An incredible album from the man that changed the way the world hears the Hammond! This album was Larry Young's first for Blue Note – and it's a mindblowing batch of tunes that push the organ into realms that had never been heard of in jazz. Young's got a real penchant for a modal groove – no doubt inspired by his friend and sometimes collaborator John Coltrane – and he's working here with a totally hip group that includes Sam Rivers, Grant Green, and Elvin Jones. The tunes are amazing – dancing with delight as they push the envelope, but never go too far to get overindulgent – and the album's filled with classics that include Green's wonderful composition "Plaza De Toros", plus originals by Young like "Tyrone", "Backup", and "Ritha". CD

An incredible album from the man that changed the way the world hears the Hammond! This album was Larry Young's first for Blue Note – and it's a mindblowing batch of tunes that push the organ into realms that had never been heard of in jazz. Young's got a real penchant for a modal groove – no doubt inspired by his friend and sometimes collaborator John Coltrane – and he's working here with a totally hip group that includes Sam Rivers, Grant Green, and Elvin Jones. The tunes are amazing – dancing with delight as they push the envelope, but never go too far to get overindulgent – and the album's filled with classics that include Green's wonderful composition "Plaza De Toros", plus originals by Young like "Tyrone", "Backup", and "Ritha". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible album from the man that changed the way the world hears the Hammond! This album was Larry Young's first for Blue Note – and it's a mindblowing batch of tunes that push the organ into realms that had never been heard of in jazz. Young's got a real penchant for a modal groove – no doubt inspired by his friend and sometimes collaborator John Coltrane – and he's working here with a totally hip group that includes Sam Rivers, Grant Green, and Elvin Jones. The tunes are amazing – dancing with delight as they push the envelope, but never go too far to get overindulgent – and the album's filled with classics that include Green's wonderful composition "Plaza De Toros", plus originals by Young like "Tyrone", "Backup", and "Ritha". CD

Incredible stuff from the jazz underground of Newark! This is one of the rarest albums ever recorded by jazz organist Larry Young – cut for the tiny Perception label during the early 70s, and featuring some of the cream of the New Jersey jazz underground. The album's got playing that bridges a number of Young's different styles – from his straighter soul jazz work at Blue Note, to his harder jamming with Santana and John McLaughlin, to his more fusion oriented albums for Arista. James Blood Ulmer's on guitar, but there's also a large ensemble of excellent players, and lots of other percussion and cool instrumentation that really gives the album an "out there" sound! Titles include "Sunshine Fly Away", "Saudia", "Hello Your Quietness", and "Khalid Of Space". CD

Incredible stuff from the jazz underground of Newark! This is one of the rarest albums ever recorded by jazz organist Larry Young – cut for the tiny Perception label during the early 70s, and featuring some of the cream of the New Jersey jazz underground. The album's got playing that bridges a number of Young's different styles – from his straighter soul jazz work at Blue Note, to his harder jamming with Santana and John McLaughlin, to his more fusion oriented albums for Arista. James Blood Ulmer's on guitar, but there's also a large ensemble of excellent players, and lots of other percussion and cool instrumentation that really gives the album an "out there" sound! Titles include "Sunshine Fly Away", "Saudia", "Hello Your Quietness", and "Khalid Of Space". CD

A brilliant album that would forever change the way the organ was used in jazz! The set's the greatest contribution ever from organist Larry Young – a lean and modal session recorded with help from a young quartet that includes Woody Shaw on trumpet, Joe Henderson on tenor, and Elvin Jones on drums – all leaping and loping with Larry's free-thinking work on the Hammond – stretching things out into spiritual grooves that belie Young's fascination with Coltrane's sound of the time, and his freer fusion work of later years! The Hammond had never sounded so righteous before – freed from the task of thumping out a deeper rhythm, and let loose to explore the same space carved out by Shaw and Henderson's horns! Titles include a classic reading of Woody's "Moontrane", plus "Zoltan", "If", "Beyond All Limits", and "Monk's Dream". CD

