The earliest album ever to be issued under the Globe Unity label – a very early project headed up by the mighty pianist Alexander Von Schlippenbach – and a record that's noteworthy for the first album to feature the work of Peter Brotzmann and Peter Kowald! Right from the start, the vibe is completely in line with the highest ideals of the improvising orchestra – Schlippenbach directing the group and playing piano – in a large lineup that also features Brotzmann on alto, Manfred Schoof on cornet, Gerd Dudek on tenor, Willem Breuker on baritone, Gunter Hampel on bass clarinet, Karl Berger on vibes, and Peter Kowald and Buschi Niebergall on basses, one in each channel! And alongside these free jazz heavyweights, the album also sports the amazing rhythm duo of future prog rock giants Jaki Liebezeit and Mani Neumeier – both working here at a level that matches the free improvisations of the others – on two side-long tracks, titled "Globe Unity" and "Sun". LP, Vinyl record album

Nothing basic about this album by Count Basie – as the album has the legend working for the MPS label – whose own big band scene he really helped inspire! The band here is really dynamic – working with great arrangements from Chico O'Farrill, who's inherent sense of groove really gets things going from the start – which creates plenty of energy for the horn work by players who include Bobby Plater and Marshall Royal on alto, Eric Dixon on flute and tenor, Eddie Lockjaw Davis on additional tenor, Grover Mitchell on trombone, and Oscar Brashear and Sonny Cohn on trumpets. Basie himself plays piano – with that legendary punctuated style that's still quite strong at this point – and titles include "M Squad", "Blues In My Heart", "Sweet Lorraine", "Red Roses For A Blue Lady", "As Long As I Live", and "I've Got The World On A String". LP, Vinyl record album

A hard slammer from the Clarke-Boland Big Band – recorded when the band was burning up the road in Europe, taking great players and audiences in one fell swoop, coming up with some of the strongest straight jazz of their generation! The album features stunning solos all around by an all-star mix of American and European players that includes Benny Bailey, Johnny Griffin, Tony Coe, Dave Pike, Sahib Shihab, and Ronnie Scott – all coming together with incredibly fluidity, yet also breaking out for some massive solos on their own! Arrangements are by Boland – tight, right, and outta site – and titles include "Let's Face The Music & Dance", "High School Cadets", "By Strauss", "Gloria", "Sweet & Lovely", "Get Out Of Town", and "I'm All Smiles". CD

A large group in a small club – the legendary Clarke Boland Big Band, playing at the home turf of one of their key members – tenorist Ronnie Scott! The set features a very legendary performance by the ensemble – a crack lineup that's easily one of the best ever sported by the CBBB – perfectly mixing American rhythms, and a trans-Atlantic lineup of soloists – all tied together with just the sort of rich arrangements that make the group so great! Things groove right from the get-go – thanks to a rhythm lineup that features Kenny Clarke on drums, and Francy Boland on piano – plus bassist Ron Matthewson, sitting in for the usual Jimmy Woode. The horn players really send things off, though – tight trumpets from Benny Bailey, Idrees Sulieman, and Dusko Goykovich; bold trombones from Ake Persson and Nat Peck; and some searing reed lines from Johnny Griffin and Ronnie Scott on tenor, Derek Humble on alto, Sahib Shihab on baritone, and Tony Coe on both tenor and clarinet. This CD features both the first and second sets at Scotts by the group – albums titled Volcano and Rue Chaptal – with titles that include "Volcano", "Griff's Groove", "Now Hear My Meanin", "Box 703 Washington DC", "Thence We Issued Out Again to See the Stars", "Rue Chaptal", "I Don't Want Nothin From Nobody & I Ain't Giving Nothin Away", "Sax No End", "Minor Blues", and "The Girl & The Turk". CD

The aura here is spreading wide – as George Duke really grows his sound strongly from the early years, and takes hold of a whole host of cosmic influences! The record's one of Duke's biggest for MPS – a beautiful balance between jazzy fusion and spacey soul – served up with help from an array of great singers and players from the west coast scene. Duke's still stretching out plenty on keyboards – but never in a too-jamming, too-indulgent way – always sensitive enough to never mess up the groove, and always with a sense of space and timing that never showed up this well in his later records. Players include Airto on percussion, Alphonso Johnson on bass, Ndugu Chancler on drums, and Duke himself on more keyboards than we could ever hope to list here! Vocals are by Sylvia St James, Gee Janzen, and Kathy Woehrle – as well as Duke himself – and titles include "Foosh", "For Love", "Uncle Remus", "Fools", "The Aura", "Enchinda's Arf", "Floop De Loop", and "Dawn". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the grooviest albums that Clare Fischer ever recorded – featuring his electric Latin fusion group Salsa Picante, fronted by a two-man/two-woman vocal quartet who give the album kind of a "Brasil 66 meets Singers Unlimited" kind of sound! Fisher is on Fender Rhodes, and the group features Poncho Sanchez on conga, percussion by Alex Acuna, and some great reed work by Gary Foster. Tracks include "Du Du", "Legacy", "Guajira Pa La Jeva", "Funiquado", "Melancolico", and a great version of Fischer's excellent "Morning", one of his best and most-recorded compositions! LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic 70s album from the legendary German label MPS – but one that gives some great early exposure to a pair of talents from the LA scene! Joanne Grauer plays keyboards with a sweet breezy vibe – a bit like some of the hippest Bay Area indie jazz sides of the time, and made even better by the vocals of Lorraine Feather on a few tracks – a singer who really matches the mood, and makes the albums sparkle with a great sense of gentle groove and charm! Most cuts are originals by Grauer – including the great funky instrumental "Frog Child" – which has a killer bassline and great keyboards – plus "Gork", "Misty Dreaming", "Can't Sleep", "Longing", and "The Voice". Plus, the set features a wonderful take on the Flip Nunez song "See You Later" – a sublime anthem from the west coast scene at the time! CD

A great lost session from tenorist Joe Henderson – recorded in 1980 for MPS Records, in a mellower, more easy-going style than some of his electric sides of the 70s! Joe's blowing in a really fluid style – almost like Stan Getz at times, but with a darker, edgier approach – and he's working here with a Getz-like group that includes Chick Corea on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. The set features some great originals by Corea and Carter, and in a way, we're tempted to make a comparison to Getz's Sweet Rain album – which shares a similar mellifluous modern quality to this one. Titles include "Joe's Bolero", "Candlelight", "Mirror Mirror", and "Keystone". LP, Vinyl record album

Oscar Peterson on piano – playing solo, or in a trio with bassists Ray Brown or Sam Jones, and Bobby Durham, Ed Thigpen, or Louis Hayes on drums. CD

Features Peterson on piano, Ray Brown or Sam Jones on bass, and Bobby Durham or Ed Thigpen on drums. CD

