... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A seminal set from the Ohio underground – a record that features top-shelf production not just from the group's Jahson, but also from the young Hi-Tek too – all with a quality that really links the sophisticated sound of the album to the growing world of the Rawkus scene! A further link is featured in three key appearances from Talib Kweli on the record – but even without his presence, the group already have something here that can go head to head with the best of New York – laidback production that's got all sorts of interesting stuff going on, but without hitting you over the head – and lyrics that manage to sound mystical, yet without being preachy either. An overlooked classic – with titles that include "He is DJ Hi-Tek", "Sacred", "Peace Infinity", "Esoteric Manuscript", "Karma", "The Vision", "Tunnel Bound", "Another Day", "Nuclear Hip HOp", "Peddlers Of Doom", "Secrets Of The Sand", and "Illuminated Sunlight". LP, Vinyl record album

A Canadian group with roots that go back to The Guess Who – but who come across here with a sound that's very much their own – well-produced, and with some soulful undercurrents that come as a nice surprise for anyone who might have been expecting a more offbeat approach from their name! The sound is tight, but in ways that are different from more mainstream AOR work from the US at the time – using jazzy elements in the instrumentation, but mixed with a more straightforward groove – echoing some roots, but never rootsy at all, given the sharper production from Phil Ramone. Titles include "Gimme My Money", "River Bank", "Daybreak", "Kill The Hangman", "Queen Jealousy", "Come & See Me Here My Friend", and "Gimme My Money". CD

Stefano Di Battista on saxophone, Flavio Boltro on trumpet, Kenny Barron on piano, Rosario Bonaccorso on bass, and Herlin Riley on drums. CD

A beautiful session from Italian trumpeter Fabrizo Bosso and saxophonist Javier Girotto – one that's filled with all the Latin Moods promised in the title! The set steps nicely off some of Bosso's other recent work for Blue Note – with a sound that's evocative, but also pretty lively too – especially given the small combo setting for the date! Bosso's trumpet and flugelhorn come into great play with Girotto's soprano and baritone sax lines – dancing beautifully over some rhythmic backings shaded in with keyboards, piano, and electric bass. The large booklet features some poetic prose that really set the scene for each tune – and although there's a bit of vocals on the record, most numbers are instrumental. Titles include "Volver", "Matias", "Pescao Blanco", "Wide Green Eyes", "Ochenta", "El Cacerolazo", "African Friends", and "Penny". Contains two bonus tracks ; "Blues" & "Caminando". CD

One of a few albums recorded by pianist Joe Castro for Atlantic – an overlooked player with a nice light touch on the keys! The "mood jazz" in the title is very fitting, as the record's got some nice touches from track to track – like wordless chorus vocals on a few numbers, sax solos by the little known (but nicely toned) Glen Prescott, and even some light and gliding spare string touches on arrangements by Neal Hefti, who does arrangements for most of the set! The record's a real charmer, with elements that should be hokey, but which come off surprisingly well in Joe's hands – making for a set that offers a lot more than the usual piano outing of this sort from the time. Titles include "Doodlin", "Without You", "Angel Eyes", "Caravan", "You Stepped Out Of A Dream", and "JC Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Sweet Dreams Of Love", "Jungle Nights In Harlem", "Sweet Jazz O'Mine (Take 1)", "Sweet Jazz O'Mine (Take 2)", "Shout 'Em Aunt Tillie", "Sweet Mama", "Hot And Bothered", "Double Check stomp", "Black And Tan Fantasy", "Ring Dem Bells (Take 2)", "Ring Dem Bells (Take 3)", "Old Man Blues (Take 3)", "Ring Dem Bells (Take 6)", "Old Man Blues (Take 6)", "Three Little Words", "Hittin' The Bottle (Take 1)", "Hittin' The Bottle (Take 2)", "That Lindy Hop", "You're Lucky To Me", "Memories Of You", "Big House Blues", "Rocky Mountain Blues", "Runnin' Wild", and "Mood Indigo". CD

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... CD

Hiatus Kaiyote are one of those groups that just seem to grow and grow with each new album – a strongly soulful act at their start, but one who've found a way to carve out sounds and styles that are very much their own – maybe almost making themselves a genre in the process! Things here are both cosmic and crispy, heaven-bound and earthy, in this mix of electro-acoustic energy that perfectly fits the vocals of Nai Palm, and the pulsating energy from the rest of the group – funky, but in footprints that are far from the conventional – future soul writ large, glowing with new inspiration and energy. Titles include "Get Sun", "And We Go Gentle", "Sip Into Something Soft", "All the Words We Don't Say", "Stone Or Lavender", "Sparkle Tape Break Up", and "Blood & Marrow". CD

