A killer hardbop session from the early years of MPS/Saba Records – and one of the boldest statements on record from the mighty American reedman Nathan Davis – then residing in Europe, and really making some great waves on the scene! As with so many of the best Saba gems, the record has a way of taking Blue Note/Prestige Records inspiration, and pushing it with a fresher sensibility picked up overseas – elements of spiritual and modal jazz in the mix, served up by Davis on tenor, flute and soprano – in a wonderful combo that also features Carmell Jones on trumpet – with Francy Boland on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums – that ultra-hip rhythm section who opened up so many Gigi Campi productions! The album's a prize in the collection of any serious jazz collector – and titles include "The Hip Walk", "Train Of Thought", "B's Blues", and the nice groover "That Kaycee Thing". CD

A killer hardbop session from the early years of MPS/Saba Records – and one of the boldest statements on record from the mighty American reedman Nathan Davis – then residing in Europe, and really making some great waves on the scene! As with so many of the best Saba gems, the record has a way of taking Blue Note/Prestige Records inspiration, and pushing it with a fresher sensibility picked up overseas – elements of spiritual and modal jazz in the mix, served up by Davis on tenor, flute and soprano – in a wonderful combo that also features Carmell Jones on trumpet – with Francy Boland on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums – that ultra-hip rhythm section who opened up so many Gigi Campi productions! The album's a prize in the collection of any serious jazz collector – and titles include "The Hip Walk", "Train Of Thought", "B's Blues", and the nice groover "That Kaycee Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

Quite possibly the funkiest album ever recorded by saxophone legend Nathan Davis – a sweet little session with plenty of electric touches! The sound here differs greatly from Davis' 60s work on the European scene – his amazing albums for MPS and Polydor – and the record's awash in funky drum breaks, rolling basslines, keyboard solos, and plenty of searing work on soprano, tenor, alto, and flute by Nathan himself! There's a spare, stripped-down brilliance to this album that makes it one of our favorite indie jazz albums ever – a sense of groove that's apparent from the very first note, but also a righteous vision for arranging and composition that easily puts the set right up there with the best on the Strata East or Black Jazz labels! A few funky standouts on the record have been sampled heavily over the years, but the whole thing's great through and through – and titles include "Tragic Magic", "New Orleans", "African Boogie", "Stick Buddy", and "Bahia". CD

Amazing music by one of our favorite saxophone players of all time – captured here at the height of his 60s genius on the European scene! The tracks here have never been issued at all – but stand as a perfect complement to the killer MPS/Saba albums by Nathan Davis – and are served up with a similar blend of soulful hardbop and modernist edges – qualities that are already present in the fantastic phrasing of Davis on tenor and flute, pushed even further by the equally great work of French piano legend Georges Arvanitas! Although Arvanitas could be out when he wanted, he could also swing like the best of them – and his pairing with Davis here is perfect, and really brings out both the soul and edge in both players – especially in the company of George's fantastic rhythm duo of Charles Saudrais on drums and Jacky Samson on bass. The set's full of other surprises, too – including a bit of organ from Arvanitas, and an appearance by Jack Dieval – and the whole thing is beautifully recorded by French Radio. Tracks are all long – and include "Mid Evil Dance", "Blues For Southeast Asia", "The Hip Walk", "Rules Of Freedom", "A5", "The Thing", "Love Ye The Neighbor", "Nathalie's Dance", and "Yesterdays" in both flute and tenor versions. LP, Vinyl record album

Nathan Davis is one of our all-time favorite saxophone players – and he sounds tremendous here in the company of trumpeter Woody Shaw, as the pair both take on Shaw's early "Zoltan" composition, with help from Larry Young on piano! The flipside features an even bolder number – the Davis composition "Mister E", with some very fierce work from Young on the piano – a really surprising change from his usual organ work of the time! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Quite possibly the funkiest album ever recorded by saxophone legend Nathan Davis – a sweet little session with plenty of electric touches! The sound here differs greatly from Davis' 60s work on the European scene – his amazing albums for MPS and Polydor – and the record's awash in funky drum breaks, rolling basslines, keyboard solos, and plenty of searing work on soprano, tenor, alto, and flute by Nathan himself! There's a spare, stripped-down brilliance to this album that makes it one of our favorite indie jazz albums ever – a sense of groove that's apparent from the very first note, but also a righteous vision for arranging and composition that easily puts the set right up there with the best on the Strata East or Black Jazz labels! A few funky standouts on the record have been sampled heavily over the years, but the whole thing's great through and through – and titles include "Tragic Magic", "New Orleans", "African Boogie", "Stick Buddy", and "Bahia". LP, Vinyl record album