The fourth in the MPS reissue series of long unreleased late 60s recordings from the home of producer/engineer Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer finds Oscar Peterson in a glorious solo piano mode! All of the recordings in the series were from very relaxed, loose sessions that were some of Peterson's favorite of the time – and they're done in a mode that has Oscar playing loosely and soulfully throughout. Titles include "Someone To Watch Over Me", "Perdido", "Body And Soul", "Bye, Bye Blackbird", "Lulu's Back In Town", Little Girl Blue", "Who Can I Turn To", "Take The 'A' Train" and more. CD

Herb Ellis is reunited with the Oscar Peterson trio – in a sweet set of mellow grooving tunes that stretches nicely beyond their earlier work for Verve! Rhythm is by the team of Sam Jones and Bobby Durham, and the tracks are mostly standards, played with a light and magical touch and that rare ease that Peterson and Ellis always seemed to have in the studio. There's a warmth here that's evident from the very first note – and Herb and Oscar fit together so well, we find ourselves wondering why they ever parted! Titles include "Blues For HG", "Seven Come Eleven", "Exactly Like You", "Naptown Blues", "Hamp's Blues", and "Day By Day". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most unusual records ever made by vibist Dave Pike – a unique hybrid of Brazilian rhythms and jazz fusion – all carried off with sounds that are incredibly earthy overall! The record's quite different than any of Pike's previous projects for the MPS label – still done with a version of the Dave Pike Set that includes Volker Kriegel on guitar and Eberhard Weber on bass – but recorded in Bahia with help from Grupo Baiafro – a percussion heavy combo led by the great Djalma Correa! Tunes are long and laidback – building up with an energy level that's very organic, and almost improvisational. Pike's vibes still sparkle brightly, but with a nice change in tone – and titles include the extended suite "5 Ritmos Do Bahia", plus "Salomao", "Berimbass", and "An Evening With Vincent Van Ritz". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most unusual albums ever recorded from trumpeter Enrico Rava – a unique session for the MPS label, and very different than some of his work on ECM! There's a more open, almost spiritual feel here – and in addition to Rava on trumpet, vocals, and bells – the group also features John Abercrombie on electric guitars, Bruce Johnson on bass, and Chip Superfly White on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

A great example of the strength of the MPS label in the trad jazz side of the spectrum – a well-done session that features Tate's tenor in a small "celebrity club" group that includes Wilbur Bascomb on trumpet, Ben Richardson on clarinet and alto, Nat Pierce on piano, and Eddie Jones on bass. The tracks are short and swinging, but played in a manner that illustrates the rich appreciation of their talents experienced by these American jazzers in Europe. Titles include "Moten Swing", "Ben's Broken Saxophone", "Airmail Special", "Body & Soul", and "One For Johnny". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent CD that brings together 2 different albums by the incredible Clarke Boland Big Band – Fellini 712 and Latin Kaleidoscope. The Latin Kaleidoscope LP is one of our greatest sellers on vinyl (when we can find it!), and it's an insane batch of Latin-tinged tracks divided up into two suites – one written by Gary McFarland and one written by Francy Boland. The band wails hard and fast, and in hot Afro-Cuban grooves, with plenty of room for solos by Benny Bailey, Tony Coe, Johnny Griffin, Sahib Shihab, and Derek Humble. The tracks are some of the best stuff the band ever did, and along with the extended suite that comprises Fellini 712, the CD is a masterpiece of hard large band tracks, and a brilliant introduction to the work of the CBBB (and heck, even if you do know them, the material's still pretty tough to find anyway!) 14 tracks in all – including "Olhos Negros", "Ramo De Flores", "Feibre Cubana", "Extrano Sueno", "Cara Bruja", and "Un Grao De Ariea". CD

A smoking twin-tenor session for MPS – one that reunites the mighty talents of Johnny Griffin and Eddie Lockjaw Davis! The album was done as an offshoot of both players' work for the Clarke Boland Big Band at the time – and the set was not only produced by CBBB impresario Gigi Campi, but also features a core rhythm trio from that ensemble – Francy Boland on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums! Tracks are nice and long, and have a sound that really shows the evolution of both players since their famous recordings of the early 60s – tones that are even more modern and edgey at points, served up with a fire that hasn't died at all – and set loose on rhythms that move past the usual grooves you might have expected from their American sessions together. Titles include "Tin Tin Deo", "Jim Dawg", "Gigi", "When We Were One", and "Again N Again". LP, Vinyl record album

Killer keyboards from the legendary George Duke – and one of his most righteous albums for the MPS label! The album's a spectacular set that showcases both sides of Duke's genius at the time – his spacey, soulful approach to a laidback tune – and his more jamming styles on the harder cuts! Instrumentation is somewhat spare – just keyboards and piano from George, who also sings a bit – plus Ndugu Chancler on drums and John Heard on bass – both playing with a freely creative energy that's definitely motivated by Duke. There's a beautiful mix of electricity and acoustic warmth on the set – never too forced, and clearly an inspiration for countless players in years to come – maybe even more so than Herbie Hancock's work of the time. Drums are great too – and snap tightly for plenty of nice breaks on the set – which are in turn augmented by mellower keys from Duke, who also sings with a sweetly electric soul style. Titles include "Capricorn", "The Opening", "Psychosomatic Dung", "North Beach", "Faces In Reflection", "Maria Tres Filhos", and "Da Somba". CD

Very cool, very groovy, and one of Ella Fitzgerald's hippest albums of the 60s! The set was recorded in San Francisco in the late 60s, but was issued by MPS in Germany as proof that the label always had an ear for bringing something different out of a mainstream artist. And although live, the album's got a romping, hard grooving style that's filled with plenty of soul – arranged surprisingly by Tommy Flanagan, with a bouncing, bottom-end groove that even gets a bit funky at times! The centerpiece of the album is Ella's funky cover of the title cut – Cream's big hit "Sunshine Of Your Love" – proof that even an old gal can get funky with the right material! Other tracks include "This Girl's In Love With You", "Watch What Happens", "House Is Not A Home", and "Hey Jude". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet sounds from Stephane Grappelli – working here in a very cool combo that features twin guitars from Ike Issacs and Diz Disley, plus bass from the great Isla Eckinger too! The guitars are acoustic and electric, but often used together in kind of a gypsy swing sort of mode – recalling Grappelli's classic work with Django, but updated nicely too – thanks both to the recording style, and the slightly more open-ended format of the tunes. Amazingly, Grappelli plays a bit of Fender Rhodes on the record too – and titles include "Hot Lips", "Joy", "Shine", "Lover Come Back To Me", and "Solitude". CD

A stunning set of out jazz by this excellent German reed player! Overall, the album's fairly free, but not as free as the title might imply. It's more like some of the classic New York avant 60's sessions that were released on ESP and other labels, with a strong horn player in the lead, and good backing players that never get in the way too much, yet which manage to stay very creative when the time comes for their solos. An excellent non-funky MPS session, and one that was never issued in the states – and with tracks that include "Victor", "Nicolas 1/2", "Isus Minor", and "Phoenix". CD

