Steve Coleman on alto sax, Andy Milne & James Weidman on piano & keyboards, David Hilmore on guitar, Reggie Washington on bass & Marvin Smitty Smith on drums & percussion. CD

An unexpected treasure – like so many of Art Farmer's later albums! The record is ostensibly a tribute to the music of Billy Strayhorn – which might make us expect some soporific Ellington cliches – but the session's really just a small group one, played by Art with a quintet that includes Clifford Jordan, James Williams, Rufus Reid, and Marvin Smitty Smith – all coming together in a fluidly soulful style that's really great. Farmer's work on flugelhorn seems even more inventive than ever – and titles include "Bloodcount", "Johnny Come Lately", "Isfahan", "Raincheck", and "Upper Manhattan Medical Group". LP, Vinyl record album

Ed Motta knocks it out of the park with this one – taking things in an even more soulfully classic direction than on his killer AOR album – and giving us key proof that he's one of the most important soul singers of the 21st Century so far! Ed's got a way of opening doors wherever he goes – as part of a huge global legacy he's left in the past decade or soul – and this time around, he's opening the doors to a classic style of studio production from the LA scene – the kind of warm soul that works perfect for Motta's incredible voice, and which makes the album one of the best he's ever given us! Ed plays Fender Rhodes in the small combo backing here – and is working with a key group of jazz musicians that includes Patrice Rushen and Greg Phillingaines on keyboards, Hubert Laws on flute, Rickey Woodard and Charles Owens on tenor, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums – a stunning lineup that makes for amazing sounds throughout. All lyrics are in English, and Ed effortlessly blends jazz and soul on original titles that include "Captain's Refusal", "Forgotten Nickname", "The Owner", "A Town In Flames", "Good Intentions", "Hypochondriac's Fun", "Heritage Deja Vu", "Overblown Overweight", and "Reader's Choice". CD

A richly complex set from David Murray – and a record that offers up a much wider range of moods than some of his other sessions from the time! Some numbers have an angular, almost aggressive groove – one that comes from the presence of group members James Blood Ulmer on guitar and Lonnie Plaxico on bass – but other moments are a bit more introspective, and show the more soulful side of Murray's blowing – a great balance that makes the record a perfect illustration of his growing players at the time. Other group members include Don Pullen on piano and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums – and Murray plays both tenor and bass clarinet. All tracks are long, and titles include "Death", "David Mingus", "All The Things You Are", and "Tension". CD

Pure genius from the B Baker Chocolate Company – a set that's equal parts fusion and soul, held together by these rich arrangements that really send the whole thing home! The album's never too slick, yet has a sense of perfection that matches some of the best soulful fusion dates at Blue Note or Fantasy in the mid 70s – a quality that's especially strong on the vocal tracks on the set – one of which features Lew Kirton in the lead! The players are all totally top-shelf – and include Lonnie Smith and Jimmy McGriff on keyboards, John Faddis and Marvin Stamm on trumpets, and Jimmy Ponder on guitar – and the set's got a beautiful balance that few other records like this can match. Lew Kirton sings on "It's Where You're Coming From", and "Dreamer" features Gene Scott – and instrumental tracks include the funky classic "Snowblower", plus "Carousel" and "Spirit Level". LP, Vinyl record album

A great quartet date from guitarist Larry Coryell – quite laidback at times, but pretty darn soulful too – thanks to a rhythm section that features Kenny Barron on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums! Coryell's not as dynamic with his guitar lines as in years back, but that's ok with us – because he takes on a fluid groove next to Kenny's piano almost making the album feel like a Barron album at times, with added guitar. Titles include "The Duke", "Nefertiti", "Floyd Gets A Gig", "The Sorcerer", "Yesterdays", and "Apathy Rains", which is a duet between Kenny and Larry. Includes the bouns track "All The Things You Are". CD

A wonderful reunion of the team of Frank Foster and Frank Wess – caught here in an easy-going and laidback style that's miles away from their work with Count Basie! The youthful rhythm section of Kenny Barron, Rufus Reid, and Marvin Smitty Smith really adds a lot to the set – giving the record a later sort of soul jazz vibe, one that's perfect for the pair to solo over in open-ended lines. Both Franks play tenor sax, and Wess plays flute and alto as well – while Foster does some excellent work on soprano sax. Titles include "Bay Street", "Two For The Blues", "But For The Likes Of You", "Nancy With The Laughing Face", "Your Beauty Is A Song Of Love", and "A Time For Love". CD