A brilliant album that would forever change the way the organ was used in jazz! The set's the greatest contribution ever from organist Larry Young – a lean and modal session recorded with help from a young quartet that includes Woody Shaw on trumpet, Joe Henderson on tenor, and Elvin Jones on drums – all leaping and loping with Larry's free-thinking work on the Hammond – stretching things out into spiritual grooves that belie Young's fascination with Coltrane's sound of the time, and his freer fusion work of later years! The Hammond had never sounded so righteous before – freed from the task of thumping out a deeper rhythm, and let loose to explore the same space carved out by Shaw and Henderson's horns! Titles include a classic reading of Woody's "Moontrane", plus "Zoltan", "If", "Beyond All Limits", and "Monk's Dream". LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant album that would forever change the way the organ was used in jazz! The set's the greatest contribution ever from organist Larry Young – a lean and modal session recorded with help from a young quartet that includes Woody Shaw on trumpet, Joe Henderson on tenor, and Elvin Jones on drums – all leaping and loping with Larry's free-thinking work on the Hammond – stretching things out into spiritual grooves that belie Young's fascination with Coltrane's sound of the time, and his freer fusion work of later years! The Hammond had never sounded so righteous before – freed from the task of thumping out a deeper rhythm, and let loose to explore the same space carved out by Shaw and Henderson's horns! Titles include a classic reading of Woody's "Moontrane", plus "Zoltan", "If", "Beyond All Limits", and "Monk's Dream". CD

An early classic from organist Larry Young – cut before his groundbreaking Blue Note work, in a style that's more straightforward soul jazz, but still pretty darn great! Larry's working in a group that features Jimmy Smith's frequent partner, Thornel Schwartz, on guitar – plus bass by Wendell Marshall, and drums by Jimmy Smith (a different musician than the organist!) Although there's less of the modal grooving of Larry's later years, the tracks still have a nicely off-center feel – with some great angular playing, and a great way of constructing the solos that pushes Larry away from other heavier organists of the time. Tracks include "African Blues", "Nica's Dream", "Minor Dream", and "Midnight Angel". Nice stuff! CD

One of the best Larry Young albums for Blue Note – and a record that really gets at his unique conception and style in the 60s! The session's a key bridge between Larry's soul jazz roots and his more far-reaching experimental work – filled with deep, heavy grooves – yet mixed with playful, personal touches on the Hammond – some of the most unique sounds coming from Blue Note at the time! The group features a nicely different lineup from the usual label Hammond date – Tyrone Washington and Herbert Morgan on tenor, and Hank White on flugelhorn – and the ensemble is augmented by some congas, and vocals by Larry's wife Althea on one track. The sound is great – more inside than Love & Peace, but with a similar righteous energy – and titles include "Evening", "Majestic Soul", "Tender Feelings", "Wild Is The Wind" and "Means Happiness". CD

Quite possibly the greatest Larry Young album of the post-Blue Note years – and a massive bit of funk that totally redefines his sound! Larry's working here with his hip group Fuel – an ensemble that features Laura Logan on lead vocals, giving the tunes a real focus through her lyrics – and letting them pack a bit more punch too, since her voice sounds a lot like Betty Davis at the time! Larry's keyboards are forceful, but never too over the top – and he's notched things down a bit to focus on the overall groove of the set – still keeping things adventurous on the keys, but also working in a mode that's much more heavily jazz funk! The album's one of THE essential electric jazz sets of the 70s – and features the classic break cut "Turn Out the Lights" – plus other great tracks that include "Floating", "Fuel for the Fire", "I Ching", "H+J=B (Hustle + Jam = Bread)" and "New York Electric Street Music". CD

