This record is not really a Dexter Gordon album but rather a collection of tracks from Spotlite's Dial Masters series that include other artists as well. The Gordon tracks that are included are alternate takes of songs recorded for Dial and performed with his Quintet and Quartet in 1947. Titles include "Mischievous Lady", "Lullaby In Rhythm", "Chromatic Aberration", "It's The Talk Of The Town", "Ghost Of A Chance", and "Sweet & Lonely". The other artists included were either on the Dial label or Dial issued them at some point and they are the Teddy Edwards Quartet, Earl Coleman & His All-Stars, Fats Navarro Quintet and Howard McGhee & His Band. Tracks include "Blues In Teddy's Flat", "Mop Mop", "Lifestream", and "Move". LP, Vinyl record album

A soulful classic from Chicago! "Move Your Body" is a wonderful house tune – one with a warmer groove than usual, and vocals that really drive the track in a great way. Mixed by Chicago legend Ron Hardy, this track needs no introduction around these parts, and we'd be surprised if it did elsewhere! 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Very cool work from Quintessence – an overlooked British group at the end of the 60s, and one who've got a sound that's every bit as spiritual as you'd guess from the cover! These guys are so influenced by Eastern thought, their lead singer is named Shiva – and most of the group members have names that follow suit – yet they also work in a style that's equal parts progressive rock, with a current of jazz – which they spin out beautifully with instrumentation that includes a fair bit of flute, next more conventional guitar, bass, and drums. Their earliest material also features sitar and tambura, which are dropped a bit later on – although the group still seems to find the right spiritual currents – and this wonderful set features three full albums by Quintessence – In Blissful Company, Quintessence, and Dive Deep – with 28 tracks that include "Body", "Gange Mai", "Pearl & Bird", "Notting Hill Gate", "Sea Of Immortality", "Burning Bush", "Shiva's Chant", "Maha Mantra", "Twilight Zones", "Sri Ram Chant", and "Dance For The One". CD

Phillip Frazier on tuba, Keith Frazier on bass drums, Derrick Tabb on snare drum, Stafford Agee and Gregory Veals on trombone, Derrick Shezbie and Chadwick Honore on trumpet, and Vincent Broussard on saxophone. CD

Freddie Roach always makes a good move on his Blue Note sessions – going for a lean and tight style on the organ that never fails to please! On this set, he's working with a mixed group of hardbop and soul jazz players that includes two Blue Note heavyweights – Blue Mitchell on trumpet and Hank Mobley on tenor – key proof that the label really thought a lot of Roach's playing at the time, and a great way to hear Mobley open up with a Hammond – which he doesn't always do! The rest of the group also features Eddie Wright on guitar and Clarence Johnson on drums – all moving with Freddie on some tight tracks that have a triple punch of organ, tenor, and trumpet! Titles include "Wine Wine Wine", "I.Q. Blues", "On Our Way Up", and "Pastel". CD

Freddie Roach always makes a good move on his Blue Note sessions – going for a lean and tight style on the organ that never fails to please! On this set, he's working with a mixed group of hardbop and soul jazz players that includes two Blue Note heavyweights – Blue Mitchell on trumpet and Hank Mobley on tenor – key proof that the label really thought a lot of Roach's playing at the time, and a great way to hear Mobley open up with a Hammond – which he doesn't always do! The rest of the group also features Eddie Wright on guitar and Clarence Johnson on drums – all moving with Freddie on some tight tracks that have a triple punch of organ, tenor, and trumpet! Titles include "Wine Wine Wine", "I.Q. Blues", "On Our Way Up", and "Pastel". CD

An obscure late ESP session featuring Don Rafael Garrett and Zusann Fasteau Garrett in a set of duets on percussion, bass, clarinet, and voice. The sound's a bit hippy dippy in parts, with a vibe that's kind of groovy and optimistic – but at other times, the playing is nice and spare, with a good east coast avant sound, in that mid 70s loft jazz mode. Titles include "Wave Hands Like Clouds", "Stork Cools Its Wings", and "Snake Creeps Down". CD

