A nicely old school set of vocal work from Jonathan Schwartz – quite traditional, especially given the time of the recording – done in a way that makes you feel like you're catching Schwartz working the backroom at some New York club in the wee small hours of the morning! Piano dominates the backings on most numbers, but there's also some added instrumentation at points too – a bit of trumpet from Marky Markowitz or clarinet from Phil Bodner – used with a nice sense of care to augment the vocals. Titles are mostly standards, and include a few from Jonathan's old man Arthur – with tracks that include "Nobody Else But Me", "I'm Old Fashioned", "Once Upon A Long Ago", "Thief In The Night", "Rainy Day", "A Sure Thing", "Anyone Would Love You", "Don't Ever Leave Me", and "Tomorra Tomorra". LP, Vinyl record album

Hard swinging work from James Spaulding – still sounding great after all these years! Spaulding's in perfect company here – with Ronnie Matthews on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums, plus horn work by Dan Faulk and Don Sickler, next to the range of flute and alto work supplied by Spaulding. The tracks have a hard soul approach that's a bit Horace Silver, a bit James Moody – and inflected by the modern leanings that Spaulding brought to some of his earlier work. Titles include "Rue Prevail", "John Charles", "Soul Station", "Public Eye", "Hipsippy Blues", and "Vaun Ex". CD

With Ricky Ford on tenor, Barry Harris on piano, George Duvivier on bass, and Leroy Williams on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

With special guest Dr John! LP, Vinyl record album

With Lloyd Glenn on piano, Larry Gales on bass, Bruno Carr on drums, Rashid Ali on tenor, Jerry Rusch on trumpet, and Gary Bell on guitar. LP, Vinyl record album

Jack Walrath is a surprisingly compelling trumpeter who always grabs us in different ways – soulful one minute, experimental the next – always with an approach that's quite unique! On this special little set, he begins by just blowing a mouthpiece – using a tone that's really striking – then moving into some warmer lines on trumpet and flugelhorn with sensitive phrasing at points, and bolder notes at others! The group's a quintet, and features Larry Coryell on guitar, Benny Green on piano, Anthony Cox on bass, and Ronnie Burrage on drums – and titles include "Clear Out Of This World", "So Long Eric", "Stardust", "Wake Up & Wash It Off", "Come Sunday", and "Brother Can You Spare A Dime". CD

A very unusual set for pianist Cedar Walton – one that has him working with vocalist Abbey Lincoln, in a session that marks a high point for both of them at the time! Cedar's group on the set is in a very Eastern Rebellion mode – with Bob Berg on tenor, Billy Higgins on drums, and David Williams on bass – and Abbey joins the group on four of the album's eight tracks – the best of which are original numbers that feature a freshly inventive vocal style that really makes the album something special. Abbey sings some great lyrics to her originals "Castles" and "Not In Love" – as well as Cedar's excellent "The Maestro", a tune dedicated to the late Ellington. And the band grooves nicely on versions of Jobim's "Sabia", plus "Blue Monk" and "On The Trail". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

With Jaki Byard on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums. Includes "Samba Du Bois", "Nefertiti", "Airegin", "The Last Page", and "The Summer Knows". CD

One of the hippest funky jazz combos of the 70s – stepping out here in their amazing debut for Cobblestone records! Catalyst had a groove that was unlike most of their contemporaries – a sound that was often jazzier than some of the tighter funk artists on labels like Kudu or Prestige, with some deeply spiritual leanings in the solos – but also a style that was still pretty tight and focused, not as far out as some of the headier groups on the Strata East label. There's loads of great choppy rhythms and tight-edged grooves on the record – thanks to Fender Rhodes from Eddie Green, reeds from Odeon Pope, bass from Al Johnson, and drums and percussion from Sherman Ferguson. Skip Drinkwater produced the session at Sigma Sound, and it's definitely got some of his hallmark appreciation of rhythm in the mix – on titles that include "Ain't It The Truth", "New Found Truths", "East", "Catalyst Is Coming", "Jabali", and "Salaam". LP, Vinyl record album

