We really love the writing of Federico Bonifazi – as he often has a way of making a tune sound a lot richer than the sum of its parts – which is definitely the case here in a quartet lineup that includes Bonifazi on piano, Tolga Bilgin on trumpet, Furio DiCastri on bass, and Roberto Batto on drums! Federico plays in that richness of sound that first seemed to flow from the Italian scene as the 70s moved into the 80s – a mode that learned all the lessons of modern jazz, but used them to increase a sense of humanity and color in the music – which is definitely the case here – as each tune seems to bubble over with new energy and life. Titles include "Monkeys", "Song For A Brother", "Night Of Peace", "Soul Music", and "Introverted Paranoid". CD

A trio of albums from this fantastic group – plus bonus tracks too! First up is Hit After Hit – a tremendous album that has The Chosen Few stepping out to match some of the best American harmony soul groups of the early 70s – vocals you might hear from The Moments or Delfonics, but tuned towards rhythms that are much more Kingston than New Jersey or Philly! Yet there's also a few funky moments too – a rare element that really shows how the group could change things up from some of their Jamaican contemporaries, on titles that include a version of the "Shaft" theme, plus "You're A Big Girl Now", "Everybody Plays The Fool", "Melting Pot", "Ebony Eyes", "Do Your Thing", "People Make The World Go Round", and "I'm Sorry". Everybody Plays The Fool is a record that's as much an early 70s reggae set as it is a strong bit of east coast soul – Kingston rhythms mixed with fantastic harmonies that maybe echo more of the East Coast group soul modes than some of the earlier Jamaican groups of the 60s! The choice of material also echoes that quality too – as The Chosen Few take on older soul classics, remade for a reggae market – mixed with a few original tracks of their own. Titles include "My Thing", "Reggae Stuff", "I Second That Emotion", "Make Way For The Young Folks", "La La At The End", and "Tears Of A Clown". Chosen Few In Miami is legendary soul from The Chosen Few – a group who were as much a 70s soul outfit as they were a reggae group! This album's the group's greatest – recorded in Miami with classic TK funky production from King Sporty, who also seems to be backing them up on most of the set. There's certainly a reggae feel to the album at times, but the group's harmonies are much more in an American soul vein – and Sporty's super-dope backings use plenty of wah-wah guitar, electric keys, and that burning, bubbling Miami soul groove that made so many of the TK albums from the time so great! Titles include the stone funky classic "Funky Buttercup", plus "Wandering", "Candy I'm So Doggone Mixed Up", "Why Can't We Live", "Drift Away", "I Am A Man", and "Hit Me With Music". 2CD set also features 11 more bonus tracks – including related work by Lloyd Charmers Selection! CD

An overlooked album from pianist Eddie Costa – recorded in the late 50s for Dot Records! The set's a bit different than some of Costa's other material from the time – in that has Eddie playing with a much heavier touch on the left hand – inflecting the keys in a bluesier mode, but also working here with some modern touches from drummer Paul Motian, who's in the trio along with bassist Wendell Marshall. Costa's tone has changed decidedly for the record – and he's often got a loudly flowing approach to the keys that echoes later work by McCoy Tyner, Steve Kuhn, and other key 60s innovators. And even though tracks are again mostly familiar numbers, Costa's really pushing them to new levels – pushing, pausing, and twisting them into unusual time structures and melodic progressions. Titles include "House Of Blue Lights", "Diane", "When I Fall In Love", "My Funny Valentine", "What's To Ya", and "Anabelle". CD

A warm jazzy gem from 70s Brazil – a set that's filled with incredible keyboard work from Guilherme Coutinho, who handles organ, electric piano, and other keyboards too – mixed with vocal modes that often have the best sorts of jazzy touches from the scene at the time! The blend is the sort you'd find on some of your favorites from back in the day – such as work by Joao Donato or Marcos Valle – but there are moments that are also more personal and unique, including a few spots where Coutinho gets all cool and moogy with the keys! Titles include "Fuga", "Flauta De Bambu", "Rio Corrente", "Foicera", "As Ferras", "Atalaia", and "Tema Pro Alvarito". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Elgeti on tenor sax, flute & bass clarinet, Nils Raae on keys, Anders Krogh Fjeldsted on bass, Henrik Holst Hansen on drums, and Sidsel Storm on vocals. CD

Red Garland revisited, and rediscovered – as the material here was recorded by Prestige in the late 50s, but not issued until a dozen years later – long after Garland's best success for the label! But the passage of time doesn't dim the genius here at all – and if anything, it's our guess that Prestige simply held back back in the day because there was already so much Garland on the market, they wanted to wait a bit, so as not to cloud up the waters. Their wait is our gain, as the record comes off with a freshness that's partially from its less iconic status in the Garland canon, but also from it's always-great sense of soulful and lyrical interplay on the keys! Also noteworthy is Kenny Burrell – who makes an appearance here on 2 tracks, augmenting the trio of Garland, Paul Chambers, and Art Taylor with his guitar. Titles include "Four", "Billy Boy", "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", "Walkin", and "Hey Now". CD

An unusual 60s album that tries to link piano legend Erroll Garner to the crowds on the college campuses of the time – but with a vibe that's very different than most of the modern jazz sets that were usually issued in a similar format! This set was recorded mostly at Purdue University, and has Garner playing in a mode that's completely classic, and completely on fire – romping through tunes with this amazing deftness, alongside help from bassist Eddie Calhoun and drummer Kelly Martin. As with most Garner albums of this time, the pianist could almost be solo – as Erroll's strength and vitality on the keys is amazing – and the piano sound really seems to lead the bass and drums – not the other way around. Titles include "Mambo Erroll", "Stardust", "These Foolish Things", "My Funny Valentine", "La Petite Mambo", and "In The Still Of The Night". CD

A gem of a live set from Dexter Gordon – one that features a nice change from some of his more familiar records of the time! The set features Gordon recording away from Cafe Montmartre, with an excellent Dutch rhythm trio – the fantastic Rob Agerbeek on piano, plus Henk Haverhoek on bass, and Erik Ineke on drums – a group who groove very differently, and really take a lot of cues from Agerbeek's action on the keys – as he romps along with a very soulful vibe, which seems to inspire new energy in Gordon's phrasing as well. The tracks are long, but full of imagination – and titles include "Didn't We", "Stablemates", "Some Other Blues", and "You Stepped Out Of A Dream". CD

A gem of a live set from Dexter Gordon – one that features a nice change from some of his more familiar records of the time! The set features Gordon recording away from Cafe Montmartre, with an excellent Dutch rhythm trio – the fantastic Rob Agerbeek on piano, plus Henk Haverhoek on bass, and Erik Ineke on drums – a group who groove very differently, and really take a lot of cues from Agerbeek's action on the keys – as he romps along with a very soulful vibe, which seems to inspire new energy in Gordon's phrasing as well. Titles on this second volume are nice and long – and include "All The Things You Are", "Shadow Of Your Smile", "Watermelon Man", and "Jelly Jelly" – a tune that Dex liked to cut often for European dates! CD

We really love the music of Theo Hill more and more with each new record – and here, the pianist is working in a quartet with Joel Ross on vibe – a player who makes a perfect partner for his music! Both Hill and Ross have this open sense of sound and timing – often using the spaces between the notes as much as the notes themselves – even when things are moving at a more full-on level, which they do often – thanks to contributions from Rashaan Carter on bass and Mark Whitfield on drums! Yet it's the sonic interplay between the vibes and keys that really blow us away – maybe especially at the few points when Theo picks up Fender Rhodes, and balances out the record with even more warmth next to his acoustic tracks. Titles include a version of the Stevie Wonder classic "Superwoman" – plus originals "Guardians Of Light", "Afrofuturism", "Scene Changes", "Mantra", "Swell", and "Song Of The Wind". CD

