17 tracks, plus the intro, almost all produced by KRS-One: "Double Trouble", "Nine On My Mind", "Own Destiny", "Crazy", "Bad Luck", "Real Ting", "Body & Shape", "Baby Father" and "Stop Dat Sh*t". CD

Two older jazz legends recording together – captured late in life, but sounding really wonderful together! The set features no other instrumentation – save for the piano of Willie "The Lion" Smith and the drums of Jo Jones – an amazing combination, and one that shows this thoughtful maturity in both players – really captured well by the strong recording quality of the session, and the complete no-gimmicks mode, which really sets it apart from the pack! The tunes are mostly familiar, but they're opened up in this really personal interplay between the musicians – more with a vibe that has us feel like we've dropped in on the duo playing after hours for themselves and a few good friends. There's a bit of studio conversation at times, and the 2CD set features 41 selections in all – with titles that include "Carolina Shout", "Zig Zag", "Didn't He Ramble", "Trois Heures Du Matin", "Sweetie Dear", "Keep Your Temper", "Blame It On The Blues", "I'm Coming Virginia", "If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight", "Harlem Joys", and "Rock & Roll & Weep". LP, Vinyl record album

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One of those great albums that really gets at the full character of Willie The Lion Smith – as it features Willie playing, singing, and even reminiscing a bit too! LP, Vinyl record album

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One of the weirdest, wildest albums from percussionist Big Black – a set that stretches out with a vibe that's a lot trippier and jazzier at times than some of his other work! Part of the album's strength comes from the arrangements – which are partly handled by Phil Moore, an artist who created all these other great album projects in the late 60s – often, like this one, a cool mix of exotic currents with new trends in funk and jazz – served up here by a lineup that features Moore on piano, Herman Riley and Chester Washington on tenors, Bruce Langhorn and the mysterious Brother Soul on guitars, and Thurman Green on trombone. Curtis Peagler adds in some alto and flute, and Owen Marshall plays the wild hose-a-phone, plus a host of percussion instruments too – while Big Black himself handles congas and a bit of vocals. Side one features the long jamming "Lion Walk" – and side two features "Tell Me, Do Your Conscience Bother You", "Love Sweet Like Sugar Cane", and "Come On Down To The Beach". LP, Vinyl record album

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We're not sure what "lion style" is, but we can definitely say that the album's heavy on dub – a darkly bubbling masterpiece with Prince Jammy at the controls – crafting his magic to grooves by a top-shelf set of Kingston musicians! Winston Wright plays lots of keyboards – organ, clavinet, and even some harpsichord – and the real energy of the rhythms come from the young Sly & Robbie – very much in their prime here, without some of those later modes when they were trying to recopy themselves for the mainstream. Chinna Smith throws in lots of riffing guitar to the echoey brilliance – and titles include "No Bride", "Jammy's In The Arena", "Black Trap", "The Big Apple", "Rough Voyage", "Uhru Express", "King Forever", "Tiger Dub" and "Mystic Feelings". LP, Vinyl record album

Lenny's first solo album, and a sophisticated batch of tracks that has him moving away from the simpler style of work with Tower Of Power, into territory that has a lot more complicated arrangements. Eugene McDaniels produced the record – and Lenny sings a nice version of his famous "Compared To What". Keyboardist Mike Melvoin handled the arrangements, and the whole thing has some very nice jazzy touches. Other tracks include "Keep On Keeping On", "We're Gonna See It Through", "Open Book", "River", and "Problem Solver". LP, Vinyl record album

Contains various animals sounds, sirens, engine noises, and more! 34 tracks in all! LP, Vinyl record album

A hell of a record from the French scene of the early 70s – released by an artist who'd worked in the backdrop of many famous productions at the time, but who really bursts forth here with his own sort of special genius! The record is definitely a rock set, but often defies categorization, too – like some of those unique French recordings of the period, which were able to draw on so many different strands and styles at once – all without caring if they ever fell into any sort of specific genre! Instrumentation mixed acoustic guitar with freakier, fuzzier touches – and the sonic mix is sublime, with all these unusual elements percolating back and forth – really making the whole thing sound very different than anything from the Anglo world. Dominique handled most of the arrangements himself, recording at the legendary Studio Du Chateau D'Herouville, where he was in residence – and titles include "Il Est Fou", "Arrete De Rever", "Laissez Ce Reveil", "Ballade Extra Terrestre", "Icare", "Jeudi Je T'Aime", and "Ah Que C'Est Bon". LP, Vinyl record album

With Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, William Schiopffe on drums, and Bent Axen on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible album of electronic music – and one that definitely lives up to its title, as every selection is played live – quite a unique thing as the set was recorded at a time when programming was really beginning to take hold! In a way, Jeff Carney is evoking that first great moment when more expensive electronics were able to get in the hands of more homegrown musicians – using technology that was previously the stuff of academic labs, but in ways that were much more down to earth! You can definitely feel that vibe here – as Carney works magic at a level that has us imagining him just sitting alone in the echoey space of recording – revelling in each new fingertouch on the keyboards – as he spins out the long tracks "Questions Unanswered", "Arp 2600 Improvisations", and "Pensive Mood". LP, Vinyl record album

Really compelling work from the enigmatic Dino – a set recorded with slow, slinky backings from the Montevideo Blues combo! The album's a lot less blues than you might guess from the group's name – and in a way, the approach is almost more folksy, or singer/songwriter overall – with a key focus on Dino's political lyrics, and backings that often follow along with snakey guitar and slinky rhythms. There's a raspy brilliance to the whole set – and Dino almost sounds like Uruguay's equivalent of Geraldo Vandre – a powerful, positive singer, but one who never reached a bigger audience outside his homeland. Titles include "Sentimiento", "Si Te Vas", "Montevideo Blues", "Milonga De Pelo Largo", "Para Hacer Musica Para Hacer", and "Chamarrita El Chiquero". CD reissue is as amazing as the original – with a huge booklet with notes, history, and lyrics – plus 7 more bonus tracks too! CD

Kenny Dorham on trumpet – with Curtis Fuller on trombone, Frank Haynes on tenor sax, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Ben Tucker on bass, and Dave Bailey on drums. CD

A raw and quite excellent batch of fuzzy Greek psychedelic rock from the mid 70s – the rare self-titled set for Four Levels Of Existence! The lyrics are Greek, so we can't speak for the songwriting on the narrative tip, but the sound is excellent – with fuzzed out guitars and some wiry lead guitar and some pretty fast drums that are impressive to say the least – with a head nodding sense of groove, too. Titles include "Metamorphic", "When The Snow Melts", "Wilderness", "Insane Men's Trumpet", "Our Fight", "Someday In Athens" and more. CD

With Dizy Disley and Denny Wright on guitar, plus Len Skeat on bass. Tracks include "Them There Eyes", "After You've Gone", "Nuages", "Manoir De Mes Reves Daphne", and "Tea For Two". CD

A beautiful bit of folk-psych from the late 60s UK scene – recorded for Polydor in 1969, but never issued at the time – now finally getting its first exposure to the world at large! The group have a really easygoing approach – blending fuzzy electric and softer acoustic guitars, slow-stepping rhythms, and some slightly more tripped-out instrumentation – all with vocals that take on a nicely lyrical approach – never too hippy-dippy, but with an evocative quality that has echoes of the ancient. Group members have ties to Band Of Joy and Velvett Fogg – and the set features uncredited work from Peter Frampton, and members of The Herd and East of Eden. Like other Lion reissues, the quality here is top-shelf – full notes, photos, and lots of information on the lost album – presented here with 12 tracks that include "Execution Of The Child", "Rain Day Julep", "Hello Goodbye Victoria Cane", "Hanna Wife Of Thomas Kite", "Harpsichord", "Roses & Ribbons", "Masochists Of Strangulation", and "The Story Of Acorn Rose". CD

A pair of late 60s gems from guitarist Barney Kessel – both of which came from the same string of sessions! First up is Blue Soul – a very groovy set from guitarist Barney Kessel – very different than some of his cleaner, smoother-toned work of the 50s! The album was partly recorded in London, and partly recorded in LA – and there's a really nice mix of modes going on, which includes strong use of organ at times – bringing a soul jazz vibe to the record, which Barney seems to match with an extra sort of rasp in his strings – this nice bite that really sets the record apart from some of his others! There's also great use of electric bass, very strong at a few points, with a nice kick in the rhythms that's kind of unexpected for a record from Kessel – as you'll groove to on titles that include "Blue Soul", "Stumblin Around", "Comin Home", "Quail Bait", "Shufflin", and "Frank Mills". Swinging Easy is really nice work from guitarist Barney Kessel – one of his overlooked late 60s sessions from a time when the musician was really opening up his sound! Barney's working with a British trio here – John Marshall on drums and Kenny Napper on bass – and there's a nice sense of tone that carries forward his 50s modes, but which also maybe has a bit more of a bite, too. The mix is a great one, and titles include "On A Clear Day", "The Look Of Love", "Corcovado", "Aquarius", "Watch The Birds Go By", and "I Will Wait For You". CD