A compelling 70s set from reedman Eddie Daniels – a lot darker than some of his smoother jazz sides to come! There's a feel here that's almost in the CTI camp, but a bit spacier overall – as Daniels' work on flutes, tenor, and clarinet comes into play nicely with Fender Rhodes and string ensemble keyboard work from Andy Laverne – hero of a few key indie dates of the decade, and still sounding great here. Rhythm is from Rick Laird on bass and Billy Mintz on drums – players who can alternately space out and kick things up when needed – and the album's a nice reminder that Daniels could sometimes be gently expressive without being too sleepy. Titles include "Sway", "The Path", "Brief Encounter", and "Ligia". LP, Vinyl record album

A Heavy Hitter from tenorist Eddie Lockjaw Davis – recorded a bit late in his career, but with a sound that's mighty nice – and every bit as great as some of his 60s recordings for Prestige! The combo's small, swinging, and soulful – Albert Dailey on piano, George Duvivier on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums – coming together with a perfect punch that makes Davis sound better than he'd sounded in years – blowing with that raspy, human tone that nobody else did so well – grabbing us from the get-go, even on familiar tunes! Titles include "Comin Home Baby", "Jim Dog", "Just One Of Those Things", and "When Your Lover Has Gone". CD

Beautiful tenor work from Buck Hill – an under-acknowledged genius who finally got his chance to reach a larger audience with a handful of Muse Records releases like this one! Hill's a player with a great deal of feeling – a tone that stretches back to Coleman Hawkins in his best later years, schooled with some of the soul of Stanley Turrentine, but delivered with a warm, rich sound that's all Buck's own – the kind of overlooked tenor talents that would grab your ears from the back of a bar, even if you weren't already hip to the player! Buck's working here with a familiar combo that includes Jon Ozmont on piano, Carroll Dashiell on bass, and Warren Schadd on drums – and he also delivers some surprisingly great original tunes on the set – the titles "Blue Hill", "Mitzi", "Lullaby Of Loosdrecht", "Bossa For Sax", and "Blues In Five For Four Or More". Other titles include "But Beautiful", "I Want To Be Happy", and "Warm Vally". CD

Nice 70s work from Etta Jones – done at a time when she was really opening up her sound, thanks in part to prdouction help from Houston Person! Houston's on the set on tenor, and other players include Walter Davis on piano, Buster Williams on bass, Jimmy Ponder on guitar, and Grady Tate on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible little album from Eric Kloss – one of our favorites ever from this period, and a record that shows how tremendously he'd grown in just a few years of jazz recording! The set features a quintet with Dave Holland on bass, Ron Thomas on electric piano, and Pat Martino on guitar – grooving with Kloss on long, searching tunes that have a heck of a lot of modal soul. The album kicks off with the extended suite "One Two Free" – which gets "free" at the end, but which serves up some nice blocky grooves at the beginning – and it's followed up by the tracks "It's Too Late" and "Licea", both of which have a wonderfully solid sound! CD

Pat's opening up his guitar lines here, and playing in a freer, post-Coltrane way than on his earlier albums. He's backed up here by Eddie Green on electric piano, plus Tyrone Brown on bass and Sherman Ferguson on drums. Tracks include "Impressions", "Consciousness", and "On The Stars". LP, Vinyl record album

James Moody's definitely feelin it here – stepping back into a straighter hardbop mode after some funkier sets of the early 70s – really sounding great on tenor, alto, and flute – and working with a very hip quartet for the date! Kenny Barron's in the group on both electric and acoustic piano (plus a bit of harpsichord) – and given his previous work with Moody in Dizzy Gillespie's group, the players already have a well-established repoire that shows clearly on the record – at at times, Barron nicely sets the scene with some of his moodier 70s playing, which really suits James' flute work well. Bass is by Larry Ridley and drums are by Freddie Waits – two more key players in this very hip quartet – and titles include "Anthropolgy", "Dreams", "Autumn Leaves", 'Wave", "Morning Glory", and "Kriss Kross". CD

