Really stunning work from John Blum – one of his few efforts as a lead act, and one that has us wondering why he hasn't given the world a lot more tremendous albums like this! Blum's got this way of attacking the piano that's definitely in the school of Cecil Taylor, an old mentor – yet the recording also has this way of working the sound of the room into the blend of the work on the keys of the piano – this kind of echoey brilliance that almost seems to absorb some sonic ideals of avant composition as much as it does explode with the energy of free improvisation! Titles the set features nine tracks in all – each numbered "River" selections. CD

A rare soul treasure – previously unissued work from Little Willie John, cut for Capitol Records by the mighty David Axelrod! The pairing is quite unique, but it's a great one – and if anything, Little Willie John sparkles here even more than on his later King sides – finding a hipper 60s groove that moves way past older R&B modes! Willie's vocals are still wonderful, and they're set up here with arrangements from HB Barnum – who brings in plenty of bounce, snap, and vamp to the grooves – similar to his more famous Axelrod productions for Lou Rawls, but rougher and grittier here in the company of John. A few cuts bring in more ambitious backings – taking Little Willie into the same space as his longtime fan and supporter James Brown – at least in the way Brown hit ballads during the 60s – and given Axelrod's hand in the studio, there's a clarity here that the singer hardly would have found at King Records, who blocked the initial release of this material back in the 60s. CD features 20 tracks in all – a number of alternates, and the master takes – with tunes that include "Crying Over You", "Country Girl", "Suffering With The Blues", "Never Let Me Go", "I Had A Dream", "In The Dark", "Welcome To The Club", "I Need Someone", and "Early In The Morning". CD

A fantastic piece of minimalist magic from Julius Eastman – a lesser-known composer of the 70s, but one we'd rank right up there with Steve Reich, given the beauty of this work! The CD features one long piece – "Femenine" – which builds slowly out of small passages of music, repeated on piano, vibes, woodwinds, and light strings – all at a level that reminds us of Reich's Music For 18 Musicians, but predates that work by a number of years! As with that composition, there's a stunning amount of lightness and color in the music – these beautiful bursts of tone and life that come through as the music folds into and over itself – and the vibes are especially beautiful, and really give the work a lot of character. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the sweetest little jazz funk albums of the early 70s – and a masterful blend of vibes, guitar, and organ from this legendary Indianapolis combo! The group are probably best known for their backing work behind Grant Green on some of his funky Blue Note sides – or for vibes player Billy Wooten, who leads the group, and has had a huge influence on his own these days – but even if you've never heard of them, the record will grab you right away – as it's got a sinister funky groove that few other groups could hope to match! There's a really unique blend of vibes, guitar, and organ going on here – and although the record does have a bit of vocals, the main focus here is on the instrumentation – which jams together in ways that are unlike most other funk combos of the time, including a good number of the group's contemporaries at Westbound! Sweet original tracks include "Monkey Hips 'n Rice", "Looking Through The Windows", and "Dark Clouds Risin", plus a stellar cover of "Slippin' Into Darkness". CD

Really stunning work from John Blum – one of his few efforts as a lead act, and one that has us wondering why he hasn't given the world a lot more tremendous albums like this! Blum's got this way of attacking the piano that's definitely in the school of Cecil Taylor, an old mentor – yet the recording also has this way of working the sound of the room into the blend of the work on the keys of the piano – this kind of echoey brilliance that almost seems to absorb some sonic ideals of avant composition as much as it does explode with the energy of free improvisation! Titles the set features nine tracks in all – each numbered "River" selections. CD

A very spooky score for this film that's also known in America as "The Cat With Nine Tails" – the second collaboration between Ennio Morricone and noted horror director Dario Argento! The album's a bit different than some of Morricone's other work on horror films – and at times, it almost has qualities that sound more like a western – a spacious mix of light strings and more sparely focused instrumentation – sometimes a bassline, sometimes a bit of flute. Other numbers get a bit more dark and jagged – slightly atonal, with shimmering, shifting styles that create a tremendous amount of tension! Titles include "Paranoia Prima", "1970", "Sottintesi", "Ninna Nanna In Blu", "Placcaggio", and "Metafora Finale". This special version of the score features a 12 minute version of "Il Gatto A Nove Code", some other alternate takes, and a bonus interview with Dario Argento! CD