Groove Holmes runs through a set of famous 70s film themes – or tunes associated with films – working here with larger backing arrangements from Mario Sprouse! The style is smooth, but still mighty nice – as the tunes are long, and there's lots of solo space for Groove (who plays a bit of mini Korg on the set next to his organ!) and flautist Karen Josephs, who also gets a lot of solos space too. Sprouse plays all the rest of the keys – Fender Rhodes, Korg, and piano – and the full feel of the tunes has a very soundtracky sound, more in a cop show mode! Titles include "Gonna Fly Now", "Carry On My Wayward Son", "Star Wars", and "Close Encounters". CD also features a bonus unreleased version of "You Light Up My Life". CD

Guitarist Vic Juris has always been a master of tone – a player who takes the chromatic modes of the postwar jazz years on the instrument forward to newer generations – always leaving his own touch on the strings with a deeply personal approach! This set's a nice balance of two different modes – as there's some very mellow moments that feel more acoustic than electric – balanced with those that have that richer tone that we always love from Juris – set up nicely in a group that also features Gary Versace on piano, Jay Anderson on bass, and John Riley on drums. Juris contributed a few originals to the set – "Long Story", "Lost Keys", and "Robin's Hood" – and other titles include "Avenue", "The Glide", "Moon & Sand", and "Everything I Love". CD

The music of Duke Ellington was famously scored for his orchestra – but the material also provides a surprisingly great showcase for the talents of a smaller unit, too – especially when in the hands of a duo like this! Mulgrew Miller plays piano and Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen plays bass – and the intimacy of the album reminds us of some of the best-recorded Pablo sessions of the 70s – particularly those that sought to re-work classic territory in a more contemporary vibe – which Miller definitely does with his superbly fluid touch on the keys! Pedersen is great, too – very well placed in the mix, and working with that sort of tone and soundshaping that always made him one of the all-time greats on the continent. Titles include "Caravan", "Solitude", "Just Squeeze Me", "Come Sunday", and "Pitter Patter Panther" – plus the Miller original "Blues In The PMs". CD

Just a few short years after Saafir's debut as a solo act – and a set that marks a really strong maturation in his sound! There's a sense of layering in both the production and the vocals that packs a punch from the very first track, and which holds strong throughout – with studio work from JZ, Porch Monkeys, J Groove, and Shock G. Titles include "I'm Saafir (The Saucee Nomad)", "JZ Theme", "Stay Hi", "Goin Home", "Major Knock", "Broad Minded", "Sendin U Signals", and "Street Scene". LP also adds in the tracks "Just Ridin" and "In A Vest". LP, Vinyl record album

It's been a few years since we last heard from these guys – and in that time, they've really grown a lot! The sound of this set is head and shoulders above their already-great album One – warmer, jazzier, and done with a richer instrumental vibe that we never would have expected! There's still plenty of beats and keys in the mix – but the album also features some really strong vocals on a number of cuts – plus moody trumpet lines on some of the best instrumentals. The group are fast emerging as one of the most fully-formed on the growing Danish scene – as you'll hear on titles that include "A Smell Of Tokyo", "I'm In Heaven", "Jacob's Ladder", "Greyhound", "The Day You Left Me", and "Twisted Forms". CD

The Mirkwood in the title is a reference to Middle Earth – maybe a nicely fantastic tag to mark the special quality of this solo album from pianist Kenny Werner – although the proceedings are much more personal than epic – and very much in the best spirit of the Werner's fluid lyricism on the keys! The tracks are all originals, and hold us completely rapt from the very first note – almost painterly in approach, with an open sense of structure, but never too much freedom either – that special place that Werner could sometimes hold as a musician who came into the world after barriers were knocked down, but who also knew when to put them up at just the right points. Titles include "RCs", "Perilous Journey", "Bell's Bounce", "The Hobbit", "Conquest", and "The Ooold Ranger". CD

The first solo project from Kamaal Williams – and a wonderfully spiritual set that has the keyboardist really blowing us away with his talents! Williams plays plenty of Fender Rhodes on the set, mostly in a trio setting, but one that's far from standard jazz – as the rhythms often reflect his roots in hip hop, although played live by drummer Joshua McKenzie and bassist Pete Martin – who also have the ability to send Williams soaring to the skies with this magnificent spiritual energy! Consider this set to maybe be a Lonnie Liston Smith album for the hip hop generation – and praise Allah for Kamaal's mighty talents on the keys, and the sharp production skills of Henry Wu. Titles include "Salaam", "The Return", "High Roller", "Situations", "Rhythm Commission", "Catch The Loop", "Medina", and "LDN Shuffle". CD

The first solo project from Kamaal Williams – and a wonderfully spiritual set that has the keyboardist really blowing us away with his talents! Williams plays plenty of Fender Rhodes on the set, mostly in a trio setting, but one that's far from standard jazz – as the rhythms often reflect his roots in hip hop, although played live by drummer Joshua McKenzie and bassist Pete Martin – who also have the ability to send Williams soaring to the skies with this magnificent spiritual energy! Consider this set to maybe be a Lonnie Liston Smith album for the hip hop generation – and praise Allah for Kamaal's mighty talents on the keys, and the sharp production skills of Henry Wu. Titles include "Salaam", "The Return", "High Roller", "Situations", "Rhythm Commission", "Catch The Loop", "Medina", and "LDN Shuffle". LP, Vinyl record album

Nigerian funk & boogie numbers from the late 70s & early 80s – post Afrobeat and post disco material from the prosperous, post dictatorship years – funk, soul and disco infused stormers from Mixed Grill, Bayo Damnazio, The Stormmers, Joe Maks, Segun Robert, Martha Ulaeto, Honey Machine, Emma Baloka and more! Joyous, infections grooves with modern production and masterful musicianship – be it tight jazz funk, dancefloor soul, or synth & keys flavored boogie. The set has English vocals throughout, and the titles include "A Brand New Wayo" by Mixed Grill, "Show Me Your Backside" by Kris Okotie, "Boys And Girls" by Joe Moks, "Music Alone" by Martha Ulaeto, "Slow Down" by Amas, "Funky Situation" by Chris Mba, "Pleasure" by Honey Machine, "Love Or Money" by The Stormmers, "Let's Love Each Other" by Emma Baloka and more. CD

A pair of sweet mix CDs from Joe Claussell and Black Coffee – each done in support of Djoon, the multi-cultural nightspot in Paris! Joe Claussell brings out all his best tones here – those cosmic elements mixed with earthier elements that have always kept his music grounded so firmly in tradition – a future vision, but one with a keen ear for the past as well – spun out over a mix that includes "Cross Roads" by Ron Trent, "Elektric Afrika (Joe Claussell rmx)" by The Bayara Citizens, "1960 What (Opolopo kick and bass rerub)" by Gregory Porter, "With More Love" by Joaquin Joe Claussell, "Once Again (morning factory edit)" by Reggie Dokes, and "Old Landmark (Joe Claussell's mission for today voc)" by The Djoon Experience with Kenny Bobien. CD 2 features Black Coffee working in slightly similar territory, but with a bit more of an edge, too – some harder beats and faster rhythms, but tracks that are still graced with plenty of warm touches too. Titles include "You & Me" by Keys Snow, "Surroundings" by Natz Efx, "Love Song 28" by Jullian Gomes, "All Alone" by Tumelo with Vikter Duplaix, "People With Bullets" by G Family, "We Are One" by Black Coffee with Hugh Masekela, "Avenue Of Dreams" by Sai & Ribatone, and "Get Over It (Sun-el Sithole rmx)" by Bucie. CD

Badbadnotgood have always been pretty damn great, actually – and never better than on album IV – a remarkable step forward for the group! As ever, they take inspiration from some of the best prog, jazz, funk (and proggy jazz funk...they blend) of the 70s and beyond, but weave it into fairly distinctive and genuinely fun modern sound. It's built to last, too –we're sure be able to come back to their work in a couple decades and it'll still work! IV finds them with the confidence to trade in some fairly subtle, smoothed out moments between to more boisterous ones, and they're more dexterous in the instrumentation – especially in the horns, keys and percussion – but some great vibes, strings, flute and more when the mood calls. Includes the great vocal track "Time Moves Slow" with Sam Herring of Future Islands, "And That, Too", "Lavender", "IV", "Chompy's Paradise", "Structure No. 3", "Cashmere", "Hyssops Of Love" and more. CD