One of his best for Muse, with a beautiful set of jazzy vocal grooves that includes his reading of "Stolen Moments" (later made famous by United Future Organization), plus "D.C. Farewell" and an excellent version of "Waters of March". Warm and breezy, with that perfect style that Murphy had for a brief while in the 70s – and which has continued to be such a huge influence on groovers today! CD

Houston Person on saxophone, Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, Stan Hope on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Grady Tate on drums. Titles include "Only Trust Your Heart", "Almost Like Being In Love", "Everything Happens To Me", and "Just For You". CD

Great back-to-basics work from Jimmy Ponder – a well-crafted but laidback session that has the guitarist really opening up nicely in a hip quartet! Jimmy never tries too hard to get things back to the sound of the old days – never any of those hokey nods to the acid jazz generation you might find at the time – and instead, he really enjoys the open setting of the session, and crafts some well-played solos with a sweet hollow-body sound! The group features Mark Soskin on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Roger Humphrey on drums – and the album features an especially nice 9 minute take on "The Creator Has A Master Plan", plus "Johnny's Place", "Moonlight In Vermont", "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise", and "Sunshine". CD

A great one from that moment when Red Rodney was working with Ira Sullivan – a set that has both on trumpet, plus more flute, tenor, and alto from Sullivan! LP, Vinyl record album

Features Houston Person on tenor sax – plus 2 non-LP bonus tracks! CD

Great straight work from the legendary Sonny Stitt – recording here in a mode that's different than his funky sides of the time – and a lot more back to basics! The group's a quintet – as Sonny blows both tenor and alto, with help from Joe Newman on trumpet, Duke Jordan on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Roy Brooks on drums – and excellent combo who really keep things interesting – on titles that include "The Champ", "Sweet & Lovely", "The Midgets", "The Eternal Triangle", "All The Things You Are", and "Walkin'". CD

A beautiful later set from Lorez Alexandria – produced by Houston Person, and put together with a sensitivity that really stands out! Although Lorez always sparkles on tunes that swing, she really rises to the occasion even more here on the ballads – really gentle tunes that are taken in a laidback, personal sort of way – sometimes stretching out to the 10 minute mark, and presented by Lorez in a way that's open, unhurried, and a far cry from the usual quick take on an evergreen standard. The group features the great Gildo Mahones on piano – plus Herman Riley on tenor, Grant Geissman on guitar, Andy Simpkins on bass, and Sherman Ferguson on drums. Mahones handled the arrangements – always a plus – and titles include "I Should Care", "Love Walked In", "I'll Never Stop Loving You", "No Moon At All", "All My Life", "For All We Know", and "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning". CD

One of Kenny's best albums from the 70s – a moody set of piano tracks – both electric and acoustic – that features backing by Ted Dunbar, David Williams, Sonny Morgan, and Albert Heath. Most of the tracks have a very nice warm 70's soul jazz sound – laidback, but exploratory and always opening up on new levels – and the mixture of piano and guitar that graces most of the album makes for an unusual departure from some of Kenny's other albums. Titles include "Peruvian Blue", "The Procession", "Two Areas", and "In The Meantime". CD

It's a dream come true! This beautiful 2 CD set brings together all of the rare Muse albums by the great fusion ensemble Catalyst. Although the band aren't necessarily the "funkiest band you never heard", they are an amazingly soulful jazz combo, and their albums are filled with tight jazzy licks, firey solos, and amazingly tight rhythms. The band features amazing keyboards by Eddie Green and great reeds by Odeon Pope – plus crackling drums, heavy rolling basslines, and lots of nice arp work. Nearly every track is fantastic – and we can't believe what a great deal this set is. Includes the cuts "Jabali", "The Demon", "Suite For Albeniz", "Ain't It The Truth", "Ile Ife", "Celestial Bodies", "Salaam", "Mail Order", and "Shorter Street". Fantastic all the way through – and proof that the US market can still get reissues right! CD