Jazz organ explodes to the next level – on this brilliant and rare session by Larry Young from 1969! The record was Young's last recording for Blue Note, and was never issued at the time – only making a brief appearance in a short series at the end of the 70s – and its obscurity makes it all the more important, as it's the kind of record that would have transformed jazz tremendously if released at the time. On the set, Young delivers on all his 60s experimentation with modal grooves and Coltrane-styled playing – working with a quartet that includes Lee Morgan on trumpet, Herbert Morgan on tenor, and Eddie Gladden on drums – soaring to the skies on long tunes that push the Hammond farther than any organist had ever imagined! And while modern, and freer than before, Young is also playing here without some of the over-indulgent styles of his later jazz-rock work – still sticking to the Blue Note mode, while managing to record in a "new thing" mode long after the label had abandoned the "new thing" sound! Mindblowing – and with titles that include "Visions", "Love Drops", "Trip Merchant" and "Street Scene". CD

Jazz organ explodes to the next level – on this brilliant and rare session by Larry Young from 1969! The record was Young's last recording for Blue Note, and was never issued at the time – only making a brief appearance in a short series at the end of the 70s – and its obscurity makes it all the more important, as it's the kind of record that would have transformed jazz tremendously if released at the time. On the set, Young delivers on all his 60s experimentation with modal grooves and Coltrane-styled playing – working with a quartet that includes Lee Morgan on trumpet, Herbert Morgan on tenor, and Eddie Gladden on drums – soaring to the skies on long tunes that push the Hammond farther than any organist had ever imagined! And while modern, and freer than before, Young is also playing here without some of the over-indulgent styles of his later jazz-rock work – still sticking to the Blue Note mode, while managing to record in a "new thing" mode long after the label had abandoned the "new thing" sound! Mindblowing – and with titles that include "Visions", "Love Drops", "Trip Merchant" and "Street Scene". CD

A brilliant album that would forever change the way the organ was used in jazz! The set's the greatest contribution ever from organist Larry Young – a lean and modal session recorded with help from a young quartet that includes Woody Shaw on trumpet, Joe Henderson on tenor, and Elvin Jones on drums – all leaping and loping with Larry's free-thinking work on the Hammond – stretching things out into spiritual grooves that belie Young's fascination with Coltrane's sound of the time, and his freer fusion work of later years! The Hammond had never sounded so righteous before – freed from the task of thumping out a deeper rhythm, and let loose to explore the same space carved out by Shaw and Henderson's horns! Titles include a classic reading of Woody's "Moontrane", plus "Zoltan", "If", "Beyond All Limits", and "Monk's Dream". LP, Vinyl record album

A great bit of Hammond jazz – featuring Jimmy Smith's sometime guitarist Thornel Schwarz heading up a combo that includes Bill Leslie on tenor, and Larry Young on organ (although he's billed on this set as Lawrence Olds!) Young plays in a similar vein to his Prestige recordings from the same time, that is, he has a traditional soul jazz organ sound, but occasionally stretches out and searches, in the style that he would use later on Blue Note. The set includes the tracks "Soul Cookin", "Brazil", "Blues & Dues", and a goofy take on "Theme From Mutiny On The Bounty". LP, Vinyl record album

A very tight early session by the great organist Larry Young! The album's quite different than Young's later Blue Note work – more in-the-pocket soul jazz, but filled with the expansive sensibility that would later have him take off for the heavens. The biggest example of this tendency is the track "Talking Bout JC" – a cut dedicated to John Coltrane (who Young used to jam with, although sadly never on record!), recorded more famously later on Blue Note, but still sounding pretty hip here in an early take. The group on the set is a quartet that includes guitarist Thornel Schwartz and tenorist Bill Leslie (with whom he cut an album for Argo, under the name of Lawrence Olds) – and other tracks include "Gettin' Into It" (which is 15 minutes long) and "Groove Street". CD