Badbadnotgood have always been pretty damn great, actually – and never better than on album IV – a remarkable step forward for the group! As ever, they take inspiration from some of the best prog, jazz, funk (and proggy jazz funk...they blend) of the 70s and beyond, but weave it into fairly distinctive and genuinely fun modern sound. It's built to last, too –we're sure be able to come back to their work in a couple decades and it'll still work! IV finds them with the confidence to trade in some fairly subtle, smoothed out moments between to more boisterous ones, and they're more dexterous in the instrumentation – especially in the horns, keys and percussion – but some great vibes, strings, flute and more when the mood calls. Includes the great vocal track "Time Moves Slow" with Sam Herring of Future Islands, "And That, Too", "Lavender", "IV", "Chompy's Paradise", "Structure No. 3", "Cashmere", "Hyssops Of Love" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderfully-named session – as Charles Earland plays here with an intensity that's undeniable! The album marks a key shift for Earland – one away from the more standard soul jazz mode, into a realm of looser, freer rhythms that really take off from the start – knowing no end on the longer tunes, and really letting Charles run to the skies on the keys of the Hammond! The group on the set is a larger than usual one – with a trumpet section that includes Lee Morgan and Virgil Jones; reed players that include Billy Harper and Hubert Laws; and a double-edged rhythm line forged through the drums of Billy Cobham and the conga of Sonny Morgan – often working alongside each other to really widen the groove! The sound is remarkable – tight, but never slick – and in a sophisticated groove that could hardly be hinted at from Earland's earlier work. All tracks are long, and titles include "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", "Morgan", "Cause I Love Her", and "Happy Cause I'm Going Home". CD also brings in 2 more bonus tracks – both in a similar mode, from the album Charles III – "Lowdown" and "Speedball". CD

A stunning set – one that brings together two rare albums from this legendary group – plus essential rare material too! First up is Musik Von Harmonia – an electronic prog classic – served up by the trio of Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius from Cluster, plus Michael Rother of Neu! The tracks here have a definite Cluster-like sound – instrumentals that use organ, keyboards, guitar, and electronic percussion to build up some wonderfully analogue-styled grooves – often quite slow at first, but filling up nicely as added elements come into the mix! The record's easily one of our favorites from the time, and has a much darker sound than later Moebius/Roedelius work. Titles include "Watussi", "Ohrwurm", "Ahoi", "Dino", "Sonneschein", "Sehr Kosmisch", "Veterano" and "Hausmusik". Next is Deluxe – a brilliant little album from Harmonia – quite possibly their greatest record ever, and a set that's wonderfully balanced between progressive and electronic modes! There's a live drummer on the set – Mani Neumeier of Guru Guru – and although he still plays with a spare, circular mode that recalls the Harmonia rhythms of before, there's also a slight bit of propulsion here too – one that pushes the keyboards and guitars alongside nicely. There's also some spacey vocals at times, which when coupled with these other elements, gives the record a sound that's a bit like early Neu – although still a bit more electronic overall. A great bridge between two worlds of music in the German scene of the 70s – with tracks that include "Gollum", "Monza", "Notre Dame", "Deluxe", "Walky Talky", and "Kekse". Next is Live 1974 – a hypnotic live set from Harmonia – and a pretty incredible sonic document of the hugely important group made of Krautrock lynchpins Michael Rother, Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Mobius! The gig was one from March of 1974 in Griessem, Germany and it finds the trio kicking out the trance inducing ambience, lumbering 70s style electronic manipulation, and improvisational interplay without ever sacrificing a heady groove! The group was hardly content to simply play the tracks from their couple of LPs – taking a much more freeform, exploratory and beautifully languorous approach to their sound – a pretty raw, but no less beautiful swirl of electronic percussion, keys, synthesizer and ambient guitar. Titles include "Shaumberg", "Veteranissimo", "Arabesque", "Holta-Polta" and "Ueber Ottenstein". Tracks & Traces is textural mood pieces and quite beautiful material from Harmonia and Eno – beautiful mid 70s recordings and a few unreleased gems – wholly wonderful material that weirdly didn't see a release for about 30 years! Some of the tunes are sparely furnished, kind of pastoral bits of echoing atmospherics and trance inducing sound loops, others with more jarring bits of dissonant tension, and all of it holding up proudly with the better known work of the sound masters involved, together and separately! Includes "Welcome", "Atmosphere", "Camos Comapneros", "By The Riverside", "Weird Dream", "Almost", "When Shade Was Born". "Aubade" and more. Last up is Documents 1975 – four unreleased tracks all recorded during the pivotal year of 1975, when the group was really pushing its sound a bit, and helping find a new path forward for the energy of Krautrock! As with other Harmonia work, there's a sense of layering and modal progression that drives most of these numbers forward – but there's also a bit of compactness, too – which has some of the most important musical elements playing a stronger role more quickly – showing both the direction that group members Dieter Moebius and Hans Joachim Roedelius would take in later work, and the influence that Harmonia would have on other European acts through the post-punk years. Mani Neumeir of Guru Guru joins in on drums on two tracks – and along with Michael Rother, the varied instrumentation from Moebius and Roedelius includes lots of keyboards, electronics, guitar, Fender Rhodes, and even a nagoja harp! Titles include "Tki Taka At Harmonia Studio In Forst", "Proto Deluxe At Harmonia Studio In Forst", "Live At Fabrik In Hamburg", and "Live At Onkel Po In Hamburg". CD

Groove Holmes runs through a set of famous 70s film themes – or tunes associated with films – working here with larger backing arrangements from Mario Sprouse! The style is smooth, but still mighty nice – as the tunes are long, and there's lots of solo space for Groove (who plays a bit of mini Korg on the set next to his organ!) and flautist Karen Josephs, who also gets a lot of solos space too. Sprouse plays all the rest of the keys – Fender Rhodes, Korg, and piano – and the full feel of the tunes has a very soundtracky sound, more in a cop show mode! Titles include "Gonna Fly Now", "Carry On My Wayward Son", "Star Wars", and "Close Encounters". CD

Jazz funk genius from Freddie Hubbard in the mid 70s! Gleam was a Japanese-only double album from the jazz giant in its original release – mighty funky at times, too – right up there with some of the best Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock Japanese sets from the 70s! It's a live set captured in March of '75 at Tokyo's Yubin Chokin Hall – long numbers played by a group that includes Freddie on trumpet, Carl Randall on tenor and flute, George Cables on electric piano, Henry Franklin on bass, Carl Burnett on drums, and Buck Clark on percussion! Each player has plenty of space to groove, and it's very well captured – you can hear the most expressive solos and the most subtle nuances. Some great solos by Freddie and the rest of the players – breathless tenor & flute by Randall, keys by Cables that are jazz funk perfection and interplay between Burnett's drums and Clark's congas & percussion that's somehow tense and comfortable at the same time. The shortest number in the set runs more than the 7 minutes and the longest is more than 20 minutes – and none is one second shorter than necessary, actually leaving us pining for more – making it all the more vital in the double album format. Released on 2CDs here! How this great album has been so hard to find over the years is a mystery. Titles include "Kuntu", "Spirits Of Trane", an amazing cover of Stevie Wonder's "Too High", "Midnight At The Oasis", "Ebony Moonbeams", and "Put It In The Pocket". CD

