earlier sets with wife Maria! First up is Geoff Muldaur Is Having A Wonderful Time – a striking solo album from Geoff Muldaur – a record that draws on all the many different sounds and styles he brought to records through the 60s and early 70s, but which also adds in a stronger jazz impulse overall! Each track on the record has a slightly different spirit, which makes the whole thing feel more like a continuation of the experimental, open style of putting albums together that Warner/Reprise was so great at a few years before – as Muldaur sings with backings from a jazz group on one track, a string orchestra on another, a funk group on a third, and a roots rock combo on another – with players as diverse as Merle Saunders on electric piano, Doc Cheatham on trumpet, Bernard Purdie on drums, and Harold Vick on tenor. Joe Boyd produced – one of the few folks who might be able to successfully handle such a range – and titles include "Higher & Higher", "99 1/2", "Livin In The Sunlight", "I Want To Be A Sailor", "Tennessee Blues", "High Blood Pressure", and "Wondering Why". Motion is a set that's a bit tighter than some of the earlier work of Geoff Muldaur – a set that maybe has the well-trained singer moving into territory that's almost verging on AOR, yet which still hangs on to some of the wit of his earlier records as well! There's still some key traces of 70s Warner going on here – including a few songs by Allen Toussaint, and one with Martin Mull – which help balance out some of the more direct, tuneful numbers, and continue to provide some of the more offbeat qualities that made Geoff such an interesting sideways talent in the mainstream music world. Tracks include "Motion", "Let It Out", "I Don't Want To Talk About It", "When You Touch Me This Way", "Why Don't We Live Together", and a version of "Southern Nights". CD

A groundbreaking record for the time – especially considering the barriers between American and Cuba! In a unique effort, Columbia Records managed to record this landmark concert set of performances featuring some of its biggest artists alongside other Cuban players – all captured live at the Karl Marx theater in Havana! This first volume is a very wide-ranging blend of styles – jazz, fusion, Latin, and bits of straight ahead vocals – handled by a diverse array of hip CBS superstars at the time, but often with a decidedly Cuban bent. Titles include "Black Market" by Weather Report, "Para Flauta Y Adaido De Mozart" by Irakera, "Cuba Al Fin" by Stephen Stills, "Project S" and "Black Stockings" by CBS Jazz All-Stars (Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Stan Getz, & Others), "Dark Prince" by Trio Of Doom, "Juan Pachanga" by Fania All-Stars, "Living Legend" by Kris Kristofferson, "Que Barla Monda" by Orquesta Aragon, and "Scherezada/Sun Sun" by Cuban Percussion Ensemble. LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful album by one of our favorite jazz singers! Lorez Alexandria is in a perfect setting here – singing with subtly sophisticated backings that really let her take charge, and direct the songs tightly with her incredibly soulful vocals! Instrumentation is mostly in a small combo mode – with the Wynton Kelly trio at the core, augmented by a bit of guitar from Ray Crawford, and some alto sax from Paul Horn – and although the album's got an easygoing feel, it also keenly shows the tightness that's always made Lorez so great! Styles are a blend of soul and jazz, plus just a hint of bossa, heard beautifully on the album's rendition of "O Barquinho". Other tracks include "This Could Be The Start Of Something Big", "Dancing On The Ceiling", "Once", "Angel Eyes", "No More", and "That Far Away Look". LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible work from the amazing Dorothy Ashby – a brilliant set of funky and spiritual tunes, set to full backings from Chicago soul arranger Richard Evans! This album is easily one of Ashby's greatest, and it's dedicated to the writings of Omar Khayyam – one of the forces guiding Dorothy's more spiritual sound at the end of the 60s, clearly opened up in a way that's not unlike the direction of Alice Coltrane's work, but a lot more focused and a lot more funky! Ashby not only plays her usual jazz harp, but also koto as well, and even sings a bit too – and the larger group directed by Evans features work by Stu Katz on vibes and kalimba, Lenny Druss on flutes, and Cash McCall on guitar – all in a groove that's really a precursor to the Earth Wind & Fire generation of the Chicago scene! Titles include the amazing break "The Moving Finger" – worth the price of the album alone – plus "Dust", "Joyful Grass & Grape", "Heaven & Hell", "Wax & Wane", "Shadow Shapes", "For Some When Young", "Myself When Young", and "Drink". LP, Vinyl record album

