A score that brings together beautifully sentimental melodies with some of the lighter, more sophisticated Italian styles of the time – handled by Manuel in this mix of piano, mandolin, and swirling strings that are surprisingly hip, given their dark edges – almost with some Scott Walker/Wally Stott elements at times. Edda Dell'Orso sings a bit too! CD

A really unusual soundtrack from the great Manuel De Sica – scored for an early 70s gangster film, and done in a mix of modes that links together some of the more familiar De Sica styles and some of the groovier elements of the time! At the core, the composer is able to reach back with that more sensitive Italian scoring style needed to evoke the sense of family and community needed for the deeper tensions in the story – but De Sica also brings in both some of the darker elements from the Morricone camp, and occasional bits that resonate more strongly with Italian cop/crime of the time. The main theme is a really lovely spare melody, played on acoustic guitar – one that reappears in a few spots, almost like chapter headings – amidst titles that include "Racket", "Rough", "Casa De Giocio", "Fuoco Contro Fuoco", "Mercato Di Resina", "Bossa Nova Boss", and "Tensione E Agguato". CD features lots of bonus tracks too – 10 more added to the original promo-only soundtrack record! CD

The title doesn't give you much to go on – but take it from us, this is a great little compilation – one that's filled with rare jazz work from a variety of European soundtracks of the 60s and 70s! The range of tracks here is really great – and wide enough to include a few favorites, plus an even wider range of rare and obscure numbers – most of which are pulled from the catalog of EMI Italy, and include a number of tunes that have never been issued to the public before! And even better, there's a fair bit of work on here that's from soundtracks that aren't normally jazzy overall – but which feature one or two great jazz tracks, pulled out nicely here and intermingled with the rest of the top-shelf set. 18 tracks in all – 5 previously unreleased – with titles that include "Eva" by Michel Legrand, "A Place For Lovers (jazz suite)" by Manuel De Sica, "Spaghetti A Detroit" by Fred Bongusto, "Adulterio All'Italiana" by Armando Trovajoli, "Ballando Con Raquel" by Nino Rota, "This Is Life" by Piero Piccioni, "Sideslip (new edit)" by Berto Pisano, "Jazz Interlude" by Giorgio Gaslini, "That's Show" by Gianni Dell'Orso, "Monitor Jazz" by Carlo Rustichelli, and "Kiss Me Worren Please" by Bruno Nicolai. CD

The lovely Emanuelle takes a trip around the world – and the result is a soundtrack that's as sexy as the images on the screen! Nico Fidenco moves through territory here that's every bit as great as his previous scores for this slinky series – a mix of Euro erotic sounds, light funk rhythms, and some sweet exotic touches that really open up some of the more worldly locations – all a musical backdrop for Emanuelle's actions that help set the series apart from cheesier softcore films of the 70s! The music is 70s sexploitation at its finest – with swirling strings, floating flute, and sweet keyboards – all wrapped up tightly on a total of 33 tracks that includes "Where To Begin", "Picture Of Love", "Where Is Your Guru", "Beautiful Terrace", "Three Girls In Rome", "Kamasutra In Love", "Bastards At Work", "A Picture Of Love", "My Boundless", and "Eternal Anguish". Limited numbered package – with loads of previously unissued tracks! CD

The original production of Hamilton – written by and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda. The soundtrack is very fittingly issued by Atlantic Records – given the strong undercurrent of soul and hip hop in the music – in a surprisingly effective blend of beats, rhymes, and larger orchestrations! Miranda himself plays the lead character, in a setting that also features great vocal performances by Leslie Odom Jr, Anthony Ramos, Daveed Diggs, and others – all served up in this lavish package that contains all the musical performances from the original production. CD

Maybe the coolest album so far in the Red Hot series – even amidst the unique Sun Ra subgroup – as the album's the brainchild of Meshell Ndegeocello, and comes together with all the complex soulfulness of her own recent albums! Back in the 90s, Meshell was a great but more mainstream soul artist – and over the years, she's developed into a really fascinating talent – one able to reach out with a complex blend of jazz, funk, and soul elements – woven into patterns that are always very much her own – a musical legacy that the great Sun Ra might have appreciated! Ndegeocello leads a very diverse lineup here – playing bass and keyboards, and singing a bit – next to other players who include longtime Arkestra giant Marshall Allen on alto and EWI, plus Immanuel Wilkins on alto, Christopher Bruce on guitar, Darius Jones on saxes, Daniel Mintseris on keyboards, and Justin Hicks, Pink Siifu, Kenita Miller, Nio Levon, and Hanna Benn on vocals. The album channels Ra's spirit through territory that's very much Meshell's own – and titles include "Yet Differently Not Mars Hall", "El Soul The Companion Traveler", "The World Of Shadow", "Reproductive Manatees/Sunny Said Up", "Bedlam Blues", "#9 Venus The Living Myth", and "Departure Guide Of The 7 Sisters". LP, Vinyl record album