Sweet electric keys from the great Bob James – a record that's a bit smoother than some of his first few classics for CTI, but still plenty darn nice! The set's got Bob working with a range of key fusion and studio players who include Steve Gadd, Earl Klugh, Eric Gale, Hubert Laws, Mongo Santamaria, and Idris Muhammad – all coming together into the compressed 70s Bob James approach to funky jazz – a sound that's possibly best summed up in the album's extended take on "Angela" (also known as "Theme To Taxi"), done here with a slightly funky undercurrent that's totally great. Other tracks are a bit brighter and warmer – but still wonderfully soulful – and James has a way of hitting the keys on the Fender Rhodes that makes them "plunk" with this sweet sweet tone that's unlike anybody else on the instrument! Titles include "Sun Runner", "Angela (Theme From Taxi)", "Touchdown", "I Want To Thank You", and "Caribbean Nights". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic – and one of the wilder, more electronic albums from Sun Ra – a set that has him playing on "two moog synthesizers" – which both sound as if they're going at the same time! The rest of the group is quite small – with only John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, and Danny Davis – so Ra really center stage on the keys, and spends most of the record making some really weird and wonderful sounds on the moog – showing the world that, although the instrument was already gaining popularity in the hands of others, nobody could handle the futuristic sound machine like the spaceman himself! The mix of moog with avant jazz solos is completely sublime – and titles include "Intergalactic II", "To Nature's God", and "The Code Of Interdependence". CD features some great bonus tracks – the 17 minute "Space Probe", plus some alternates and odd takes too! CD

Dexter Wansel keeps up the space jazz funk groove that was begun on Life On Mars – with those fat, thumping bass lines, elastic lead guitar, atmospheric soul vocals and loads and loads of keys – spatial work on Rhodes, Moogs and ARPs! It's all done in a funky style not always heard on Philly! Dexter arranged and produced just about everything – and cuts include "All Night Long", "Voyager", "Solutions", "Latin Love", and "Time Is The Teacher". LP, Vinyl record album

A contemporary set, but one that sparkles with all the best brilliance of the 70s scene in Brazil – and that includes such heady company as Marcos Valle, Azymuth, and Joao Donato! As with all those artists at the time, Lucas Arruda has a groove that's strongly based on Fender Rhodes – warm keys that are underscored with some great acoustic percussion that gives the whole thing an earthy core at the bottom, and a vibe that's quite different than any American fusion of the time! The music is completely sublime throughout – very jazzy in its inflections, but also with a more freewheeling approach – as you'd hear on classic keys from Jose Roberto Bertrami. The set's got a bit of vocals, but really focuses on the keyboards – and titles include "Physis", "Rio Afternoon", "Batuque", "Alma Nova", "Sambadi", "Carnival", and a sweet cover of "Who's That Lady". CD

A tremendous achievement in jazz from Daniel Bingert – the kind of record that would be in everyone's collection, had it been issued back in 1959 – but a set that's every bit as essential all these decades later! Binger's the composer, and has kind of a postwar modern sensibility about his music – that mix of core elements and individual voices that made Mingus so great when he was at his best – except Daniel's also got more of an ear for modal rhythms, of the sort that remind us a bit of the inspirations on the European scene during the Saba/MPS generation, taken forward with some of the fresher, completely visionary ideas that we've always loved from the Moserobie label! The group's a sextet with some key Moserobie members in the line up – Jonas Kullhammar on alto, Karl Olandersson on trumpet, Per Texas Johansson on tenor, Charlie Malmberg on piano, Moussa Fadera on drums, and the mighty Torbjorn Zetterberg on bass – whose energy alone is enough to guide the album. Titles include "City Sirens", "Cinco De Mayo", "Henry & Bernard", "Notredame", "Lost Keys", "Gil Bill", and "Kaya Boca". CD

One of the most sophisticated albums that Bobby Hutcherson recorded with reedman Harold Land – a very hip session that features the arrangements of piano player Todd Cochran – also known as Bayete for a pair of early 70s albums on Prestige! The sound here is more farther-reaching than before for the team of Hutcherson and Land – a deepening of the soulful spirits first cooked up on their earlier collaborations, stretched out to farther-reaching territory in the hands of Cochran's arrangements and compositions. The group's got a full sound too – with trumpet and flugelhorn from Oscar Brashear, trombone from George Bohannon, and added reeds from players who include Ernie Watts, Fred Jackson, and Charles Owens. Harold Land plays tenor and flute, Hutcherson vibes and marimba, and Cochran is on acoustic piano throughout – but the record also features some electric keys from William Henderson. Titles include the 3 part suite "At The Source", plus "Many Thousands Gone", "Clockwork Of The Spirits", and "Mtume". CD also features 3 great bonus tracks – the funky 17 minute "Hey Harold", plus "Jonathan" and "Togo Land". CD

A cool 70s album from the Modern Jazz Quartet – and one that has John Lewis playing a bit of electric piano, in addition to his usual acoustic keys! At some level, it almost feels like the group's working off the lessons learned during their Apple Records years – and are also picking up some elements of Milt Jackson's work on other projects in the late 60s – as the record has a soulful groove you might not normally expect from the MJQ, and less of the more academic tones that had marked some of their earlier 60s recordings for Atlantic. Tunes are really nicely focused, but still have that strong sense of space and sound that's the Lewis' hallmark – and Jackson's nicely-pointed vibes sound really great next to Lewis' keys, whether acoustic or electric. Titles include "The Legendary Profile", "Valeria", "Misty Roses", "The Martyr", and "What Now My Love". CD

A stone classic – and one of the wilder, more electronic albums from Sun Ra – a set that has him playing on "two moog synthesizers" – which both sound as if they're going at the same time! The rest of the group is quite small – with only John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, and Danny Davis – so Ra really center stage on the keys, and spends most of the record making some really weird and wonderful sounds on the moog – showing the world that, although the instrument was already gaining popularity in the hands of others, nobody could handle the futuristic sound machine like the spaceman himself! The mix of moog with avant jazz solos is completely sublime – and titles include "Intergalactic II", "To Nature's God", "The Code Of Interdependence", "The Perfect Man (complete tracking session)", and the 17 minute "Space Probe"! LP, Vinyl record album

A really unusual idea for a compilation – but the sort that we've really come to appreciate from the folks at Numero Group! The package traces a shift in American independent jazz during the 80s – following the sorts of players who might have played spiritual jazz or rock-oriented fusion in the 70s, as they pick up new instruments, try out new studio techniques, and work in other modes that are surprisingly soulful overall! You might think of the set as the bridge between 70s jazz and smooth jazz – and there's a a few players here you'll recognize from the previous decade – yet the songs are nearly as slick or commercial as mainstream smooth jazz, and maybe stand as a nice indie antidote to the sounds coming from the GRP label during the decade. Titles include "Tropical Chill" by Plunky, "Maria's First" by Calvin Keys, "Waiting For You" by Frank Potenza, "Born With A Desire" by Tony Palkovic, "Sidetrack" by James Dallas, "6295 SW Fisher" by George Shaw, "Sunbeam" by Larry Bright, and "Orphans" by Michael Hayes. LP, Vinyl record album

The mighty Don Bryant never got the chance to record much back in the day – save for one fantastic album and a set of singles on Hi Records – but he's really returned to form lately, and gets the chance to show the world his Memphis soul pedigree in all of its glory! Scott Bomar produced the set, plays bass, and gives the record some of those funky soul styles that made his work with the Bo-Keys so great – in a group that's heavy on organ lines and riffing guitars, and which also features backup singers behind Don on a number of the tracks. Yet the whole thing is clearly Don's showcase – with great vocals on titles that include "Your Love Is Too Late", "99 Pounds", "Is It Over", "Your Love Is To Blame", "I'll Go Crazy", "Cracked Up Over You", and "Walk All Over God's Heaven". CD