An old school saxophone supersession from this wonderful group that includes Nathan Davis, Benny Golson, Chico Freeman, and Arthur Blythe – all coming together in a deeply soulful style that links together a number of different traditions on the instrument! Although such a setting could be done as more of a loosely-styled jam session outing, the feel here is extremely tight – thanks to thoughtful arrangements from Golson, Davis, and pianist Kirk Lightsey – who handles rhythm chores on the date alongside Buster Williams on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums. The material's recorded live, with a tremendous amount of color and vibrancy – and titles include "Samba For Now", "Toku-Du", "Night Dreamer", "Heaven Dance", and an extended medley titled "Ballads For Trane". CD

Quite possibly the funkiest album ever recorded by saxophone legend Nathan Davis – a sweet little session with plenty of electric touches! The sound here differs greatly from Davis' 60s work on the European scene – his amazing albums for MPS and Polydor – and the record's awash in funky drum breaks, rolling basslines, keyboard solos, and plenty of searing work on soprano, tenor, alto, and flute by Nathan himself! There's a spare, stripped-down brilliance to this album that makes it one of our favorite indie jazz albums ever – a sense of groove that's apparent from the very first note, but also a righteous vision for arranging and composition that easily puts the set right up there with the best on the Strata East or Black Jazz labels! A few funky standouts on the record have been sampled heavily over the years, but the whole thing's great through and through – and titles include "Tragic Magic", "New Orleans", "African Boogie", "Stick Buddy", and "Bahia". LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary German session from the 60s – and a record that really showcases the unusual criss-crossing of modes that was going on in the European scene at the time! There's a very strong MPS vibe here – as trumpeter Dusko Goykovich leads a swinging sextet that includes Nathan Davis on flute, soprano, and tenor – blowing some tremendously soulful reed lines – plus incredible rhythms from Mal Waldron on piano, Peter Trunk on bass, and Cees See on drums. The record's an attempt to bring traditional Macedonian rhythms into a jazz perspective – but with players like these, it swings in a way any Macedonian album never could – damn soulful, and with a great exotic vibe. Davis is especially great, and plays in a soaring modal vein that's similar to his work on his classic MPS sides, and on the records he cut in America in the early 70s. The album's a beautiful session that often get's overlooked because it blends it with the Enja catalog – but it's really more of a record that belongs in an MPS reissue series, and is a great lost groover that's waiting to be rediscovered by the Dusty Groove crowd. Titles include "Macedonia", "Old Fisherman's Daughter", "Jumbo Uganda", "Bem Basha", "Saga Se karame", and "The Nights Of Skopje". CD

One of the first true moments of genius from saxophonist Nathan Davis – a mid 60s European session cut for the tiny SFP label – and a record that's even rarer than his early classics for MPS! The sound here is similar to the MPS sides – a mixture of soul jazz and modal jazz – served up with a bit more freedoms than Davis might have gotten on the US scene, and featuring a lineup that includes Woody Shaw on trumpet, Jean-Louis Chautemps on baritone sax, Rene Urtreger on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums. The tight rhythm of Woode and Clarke is a nice counterpoint to the modernism of Davis and Shaw – Davis works a bit on soprano, which sounds especially great! Titles include "Peace Treaty", "Klook's Theme", "Now Let M' Tell Ya", "Kansas City Special", and "Sconsolato". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first true moments of genius from saxophonist Nathan Davis – a mid 60s European session cut for the tiny SFP label – and a record that's even rarer than his early classics for MPS! The sound here is similar to the MPS sides – a mixture of soul jazz and modal jazz – served up with a bit more freedoms than Davis might have gotten on the US scene, and featuring a lineup that includes Woody Shaw on trumpet, Jean-Louis Chautemps on baritone sax, Rene Urtreger on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums. The tight rhythm of Woode and Clarke is a nice counterpoint to the modernism of Davis and Shaw – Davis works a bit on soprano, which sounds especially great! Titles include "Peace Treaty", "Klook's Theme", "Now Let M' Tell Ya", "Kansas City Special", and "Sconsolato". LP, Vinyl record album