Funky funky funky! Lonnie plays live with a tight group that includes tenor, guitar, and some very heavy drumming – really wailing at a level that was surprising for funky organists of the time, and which really set the pace for a whole new generation! The players are more obscure than on the usual Blue Note sides – save for Ronnie Cuber, who played baritone with Mongo Santamaria, and is one of the most underrated 60s funky players. Recorded live at the Club Harlem in Atlantic City, and with a deep raw funky sound that must have blown the roof off the club! Titles include "Move Your Hand", "Layin' In the Cut", "Charlie Brown", and "Sunshine Superman". One of his best ever! Plus, this CD reissue also includes a bonus cut – "Dancin' In An Easy Groove" – which does exactly that, for about 12 minutes long! CD

Henry Threadgill on alto saxophone, Brandon Ross and Ed Cherry on guitar, Edwin Rodriguez and Marcus Rojas on tuba, Mark Taylor on French horn, and Pheeroan Aklaff on drums. CD

Classic mid 80s dancehall from Yellowman! Production by Henry Junjo Lawes, backing by Roots Radics and rhythms laid down at Channel One – often the recipe for greatness – and that's on the menu here. Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt came at an inarguable peak for Yellowman, with unstoppable rhythms and Yellowman's brilliant way of delivering gruff lyricism in an approachable way. Revolutionary material from an icon at a creatively crucial peak. Titles include "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt", "Strictly Mi Belly", "Wreck A Pum Pum", "Hill & Gully Rider", "Bedroom Mazuka", "Good Loving", "Body Move", and "Watch Your Words". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet grooves from the Duomo Sounds label – a short-lived Nigerian imprint who cut some mighty funky sounds at the start of the 80s! The title here uses the word "disco", but these cuts have none of the strings and polish of the sounds you'd hear at Studio 54 – as most numbers here are stripped-down and raw, really more in a clubbier take on the more famous Nigerian funk of a few years before! However, there's also a quality here that could easily cross over to the hipper clubs on the New York underground – as most of these guys are also using the same sort of small combo funk instrumentation of the best of the indie post-disco scene – which means that some tracks resonate with the work of labels like P&P, and others echo some of the more global currents that were showing up in New York funk during the period! Most lyrics are in English, which further gives these tracks a universal appeal – and titles include "Perfect Disco Machine" and "Disco Connection" by Bindinga, "Aimiuugwia" and "Advice" by Christy Ogbah, "Xmas Eve" by Johnny O Bazz, "Look At Me" and "Shake You Body" by Mike Umoh, "You Do Good You Do For Yourself" by Godfrey Odili, "On My Mind" by Bassey Black & The Natty Messiah, and "Ariro" by Eunice Mokus Arimoku. CD

A batch of rare Northern Soul – featuring a whole bunch of numbers we've never seen before – floor shaking numbers by solo singers & groups such asJesse Davis, Jimmy Holiday, Brenton Wood, The Hytones, The Gypsies, The Tiaras and many more! You probably don't need us to tell you that Kent Records UK has been digging deep for the mightiest and most sought after Northern Soul singles they could find for their impeccable series of compilations – and they go above and beyond once again with this one. Great stuff with solid notes and put together with care and affection! 24 tracks in all: "Hang On In There Girl (Inst)" by The Jesse Davis Band, "Try My Love" by Troy Dodds, "Black Mother Goose" by Sam Nesbit, "Queen Of Losers" by Eleanor Rigby, "Hook, Line And Sinker" by San Greer, "Deeper" by The Cheques, "There's Room For Me" by Jesse Davis, "Just A Fool" by Jerry Ganey and more. CD