Great later work from Sonny Criss – very much in the format of his late 60s work for Prestige, but with an approach that's perhaps a bit more open-ended overall! The vibe here is laidback and soulful – Sonny blowing alto sax in that wonderful, all-his-own sort of tone – a sound that's almost tenor-like in phrasing, but with a crisp alto quality that's completely sublime! The group's a batch of familiar associates, all of whom lay back wonderfully in the rhythms – Dolo Coker on piano, Larry Gales on bass, and Jimmie Smith on drums. There's a solidness here that few other players can match – and titles include the original numbers "The Dreamer" and "The First One" – plus "El Tiante", "All The Things You Are", and "Out Of Nowhere". LP, Vinyl record album

Great later work from Sonny Criss – very much in the format of his late 60s work for Prestige, but with an approach that's perhaps a bit more open-ended overall! The vibe here is laidback and soulful – Sonny blowing alto sax in that wonderful, all-his-own sort of tone – a sound that's almost tenor-like in phrasing, but with a crisp alto quality that's completely sublime! The group's a batch of familiar associates, all of whom lay back wonderfully in the rhythms – Dolo Coker on piano, Larry Gales on bass, and Jimmie Smith on drums. There's a solidness here that few other players can match – and titles include the original numbers "The Dreamer" and "The First One" – plus "El Tiante", "All The Things You Are", and "Out Of Nowhere". CD

An overlooked fusion set from the mighty Muse Records – an early 80s date recorded under the leadership of keyboardist Mitch Farber, and featuring work from Randy Brecker on trumpet, Gary Campbell on tenor and soprano, and Steve Khan on guitar! Given the players, there's almost a major label fusion feel to the set, although the overall sound is more open and laidback – not slick at all, and a nice reminder that in the farther corners of jazz in the early 80s, fusion didn't always have to be focused on commercial hits. Rhythm is from Mark Egan on bass, Danny Gottlieb on drums, and Sammy Figuera on percussion – and titles include "Monuments", "Sky Dance", "The Chooser", "Lonely Promises", and "Starclimber". CD also features the bonus track "Theme From Travels" – recorded in 1990. CD

A real gem from Woody Shaw's greatest period – a very hip sextet session, recorded with Hayes, Cook, Shaw, and a rhythm section that includes Ronnie Matthews on piano, Stafford James on bass, A real gem from Woody Shaw's greatest period – a very hip sextet session, recorded with Hayes, Cook, Shaw, and a rhythm section that includes Ronnie Matthews on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Guilhermo Franco on percussion. Tracks are long, and stretch out in that searching, modal style that Shaw was using a lot at the time – and although the Hayes/Cook team are listed as the leaders on the set, the record clearly owes a lot to Shaw's influence and style. A wonderful record that we just don't turn up often enough! Titles include "Ichi Ban", "Book's Bossa", "Pannonica", "Brothers & Sisters", and a great take on "Moontrane". LP, Vinyl record album

Buck Hill blows mean and lean here – working in a quartet with a solidly soulful finish, one that's perfect for his well-schooled sound on the tenor sax! The album's got a really non-nonsense feel – production from Houston Person that keeps the sound plenty clean, and very focused on Buck's wonderful horn – and rhythms that never try too hard to be contemporary, and instead relax nicely in the older soul jazz groove that fits Hill's solo style the best. Titles include original numbers "Ottawa Bash", "Impulse", and "Random Walk" – plus "Now's The Time", "Blues In The Closet", "Solitude", and "How Do You Keep The Music Playing". CD

Great gritty sides from the mighty John Lee Hooker – material with a slightly obscure origin, but recorded in the late 50s, right in a stretch when he was cutting some of his classics! Hooker's guitar and vocals are center stage – both growling with a hell of a lot of soulful power – and the backing features just a bit of rhythm guitar, bass, and drums. Titles include "I Bought You A Brand New Home", "Teasin Me", "My Cryin Days Are Over", "Sad & Lonesome", "How Long", and "Mean Mistreatin". LP, Vinyl record album