Two fantastic American players – both coming together here on a rare European session for the Saba/MPS label in Germany! "Carmell's Black Forest Waltz" features not just great saxophone from leader Nathan Davis, but also a strong trumpet solo from Carmell Jones – blowing over this excellent modal groove from Francy Boland on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums! "B's Blues" is a bold soul jazz number – stunning work from both horn players, with Davis on a soprano sax for his solo! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A wonderfully edgey album – and a lost classic of South American jazz! The album's a rare 1966 set cut by Argentinian tenorist Chivo Borraro and his quartet – done in a style that uses some fantastic influences from American modal and soul jazz of the 60s, filtered through some of the freer rhythms of the European scene of the same time. There's a number of cuts on here that remind us of the best expatriot work of American player Nathan Davis – raw and emotive playing, yet always swinging as much as possible – as you'll hear on the album's killer cut "Half and Half", it's great take on "Summertime", and the standout "Charlie's Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic soul jazz groover – and arguably the greatest album ever cut by American tenorist Lucky Thompson! Like some other hip Americans of his generation, Lucky cut some of his best work in Europe – where the respect of the record industry, and the unique cross-cultural opportunities allowed him to push his playing past the stock settings of his American sides. This wonderful set features him on tenor and soprano, in the company of Fats Sadi on vibes and bongo, Rene Thomas on guitar, Eberhard Weber on bass, Stu Martin on drums, and the great Infried Hoffman on organ. Lucky's work on soprano is wonderful – a lot like Pony Poindexter or Nathan Davis from the same time – and it sounds fantastic next to the mix of organ, vibes, and guitar. The record's got many wonderful cuts – including "Centre Ville", "Sauvabelin", "Soul City", and "Lady Gail" – and the record's just another reason why MPS is one of the greatest jazz labels in the world! LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible record – filled with tunes that are far groovier than you might expect! The session features saxophonist Harold Vick in a split setting – as half the tracks feature a larger group with Vick on tenor and soprano, playing with Herbie Hancock, Joe Farrell, Jimmy Owens, Tom McIntosh, and a chorus of breezy female singers – while the other half feature a quartet that includes some spectacular work by Hancock on piano. The female singers are surprisingly great – drifting behind Vick's horn with a breezy, moody feel that recalls similar use of voices on sessions by George Braith or Ahmad Jamal – and which, if anything, emphasize the soulfulness of Vick's horn – a sound that's extremely apparent in his rich Nathan Davis-like use of the soprano sax! Vick's sound is even more far-reaching and deeply soulful than on his other RCA albums from the time – with a nascent spiritual soul jazz tone even in the most familiar numbers. There's echoes here of Gary Bartz, Jimmy Heath, and the above-mentioned Nathan Davis – and the record is a massively soulful treasure that's one of our favorite jazz sessions ever! Titles include "Ode To Trane", "Serenata", "This Hotel", "Watch What Happens", "Guava Jelly", and "Autumn Sunset". CD

One of the few American albums cut by saxophonist Chris Woods – a wonderfully talented player who cut some of his best work in Paris during the early 70s! The album captures some of the charm of Woods' best European records – with a lightly dancing groove on the best tracks, one that hints at his strong propensity for playing in modal lines, a trait he shared with Nathan Davis, a contemporary on the European scene, and a slightly similar player. Woods here is a bit more rootsy than Davis, though – working in an easily soulful setting, with pianist Jim McNeely, plus trumpet, bass, and drums. Woods plays flute and alto – and tracks include "Monsieur Le Bois In Paris", "What That", "Modus Operandi", and a nice version of "Scufflin Along". CD also features 3 bonus alternate takes of tracks from the album! CD