A very cool soundtrack, and one that offers up a weird and wonderful mix of modes from the mid 60s – bits of surf guitar, garage rock, country, and more – all brought together in a wonderfully evocative mode that hardly needs the images of the offbeat film on the screen! The whole thing is a really great dip into a 60s underground that's not often as well represented in the world of compilations and reissues. Titles include "Tropic Waters" by Steve Waltner, "Melody On The Moon" by The Travelers, "Crying Guitar" by Johnny Blue, "Walk Through The Valley" by Kay Johnson, "Far Away" by Ron Heiss & The Low Notes, "Tarantula" by Jody Reynolds, and "Lost Horizon" by Tommy Dae's High Tensions. LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool soundtrack, and one that offers up a weird and wonderful mix of modes from the mid 60s – bits of surf guitar, garage rock, country, and more – all brought together in a wonderfully evocative mode that hardly needs the images of the offbeat film on the screen! The whole thing is a really great dip into a 60s underground that's not often as well represented in the world of compilations and reissues. Titles include "Tropic Waters" by Steve Waltner, "Melody On The Moon" by The Travelers, "Crying Guitar" by Johnny Blue, "Walk Through The Valley" by Kay Johnson, "Far Away" by Ron Heiss & The Low Notes, "Tarantula" by Jody Reynolds, and "Lost Horizon" by Tommy Dae's High Tensions. LP, Vinyl record album

Produced by Kanye West. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Production by Nile Rodgers, Shep Pettibone, & Dancin' Danny D. CD

Funky funky funky! Lonnie plays live with a tight group that includes tenor, guitar, and some very heavy drumming – really wailing at a level that was surprising for funky organists of the time, and which really set the pace for a whole new generation! The players are more obscure than on the usual Blue Note sides – save for Ronnie Cuber, who played baritone with Mongo Santamaria, and is one of the most underrated 60s funky players. Recorded live at the Club Harlem in Atlantic City, and with a deep raw funky sound that must have blown the roof off the club! Titles include "Move Your Hand", "Layin' In the Cut", "Charlie Brown", and "Sunshine Superman". One of his best ever! LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Produced by Kanye West. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Bobby Byrd recorded some killer work with James Brown back at the end of the 60s, but hardly go the chance to record much once the 70s moved on – until this killer full length set that has Bobby's vocals backed by the genius of the Soul Society combo! There's a really old school vibe to the whole set – strongly inspired by the James Brown sound of the late 60s, but also filtered through the new changes that the UK scene was bringing in during the generation of Brand New Heavies – a plenty that's great for Bobby, and has a whole back to basics vibe that really sounds wonderful, and reminds us that old funky legends never die – they just don't get the attention they deserve! The set features guest vocals from Vicki Anderson and Carleen Anderson – two generations of female funk – and titles include "Back From The Dead", "Never Get Enough", "I'm On The Move", "Sayin It & Doin It Is Two Different Things", "The Way To Get Down", and "Sunshine". CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A trio of albums from The Grass Roots – plus lots of bonus tracks too! First up is Leaving It All Behind – a really great shift for the Grass Roots – a set that has the group sounding more confident before, and maybe a bit more soulful too – really coming at things with this nice sense of punch both in the lead vocals, and the way the overall groove drives the set! The arrangements are superb – handled by Sid Feller and Jimmie Haskell – and we can especially hear the talents of the latter, in the way that Jimmie can take simple elements and make them sound groovy – but all in a very unassuming way. Titles include "Out Of This World", "I'm Lovin For You Girl", "Wait A Million Years", "Take Him While You Can", "Walking Through The Country", and "Truck Drivin Man". Move Along is a record with a big, bold sound – lots of soulful arrangements from Jimmie Haskell, full of horns and driven by great basslines – all of which really pushes the dynamic energy of the group! The Grass Roots look a bit more mature on the cover, and that comes through in their vocals too – some raspier charms that really reflect the passage of years, and enforce a bit more feeling in the lyrics – giving a heft to the album that's an unexpected surprise, especially if you only know their earlier hits. Titles include "Move Along", "Two Divided By Love", "Monday Love", "One Word", "Runnin Just To Get Her Home Again", and "Anyway The Wind Blows". Alotta Mileage is a 70s standout from The Grass Roots! Back in the 60s, the Grass Roots already had this tight, compressed energy that was totally great – a quality that also makes their 70s work like this so wonderful too! There's a focus here that's totally great – horns informed by earlier soul music styles, and vocals that borrow a bit too – upbeat and bubbling, but with maybe a nicely mature vibe too – still hook-heavy, but slightly different than the earlier hits – on titles that include "Just A Little Tear", "Pick Up Your Feet", "Where There's Smoke There's Fire", "Ballad Of Billy Joe", "We Almost Made It Together", "Ain't No Way To Go Home", and "Claudia". 2CD set features 14 more bonus tracks – including "Temptation Eyes", "Sooner Or Later", "Bella Linda (single version)", "Get It Together", "Baby Hold On", "I'd Wait A Million Years (single version)", "We Can't Dance To Your Music", and "I Can Turn Off The Rain". CD