One of the best Rolf Kuhn sessions we can think of – and a classic MPS album that mixes spiritual avant garde jazz with unusual rhythmic progressions and world percussion. Rolf's group here features Phil Woods guesting on alto, a great companion for Rolf's fluid clarinet lines, which sound here more like soprano sax, blown in a spiritual post-Dolphy kind of way. Nana Vasconcelos is on percussion and berimbau, and Joachim Kuhn plays piano. Tracks include "The Day After", "Turning Out", "Everything In the Garden", and "CA 1-9-5-2". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album on MPS – one that offers a survey of Brazilian music for the 60s European market – recorded live in concert and featuring key performances from Edu Lobo, Sylvia Telles, and Rosinha Da Valenca! The work here mixes bossa jazz with rootsier elements – creating a juxtaposition that goes beyond even some of the best Brazilian recordings from the same period. One of the standout cuts of the session is a killer version of "Upa Neguinho", done by Edu Lobo with the Salvador Trio – and there's lots of other goodies, including some hard bossa jazz with JT Meirelles on tenor and flute, guitar tracks by Rosinha De Valenca, a version of "Dicussao" by Sylvia Telles, and an extended "Finale" that has all of the players playing together on versions of "Berimbau", "Cuica", and "Tristeza". Wonderfully packaged, too! LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing work from the MPS scene of the early 70s – one of the more avant records recorded for the label at the time, thanks to the forward-thinking talents of trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff! Albert's beautifully balanced here – reaching for some of the freedom around him on the German scene of the era, yet also keeping some structure to his music too – kind of an inherent pulse that almost swings at points, thanks to work from Gunter Lenz on bass and Ralf Hubner on drums. Yet things are also pretty open and exploratory, too – even from the bass and drums – and the set also boasts some really wonderful work on tenor and alto from Heinz Sauer, a player we always love, and who really shines on a record like this! Titles include "The 13th Color", "Open Mind", "Roltz & Spring", "Nachwort", and "Never Let It End". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the last sets that avant trombone genius cut for MPS, and a record that's very much in his legendary legacy for that label! The group's a trio – with Leon Francioli on bass and Pierre Favre on drums – and titles include "Hupf Them", "Loose Mosse Blues", "Give Me Some Skin", and "Des Sch Too Much". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the headiest albums ever from reedman Charlie Mariano – a far cry from the icy modernism of his work in the 50s! The set's recorded in a full-on MPS electric mode – plenty of fusion touches in the mix, thanks to a lineup that includes Zbigniew Seifert on electric violin, Jan Hammer on keyboards, Jack Bruce on bass, John Marshall on drums, and Nippy Noya on added percussion! As with some of Mariano's later work, there's a bit of a world music influence going on here – elements of Eastern styles mixed in with the jazz, especially on titles that feature Charlie on flute, soprano sax, or nagasawaram – in addition to his more standard alto sax. The best tracks on the set are actually the ones that are a bit more laidback – kind of spacey with nice changes from the core instrumentation, and a bit of the introspection that we always love from Charlie. Titles include "Charlotte", "Avoid The Year Of The Monkey", "Neverglades Pixie", "Helen Twelvetrees", "Sleep My Love", and "Parvati's Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful set from this unique group – with work from Manfred Schoof on trumpet and flugelhorn, Peter Trunk on bass, and Cees See on drums and percussion – plus amazing sounds from an additional string quintet! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the grooviest records we've ever heard from guitarist Joe Pass – a sweet European session for MPS, and one with a very different feel than some of his US recordings! The setting's a trio, with a feel that's more open than some of Joe's pop-jazz sets from the 60s – and the rhythms are warmly fluid, in ways that allow Pass to play some great open-handed solos that spin out wonderfully – hanging softly in air, almost with Jim Hall-like qualities, although a bit more inside overall. The rest of the group features Eberhard Weber on bass and Kenny Clare on drums – and titles include a great version of "Ode To Billy Joe", plus "Chloe", "I Love You", "Joe's Blues", "Watch What Happens", and "El Gento". CD

One of the grooviest records we've ever heard from guitarist Joe Pass – a sweet European session for MPS, and one with a very different feel than some of his US recordings! The setting's a trio, with a feel that's more open than some of Joe's pop-jazz sets from the 60s – and the rhythms are warmly fluid, in ways that allow Pass to play some great open-handed solos that spin out wonderfully – hanging softly in air, almost with Jim Hall-like qualities, although a bit more inside overall. The rest of the group features Eberhard Weber on bass and Kenny Clare on drums – and titles include a great version of "Ode To Billy Joe", plus "Chloe", "I Love You", "Joe's Blues", "Watch What Happens", and "El Gento". LP, Vinyl record album

Long unreleased late 60s recordings from the home of producer/engineer Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer finds Oscar Peterson in a glorious solo piano mode! All of the recordings in the series were from very relaxed, loose sessions that were some of Peterson's favorite of the time – and they're done in a mode that has Oscar playing loosely and soulfully throughout. Titles include "Someone To Watch Over Me", "Perdido", "Body And Soul", "Bye, Bye Blackbird", "Lulu's Back In Town", "Little Girl Blue", "Who Can I Turn To", "Take The 'A' Train" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Mellow magic from Oscar Peterson – recorded for MPS during the mid 60s, but "secret sessions" that didn't get issued until later! The album features Oscar working some incredible wonders on the piano – working with either Sam Jones or Ray Brown on bass and Bob Durham or Louis Hayes on drums. The tunes are simple and elegant, but Peterson's work on the keys takes them to a whole new place – taking off even farther than his American sides at the time with the freedom allowed him by MPS. The set includes a 17 minute reading of "I'm In The Mood For Love", plus shorter takes on "Girl Talk", "Moon River", and "On A Clear Day". CD

Sadness on guitar – a perfect title for Baden Powell's work on his chosen instrument, especially the way he could bring a simple but emotive style to his music! Powell's work on guitar here is often quite spare, but beautifully handled – set up with rhythms by a small combo that includes Milton Banana on drums alongside added percussion, as well as some especially great flute from Copinha – and recorded with an echoey style that makes each new note resonate with tremendous strength. The overall groove is a bit more upbeat than some of Powell's other "on guitar" sessions for MPS – with a number of tracks that hit the livelier groove of his earlier Brazilian recordings. Titles include a great spare version of "Round Midnight", plus "O Astronauta", "Sarava", "Canto De Xango", "Canto De Ossanha", and "Som Do Carnival". LP, Vinyl record album

Sadness on guitar – a perfect title for Baden Powell's work on his chosen instrument, especially the way he could bring a simple but emotive style to his music! Powell's work on guitar here is often quite spare, but beautifully handled – set up with rhythms by a small combo that includes Milton Banana on drums alongside added percussion, as well as some especially great flute from Copinha – and recorded with an echoey style that makes each new note resonate with tremendous strength. The overall groove is a bit more upbeat than some of Powell's other "on guitar" sessions for MPS – with a number of tracks that hit the livelier groove of his earlier Brazilian recordings. Titles include a great spare version of "Round Midnight", plus "O Astronauta", "Sarava", "Canto De Xango", "Canto De Ossanha", and "Som Do Carnival". LP, Vinyl record album