Really really wonderful work from legendary organist Larry Young – a set of rare recordings that we'd easily rank right next to our favorite Blue Note albums that Young cut as a leader! The sides here were done for French radio in the mid 60s, but they're hardly throwaway quickie tracks or lame live sides – and instead are superbly recorded selections that feature Young's organ in the company of really great musicians who include Woody Shaw on trumpet and Nathan Davis on tenor! The music is mostly from the ORTF studios, with impeccable sound – and tracks stretch out in that long, imaginative way that Young brought to his famous Unity album for Blue Note – a complete reworking of the role of Hammond in jazz, set to new modern modes, which are definitely emphasized by the work of Davis and Shaw. A number of tracks were recorded under the name of the Nathan Davis Quartet – with the addition of Billy Brooks on drums and a few more add in Sonny grey on trumpet and Jean-Claude Fohrenbach on tenor – both great players who join Shaw and Davis on some very extended tracks. The whole thing's wonderful – impeccable sound, great notes, and lost material that's a key addition to the too-small Larry Young catalog! Titles include "La Valse Grise", "Discotheque", "Trane Of Thought", "Luny Tune", "Larry's Blues", "Talkin About JC", "Black Nile", and "Beyond All Limits" – as well as a 20 minute reading of the classic "Zoltan". There's also even one track that has Larry playing some Monk-like piano – really great! CD

Quite possibly the greatest Larry Young album of the post-Blue Note years – and a massive bit of funk that totally redefines his sound! Larry's working here with his hip group Fuel – an ensemble that features Laura Logan on lead vocals, giving the tunes a real focus through her lyrics – and letting them pack a bit more punch too, since her voice sounds a lot like Betty Davis at the time! Larry's keyboards are forceful, but never too over the top – and he's notched things down a bit to focus on the overall groove of the set – still keeping things adventurous on the keys, but also working in a mode that's much more heavily jazz funk! The album's one of THE essential electric jazz sets of the 70s – and features the classic break cut "Turn Out the Lights" – plus other great tracks that include "Floating", "Fuel for the Fire", "I Ching", "H+J=B (Hustle + Jam = Bread)" and "New York Electric Street Music". CD

Quite possibly the greatest Larry Young album of the post-Blue Note years – and a massive bit of funk that totally redefines his sound! Larry's working here with his hip group Fuel – an ensemble that features Laura Logan on lead vocals, giving the tunes a real focus through her lyrics – and letting them pack a bit more punch too, since her voice sounds a lot like Betty Davis at the time! Larry's keyboards are forceful, but never too over the top – and he's notched things down a bit to focus on the overall groove of the set – still keeping things adventurous on the keys, but also working in a mode that's much more heavily jazz funk! The album's one of THE essential electric jazz sets of the 70s – and features the classic break cut "Turn Out the Lights" – plus other great tracks that include "Floating", "Fuel for the Fire", "I Ching", "H+J=B (Hustle + Jam = Bread)" and "New York Electric Street Music". LP, Vinyl record album

The most free-thinking Larry Young album of the 60s – and that's saying a lot, considering the rest of his work! The session's quite an unusual one – with two drummers in the group, grounding a sextet that features Larry on organ, James Spaulding on alto and flute, Herbert Morgan on tenor sax, and the great Eddie Gale on trumpet! The tracks are all quite long, open, and flowing – richly organic, and kind of an extension of the groove first laid down by Young on Unity – pushed into more spiritual, late-Coltrane territory. The sound is amazing – incredibly majestic, and on a par with the most far-reaching jazz on Impulse Records of the late 60s – a real standout for Blue Note, and for Young, who wouldn't record this way again until the 70s! Titles include "Falaq", "Seven Steps To Heaven", "Of Love & Peace", and "Pavanne". CD