Great 50s material from Red Norvo – recorded with Tal Farlow on guitar and Charles Mingus on bass! The drum-less combination of vibes, guitar, and bass makes for an almost-exotic approach – one that rings out with some new moods and tones on tracks that are old standards – in a manner that really helps us understand why folks from the old days think Norvo's so great! Titles include "Godchild", "September Song", "Swedish Pastry", "I'll Remember April", "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me", "Cheek To Cheek", "This Can't Be Love", "I Get A Kick Out Of You" and "Move". LP, Vinyl record album

Freddie Roach always makes a good move on his Blue Note sessions – going for a lean and tight style on the organ that never fails to please! On this set, he's working with a mixed group of hardbop and soul jazz players that includes two Blue Note heavyweights – Blue Mitchell on trumpet and Hank Mobley on tenor – key proof that the label really thought a lot of Roach's playing at the time, and a great way to hear Mobley open up with a Hammond – which he doesn't always do! The rest of the group also features Eddie Wright on guitar and Clarence Johnson on drums – all moving with Freddie on some tight tracks that have a triple punch of organ, tenor, and trumpet! Titles include "Wine Wine Wine", "I.Q. Blues", "On Our Way Up", and "Pastel". LP, Vinyl record album

Funky funky funky! Lonnie plays live with a tight group that includes tenor, guitar, and some very heavy drumming – really wailing at a level that was surprising for funky organists of the time, and which really set the pace for a whole new generation! The players are more obscure than on the usual Blue Note sides – save for Ronnie Cuber, who played baritone with Mongo Santamaria, and is one of the most underrated 60s funky players. Recorded live at the Club Harlem in Atlantic City, and with a deep raw funky sound that must have blown the roof off the club! Titles include "Move Your Hand", "Layin' In the Cut", "Charlie Brown", and "Sunshine Superman". One of his best ever! CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

With Sonny Fortune on alto, Larry Willis on piano, and titles that include "Malandro", "To Wisdom The Prize", "The Boy With The Sad Eyes", and "Naturally". CD

... CD

A stunning set from overlooked tenor genius Tina Brooks – a musician who recorded for Blue Note during the key years of Hank Mobley and Johnny Griffin, but whose music was mostly un issued at the time! This rare set is a great second chapter to Tina's True Blue album – material recorded in 1958, but unissued until the late 70s in Japan – at which time the album became an instant classic in the Blue Note catalog – and for good reason, too – as the quintet features a crack lineup – with Lee Morgan on trumpet, Sonny Clark on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Blakey on drums. The group grooves nicely on Brooks' "Nutville" and "Minor Move" (done in other versions later on Blue Note), plus a nice long take of "The Way You Look Tonight" – and the tracks "Star Eyes" and "Everything Happens To Me". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Hieroglyphics team up with Goapele for the soulful "Make Your Move". 9th Wonder does a remix. "Love Flowin'" is another nice tracks with its own alternate mix, this one by Hiero all star A Plus. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Sweet grooves from Charlie Hunter – sounding better here than we've heard in years! The album's a real back-to-basics one for Charlie – a return to the sort of small combo grooving that first made him stand out from the pack back in the early 90s. The format is simple – Charlie's unique 8 string guitar solos over a quintet with tenor sax, trombone, chromatic harmonica, and drums – and the feel is like some of the sweetest grooving electric sides from the 70s. Very nice work – and a real surprise to our ears! Titles include "20th Congress", "Whoop Ass", "Try", "Oakland", "Freak Fest", and "Mali". CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... CD