The mighty Don Bryant never got the chance to record much back in the day – save for one fantastic album and a set of singles on Hi Records – but he's really returned to form lately, and gets the chance to show the world his Memphis soul pedigree in all of its glory! Scott Bomar produced the set, plays bass, and gives the record some of those funky soul styles that made his work with the Bo-Keys so great – in a group that's heavy on organ lines and riffing guitars, and which also features backup singers behind Don on a number of the tracks. Yet the whole thing is clearly Don's showcase – with great vocals on titles that include "Your Love Is Too Late", "99 Pounds", "Is It Over", "Your Love Is To Blame", "I'll Go Crazy", "Cracked Up Over You", and "Walk All Over God's Heaven". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little group – and one with a wonderful talent for bringing together soulful styles in a really catchy way – using bits of funk, ala the Brand New Heavies – but also not afraid to go for a tighter hook, too – in a way that reminds of some of our favorite Japanese-only recordings by Swing Out Sister or Workshy! As with both of those groups, there's a great female singer in the lead – the lovely Maria Enrica Lotesoriere, who also wrote all the lyrics – and arrangements are handled by keyboardist Pippo Lombardo, whose sweet keys really hold together the whole thing nicely. Titles include "Colorado Sky", "Another Smile", "One More Chance", "In The City", "What I Deserve", and "Existence". CD

The gentle side of John Zorn – a seasonal work by his, well. . .dreamy Dreamers project – a genuinely charming, knowingly (but not smug, or winkingly) innocent Christmas album! A Dreamers Christmas features innovative, contemporary arrangements classic Christmas music – and a couple of sweet Zorn originals. Guitars by Marc Ribot, vibes, chimes & glockenspiel by Kenny Wolleson, drums by Joey Baron, keys by Jamie Saft, acoustic & electric bass by Trevor Dunn and percussion by Cyro Baptista – plus guest vocals by Mike Patton. Includes Zorn's "Magical Sleigh Ride" and "Santa's Workshop" plus "Winter Wonderland", "Snowfall", "Christmas Time Is Here", "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", "Let It Snow", "The Christmas Song" and more. CD

Contemporary big band including Tamara Schultz, Dave Pietro, Larry Panella, Pete Whitman, and Pete Petersen on saxophones; Jay Saunders, Tom Frye, Ronnie Saucier, Marc Prather, and David Alexander on trumpets; Mike Burgess, Mike Bogle, Scott Whitfield, Bryan Brink, on trombones; Eric Swanson on bass, Gary Carper on tuba, Bryan Piper on keys, Kim Platko on guitar, Lou Fischer on bass, and Michael John Drake on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

A real standout set from pianist Stanley Cowell – one of his few dates in recent years to feature more than a trio lineup – and recorded in a live setting that really seems to ignite some old school fires in Stanley's music! Make no mistake – Cowell is always wonderful – but there's a nice edge to his compositions here, as Stanley hits a bit harder, and drives things along to match the energy from the trumpet of Freddie Hendrix and alto of Bruce Williams – who play in a lineup that also features Tom DiCarlo on bass and Vince Ector on drums. Sunny Cowell performs a beautiful vocal version of the classic "Equipoise" – maybe worth the price of the album alone – and other tracks include "Cal Massey", "Montage For Toledo", "This Life", "Banana Pudding", "No Illusions", and a take on the Max Roach tune "It's Time". CD

A stone classic on the Black Jazz label – and one of the most unique guitar albums ever! We're not sure what the title meant originally – but over the past few decades, it's come to stand for some heavy heavy guitar work from the legendary Calvin Keys – a record that's really stood the test of the time, continually rediscovered by new generations of diggers! Keys has a very unique touch here – a mix of open chords and tighter lines – beautifully wrapping up a history of soul jazz guitar that stretches back to the early 60s – then propelling things forward with loads of righteous 70s spiritual jazz energy. The set also features loads of sweet keyboards – played by Larry Nash, and mixed with flute and "hose-a-phone" from Owen Marshall – set to grooves from Lawrence Evans on bass and Bob Braye on drums. A stone classic from the Black Jazz label – and titles include "Gee Gee", "BK.", "BE", and "Shawn-Neeq". CD

A stone classic on the Black Jazz label – and one of the most unique guitar albums ever! We're not sure what the title meant originally – but over the past few decades, it's come to stand for some heavy heavy guitar work from the legendary Calvin Keys – a record that's really stood the test of the time, continually rediscovered by new generations of diggers! Keys has a very unique touch here – a mix of open chords and tighter lines – beautifully wrapping up a history of soul jazz guitar that stretches back to the early 60s – then propelling things forward with loads of righteous 70s spiritual jazz energy. The set also features loads of sweet keyboards – played by Larry Nash, and mixed with flute and "hose-a-phone" from Owen Marshall – set to grooves from Lawrence Evans on bass and Bob Braye on drums. A stone classic from the Black Jazz label – and titles include "Gee Gee", "BK.", "BE", and "Shawn-Neeq". LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant new vision for the legendary Banda Black Rio – the pioneering samba, soul and funk combo that broke so much ground in the 70s and remain vital to this day – led here by William Magalhaes, in a mode that celebrates decades of the best Brazilian music, while fearlessly moving it forward! William's father Oberdan Magalhaes was a driving force behind the original Banda Black Rio, and we couldn't really imagine a more appropriate new vision for the group than his son's. William wrote or co-wrote each track and he sings, plays keys and synth, guitar, bass, drums and more. The expansive group brings a depth of percussion, horns, strings and vocals – delivering timeless and dexterous jazzy Brazilian funk and dancefloor soul. The guest list includes classic and contemporary greats like Seu Jorge, Elza Soares, Marcio Local, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and others! Includes "Louis Lane" with Seu Jorge & Mano Brown, "Super Nova Samba Funk (9 No Samba)", "America Do Sul", "Isabela" feat Elza Soares and Cesar Camargo Mariano, "Samba Nova", "Quem Vem La" feat Marcio Local, "Deixa Estar" feat Aleh, "Lindos Olhos" feat Seu Jorge and Don Pixote, "Paname" feat Pyroman, "Final Feliz", "Irere" feat Gilberto Gil, "Aos Pes Do Redentor" feat Caetano Veloso and more. 16 tracks on the CD version. CD

The first full length set from The Bombillas – an LA funk group, but one with a strong sense of global elements in their music – used here in ways that really make for an unusual sound throughout! The keyboards are especially strong – often abstracted, or fuzzy, and used in ways that evoke older Ethio-styled sounds, but with a tighter, groovier, funkier element – almost as if Mulatu had been lured to make some organ jazz records for Prestige when he was in America during the 60s! But the guitars are great too – and mixed with pedal and lap steel too – so that they're often as unusual as the keys, and given a tight groove from the bass and drums. Titles include a remake of the Hailu Mergia tune "Sintayehu" – plus the originals Ah Leh Wah La", "Ribes", "Cuixe", "Best Life For You", and "Dance Of Maria". LP, Vinyl record album

Fresh hip hop from Bay Area producer DJ Fresh & New Orleans rhymer Curren$y! This one kicks off smoothly with with a smooth jazz sample before settling in to tight mix bass heavy beats anchoring some diverse atmosphere on the production tip, Fresh can roll from synthy and light keys floating over to grittier sounds from track to track. Curren$y is charismatic as ever of there's a strong guest roster backing them up. Includes the title track, "Easy Hard" with Guapdad 4000, "Pound In The Sky", "Round 3 Times", "Gambling Shack" feat TY, "Gimme Some Mo", "All About The Dough", "Remember The Time" and "Funny Money" feat Problem, Chevy Woods & OG Marlyn Monrollupi, LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic work from piano legend Bill Evans – recorded at the Keystone club in San Francisco just a week before his too-early death – and a batch of material that shows us that Bill still had plenty to offer the world! This isn't the work of a musician on his last legs – and instead, Evans is a master of imagination, phrasing, and timing – working with his superb late trio that features Marc Johnson on bass and Joe Labarbera on drums – and further opening up tunes we've already heard him open up before – leaving us breathless all over again, at that level that makes Bill Evans live material maybe even more important to understanding his genius than his studio material! Tracks include "Emily", "Two Lonely People", "Knit For Mary F", "Polka Dots & Monbeams", "You & The Night & The Music", and "Re Person I Knew". CD