A fantastic trip through the farther reaches of the MPS/Saba Records label – headed up here by the great Nicola Conte – who's taken plenty of inspiration from these tunes in his own music as well! As you'd guess by the title, there's a spiritual jazz approach going on here – but the sound is a bit different than you'd know from the American generation of Coltrane and Impulse Records – a bit more globally-expansive, and criss-crossed with a variety of styles – part of the very open-minded approach that always made MPS so great! There's a number of tracks here that blend jazz and elements from other cultures – but never in a style that's hokey at all – and most numbers on the set are nice and long, and very groovy. Titles include "Maiden Voyage" by Third Wave, "Burungkaka Tua" by Tony Scott & The Indonesian All-Stars, "Soledad De Murcia" by Michael Naura Quartet, "Shelda" by Smoke, "Djerbi" by George Grunts, "Yaad" by Mathar Trio with Manfred Schoof & Barney Wilen, "Never Let It End" by Albert Mangelsdorff, "Raga Jeeva Swara" by Dave Pike Set, "Revelation" by Hannibal & The Sunrise Orchestra, "El Babaku" by El Babaku, "Timbales Calientes" by The MPS Rhythm Combination & Brass, "Evolution" by Nathan Davis, and "A Day In Vienna" by Dexter Gordon & Slide Hampton. CD

A fantastic trip through the farther reaches of the MPS/Saba Records label – headed up here by the great Nicola Conte – who's taken plenty of inspiration from these tunes in his own music as well! As you'd guess by the title, there's a spiritual jazz approach going on here – but the sound is a bit different than you'd know from the American generation of Coltrane and Impulse Records – a bit more globally-expansive, and criss-crossed with a variety of styles – part of the very open-minded approach that always made MPS so great! There's a number of tracks here that blend jazz and elements from other cultures – but never in a style that's hokey at all – and most numbers on the set are nice and long, and very groovy. Titles include "Maiden Voyage" by Third Wave, "Burungkaka Tua" by Tony Scott & The Indonesian All-Stars, "Soledad De Murcia" by Michael Naura Quartet, "Shelda" by Smoke, "Djerbi" by George Grunts, "Yaad" by Mathar Trio with Manfred Schoof & Barney Wilen, "Never Let It End" by Albert Mangelsdorff, "Raga Jeeva Swara" by Dave Pike Set, "Revelation" by Hannibal & The Sunrise Orchestra, "El Babaku" by El Babaku, "Timbales Calientes" by The MPS Rhythm Combination & Brass, "Evolution" by Nathan Davis, and "A Day In Vienna" by Dexter Gordon & Slide Hampton. LP, Vinyl record album

A budget-looking CD – but an essential slice in the career of the great Slide Hampton! Hampton was one of the great American players who departed for Europe during the 60s – and his work on the continent was some of his most fruitful ever, breaking him out of his harbop origins, and turning him into a much more sophisticated modal jazz player. This CD brings together 2 sessions from the late 60s – one a quartet session with Martial Solal on piano, and the rhythm team of Henri Texier on bass and Daniel Humair on drums. The other set's even better – and features the great Nathan Davis on tenor sax, plus vibes work by Dave Pike and piano by Hampton Hawes. Six cuts in all, with many great originals by Hampton, one of the 60s most under-rated jazz writers! Titles include "The Thing", "Chop Suey", "Impossible Waltz", and "Us Six". CD

A great record by one of our favorite trumpet players – and one of those albums on Prestige that are darn hard to track down! Carmell Jones recorded this album after playing with Horace Silver and before leaving for exile in Europe (where he later recorded some great music with Nathan Davis) – and the set grooves in an incredible 60s soul jazz mode, right up there with the best that Blue Note or Prestige had to offer. This cracklin' tight group features Jones in the company of Jimmy Heath on tenor, Barry Harris on piano, George Tucker on bass, and Roger Humphries on drums – and the tracks include "Beepdurple", "Jay Hawk Talk", and "Dance Of The Night Child". A great mix of soul jazz and freer ideas, with a very solid groove! CD

