An incredible package – one that brings together four rare publications by Sun Ra – printed words that are every bit as groundbreaking as his music – and which together represent the farther-flung corners of his vast cultural enterprise! The set represents each of the texts in ... Book(Book)
A hell of a collaboration – core sounds by Madlib, which are then re-arranged by Kieran Hebden – at a level that seems to open up new dimensions in both artists! The sound is definitely Madlib's, but there's also a sense of majesty that seems to flow through the whole thing – ... LP, Vinyl record album(Hip Hop LP)
Totally great work from the legendary keyboard giant Webster Lewis – very different than the major label records he cut in America during the late 70s, and instead this wonderful blend of jazz, funk, and soul! Webster plays Hammond, and spins out tunes that start slow, then build nicely ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)
A real genre-setting compilation from the folks at Numero – a set that digs through a lost underground of early 90s computer-based music – work that's very different from both the early digital work of the 80s, and some of the spacier sounds of the new age generation! There's ... LP, Vinyl record album(Rock LP)
Fantastic early soundtrack material from Ennio Morricone – penned for one of the "mondo" films of the time – a 1964 shockumentary on the state of Italian youth! As such, it's got lots of short jazzy tunes that run at a pretty fast groove, ostensibly to show the dissipation of ... CD(Soundtracks CD)
A fantastic celebration of the 100th release of Funk Night Records – a limited package that features four killer cuts from The Soul Surfers – all recorded at the old Melodiya Studios in St Petersburg! "Wizard Of The Hood" has all these nice weird touches around the edges ... 7-inch, Vinyl record(Funky 45's 7-inch)
Never-issued work from Don Cherry – and a really key piece of the puzzle in the career of this legendary trumpeter! The recordings were done for Swedish Radio, with great fidelity – more than just live tracks captured in a club, and instead some really thoughtful material that marks an ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)
One of the first big international soundtracks to come from the Italian scene in the 60s – the start of a great run that would continue through the decade, although maybe not with results as strongly as this! The score is for a strange documentary-like film (the title means "World Gone ... CD(Soundtracks CD)
The deepest, most righteous music we've ever heard from Sheree Brown – and that's saying a lot, given how much we loved her first few solo records back in the day! Brown's got this rich vision here that really makes for a hell of a record – a set of tracks inspired by her younger years ... CD(Soul CD)
Maybe the strongest album ever recorded by Buck Hill – a tenorist who was mostly relegated to work on the DC scene during his key years, but who also cut this fantastic set overseas! Buck is one of the great local under-discovered players of his generation – like Von Freeman in Chicago ... CD(Jazz CD)
A classic masterpiece from J Dilla – a record that set the tone for countless hip hop releases in years to come – but which still shows Jay Dee as one of the smartest, sharpest, most forward-thinking producers to rule the roost! The set's got some incredible live instrumentation – ... CD(Hip Hop CD)
One of the more obscure Ennio Morricone soundtracks of the late 60s – done in close collaboration with musical partner Bruno Nicolai, for a gangster film that stars John Cassavettes in the lead! A number of tracks have an older crime jazz sort of vibe – similar to the Italian modes ... CD(Soundtracks CD)
Never-issued material from Polish saxophonist Jan Ptasyn Wroblewski – material recorded at the end of the 70s for Polish Radio, done in a small combo mode that's a real back to basics change, after some of his larger projects of the decade! The setting is nice and lean – Jan on tenor, ... CD(Jazz CD)
A real masterpiece from pianist Christian Reim – an unissued live set from 1973, conceived as one long suite for a very modern sextet! The music is wonderful – full of all these subtle moments of feeling that we don't always hear in some of Christian's other work – mixed with ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)
The title's a bit mysterious, but the book is very very cool – a guide to loads of rare, raw singles – each of which gets a full page devoted to itself! The book is all color, with heavy glossy pages – and each of the rare 45s is presented with a full scan of the record, and a ... Book(Book)
An ear-opening set of Japanese jazz from a time when that nation's scene was really taking off – a period in the 70s when all sorts of new artists and new ideas were really flying around – and leaving behind a huge recorded legacy that's been mostly out of reach for us in the west! ... CD(Funky Compilations CD)
Fantastic sounds from Stereolab – an assortment of rare singles and other unusual recordings that were mostly issued on their own Duophonic label, and which are far more obscure than their bigger label albums during the same period! Even though Stereolab gave the world some undeniable ... CD(Rock CD)
One of the greatest moments ever from west coast bassman Henry Franklin – a set of soaring, spiritual power – and a key demonstration of his rich energy as a leader! Franklin heads a wicked lineup here – playing both Fender and acoustic bass amidst other players who include Bill ... CD(Jazz CD)
A great lost bit of funk – and a pretty mysterious record, too! The record came out hot on the heels of Manu Dibango's big original version of "Soul Makossa" – and while it's got a groove that definitely leans towards Afro Funk, it's also got plenty of Caribbean touches too ... LP, Vinyl record album(Soul LP)
Beautiful live work from alto saxophonist Carl Magnus Neumann – a Norwegian player with a richly expressive tone and a very fresh groove – working here in a group that's co-led with pianist Christian Reim! Neumann's a player we won't hear often – and he shines wonderfully on this ... LP, Vinyl record album(Jazz LP)