A wonderful batch of Latin Jazz grooves – played by a group who more than deserved the right to call themselves the Latin Jazz Quintet! The core sound features vibes and piano jamming away nicely, really hitting some great modal rhythms – but this album's also got an added bonus in the presence of alto player Bobby Capers, an old bandmate of Mongo Santamaria, and a real killer of a player on a hard Latin groove! Capers really makes this album shine – cutting in some hard-edged sax solos amidst the warmer pulse of the vibes and piano – and titles include some hard grooving classics like "Rip a Dip", "Dilly Dali", "Blues Waltz", "Milestones", "Red Top", and "Sunday Go Meetin'". CD

A masterful meeting of Eric Dolpy and The Latin Jazz Quintet – a record that shows a rare Latin side of Dolphy's talents, but one that's totally great! The core group here are the ensemble led by conga player Juan Amalbert with vibes, piano, bass, and percussion – a group who helped push the Latin jazz style of earlier 50s work into much hipper territory during the 60s – usually by adding in a reedman like Dolphy! Eric's blowing here on alto, flute, and bass clarinet – showing a great sensitivity to the core groove of the record, but also managing to cut in these edgier moments that really open things up! The mix of vibes and Dolphy alone is worth the price of admission – especially when heard in an "inside" way that's quite different than his later meeting with Bobby Hutcherson – but the overall groove really holds the record together wonderfully, and makes it appealing for fans of both Latin and modern jazz! Titles include "Mambo Ricci", "Sunday Go Meetin", "First Bass Line", "Caribe", and "Blues In 6/8". CD

Outstanding Dizzy Gillespie material – from one of his most overlooked periods! The time is the mid 60s, and after a few years of working with Lalo Schifrin in his group, Dizzy's changed his Latin bag from hard-edged Cubop to mellower more complicated Bossa and modal jazz. The result is some of the most sophisticated playing in Dizzy's career – hitched to a groove that's still filled with soul and fire, and which rolls on in a compelling way that always hooks us hard! The group features Kenny Barron on piano, and reed work by James Moody, one of the other great secrets of the mid 60s! Tracks are all long – and titles include "One Note Samba", "Con Alma", "Umh, Umh", and "Chega De Saudade". CD

Some of the greatest British jazz of the 60s – two early albums by the groundbreaking Ian Carr/Don Rendell quintet! Shades Of Blue is the debut of a legendary British jazz group – one who not only gave that nation's scene a fresh voice in music, but who also really set the tone for many other acts to come! After a stretch when the London scene was doing a great job of matching American efforts in bop and swing, players like Don Rendell and Ian Carr found a way to really carve out some bold space of their own – here, by matching their own strong sense of writing and arranging, always filled with beautiful tone and color, with some of the more modern phrasing and styles that were just creeping up around town. The set's not nearly as experimental as the work of Joe Harriott, but has all the hallmarks of that generation's openness to new ways of expression – often given a surprisingly soulful swing, and captured perfectly as one of the early entries in the famous Lansdowne Series recordings. The rest of the group is equally great – and in addition to Rendell on tenor and soprano sax, and Carr on trumpet and flugelhorn – the combo includes Colin Purbrook on piano, Dave Green on bass, and Trevor Tompkin on drums. Titles include "Garrison 64", "Blue Mosque", "Just Blue", "Latin Blue", "Sailin", and "Big City Strut". Dusk Fire has a great group getting even better – as the legendary pairing of tenorist Don Rendell and trumpeter Ian Carr is joined by pianist Michael Garrick – who was really helping to shape the sound of British jazz at the time! The album's only the second from the Rendell/Carr Quintet, but it's already moving strongly forward – with this sense of composition and focus that's really amazing – served up in original tunes by all three creative forces in the lead – often with this great balance between soulful swing and modern ideas that makes the whole thing a dream all the way through! Don plays tenor, soprano sax, flute, and clarinet; Carr plays trumpet and flugelhorn; Garrick is on piano, Dave Green is on bass, and Trevor Tomkin is on drums – on titles that include "Prayer", "Dusk Fire", "Hot Rod", "Spooks", "Jubal", and "Tan Samfu". CD

Wonderful late 50s jazz from the LA scene – not just because singer Dakota Staton is at the best of her youthful prime, but also because the Shearing group on the set is great too! George is working here with one of his best lineups – a group that includes Latin-inflected Al McKibbon on bass and Percy Brice on drums, but which also has some great guitar work by Toots Thielemans, and wonderful vibes by Emil Richards. The Shearing group plays instrumentally on about half the album, and Dakota joins in on the remaining tracks. Titles include "Pawn Ticket", "In The Night", "Easy", "I Hear Music", "Senor Blues", "Later", and "I'd Love To Make Love To You". CD