Genius work from Lucky Thompson – some previously unissued sides from that tremendous time when he was really changing up his sound! The work here is from the same period when Lucky returned to the US after some key years in Europe – and the overall feel is very similar to his sublime recordings on the Rivoli label – like those records, a magnificent blend of tenor and soprano sax stylings, often set to modal rhythms that marked a whole new style for Thompson! These tracks are almost even better, though – in that they're live numbers, and often quite extended – really letting Lucky stretch out with amazing qualities in his new sense of sound and freedom. The soprano lines are especially great – tremendous stuff that we'd rank right up there with Nathan Davis' explorations on the instrument – and Thompson is heard in two different groups: the first with Dave Burns on trumpet, Danny Turner on alto, Cecil Payne on baritone, Benny Powell on trombone, and Hank Jones on piano – on tracks that include "The World Awakes", "Minuet In Blues", "Twas Yesterday", and "Firebug". The second set features a smaller group – with Paul Neves on piano, George Tucker on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums – on titles that include "Strike Up The Band", "The World Awakes", "What's New", and "Lady Bird" – plus a bit of talking from MC Alan Grant. CD

One of the most unusual recordings we've ever heard from legendary drummer Art Blakey – not a Jazz Messengers session, but a rare Parisian performance by a quintet billed as the New Jazz Men! The lineup is fantastic – Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Nathan Davis on tenor, Jaki Byard on piano, and Reggie Workman on bass – players who express more modern intentions at times than some of Blakey's usual lineups – and who definitely earn the "new jazz" of their name – as they stretch out here on three long tracks that are superbly recorded by French radio ORTF! Hubbard is tremendous – really finding himself at this point in his career, and full of new phrasing and amazing sounds that really blow us away – and Davis is a real treat in this setting, which is every bit as great as his key overseas recordings of the period. Titles include a side-long version of "Crisis" – plus long readings of "The Hub" and "Blue Moon" – all wonderful! LP, Vinyl record album

A lost album of funky jazz that features work by the great Nathan Davis! The combo's a hip rock-influenced one – mixing together acoustic funky jazz with a slight touch of electric bass, in a manner that's in keeping with some of the hipper jazz rock groups that were coming out of England and Germany at the end of the 60s. Scott Bradford's the leader of the group – and he plays piano, Hohner electric, and organ – and other players include Stu Martin on drums, Gunther Lenz on bass, Nathan Davis on tenor sax and flute, and Philip Catherine on occasional guest guitar solos. The tracks follow nicely in the messed-up vibe of some of the MPS groups of the time – with lots of chunky hard-hitting grooves, peppered with real jazz soloing, especially from Davis, who gets in some of the weirdest reed work of his career on the album! Titles include two Davis originals – "Mid Evil Dance", and "Kansas City Mascher" – plus the cuts "Samsara", "Essential Horror", and "Issa". CD

A never-heard live set from the mighty Donald Byrd – recording here with live accompaniment from the Mizell Brothers – at a level that's every bit as wonderful as their work with the trumpeter in the studio! The material was originally recorded during a same series of albums that Blue Note issued with live material from Marlena Shaw, Bobby Hutcherson, and Bobbi Humphrey – and the approach here is wonderfully similar, with long tracks that really showcase a hip, creative quality that may well beat that of Byrd's studio albums of the time! There's some many wonderful elements going on in the music – Fender Rhodes from Kevin Toney, bass from Henry Franklin, and both tenor and soprano sax from Nathan Davis – a wonderful surprise in the lineup. And while Larry Mizell adds in a bit of electronics, Fonce Mizell is alongside Donald on a second trumpet – on titles that include "Kwame", "Poco Mania", "The East", "Black Byrd", and a sweet remake of the Stevie Wonder tune "You've Got It Bad Girl". LP, Vinyl record album

For what it's worth, this is a pretty wonderful compilation – only the second volume in the legendary Mojo Club series, but already hipper than most sets of this nature coming out these days! The package is filled with classic jazz, funk, soul, and bossa groovers – and was really one of the first to tackle this territory, at least with such depth, and in the hands of a major label (hats off again to Universal Germany!) The set list is wonderful – with 14 great tracks that include "Hicky Burr" by Quincy Jones, "Mr Clean" by Peter Herbholzheimer, "Monticello" by Monty Alexander, "Johnny Shaft" by Sammy Davis Jr, "For What It's Worth" by Sergio Mendes, "Gator Tail" by Lee Dorsey, "Boo-ga-loo" by Les McCann, "You Can't Love Me If You Don't Respect Me" by Lyn Collins, "Swimmin Home Baby" by Willis Jackson, "That Kaycee Thing" by Nathan Davis, and "Put Your Gun Down Brother" by Riot. CD