A record of incredible beauty – and hardly what you'd expect to hear from John Zorn! The set's a gentle batch of instrumentals – penned with almost an ear for the ancient, although delivered in ways that also owe something to contemporary acoustic recordings as well – a blend that would already be compelling enough on its own, but which is even more amazing coming from Zorn! There's no sax at all on the set – Zorn's role here is only as composer – and music is handled by the great trio of Bill Frisell on guitar, Kenny Wolleson on vibes and bells, and Carol Emanuel on harp – a musical blend that's filled with warmly ringing tones that are mighty nice. Titles include "The Middle Pillar", "The Book Of Pleasure", "The Invisibles", "Sign & Sigil", and "Diatesseron". CD

Maybe the coolest album so far in the Red Hot series – even amidst the unique Sun Ra subgroup – as the album's the brainchild of Meshell Ndegeocello, and comes together with all the complex soulfulness of her own recent albums! Back in the 90s, Meshell was a great but more mainstream soul artist – and over the years, she's developed into a really fascinating talent – one able to reach out with a complex blend of jazz, funk, and soul elements – woven into patterns that are always very much her own – a musical legacy that the great Sun Ra might have appreciated! Ndegeocello leads a very diverse lineup here – playing bass and keyboards, and singing a bit – next to other players who include longtime Arkestra giant Marshall Allen on alto and EWI, plus Immanuel Wilkins on alto, Christopher Bruce on guitar, Darius Jones on saxes, Daniel Mintseris on keyboards, and Justin Hicks, Pink Siifu, Kenita Miller, Nio Levon, and Hanna Benn on vocals. The album channels Ra's spirit through territory that's very much Meshell's own – and titles include "Yet Differently Not Mars Hall", "El Soul The Companion Traveler", "The World Of Shadow", "Reproductive Manatees/Sunny Said Up", "Bedlam Blues", "#9 Venus The Living Myth", and "Departure Guide Of The 7 Sisters". LP, Vinyl record album

A very heady combo from the French scene at the start of the 70s – one who seem to have really been inspired by the free jazz experiments of the BYG/Actuel scene right at the end of the 60s! The group's a septet, as you'd guess from their name – and they shift between unified expressions and very frenzied moments when each individual player is doing their own thing – yet somehow managing to make a sense of the sound as it rises together! Players include Sonny Grey on trumpet – a surprise if you know his straighter work from earlier years – plus William Treve on trombone, Jean-Francoise Sicard on alto sax and flute, Gerard Coppere on tenor and flute, Jean-Louis Mechali on vibes and drums, Francois Mechali on bass, and Manuel Villarroel on piano. Titles include "Parisionophobie", "Theme Z", "Relaxin", "Terronesia", "Brack", and "Amma". LP, Vinyl record album

The cover image should give you a great idea of what you're in for here – rare soul from the funky 45 underground of the late 60s/early 70s generation – presented in a wonderful selection of hand-picked cuts! Most of these numbers were recently reissued as limited run 7" singles by Acid Jazz and partner label Miles Away – but those singles, already expensive at the time, are mostly out of print and fetching money as if they were vintage releases – which makes this full-length set as much of a economic treasure as it is a musical one – a chance to enjoy these gems without breaking the bank! Titles include "Family Tree" by Family Tree with Sharon Brown, "We Got Good Lovin" by The Fantastics, "Time Is Long" by Rick Hickman, "Dancing Close" by Rita Joyce, "When You Lose Your Groove" by The Tom Emmanuel & Ron Experience, "Thank You Lord" by Lamont Butler, "Two Can Make It Together" by Tony & Tandy with Fleur De Lys, "This is The Beginning" by Leon's Creation, "Gonna Find A True Love" by Patterson Twins, and "One More Chance Lord" by Delores Fuller. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most obscure albums issued on the Palm Records label of French jazz genius Jef Gilson – a large ensemble session that ties together both spiritual and avant styles of the early 70s, and which really demonstrates the overlooked power of the French scene at the time! The group's led by Chilean pianist Manuel Villarroel which might explain the title reference – and the lineup is filled with a range of excellent and obscure French musicians – including Jean Quarlier, Hugh Levick, Jef Sicard, and Gerard Coppere on reeds – plus Alain Brunet and JF Cannape on trumpets, Alphonse Leboucher and Josef Traindl on trombones, and Keno Speller, Claudio Bertoni, and Ana-Maria Villarroel on percussion. The tunes are as loose and open as the free jazz material recorded by BYG/Actuel a few years before – but also have more inherent structure and soul, and a really great balance between the contributions of the individual members as they space out the sound nicely. Titles include "Bolerito", "Leyendas De Nahuelbuta", and "Quetzalcoatl". CD