A wonderfully wide-ranging collection of work brought together in support of a long-running music festival in France – done here as a double-length set that offers up a "Past" disc of material recorded at the festival in previous years – and a "Future" disc that points the way towards new directions in European jazz! The set's worth it for the Past disc alone – as it offers up some never-heard recordings in jazz, Latin, and Brazilian modes – a nicely diverse array of tracks that have that open vibe of a really special live moment at a concert – similar to some of the best Montreux jazz recordings over the years! Titles include "Toda Menina Baiana" by Gilberto Gil, "Panamerica" by Lalo Schifrin with David Sanchez on tenor, "Chan Chan" by La Banda De Santiago De Cuba, "Delilah" by the Milt Jackson/Hank Jones Quartet, "Manalyuca" by McCoy Tyner with Gary Bartz & Ravi Coltrane, "I'll Stay" by Roy Hargrove & RH Factor, and "Soweto Sorrow" by the trio of Louis Sclavis on bass clarinet, Henri Texier on bass, and Aldo Romano on drums. The Future disc is great too – with new recordings in a range of jazzy styles, mostly by younger French artists – with titles that include "On Dimanch Maten" by Arnaud Dolmen, "Baby Rover" by Jasual Cazz, "Strength" by Emile Londonien, "Olioqui Valley" by Ishkero, "Soulful" by Leon Phal Quintet, and "Tryin Times" by Abraham Reunion. LP, Vinyl record album

A hell of a record of Latin Jazz – recorded in the UK, but with a vibe that puts the whole thing right up there with some of the most inventive American albums of a few years before – such as Latin jazz classics by Sabu Martinez, Cal Tjader, or Eddie Palmieri! Robin Jones is the leader, and plays drums and timbales here – and the group are a tight sextet who work with no vocals at all – just flutes and saxes from Olaf Vas, a great talent who really shades in the sound – plus piano and Rhodes from Ian Henry, bass from Percy Borthwick, and percussion from Simon Morton and Tony Uter. Given the lack of other instrumentation, there's a fantastic focus on the percussion, reeds, and piano – and the whole thing's a cracker through and through, with titles that include "Africa Revisited", "Urubu", "Con Fuego", "Denga", and "Sucio Mambo". LP, Vinyl record album

The debut of a legendary British jazz group – one who not only gave that nation's scene a fresh voice in music, but who also really set the tone for many other acts to come! After a stretch when the London scene was doing a great job of matching American efforts in bop and swing, players like Don Rendell and Ian Carr found a way to really carve out some bold space of their own – here, by matching their own strong sense of writing and arranging, always filled with beautiful tone and color, with some of the more modern phrasing and styles that were just creeping up around town. The set's not nearly as experimental as the work of Joe Harriott, but has all the hallmarks of that generation's openness to new ways of expression – often given a surprisingly soulful swing, and captured perfectly as one of the early entries in the famous Lansdowne Series recordings. The rest of the group is equally great – and in addition to Rendell on tenor and soprano sax, and Carr on trumpet and flugelhorn – the combo includes Colin Purbrook on piano, Dave Green on bass, and Trevor Tompkin on drums. Titles include "Garrison 64", "Blue Mosque", "Just Blue", "Latin Blue", "Sailin", and "Big City Strut". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic sounds from the years before reggae became the international sound of Jamaica – music from the island nation's jazz scene, which was at the crossroads of so many different styles of music – jazz from the north, Latin rhythms from Cuba and Puerto Rico, and a fair bit of other Caribbean sounds too – all of which filter through the wonderful collection of music on the set! The title breaks down the different genres featured – but there's often a surprisingly unified feel to the whole record too – one that stands partly as a testament to the musical strengths of all the performers involved! In the days before Trojan and Studio One, Federal Records was an important Jamaican label – and did an especially great job of capturing some of the sounds that were part of that nation's club culture and resorts in the 60s. Titles include "Angelima" and "Like Falling In Love" by Ernest Ranglin, "Profile Cha Cha" and "Rhumbina" by Cecil Lloyd & The Starline Troubadors, "Estrellita" and "I Love Paris" by The Lennie Hibbert Combo, "Tis Wonderful" by Eric Grant, "Linstead Market" by Baba Motta & Ernest Ranglin, "Wheel & Turn Me" by Bertie King, "Go Fife Go" by Count Owen, "Mango Walk" by Bertie King & Ernest Ranglin, "String Of Pearls" by Auldey Williams & His Orchestra, "Solas Market" by Baba Motta, and "Monday Monday" by Winston Turner Quintet. LP, Vinyl record album