Fantastic work from piano legend Bill Evans – recorded at the Keystone club in San Francisco just a week before his too-early death – and a batch of material that shows us that Bill still had plenty to offer the world! This isn't the work of a musician on his last legs – and instead, Evans is a master of imagination, phrasing, and timing – working with his superb late trio that features Marc Johnson on bass and Joe Labarbera on drums – and further opening up tunes we've already heard him open up before – leaving us breathless all over again, at that level that makes Bill Evans live material maybe even more important to understanding his genius than his studio material! Tracks on this second volume include "Tiffany", "Your Story", "Like Someone In Love", "My Romance", "Turn Out The Stars", and "Days Of Wine & Roses". CD

Mellow soul, sweeping strings, and sweet electric keys – a stone 70s classic from Norman Feels – one of the greatest soul singers you've never heard before! The album's Norman's first (of two), and is a vastly under-recognized gem – the kind of record that easily stands next to some of the best male sweet soul of the time – and which is awash in some of the best studio touches coming from the Philly or New Jersey scenes of the time. Norman's got a totally righteous voice – one that crackles with Marvin Gaye-like personality, yet which also glides along with the subtler soul of Ronnie McNeir – and he's arranged to perfection here by David Van De Pitte, who slides just the right amount of funk into the bottom of the grooves on the set. Titles include "Everything Is Going Our Way", "Something In Me", "They Said It Couldn't Be Done", "Something About Yo", "Don't", "Yes You Did" and "Today". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic bit of keyboard grooving – the third and best album by the Xaver Fischer Trio! The format is very simple – just classic-sounding electric keys, played in tandem with bass and drums, plus some occasional extra touches. The approach is great – kind of like a Ramsey Lewis record recorded for MPS – with sweeping keys over lightly dancing rhythms and modal grooves, all wrapped up with excellent production, and a totally solid sound that means that this one won't be off our decks for a long long time! Two cuts have guest vocals by Amy Antin – and tracks include "King Mark", "I Sing This Song Just For You", "Capricho", "Napoleon", "Disko", "Dinosaur", and "Billy's Jeans". CD

One of the most ambitious records ever made by electronic wizard Patrick Gleeson – a huge talent on the moog and Arp, whose work was featured on key 70s jazz albums by Charles Earland, Joe Henderson, Bennie Maupin, and Herbie Hancock – and that's saying a lot, given that Herbie already played plenty of keyboards himself! This set's a reworking of "The Planets" – the symphonic suite by the composer Gustav Holtz – whose spacey structures are perfect for Pat's other-worldly work on the keys. Trombonist Julian Priester plays on the record – adding a few analog moments next to Pat's work on the EMU Polyphonic Synthesizer – and titles include "Saturn The Bringer Of Old Age", "Neptune The Mystic", "Uranus, The Magician", "Mars The Bringer Of War", and "Mercury The Winged Messenger". LP, Vinyl record album

Another modern samba gem from the long-running Grupo Batuque – with a different sound than previous work and (we believe) a substantially re-tooled line-up – but don't fret, because this is a wonderful effort! The Brazilian percussion backbone of previous Grupo Batuque work is augmented on this album with a 70s soul jazz vibe fused with modern sounds – plus some of the African and hybridized elements we've come to expect! It has a positively sparking production, courtesy of Roc Hunter, and a clean sound that goes down surprising well with the persistent, thumping percussion, melodic vocals and sporadic modern elements. The crew seems to be spearheaded this time out by multi-instrumentalist Ivan Conti and percussionist/vocalist Cidinho Moreira – with vocals by Fabiola, Claudemir De Silva and others, percussion by Pirulito, cavaquinho by Lincoln De Lima, keys by Nico Resende and Marcos Nimrichter, bass and guitar by Alex Malheiros, horn arrangements by Leo Gandleman, trumpet by Bidinho and more! Another contender from Far Out Records! 18 tracks in all: "Bom Pra Kalimba", Cavasamba Um (edit)", "Nacao Tupi (edit)", "Afro Black", "O Tempo Do Samba Um (edit)", "Batucada Maneira", "Ida E Volta", "Cavasamba Dois (edit)", "Jacone", "Maracutaia", "Saldacao", "Mae Iemenja", "O Tempo" and more. CD

A massive bit of funk – and from 70s France, no less! These guys clearly come from a jazz-based background – and have absorbed some of the best electric influences of their time – working in a keyboard-heavy mode that's clearly inspired by Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul, and George Duke – yet also kicking up a groove that's a bit more down and dirty, and more in the instrumental funk mode overall. The sound of the set's incredible – really raw, riffy, and filled with plenty of snapping hard grooves – and the used of the keys is sublime throughout, changing mood from track to track, but always staying funky! Titles include "Penwick", "Marathonic", "Ergocentric", "La Moto Verite", "Psychocross", "Ring Modulator", "Plongee Synthetique", "Kayak", and "Cache Catch". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet early CTI work from trumpeter Freddie Hubbard – the kind of groundbreaking electric jazz that really helped him find a new space in the 70s! The album follows strongly from Freddie's classic Red Clay set for CTI – and like that one, it features extended tracks that build beautifully as they roll on – taking Freddie's airy trumpet as the base, and layering in electric piano, flute, guitar, and percussion – plus some wonderfully subtle strings – used sparely, but in just the right way to underscore the wider vision of the record. Arrangements are by the mighty Don Sebesky – and other players include George Benson on guitar, Hubert Laws on flute, Phil Kraus on vibes, and Airto on percussion – plus Richard Wyands on the keys, making a rare CTI appearance here. Titles include a surprisingly great version of "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" which has some great breaks in the middle – plus "First Light", "Moment To Moment", and "Yesterday's Dreams". New version features remastering from original tapes – and 2 bonus tracks – "Fantasy In D" and an live take of "First Light". CD

The rare second album by the Jongo Trio – a fantastic bossa group who mixed together vocals and keyboards with stunning magic! The trio's approach is similar to that of the more famous Tamba Trio – in that the three members groove on keyboards, bass, and percussion – while also harmonizing vocals in a soaring, airy style that really adds a lot to the set. This album's got the group using a bit of organ and electric piano in addition to their usual acoustic keys – making for a bossa style that's slightly electrified, with great results on the album's overall sound. The set includes a really great uptempo version of "Aguas De Marco", plus the tracks "Alo Feveiro", "Quem Vem La", "Cavaleiro De Aruanda", "Sandalia De Prata", "Bate Barriga", "Feitinha P'Ro Poeta", and "Duas Contas". CD

A really compelling mix of folk roots and deeper soul – served up here by one of the most unique artists we've heard in years! Valerie June is really carving out some unique territory here – singing and playing guitar at a level that feels rooted in Appalachia, but also sometimes stepping into some headier sounds that are more soul or funk-based as well – a really surprising brew that comes off surprisingly well throughout! Valerie's getting production help from Kevin Augunas and Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys – both of whom play and sing on the record too – along with some guest organ work from Booker T. Titles include "Wanna Be On Your Mind", "Pushin Against A Stone", "Trials Troubles Tribulations", "Twined & Twisted", "The Hour", "Somebody To Love", and "Workin Woman Blues". CD

One of the most unique Afro jazzy soundtrack you could ever hope to hear – African drummer, keyboard player and composer Remi Kabaka's soundtrack to Black Goddess! The film is from Nigerian director Ola Balogun, but was actually cast and shot in Brazil – and this soundtrack is really amazing and covers a whole lot of territory! The opening track is heavy with this fuzzed out bit of keyboards that's almost a precursor to 80s computer grooves – mixed with some laid back electric guitar and sax, it's a strange, really cool vibe that's totally unlike most Nigerian recordings we can think of. As the tracks roll on, though, the sax and percussion get more play and the sound as a whole more dexterously Afro jazzy and funky. Recorded in Lagos, it features Dele Okonkwo on tenor and soprano sax and BD Wright on keys and bass – both contribute additional percussion - plus Joni Haastrup on guitar and keyboard. Includes "Brothers And Sisters", "The Quest", "Slave March", "Black Goddess", "The Quest (Piano Solo)" and "The Warrior". CD