One of the most obscure albums issued on the Palm Records label of French jazz genius Jef Gilson – a large ensemble session that ties together both spiritual and avant styles of the early 70s, and which really demonstrates the overlooked power of the French scene at the time! The group's led by Chilean pianist Manuel Villarroel which might explain the title reference – and the lineup is filled with a range of excellent and obscure French musicians – including Jean Quarlier, Hugh Levick, Jef Sicard, and Gerard Coppere on reeds – plus Alain Brunet and JF Cannape on trumpets, Alphonse Leboucher and Josef Traindl on trombones, and Keno Speller, Claudio Bertoni, and Ana-Maria Villarroel on percussion. The tunes are as loose and open as the free jazz material recorded by BYG/Actuel a few years before – but also have more inherent structure and soul, and a really great balance between the contributions of the individual members as they space out the sound nicely. Titles include "Bolerito", "Leyendas De Nahuelbuta", and "Quetzalcoatl". LP, Vinyl record album

A very heady combo from the French scene at the start of the 70s – one who seem to have really been inspired by the free jazz experiments of the BYG/Actuel scene right at the end of the 60s! The group's a septet, as you'd guess from their name – and they shift between unified expressions and very frenzied moments when each individual player is doing their own thing – yet somehow managing to make a sense of the sound as it rises together! Players include Sonny Grey on trumpet – a surprise if you know his straighter work from earlier years – plus William Treve on trombone, Jean-Francoise Sicard on alto sax and flute, Gerard Coppere on tenor and flute, Jean-Louis Mechali on vibes and drums, Francois Mechali on bass, and Manuel Villarroel on piano. Titles include "Parisionophobie", "Theme Z", "Relaxin", "Terronesia", "Brack", and "Amma". CD

Reedman Dayna Stephens is always great – and this time around, he's got a very strong musical partner in the presence of guitarist Emmanuel Michael – a younger musician, but one whose sound really shapes the sound of the set! Michael has this way of careful tones and rich colors – which he can use slowly next to a mellow bassline, but also unfurl in a bolder way once things really take off – and it's clear that Stephens really values his contributions to the record, as he gets a lot of space to shine. The mixture of acoustic reeds and electric tones is great – although Dayna also plays some EWI on the album too – in a group that also includes some superb work from Kanoa Mendenhall on bass, and very thoughtful work on drums from Jongkuk Kim. Jeremy Pelt plays guest trumpet on a version of Wayne Shorter's "ESP" – and other tunes include "The Nomad", "Scrutiny", "Back Home", "Placate", "TE", and "Bubbly". CD

An amazing compilation – and a really groundbreaking attempt to get to the true heart of new age music – that initial moment of meditative sound on records from the American underground – very pure in both spirit and execution before the whole thing got watered down and commercial! The massive set digs way deeper than we might have expected – way past the Bay Area indies who rose the genre to prominence, to a whole host of tiny US labels from the postwar years onward – home to individual players with a very personal sound – on instruments that range from conventional piano to global sources, electronics, and even some items of their own invention. The choice of tracks is perfect – really getting back to the basics of the genre in a great way – and the music is very laidback and meditative, with ethereal qualities that are completely sublime – especially in the context of the great packaging and notes of the whole collection. Many tracks here were never issued on CD – and many were only from rare tapes, too – and the double-length batch of work is one of the most unique musical journeys we've ever taken! Titles include "Lifting Off" by Joanna Brouk, "Arabian Fantasy" by Daniel Emmanuel, "Formentera Sunset Clouds" by Iasos, "Seventh Chakra Keynote B" by Steven Halpern, "Om Mani Padme Hum" by Constance Derby, "Unicorns In Paradise" by Laraaji, "Blue Spirals" by Daniel Kobialka, "As The Earth Kissed The Moon" by Michael Stearns, and "Waterfall Winds" by Alice Damon. CD