An essential batch of music – four overlooked gems from the German Ego label of the late 70s – one of which is a stone classic that we've treasured for decades! All albums here are incredible – but our absolute favorite is Benny Bailey's Serenade To A Planet – a set that we think is one of the greatest jazz records ever! By the time of this 1976 release, trumpeter Benny Bailey had already had quite a history – working with Quincy Jones in his early years, and recording for MPS with the likes of Nathan Davis and the Clark Boland Big Band, as well as some of the best other players in Europe. This set's Benny's masterpiece – a soulful batch of tunes that feels like it was lifted from the catalog of Strata East, but which is played by a quintet that features Europeans Ferdinand Povel on tenor, Joe Haider on piano, and Isla Eckinger on bass – as well as American Kenny Clarke on drums. The vibe is perfect – and the group's harmoniously searching with a strong modal groove on nearly every track. Titles include "Aquarian Moods", "Neptunis", "Little B", and "The Kicker". East Of Isar is something of a follow-up to that date – done by Bailey with tenorist Sal Nistico – in a wonderful group that also includes Joe Haider on piano, Isla Eckinger on bass, and Billie Brooks on drums! The Haider/Eckinger team are known from other Bailey sessions in Europe – all of which are fantastic – and they perform extremely well here, too. Tracks are long, with a wonderfully searching quality – and titles include "Blues For Trane", "Joyful Sadness", and "East Of Isar". Then, the set steps into Just For Fun – another great album with a very similar groove – thanks to rhythm from Joe Haider on piano, Gunter Lenz on bass, and Joe Nay on drums. The group's backing up tenorist Sal Nistico – usually a sleepy talent, but a sparkling one on this session, thanks to a lively lyrical rhythm section, and some great compositions by Joe Haider. The whole thing sparkles with the kind of imagination and energy that keeps you tracking down sessions on MPS and other European labels – and with tracks like "Beautiful Black Casanova", "Do Not Make Circles", and "7787", you won't be disappointed in this one! And last by not least is After A Long Time – from trumpeter Dusko Goykovich – a rare gem that's in a similar format to Benny Bailey's classic Serenade To A Planet! Dusko stretches out beautifully on the record – in a group that features Joe Haider on piano, Roman Schwaller on tenor, Isla Eckinger on bass, and Alvin Queen on drums. Titles include "Emotionally", "After A Long Time", "Summit", "Mountain Witch", and "The Hunt Is On". CD

A great CD set that features incredible material from John Coltrane – a rare session for Roulette as a split LP with Lee Morgan! The CD features the side of Coltrane's work – which features him playing with an unusual quartet that includes McCoy Tyner, plus bassist Steven Davis and drummer Billy Higgins. Higgins' gives Coltrane a modal groove that's incredible, and Trane hits these riffs that are almost Nathan Davis-ish on tracks like "Exotica", presented in 2 versions, plus "Like Sonny" and "One & Four". The CD also features 5 bonus tracks from another rare Coltrane session from 1958 – one of the only albums ever cut as a leader by Ray Draper, a jazz tuba player, with an approach to the instrument that's a lot better than you might think! Draper plays the tuba like the best baritone saxophonists – using the lower registers of the instrument to groove around in tight step with the basslines, but always still managing to swing – a remarkable feat, given the heaviness of the instrument! Draper's talents were quite respected at the time – both by Jackie McLean, who used him on a record, and by John Coltrane, who makes a rare appearance here as a sideman on the set! The mixture of Coltrane's angularity and Draper's bassiness is sublime – and the album's filled with great tracks that have a fresh late 50s modernist hardbop approach. Titles include "Essii"s Dance", "Yesterdays", "Oleo", and "Doxy". CD