A fantastic lost psych album from the 60s – but one with a strong jazz pedigree too – as the album was recorded at the studio of Rudy Van Gelder, produced by the great Bob Thiele, and features a young Larry Coryell on guitar! If you've ever heard Larry's early solo albums, and thought that his fuzz echoed plenty of psych elements – you'll know now where that came from – as he works in a wonderful lineup that features work from other jazz artists Jim Pepper on saxes, Chris Hills on bass, and Bob Moses on drums – plus second guitar from Chip Baker too. Hills sings, Coryell plays a bit of sitar, and the whole thing's got a wonderful blend of jazz and rock – on titles that include "I'm Gonna Be Free", "Cosmic Daddy Dancer", "Bad News Cat", "Angels Can't Be True", "Tattoo Man", "Blue Water Mother", and "Sunday Telephone". LP, Vinyl record album

Although the Japanese cover designer got his name wrong (Perkins is spelled Parkins) this is indeed the saxophone player Bill Perkins – the west coast great from the 50s, still sounding wonderful here in a 70s session! Perkins plays tenor sax and is joined by Lou Levy on piano, Monty Budwig on bass, and Larry Bunker on drums – on titles that include "Lester Leaps In", "I Wished On The Moon", "A Ghost Of A Chance", "Dickie's Dream", "I Never Knew", and "Pound Cake". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderfully surprising later album from Stephane Grappelli – one that stretches out with a sound that's far more than just the Django tribute you might guess from the title! Grapelli's working here with two guitarists – Philip Catherine and Larry Coryell – in the twin-guitar grooving mode that was used often with the Hot Club. However, the real difference here is the overall sound – as Catherine and Coryell can't help but explore the tunes in a more interesting and contemporary manner – and really bring in some amazing colors and tones to the sessions. Each guitarist is featured in a different channel – and Grappelli and bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen handle the rest of the work on the set. Titles include "Blues For Django & Stephane", "Gallerie St Hubert", "Tears", "Swing Guitars", "Oriental Shuffle", "Sweet Chorus", and "Are You In The Mood". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent lost jazz work from Chet Baker! The CD combines 5 tracks from a never-before-heard live set recorded in 1953 at the Curran Theatre in LA, plus 9 more cuts from 1954 session that was issued on the long out-of-print LP Jazz At Ann Arbor. Both sessions feature Chet playing with pianist Russ Freeman, an amazingly understated player whose graceful darkness perfectly matches young Chet's sound on the trumpet. The pair are backed by Carson Smith on bass and either Larry Bunker or Bob Neel on drums – and the extended set's a wonderfully no-nonsense batch of jazz tunes that really sparkles in comparison with some of Baker's later live work. Titles include "All The Things You Are", "Maid In Mexico", "Lover Man", "My Funny Valentine", "Stella By Starlight", and "Russ Job". CD

One of our favorite-ever albums on Blue Note – a great 60s session that features one of the most unique reed players to ever record for the label! George Braith takes a bit of a page from Roland Kirk – in that he handles a variety of oddly-tuned reed instruments, but with a wonderfully soulful focus – mixing this nice edge with more familiar soul jazz modes, at a level that makes his records of the time completely unique! The group also features some sublime organ lines from Billy Gardner – a player you might know more from previous records with Lou Donaldson on piano, but who's very open and expressive here – almost echoing Larry Young at times – which is great next to the work of Grant Green's guitar on the record! Braith's playing is incredible – slightly exotic, but also quite soulful – and titles include "Nut City", "Sweetville", and "Extension". CD

George Braith is one of our favorites! His style of playing odd reed instruments, sometimes simultaneously, is a lot like Roland Kirk, but he has more of a swingin' hard bop feel to his music than Kirk. This LP, cut with Grant Green, and the great, underrated organ of Billy Gardner, has a very similar feel to the Larry Young/Grant Green efforts. The groove is funky, but also really modal – and the solos stretch a lot farther than you'd expect! Titles include "Jo Anne", "Boop Bop Bing", "Billy Told", and "Soul Stream". CD