A treasure trove of early work by Betty Carter – key early sessions from the 50s, all packaged together on one CD! The bulk of the collection – the "Ray Bryant" and "Gigi Gryce" components – features Carter's work for Epic in the mid 50s, sides recorded for the album Meet Betty Carter & Ray Bryant, plus other rare ones that were later collected on the Social Call album! The set features some sublime tunes arranged by Gigi Gryce – with a floating jazzy style that works perfectly with Betty's incredible voice – plus others with backings by Ray Bryant's combo, and a few more that feature Ray's group playing without Betty's vocals. Betty's voice is already fantastic – even at this early point in her career – with an amazing range of expression, and a jazz-based approach that's different from most of her generation. Titles include "Social Call", "Thou Swell", "Frenesi", "Run Away", "Tell Him I Said Hello", "Can't We Be Friends", "Sneaking Around", and "Let's Fall In Love". Added to these is material from the album The Modern Sound Of Betty Carter – a 1960 session recorded with large group arrangements by Richard Wess, and a nicely swinging, easily jazzy feel! The album is one of Carter's more obscure sessions, and it's one of the few from the old days to really capture her jazzy vocals well in a large group setting. As always, Betty handles the material with a great deal of class, and an incredible sense of poise and emotion. The set list is nice, too, and includes many lesser-known tracks – like "For You", "Jazz (Ain't Nothin' But Soul)", "Don't Weep For the Lady", "My Reverie", and "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire". CD

A beautiful collaboration between Miles Davis and the great Gil Evans – and perhaps the most perfectly realized of all their projects! The album's got a wonderfully unified feel – as it begins with long compositions that have a distinct Spanish-tinge (and not a Latin-tinge, which is an important distinction to the way the album progresses.) Evans' arrangements have a majesty that takes the songs to the next level – working them as lush, lively backings for Davis' equally majestic trumpet solos, some of the finest he ever recorded with large group backing. Wonderful all the way through – and with the tracks "Concierto De Aranjuez", "Saeta", "The Pan Piper", and "Solea". CD

A pair of Columbia classics from trumpeter Maynard Ferguson – back to back on a single CD! First up is an album titled Ballad Style, but there's no sleepy ballads here – thanks to hip backings from British arranger Keith Mansfield – who also worked with Maynard Ferguson on some of his MF Horn sessions! As with other work of the time, Mansfield manages to keep things moving along nicely, even when mellow – and he mixes his own arrangements with orchestrations conducted by Alan Moorehouse that have some of the groovier touches of late 60s Brit Easy – even a very slight hint of a groove at the bottom of some tunes. The music is definitely in a ballad mode, but never as sleepy as you might think – and titles include "Girl Talk", "Born Free", "You Only Live Twice", "Sound Of Silence", "As Long As He Needs Me", and "The Impossible Dream". Alive & Well is equally groovy – funky big band material at its best – with hard-grooving arrangements from Brit talents who include John Cameron, Kenny Wheeler, and Keith Mansfield – all of whom mix together key elements of sound library funk with enough pure jazz to make Maynard sound great throughout. Tunes include some great groovy covers – "Move Over", "Aquarius", "My Sweet Lord", "Your Song", and "Living In The Past" – plus Mansfield's own "The Serpent". CD