Post-Tropicalia work from Leno – a Brazilian singer who'd worked as part of a duo during the Jovem Guarda years, but who really sounds great here on his own! The style's a bit more straightforward rock than the Brazilian sound of a few years back – a bit fuzzy and compressed at times, yet still with a really strong edge, and light years from more mainstream American rock of the time. Many tracks were supposedly banned by the censors in Brazil at the time, although from today's perspective they've got a hard-rocking charm that's more innocent than anything else – a quality that makes the record ripe for rediscovery today! Lion productions have done a wonderful job with the notes and packaging (as usual!) – and titles include "Johnny McCartney", "Por Que Nao", "Lady Baby", "Deixo O Tempo Me Levar", "Peguei Uma Apolo", "Pobre Do Rei", "Sentando No Arco-Iris", and "Bis". CD

A group who definitely live up to their name – given that their recordings are so obscure, they were lost souls from the very start! Yet there's also a genius here that should have made them huge – an inherent tunefulness that clearly shows a love of The Beatles, Hollies, and a handful of other Brit groups – but delivered with an edge that's more like early Who or Creation – and by that last reference, we mean both the fab 60s British group, and the later 80s label with the same name! These tunes are fantastic little gems – catchy, but not commercial – charming, but never cloying – and often driven by some exceptionally strong basslines at the bottom, which works great with the warmer vocal harmonies and jangly guitars. Titles include "Dare To Surmise", "Love I Won't Admit", "Look At Me", "Things That Are Important", "Diamond Head", "Livin The Way I Want To", and "Trashcan Throne" – and the set also features a few live tracks, and some bonus material too – 29 titles in all, by a group who hopefully won't be lost souls any longer! LP, Vinyl record album

Rod Mason on cornet, clippertone, valve trombone, clarinet, and vocals – with Pete allen on saxophones and clarinet, Johnny Withers on banjo and guitar, Chris Haskins on bass, and Jimmy Garforth on drums. CD

Hard grooving, heavily grooving South American rock from Miguel Y El Comite (Miguel & The Committee) from the early 70s – led by Miguel Livichich, who made waves a bit earlier with El Syndikato! The percussion drives the sound pretty well, but the vocals are nicely out front in the mix, where they should be, as their charismatic and inviting as can be – with a nice fuzzed out guitar sound and a killer bass sound. Includes " Para Hacer Musica, Para Hacer...", "No Va Mas (Ya)", "Mi Sol", "Que Me Importa", "Junto Al Mar", "No Ves Que No Cabe", "Candombe Triste", "Hiroshima (1945)", Rompan Todo" and more. One bonus track: "Mala-Mala", a 1972 single b-side. CD

A private press folk gem from Roger & Wendy – who put out a cult classic a little later on as Bermuda Triangle, and earlier wowed us with the psyche era work by Euphoria – a nice little record that deserves to heard! Includes some adventurous versions of some of the more adventurous tunes by some folk heavies including Dylan's "John Wesley Harding", "Country Pie" and "Just Like A Woman" and Dave Van Ronk's "Acne Blues" with some singing and instrumentation that ranges from sort of eerie to fairly breezy – plus "The Wind", "Bojangles", "Motorcycle Madness", "There Is Now" and more. This great CD edition on Lion includes 5 bonus tracks: "A Change Is Gonna Come", "Sometimes We Find It, Part II", "Send In The Clowns", "Gray Mare" and "Sleep". CD

Dynamic jazz rock from the French scene of the 70s – combo with a strong penchant for stretching out strongly on organ and guitar – but one that also has a few more sensitive, folksy moments as well! The tracks shift nicely between longer numbers and shorter ones – the shorter tracks usually a bit more up-close and personal, with gentle vocals from Rose Podwojny – and the longer numbers usually hit more of a progressive feel, with some especially nice mellotron work at a few points. Titles include "Vision", "Never Good At Sayin Goodbye", "Underground Session", "Old Dom Is Dead", "To Take Him Away", and "Metakara". CD

A great record with all the known recordings of the Sea-Ders (or Cedars) – a beat combo from mid-to-late 60s Lebanon – and a pretty much perfect mix of period rock & roll hooks and rhythms with Middle Eastern string buzz in place of a Stratocaster! The vocals are in English and the tunes are as catchy and accessible as can be – with either an electric bouzouki or oud bring the stringed heat – and it's a perfect fit! Includes "For Your Information", "Hide If You Want To Hide". "I Like The Way", "Thanks A Lot", "Better Loved", "Undecidedly", "'Cause I Do Care" and more. 8 tracks in all CD