A trio of albums from one of our favorite trumpeters on the European scene! First up is Portrait – a set that stands as a tribute to trumpeter Dusko Goykovich's 70 years on this planet – and a record that features him in a variety of settings too! Other players include Ferdinand Povel on flute and tenor, Tony Lakatos on tenor, Steve Gut on trumpet, Isla Eckinger and Ray Drummond on basses, Abraham Burton on alto, and Kenny Barron and Tommy Flanagan on pianos – on titles that include "Recado Bossa Nova", "Balkan Blue", "Adriatica", "One For Klook", and "Inga". Next is Swinging Macedonia – a legendary German session from the 60s – and a record that really showcases the unusual criss-crossing of modes that was going on in the European scene at the time! There's a very strong MPS vibe here – as trumpeter Dusko Goykovich leads a swinging sextet that includes Nathan Davis on flute, soprano, and tenor – blowing some tremendously soulful reed lines – plus incredible rhythms from Mal Waldron on piano, Peter Trunk on bass, and Cees See on drums. The record's an attempt to bring traditional Macedonian rhythms into a jazz perspective – but with players like these, it swings in a way any Macedonian album never could – damn soulful, and with a great exotic vibe. Davis is especially great, and plays in a soaring modal vein that's similar to his work on his classic MPS sides, and on the records he cut in America in the early 70s. The album's a beautiful session that often get's overlooked because it blends it with the Enja catalog – but it's really more of a record that belongs in an MPS reissue series, and is a great lost groover that's waiting to be rediscovered by the Dusty Groove crowd. Titles include "Macedonia", "Old Fisherman's Daughter", "Jumbo Uganda", "Bem Basha", "Saga Se karame", and "The Nights Of Skopje". Brandenberg Concert features one of the greatest trumpeters on the European scene of the past few decades – heard here in a completely sublime setting! Dusko Goykovich has played in many styles and many ways, but hasn't ever done a date with full strings before – a long-overdue placement for his wonderful tone on trumpet – shimmering out front of a larger ensemble, in the manner of classic "with strings" dates by Dizzy Gillespie or Art Farmer! Altoist Peter King arranged the album – and titles are all originals by Dusko, some of which you might know from earlier records – reworked here beautifully for the new setting. King also solos on a handful of tracks too – a rich voice that provides a nice balance with Dusko's trumpet. Strings are never overdone, and the album's always got a nice swing from a core rhythm trio that features Renato Chicco on piano. Titles include "Good Old Days", "Handful O Soul", "Danca Comigo", "St Germain Des Pres", "Adriatica", "In My Dreams", and "I Miss You So". CD

An incredible record – filled with tunes that are far groovier than you might expect! The session features saxophonist Harold Vick in a split setting – as half the tracks feature a larger group with Vick on tenor and soprano, playing with Herbie Hancock, Joe Farrell, Jimmy Owens, Tom McIntosh, and a chorus of breezy female singers – while the other half feature a quartet that includes some spectacular work by Hancock on piano. The female singers are surprisingly great – drifting behind Vick's horn with a breezy, moody feel that recalls similar use of voices on sessions by George Braith or Ahmad Jamal – and which, if anything, emphasize the soulfulness of Vick's horn – a sound that's extremely apparent in his rich Nathan Davis-like use of the soprano sax! Vick's sound is even more far-reaching and deeply soulful than on his other RCA albums from the time – with a nascent spiritual soul jazz tone even in the most familiar numbers. There's echoes here of Gary Bartz, Jimmy Heath, and the above-mentioned Nathan Davis – and the record is a massively soulful treasure that's one of our favorite jazz sessions ever! Titles include "Ode To Trane", "Serenata", "This Hotel", "Watch What Happens", "Guava Jelly", and "Autumn Sunset". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few American albums cut by saxophonist Chris Woods – a wonderfully talented player who cut some of his best work in Paris during the early 70s! The album captures some of the charm of Woods' best European records – with a lightly dancing groove on the best tracks, one that hints at his strong propensity for playing in modal lines, a trait he shared with Nathan Davis, a contemporary on the European scene, and a slightly similar player. Woods here is a bit more rootsy than Davis, though – working in an easily soulful setting, with pianist Jim McNeely, plus trumpet, bass, and drums. Woods plays flute and alto – and tracks include "Monsieur Le Bois In Paris", "What That", "Modus Operandi", and a nice version of "Scufflin Along". LP, Vinyl record album