A really unusual album from piano giant Erroll Garner – a jazz album at the core, but one that was also used as the soundtrack for an obscure Paul Newman film of the 60s! We always love Erroll Garner in a fuller setting – something that's not always easy to find on record – and this album features his piano in the lead, over the top of some great backings from Leith Stevens – known best for his jazz soundtracks of the 50s! Stevens' provides a light bank of strings and woodwinds as support for Garner – and some of the best tunes here have a slight bossa undercurrent – quite sparkling, and very nice overall. Titles include "The Tease", "Mimi", "Paris Mist", "Fashion Interlude", "Louise", and "Theme From A New Kind Of Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A great Dizzy Gillespie Latin session recorded during the mid 70s – proof that he could still hold onto the cubop spirit of the old days! The session features a larger group arranged and conducted by Chico O'Farril – who manages to keep a solidly Cuban groove at the base, but really let Dizzy open up with some broader horn flourishes at the top. Given the quality of actual Cuban jazz at the time, this set may well beat most of what was going on in Havana – thanks to solid solos from Dizzy, and backings from a group led by Machito, and featuring players who include Mario Bauza, Jorge Dalto, Manny Duran, Mauricio Smith, and Victor Paz. Side one features the extended "Oro, Incienso y Mirra", and side two is a 3-part suite, "Three Afro-Cuban Jazz Moods". LP, Vinyl record album

A great blend of funky jazz and wooden flute – the Japanese shakuhachi reed instrument, blown by Kifu Mitsuhashi here – then mixed with some larger backings that almost have a CTI Records sort of groove! The approach is similar to some of the best 70s projects from Hozan Yamamoto – and like those, updates older Japanese styles with just the right dose of jazz – never getting in the way of the soulful lines from the lead instrument, but also really warming things up nicely with Fender Rhodes, bass, guitar, and drums – in wonderful arrangements put together by Kiyoshi Yamaya. Titles include "Yagi Bushi", "Yosakoi Bushi", "Hokkai Bon Uta", "Kuroda Bushi", "Otemoyan", and "Mamuro Gawa Ondo". LP, Vinyl record album

A treasure trove of greatness from British folk rock legend John Renbourn – all of his late 60s solo work, done before moving on to greater fame in Pentangle! First up is There You Go – a rare one from singer Dorris Henderson and future Pentangle founder John Rensbourn! Florida born, LA raised singer Dorris Henderson moved to London in 1965 and was soon singing London's folk clubs, where she met Rensbourn. A solid mix of traditionals and then contemporary folk songs – stripped down and honest takes on "Saly Free And Easy", "Cotton Eyed Joe", "Mr Tamborine Man", "Going To Memphis", Something Lonesome", "Mist On The Mountain" and more. This edition includes bonus tracks from a rare 45 – "Hangman" and "Leaves That Are Green". Next is the self-titled John Renbourn from 1965 – a set that would not only establish John's legacy for years to come, but also have a very strong impact upon the role of the guitar on the British scene too! The album's definitely in a mode that owes something to an American folk legacy – but it also really breaks from the past with unusual phrasings and colorings in Renbourn's guitar – certainly with an ear towards ancient English modes, but also at once very fresh and contemporary – a strong precursor to the waves of new acoustic talents that would flow from the UK a few years later, but maybe even more revolutionary – given that John's mostly just working here with his guitar and voice. Bert Jansch adds guitar to a few tracks – and titles include "Song", "Down On The Barge", "Plainsong", "Judy", "Beth's Blues", "Blue Bones", "Train Tune", "Winter Is Gone", and "Noah & Rabbit". Bert & John is a hell of a collaboration between British legends Bert Jansch and John Renbourn – both working here together to completely redefine the sound of their music for the generation to come! This one album may well hold all the sense of subtle power and possibility that was about to flower in the Brit movement often known as "acid folk" – that reworking of older aesthetics with modern conceptions, and doing so mostly with their work on acoustic guitar – quite a feat, given the stripped-down instrumentation of the set! Bert sings a bit – in that incredible style of his – but the real attraction here is the guitar interplay, which is always fresh, never hokey, neither familiar American folk nor forced singer-songwriter backup material. Titles include a wonderful reworking of Charles Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" – plus "Red's Favourite", "Orlando", "Soho", "Piano Tune", "East Wind", "After The Dance", and "The Time Has Come". Another Monday is maybe the most obscure album in the collection – a set that is mostly instrumental, with some completely fantastic work by Renbourn on guitar – but which also features a bit of guest vocals from singer Jacqui McShee – whose warmer presence next to John really makes for a nice pairing. The album's as powerful as it is subtle, really beautiful in its sense of variety – with titles that include "Buffalo", "One For William", "Lost Lover Blues", "Another Monday", "Day At The Seaside", "Nobody's Fault But Mine", and "Waltz". Watch The Stars is another great collaboration with Dorris Henderson – an American singer, but one who moved to London in the 60s – where she cut this rare gem with guitarist John Renbourn! The album's got a righteous vibe that's hipper than the usual folk set – with some traditional tunes and some contemporary material – recorded with that amazing phrasing that made Renbourn's guitar so distinct right from the start, with lots of those jazzy currents we love so much – and which really fit the creative vocal approach of Henderson! Dorris also plays some autoharp, and there's a bit of bass in the backings – although overall the main focus here is on Renbourn's guitar and Henderson's vocals. Titles include "Come Up Horsey", "God Bless The Child", "Watch The Stars", "30 Days In Jail", "Mosaic Patterns", "Tomorrow Is A Long Time", and "There's Anger In This Land". Sir John A Lot Of is perhaps one of the best-known albums from British guitar legend John Renbourn – as it was issued widely in the US, and kept in print for a surprisingly long time over the years! The approach here is slightly different than Renbourn's previous records – a bit in the image presented by the cover, although with maybe not as slavish a sound – as John just uses the whole thing to go a bit more ancient than before, in ways that echo the time travel that the whole British folk scene was taking as the 70s approached. The tunes are done in ways that are really beautiful – still lots of the incredible guitar work that made Renbourn such a standout on the scene – plus flute from jazzman Ray Warleigh, who's very different here than usual – and spare use of finger cymbals, African drums, and glockenspiel by Terry Cox. Titles include "Morgana", "Transfusion", "The Trees They Do Grow High", "Sweet Potato", "Seven Up", and "White Fishes". 6CD box features all records in original artwork sleeves, with a booklet of notes – and bonus tracks that include "Message To Pretty", "The Waggoner's Lad", "Lucky Thirteen", "Blues Run The Game", "The Wildest Pig In Captivity (alt)", "Can't Keep From Crying", "Transfusion (alt)", and "The Leaves Are Green". 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! LP, Vinyl record album