Great early tenor from Buddy Tate – with piano on some tracks by Bill Doggett! LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent album of spare percussion tracks – served up by Jorge Trasante, who'd later rise to fame in the Gypsy Kings – but who here is working as a young percussionist with a great love of South American rhythms! As the title implies, the set is an exploration of the roots of his native Uruguay – and Trasante plays a variety of different instruments, in a variety of different modes – with a result that puts the record very strongly in a tradition of spare percussion sets that might include the classic Drums & Chants record by Mongo Santamaria, or some of the famous albums on the Latin Percussion label in the 70s! Titles include "Candombe De La Calle Cuareim", "Afro", "Candombe Calle Ansina", "Murga", "Zamba", "Tango", and "Malambo". LP, Vinyl record album

Totally wonderful sounds from Laurance Vanay (aka Jacqueline Thibault) – an album that's heavy on keyboard sounds throughout – including these really moody Hammond organ lines that are handled in a style that's a lot closer to work on Fender Rhodes! The album's neither jazz nor prog – but has this really special sort of feel that's completely unique – very personal and poetic, while still having the power of some of the best rock instrumental sets of the time! Jacqueline sings a bit on the record – often in these soft, gentle spots – but overall the main focus is on the instrumentation, with some added drums, guitars, and a bit of flute and percussion. Titles include "Le Loup Qui Pleure", "La Grand Voile", "Soleil Rouge", "Le Coeur Lourd", and "Galaxies". Include a bonus LP, too –with extra material that includes include "L'Ete En Cage", "Glaciers Interdits" (a whole side of alternate versions), "4 Nuages", "Chris Chant", and "Catalepsie" (as Nanajo). LP, Vinyl record album

Ben Webster's tone is wonderful here – that mature, mellow sound that he brought to some of his standout live dates – and which is captured here in the kind of relaxed, soloist-focused setting that always makes 60s recordings from the Cafe Montmartre so great! The group is a familiar one for the house – Kenny Drew on piano, Nils Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Alex Riel on drums – but it's clear that Ben's the main star, and steps out on the kind of tenor solos really set him apart from the rest – on a record that's also one of his best from the decade! Titles include "I Can't Get Started", "Londonderry Air", "My Romance", and "Blues For Herluf". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible set, and one that will definitely have you heaping praises on Barry Brown – as the singer was one of the most inventive of the late roots reggae years in Jamaica – and maybe gets his best presentation ever on the tracks on the set! There's a splashy brilliance to the way the tracks are put together – often with these subtle funky drums from Santa Davis, which provide this cool little kick underneath the heavy dub and echo used in the production – keeping the rhythms focused while Barry Brown lets his voice do all these amazing things! At times, you almost feel as if Barry's living in the world of fuzz and tripped-out sounds that make up the music – riding the waves and having a tremendous time in the process – on cuts that include "Fittest Of The Fittest (parts 1 & 2)", "Natty Rootsman (parts 1 & 2)", "Step It Up Youthman (ext)", "Look How Long", "Give Thanks & Praise (lion mix)", "Give Thanks (part 3)", "Creative Vibes (xylophone)", "From Creation", "Look How Long Dub", and "We Can't Dub Like This". CD

With Billy Butterfield, James P Johnson, Max Kaminsky, Gene Krupa, Joe Marsala, Benny Morton, Hot Lips Page, Pee Wee Russell, and Willie The Lion Smith. 33 tracks total. CD

The first album from Culture, and still their most classic – a set that takes its title from a prediction by Marcus Garvey – who said that there would be trouble in the world when "two sevens clash" on July 7, 1977! Fortunately, we made it all through that date in one piece – and good thing too, as the record's gone on to even more legendary status as the years have gone on – with a righteous sort of energy that just seems to get more important over the decades. Joe Gibbs produced, and arranged with Errol Thompson – and the slow-stepping rhythms of the set, heavy on bottom-end sounds, are a perfect backdrop for the message-oriented lyrics in the music. Every cut's a classic – and titles include "I'm Alone In The Wilderness", "Pirate Days", "Two Sevens Clash", "Calling Rastafari", "I'm Not Ashamed", "Get Ready To Ride The Lion To Zion", "Black Starliner Must Come", "Jah Pretty Face", "See Them A Come", and "Natty Dread Taking Over". Very special edition – with 11 bonus tracks that include ""Natty Dread Taking Over/Invasion" by Culture & Roy, "Natty Gone Clear" by Joe Gibbs & The Professionals, "Fulfillment" by The Mighty Two, "I'm Not Ashamed/Under Tight Wraps" by Culture & I Roy, "See Them A Come/Mask Mi Mask" by Culture & Prince Weedy, "Informer" by Culture, "Natty Pass His GCE" by Shorty The President, "State Of Emergency" by Joe Gibbs & The Professionals, and "Informer Version" by The Mighty Two. LP, Vinyl record album