The title's a bit hokey – an obvious play on the Star Wars film that was running in theaters at the time of the record – but the sound is classic Willis Jackson at his finest, recorded in a style that's right up there with his best 60s work for Prestige! The group here is a quintet – with Willis on tenor, Charles Earland on organ, Pat Martino on guitar, Idris Muhammad on drums, and Buddy Caldwell on congas – and as on Earland's best soul jazz sides for Muse from the time, there's a real back-to-basics approach here, one that really gets away from Modes that Willis used on other labels in the 70s. Titles include "The Goose Is Loose", "Bar Wars", "Blue & Sentimental", "Later", and "It's All Right With Me". CD

Nice set that brings together the best moments from Eddie Jefferson's Muse years! Eddie's one of our favorite jazz vocalists of all time – and even though he got his start in the bebop years, these 70's recordings are still fantastic stuff. In fact, they may even show him in his best light ever, as the decade was a time when he was being rediscovered by younger fans and players, which added a heck of a lot of energy to his work. The CD includes a range of material – from straight jazz numbers like "Night In Tunisia", "Keep Walkin", and "Ornithology", to stranger 70's funky ones, like "Thank You Falletinme Be Mice Elf Again", "Freedom Jazz Dance", and "Zap! Carnivorous". CD

Etta Jones, not Etta James – working here with some great small group backing that includes Houston Person, who also produced the set! CD

A gem of a record from Clifford Jordan – proof that the 70s were possibly the greatest decade for his music! Although most of Jordan's contemporaries from the big tenor days of the 50s really didn't grow much during the 70s, Clifford always continued to develop his style – adding in modes and tones that he'd never played before, working in an ever rich tapestry of jazz that makes just about any of his albums from the time a delight. Even this session – a simple quartet date recorded with Tommy Flanagan, Bill Lee, and Grady Tate – offers lots of wonderful moments, and is kind of a post-righteous 70s soul jazz album, filled with lots of warm tones and straight soulful playing that are almost a back to earth moment after his Strata East years – but still equally expressive. Titles include "He's A Hero", "No More", "Quasimodo", and "Adventurer". CD

Duets between Martino's guitar and the keyboards of Gil Goldstein. CD

A nice little album of soul jazz organ tracks by Jack McDuff, and proof that he was always still burning strong! Unlike other Hammond players, who got a bit sloppy in later years, McDuff always kept things interesting, and managed to come up with some creative arrangements and soulful solos that pushed his work way past the usual soul jazz bag. This set was recorded with Cecil and Ron Bridgewater, Houston Person, and Cecil Brooks III – and features a nice set of longish groovers like "Another Real Good'Un", "Rock Candy", "Off The Beaten Path", and "Summertime", which McDuff always does nicely. CD

Personnel include Red Rodney on trumpet, Richie Cole on alto sax, Roland Hanna on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Eddie Gladden on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Trumpeter Red Rodney works here with his great musical partner Ira Sullivan – a unique musician who also plays trumpet, but also blows alto and soprano too! Garry dial, Barry Smith, and Steve Bagby round out the personnel. Titles include "Muck & Meyer", "Frito Mistos", "Dial A Brew", and "Babies". LP, Vinyl record album

The legendary trumpeter plays with two key younger musicians – Ricky Ford on tenor and Richie Cole on alto – both players who break the groove way past bop! LP, Vinyl record album

A really great album from guitarist Melvin Sparks – and a definite comeback from the sound of some of his later work of the 70s! The group's a tight quartet – Buster Williams plays bass, Neal Creque plays piano, and Idris Muhammad's on drums – and the track list features a nice long cut called "Hassan", plus a good short fast one called "Bolt of Lightnin". LP, Vinyl record album

A great take on the music of Thelonious Monk – recorded with special sensitivity by reedman James Spaulding, who ensures that the sound goes way past the usual Monk-styled outing! Things start out in relatively familiar territory, but as the record progresses it really opens up – as Spaulding moves between alto sax and flute, and works beautifully with Wallace Roney on trumpet, Mulgrew Miller on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and the great Kenny Washington on drums. Given the experience of the players, the album's got a richness that shows the years past since Monk passed – a growing reach of his music, but a transformation as well – one that moves past easy angular cliches, and shows a complicated understanding of compositions like "Brilliant Corners", "Reflections", "I Mean You", "Let's Cool One", "Little Rootie Tootie", and "Ask Me Now". LP, Vinyl record album