The debut of a legendary British jazz group – one who not only gave that nation's scene a fresh voice in music, but who also really set the tone for many other acts to come! After a stretch when the London scene was doing a great job of matching American efforts in bop and swing, players like Don Rendell and Ian Carr found a way to really carve out some bold space of their own – here, by matching their own strong sense of writing and arranging, always filled with beautiful tone and color, with some of the more modern phrasing and styles that were just creeping up around town. The set's not nearly as experimental as the work of Joe Harriott, but has all the hallmarks of that generation's openness to new ways of expression – often given a surprisingly soulful swing, and captured perfectly as one of the early entries in the famous Lansdowne Series recordings. The rest of the group is equally great – and in addition to Rendell on tenor and soprano sax, and Carr on trumpet and flugelhorn – the combo includes Colin Purbrook on piano, Dave Green on bass, and Trevor Tompkin on drums. Titles include "Garrison 64", "Blue Mosque", "Just Blue", "Latin Blue", "Sailin", and "Big City Strut". LP, Vinyl record album

Righteous grooving from this very hip combo – 2 numbers that are both plenty tasty! "Let My People Go" has all the hipness of the time – a bit of soul jazz, Latin, and progressive grooving that really takes the number somewhere! "Afro Rock" has a punchier feel from the get go – nice snapping drums, cool vibes, and a jangly kind of soul jazz groove that's made even better by this great sax solo! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Wonderful late 50s jazz from the LA scene – not just because singer Dakota Staton is at the best of her youthful prime, but also because the Shearing group on the set is great too! George is working here with one of his best lineups – a group that includes Latin-inflected Al McKibbon on bass and Percy Brice on drums, but which also has some great guitar work by Toots Thielemans, and wonderful vibes by Emil Richards. The Shearing group plays instrumentally on about half the album, and Dakota joins in on the remaining tracks. Titles include "Pawn Ticket", "The Thrill Is Gone", "In The Night", "I Hear Music", "Senor Blues", and "I'd Love To Make Love To You". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic look at the groundbreaking sounds of the Disques Debs label – one of the most important companies producing music in the French Caribbean – and an imprint whose impact was strongly felt on the other side of the Atlantic as well! The core of these grooves is that compelling biguine rhythm that flowed from Guadeloupe – almost a mix of Latin and jazz, but with a different sort of vibe of its own – which was then interwoven with elements from Cuban, European, and African styles amidst the initial decade or so of recordings on this set! Debs had strong ties with Paris, and a bit with the West African scene – and their recorded legacy almost follows old colonial paths, but in reverse – creating this wonderful criss-crossing of cultures amidst their grooves. The package is wonderful – loads of vintage photos and great notes in the best Strut Records way – and titles include "Douce Kombass" by Henri Debs Quintet, "Mr Morin" by Joseph Lacides, "Lan Mise" by Geno Exilie, "Feeling Happy" by Cyril Dias Et Son Orchestre, "Ces P'Tits Je T'Aime" by Daniel Forestal Et Sa Guitare, "Assez Fait Cancan" by Guy Conquette, "Stanislas" by Eric Virgal, "Meringue Mondey" by Remy Mondey, "Si I Bon Di I Bon" by Le Ry-Co Jazz, "Salvana" by Dolor Et Les Diables Du Rhythme, and "Van Van" by Henri Guedon Et Les Contesta. LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent compilation of jazzy grooves from the great Ricky Tick label – featuring tracks from Five Corners Quintet, Timo Lassey, Jukka Eskola, Auteur Jazz, Stance Brothers, Povo and others –some of the best material from Ricky Tick albums to date, plus hard to find vinyl only releases and other hard-to-find bits! The set certainly glows with jazz heat, no one would argue to the contrary, from hard swinging classic sounds, to more Latin and bossa influenced numbers, and some more moody material, all down played with passion and produced with a lively immediacy. 13 tracks in all: "Early Move" by Timo Lassey, "Skinny Dipping" by Five Corners Quintet, "Serenata" by LTC, "Three Corners" (Nicola Conte's Sahib's Samba version) by Five Corners Quintet, "Athatoolagooloo" by Astro Can Caravan, "City Blues" by Povo, "Chip 'n' Charge" by Jukka Eskola, "Once Upon A Summertime" by Olli Ojajarvi Trio and more. CD