One of those obscure split 12" singles from the early days – when labels clearly thought nobody would pay full price for a large single that only included one band! This one features a tight extended funk cut from Poison – a fast jamming number with some funky keyboards, a bit of moog, plenty of wah wah, and the usual breakdown in the middle! "You've Got The Power", on the flip and by Camouflage, is not nearly as nice – and is kind of a silly disco number without much going on until the breakdown, which finally adds in some strong elements, like funky bass, echoey piano, and conga beats. 12-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

Jim Rotondi blows with that great round sound we love so much in his horn – a bold, confident tone that only seems to get better with age, especially in the company of a group like this! The album features a core rhythm section that Jim's plenty comfortable with – David Hazeltine on piano, John Webber on bass, and Joe Farnsworth on drums – and is rounded out to a sextet with the presence of Ralph Bowen on tenor and Mike DiRubbo on alto, both tight horn players whose formations with Rotondi really help to give the album a strong, solid form! Titles include "Progress", "Julie Ann", "The Coat", "For Cedar", "The Look Of Love", "DH", and "Too Late Now". CD

Derrick May at his finest! 12-inch, Vinyl record

A great remix here from Afra Kane – who opens up the soulful sound of "Got To Move On" in a really great way! Kane puts lead vocals over the track, which has much more of a Brand New Heavies sort of vibe than anything else we've ever heard from S-Tone – although the man himself also adds in some mighty nice keyboards! "Rosa Da Ribeira" is remixed too – a cut that has more of the clubby Schema vibe of other S-Tone records, complete with vocals from Toco! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Three full albums from funky reedman Joe Thomas – served up in a single set! On Feelings From Within, the Ebony Godfather is grooving with a set of fuller backings – sweet clubby funk, arranged and conducted by Brad Baker (of B Baker Chocolate Company fame) – all as a showcase for Joe's sweet work on flute and tenor sax! There's a fair bit of keyboards on the tunes – played by Pat Rebillot and Barry Miles – and Steve Gadd's playing the drums on the date, which helps the rhythms keep a bit of an edge, even amidst the larger backing. Some cuts have backing chorus vocals, in a style used on other Thomas albums – and although definitely touched by a bit of disco fever, the album's still got a jazzy element too – like some of the crossover club sessions on the Kudu label from the 70s! Titles include "Funky Fever", "Feelins From Within", "Polarizer", "Coco", "Galaxy Dreamin", and "Venus". Make Your Move is sweet clubby grooving from Joe Thomas – a set that has the Ebony Godfather smoothing his groove a bit for the disco years of the late 70s, but still keeping things plenty soulful throughout! Brad Baker (of B Baker Chocolate Company fame) arranged and conducted the album, and he brings in some added vocals to the session – starting most tunes with a bit of singing before the instrumentalists get to solo in the grooves. The approach still works plenty darn well, though – and there's some great numbers here that slide in a bit of moogy vamping, in a way that's somewhat like some of Thomas' previous Ebony Godfather records. Titles include the funky "Caught You Lying Again", the smooth stepper "Let Me Be The One", and the tracks "Sugar Smack", "Get On Back", "Make Your Move", and "Your Love Is So Good To Me". On Masada, the cover's a bit righteous, but the grooves are wonderfully smooth – that shift towards warmer, club-based styles that Joe Thomas took in the 70s – an approach that comes off surprisingly well! Brad Baker's handling most of the arrangements here – with a fusion of jazz, funk, and club that's similar to some of the work coming out of the CTI/Kudu labels during the same stretch – and Joe's use of tenor sax on the album almost comes off like Stanley Turrentine in a similar setting, although with a bit less bite. Instrumentation includes keyboards, horns, and strings – and there's also a slight bit of chorus vocals on a few tracks too. Titles include "Poinciana", "Flame", "Let's Love", "Gemini Flyin' High", "I'm Gone & I'm Glad", and "Masada". CD