A huge collection of material that Dexter recorded for Savoy in the early bop years – mostly issued as 78 rpm singles, but also including a number of tracks from the album Dexter Rides Again. The set brings together a wealth of alternate takes of the material, including a number of unissued ones – as well as great notes on the material, and a higher level of sound quality than the original vinyl. Titles include "The Lion Roars", "After Hours Bop", "Dexter Digs In", "Settin The Pace", "Blow Mr Dexter", "Long Tall Dexter", and "Dexter Rides Again". LP, Vinyl record album

Jack Grunsky's a Canadian singer, as you might guess from the title – but he works here with help on arrangements and production from British great Alexis Korner – who, as with his own recordings, helps Jack find a special sort of space that's nicely hard to define! Grunsky often plays acoustic guitar, and sings with a mix of folk and blues inspirations – but both the structure of the songs and their lyrical content are something that's very far from both genres – and handled here by Korner with the kind of genre-bending vibe that you might have found on Island Records at the turn of the 70s. Titles include "A Better Look At Toronto", "Moon Child Song", "The Lion & The Tamer", "Ain't You Got A Thing To Say To Me", "Eight O'Clock", "Travels", and "A Figure Of The Gothic Age". CD

Raw, rootsy blues – recorded by a trio of gals who are definitely old enough to have taught your mom a few songs! The set's got a mixed blues/jazz vibe – that sweet 20s/30s mode when the two genres would often blur nicely together – and players include Sidney De Paris on tuba, JC Higginbotham on trombone, Buster Bailey on clarinet, Cliff Jackson on piano, Henry Goodwin on trumpet, Cecil Scott on clarinet, and Willie The Lion Smith on piano. Singers alternate tracks on the set – and titles include Albert Hunter singing "I Got Myself A Workin Man" and "I Got A Mind To Ramble", Lucille Hegamin singing "St Louis Blues" and "You'll Want My Love", and Victoria Spivey singing "Black Snake Blues" and "Got The Blues So Bad". LP, Vinyl record album

A decade's worth of music from Mike Marshall – a great selection of tracks issued by the Adventure Music label over the past ten years! Marshall mostly plays mandolin on the record – in that sweet acoustic groove he does unlike anyone else – rooted in folk, but with lots of jazz as well – soaring, ebullient, and filled with much more joy than you might normally expect in the instrument! Titles include "Serenata", "Um A Zero", "Indifference", "Angels We Have Heard On High", "Into The Lion's Den", "House Camp", "Peter Pan", and "Borealis". CD

An undisputed masterpiece by Lee Morgan – and one of the first records in which he shed his straight bop sensibility, and began evolving into a soulful genius for the 60s! The album's got 4 long tracks that all build beautifully – really extended numbers that break the format of some of Lee's earlier work, and hint a bit at some of the more complicated touches he'd use on later sessions. All players are great – and include fellow Jazz Messengers Bobby Timmons on piano and Art Blakey on drums, plus Jackie McLean on alto and Paul Chambers on bass. Titles include the sublime "These Are Soulful Days" – a perfect model of soulful lyricism – plus "Midtown Blues", "Nakatini Suite", and "The Lion & The Wolff". CD

An undisputed masterpiece by Lee Morgan – and one of the first records in which he shed his straight bop sensibility, and began evolving into a soulful genius for the 60s! The album's got 4 long tracks that all build beautifully – really extended numbers that break the format of some of Lee's earlier work, and hint a bit at some of the more complicated touches he'd use on later sessions. All players are great – and include fellow Jazz Messengers Bobby Timmons on piano and Art Blakey on drums, plus Jackie McLean on alto and Paul Chambers on bass. Titles include the sublime "These Are Soulful Days" – a perfect model of soulful lyricism – plus "Midtown Blues", "Nakatini Suite", and "The Lion & The Wolff". CD

Van Morrison at the height of his solo powers – working here in an extended live set that opens up with all the genius for vocal expression and inflection he developed during his initial solo years at Warner Brothers! The setting is perfect to show the growing confidence Morrison has in his talents – an unbridled sense of soul that comes on even more strongly on some of these versions than on earlier takes of the tunes in the studio – especially as they mix with a few great covers here that further illustrate the wide range of inspirations that Van brings into his music. Backing is by a tight, soulful combo – and tracks include "Domino", "Wild Children", "I Believe To My Soul", "I Just Want To Make Love To You", "These Dreams Of You", "Into The Mystic", "Warm Love", "Saint Dominic's Preview", "Bring It On Home To Me", "Listen To The Lion", "Gloria", "Cyprus Avenue", "Caravan", and "Take Your Hand Out Of My Pocket". CD

