With George Garzone on sax, Marc Johnson on bass and Peter Erskine on drums. CD

Maybe one of the best 70s albums from these two great musicians – a spare set of duos performances recorded live at Montreux – away from any of the studio trappings that both players often found themselves involved with! There's almost an ECM vibe to the record – as the vibes of Mike Mainieri work alongside the Fender Rhodes, clavinet, and moog of Warren Bernhardt – on these open, spacious tracks that really love the tones of both instruments – coming together here in this sort of sonic space that almost reminds us more of some of the Gary Burton and Chick Corea collaborations, but with more of the deft tones that we'd expect from Bernhardt and Mainieri. The whole thing's great – and titles include "Praise", "Song To Beth", "Mediterranean Waters", "Free Smiles", and "I'll Sing You Softly". LP, Vinyl record album

A great bit of soulful fusion from drummer Peter Erskine – one of the few albums he made as a leader of this nature, even though his playing graced lots of other wonderful records at the time! The approach here is tight, but never too much so – smooth, but never slick – a warmly electric groove that's really a lot more in a mid-70s sort of style than you'd expect from the early 80s date of the album. Other players here are all well-suited for the set – and include Randy Brecker on trumpet, Michael Brecker on tenor, Bob Mintzer on tenor, Don Grolnick on electric piano, Eddie Gomez on bass, Don Alias on percussion, and Mike Mainieri on vibes – and titles include "Leroy Street", "In Statu Nascendi", "All's Well That Ends", "My Ship", and "ESP". CD

A lost gem from Buddy – recorded in the years between his more famous work for Verve in the 50s, and his later 60s comeback as the hard-swinging leader of a big band! The album's a really unusual one for Buddy, in that it really plays around a lot with the rhythms in the tunes – not just using the "blues" phrasing that you might expect from the title, but also hitting bits of lighter, Latiny styles – as well as some slightly modal moments that emerge from longer solo drum passages by Rich. Part of the album's strength is the players – as Buddy's working here with Mike Mainieri on vibes, Sam Most on flute, and Rolf Ericson on trumpet – as well as the unusual rhythm team of Johnny Morris on piano and Wyatt Ruther on bass, neither of whom we really know. Tracks include "Caravan", "Blow'n The Blues Away", "BR Blues", "Late Date", and "I Remember Clifford". CD

Featuring Phil Woods, Mike Mainieri, Phil Upchurch, and Richard Davis! CD

Georgie Fame really sounds wonderful here – stepping out in a straight jazz mode, with the promised blues currents at the bottom – in a vibe that takes us back to his early work in the 60s! Ben Sidran produced the set, and also plays piano – with an all-star group that includes Mike Mainieri in vobes, Phil Woods and Pete King on alto, Stanley Turrentine and Bob Malach on tenor, Ronnie Cuber on baritone, and Grady Tate on drums! All that top-shelf jazz talent really makes the album sparkle – but, as always, it's Georgie and his wonderfully-inflected vocals that really hold the charm for the whole set – a voice that we'd rank right up there with Jon Hendricks or Mose Allison for sheer inventiveness and individuality. Titles include "The Woodshed", "The Blues & Me", "Maybe It's Because Of Love", "Roll With My Baby", "How Long Has This Been Going On", and "Pass Me By". CD

Sweet and subtle genius from two of the most understated players in jazz – a really great little record that makes the best of the CTI sound without tricking up the players too much! Art Farmer and Jim Hall play in a quintet with vibes by Mike Mainieri – in a style that eschews the electric funk of other CTI records, but has a similar sense of space, sound, and rhythm overall – proof that the label's groundbreaking approach didn't always have to be electrified! Tracks are quite long, and the two leaders effortlessly craft notes that magically hang in space with an airily soulful feel. Titles include wonderfully reworked versions of "Whisper Not", "A Child Is Born", and "Pavane For A Dead Princess". LP, Vinyl record album

Featured guests include David Liebman, Mike Mainieri, and Peter Erskine. CD

Music composed by Luiz Millan and performed by Eddie Daniels, Randy Brecker, Lisa Ono, Jorge Pinheiro, Mike Mainieri, and others. CD

Big ol' bass from Marcus Miller – but also some sweet keyboards and great vocals too – all wrapped up in a set that's really got Miller at the height of his powers! Marcus wonderfully skirts the worlds of soul and fusion for the record – and mostly creates a tight groove on his own, even the vocals – but sometimes brings in key help from artists who include Mike Mainieri on vibes, David Sanborn on alto, and Ralph McDonald on percussion. A few other singers come into the mix to support Marcus' lead – including Luther Vandross and Yvonne Lewis – but he's got a warmth that grooves right alongside his instrumentation, even without any help. Titles include "Just For You", "Much Too Much", "Suddenly", "Just What I Needed", and "Be My Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A driver it is – one of Buddy's best jazz records from the 60s, with a straight lineup that includes Seldon Powell on tenor and Mike Mainieri on vibes – both of whom give the set a cool feel that's somewhere in between Buddy's swinging work of the 50s, and his groovier late 60s sides. There's loads of nice little tracks on the record – many written by Ernie Wilkins, who also arranged the set – and titles include "Brainwashed", "Big Leg Mary", "Bloody Mary", and "Miss Bessie's Cookin". LP, Vinyl record album

A soul fusion set from David Spinozza – a player who managed to cross over nicely, but never without losing the depth in his sound! The set features Spinozza in the lead on guitar, working in a soulful setting that's often laidback – rhythms stepping along gently, allowing for some glide in the instrumentation – sometimes hitting a bit hard, yet never in the jamming side of the fusion spectrum. The arrangements are a big part of the success of the album – nice and lean, and handled by Mike Mainieri, Leon Pendarvis, and Spinozza himself – who seems to have a good ear for vocals, using them sparingly, with just the right blend. Luther Vandross sings a bit on the record, and titles include "Country Bumpkin", "Superstar", "On My Way To The Liquor Store", "Prelude To The Ballerina", "Airborne", and "Doesn't She Know By Now". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Michael Brecker on tenor, Mike Mainieri on vibes, Don Grolnick on piano, Eddie Gomez on bass, and Steve Gadd on drums. A double-length set – with cuts that include "Young & Fine", "Soul Eyes", "Lover Man", "Tee Bag", and "Fawlty Tenors". CD

Super-dope work from the great Wes Montgomery – set to excellent early CTI arrangements from Don Sebesky and Deodato! The groove is nice and airy – with Wes' guitar floating over the top, yet still present enough to ring out loud and clear on all the tightly plucked notes – and the arrangements are never constricting or confining, and instead have a very open vision that really lets Montgomery's sound soar! Herbie Hancock's on piano, and Mike Mainieri adds some nice touches on vibes – and the balance of sounds, tones, and colors is simply sublime. Titles include the amazing title cut "Down Here On The Ground" – the start of a whole new generation in jazz – plus "Wind Song", "The Fox", "Goin On To Detroit", "Up & At It", and "When I Look In Your Eyes". LP, Vinyl record album

A slew of notable guests on this record, including Arthur Blythe, Steve Gadd, Richard Tee, Hiram Bullock, Ralph MacDonald, Hugh McCracken, Michael & Randy Brecker, George Adams, Jon Faddis, Howard Johnson, and Mike Mainieri. CD