... CD

... CD

... CD

A really rare soundtrack from Quincy Jones – right up there with his jazziest gems of the 60s, but never issued on record at the time! The music is for an obscure film with Robert Wagner in the lead, and the sounds are a hip blend of the earlier jazz modes of Quincy, with some of the fuller charts that really showed an ever-evolving sense of tone and color! Jones manages to be both sophisticated and organic at the same time – mixing light strings with more down to earth jazz instrumentation – handled by an array of players that includes Dave Grusin and Don Randi on keyboards, Mike Barone on trombone, Jack Nimitz and Bud Shank on reeds, and Herb Ellis on guitar. There's a few nice moments of wordless vocals, and Gil Bernal sings the "Eyes Of Love" leadoff song – next to other cuts that include "Relay Chase", "Mad Pad/A Lack Of Lass", "Poker/Take Tea & Me", "Dental Fleece", "Don't Make Waves", "Fixation", "I Want You", "Trying Tie", and "Sudden Death". CD

... CD

... CD

... CD

... CD

... CD

... CD

... CD

... CD

... CD

A moving score to the classic James Dean film in a fantastic expanded edition with lots of previously unreleased material! CD

... CD

... CD

A killer soundtrack from Les Baxter – recorded right after his initial exotica run for Capitol Records, and done with some surprisingly jazzy touches as well! Baxter does a great job of mixing stark drama with some cool mellower moments here – really expanding his musical palette from before, yet also using lots of those beautiful painterly colors and tones that first came to the forefront in his exotica years! The players on the record are all great – and include Conte Candoli on trumpet, Harry Betts on trombone, Gene Cipriano on saxes, Tommy Tedesco on guitar, and Milt Holland on percussion – players well-suited to Baxter's LA approach to the music. This beautiful reissue features very detailed notes, and excellent sound quality too – and titles include "No Girls/No Civilians/A Boy & His Gun", "Bridge/To The Cave/Atavistic", "The Hoods", "Trigger Happy", "Panic In Year Zero", "Atomic Subdominant", "First Aid", and "Chop Chop". CD

A moody western soundtrack – scored by Goldsmith for this 1975 film that starred Jim Brown, Fred Williamson, and Jim Kelly! The music does a really great job of displacing these three from their usual blacksploitation action roles – going for a dreamy sort of approach to the western, one that's clearly inspired by Italian composers of the late 60s spaghetti genre, but which also shares some of the orchestral touches of Goldsmith's other work. Goldsmith was really at the height of his powers during the 70s – and the depth and subtlety of this score is a good illustration of his best strengths – quite different than you might expect. Titles include "Work Camp", "The Wagon", "The Big Dive", "The Hunter", "Fancy Footwork", and "A Sad Story". CD

... CD

... CD

... CD

... CD

Material recorded by LA bassist Curtis Counce at the height of his career – working in the mid 50s with a group that includes Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Harold Land on tenor, Frank Butler on drums, and the weird "sideways" piano player Carl Perkins on the keys! The group is a great meeting of LA modes – with Sheldon blowing harder than usual, and Land cutting in the sort of edges that always made his sessions in the town kick a bit more than most. The 2CD set features tracks that wrere recorded in 1956 and 1957 – spread out over a number of different albums on the Contemporary Records label, but brought together here for the first time ever. Tracks are longish – especially by the standards of the Contemporary label – and the set features 26 titles that include "Pink Lady", "Counceltation", "Love Walked In", "Nica's Dream", "Mean To Me", "LaRue", "Carl's Blues", "Sonar", "Woody N You", "A Fifth For Frank", "Sarah", "Mia", "Sonar", and "Landslide". Also included are 4 rare TV show appearances from 1956 – titles that include "The Butler Did It", "Love Walked In", "Fifth For Frank", and "Sophisticated Lady". CD

Incredibly righteous work from Bobby Hutcherson – a rare Blue Note session that features vocals by Eugene McDaniels! The set was recorded right before McDaniels' groundbreaking Headless Heroes album, but it's got a similar sort of vibe – breaking down genres and musical expectations – and reaching forth with a powerful progressive sound that's beyond compare! All tracks feature lead vocals by Eugene McDaniels, supported by a small chorus of backing singers – in a mode that's a bit like some of the Eddie Gale work on Blue Note at the time – all topped off with some great instrumental work by a core combo that features Hutcherson on vibes, Harold Land on tenor, Wally Richardson on guitar, and Joe Chambers on drums. Imagine the greatness of the Hutcherson/Land group, but with the added bonus of a spiritual soul jazz vocal aspect – and you've really got a key picture of this one! Like the best work on Strata East, but recorded years before – and featuring the titles "Now", "Slow Change", "Black Heroes", "The Creators", and "Hello to the Wind". And, as if that wasn't enough, this CD features 4 bonus tracks from the Blue Note Meets The LA Philharmonic album from 1977 – featuring new recordings of tracks from the album – without vocals, but with some larger orchestral backings that take the tunes just as far! Bonus titles include "Slow Change", "Now", and "Hello To The Wind" – done in versions that really complement the originals nicely! CD

