Spiritual sounds from a group who just seem to get better and better with each release – a combo headed up by Lance Ferguson, who you'll know from previous funk projects, including work in The Bamboos – an artist who's turned out to be a surprisingly strong jazz leader as well! There's definitely some soulful currents of Lance's previous work mixed in with the music – including some female soul vocals that help the record soar at points, almost with a Roy Ayers righteousness, especially in the way the singers join together – and the rest of the ensemble features Fender Rhodes, tenor, soprano, trumpet, and some mighty nice percussion – on titles that include "Arrival", "Danieda's Dance", "Of", "Shores Of Infinity", "Kingdom", and "Earthrise". LP, Vinyl record album

Spiritual sounds from a group who just seem to get better and better with each release – a combo headed up by Lance Ferguson, who you'll know from previous funk projects, including work in The Bamboos – an artist who's turned out to be a surprisingly strong jazz leader as well! There's definitely some soulful currents of Lance's previous work mixed in with the music – including some female soul vocals that help the record soar at points, almost with a Roy Ayers righteousness, especially in the way the singers join together – and the rest of the ensemble features Fender Rhodes, tenor, soprano, trumpet, and some mighty nice percussion – on titles that include "Arrival", "Danieda's Dance", "Of", "Shores Of Infinity", "Kingdom", and "Earthrise". CD

Features Gil Goldstein on keyboards, Tim Landers on bass, Dean Brown on guitar, and Billy Cobham on percussion. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

One of Bill Withers' greatest albums of the 70s – a set that has hip stepping off the acoustic sound of his Sussex records, into a warm and jazzy style that we like every bit as much as his earlier work! The album's got a wonderfully sophisticated jazzy vibe, and includes the excellent cut "Lovely Day" – a perfect midtempo track with some great electric keyboards behind Bill's raspy soulful voice, and a great hook on the chorus! Paul Riser handled a lot of the arrangements – and other titles include "Wintertime", "It Ain't Because Of Me Baby", "I Want To Spend The Night", and "Then You Smile At Me". CD features the bonus tracks "Rosie (unreleased demo)", "Lovely Night For Dancing (single version)", and "Let Me Be The One For You (inst mix)". CD

A wild little record – one that was issued under the name of Flying Dutchman label headman Bob Thiele – but which actually features work from some of the grooviest artists on the label at the time – including Tom Scott, Ornette Coleman, Jon Appleton, John Carter, Horace Tapscott, and Bobby Bradford! The package has a very different feel on each of the album's four sides – and side one is a tremendous showcase for the young reedman Tom Scott – working here in a cool mix of electric and acoustic instrumentation that's similar to his other records of the time – including organ, vibes, and some nice funky touches as well. Side two features an exploration of the history of jazz – but one that progresses quickly from early modes to hipper ones – showcasing the talents of John Carter on tenor, Bobby Bradford on trumpet, and Horace Tapscott on piano! Side three is a mighty dedication to the late John Coltrane – played at first by a trio with Joe Farrell on flute, Wilbur Ware on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – then moving into a mix of Farrell's flute and narration by Rosko – then a performance by the Ornette Coleman quartet. And side four is especially mindblowing, as it's comprised of lone long piece by Jon Appleton's Syntonic Menagerie – a mix of sound samples, tape tricks, and jazz – as a commentary on The American Indian, JFK, and Martin Luther King. The whole thing's a great illustration of the Flying Dutchman label at its most revolutionary – and titles include "Head Start", "Freaky Zeke", "Lanoola Goes Limp", "Swing Era", "In The Vineyard/Avant Garde", "Love Supreme", "Lament For John Coltrane", and "A Few Thoughts For The Day". CD also features a rare bonus track – "The Flying Dutchman". CD

One of the coolest Christmas albums ever – a tripped-out classic from Chicago's legendary Rotary Connection! The album's every bit as wonderful as any of the group's non-Holiday sets for Cadet Records – and maybe even has more to offer, given that the euphoria of the season is thrown into the usual spacey mix! Charles Stepney lays down some totally angelic production – and the record bubbles with heavenly instrumental passages – floating along like clouds, then suddenly exploding into sharp musical moments that provide the perfect backdrop for Minnie Riperton's excellent voice. Most of the tracks are originals, penned as spacey seasonal numbers that bring a whole new sense of spirituality to the end of December – a young, optimistic take on the holiday – which makes for a really unique sort of record! Titles include "Christmas Child", "Opening Round", "Silent Night", "Christmas Love", "Shopping Bag Menagerie", "Peace At Last", "Silent Night Chant", "Sidewalk Santa", and "Last Call For Peace". CD

One of the coolest Christmas albums ever – a tripped-out classic from Chicago's legendary Rotary Connection! The album's every bit as wonderful as any of the group's non-Holiday sets for Cadet Records – and maybe even has more to offer, given that the euphoria of the season is thrown into the usual spacey mix! Charles Stepney lays down some totally angelic production – and the record bubbles with heavenly instrumental passages – floating along like clouds, then suddenly exploding into sharp musical moments that provide the perfect backdrop for Minnie Riperton's excellent voice. Most of the tracks are originals, penned as spacey seasonal numbers that bring a whole new sense of spirituality to the end of December – a young, optimistic take on the holiday – which makes for a really unique sort of record! Titles include "Christmas Child", "Opening Round", "Silent Night", "Christmas Love", "Shopping Bag Menagerie", "Peace At Last", "Silent Night Chant", "Sidewalk Santa", and "Last Call For Peace". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing legacy in soul music – the legendary run of records that Bill Withers cut for the Sussex and Columbia labels – each of them a masterpiece in their own way! The early hit sound of Withers is the stuff that dreams are made of – a unique blend of acoustic instrumentation, raspy soul, and slinky rhythms – heard to best effect on the first four albums in the set – one of which is Bill's legendary live set at Carnegie Hall! Yet even past those classics, Withers is still amazing – and shifts his sound through the course of the 70s, to bring in warmer, jazzier elements too – yet all without ever losing his keen sense of song, and his completely mindblowing vocal approach. This box features newly remastered versions of 9 albums – Just As I Am, Still Bill, Live At Carnegie Hall, Justments, Making Music, Naked & Warm, Menagerie, Bout Love, and Watching You Watching Me – a legacy in soul music that few others could ever hope to top! CD