Joanie's second album for Warner Brothers – and a date that features some especially nice backings from Neal Hefti, who helps swing Sommers into some great jazzy territory, but always with that playful Hefti touch that we love so much! Instrumentation is always interesting, even underneath the vocals – and the record sparkles like some of the better upbeat jazz vocal sides on Capitol from the time – much better than the usual mainstream fare, with kind of a cool California wink at the listener. Titles include "Aren't You Glad You're You", "For All We Know", "Nobody Else But Me", "This Can't Be Love", "Let There Be Love", and "This Heart Of Mine". CD

A second great solo album from trumpeter Malcolm Strachan – much more jazz-based than his work in the Haggis Horns, and his backings for a number of other soul artists – delivered with a depth of feeling that would have been missed in a larger ensemble! Strachan's a great soloist throughout – whether working in a small combo mode with a soul jazz vibe, or soaring out over some mellower midtempo arrangements – ala Freddie Hubbard or Art Farmer in a similar mode – and although Strachan's background is in funk, his sense of soloing is pure jazz throughout! Titles include "Nossa Danca", "Elaine", "The Wanderer", "Soul Trip", "Cut To The Chase", and "The Last Goodbye". CD

A second great solo album from trumpeter Malcolm Strachan – much more jazz-based than his work in the Haggis Horns, and his backings for a number of other soul artists – delivered with a depth of feeling that would have been missed in a larger ensemble! Strachan's a great soloist throughout – whether working in a small combo mode with a soul jazz vibe, or soaring out over some mellower midtempo arrangements – ala Freddie Hubbard or Art Farmer in a similar mode – and although Strachan's background is in funk, his sense of soloing is pure jazz throughout! Titles include "Nossa Danca", "Elaine", "The Wanderer", "Soul Trip", "Cut To The Chase", and "The Last Goodbye". LP, Vinyl record album