Bop modes, updated strongly for the 70s – and played by a hip group of older players who really know how to cook! Supersax is led by Med Flory on alto, who also did the arrangements – and works here with great reed help from Warne Marsh and Jay Migliori on tenor, Joe Lopes on alto, and Jack Nimitz on baritone – plus soaring sounds from Conte Candoli and Blue Mitchell on trumpets, Frank Rosolino on trombone, and Lou Levy on piano – all of whom really help the reed players find their groove! Charts are large, as is the ensemble, but there's a nice sense of individual personalities too – even when all the saxophonists are taking a solo together at once. Titles include "Shaw Nuff", "Drifting On A Reed", "Oop Bop Sh'Bam", "Now's The Time", and "The Song Is You". LP, Vinyl record album

That's five flies in the title – each of them warranted, given the incredible energy of Cecil Taylor on the keys of the piano! This obscure solo set is a gem all the way through – an unusual session recorded for MPS – with Taylor playing beautiful tones on a Bosendorfer Grand Piano Imperial, ringing out with the sort of freedom that you'd know from other recordings of his from the 70s – but possibly a bit more structure at times too – an almost lyrical mode that's a really wonderful change, and which makes the record one of Cecil's most sensitive sides ever! Even in a world that's heavy with Taylor solo moments, this album's well worth tracking down – as it shows Cecil with a focus that's simply breathtaking – no less of the fire and freedom than before, but pushed into spaces that really make sense right away – and help illustrate the greatness of Taylor when everything's working perfectly. Titles include "Rocks Sub Amba", "N+R (Love Is Friends)", "The Stele Stolen & Broken Is Reclaimed", "Ensaslayi", and "Astar". CD

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One of the wildest albums ever recorded by French tenorist Barney Wilen – a mix of avant jazz and sound effects, set to wax in tribute to Lorenzo Bandini – a famous Italian racer who died tragically during the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix! Wilen was an automobile enthusiast in the late 60s, and happened to be recording the race on a Nagra for himself – but, after witnessing the death of Bandini, Wilen decided to incorporate his tape of the race into an extended performance dedicated to the late driver. The sound is quite unusual – much farther out than any of Barney's other albums – and the tapes of the race are joined with free-flowing tenor, and piano – plus bits of organ and prepared piano as well – all played by by Francois Tusques along with Wilen, with support from Beb Guerin on bass and Eddy Gaumont on drums. The real star, though, is Bandini's Ferrari, which races in and out of the jazz playing, coming to a mournful end with the termination of the piece. The album's a totally unique recording – and stands as one of the most unusual moments in the history of Wilen's career, and the legendary MPS label! Titles include "Start", "Tribune Princiere", "Hair Pin", and "Canyon Sound & Destiny". LP, Vinyl record album

The magic sunshine here is all from the legendary catalog of MPS Records – unusually groovy jazz tracks from the 60s and 70s, all hand-picked by the equally legendary DJ Gilles Peterson! Peterson first turned many ears onto MPS back a few decades ago – with his excellent Talkin Jazz series – and this set follows strongly in that legacy, but also really shows both the deeper knowledge of the label's catalog we've acquired over the years, and the further development of Gilles' incredible ear for finding an unusual tune! The music here isn't just funky jazz, it's a huge range of sounds at once – some modal and spiritual elements, some global jazz experiments, a few vocal tracks, and even some very cool space-age styles – served up in a package that seems to make each new track burst forward with fresh feeling in the company of the others – that rare quality that can make a compilation like this so great. Titles include "Lillemor" by Francy Boland, "Out Of The Sorcellery" by Eddie Louiss, "Big P" by Modern Jazz Group Freiburg, "Stone Ground Seven" by Singers Unlimited, "Harp Revolution" by Johnny Teupen, "Service" by Orchester Roland Kovac, "Love Train" by Third Wave, "Dew" by Don Ellis, "Our Chant" by Gunter Hampel, "Denn Liebe Ist Stark Wie Der Tod" by Wolfgang Lauth, "Why & How" by Mark Murphy, and "Cancion Del Fuego Fatuo" by Pedro Iturralde with Paco DeLucia. LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the funkiest, grooviest tunes ever from the MPS label – all brought together in one double-length set at an incredible price! These are the tracks that first got MPS re-noticed by a younger generation of groovers a decade or more ago – tunes that offer up an amazing blend of soul jazz, Brazilian, modal, and vocal styles – all done with genre-crossing genius, and some of the best production an artist could ever hope for in the studio! The collection's sort of an amalgamation of the essential (and now-deleted) compilations by Gilles Peterson that appeared on the Talkin Loud label – a filtering down of all the best bits into a 19-track CD that runs for over 75 minutes in length. Titles include "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Ella Fitzgerald, "Color" by Erwin Lehn, "Just Give Me Time" by Mark Murphy, "Little Bird" by Elsie Bianchi, "Waldmadchen" by Gustav Brom, "Espresso Loco" by Francy Boland, "That Ol Bus Smell" by Peter Herbholzheimer, "Get Out Of My Life Woman" by Dee Dee Barry & The Movements, "Big Schlepp" by Dave Pike, "Carmell's Black Forest Waltz" by Nathan Davis, "Upa Neguinho" by Edu Lobo, "Hold Me I've Got To Leave You" by Johnny Teupen, "Volcano's Daughter" by Nelson Riddle, "Monticello" by Monty Alexander, "Scratches" by Charly Antolini, and "Speech Craft" by Horst Jankowski. CD

Wow! We've always gone on record as liking pianist Francy Boland as part of his big band with drummer Kenny Clarke, but here on this classic Saba/MPS session, the pair wail together in a smaller quartet format – with great help from Jimmy Woode on bass, and Fats Sadi on bongos. The record is incredible, and swings with a groove that's a lot harder than you'd expect from a small group like this. Sadi is especially great, and his bongos really make the cuts wail along nicely! Most cuts are tight little groovers, with a tight modal jazzy sound – as you'd expect from MPS in the classic years. Great cuts include "Dark Eyes", "Dia-Bleu", "Wolf-Gang", and "Father Klook", but the whole album's great! LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary session of avant garde jazz – recorded by MPS at the Baden Baden Free Jazz Meeting in 1969! The centerpiece of the record is the performance by the Baden-Baden Free Jazz Orchestra – which is led by Lester Bowie, and features Albert Mangelsdorff, Eje Thelin, Kenny Wheeler, Roscoe Mitchell, Alan Skidmore, Steve McCall, Tony Oxley, Willem Breuker, and other American and European avant players. The group performs a 2 part version of the title track – and their set is a beautiful mix of out styles, and a rare occasion to hear AACM players interacting with other European free jazz musicians. The other tracks on the record feature smaller groups culled from the larger one – and they include Terje Rypdal's group with Karin Krog doing "Ved Soerevatn", Karin performing "For My Two JBs" on a multitrack recorder, and Willem Breuker and John Surman dueting on "May Hunting Song". CD