Totally great work from a young Mike Nock – a pianist that most folks know for his electric and experimental sounds of the 70s, but who's appearing here on record for the first time ever – at the head of a totally cooking soul jazz combo! Nock's command of the piano is tremendous right from the start – both hands flying freely, but with a very rhythmic vibe – one that's underscored by the strong work of Freddy Logan on bass and Chris Karan on drums – both musicians we don't know at all, but who really know how to make the record groove – especially in comparison to other Aussie jazz dates from the time. The bass is especially great – a key part of the album's sound, and explored by Nock with these bluesy chords on the piano – and titles include "Move", "Way Back", "Primitive", "Little Niles", "Freshwater", and "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal soul from one of Chicago's greatest labels in the 60s – the One-Der-Ful/Mar-V-Lus imprints, plus tracks from related Toddlin Town too – home to some of the best indie work at the time! The quality here is right up there with the best you'd hear from Chess, Okeh, or Brunswick in the 60s – no surprise, since the pair of labels shared lots of similar talents with the bigger companies – as well as session men, songwriters, and producers too! The full scope of Chicago soul is really covered here – upbeat groovers for the dancefloor, heartfelt ballads with great harmonies, and some of the harder-edged bluesy numbers that really helped put One-Der-Ful on the map! There's also some key early examples of funk – proof that in the 60s, Chicago was one of the hippest scenes in the world – and the set comes with 2 CDs, nestled in a hardback booklet of notes and photos – with a whopping 50 tracks in all. Titles include "Tired Of Being Lonely" by The Sharpees, "Without You" by The Ulti-Mations, "That's How It Is" by Otis Clay, "Keep On Dancin" by Alvin Cash, "The Funky Judge" by Bull & The Matadors, "I Get A Groove" by Thomas East & The Fabulous Playboys, "Damper Down" by Bobby Davis, "The Town I Live In" by McKinley Mitchell, "Come Back Home" by Beny Turner, "Master Key" by Harold Burrage, "If I Could Live My Life All Over" by Dorothy Prince, "You Told A Lie" by Johnny Sayles, "New Girl" by The Accents, and "Don't You Worry" by Joe & Mack. CD

A key moment in the career of vocalist Ernestine Anderson – a record that not only returned her to the public eye after a flurry of initial sides in the late 50s and early 60s, but which also finally helped Anderson find a sound that worked! The album's done with backing by the Monty Alexander trio – in a style that's bluesy and soul jazz inflected, but with a sweeter west coast sound – almost an early 80s equivalent of the groove explored by Lou Rawls or Ernie Andrews in LA during the mid 60s, but done with an even more relaxed, jazz-based approach here. The title track – "Never Make Your Move Too Soon" – was an instant standout that got Anderson play in many corners of the US – and other tracks are more familiar numbers, but done in a similar mode – with titles that include "Old Folks", "As Long As I Live", "Just One More Chance", "Poor Butterfly", and "My Shining Hour". CD

A key moment in the career of vocalist Ernestine Anderson – a record that not only returned her to the public eye after a flurry of initial sides in the late 50s and early 60s, but which also finally helped Anderson find a sound that worked! The album's done with backing by the Monty Alexander trio – in a style that's bluesy and soul jazz inflected, but with a sweeter west coast sound – almost an early 80s equivalent of the groove explored by Lou Rawls or Ernie Andrews in LA during the mid 60s, but done with an even more relaxed, jazz-based approach here. The title track – "Never Make Your Move Too Soon" – was an instant standout that got Anderson play in many corners of the US – and other tracks are more familiar numbers, but done in a similar mode – with titles that include "Old Folks", "As Long As I Live", "Just One More Chance", "Poor Butterfly", and "My Shining Hour". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A tremendous achievement from music writer Aaron Cohen – a book that finally gets at the deeper, richer story of Chicago soul – the spirit of empowerment and pride that have always made us so honored to be part of the Windy City legacy! Cohen picks up where other soul writers have left off on Chicago – really looking at the shifts into the 70s, which included greater ties to the means of production, and an increased role in the social agenda as well – all part of an evolution in songwriting styles, production techniques, and the growing power of the full length album over the 7" single! Cohen looks at many key figures of the time – Earth Wind & Fire, Chaka Khan & Rufus, Curtis Mayfield, Phil Cohran & The Artistic Heritage Ensemble – and the very well-researched book is a delight to read throughout – easily the deepest work that Cohen's ever given us. 234 pages, softcover, with some black and white images – and a selected discography too. Book