The title gets it right on this one – as the set's one of Cal's greatest straight jazz albums of the early years – done in a harder, and more soulful mode than some of his Latin-based sets from the time! The album features 2 different groups, both of them great – a main quintet that includes Brew Moore on tenor and Sonny Clarke on piano – and an additional quartet that features Bob Collins on trombone and Eddie Duran on guitar. The use of horns on the set is a nice change from some of the heavily percussive styles of Cal's other Fantasy records – and Moore's work on the album is especially nice, with some strong tenor moments that really make the album! Titles include "Moten Swing", "I've Never Been In Love Before", "Imagination", "I'll Know", "Brew's Blues", "A Minor Goof", and "How About You". CD

Here's a party that we'd love to be invited to – a festive gathering of bongos and other percussion – served up in a mix of different cuts from a surprising array of sources! The music moves from Latin, to exotica, to jazzy modes – and while percussion is at the core of every cut, there's also plenty of other great elements too – flute lines, organ, guitar, vibes, and vocals at points too – all delivered with a sense of spirit that's totally great! Jack "Mr Bongo" Costanzo is the main star of the set – and delivers tunes that include "Inspector Bongo", "Escuadron De Policia", "Boyle Heights", and "Cigarillo" – and other tracks include "The Idea Of The Greater Age" by Sun Ra, "Wild Percussion" by Tak Shindo, "Singing Bongos" by Rene Hall, "Where's Tim's Guitar" by Jill Kroesen, "Cinco Sin Titulo" by Herb Schoenbohm's Quintet Ipanema, and "Bongo Birthday Surprise" by Nicholas Carras. CD features bonus tracks that include "Jungle Duck" by Nicholas Carras, and "Sunny" and "My Sadness" by Herb Schoenbohm's Quintet Ipanema. CD

Well, in our opinion, Cal went Latin right from the start, practically. Still, this "Goes Latin" LP is one of his best of the genre from the old days, and features a host of great players like Lonnie Hewitt, Chombo Silva, Mongo Santamaria, Paul Horn, and Willie Bobo. The album includes Cal's semi-hit "Black Orchid", plus "Mi China", "Bonita", "Contigo", and "Mambo At The M". Very nice, with a sound that would become Cal's trademark in the years right after this album. Cal Tjader Quintet is a great little Latin session from Cal – recorded with extra percussion from Benny Velarde and Luis Miranda, plus rhythm from the Duran brothers, Manuel (piano) and Carlos (bass). The groove's nice and heavy, pretty driving on most cuts, a perfect foil for Cal's jazzy vibes. Titles include "A Minor Goof", "Laura", "Lullaby In Birdland", "Undecided", and Cal's classic reading of Tito Puente's "Philadelphia Mambo". CD

Excellent work from this totally sweet west coast Latin combo – a wonderful group who mixed Latin percussion with piano and vibes – in a manner that's similar to some of Cal Tjader's best Verve work of the 60s! Some tracks also make nice use of flute or alto sax – creating a snakey feel that really adds a new dimension of light and color to the tunes. The whole set's a great blend of Latin rhythms, jazzy solo work, and some mod 60s touches – and titles include "Monkey Time", "Afro Rock", "Let My People Go", "Walk On By", "Moses", "Liberation", and "Together". CD

A very cool vocal group from the Brazilian scene of the 90s – a quintet who issued this album initially only on CD, but with a sound that's got a much more classic vibe than you'd expect from the date! The harmonies are great – and follow in a legacy that includes older groups like Trio Esperanca or Quarteto Em Cy – but the setting is a bit different, and borrows as much from Latin music at times as it does from Brazilian rhythms – often served up with some really bold, jazzy currents in the instrumentation that really send the whole thing over the top! Titles include "Pe No Chao", "Cristalina", "Horas", "Meu Lugar", "Rio Seco", "Ave No Ninho", "Sertao Mar", "Esse Amor", and "Pai Do Criacao". LP, Vinyl record album

Latin pianist Noro Morales leads his quintet in this nice moody album of instrumentals, played in a mellow jazzy vein, with a spare sound, and lots of percussion/piano interplay. The set's got a number of nice originals – like "Casemonos Ya", "Saona", and "Campanitas De Cristal" – plus Latinized versions of "Body & Soul", "Obsession", and "Piano Player's Lament". LP, Vinyl record album