One of those great "never was" Blue Note sessions – recorded in the 60s, but never issued until years later – even though the label had assigned it a cover, title, and catalog number! The album was the last session by baritone sax player Leo Parker – a bop and R&B legend who sadly passed along at the young age of 36, but left a really rich legacy of music. Parker has a way with the baritone that's almost as lean as a tenorist – blowing the horn with sharp, well-placed notes that really make this session cook – somewhere in the R&B-influenced territory of Don Wilkerson's work on Blue Note. Other players include the great Dave Burns on trumpet – always a welcome presence on any date – plus Bill Swindell on tenor sax, Johnny Acea on piano, Al Lucas or Stan Conover on bass, and Wilbert Hogan or Purnell Rice on drums. Tracks include "The Lion's Roar", "Rollin With Leo", "Jumpin Leo", "Talkin The Blues", "Mad Lad Returns", and Illinois Jacquet's "Music Hall Beat". LP, Vinyl record album

The Selenites are just a quintet, but they manage to come across with the richness of a larger funky ensemble – effortlessly mixing together elements of Ethio Jazz, deep funk, and some occasional wild production touches – all with a groove that's pretty much all their own! The difference between Selenites Band and other Afro-styled combos might be the difference between El Michels Affair and The Dap-Kings – both are impeccable funk ensembles, but the former has a lean, mysterious style that's all their own! The tracks are all composed by Obi Riddim – who blows flute and bass clarinet in the band – and also handles krar, electronics, and vibes – on titles that include "Abyssinian Spirit", "Mystical Scratches", "Spiked Zeguene", "Lion's Five Steps", "Tomorrow's Running", and "Addis Streets". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest albums ever from French saxophonist Barney Wilen – a set that's legendary not only for its famous cover image, but for all the wonderful music underneath! The record's maybe the strongest to deliver on the modern promise that Wilen exhibited in his music during the 60s – but also has a tightness that makes it quite different from some of his more loopy projects – a way of putting things together that's bold and modern, yet also wonderfully controlled as well! As you might guess from the title, the record's based around the twelve phases of the Zodiac – and each tune has a slightly different sense of energy – all delivered by Wilen on tenor, with Karl Berger on vibes and piano, JF Jenny Clark on bass, and Jacques Thollot on drums – all players who are reaching towards free jazz modes, but often hang slightly inside, which makes for a beautiful balance overall. Titles include "Cancer", "Lion", "Vierge", "Capricorne", "Balance", "Scorpion", and "Poissons". LP, Vinyl record album

A great new showcase for the legendary keyboard work of Doug Carn – and a set that's very different both from his famous albums for the Black Jazz label, and some of his organ jazz records in more recent years too! The set's maybe got a more pronounced influence from Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad than some of the others in this series – as Carn's Hammond B3 and Fender Rhodes still get center stage, but the grooves are very much in the heavy funk style of Younge's legacy of recent recordings – sharp drums, strong basslines, and horns that are sometimes jazzy, sometimes seemingly touched by currents of Ethiopian work from the past. All tracks are originals, and titles include "Processions", "Dimensions", "Windfall", "Down Deep", "Freedom At Sunset", "Nunca Um Malandro", and "Lion's Walk". 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 British mod scene of the 60s was drinking up a very heady brew of American jazz, soul, and R&B – then doing a great job of turning it into their own sort of music, as you'll hear on this set! Most of the numbers here are English, but could easily go head-to-head with the most romping tunes on American jukeboxes at the time – particularly the soulful sort of grooves that were flowing out of northern cities like Detroit, Chicago, and New York! Yet there's also something special going on here, too – as the groups aren't just slavishly soulful, but also taking some chances, too – really starting to open up their sound, but not at the level from the more progressive years – just finding the right sort of inspiration, then getting confident enough to give things their own spin. The set list is amazing – very much on a par with the other superb 3CD collections of this nature from RPM – and titles include "Work Song" by James Royal, "Night Comes Down" by Mickey Finn, "What's Her Name" by Guy Darnell, "My Love" by Ronnie Jones, "Taboo Man" by Alexis Kroner, "Mama" by Litz Roza, "Don't That Beat Them All" by Just Five, "Fire In The City" by The Deviants, "Violin Shop" by The Alan Bown, "Elevator" by Grapefruit, "Peacock Dress" by Sun Dragon, "The Eagle Flies On Friday" by The Exceptions, "Girl On A Motorcycle" by British Lion Orchestra, and lots lots more! 87 tracks in all. CD