Features Peter Leitch on guitar, Kirk Lightsey on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Marvin Smitth Smith on drums! CD

Steve Coleman and Greg Osby on alto, David Gilmore on guitar, Reggie Washington on bass, Marvin Smitty Smith on drums, and Cassandra Wilson on vocals! CD

The debut album for Mulgrew Miller as a leader – and a rock-solid session that really set the pianist up strongly for the 80s! At a time when other keyboardists where mixing in so many other elements to their music, Miller's work here is a wonderful return to basics – pure pianistic imagination, played with a sense of fire and creativity that brings us back to McCoy Tyner's best work of a decade before – yet always informed by a fresh style that's always Mulgrew's own, one that's always got dark corners and an undercurrent of tension. The trio's wonderful – and features Ira Coleman on bass and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums – and the album features a number of original Miller tunes, including "Song For Darnell", "Saud's Run", "Portrait Of A Mountain", and "Promethean" – plus versions of "Milestones" and "Inner Urge". CD

With Newman on trumpet, Wilder on trumpet and flugelhorn, Hank Jones on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Very open-ended work from Sonny Rollins – a set of live tracks recorded for use in the film Saxophone Colossus, with some nicely long tunes that really show Rollins' inventive solo approach in such a setting! The group here is a quintet – with the excellent Clifton Anderson on trombone, plus Mark Soskin on piano, Marvin Smitty Smith on drums, and Bob Cranshaw on electric bass – providing that unique bubbling pulse that Rollins used frequently in the 70s and 80s – something you might not have expected from years past, but which gave records like this a really signature sound, and showed that Sonny was still growing in the ways he experimented with styles. Titles include the 15 minute title track "G Man", plus "Kim" and "Don't Stop The Carnival". LP, Vinyl record album

A great lineup – with Don Sickler on trumpet and arrangements, plus Wallace Roney on trumpet, Bobby Watson on alto, Ralph Moore on tenor, Rene Rosnes on piano, Bob Hurst on bass, Marvin Smitty Smith on drums, and Robin Eubanks on trombone! CD

Early work from alto genius Bobby Watson – recording here with the Horizon Quintet, a hip group of spiritual soul jazz players that includes Curtis Lundy, Mulgrew Miller, Hamiet Bluiett, and Marvin Smitty Smith. The session takes up the soul jazz torch of 70s work by artists like Woody Shaw, Clifford Jordan, and Cedar Walton – with a mix of modal structures in the rhythms, augmented by searching solos, and just the right amount of hardbop energy. Tracks are mostly all long originals – and titles include "Premonition", "Wheel Within A Wheel", "From East To West", and "Point The Finger". CD

A classic Bobby Watson set from the early solo years of his career – just the sort of standout set that shows why he was one of the brightest new jazz voices of the 80s! The album's got a sound that's even more open-ended and exploratory than some of Watson's US releases – cuts that often stretch out a bit more than usual, still with the tight rhythms that make Bobby's music so great – courtesy of Curtis Lundy on bass and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums – but changed up a bit too, with some complexity that really matches Watson's inventive lines on alto sax. John Hicks completes the group on piano, bringing in a nice sense of warmth – and titles include "Dark Days", "Love Remains", "Blues For Alto", "The Mistery Of Ebop", "One For Aaron", and "Sho Thang". CD

With Donald Harrison on alto saxophone, Cecil McBee on bass, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums. CD

A beautifully sensitive album from Donald Byrd – quite a change from his better-known jazz funk work of the 70s and early 80s – and part of a back-to-basics move he made in part of that latter decade! The album's very much in the best straight mode of the Landmark Records label scene of the time – Byrd blowing strong and soulfully in the company of a key combo that features Kenny Garrett on alto, Mulgrew Miller on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums – all players who really bring a lot of fire to the record, and almost push Byrd back to his pre-electric 60s years on Blue Note. Mike Daugherty plays synth on two tracks – using the instrument in gentle, string-like ways – but overall the record is proudly acoustic at most moments. Titles include "Harlem Blues", "Fly Little Byrd", "Voyage A Deux", "Sir Master Kool Guy", and "Blue Monk". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare set from bassist Art Davis as a leader – with Herbie Hancock on piano, Ravi Coltrane on tenor and soprano, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums. Titles include "Evidence", "Everybody's Doing It", "Art's Boogie", and "Driftin". CD