Really really wonderful work from legendary organist Larry Young – a set of rare recordings that we'd easily rank right next to our favorite Blue Note albums that Young cut as a leader! The sides here were done for French radio in the mid 60s, but they're hardly throwaway quickie tracks or lame live sides – and instead are superbly recorded selections that feature Young's organ in the company of really great musicians who include Woody Shaw on trumpet and Nathan Davis on tenor! The music is mostly from the ORTF studios, with impeccable sound – and tracks stretch out in that long, imaginative way that Young brought to his famous Unity album for Blue Note – a complete reworking of the role of Hammond in jazz, set to new modern modes, which are definitely emphasized by the work of Davis and Shaw. A number of tracks were recorded under the name of the Nathan Davis Quartet – with the addition of Billy Brooks on drums and a few more add in Sonny grey on trumpet and Jean-Claude Fohrenbach on tenor – both great players who join Shaw and Davis on some very extended tracks. The whole thing's wonderful – impeccable sound, great notes, and lost material that's a key addition to the too-small Larry Young catalog! Titles include "La Valse Grise", "Discotheque", "Trane Of Thought", "Luny Tune", "Larry's Blues", "Talkin About JC", "Black Nile", and "Beyond All Limits" – as well as a 20 minute reading of the classic "Zoltan". There's also even one track that has Larry playing some Monk-like piano – really great! CD

Some of the funkiest, grooviest tunes ever from the MPS label – all brought together in one double-length set at an incredible price! These are the tracks that first got MPS re-noticed by a younger generation of groovers a decade or more ago – tunes that offer up an amazing blend of soul jazz, Brazilian, modal, and vocal styles – all done with genre-crossing genius, and some of the best production an artist could ever hope for in the studio! The collection's sort of an amalgamation of the essential (and now-deleted) compilations by Gilles Peterson that appeared on the Talkin Loud label – a filtering down of all the best bits into a 19-track CD that runs for over 75 minutes in length. Titles include "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Ella Fitzgerald, "Color" by Erwin Lehn, "Just Give Me Time" by Mark Murphy, "Little Bird" by Elsie Bianchi, "Waldmadchen" by Gustav Brom, "Espresso Loco" by Francy Boland, "That Ol Bus Smell" by Peter Herbholzheimer, "Get Out Of My Life Woman" by Dee Dee Barry & The Movements, "Big Schlepp" by Dave Pike, "Carmell's Black Forest Waltz" by Nathan Davis, "Upa Neguinho" by Edu Lobo, "Hold Me I've Got To Leave You" by Johnny Teupen, "Volcano's Daughter" by Nelson Riddle, "Monticello" by Monty Alexander, "Scratches" by Charly Antolini, and "Speech Craft" by Horst Jankowski. CD

With Dan Haerle on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Jonathan Higgins on drums. Titles include "Solar", "Dig", "Milestones", "Serpent's Tooth", and more! LP, Vinyl record album

Kris Davis on piano, Robert Hurst on bass, and Johnathan Blake on drums. CD

This ultra-hip ensemble is celebrating its 10th Anniversary – and in doing so, has maybe given us their best album yet! The group's overflowing with work from an all-star lineup – Wayne Escoffery on tenor, Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, James Burton III on trombone, Victor Gould and Xavier Davis on pianos, Vicente Archer and Rashaan Carter on basses, and Johnathan Blake and Mark Whitfield Jr on drums – the last two pairs of whom shift in and out of the ensemble as the set moves on – but with such rock-solid energy, there's a unified vibe to the whole set. Some of the best tracks have this soaring, searching energy – and the whole album's got a very visionary approach, served up by musicians who are looking to do way more than just run through a few standards. Titles include "Black Heart", "Cold Switching", "Soliloquy", "Lookin For Leroy", "Coming Of Age", and "Truth To Power". CD

This ultra-hip ensemble is celebrating its 10th Anniversary – and in doing so, has maybe given us their best album yet! The group's overflowing with work from an all-star lineup – Wayne Escoffery on tenor, Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, James Burton III on trombone, Victor Gould and Xavier Davis on pianos, Vicente Archer and Rashaan Carter on basses, and Johnathan Blake and Mark Whitfield Jr on drums – the last two pairs of whom shift in and out of the ensemble as the set moves on – but with such rock-solid energy, there's a unified vibe to the whole set. Some of the best tracks have this soaring, searching energy – and the whole album's got a very visionary approach, served up by musicians who are looking to do way more than just run through a few standards. Titles include "Black Heart", "Cold Switching", "Soliloquy", "Lookin For Leroy", "Coming Of Age", and "Truth To Power". CD