Quite a different album than you might expect from the title and cover – which seem to imply a set of late nite ballads! Instead, the album's got fuller arrangements and a more upbeat groove – that larger ensemble mode that some organists were using in the mid 70s – as on the later Prestige jazz/funk years, or even some of the work on the Groove Merchant label! Groove Holmes here still gets plenty of space to solo, even though the arrangements feature some additional keyboards from time to time – and Horace Ott handles the backings with a nicely soulful vibe. There's also some vocal chorus presence on the record – handled by The Breathless group, who work in a way that just echoes the instrumentation – and titles include "Morning Children", "I'm In The Mood For Love", "I've Got A Love For You", and "This Is The Me Me" – plus the laidback "Non Kulu Leku", which has a very mellow CTI/Kudu feel. CD

The first-ever LP issue of these solo piano tracks from 1944! LP, Vinyl record album

An important set that documents all of King's early vocalese jazz sides – pivotal vocal jazz recordings that were not only enormously popular with listeners around the country, but which also did a heck of a lot in the way of advancing the way that male singers handled lead vocals on jazz-based tunes! Titles include "I'm In The Mood For Love", "Red Top", "Jumpin With Symphony Sid", "I'm Gone", "Funk Junction", "You're Crying", "Don't Get Scared", "This Is Always', and "Exclamation Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Trumpeter Tom Kirkpatrick takes on the legacy of Chet Baker – especially late Chet Baker – but he works here with a sound that's very different overall! The format's one that Baker would often choose in later years – just a trio, with Andrea Pozza on piano and Bibi Rovere on bass – both excellent players who bring a lot of snap and crackle to the session – way more than you'd hear from one of Chet's later combos! And Kirkpatrick's phrasing is different too – sometimes as mouthy as Baker, but with a more forward approach that sparkles strongly next to Pozza's work on the keys. Titles include "Daybreak", "Gone With The Wind", "Get Out Of Town", "Alone Together", "Somewhere In The Light", "Line For Lyons", and "Bernie's Tune". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Very nice set of Mingus' legendary Candid recordings – produced in 1960, after Mingus angrily departed Columbia records, and was finally given the freedom to work in the way that he wanted. The recordings are some of Mingus best – and they feature a righteous anger and sheer jazz power that's unmatched by few other recordings. Tracks include "Mysterious Blues", "Reincarnation of A Lovebird", "Bugs", "R&R", "Vassarlean", and more! CD

Features Ronnie Matthews and George Cables on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Al Foster on drums – plus guest trumpet from Wynton Marsalis. CD

Marty Nau on clarinet, Scott Silbert on bass clarinet, Robert Redd and Wade Beach on piano, Chuck Redd on vibraphone, Steve Novosel and Tommy Cecil on bass, and Brooks Tegler on drums. CD

2 early Saturn albums by Sun Ra on one CD! Fate In A Pleasant Mood was recorded and released in 1960 – and is a stellar example of Ra's early genius at work. John Gilmore and Marshall Allen hold down the reed solos, and Ra's piano is out front, with plenty of space for crazy solos, especially on the cut "Space Mates". All compositions are original Ra material, and the track list includes "Ankhnaton", "Distant Stars", and "The Others In Their World". When Sun Comes Out is from a few years later – when the Arkestra had moved to New York City – and the lineup is a bit more adventurous, with Ra playing a bit of percussion and electric celeste on one track, and an overall freer approach by the rest of the group. Titles include "Dimensions In Time", "Dancing Shadows", "The Rainmaker", "We Travel The Spaceways", and "Calling Planet Earth". CD

Changes is a really beautiful set – a session that has Dauner playing both acoustic and electric, sometimes at the same time – as he uses a sampler to capture sounds of the acoustic piano, then manipulates it while playing – creating a really haunting blend! There's a great mix of warm lyricism and spacier moments on the record – and titles include "Changes", "Fur Flo", "Tanz Trans", and "Landscape". CD

With Kenny Wheeler, Ian Carr and Ack Van Rooyen on trumpet – plus Charlie Mariano on saxophone and Eberhad Weber on bass! CD

Includes the tracks "Ausgeschlafen", "Story Board", "Die Wiederkehr", "Circus Gambet", "Lady Bountiful", "Red Room", "Some Time In Silence", "Rip Off", and "Be-Bop Rock". CD

Wolfgang Dauner on piano and keyboards, Charlie Mariano on alto saxophone and flute, and Ernst Stroer on percussion. CD

A nice set from Wolfgang Dauner, Ian Carr, Volker Kriegel, Barbara Thompson, Albert Manglesdorff, Kenny Wheeler and the rest of the excellent United Jazz & Rock Ensemble! There's a nice, adventurous groove that's unafraid of being straight up fun, without sacrificing brilliant compositions. The Break Even Point includes "Boorcert", "Chateau Sentimental", "Alfred Schmack", "Sidewalk", "Amber", "One Sin A While" and more. CD