One of Baden Powell's grooviest albums ever – a brilliant blend of his bossa roots with the freer 70s grooves of MPS! The album follows the mode of some of his other European recordings, but is still a bit different – in that the overall sound is a bit freer than before, with tracks that really open up beautifully – including one or two that hit a nicely heavy groove! The lovely Janine De Walyene sings these wonderful wordless vocals on some of the album's best tracks – scatting heavily on the famous jazz dance number "Blues A Volante" – and drifting moodily behind the guitar on other numbers. Other instrumentation includes bass, drums, and a bit of Brazilian percussion – and titles include the classic "Blues A Volante", plus "Violao Vagabundo", "Canto", "Ate Eu", and "Conversacao Comigo Mesmo". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge chapter of work from the Art Ensemble Of Chicago – one that not only includes their own albums for the ECM label, but also related solo and side projects too! The set begins with four Art Ensemble albums – Nice Guys, Full Force, Urban Bushman, and The Third Decade – all of which came out as a statement of the group's strengths in the late 70s and early 80s – their first mainstream appearance after a few years of being very underground, and material that helped set a whole new standard for avant jazz expression in the generation to come! Next is the fantastic album Divine Love, by trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith – not necessarily an Art Ensemble album, but one that does feature great work from trumpeter Leo Smith – plus trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, bassist Charlie Haden, and vibist Bobby Naughton. Next are four albums by Lester Bowie – two smaller group, and two with his Brass Fantasy ensemble – the records The Great Pretender, All The Magic/The One & Only, I Only Have Eyes For You, and Avant Pop. Then, after Bowie's early passing, the Art Ensemble recorded their beautiful Tribute To Lester – as a trio lineup with Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors, and Don Moye. Mitchell takes the helm next – on a surprisingly big flurry of projects for ECM – records that often show a deeper compositional strand in his music – on records that include Nine To Get Ready, Composition/Improvisation, Far Side, Bells For The South Side, and Boustrophedon – the last of which was led by Evan Parker, with Mitchell in the Transatlantic Art Ensemble. Last up are three records by drummer Jack DeJohnette for ECM – New Directions and New Directions In Europe, both featuring a group with Lester Bowie on trumpet – and Made In Chicago, which features Roscoe Mitchell, Henry Threadgill, and Muhal Ricard Abrams. Recordings were made between 1978 and 2015 – and comes in a box set with a big booklet of notes! CD

A classic collection – with 14 cuts that include "Kid Charlemagne", "My Old School", "Black Friday", "Deacon Blues", "Bodhisattva", "Hey Nineteen", "Peg", "Do It Again", and "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" – plus their great theme to "FM", which wasn't on any of their albums! CD

Music from Owen Gray, Derrick & Patsy, the Wailers, Prince Buster, Delroy Wilson, Bob Andy, U Roy, Niney, the Heptones, Culture, Tenor Saw, Tiger, Shaggy & more. CD

Ronnie Mathews is a pianist we always love, no matter what the context – but here he's in this extra-great trio with bassist Stafford James, who almost seems to take center stage at times! James' deep, round tone is a perfect match for Mathews' approach to piano – and while Ronnie takes off on lyrical flights at times, Stafford has this grounding that balances things out beautifully – given some extra inspiration by the drums of Tony Reedus, who is the third key member of the trio. The title track alone – "Selena's Dance" – is worth the price of admission, and is this nine minute modal workout that shows everyone at top form. Some other numbers are mellower, but no less captivating – and tunes include "Stella By Starlight", "Blue Bossa", "Fee Fi Fo Fum", and "Body & Soul". CD

One of the most haunting album ever recorded by pianist Keith Jarrett – a set of improvisations that were mostly recorded in a single take, but which have Jarrett working on clavichord – an instrument that creates a very different feeling than his more familiar piano! At some level, the album resonates a bit with some of Keith's recordings of early music at the time – but these aren't compositions, just nineteen numbered selections that all take off on the unique properties of the clavichord – using the stark strings of the instrument in maybe more close-up and personal modes than some of Jarrett's more robust piano, almost with more of a sense of intimacy overall. A really beautiful double-length set – and a unique chapter in the career of this legendary musician! CD

One of Baden Powell's grooviest albums ever – a brilliant blend of his bossa roots with the freer 70s grooves of MPS! The album follows the mode of some of his other European recordings, but is still a bit different – in that the overall sound is a bit freer than before, with tracks that really open up beautifully – including one or two that hit a nicely heavy groove! The lovely Janine De Walyene sings these wonderful wordless vocals on some of the album's best tracks – scatting heavily on the famous jazz dance number "Blues A Volante" – and drifting moodily behind the guitar on other numbers. Other instrumentation includes bass, drums, and a bit of Brazilian percussion – and titles include the classic "Blues A Volante", plus "Violao Vagabundo", "Canto", "Ate Eu", and "Conversacao Comigo Mesmo". CD