A trio of early RCA albums from vibes genius Gary Burton – all brought together in a single set! First up is New Vibe Man In Town – the first-ever album from vibist Gary Burton – a very young player at the time of recording, but one who's definitely worth the "new vibe man" promised in the title! The style here is maybe a bit more conventionally swinging than some of Burton's records from later years – a trio setting with Gene Cherico on bass and the great Joe Morello on drums – but both rhythm players are already pretty hip with their timings, and really push Burton into spacious, chromatic territory that's completely sublime – a sound that already marks the musician as really bringing something fresh to his instrument. Titles include "Joy Spring", "Over The Rainbow", "Like Someone In Love", "Minor Blues", "Out Waltz", "So Many Things", "Sir John", and "You Stepped Out Of A Dream". Next is Who Is Gary Burton – a gem of an album from the young Gary Burton – his second date for RCA, and a perfectly-pitched session that's got plenty of modern edges, but none of the too-experimental modes that sometimes bogged Gary down in later years! The date's especially noteworthy for the presence of two great horn players – Clark Terry on trumpet and Phil Woods on alto – both of whom flesh out Burton's lyrical approach to vibes with some deeply soulful solos of their own – opening up the record with a range of sounds that's simply breathtaking, and which represents some of the freshest work from both players in the early 60s. The rest of the group features Tommy Flanagan on piano, John Neves on bass, and Joe Morello on drums – and titles include "Storm", "I've Just Seen Her", "Fly Time Fly", "Conception", "Get Away Blues", and "One Note". Gary Burton In Concert features groundbreaking work on vibes by Gary Burton – recorded in a setting that's live and open, yet quite groovy too! There's a rhythmic freeness that marks the set from the very first note – lessons learned from the generation of Ornette, yet taken in new direction – and definitely into new colors and tones – thanks to Burton's amazingly chromatic vibes, and the vivid guitar of Larry Coryell – not to mention the unusual rhythms from Steve Swallow on bass and Bob Moses on drums. These youthful players push the envelope even more than on some of Burton's other RCA albums of the time – going for a groove that's much more open and abstract, and which puts Coryell's guitar in a role that's as important as Burton's vibes in the set. Titles include "Wrong Is Right", "Walter L", "Lines", "The Sunset Bell", and "Blue Comedy". CD

An amazing tribute to some of the greatest jazz funk of the 70s – the groundbreaking work of trumpeter Donald Byrd, both as a solo act on his own, and as the inspiration for the mighty Blackbyrds group – both of whom are featured on this set! Byrd first broke into new territory in the early 70s with a string of amazing records on Blue Note – all done with help from genius producer Larry Mizell, who helped Byrd's trumpet find a way to groove in an electric space, but at a level that was very different (and a lot more soulful) than any sort of Miles Davis electric modes! This work quickly inspired a young group at Howard University, who chose the name Blackbyrds as a nod to Donald – who quickly became their mentor and producer, and helped them forge a great blend of jazz and funk before they took off on their own. This set features 39 tracks from both artists, illustrating a fantastic partnership and shared musical inspiration – with work from Byrd's Blue Note and Wea albums, and all the great Blackbyrds records for Fantasy in the 70s. Titles include Donald Byrd tracks "Dominoes", "Black Byrd", "Lansana's Priestess", "Wind Parade", "Flying High", "Thank You For Funking Up My Life", "Onward Til Morning", "Dance Band", "Science Funktion", "Dominoes", "Flight Time", "Witch Hunt", "Stepping Into Tomorrow", "Sexy Dancer (12" mix)", "Star Trippin (12" mix)", "Pretty Baby", "Giving It Up", and "Dancing In The Street". Blackbyrds cuts include "Blackbyrd's Theme", "Do It Fluid", "Flying High", "Cornbread", "Time Is Movin", "Happy Music", "Rock Creek Park", "Walkin In Rhythm", "Lookin Ahead", "Street Games", "Gut Level", "Party Land", and "Supernatural Feeling". CD