A great mix of freewheeling jazz and electric sounds – in a blend of MPS and Brit 70s jazz modes – played by a lineup that includes Charlie Mariano on soprano and alto, Ack Van Rooyen and Ian Carr on trumpets, Wolfgang Dauner on piano and keyboards, Volker Kriegel on guitar, Eberhard Weber on bass, Albert Mangelsdorff on trombone, and Barbara Thompson on soprano and tenor! CD

A laidback set of funky instrumentals served up by a combo who mix up organ, guitar, bass, and drums – plus nice use of percussion in all the right moments, which underscores the slight exotica bent they hint at in the title! There's also some slight but great use of electronics – little synth bits that come in as a nice surprise – and give some of these tunes a sinister undercurrent – especially as some of the instrumentation seems informed by soundtrack moments too. Titles include "Skyclad & Summer Moon", "Watching Mr Chubbs", "For K & R", "Flowers For An Elephant's Graveyard", and "Soul Pagan". CD

Steve Arrington's got a long long legacy in soul music – one that goes back to his late 70s work on Slave – but he also sounds completely contemporary here, working in collaboration with a whole host of producers who were no doubt influenced by his creations of the past, and help Arrington find a whole new vibe in his music! Tunes are often spare, and served up in a blend of vocals, beats, keyboards, and guitar – yet all elements are given some cool, crispy twists and turns through a host of hip hop elements and other contemporary modes – but all at a level that only seems to bring new live to Arrington's music, and not overwhelm it. The set features work from Mndsgn, Gifted & Blessed, J Rocc, Knxwledge, Devin Morrison, and others – and titles include "Love Knows", "Keep Dreamin", "Soulful I Need That In My Life", "Make A Difference", "Joys Of Love", "It's Alright", "Make Ya Say Yie", "You're Not Ready", "Good Mood", and "Work On It". LP, Vinyl record album

One of a handful of late 50s albums that Chet Baker recorded for Riverside – all of which are some of his last great 50s work in the studio, before a shift in the 60s to a wider-ranging approach to his music! The style here is definitely in the "classic" Baker mode set down for Pacific Jazz – but a bit more fleshed out by the other players in the set – who seem to push a bit more personality into the tunes, and not just let Chet's trumpet dominate. The sound is soft and gentle – as you'd expect from the title – and other players include Bill Evans, Pepper Adams, Kenny Burrell, Paul Chambers, Connie Kay and Philly Joe Jones – all bringing a bit of a New York undercurrent to the west coast Baker solo style. Titles include "How High the Moon", "It Never Entered My Mind", "If You Could See Me Now", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "Time On My Hands", and "You And The Night And Music". Also includes the bonus track "Early Morning Mood". CD

An album that definitely lives up to its title – as it's one of those nicely stripped-down sessions that Chet Baker recorded overseas in the last years of his life – done in close collaboration with the great Nicola Stilo, a musician who really helps bring something special out in Baker's music! Nicola plays guitar, flute, and piano – shifting between each to fit the mood of the long, blue performances by Chet – and the pair also get help from bassist Rocky Knauer, who comes in gently to just move things along with a light touch. Tracks are nice and long, and titles include "Arborway", "Margarine", "Zingaro", "You Can't Go Home Again", "DS Dilemma", and "But Not For Me". CD

Later work from Charlie Barnet, but a set that really cooks nicely overall – still with the strong sax tones of earlier years, but also with a groovier sort of sparkle that marks the 60s date of the session! The tunes are short, but Charlie gets plenty of space to do his thing – leading off boldly with a great sense of tone, and blowing with some surprisingly inventive lines as the set rolls on. There's a bit of organ in the mix – uncredited, like the rest of the players – and titles include "Coachella Blue", "Mood Indigo", "Leapin At The Lincoln", "East Side West Side", "The Great Gong Of Hong Kong", and "Tappin At The Tappa". LP, Vinyl record album

The soundtrack that put John Barry over the top – and to many, THE James Bond soundtrack! The album chills from the first notes of the haunting title theme – the majestic "Goldfinger", sung by Shirley Bassey with a tone that's as dangerous as a razor-sharp hat spinning through the air! Barry then takes over with some wonderful instrumentals – a blend of crime jazz, mood pieces, chase themes, and more – all peppered with that dark dark Bond theme that we love so much! Titles include "Into Miami", "Teasing The Korean", "Alpine Drive", "Bond Back In Action", "Gassing The Gangsters", and "Death Of Goldfinger". CD