One of Don Cherry's most hypnotic albums ever – a full album-length performance that features one of his first experiments with mixing jazz and global elements! The set was captured at the 1968 Berlin Jazz Festival – and mixes Cherry's amazing work on cornet, flute, and a myriad of world instruments with key contributions from European improvisers who include Eje Thelin on trombone, Bernt Rosengren on tenor and oboe, Karl Berger on vibes, Joachim Kuhn on piano and prepared piano, and Albert Mangelsdorf on trombone! There's even a bit of gamelon elements in some of the music, and Sonny Sharrock plays guitar too – and although free at times, the music comes together with an amazing sense of cohesion by the end – a vision that would inspire others to move into new territory in the decade to come. CD

Some of the grooviest classical piano work you'll ever hope to hear, thanks to the keyboard talents of the amazing Eugen Cicero – heard here on a rare LP of material recorded for the MPS label! Back in the 60s, a number of European artists were experimenting with a blend of classics and jazz – but few did it as well as Cicero, who could hit the keys with the fluidity of a concert pianist, but make the whole thing swing like some of his best jazz labelmates! Great credit here goes to the members of his trio – JA Rettenbacher on bass and the legendary Charly Antolini on drums, the latter of whom had a sense of tightness that really brought a new sense of energy to these tracks. 8 numbers in all, including "Der Gehort Mein Ganzes Leben", "Memories Of Clausenberg", "Suber Sang Ertront", "Dort In Der Ferne", "Ima Modenschein", and "Der Schlitten Eilt". LP, Vinyl record album

As free as the title implies – and a very compelling set of modernist jazz from enigmatic German pianist Wolfgang Dauner! The session's a full-on European improv one – and it features work by Gerd Dudek on tenor and clarinet, Eberhard Weber on cello, Jurgen Karg on bass, Mani Neumeier on drums and tabla, and Fred Braceful on drums. Jean-Luc Ponty is on violin, too – but his style is actually quite appropriate for the session, and he mostly plays in a noisy manner that works well with complicated bass and cello sounds, and with Dauner's own piano, which is played in a "prepared" manner on part of the album – inspiration drawn from John Cage, but carried off with a lot more frenzy. There's a bit of tablas on the record too, which gives a few moments a great world-jazz feel – that kind of crossover sound that MPS pioneered in the 60s – and which still sounds amazing all these many years later. Titles include "Sketch Up & Downer", "Free Action Shot", "My Spanish Disguise", and "Collage". CD

Mad MPS material from Wolfgang Dauner – right up there with some of the wildest records on the label during the 70s! The album's easily one of Dauner's most striking sessions – a set that has him handling a whole host of electric keyboards, and working with a group that also includes fuzzy guitar from Larry Coryell, bass from Gunter Lenz, and some really heavy drums from Jon Hiseman and Fred Braceful! Some moments are tight and funky, while others offer up a sweet spacey vibe – and overall, the album's got a perfect blend of MPS groove and some of the freakier, more far-reaching elements of the German scene at the time. The group take on a killer version of Coryell's classic "The Really Great Escape" – then roll into Dauner gems that include "Yin", "Sun", "Tuning Spread", and "Yan" – which features some guest voice and sound effects from Richard Ketterer. CD

A madly tripped out session from keyboardist Wolfgang Dauner – quite possibly one of THE most archetypal albums on MPS! The record's got a really mad groove that mixes together funky jazz, Indian music, and some of the weirder sounds floating around the European scene at the end of the 60s – handled here by Dauner on both piano and organ, plus guitar and sitar from Sigi Schwab, bass and cello from Eberhard Weber, and some especially heavy drum work from Roland Wittich! The record is famously known for the sitar funk number "Take Off Your Clothes To Feel The Setting Sun" – a track that also features vocals from Wolfgang – and other numbers have a very similar feel – throwing in a bit of vocals where you might not expect, and blowing part even familiar tunes with a madly tripped out version of psychedelic jazz! Titles include "Take Off Your Clothes", "Greensleeves", "Come On In On In", "Day In The Life", "Uwii", and "Dig My Girl". CD

A smoking twin-tenor session for MPS – one that reunites the mighty talents of Johnny Griffin and Eddie Lockjaw Davis! The album was done as an offshoot of both players' work for the Clarke Boland Big Band at the time – and the set was not only produced by CBBB impresario Gigi Campi, but also features a core rhythm trio from that ensemble – Francy Boland on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums! Tracks are nice and long, and have a sound that really shows the evolution of both players since their famous recordings of the early 60s – tones that are even more modern and edgey at points, served up with a fire that hasn't died at all – and set loose on rhythms that move past the usual grooves you might have expected from their American sessions together. Titles include "Tin Tin Deo", "Jim Dawg", "Gigi", "When We Were One", and "Again N Again". CD

One of the funkiest records ever cut for the mighty MPS label – and a unique session that definitely lives up to the "soul time" promised in the title! The set features a unique combination of American soul vocals and European funky jazz – a hybrid formed in late 60s Germany as Baltimore-born singer Dee Dee McNeil started working with South African drummer Barry Window – who's got a hell of a funky talent for hitting a groove! The pair were making big waves in the German clubs, then came to the attention of MPS – who hooked them up with hip jazz players like Barney Wilen on tenor, Joel Vandroogenbroeck on organ, and Ronald Bryer on guitar! The result is a very very groovy little record – funky on some key tracks, and burning with mod soul on others – a brilliant blend that's way better than most of the other expatriate work cut on the Euro scene of the 60s – and definitely worth the legendary status its hit over the years. Dee Dee mostly takes the lead on vocals, but some cuts feature surprisingly nice duets with Barry – and titles include the landmark break cut "Get Out Of My Life Woman", plus "Midnight Hour", "Hold On I'm Coming", "It's Alright", "Funky Broadway", "Soultime", and "Summertime". CD