With Lynn Seaton on bass and Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums. CD

Features Dave Holland on acoustic bass, Greg Osby on alto saxophone, Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums, Lonnie Plaxico on electric bass, Kevin Eubanks on guitar, Kenny Werner and Renee Rosnes on keyboards, and Mino Cinelu on percussion. CD

A really great album as a leader from bassist Dave Holland – a musician who was really coming into his own at this point in his career, and using all the talents he'd developed in looser settings to help bring new focus to a group! The lineup here is exceptionally strong, and a really great blend of different styles and talents – Steve Coleman on alto and soprano sax, Julian Priester on trombone, Kenny Wheeler on trumpets, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums – all rising majestically under the leadership of Holland. Titles include "Uhren", "Homecoming", "Perspecuity", "Celebration", "World Protection Blues", "Gridlock (Opus 8)", "Walk A way", "The Good Doctor", and "Double Vision". CD

Features a young Branford Marsalis on tenor and soprano sax – in a group with Wallace Roney on trumpet, Ed Jackson on alto, Marvin Smitty Smith on drums, and Andy Jaffe on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

Eddie Kendricks, vintage 1978 – and still very much in the great grooving mode he brought to his earlier solo material for Motown! Even in this giant dancefloor generation, Eddie's got something very special and unique – a voice that can still sound as heartbreaking on a groover as it can on a ballad – and which has a way of linking an earlier generation of fragile male soul vocals with a new sense of 70s masculinity – of which Kendricks was one of the leading lights in soul! There's moments here that might well match some of the best late 70s work by artists like Marvin Gaye or Leroy Hutson – and the strong arrangements are by Andrew Louis Smith – a name we don't really know at all, but who should be thanked for helping the record avoid any disco cliches. Titles include "How's Your Love Life Baby", "One Of The Poorest People", "Love Love Love", "The Best Of Strangers Now", "Don't Underestimate The Power Of Love", "Ain't No Smoke Without A Fire" and "Maybe I'm A Fool To Love You". LP, Vinyl record album

Peter Leitch on guitar – with Gary Bartz on alto, John Hicks on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums! CD

Peter Leitch on guitar, John Hicks on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Marvin Smith on drums. CD

Featuring Ellis Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, Herbir Hancock, Larry Willis, Ron Carter, Charnett Moffett, Ira Coleman, Ralph Peterson, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Al Foster, and Tain - Jeff Watts. CD

Featuring Ellis Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, Herbir Hancock, Larry Willis, Ron Carter, Charnett Moffett, Ira Coleman, Ralph Peterson, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Al Foster, and Tain - Jeff Watts. LP, Vinyl record album

Emily Remler on guitar – with Hank Jones on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums. CD

Very open-ended work from Sonny Rollins – a set of live tracks recorded for use in the film Saxophone Colossus, with some nicely long tunes that really show Rollins' inventive solo approach in such a setting! The group here is a quintet – with the excellent Clifton Anderson on trombone, plus Mark Soskin on piano, Marvin Smitty Smith on drums, and Bob Cranshaw on electric bass – providing that unique bubbling pulse that Rollins used frequently in the 70s and 80s – something you might not have expected from years past, but which gave records like this a really signature sound, and showed that Sonny was still growing in the ways he experimented with styles. Titles include the 15 minute title track "G Man", plus "Kim" and "Don't Stop The Carnival". CD features a bonus 12 minute version of "Tenor Madness". CD

Ellyn Rucker on piano and vocals, Red Mitchell on bass, and Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums. CD

An overlooked treasure from Archie Shepp – a set recorded for the Enja label with a profile that's not as bold as some of his other albums, but a great later session that has some surprisingly wonderful moments! Perhaps the best of these is the album's long workout on "Mama Rose" – done here as a free-flowing modal number with some great soprano sax lines from Archie – blown beautifully over soaring rhythms from Kenny Werner on piano, Santi DeBriano on bass, and the great Marvin Smitty Smith on drums. The track really cooks wonderfully – and is followed by the more sensitive "Soul Song", the hard-blown tenor cut "Geechee", and a laidback take on "My Romance". Both "Geechee" and "Mama Rose" dominate the record – and are perfect examples of the later soulful sound of Shepp in the post-Impulse years! CD

Jim Snidero on alto saxophone, Brian Lynch on trumpet, Benny Green on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums. CD