One of the greatest of Barry's scores for the James Bond films – early enough to be raw, but confident enough to change up the mood nicely! The theme song features vocals by Tom Jones – and the rest of the tunes almost reads as a who's who of hipster influences, as so many of them have been taken up by other artists as band or album names. Titles include "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang", "Thunderball", "The Bomb", "Chateau Flight", "Bond Below Disco Volante", "Death Of Fiona", and "Switching The Body". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare French album of funky fusion from drummer Daniel Bechet – dedicated to his father, the famous saxophonist Sidney Bechet – yet served up in a style that's nothing at all like the elder's musical legacy! Instead, Daniel works here in a warm blend of guitars and keyboards, especially the latter – as the set rolls along with a warm soulful vibe throughout, so that even the drums, while grooving, are wrapped up strongly as part of the overall sound! There's almost a Steely Dan level of perfection to the record – recalling the sound of the Hoops McCann project in the 80s – and titles include "Sweet Stuff", "Night Clouds", "Brother Jacques", "Saturday Night Flavour", "Don't Be Shy", "Astral Dance", and "Jacqueline's Mood". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of late 60s Columbia classics from Tony Bennett – back to back on a single CD! First up is Tony Makes It Happen – a very jazzy album, with a group that features Joe Wilder and Joe Newman on trumpets, Urbie Green on trombone, Joe Soldo on flute, and orchestrations from Marion Evans – all of whom really bring out those unique qualities that set Bennett apart from so many other singers in his generation! Where a Vic Damone might have used his inherent richness to push things over the top, the maturing Tony is a master of restraint – still able to run the full gamut of his amazing range, but set up with these beautiful arrangements that bring some adult understanding to the tunes, in a beautifully subtle vibe. Titles include "What Makes It Happen", "I Don't Know Why", "Can't Get Out Of This Mood", "She's Funny That Way", "A Beautiful Friendship", and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore". Next is Yesterday I Heard The Rain – fantastically mature work from Tony Bennett – a record that follows in that great direction the singer was taking in the 60s – delivering sophisticated vocals that didn't care much for the charts, but which really stand the test of time as the years go by! As on some of Tony's best from the period, arrangements are by Torrie Zito – whose careful orchestrations always let Bennett's vocals soar out in the lead, while also hitting some occasional flourishes that bring just the slight touch of drama to the music – but never in the over the top styles of some of his contemporary! Space is the key here – lots of space between the words and the notes – which makes even simpler songs sound pretty darn amazing. Titles include "Sweet Georgie Fame", "Fool Of Fools", "Only The Young", "I Only Have Eyes For You", "Yesterday I Heard The Rain", and a surprisingly great version of "Hushabye Mountain". CD

Unusual work from the great George Benson – a wonderful session that was recorded by CTI during George's classic years for the label – but issued only briefly a number of years later, and slightly lost amongst the rest of his catalog! The material's great, though – and has George in top form for the sweet 70s funk years – working with arrangements by Ronnie Foster and David Matthews – on tunes that also include keyboards by Foster and Bobby Lyle, trombone from Fred Wesley, saxes from David Sanborn, Joe Farrell, Michael Brecker, and Ronnie Cuber – and even a bit of additional guitar from Eric Gale! There's a nice mix of modes here – some tight funky cuts, some more flowing numbers, and even one more traditional jazz tune with a great vocal by George – on the classic "Moody's Mood For Love". Other titles include "Melodia Espanol", "Pacific Fire", "Em", "Bandoleros Caballa", "Let Your Love Come Out", and "Knock On Wood". CD

Not the Black Devil Disco club, but instead a very unique combo from the South African scene of the 70s – one that features all sorts of cool work on organ and guitar from leader Pops Ismail Mohammad – and both flute and tenor from SA jazz legend Basil Coetzee! The album's a bit jazz, but it's also more in a soul instrumental mode – with drums and bass fleshing things out, but still keeping a nicely laidback groove – and one that's very different than you might expect from the "disco" in their name! Titles include "Slow Mood", "Kids In The Dark", "Whiter Shade Of Pale", "Spiritual Feel Riding The Blue", "Dawn", and "No More Tears". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent stuff – and one of the funkiest albums ever cut by Blow Fly! This is his second LP – and it's a funky recounting of a successful tour around the US, with Blow telling the story of the trip, as the mood and groove changes from track to track, as the story moves from city to city. Blow's closest to his roots as Clarence Reid, soul singer, on this one – and the vocal style is great all the way through, with a hip mix of monologues and singing that's really great. Even better, though, is the band – which grooves with a mix of funky bass, hard drums, and tight riffing that makes us wish we'd been around to catch the tour! And not only that, the goofy cover is super-sexy-silly, just right for the LP! LP, Vinyl record album