Killer keyboards from the legendary George Duke – and one of his most righteous albums for the MPS label! The album's a spectacular set that showcases both sides of Duke's genius at the time – his spacey, soulful approach to a laidback tune – and his more jamming styles on the harder cuts! Instrumentation is somewhat spare – just keyboards and piano from George, who also sings a bit – plus Ndugu Chancler on drums and John Heard on bass – both playing with a freely creative energy that's definitely motivated by Duke. There's a beautiful mix of electricity and acoustic warmth on the set – never too forced, and clearly an inspiration for countless players in years to come – maybe even more so than Herbie Hancock's work of the time. Drums are great too – and snap tightly for plenty of nice breaks on the set – which are in turn augmented by mellower keys from Duke, who also sings with a sweetly electric soul style. Titles include "Capricorn", "The Opening", "Psychosomatic Dung", "North Beach", "Faces In Reflection", "Maria Tres Filhos", and "Da Somba". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet keyboards and lots of funky grooves – one of the best of George Duke's seminal albums for MPS – and a record that captures him at a key middle point in his growth! The sound here is tighter than the trippier records of before, but also never too smooth or commercial – still with plenty of cosmic influences in the funk, and a wealth of great keyboard work that rivals some of Herbie Hancock's best from the same stretch. George sings a bit himself – in a warmly compressed mode that's simply wonderful, and which further expands the grooves – and although much of the album's instrumentation comes from the keyboards, the record also features guest appearances from Airto on percussion and Ndugu on drums – as well as a bit of guest vocals from Flora Purim. Titles include "The Once Over", "Tzina", "Statement", "Love", "Feel", "Funny Funk", "Rashid", and "Cora Joberge". LP, Vinyl record album

A well-titled album from trumpeter Don Ellis – as the set soars to the skies from the very first note! The album's got a dynamic energy that almost beats Don's American work of the time – lots of funky rhythms, and a cool MPS groove that shows the label's strong 70s legacy of larger group jazz recordings! Like other MPS dates of the time, there's a nice mix of electric and acoustic instrumentation in the lineup – bass and guitar that kick the rhythms up strongly, plus keyboards and electrified strings that bring in their own unique sounds. Milcho Leviev handles the keys on the session – and titles are a fresh batch of numbers that include "Sidonie", "Image Of Maria", "Sladka Pitka", "Go Back Home", "Whiplash", "The Devil Made Me Write This Piece", and "Invincible". CD

A well-titled album from trumpeter Don Ellis – as the set soars to the skies from the very first note! The album's got a dynamic energy that almost beats Don's American work of the time – lots of funky rhythms, and a cool MPS groove that shows the label's strong 70s legacy of larger group jazz recordings! Like other MPS dates of the time, there's a nice mix of electric and acoustic instrumentation in the lineup – bass and guitar that kick the rhythms up strongly, plus keyboards and electrified strings that bring in their own unique sounds. Milcho Leviev handles the keys on the session – and titles are a fresh batch of numbers that include "Sidonie", "Image Of Maria", "Sladka Pitka", "Go Back Home", "Whiplash", "The Devil Made Me Write This Piece", and "Invincible". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic stuff – and one of our favorite lost sessions from the 70s! The album's a completely unique work by pianist Bill Evans album – one that features him playing both electric and acoustic piano over stunning arrangements by Claus Ogerman! The sound is indescribably beautiful, with a range of moments that span a number of styles – all of them dark and moody. Evans' playing is at that complex late stage, and Ogerman's orchestrations are completely sympathetic, never intrusive, and offer a brilliant showcase for haunting lines of dark, introspective genius from Evans. In a way, we'd compare this one to some of the more baroque CTI sessions – or to later work in recent generations by artists like Chris Bowden! The album features 2 different movements of the larger "Symbiosis" suite – divided up into a total of 5 long tracks in all! LP, Vinyl record album

The hard wailing trumpet of Maynard Ferguson gets a perfect showcase on this obscure MPS session from the 60s – a record that offers up a nice bridge between his earlier albums on Roulette, and his more famous funk sides for Columbia! The sound here is mostly acoustic, but definitely hard-grooving – in ways that are similar to other MPS big band projects of the period, such as records by Gustav Brom, or the Clarke Boland Big Band! Like the latter, there's a great ensemble working with Maynard here – and even though he's the main soloist, the sense of the larger ensemble always helps shape the sound nicely. Deiter Reith plays piano on the date – and arrangements are by Slide Hampton, Don Sebesky, Bill Holman, Willie Maiden, and Mike Abene – on cuts that include a great reading of Slide Hampton's "Got The Spirit", plus the tracks "Knarf", "Ole", "Dancing Nitely", and "Whisper Not". LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous European meeting of tenorist Dexter Gordon and trombonist Slide Hampton – brought together in this impeccable sextet session for MPS – a real standout in the label's straight jazz catalog over the years! By the time of the set, Gordon had been working heavily in Europe, especially Copenhagen – a locale where he was given ample freedom to stretch out and really explore his tone and phrasing. Hampton had also kicked around the continent a fair bit too, but in a tighter format, doing arrangements for others and working in bigger groups – and it's actually his careful touch that really helps shape the sound of the set – by bringing Gordon's groove into a focus more strongly than before, and reminding us that Dex was a great group player when he wanted to be! The frontline features Gordon's tenor, Hampton's trombone, and the trumpet of Dizzy Reece – often stating the heads in a fluidly soulful way, then breaking out nicely with individual voices – very much in the best Blue Note mode. Rhythm is by the trio of Kenny Drew on piano, Art Taylor on drums, and Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass – and titles include 3 excellent originals by Hampton – "A New Thing", "My Blues", and "A Day In Vienna" – plus a wicked almost-Lee Morgan-esque take on "What's New", and versions of "Shadow Of Your Smile" and "You Don't Know What Love Is". US pressing of the MPS album. LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful album from guitarist Jim Hall – different than some of his other work, and with a slightly harder edge! The unique session has him playing in an MPS 60s mode – more straight-on than some of his more airy moments – with a sound and tone that still recalls his work with Paul Desmond or Art Farmer, but a more direct approach, and an occasional groove as well! The trio's as unique as the record – the great Jimmy Woode on bass and drums from Daniel Humair – and titles include "Blue Joe", "Romaine", "Young One For Debra", "Body & Soul", and a great version of "Up Up & Away", which soars to the sky in a way you'd never expect from Jim! LP, Vinyl record album

A great revival moment for some older jazz giants – all players who really catch fire here in the MPS scene of the 70s! The record features the vibes of Lionel Hampton in the lead (and, if the cover is to be believed, also a bit of drums) – and also includes excellent work from Milt Buckner on Hammond (one of his last sessions ever) – plus especially strong work from Cat Anderson on trumpet and Eddie Chamblee on tenor – both players who really get to step out here a bit at times, and remind us what they can do when they really get a chance to wail! Other players in the small group include Billy Mackel on guitar and Paul Moen on alto – and titles include "Midnight Sun", "Avalon", "Funky Mama", and "I'm Confessin" – plus the obligatory jam on "Flying Home". CD

Incredibly spiritual work from tenorist Billy Harper – a record that really lives up to its title, given the heavens-searching vibe in the music! The album's a rare date that Billy cut for the MPS label at the end of the 70s, and it rivals the genius of his Japanese sessions from the same stretch – very open, with a tremendous sense of freedom that's always directed towards the best sort of exploratory energy – going a bit more outside here than usual, at least compared to other Harper albums of the time. The great Everett Hollins plays trumpet on the set – a player we only know from Harper records, but one who always makes Billy's music sparkle – and other musicians include Armen Donelian on piano, Wayne Dockery on bass, and Malcolm Pinson on drums. Titles include "Trying To Make Heaven My Home", "Insight", and "Love On The Sudan". CD