Great work from James Spaulding – one of the few players of his generation who actually got better with age! As he was in his classic 60s Blue Note recording sessions with other leaders, Spaulding is a hell of a group player – extremely sensitive to the other members of his groups – both able to maintain a strong voice, yet give ample room to that of the others in his company. This 1991 recording features Spaulding blowing in a group with Roland Alexander on tenor, Tyrone Jefferson on trombone, Kenny Barron on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums – grooving in a modal mode that's kind of an extension of late 60s styles used by Horace Silver or Lee Morgan. Titles include "Cabu", "Uhuru Sasa", "Song Of Courage", and "King". CD

Some of the last work that Sonny Stitt ever recorded – and a rock-solid return to straight, acoustic work – material that has him blowing both alto and tenor, in two different groups! The first is a quartet with Junior Mance on piano, George Duvivier on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums – and the second group features Walter Davis on piano, George Duvivier on bass, Jimmy Cobb on drums, and trumpet on most of the set from Bill Hardman! CD

With Jaki Byard on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums. Includes "Samba Du Bois", "Nefertiti", "Airegin", "The Last Page", and "The Summer Knows". LP, Vinyl record album

With Houston Person on tenor saxophone. CD

Features Bennie Maupin and Gary Bartz! CD

A killer bit of funky jazz from the 70s – issued on the Muse label, but a set hat would be right at home on the Black Jazz or Strata East imprints! Eddie Green, Odean Pope, Tyrone Brown, and Sherman Ferguson form the core of this funky fusion outfit, and they play in a beautiful way that mixes choppy fusion riffs with more soulful instrumentation. Their sound is really unique, and is an incredibly clear realization of a style that a lot of other groups attempted, but always managed to muddy up. Tracks on this one include "Maze", "Athene", "Mail Order", and "Shorter Street". Nice stuff, and one that we just about never see! LP, Vinyl record album

Spacey album of keyboard duets between Joe Chambers and the great Larry Young. Recorded shortly before Larry passed away, this album features him and Chambers on a number of different piano and synthesizers, and Chambers playing drums on a few tracks while Larry grooves on organ. Very free, with little of the rhythmic pulse that you'd find in Larry's other late work. Cuts include "Message from Mars", "Rock Pile", "The Orge", and "Mind Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

We never tire of the saxophone work of Sonny Criss – and this mid 70s gem is a perfect example of his brilliance! Sonny's sound on alto here is completely his own – raspily, soulful style that's really unique – and which draws strongly from Criss' rich life experience, including his years away from music (he'd been retired for most of the 70s before the time of this album.) The group's laidback and open – with Dolo Coker on piano, Ray Crawford on guitar, Larry Gales on bass, and Jimmy Smith on drums – a group that's all well with Criss on his journey – but also lets him sparkle brightly in the lead. Titles include the extended track "Isle Of Celia", plus "This Is For Benny", "Blues In My Heart", and "Crisscraft". CD

Great later work from Sonny Criss – very much in the format of his late 60s work for Prestige, but with an approach that's perhaps a bit more open-ended overall! The vibe here is laidback and soulful – Sonny blowing alto sax in that wonderful, all-his-own sort of tone – a sound that's almost tenor-like in phrasing, but with a crisp alto quality that's completely sublime! The group's a batch of familiar associates, all of whom lay back wonderfully in the rhythms – Dolo Coker on piano, Larry Gales on bass, and Jimmie Smith on drums. There's a solidness here that few other players can match – and titles include the original numbers "The Dreamer" and "The First One" – plus "El Tiante", "All The Things You Are", and "Out Of Nowhere". CD

Ricky Ford proves once again that he's one of the best under-discovered tenor talents of his time – with a range of power that stretches back to the end of the 70s soul jazz years, moving forward with the confidence of the young lions of the early 90s! This set's a tremendous batch of tunes handled with ease by Ford and a quintet that includes Roy Hargrove on trumpet, Geoff Keezer on piano, Bob Hurst on bass, and Jeff Waits on drums – all working together perfectly with the poise and power of a group that might have been together for years. The best tracks are the more hard-driving ones – stretching past the five minute range, with that Brooklyn Sunday afternoon warmth that you find in some of the best Muse sides. Titles include "Hard Groovin", "Masaman", "MR CP", "New Bop", and "Fundamental Mood". CD