The sound of Gerry Mulligan in the early 60s – and one of the best records by his larger than usual Concert Jazz Band! Given Gerry's piano-less experiments of the 50s, it's surprising to actually have him as the pianist on this session – hitting the keys with a nice light touch, so that the larger horn section can take over most of the tunes – a beautifully-arranged ensemble who have a feel that's lighter than some of the groups of the 50s – such as the Kenton ensemble – yet one that's equally modern at times! The lineup is wonderful – with Clark Terry and Nick Travis on trumpets, Willie Dennis and Bob Brookmeyer on trombones, and Gene Quill, Gene Allen, and Eddie Caine on saxes – plus guitar from Jim Hall, bass from Bill Crow, and drums from Gus Johnson. Titles include "Big City Life", "Bridgehampton South", "My Kind Of Love", "Pretty Gypsy", "Bridgehampton Strut", and "Big City Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few albums as a leader cut by legendary LA pianist Carl Perkins – an amazing talent on his instrument, and one who had an unusual "sideways" approach to the keys! Perkins kind of leaned alongside the piano – so that his body was parallel to the instrument, and his fingers reached out, moving back and forth on the ivories – with a sound that was almost as if he was strumming the whole thing! The style really stands out, and makes for some especially deft moments here in this classic trio set for Dootoo – a fluid and grooving session that also features Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Lawrence Marable on drums. Tracks include "Marble Head", "Way Cross Town", "Carl's Blues", and "Lilacs In The Rain". CD

One of the few albums as a leader cut by legendary LA pianist Carl Perkins – an amazing talent on his instrument, and one who had an unusual "sideways" approach to the keys! Perkins kind of leaned alongside the piano – so that his body was parallel to the instrument, and his fingers reached out, moving back and forth on the ivories – with a sound that was almost as if he was strumming the whole thing! The style really stands out, and makes for some especially deft moments here in this classic trio set for Dootoo – a fluid and grooving session that also features Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Lawrence Marable on drums. Tracks include "Marble Head", "Way Cross Town", "Carl's Blues", and "Lilacs In The Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual live date for Oscar Peterson – in that it wasn't actually officially recorded by Verve, but done by a fan and handed over to Norman Granz at a later date! Given that origin, though, the material is quite strong – recorded with an edge that's slightly earthier than usual for Verve at the time, but with a clarity that still beautifully displays Peterson's dynamic work on the keys – as well as the gentle guitar backing of Herb Ellis and the always-great bass tones of Ray Brown. Titles include "Daahoud", "Bluesology", "Budo", "Evrev", and "We'll Be Together Again". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic Blue Note album from Michel Petrucciani – a set that has the pianist working with a larger group than usual, but which still really demonstrates that way that Michel could always sound sweet without ever sounding slick or commercial at all! Petrucciani handles a bit of electric keys and organ, in addition to the large piano sound that usually dominates his records – and the lineup also includes a bit of soprano sax from Joe Lovano, bass from Eddie Gomez and Anthony Jackson, drums from Lenny White and Victor Jones, guitar from Romero Lubambo, and even a bit of vocals from Tania Maria – all guests and musical elements that are used sparely overall, so that the album's still very clearly Michel's own. Titles include "Brazilian Suite No 2", "Looking Up", "O Nana Oye", "Play Me", "Happy Birthday Mr K", "My Bebop Tune", and "Memories Of Paris". CD

Four fantastic albums from the legendary Prince Far I! The set begins with the classic Free From Sin – Great early work from Prince Far I – a stunning mix of reggae and dub, with a righteous quality that really gives the prince his title amongst 70s Jamaican royalty! Backing is by a version of the Roots Radics – with the excellent Style Scott on drums, Errol Holt on Bass, Bingy Bunny, Sowell and Chinna Smith on guitar, Bobby Kalphat and Snappin on keys, Bobby Ellis and Deadly Headly on horns, and Bongo Herman and Ras Millinek on percussion – but the real key to the sound is the way that Prince Far I produces the whole thing, and mixes his own sinister vocals with the heady, bottom-heavy rhythms – all with a quality that matches Lee Scratch Perry at his best! Titles include "Free From Sin", "Light Of Fire", "Reggae Music", "I & I Are the Chosen One", "Don't Deal With Folly", "Call On I In Trouble", "When Jah Ready You Got To Move", and "Siren". Jamaican Heroes is a totally great album by Prince Far I – and a set that already shows him building that crucial London/Kingston bridge that would be such a big part of his sound! The album features work from Sly & Robbie, and the killer drums of Style Scott on rhythm – but also includes contributions by London hipsters Viv Albertine & Ari Up (of the Slits), and David Toop (noted music writer and historian) – quite a mix, and all brought together wonderfully by the Prince's production, and really unique vocal approach. Titles include "Jamaican Heroes", "Prison Discipline", "Musical History", "Natty Champion", and "Golden Throne". Next up is a classic from Prince Far I – Voice Of Thunder couldn't be a more appropriate album title or moniker! Recorded at Channel One in 1981 with incredible analog dub production, it fully carries the grit, murk, heavy and heady soul of the 70s into the new decade –even if the sound is ultimately a bit different then the what he delivered in the 70s. That thunderous voice toasting over the rhythms is as incredible as ever – over the commanding bass of Professor Larry Silvera, tripped out drums & percussion by Jah Lloyd & Scully, occasional swirling keys by Steely, Tarzan and Tony Asher and the other great Channel One players. Titles include "Ten Commandments", "Every Time I Hear The Word", "Head Of The Buccaneer", "Shall Not Dwell In Wickedness", "Skinhead", and "Hold The Fort". Musical History is one of the last albums ever issued by Prince Far I – and a set that marks a fantastic cap to a too-short career! The Prince's vocal contributions are as impeccable as his dubby production work – and titles include "At The Cross", "More We Are Together", "Take Heed Frontline", "What You Gonna Do On Judgement Day", and "Tell Them About Jah Love". CD

Sweet fusion from the great Lee Ritenour – three classic albums on two CDs! First up is Captain's Journey – a masterful fusion set from guitarist Lee Ritenour – one that expands his sound a bit more than usual by adding in vocals on a number of tracks – but in a way that really gets at the mainstream soul influences that bubble through his jazz work! The set features key vocal appearances from Patti Austin, Tom Baylor, and Bill Champlin – all singers who really know how to respect the instrumental side of a tune, too – which is great, given that the record also features keyboards from Dave Grusin and Patrice Rushen too. Titles include "That's Enough For Me", "Sugarloaf Express", "What Do You Want", "Matchmakers", "Morning Glory", and "The Storm". Feel The Night is a key album from a time when Lee was still very much at the top of his game! Although tight overall, the album's never too commercial to be cloying – and Lee's approach here is a great example of the way that mainstream 70s fusion managed to balance all its best elements nicely – from soulful rhythms on the bottom, to sharp-edged solos on the top, to some of the smoother studio glue that holds the whole thing together in the middle! Ritenour plays a range of different guitars – and other players include Don and Dave Grusin on keyboards, plus keys from David Foster as well – plus saxes from Ernie Watts, piano from Joe Sample, and drums from Steve Gadd. Patti Austin sings a bit on the set, but the album's a mostly-instrumental affair overall – and titles include "Feel The Night", "Market Place", "Wicked Wine", "French Roast", and "Midnight Lady". Rio is smooth jazzy fusion from Lee Ritenour – a classic set that was originally only released in Japan, part of the underground Japanese Fusion movement of the late 70s, famous for groove hounds for that added level of soul that often wasn't showing up in American releases at the time! The album was recorded in both Rio and LA – with work by a mixture of Brazilian and American fusion players, including Chico Batera, Oscar Castro Neves, Alex Acuna, Don Grusin, Dave Grusin, Steve Forman, and Marcus Miller. Includes the smooth funk classic "A Little Bit Of This & A Little Bit Of That", plus the cuts "Simplicidad", "Rainbow", "Rio Funk", "San Juan Sunset", and "Ipanema Sol". CD