One of the few records that the great trumpeter Carmell Jones ever cut in the US, and a searing bit of LA soul jazz that's very different than the cool, mellow work you might know from releases on the Pacific Jazz label in the 60s! The great arranger Gerald Wilson serves up larger backings on some tracks, and the others feature a smaller combo – with players who include Harold Land on tenor, Bud Shank on alto, Frank Strazzeri on piano, Gary Peacock on bass, and Ron Jefferson on drums! Titles include "Hip Trolley", "Suearl", "That's Good", and "Toddler". LP, Vinyl record album

Nice mellow LA funk, played by Lee Oskar with help from a lot of his bandmates in the group War. The sound is similar to some of War's Chicano funk grooves – but with some very nicely punctuated rhythms that have the drums snapping out more than on War's albums from the time. Oskar's harmonica playing is processed in a very cool way that almost completely hides its origins, and which gives it a lot of cool sounds and tones that you wouldn't expect. Titles include "The Journey", "BLT", "The Promised Land", and the nice nice "Down The Nile". 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

It's hard to overstate the influence of Max Roach and Clifford Brown on the west coast scene of the 50s – as the two players helped draw out the bop sound of LA that was quickly getting lost in the cool jazz shuffle of the time, and gave it a strength and focus that not only made the group one of the strongest of the time, but which also sparked new life and a hardbop generation on the LA scene! This classic set of live recordings was one of the first great Brown/Roach moments – recorded during 2 different concerts by Gene Norman Presents, and featuring some great tenor work by LA giants Teddy Edwards and Harold Land, plus some piano by the amazing "sideways" player Carl Perkins, as well as Bud Powell's brother Richie – a key factor of the group's studio recordings on Mercury, and a player who would perish in the same accident that took the life of Clifford Brown. Titles include "Parisian Thoroughfare", "I Can't Get Started", "I Get A Kick Out Of You", and "Jordu". LP, Vinyl record album

Latiny tracks from Gerald Wilson – but done with his usual tight LA soul jazz groove! Wilson swings, as always, and leads a band of LA players with a fabulous mix of styles. The set's got Harold Land, Anthony Ortega, Laurindo Almeida, Roy Ayers, Teddy Edwards, and Jimmy Woods – to name but a few – and the performances are fantastic as each individual member surrenders to the larger aims of the group. Not that Wilson's totally blotting out their individual talents, though, as the record's filled with tiny eruptions of sound from individual members as they crash through a groovy set of tracks that includes "La Mentira", "The Serpent", "Man Of La Mancha", and "The Golden Sword". Great stuff, very dramatic, and very jazzy! LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Part-Time Lover", "Overjoyed", "I Love You Too Much", "Stranger On The Shore Of Love", "Spiritual Walkers", "Land Of La La", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing album by the great lost altoist Jimmy Woods! Woods is a key part of the LA postwar jazz scene – with an alto style that's a link between Ornette's modernist tone and the more inside playing of other LA boppers. In a way, he's sort of a soul jazz Anthony Ortega – with the same sort of high track record on albums, keen talent for writing, and a unique vision that's barely gotten any exposure over the years. Here, he's working with a crack group that features Carmell Jones on trumpet, Harold Land on tenor, and a young Andrew Hill (billed as Andrew Hille!) on piano. All tunes are originals by Woods, this record displays his unique, introspective sensiblity in both his performance, and compostion. Titles include "Conflict", "Coming Home", "Apart Together", and "Aim". CD

2 of the best albums by this funky bandleader from LA! Both records are super-hard to find in the original, and they're laid out here back to back on one extended funky CD. Express Yourself is an undisputed classic – with hard heavy tracks like "Express Yourself", "High As Apple Pie (parts 1 & 2)", and "Tell Me What You Want Me To Do". In the Jungle Babe is a great mix of soul and funk – and features Wright's ballad hit "Love Land", plus "The Joker", "Everyday People", and "Till You Get Enough". CD