A stellar album from this 70s soul jazz genius! Ricky Ford's an oft-underrecognized talent who played on a number of soul jazz sleepers during the 70s – including great work by Charles Mingus – and this album features him in strident soulful form as the leader of a tight quintet that includes Oliver Beener on trumpet, Jaki Byard on piano, Dave Friesen on bass, and Dannie Richmond on drums. The tracks remind us a bit of work by Clifford Jordan or a young John Handy – although Ford's tone is different from any of them. Tracks include "Fadism", "On The Plaza", "Afternoon In New York", and "Olean Visit". LP, Vinyl record album

Ricky Ford's always a favorite of ours – and on this cooking little set, he matches horns wonderfully with tenorist Antoine Roney! Put aside any worries you might have about the Sonny Rollins-like title – or of the album being one of those twin-tenor albums that always ends up half the sum of its parts – because Ford's leadership and Roney's sensitivity really set the album on the right track, and both horn players have a magical interplay that shifts beautifully to new sounds with each fresh track. The album's edgey one minute, soulful the next – and it sports a rock-solid rhythm section in the piano of Donald Brown, bass of Peter Washington, and drums of Louis Hayes. Titles include "Up A Step", "Summer Summit", "Ballad De Jour", "Blues Abstractions", "Nigeria Blues", and "Rollin & Strollin". CD

A fantastic record from Grant Green's important early years – originally recorded for the Jazztime label in 1961 (and released under Dave Bailey's name), reissued in this form in the 70's by Muse. The set is headed up by drummer Dave Bailey – a set that's almost better than his classic early 60s sets for Epic! Like those records, this one's a rock-solid session that's right up there with the best Blue Note work of the time – perfectly put together, with a sense of poise, balance, and soul that's even more amazing, given that the album was only issued on the short-lived Jazztime label. The lineup is killer too – with Frank Haynes on tenor, Grant Green on guitar, Ben Tucker on bass, and Billy Gardner on piano – and the presence of Green, Gardner, and Tucker really give the set a tight soul jazz groove. Green is great, and the album's equally noteworthy for his presence – and has actually been issued under his name over the years as well. Tracks include "One For Elena", "Reaching Out", "Our Miss Brooks", and "Baby, You Should Know It". Great stuff, and an album that will become one of your favorites! LP, Vinyl record album

Nice little groover with a real Strata East soul jazz kind of feel, featuring the great Ronnie Matthews on piano, plus Charles Davis on baritone, and Gerald Hayes on alto. Hayes, Davis, and trumpeter Tex Allen all contribute tracks, including "Brothers & Sisters", "Olea", and "Bongolo". A very nice sound overall, and proof that Muse could turn out great sessions when it wanted to! CD

Great gritty sides from the mighty John Lee Hooker – material with a slightly obscure origin, but recorded in the late 50s, right in a stretch when he was cutting some of his classics! Hooker's guitar and vocals are center stage – both growling with a hell of a lot of soulful power – and the backing features just a bit of rhythm guitar, bass, and drums. Titles include "I Bought You A Brand New Home", "Teasin Me", "My Cryin Days Are Over", "Sad & Lonesome", "How Long", and "Mean Mistreatin". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice return to the soul jazz style of Willis' years at Prestige – after cutting a few too-smooth albums for bigger labels during the 70s! The style here is nice and easy-going – longish tracks, with a quintet that features Willis' old bandmate Pat Martino on guitar, plus Charles Earland on organ, Grady Tate on drums, and Buddy Caldwell on congas. There's no all-out funky tracks on the set, but the groove is nice and swinging on the best numbers – in a mode that's similar to Earland's own great sides for Muse at the time. Titles include "Hittin & Missin", "Move", "Nuages", and "Nothing Butt". LP, Vinyl record album