An excellent primer for fans of blacksploitation soundtracks! The set was put together by Ice T as an homage to all the great black action films of the 70s – and it's a good selection of vocal hits from scores that may well be known more for their instrumental funk. And sure, the selection's a bit basic – but it's also a good place to start, and hearing the vocal numbers is kind of a different hook into the films than the usual instrumental riffs. Titles include "Love Doctor" by Millie Jackson, "I Choose You" by Willie Hutch, "Blowin Your Mind" by OC Smith, "Are You Man Enough" by The Four Tops, "Make A Resolution" by The Impressions, "Across 110th Street" by Bobby Womack, "Theme Of Foxy Brown" by Willie Hutch, "Trouble Man" by Marvin Gaye, "Theme From Shaft" by Isaac Hayes, and "Pusherman" by Curtis Mayfield. CD

An unexpected treasure – like so many of Art Farmer's later albums! The record is ostensibly a tribute to the music of Billy Strayhorn – which might make us expect some soporific Ellington cliches – but the session's really just a small group one, played by Art with a quintet that includes Clifford Jordan, James Williams, Rufus Reid, and Marvin Smitty Smith – all coming together in a fluidly soulful style that's really great. Farmer's work on flugelhorn seems even more inventive than ever – and titles include "Bloodcount", "Johnny Come Lately", "Isfahan", "Raincheck", and "Upper Manhattan Medical Group". CD features a bonus track – "Daydream". CD

With Sean Smith on bass and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums. CD

The Vietnam war was tough on most folks in the US – but it's no secret that it was especially tough on black Americans – who were often given little choice and little chance to get out of the callup to the military action – which left a huge impression on their community for years to come! This package documents the affect of Vietnam in soul music – in ways that are both direct and more subtle, as the package blends together a number of tracks that you likely don't know at all, and others that you might have missed as being critical of the war – as there's more subtle messaging going on, a lesson that was learned during the Civil Rights era, when a mellower lyric might get more mainstream circulation – as a call to action that a change was going to come. The quality of cuts here is wonderful – as well-selected as some of the Ace/Kent collections of rare soul music on small labels – and there's definitely a few here that we're hearing for the first time, alongside other numbers that really sound great in the setting. Titles include "Fighting For My Baby" by Donald Jenkins, "Lonely Soldier" by William Bell, "Letter To A Buddie" by Joe Medwick, "I Want To Come Home For Christmas" by Marvin Gaye, "My Ship Is Coming In Tomorrow" by The Pace Setters, "Johnny" by King Hannibal, "Going On Strike" by The Emotions, "Uncle Sam" by Jimmy Hughes, "My Soldier Boy Is Coming Home" by The Shirelles, "Glad To Be Home" by Charles Smith & Jeff Cooper, "The War Is Over My Brother" by The Sensational Saints, "Home To Stay" by RB Greaves, "Stop The War" by The Impressions, "Wish You Were Here With Me" by The Fawns, "VC Blues" by Allen Orange, "Promise That You'll Wait" by Michael Lizzmore, "Men Are Getting Scarce" by Chairmen Of The Board, and "Leave Him Alone" by Stu Gardner. CD

Majestic male soul from Brunswick Records – the label who recorded some of the best material ever from singers like Gene Chandler and Jackie Wilson, and who also gave lots of other singers a great shot too! This set moves way past obvious Brunswick hits, and includes loads of lesser-known singles that are totally great – some funky, some laidback, and lots of them very very groovy – in that totally hip Chicago soul mode that Brunswick did so well. There's a number of artists here who only recorded briefly for Brunswick, before hitting fame elsewhere – and others who are remembered for the few rare gems they left behind at the label – all brought together here in a wonderful 25 track set. There's plenty of surprises throughout – and titles include "Doing The Feeling" by Alvin Cash, "Contract On Your Love" by Chuck Bernard, "I'll Bet You" by Billy Butler, "Sweet Sweet Revenge" by Alvin Valentine, "Hold On" by Marvin Smith, "This Melody Is For My Baby" by Ben Monroe, "Sweet Temptation" by Isaac Hayes, "Wrapped Up In Your Warm & Tender Love" by Richard Parker, "A Mean Thing" by Donald Height, "Just A Little Misunderstanding" by Johnny Williams, "You Got Me Walking" by Cicero Blake, "Once You Fall In Love" by Eddie Mcloyd, "Just A Thing Called Love" by John Parker, and "You Are" by Bobby Reed. CD