Volume 12 in the higly recommended series of reggae dancehall compilations from VP Records. Like the title says, they include the best of the current crop of dancehall singles, including some hard to find titles. Keep in mind that the even-numbered volumes (like this one) feature the slower roots and lover's rock songs. Always some nice, smooth vocals and usually one or two versions of current pop/r&b hits. (The odd-numbered volumes feature the harder, more uptempo dancehall tracks.) This volume features: BERES HAMMOND "Doctor's Orders", CAROL GONZALES "Personal Delivery", SANCHEZ "Wherever I Lay My Hat", PINCHERS "Carpenter", MARCIA GRIFFITHS "I Shall Sing", GARNETT SILK "Kingly Character", MAXI PRIEST & TUMPA LION "Too Late To Turn Back Now", DAWN PENN "You Don't Love Me", JUNIOR TUCKER "Love Of A Lifetime", WAYNE WONDER "Baby You & I", COCOA TEA "Good Life", MIGHTY DIAMONDS "I Need A Roof", BERES HAMMOND & JOSEY WALES "Free & Single", SUGAR MINOT "Sprinter Stayer" CD

The first album from Culture, and still their most classic – a set that takes its title from a prediction by Marcus Garvey – who said that there would be trouble in the world when "two sevens clash" on July 7, 1977! Fortunately, we made it all through that date in one piece – and good thing too, as the record's gone on to even more legendary status as the years have gone on – with a righteous sort of energy that just seems to get more important over the decades. Joe Gibbs produced, and arranged with Errol Thompson – and the slow-stepping rhythms of the set, heavy on bottom-end sounds, are a perfect backdrop for the message-oriented lyrics in the music. Every cut's a classic – and titles include "I'm Alone In The Wilderness", "Pirate Days", "Two Sevens Clash", "Calling Rastafari", "I'm Not Ashamed", "Get Ready To Ride The Lion To Zion", "Black Starliner Must Come", "Jah Pretty Face", "See Them A Come", and "Natty Dread Taking Over". LP, Vinyl record album

Lead single from the then highly anticipated D&D Project, produced by DJ Premier with Mad Lion, Doug E Fresh, KRS One, Fat Joe, Smif & Wessun, and Jeru on the mic. "Look Alive" is produced by Diamond D. 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of the greatest albums ever by pianist Kenny Drew – a record that's as noteworthy for the contributions of the sidemen as it is for the efforts of the leader! Drew's a player who often worked mostly in trio formats – but here, he's hitting hard with a righteous Blue Note power – thanks to the presence of Hank Mobley on tenor and Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, both of whom really give the record an edge! Drew's lyrical sensibilities are shifted to darker, more modern moments at times – and the rest of the group features Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums. An essential addition to the Blue Note legacy of Mobley and Hubbard – and the set's filled with original tunes by Kenny, including "The Pot's On", "Undercurrent", "Funk-Cosity", and "Lion's Den". CD

Sadly we'll never know how much better it would get for Aaliyah, than this second LP, her first collaboration with Timbaland. With "Hot Like Fire", "One In A Million", "If Your Girl Only Knew", "The One I Gave My Heart To", "Giving You More", "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" and "Choosey Lover (Old School/New School)". LP, Vinyl record album

A really unusual group, with a sound that's certainly the sum of its wonderful parts – but also different in ways you might not expect! The lineup is excellent – the legendary Dave Holland on bass, Lionel Loueke on guitar, Chris Potter on tenor and soprano sax, and Eric Harland on drums – all working together in these very groovy styles that seem to have Holland pulling a lot more bold basslines than usual – almost as if he's using an electric version of the instrument, although it appears to just be an acoustic with a pickup! There's a soulful vibe to the record that you might not expect – shades of color and tone that are maybe closest to Loueke's music, but also very different than his own records – and Potter's really great in this setting, and blows with these open lines that are still as angular and sharp as usual, but maybe a bit warmer too. Titles include "Blue Sufi", "Aziza Dance", "Summer 15", "Walkin The Walk", and "Finding The Light". LP, Vinyl record album

Gerard Batrya on bass, Mack Goldsbury on saxophone, Christian Grabandt on trumpet, Reggie Moore on piano, Michael Rodach and Carlos Mieres on guitar, Mickey Bister on drums, and Topo Goia and Ernst Bier on drums. CD

