Tracks include "I'm A Playa" feat Three 6 Mafia, "They Don't Know" feat Mike Jones, "State To State" feat Freeway, "So Many Diamonds" feat TI, "Smooth Operator", "Sittin Sidewayz" feat Big Pokey, "Internet Going Nutz", "Trill" feat BG & Bun B, "Sippin Tha Barre", "Drive Slow" feat Kanye West & GLC, "Girl", "Big Ballin", "Sip-N-Get High" feat Aqualeo, and "Just Paul Wall". LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant batch of electronic, cold wave, and post-punk tracks – all drawn from the farther reaches of the Swiss underground of the 80s – a scene that was far more secret than those in the UK, Germany, or other European hotbeds of electronic experimentation! We'd heard only a few of these groups before – and back in the day, we were constantly searching for Euro electronic and new wave records – and the work that Strut have done to put the whole thing together is wonderful, as these rare gems are also illuminated with detailed notes that really shine a light on the darker corners of this sonic scene. Titles include "Anfang" by Mittageisen, "Le Jour L'Ennui" by Aboriginal Voices, "Boat Song" by Lilliput, "Asho II" by Bells Of Kyoto, "Labyrinth" by Jurg Nutz, "Basic Ground Without Voice" by Konx, "Soyledir" by Cafe Turk, "Nightmare" by Unknownmix, "Arbeiter" by Schamanen Circel, and "Glettscher" by El Deux. CD

A brilliant batch of electronic, cold wave, and post-punk tracks – all drawn from the farther reaches of the Swiss underground of the 80s – a scene that was far more secret than those in the UK, Germany, or other European hotbeds of electronic experimentation! We'd heard only a few of these groups before – and back in the day, we were constantly searching for Euro electronic and new wave records – and the work that Strut have done to put the whole thing together is wonderful, as these rare gems are also illuminated with detailed notes that really shine a light on the darker corners of this sonic scene. Titles include "Anfang" by Mittageisen, "Le Jour L'Ennui" by Aboriginal Voices, "Boat Song" by Lilliput, "Asho II" by Bells Of Kyoto, "Labyrinth" by Jurg Nutz, "Basic Ground Without Voice" by Konx, "Soyledir" by Cafe Turk, "Nightmare" by Unknownmix, "Arbeiter" by Schamanen Circel, and "Glettscher" by El Deux. LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful album of straight ahead jazz – cut by a current combo from Italy, but done with a really classic sound! The style here is a bit like that of the straighter jazz albums on Schema Records – all acoustic, but often highly rhythmic – and focused in styles that explore older Italian modal jazz of the 60s, as well as some of the deeper shadings of the Blue Note scene from years back! The lineup is incredibly strong – with tenor from Daniele Scannapieco, trumpet from Fabrizio Bosso, and piano from Luca Mannutza, whose firm work and bold notes on the keys really give the album a lot of drive and fire! CD features Nicola Conte remixes of the leadoff track "Conversation" – which is actually great enough in its original version by the group – and other tracks include "Wide Green Eyes", "The Driver", "Shade Of Gira", "Dubai", and "Campagna". CD

A great live date from this ultra-hip combo – one that has them really settling in to their new home at Blue Note, by taking on a host of classics from the label – along with key tracks of their own composition as well! The sound here is even more wonderful than on some of their studio sets – almost a bit more earthy, and human – given the spontaneity of the concert performance, especially in the rhythm section. Fabrizio Bosso's trumpet and flugelhorn are right out front, matched proudly by the tenor of Daniele Scannapieco – and rhythm is from Luca Mannutza on piano, Pietro Ciancaglini on bass, and Lorenzo Tucci on drums. Titles include great versions of "Adams Apple", "Passion Dance", and "Inception" – plus "Five For Fun", "On The Way Home", and "Pandaguru". CD

An excellent follow up to Roberto Gatto's first Remembering Shelly date – a sublime reworking of older west coast jazz modes, handled by a hip batch of contemporary Italian players! The groove here is less the whimsical Shelly Manne of the early 50s, than it is the hardbopper of the early 60s – heard most famously on his live Blackhawk and Manne Hole dates! The tracks here are nice and long – really approximating the feel of those great records – and Gatto's drums are topped with some great horn work from Marco Tamburini on trumpet and Max Ionata on tenor – both players who really know how to spin out some imaginative solos on the long tracks! Other players include Luca Mannutza on piano and Giuseppe Bassi on bass – and titles include "Pullin Strings", "Speak Low", "Seite X Seite", "Blue Daniel", and "Eclipse Of Spain". CD

Beautiful twin trumpet work from the team of Flavio Boltro and Fabrizio Bosso – two Italian players who find some wonderful space together on this set! There's a soaringly sublime quality that takes us back to some of our favorite straight work of the 70s by Freddie Hubbard or Woody Shaw – both players who seem to be a key influence here, but not so much so that Boltro and Bosso are simply copping their styles. The way they come together on the heads of the tunes is great – filled with power, life, and joy – and when they spin out on their own solos, they've definitely each got their own bold voices – supported here with strong and sensitive rhythm from the trio of Luca Mannutza on piano, Luca Bulgarelli on bass, and Lorenzo Tucci on drums. Titles include "Woman's Glance", "Moontrane", "Eighty One", "First Smile Jazz A Doc", "Whoopin Blues", "Lotus Blossom", and "Little Sunflower". CD