One of the greatest albums from this legendary trumpeter – the US issue of some very rare tracks that were recorded for MPS in Germany under the leadership of either Carmell Jones or Nathan Davis! One group on the record features Davis on tenor with Jones on trumpet – with a killer rhythm group of Francy Boland on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums. They swing very very hard, and keep in a tight groove on tracks like "Carmell's Black Forest Waltz", "The Hip Walk", and "That Kaycee Thing". The other group is a little bit more swing-based, and features Jones, Pony Poindexter on alto, Leo Wright on sax and flute, Fritz Pauer on piano, and some guest vocals by Annie Ross. They do a long version of "Twisted", with great solos, plus a less-stellar version of "Jumpin At The Woodside". Very hard swingin' jazz, and one of the best MPS/Saba recordings of American players in Europe! LP, Vinyl record album

Elvin Jones towers above his bandmates on the cover of this 70s classic – and really leads them onward to some great sounds within! The record has a bit more focus and soul than some of Jones' other albums of the period – still quite powerful and dynamic, but with a good adherence to melody, and plenty of room for the group members to open up and make some beautiful sounds – including Pat LaBarbera and Michael Stuart on soprano and tenor sax, and Roland Prince on guitar! The twin reed players are wonderful – and work together in ways that are different than some of Elvin's records at the start of the 70s – and titles include "Kalima", "Section 8", "Giraffe", and "Familiar Ground". CD

A killer bit of soulful fusion – recorded by the legendary drummer Alponse Mouzon after his harder-jamming 70s years, in a mode that brings in some nice currents of jazz funk and soul! The group's an all-star lineup – Herbie Hancock on Fender Rhodes and piano, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Lee Ritenour on guitar, and Paul Jackson on bass – working together strongly under the guidance of Mouzon, who's really finding a new side of his talents here. The tunes groove wonderfully – never too over the top, and always in the smooth soulful mode that was the best part of major label fusion in the late 70s. Mouzon plays a fair bit of keyboards next to Herbie's acoustic and electric piano, and tracks are long, with some really nicely jazzy grooves. Titles include "The Jogger", "Do I Have To", "Space Invaders", and "The Next Time We Love". CD

A really great later album from Anita – one recorded live in Berlin, with some backing by the George Arvanitas trio – at the time when they had the kick-ass rhythm section of Jacky Samson on bass and Charles Saudrais on drums. Anita's in a much more swinging groove than usual – opening up in an MPS-like setting that's quite different from her Verve albums. The highlight of the record is a nice funky version of "Sunny", which starts with a great drum bit at the beginning – and other tracks include "Soon It's Gonna Rain", "Your Wings", "On A Clear Day", and a medley of "Yesterday" and "Yesterdays". LP, Vinyl record album

A solo sparkler from Oscar Peterson – recorded in a flurry of excellent late 60s recordings for MPS, and done in a warmly rhythmic mode that puts Peterson's solo work right up there in the ranks of Tatum and Garner! The production on the album is immaculate – done with a depth that easily set a new level for solo piano at the time, and which has Peterson's tones ringing out with clarity and an incredible sonic range. Oscar's touch on the keys is quick, but never thoughtless – and his ease of approach in a mode like this is somehow even more incredible than some of his trio work of the time. Titles include "A Child Is Born", "Dancing On The Ceiling", "If I Should Lose You", "Django", "Just A Gigolo", and "A Little Jazz Exercise". CD

One of the first albums cut by the fab Singers Unlimited – and the set that has them backed by the Oscar Peterson Trio! The Singers always mixed well with guest jazz talents – and the style of this albums gives their sweet harmonies a nice jazz-based groove and not too much cheese on the top – one of the leanest instrumental settings from their MPS era, and a nicely gliding groove that supports their voices wonderfully! The record includes great versions of "The Gentle Rain", "Once Upon A Summertime", "The Shadow Of Your Smile", and Thad Jones' great "A Child Is Born" – as well as a pretty crazy rendition of "Sesame Street"! LP, Vinyl record album

Funky vibes, electric sitar, and a madly tripped-out album – one of the best of the MPS psychedelic jazz sessions from the end of the 60s! Back in the US, Dave Pike was always a pretty straight vibist – but he's working here with his European combo that included the legendary Volker Kriegel – who plays both electric guitar and sitar on the record, giving it a really groovy "Eastern" sort of vibe! Drummer Peter Baumeister kicks the bottom of the set mightily – rolling in a modal groove one minute, picking up a heavier funk approach the next – and always inspiring the rest of the group to stretch out in the grooviest way possible. Tracks are shortish, but filled with great sonic touches – and titles include the legendary "Mathar", a well known bit of sitar funk – plus the tracks "Mother People", "I'm On My Way", "Regards From Freddie Horowitz", and "Walkin' Down The Highway In A Red Raw Egg". LP, Vinyl record album

A really beautiful early album from the legendary Jean-Luc Ponty – a set that's maybe more straight jazz than some of his later work, and which also represents a pivotal shift in the use of the violin in jazz! Ponty's phrasing here is very different than previous players who handled the instrument in such a setting – almost more informed by a saxophone than earlier instrumentalists – often with notes that are not nearly as sweet as others, and heard to perfection in the company of this quartet! The whole group is great – Wolfgang Dauner on acoustic piano, also straighter than in later years – plus Niels Henning Orsted Pederson on bass, and Daniel Humair on drums. Titles include "Sunday Walk", "Cat Coach", "Suite For Claudia", and "Carole's Garden". CD

A stone classic from Baden Powell – and one of the greatest meetings of his Brazilian guitar with the European production styles of the late 60s! The sound is incredible – with backing is by a small group that includes bass, drums, and Brazilian percussion – all used sparely and subtly alongside Baden's fragile lines on guitar, and his moody, echoey vocals – which are recorded here in a nicely subdued way. Tracks include "Tributo A Un Amigo", "Ciegos De Noreste", "Samba En Preludio", "Hijo", and the beautiful "Tres Temas De Fe Afro-Brasilena", which evokes a lot of the feel of his classic Afro Sambas set! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the key non-Saturn Sun Ra albums of the 70s – and like his records for Blue Thumb and Impulse, a set that really helped awaken the world to his talents! This album may well be one of the most bracing of the bunch – as it features live material recorded by Ra and the Arkestra at two different German jazz festivals in 1970 – performances that really have the group at the height of their righteous power, stretching out with a sound that's even more avant than just a few years before! The reed solos are all quite strong – and include work by Pat Patrick, John Gilmore, Danny Davis, Danny Thompson, and Marshall Allen – plus some other oboe, bass clarinet, and bassoon players too – and the lovely June Tyson provides some righteous words in a few spots, while Ra plays a range of keyboards – from clavinet, to farfisa, Hohner electra, mini-moog, Spacemaster, and rocksichord! Titles include "Black Forest Myth", "Strange Dreams – Strange World – Black Myth", and "Myth Versus Reality (The Myth Science Approach)". LP, Vinyl record album