Lionel Belmondo on saxophone and flute, Sylvain Romano on bass, and Laurent Robin on drums. Includes a few originals plus pieces adapted from or inspired by Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Bach, Chopin, and Holst. CD

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Bossa Nostra have always been one of our favorite modern groups from Italy, and this new album continues their winning tradition of blending bossa rhythms and classic jazz funk. However, they've also added a nice new lead vocalist – the richly voiced Bruna Lopez, who sings in a deep soulful style, and who gives the band a bit of a modern soul sound at times. The set's a nice mix of tunes – and includes a version of Herbie Hancock's classic "Maiden Voyage", plus originals like "Jackie", "Rain", "Groovin' On", and "Chico Desperado". CD

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Stunning funky soul by California Playboys – a heck of a record that should have made the Playboys a huge combo at the time! It's a shame the group didn't become millionaires – but the obscurity of the record is maybe also one of its charms – the kind of small label set that never fully got its due at the time, but which is ripe for rediscovery all these many years later! The California Playboys were together for a number of years – forming as a backing band for singer Lester Young (not the sax player), doing session work for others, and otherwise developing their skills for years – all of which really comes through here in their sharp-edged instrumentation, which sounds even sharper in the 70s indie-level production for the album. The killer title tune sounds like it could (and should!) be the namesake tune of a funky mid 70s soundtrack – as it's really got a perfect cinematic soul vibe, ala Bobby Womack and Marvin Gaye – though in a tighter, smaller combo setting. Most tunes start with vocals and end with long instrumental riffing – and titles include"Double Love", "She's A Real Sweet Woman", "Just Say A Four Letter Word", "I've Got To Find Myself Another Girl", and "Turned On For Good". LP, Vinyl record album

Alice Cooper at his most sinister – crossing over big, but still keeping plenty of the lean, mean edge from the early days! The package does more than enough to live up to the hype that was building around Cooper at the time – building hip up as much as a baby-chopping monster as much as a hard Detroit rocker – and the album's filled with well-focused tunes that definitely helped propel hard rock into the American mainstream! Titles include the classic "No More Mr Nice Guy" – plus "Elected", "I Love The Dead", "Hello Hurray", "Sick Things", and "Billion Dollar Babies". LP, Vinyl record album

With Larry Troit on bass, Howard Overton on drums, Sam Turner on conga drums, Larry Luger on guitar, Lionel Hampton on vibes, Norris Turney and Charles Williams on alto, and David Brooks on tenor. LP, Vinyl record album

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A way cooler soundtrack than you might expect – not only different than the usual western score of the time, but surprisingly sophisticated work for a movie that featured stars like Dean Martin, Jimmy Stewart, Raquel Welch, and George Kennedy! The music was conducted by Lionel Newman, and it's often got this sense of spareness and space that really makes things magical – sounds just hanging there in air, isolated instruments moving in Morricone-like fashion, yet in ways that still occasionally have some of the boldness you'd expect from Jerry Goldsmith too. The themes are often personal, almost romantic – yet never soppy, and occasionally inflected with exotic elements that really keeps things interesting. CD features 28 tracks in all – the full original album, music from the film, and bonus cuts as well – with titles that include "El Jefe", "The Imposter", "Main Title", "The Violator", "The Bait", "Ambushed", "A Bad Day For Hanging", and "Sabinas". CD

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Great Verve material from Lionel Hampton – and like most of his sides for the label, a set that offers small combo grooving in a very stretched out setting! The album only features 4 long tracks – and Hampton's vibes are set up nicely with a trio that includes Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Buddy Rich on drums. Titles include "Always", "Air Mail Special", "Soft Winds", and "S'Wonderful" – all nice and long! LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Buzzin' Around With The Bee", "Stompology", "On The Sunny Side Of The Street", "Piano Stomp (Shine)", "Everybody Loves My Baby", "Ring Them Bells", "Don't Be That Way", "I'm In The Mood For Swing", "Muskrat Ramble", "Down Home Jump", "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)", "Sweethearts On Parade", "Shufflin' At The Hollywood", "Denison Swing", "Wizzin' The Wizz", "Memories Of You", "When Lights Are Low", "One Sweet Letter From You", "Hot Mallets", "Early Session Hop", "Haven't Named It Yet", "Central Avenue Breakdown", "Jack The Bellboy", "Pig Foot Sonata", and "Fiddle Dee Dee". CD

With Elvin Jones, Osie Johnson, George Duvivier, John Mackel, Clifton Best, and Tommy Flanagan. Titles include "Skylark", "What's New", "Til You Return", "Blue Moon", "For Better Or Worse" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

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