Brilliant work by the team of Clifford Brown and Max Roach – a seminal hardbop album that was one of the few to bridge the east and west coast scenes! The set was recorded in LA under the joint leadership of Brown and Roach – and features the classic quintet lineup that included Harold Land on tenor, Richie Powell (Bud's brother!) on piano, and George Morrow on bass. The mix of Roach's heavy full-on drumming and Brown's lyrical beauty is beyond compare – and Land's angular and sensitive tenor lines provide a perfect link between the two. Titles include classics like "Parisian Thoroughfare", "The Blues Walk", "Daahoud", "Jordu", and "Joy Spring". CD

Funky madness from The New Mastersounds – sounding better here than we remember them in years, with a real nitty-gritty quality that reminds us of their best early singles! The grooves on the set are extremely intense – from the percussion-jamming timbales of "The Tin Drum", to the mad guitar of "Zambezi", to the super-cooking organ of "You Got It All" – and each new track is a delightful surprise, offering a different focus on the group's instrumental strengths – all of which are presented here with raw and stripped-down production! Sam Bell guests on percussion – and other tracks include "Baby Bouncer", "La Cova", "Pure", "Ain't No Telling", "The Minx", and "Land Of Nod". CD

The greatest album to date from Sugarman 3 – one of the funkiest combos of the past 50 years! The group's organ/sax sound has never sounded so great – and it's pumped up even further here from some added guest instrumentation, including drums from Bernard Purdie, plus vocals on a number of cuts from deep funk legends Lee Fields, Charles Bradley, and Naomi Davis. The whole thing's as funky as funky can be – the kind of a record that would be selling for $300 if it came out in the 70s, and which is even nicer to have at a low everyday price! Titles include "Shot Down", "Modern Jive", "Funky So & So", "Take It As It Come", "Pure Cane", "Promised Land", "Country Girl", "La Culebra", "Down To It", "Honey Wagon", and "Bosco's Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

LA jazz classics from Atlantic – well-compiled here, with a good set of notes! Features work by Eddie Safranski, Jack Montrose, Conte Candoli, Jimmy Giuffre, Shorty Rogers, Shelly Manne, and Red Mitchell & Harold Land! LP, Vinyl record album

A great compilation – despite the title – one that features west coast recordings made by Savoy, showing the less "cool jazz" side of the LA scene in the late 40s and early 50s! There's some excellent material on here not available elsewhere – especially some great bop groovers in the Central Ave kind of mode. The album's got 3 tracks by Slim Gaillard – "Laguna", "Boogin At Bergs", "Dunkin Bagel. 4 by a large group with Art Farmer, Eric Dolphy, Joe Howard, and Roy Porter – "Pete's Beat", "Sippin With Cisco", "This Is You", and "Gassin The Wig". 4 more by a quartet with Freddie Jackson and Harold Land – "Outlandish", "Swingin On Savoy", "San Diego Bounce", and "I'll Remember April". And more by Sonny Criss and Wardell Gray, Art Pepper and Hampton Hawes, and Helen Humes and Dexter Gordon. LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant work by the team of Clifford Brown and Max Roach – a seminal hardbop album that was one of the few to bridge the east and west coast scenes! The set was recorded in LA under the joint leadership of Brown and Roach – and features the classic quintet lineup that included Harold Land on tenor, Richie Powell (Bud's brother!) on piano, and George Morrow on bass. The mix of Roach's heavy full-on drumming and Brown's lyrical beauty is beyond compare – and Land's angular and sensitive tenor lines provide a perfect link between the two. Titles include classics like "Parisian Thoroughfare", "The Blues Walk", "Daahoud", "Jordu", and "Joy Spring". CD

Beautiful beautiful record, and still one of the greatest jazz vocal albums ever made! The great King Pleasure sings in a raspy vocalese style similar to Jon Hendricks or Eddie Jefferson, but with a sense of warmth and delivery that the two of them never seem to reach. The set list here features a stellar batch of tracks with lyrics by Pleasure, including "The New Symphony Sid", "No, Not Much", "Parker's Mood", and "Golden Days". There's some great accompaniment by LA hard bop players like Teddy Edwards, Gerald Wiggins, and Harold Land, and the whole set sparkles with imagination and warmth. CD

Dark-tinged grooves from Roland Appel – maybe not the gothic-themed album you'd guess from the cover, but still very much on the spookier side of the Sonar Kollective spectrum! Appel works here with lots of spare analogue electronics, and often comes up with a groove that would be right at home in the early 80s Italian Cosmic scene – lots of hard rhythms woven together with spacier keyboard bits, often aimed at the dancefloor, but sometimes with an energy that propels the tunes up into space! Titles include "New Love", "Angel", "Changes", "Secrets", "Unforgiven", "Child Song", and "Dark Soldier". CD