An essential bit of piano jazz from MPS – and one of the rarest sides on their Saba label from the 60s! German keyboardist Dieter Reith plays with a cracklin' trio that includes Peter Witte on bass, and powerhouse Charly Antolini on drums. The tracks are a mix of originals and jazz standards, and they're all played with a light lively approach, and the trademark piano jazz groove that's made some of these MPS albums favorites on the international groove scene. Some of the best tracks are Deiter's "Happy Afternoon" and "How About A Blues", which both have a nice breezy groove to them, but the record also has nice versions of "Green Dolphin Street", "Wives & Lovers", and "Days Of Wine And Roses". CD

Some of Archie Shepp's most freewheeling material of the 60s – a long, extended, single-song album recorded at the Donaueschingen festival a few years before his classic work for BYG/Actuel – and very much in the same bold spirit as his recordings for that label! The single tune – "One For The Trane" – is opened up, stretched out, and run freely by Shepp on tenor, Roswell Rudd and Grachan Moncur on trombones, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Beaver Harris on drums – a very unique lineup that benefits not just from the presence of two trombones, which gives the record a very deep, rich sound – but also from the creative rhythms of Garrison and Harris, a really great team for a session like this! Shepp is wonderful – still with this inherent sense of soul that also ties the performance to some of his brightest moments for Impulse Records – this structure, even when blowing free, that creates an amazing sense of swing somewhere back in the music. LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the best-remembered work of this legendary vocal group – a sublime session of unaccompanied vocals, done with no other instrumentation alongside the warm harmonies of the quartet! The sound here is really amazing – simple, elegant, but filled with undeniable magic – and far far different than any other hokey acapella work of the time. The acapella sound here has no doo wop or vocalese references – and is instead a warm, wonderful pillow of sound – forged through the unique arrangements of leader Gene Puerling, and carried off beautifully by all members of the group. Titles include a great version of Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Clair" – plus the tunes "Girl Talk", "I Don't Know Where I Stand", "Nature Boy", and "Lost In The Stars". LP, Vinyl record album

A groovy batch of Christmas carols from the Singers Unlimited, harmonizing in their trademark mellow, jazzy style over some nice arrangements by group member Gene Puerling! The feel is very sweet – fantastically harmonic, and set to impeccable MPS production – and most of the tunes here are taken in short versions that slide groovily into one another. Titles include "Deck The Halls", "Caroling Caroling", "Nigh Bethlehem", "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear", "Silent Night", "Joy To The World", 'Wassail Song", "Good King Wenceslas", "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". LP, Vinyl record album

Great sounds from Billy Taylor – a player who was definitely big in the mainstream at the time of this late 60s date, but who really finds a way to return strongly to his roots! Taylor's playing here with that nicely punctuated style that made him one of the biggest groovers in the early 50s – and the group has this really great MPS/Saba sort of vibe – never too over the top, but always with an undercurrent of soul – as you might expect with rhythm work from Ben Tucker on bass and Grady Tate on drums! Taylor turns in a few lyrical moments, which are alternated with more left-hand swinging numbers – and titles include "La Petite Mambo", "Theodora", "Paraphrase", "Bye Y'All", and "Don't Go Down South". LP, Vinyl record album

That's five flies in the title – each of them warranted, given the incredible energy of Cecil Taylor on the keys of the piano! This obscure solo set is a gem all the way through – an unusual session recorded for MPS – with Taylor playing beautiful tones on a Bosendorfer Grand Piano Imperial, ringing out with the sort of freedom that you'd know from other recordings of his from the 70s – but possibly a bit more structure at times too – an almost lyrical mode that's a really wonderful change, and which makes the record one of Cecil's most sensitive sides ever! Even in a world that's heavy with Taylor solo moments, this album's well worth tracking down – as it shows Cecil with a focus that's simply breathtaking – no less of the fire and freedom than before, but pushed into spaces that really make sense right away – and help illustrate the greatness of Taylor when everything's working perfectly. Titles include "Rocks Sub Amba", "N+R (Love Is Friends)", "The Stele Stolen & Broken Is Reclaimed", "Ensaslayi", and "Astar". LP, Vinyl record album

The magic sunshine here is all from the legendary catalog of MPS Records – unusually groovy jazz tracks from the 60s and 70s, all hand-picked by the equally legendary DJ Gilles Peterson! Peterson first turned many ears onto MPS back a few decades ago – with his excellent Talkin Jazz series – and this set follows strongly in that legacy, but also really shows both the deeper knowledge of the label's catalog we've acquired over the years, and the further development of Gilles' incredible ear for finding an unusual tune! The music here isn't just funky jazz, it's a huge range of sounds at once – some modal and spiritual elements, some global jazz experiments, a few vocal tracks, and even some very cool space-age styles – served up in a package that seems to make each new track burst forward with fresh feeling in the company of the others – that rare quality that can make a compilation like this so great. Titles include "Lillemor" by Francy Boland, "Out Of The Sorcellery" by Eddie Louiss, "Big P" by Modern Jazz Group Freiburg, "Stone Ground Seven" by Singers Unlimited, "Harp Revolution" by Johnny Teupen, "Service" by Orchester Roland Kovac, "Love Train" by Third Wave, "Dew" by Don Ellis, "Our Chant" by Gunter Hampel, "Denn Liebe Ist Stark Wie Der Tod" by Wolfgang Lauth, "Why & How" by Mark Murphy, and "Cancion Del Fuego Fatuo" by Pedro Iturralde with Paco DeLucia. LP, Vinyl record album

One of those wonderful Monty Alexander albums from the 70s – recorded for the MPS label, and with a very different vibe than some of his later albums in the US! There's a warmth, flow, and soul here that comes through instantly – a way of fitting the piano right in with the rhythms, so that the tunes have this gentle glow and inherent warmth that really makes them sparkle! Part of the energy comes from the rhythm section – a trio that features Ernest Ranglin on guitar, Eberhard Weber on bass, and Kenny Clare on drums – and Weber's bass work is especially good, and there's lots of nice round funky moments in some of the best tracks. Titles include "Feel Like Making Love", "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", and "SKJ". LP, Vinyl record album

Mellow warmth from the great Monty Alexander – one of his best for MPS, and a trio set cut with Senator Eugene Wright on bass and Bobby Durham on drums! The roundness of Wright's bass makes the best cuts on the album even better – as he rolls around with a subtle sense of soul that really helps Alexander step into the 70s nicely – getting past some of the stiffness of 60s albums and even hitting a few funky notes at times! Titles include the jazzy dancer "Monticello", a classic reading of "We've Only Just Begun", and the tracks "Blue Alexander", "Love Story", and "Summer Of 42". LP, Vinyl record album