Two late 70's Muse albums from pianist Hank Jones. Bop Redux is a trio session with George Duvivier on bass and Ben Riley on drums. Groovin High is a quinter date with the great Charlie Rouse on tenor, Thad Jones on cornet, Sam Jones on bass, and Mickey Roker on drums. CD

Clifford Jordan on tenor saxophone, Cedar Walton on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. Titles include "Midnight Waltz", "One For Amos", "Blue Monk", "Highest Mountain", and "John Coltrane". CD

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An incredible little album from Eric Kloss – one of our favorites ever from this period, and a record that shows how tremendously he'd grown in just a few years of jazz recording! The set features a quintet with Dave Holland on bass, Ron Thomas on electric piano, and Pat Martino on guitar – grooving with Kloss on long, searching tunes that have a heck of a lot of modal soul. The album kicks off with the extended suite "One Two Free" – which gets "free" at the end, but which serves up some nice blocky grooves at the beginning – and it's followed up by the tracks "It's Too Late" and "Licea", both of which have a wonderfully solid sound! LP, Vinyl record album

Drummer Eddie Marshall never cut many albums as a leader, but we'll always love him for this one – a sublime San Francisco 70s session that features tremendous vibes from the great Bobby Hutcherson! But actually, the whole group's great – and also includes George Cables on piano, James Leary on bass, and Manny Boyd on tenor and soprano sax – who works alongside Hutcherson's vibes with some of the same soulful currents as Harold Land from earlier years! The tunes are well-paced – mostly by Marshall, with a slight undercurrent of spirituality – and a lyrical beauty that almost has Bobby in "Little B's Poem" territory at times. Titles include "The Stroll", "The High Priestess Of Gone", "Andree", and "But I Refuse To Come Down". LP, Vinyl record album

In our opinion, Jack McDuff never made a bad album – and this excellent later session is proof of that statement! The album's got a horrible cover – we'll state that from the start – but it's still a great batch of soul jazz organ tracks, played tightly by McDuff, with a group that includes Cecil and Ron Bridgewater, plus Houston Person on tenor, and Grady Tate on drums. The album features a great remake of McDuff's legendary "Theme From The Electric Surfboard" – done here with a bouncing groove that makes the tune perfect for a jazzy stepper's set – plus the cuts "Cap'n Jack", "One Hundred Ways", and "Walkin The Dog". CD

A set of folk songs, but handled in a way that isn't folksy at all – thanks to the lyrical genius of Spanish pianist Tete Montoliu! The music here has sources in older tunes from Catalonia – as you'd guess from the title – but Tete's handling of the material is all jazz, all the way through – with a rich amount of solo introspection that really moves the tunes past their simple melodies, in ways that are even more expansive than some of the Scandinavian 60s experiments with folk and jazz! The album's also perhaps one of Montoliu's best-remembered of the 70s – a date that circulated strongly, thanks to Tete's incomparable solo performance throughout – very expressive, but never overdone – on titles that include "Ruco", "Una Gitarra", "Manuel", "Canco De Matinada", "Cigales Al Ven", and "Quin Plan Teniu Senor". LP, Vinyl record album

Charlie Parker may live again in the title of this set – but given the strengths of the group, the album would be great even without a reference to Bird! The setting's a bop one, as you'd guess – but there's also a lot more going on here too, given that some of the tunes are longer and open – and almost show some of the maturation of all the players on the date – especially saxophonist Charles McPherson and pianist Barry Harris, both of whom got their start with boppish ideas, but who were really branching out by the time of this early 70s session. The quintet also features some excellent rhythm from Sam Jones on bass and Roy Brooks on drums – both players who bring plenty of fresh ideas to the table – and Red Rodney's work on trumpet has lots of earthy notes that show a strong sense of personality too. Titles include "Big Foot", "I'll Remember April", "Donna Lee", "Chasing The Bird", "Round Midnight", and "52nd Street Theme". CD

With Richie Cole on alto, David Schnitter on tenor, Barry Harris on piano, George Duvivier on bass, and Leroy Williams on drums. LP, Vinyl record album