An early Berry Gordon production! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Freddie Roach always makes a good move on his Blue Note sessions – going for a lean and tight style on the organ that never fails to please! On this set, he's working with a mixed group of hardbop and soul jazz players that includes two Blue Note heavyweights – Blue Mitchell on trumpet and Hank Mobley on tenor – key proof that the label really thought a lot of Roach's playing at the time, and a great way to hear Mobley open up with a Hammond – which he doesn't always do! The rest of the group also features Eddie Wright on guitar and Clarence Johnson on drums – all moving with Freddie on some tight tracks that have a triple punch of organ, tenor, and trumpet! Titles include "Wine Wine Wine", "I.Q. Blues", "On Our Way Up", and "Pastel". CD

A key blend of two chapters in David Bowie's career – his guitar-heavy groove with the Spiders From Mars, and his 60s roots in mod London! The tracks here all date from the mid 60s, and are Bowie's homage to that period in his life – but they're all played with a glammish 70s sensibility, and some definite Ziggy Stardust elements in the way the guitars come into the mix. Given Bowie's rise as a key songwriter of his time, the step back to an album of all covers is a surprising, but genius move – and the execution of the tunes here comes off brilliantly – with plenty of personal spirit that keeps them from being simple rehashes of hits! Tracks include "See Emily Play", "Friday On My Mind", "I Can't Explain", "Everything's Alright", "Don't Bring Me Down", "Shapes Of Things", and "Here Comes The Night". LP, Vinyl record album

Trumpeter Jaimie Branch has been giving us great music for a number of years – but honestly, she really knocks it out of the park on this live set – a record that's even more amazing than her previous two efforts with a similar title! The set's a double-length performance – and Branch's trumpet is really just a small part of the sound – as the quartet work together in these really amazing ways – with a well-blended sound that moves into all this sonic territory way more than familiar jazz – thanks to brilliant contributions from Chad Taylor on drums and mbira, Lester St Louis on cello and cymbal, and Jason Ajemian on bass – all players who really move around a lot, shift the sound of their instruments, and step into the brilliantly creative territory opened up by the leader! Titles include "Prayer For Amerikka (parts 1 & 2)", "Twenty Three N Me (Jupiter redux)", "Reflections On A Broken Sea", "Birds Of Paradise", "Leaves Of Glass", "The Storm", "Walzer", "Sun Tines", and "Theme 001". CD

Dollar Brand playing solo – but with a vibrancy that hardly makes you miss the other instruments at all! Most of the record features solo piano, but there's also a bit of bamboo flute as well – leading off the set and establishing this great organic vibe to the whole thing, which is then followed by Brand's long-spun, completely hypnotic lines on piano! The recording quality is wonderful – very clear and strong, and quite resonant too – and the set features two side-long long suites – "Africa" and "Reflection" – with shorter passages that move through the warm range of moods you'd find in Brand's other strong work from the time. Titles include "Ancient Africa", "Msunduza", "Single Petal Of A Rose", and "African Sun". CD

Don't let the Casio in the title fool you, as Brother Lee Skelly plays a whole host of other keyboards too – including Hammond C3, Minimoog, Clavinet, Fender Rhodes, and Mellotron too – in addition to electric sitar and tambura! In fact, Lee plays everything himself – including a whole host of other instruments – but he makes the record come off like some killer funky combo – one that has plenty of keyboards upfront and on long solos, grounded by some massive drums and funky nuggets at the bottom! Titles include "Concrete Bongo Head", "Move It On", "French Madrid", "Soul Noodle", "Super Capri Beat", "Wah Wah", "Welcome To Valium Country", and "Bossa For Ingrid". LP, Vinyl record album