The near-complete recordings of Mari Wilson – a really unique British singer from the post-punk generation – one with a style that was very different than most of her contemporaries! Wilson's approach was always tuned more towards the late 50s/early 60s scene than the present one – and her work is often done with a sort of imagined past – not entirely retro, as she'll mix influences from late 60s soul with a more powdered-up sense of style from earlier in the decade – almost always set to great backings from Tot Taylor, who was a very similar aesthetic presence on the scene – and who recorded most of this material for his own Compact Organization label! At a time when some folks were staging a mod revival, Mari was setting her sights a few years before, and often with bigger arrangements and a nice current of jazz – occasionally camp, but usually right on the money. This 3CD set is the first retrospective of her music we've seen – and it features her full album Showpeople, plus 25 bonus tracks from singles and compilations – plus another 16 tracks that are all new remixes from 2022 of her earlier work. As usual with Cherry Red, the whole thing is very well done – with a big booklet of notes and lots more goodies! CD

A really cool set that showcases some of the best talents in the Czech jazz scene at the start of the 60s – a set that features a different soloist on every track – although core backings that link the whole thing together nicely, even as each number allows a strong sense of musical individuality! Most Czech players didn't get the same kind of exposure as other Eastern European jazz musicians – especially not at this early stage – so the set is a really wonderful representation of this near-lost scene, one that has some surprisingly modern touches – more than enough to link it to the best Polish jazz of the time! The set features work by Karel Velebny on vibes, Karel Krautgartner and Frantisek Navaratil on alto sax, Antonin Julina on guitar, Milan Ulirch on tenor, Jaromir Hnilicka on trumpet, and Artur Hollitzer on trombone – and titles include "One Window", "Two Marmots", "Lento", "Suite For Trumpet", "At The Fair Of Lisen", "You", and "Good People Haven't Died Out Yet". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked chapter of the 70s genius of Woody Herman – and the kind of album that shows him continuing to grow strongly, many years after his initial fame! The record takes off ambitiously from some of the funkier Herman sessions of the start of the 70s – and features the core group augmented by the Houston Symphony Orchestra on side one – offering up larger backings to color in the sophisticated sounds of the tunes "Variation On A Scene" and "Children Of Lima", both jazz suites penned by Alan Broadbent, who'd done great work with Herman's group. Side two is back to straighter big band numbers – tunes that burst out with a lot of life and energy, and which have a few of the soulful stylings of Herman's previous funk. Highlights include great covers of "25 Or 6 To 4" and "Where Is The Love", plus a version of Broadbent's driving "Far In". CD

The best yet from underground soul force Georgia Anne Muldrow – an artist who has now put out more exceptional music in a handful of years as both artist and producer than many do in a career these days! Kings Ballad is her full length debut for Ubiquity, a record that's as boundlessly creative as anything she's done to date, but with a cohesive sense of soul that could get her over in the mainstream if the mainstream has its ears open! In some ways the record is a consolidation of her styles – from 70s spiritual soul strains, to trunk-rattling hip hop funk, to cosmic jazzy soundscapes, but the songs are really strong and focused on this record without sacrificing the spacey atmosphere. We keep thinking she's gonna peak, but she keeps on raising the bar! Titles include "Indeed", "Doobie Down", "Simple Advice", "Kings Ballad", "RIP", "Thrones", "Summers Love", "Shang-A-Lang", "The Ohh Wee Show", "Chocolate Reign", "Baby Dee", "Live", "Morena Del Ray" and more. CD

A great set of torchy ballads from Lee Wiley – a singer who virtually helped invent the genre on record with her classic sets for Columbia Records! This album's done a few years after those – and features backings by Ralph Burns, who brings a fair bit more sentimental moments to his work here than you might expect from some of his other more modern outings. The proceedings have a nice touch of jazz – thanks to players who include Urbie Green on trombone, Nick Travis on trumpet, and Moe Wechsler on piano – and although Lee's vocals have a slightly aging quality, that only serves to help the fragile emotions of the best numbers in the set. Titles include "You're A Sweetheart", "This Is New", "Who Can I Turn To Now?", "My Ideal", "Limehouse Blues", "I Left My Sugar Standing In The Rain", and "Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now". LP, Vinyl record album