Plenty of spirit, and plenty of soul – a 70s classic from organist Doug Carn, and a record that took his instrument, and jazz in general, to a whole new level for the decade! Carn's got this burning, righteous quality on his keys – a vibe that certainly owes something to Larry Young, but also takes off even further – working in a spiritual ensemble that also features his wife Jean Carn on vocals – sounding way more like a righteous jazz singer than on her later soul sides for Philly International! Other players are great, too – and include Charles Tolliver on flugelhorn, Garnett Brown on trombone, George Harper on tenor and soprano sax, Buster Williams on bass, and Alphonse Mouzon on drums. Tracks include "New Moon", "Trance Dance", "My Spirit", "Blue In Green", and "Arise & Shine". CD

Plenty of spirit, and plenty of soul – a 70s classic from organist Doug Carn, and a record that took his instrument, and jazz in general, to a whole new level for the decade! Carn's got this burning, righteous quality on his keys – a vibe that certainly owes something to Larry Young, but also takes off even further – working in a spiritual ensemble that also features his wife Jean Carn on vocals – sounding way more like a righteous jazz singer than on her later soul sides for Philly International! Other players are great, too – and include Charles Tolliver on flugelhorn, Garnett Brown on trombone, George Harper on tenor and soprano sax, Buster Williams on bass, and Alphonse Mouzon on drums. Tracks include "New Moon", "Trance Dance", "My Spirit", "Blue In Green", and "Arise & Shine". CD

A really great later date from Chicago pianist Jodie Christian – a musician whose roots go back to some early work in the Young Holt Ulimited group! Here, Jody leads a wonderful group through some nicely soulful changes – a lineup that features surprising straight work from Roscoe Mitchell on soprano, alto, and oboe on three tracks – plus work from Art Porter on alto, Paul McKee on trombone, Larry Gray on bass, and Ernie Adams and Vincent Davis on drums. Francine Griffin also sings on two tracks too! Titles include "Let's Try", "Coltrane's View", "Mr Freddie", "Chromatically Speaking", and "Song For Atala". CD

Nathan Davis is one of our all-time favorite saxophone players – and he sounds tremendous here in the company of trumpeter Woody Shaw, as the pair both take on Shaw's early "Zoltan" composition, with help from Larry Young on piano! The flipside features an even bolder number – the Davis composition "Mister E", with some very fierce work from Young on the piano – a really surprising change from his usual organ work of the time! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Great early work from trumpeter Jon Eardley – captured here at a point when he was a budding young modernist in the 50s! The date features Eardley's trumpet right out front in the mix – hard, spare, and a bit angular – with backing from the piano of Pete Jolly, as well as Red Mitchell on bass and Larry Bunker on drums. Titles include "Late Leader", "Indian Spring", "Black", and "Gloss". LP, Vinyl record album

A great lost album from Stan Getz! The record features Stan in a totally new setting, playing with some relatively unfamiliar French talents – Eddie Louiss on organ, Rene Thomas on guitar, and Bernard Lubat on drums. Louiss is incredible, and has a free spacey sound that recalls Larry Young – which works perfectly with Getz's post-Coltrane explorations here. The whole album's a triumph, and a tribute to Stan's never-ending quest for new sounds, despite the fact that labels always wanted him to reproduce his bigger hits. Titles include "Our Kind Of Sabi", "Song For Martine", "Invitation", and "Dum Dum". All tracks are long, and the album's a delightful meeting of European jazz and masterful solo talents! LP, Vinyl record album

A set titled after a Beatles hit of the 60s, but one that's got a lot more depth than that – as the record is a landmark moment in the development of organ/guitar jazz at the time – a set that features the key pairing of guitarist Grant Green and Hammond modernist Larry Young! As with other records from the duo, there's a sense of rhythmic progression and tonal inflection here that's quite different than more standard soul jazz of the time – a complexity that also comes from the drum work of Elvin Jones, and which is topped by the soulful expressions of Hank Mobley on tenor – the last member of this all-star quartet! The whole thing's great – based around loose, free rhythms – and featuring searching solos that also still remain nicely swinging and in the pocket! Titles include "Corcovado", "Stella By Starlight", "I Want To Hold Your Hand", and "At Long Last Love". CD