Hard to believe these guys have got 10 albums under their belt – but over the past decade or so, The Rurals have been quietly building up a heck of a great catalog of grooves – and this album's the latest chapter in their triumphant story! The Rurals have never gotten the acclaim or attention of some of the bigger acts on the international groove scene – but their music is wonderful, and some of the most soulful dancefloor work around – a beautiful blend of beats, keys, and soul – all served up with a lot more warmth and depth than most of their contemporaries! Vocals are by the lovely Marie Tweek, and Charlie Hearnshaw plays some great sax on a few cuts – and titles include "Show Me The Love", "Steps", "Saving Time", "Rain", "7th Sun", "So High", "I'm Lost", and "Liquid". CD

Excellent work from Setenta – a Parisian combo who work with a great blend of Latin roots and funk – served up with lots of percussion at the core, topped with Fender Rhodes and other keyboards from jazz genius Florian Pellissier! The acoustic percussion and electric keys are perfectly balanced – as you might find on a mid 70s album from Mongo Santamaria, but with a different flavor too – given that these guys explore some Afro roots in their music as well, which creates shifting patterns of rhythms throughout the set. Most tracks have vocals, and titles include "If We Ever Get There", "Permiso", "Mecanica Bestial", "DIA (parts 1 & 2)", "Materia Negra", and "Llego El Malo". CD

Excellent work from Setenta – a Parisian combo who work with a great blend of Latin roots and funk – served up with lots of percussion at the core, topped with Fender Rhodes and other keyboards from jazz genius Florian Pellissier! The acoustic percussion and electric keys are perfectly balanced – as you might find on a mid 70s album from Mongo Santamaria, but with a different flavor too – given that these guys explore some Afro roots in their music as well, which creates shifting patterns of rhythms throughout the set. Most tracks have vocals, and titles include "If We Ever Get There", "Permiso", "Mecanica Bestial", "DIA (parts 1 & 2)", "Materia Negra", and "Llego El Malo". LP, Vinyl record album

A compelling blend of Latin influences and modern electronic grooves – served up by this hip New York combo! The lovely voice of Carol C graces most of the tracks, singing in a light and airy style that floats dreamily over the snapping percussion and gliding keys of most of the tunes. The work's a great genre-blending polyglot of styles that's as culturally rich as New York itself – and titles include "Aire", "Steppin Out", "Slip Away", "The Rain", "My Sol", "Bizcocho Amargo", and "Lullaby". CD

Incredible late work from the great West African dance band Vis-A-Vis – a brilliant set from 1977 that demonstrates good and well why the band were so greatly in demand both live and in the studio! The group had spent quite a bit of time backing the great Ghanaian singer K. Frimpong in the mid-to-late 70s, sometimes billed as the Cubano Fiestas, but as you're hear on this great set, they're just as great out on their own. They show a pretty amazing range – with a raw, yet dexterous African funk sound on some numbers and the entwining melodies of high life on others. The 12-piece group features a trio of vocalists led by "Superstar" Isaac Yeboah, plus Anthony Yeboah and Ayim Bediako, with Sammy Cropper on guitar, Slim Mau on bass, drummer Gybson "Shaolin Kung-Fu" Papra, George Asante on conga, Tonny Dozis on keys and synth, Kofi Abrokwaa on tenor sax, Paul Winter on trumpet, Daniel Asare on maracas and Alex Jubin on cowbells. Includes "Obi Agye Me Dofo", "Kankyema", "Gyae Su", "Gladys Mmbobor" and "Susan Suo". LP, Vinyl record album

Another modern samba gem from the long-running Grupo Batuque – with a different sound than previous work and (we believe) a substantially re-tooled line-up – but don't fret, because this is a wonderful effort! The Brazilian percussion backbone of previous Grupo Batuque work is augmented on this album with a 70s soul jazz vibe fused with modern sounds – plus some of the African and hybridized elements we've come to expect! It has a positively sparking production, courtesy of Roc Hunter, and a clean sound that goes down surprising well with the persistent, thumping percussion, melodic vocals and sporadic modern elements. The crew seems to be spearheaded this time out by multi-instrumentalist Ivan Conti and percussionist/vocalist Cidinho Moreira – with vocals by Fabiola, Claudemir De Silva and others, percussion by Pirulito, cavaquinho by Lincoln De Lima, keys by Nico Resende and Marcos Nimrichter, bass and guitar by Alex Malheiros, horn arrangements by Leo Gandleman, trumpet by Bidinho and more! Another contender from Far Out Records! 18 tracks in all: "Bom Pra Kalimba", Cavasamba Um (edit)", "Nacao Tupi (edit)", "Afro Black", "O Tempo Do Samba Um (edit)", "Batucada Maneira", "Ida E Volta", "Cavasamba Dois (edit)", "Jacone", "Maracutaia", "Saldacao", "Mae Iemenja", "O Tempo" and more. CD

A great live set from pianist Barry Harris – material recorded on the same date that gave us the excellent Live In Tokyo album from reedman Charles McPherson – but done in a very different way that shows that Barry's clearly the leader on these tracks! The rhythm duo is wonderful – the mighty Sam Jones on bass and Leroy Williams on drums – players who can crackle when Harris wants them to, yet also lay back and give Barry lots of spacious territory to work some incredibly deft, personal magic on the keys. The sound almost takes us back to the initial Harris recordings of the early 60s, but also has some of those colors that would flow even more freely in some of his sessions for the Japanese market – on titles that include "I'll Remember April", "Fukai Aijo", "A Soft Spot", "Round Midnight", and "Un Poco Loco". CD features four bonus tracks too – two versions of "Ornithology", plus "Like Someone In Love" and "Night In Tunisia", both nice and long! CD

A gleaming batch of remixes based largely on tracks from Sabrina Malheiro's great Equilibria album on Far Out – featuring some of the best remix work in years from Nicola Conte, Kenny Dope, Incognito, Roc Hunter and others! Sabrina's classicist approach to modern bossa vocals made her debut one of our favorite albums on Far Out in a long time – and the remixers are respectful enough of that warm, breezy charm to make sure to never overpower that bossa groove with overdone electronics. The tunes are mostly in the 5 to 6 minutes range, with stepped up, bouncier, and sometimes funkier production touches and crisper keys – but Sabrina's still the star of the show. A wonderful re-imagining of/companion piece to a wonderful album! Tracks include "Terra De Ninguem (Nicola Conte remix)", "Passa (Quantic remix)", "Saudade Rio (Kirk Degiorgio's As One remix)", "Estacao Verao (Kenny Dope remix)", "Passa (Venom remix)", "Maracatueira (Incognito remix)", "Capoeria Vai (Roc Hunter remix)" and more – plus the bonus track "Iemanja". CD

Arguably the last great album to come from the classic Pat Metheny collaboration with Lyle Mays – a record that's tightened up considerably from some of the group's earlier efforts, but which gives as its reward some wonderfully compelling tunes! Pat's still very much influenced here by a Brazilian fusion style – but he takes that approach, dismantles it, pulls out the best elements – and extrapolates them into a sound that's uniquely his own. Wordless vocals slide out on a few numbers, while guitar and keys sing alongside earthier percussion – in a style that's extremely evocative, and shows that even riding the top of his own success, Metheny was still more than willing to bring in new modes. Titles include "If I Could", "Forward March", "Yolanda, You Learn", "End Of The Game", and "Mas Alla". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Pat Metheny on guitars and synths, Lyle Mays on piano and keys, Steve Rodby on bass, Paul Wertico on drums, and Armando Marcal on percussion. Tracks include "Minuano (Six Eight)", "Last Train Home", "Distance", and "In Her Family". CD