A fantastic mid 60s album from Grant Green – but one that never got its due originally, because it was unreleased at the time – and didn't come out until a Japanese version in the late 70s! Despite that oddly long gap, Matador is truly one Grant's best ever records – a really inventive session that goes way past his standard soul jazz roots – and which really shows the guitarist stretching out towards future styles of jazz! The session's a spare quartet date – with Green's guitar playing modal grooves over rhythm by by his incredible combo – with Bob Cranshaw on bass, Elvin Jones on drums and the incomparable McCoy Tyner on piano – blocking out bold changes that really drive the record strongly. Cuts are long, and there's a freewheeling quality to the material that's only ever matched by some of the Grant Green/Larry Young sessions from the same time – especially the Street Of Dreams Record. Titles include "Matador", "Bedouin", Green Jeans", and a killer version of "My Favorite Things", done in a very Coltrane-esque style. CD

One of our favorite albums ever from guitarist Grant Green – an amazingly stretched-out session that's served up with a good deal of modal jazz in the rhythms – and a date that features killer work from Larry Young on organ and Bobby Hutcherson on vibes! The pair join Green in a quartet that also includes Elvin Jones on drums – who provides a loose, fluid approach to rhythm that really sets the tone for the date – a flowing vibe that folds together the organ, guitar, and vibes beautifully – with an incomparable floating vibe that's pure magic! All tracks are long and very open – and titles include "Street Of Dreams", "Somewhere In The Night", and "Lazy Afternoon". CD

One of our favorite albums ever from guitarist Grant Green – an amazingly stretched-out session that's served up with a good deal of modal jazz in the rhythms – and a date that features killer work from Larry Young on organ and Bobby Hutcherson on vibes! The pair join Green in a quartet that also includes Elvin Jones on drums – who provides a loose, fluid approach to rhythm that really sets the tone for the date – a flowing vibe that folds together the organ, guitar, and vibes beautifully – with an incomparable floating vibe that's pure magic! All tracks are long and very open – and titles include "Street Of Dreams", "Somewhere In The Night", and "Lazy Afternoon". LP, Vinyl record album

The first widely-circulated album issued by the stunning saxophonist Muriel Grossman – an artist we've been stocking on imports for the past decade or so, and who quickly became one of or favorites in jazz! If you've not heard Muriel before, this album's a perfect introduction to her music – and if you've been following her already, you'll definitely be pleased – as Grossman really opens up that mix of modal and spiritual styles she does so well – working with an expanded lineup of instrumentation that adds in her own work on flute, percussion, bass, kalimba, harmonium, and tambura next to the core tenor and soprano sax – in a combo that also features great Hammond B3 from Abel Boquera, guitar from Radomir Milojkovic, and drums from Uros Stamenkovic. At times, the organ is used almost in a Larry Young sort of way – but other moments have the instrument in moodier waves of sound, especially when things get slightly exotic – and the double-length set opens up with beautiful tunes throughout, on long selections that include "Mother Of All", "Absolute Truth", "Calm", "Care", "All Heart", "Devotion", and "Knowledge & Wisdom". CD

Wonderfully groovy work from drummer Chico Hamilton – one of his hip 60s albums for Impulse, done in a style that's completely different than his work of the 50s! Here, Chico's clearly in love with a modal groove, and also sets things up with more romping rhythms that are upbeat in a way he never was before – a bit soul jazz, a bit exotic, and served up with a killer combo that includes the young Larry Coryell on guitar, Arnie Lawrence on alto, and Richard Davis on some superb basswork that really sends the whole thing home! The album's also got some surprising guests – Archie Shepp plays piano on one cut, Ernie Hayes on organ on two more, and Jimmy Cheatham does a bit of the arrangements as well. Titles include "The Dealer", "For Mods Only", "Larry Of Arabia", "Thoughts", "Baby You Know", and "A Trip". LP, Vinyl record album