A crowning moment of genius from trumpeter Harry Beckett – a musician who's graced a heck of a lot of records over the years, but who really knocks it out of the park with this amazing early session as a leader! Harry's work on flugelhorn is worth the price of admission alone – bold, focused, and full of all these sharp edges that really mark a new moment of expression on the instrument, equally matched by his work on trumpet too. Yet the overall vibe of the group is what really sends the record home – sounds on piano from John Taylor, vibes from Frank Ricotti, soprano and tenor from Alan Skidmore, and baritone and soprano from John Surman – all key players on Beckett's scene, really hitting their heights here. Arrangements are by Surman, Beckett, and Graham Collier – all of whom wrote material too – and titles include "Flare Up", "Where Fortune Smiles", "Flow Stream Flow", "The Other Side", "Rolli's Tune", "Fools Play", and "Third Road". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful little tribute to the late, great John Coltrane – served up as a piano trio session led by Tommy Flanagan, but done with a sense of power and imagination that rivals the strength of Trane's classics! All tracks here are originals by Coltrane, performed by Flanagan with a forceful approach to the piano that shows a bit more McCoy Tyner than usual – and which is propelled strongly on most numbers by bold rhythm work from the team of George Mraz on bass and Al Foster on drums. Foster's work on the kit is especially nice – quite bold, and really soaring forward with a sense of righteous energy – inspiring Flanagan to heights we've never heard before on a session like this. Titles include "Naima", "Giant Steps", "Syeeda's Song Flute", "Central Park West", "Mr PC", and "Cousin Mary". CD

A wonderful little tribute to the late, great John Coltrane – served up as a piano trio session led by Tommy Flanagan, but done with a sense of power and imagination that rivals the strength of Trane's classics! All tracks here are originals by Coltrane, performed by Flanagan with a forceful approach to the piano that shows a bit more McCoy Tyner than usual – and which is propelled strongly on most numbers by bold rhythm work from the team of George Mraz on bass and Al Foster on drums. Foster's work on the kit is especially nice – quite bold, and really soaring forward with a sense of righteous energy – inspiring Flanagan to heights we've never heard before on a session like this. Titles include "Naima", "Giant Steps", "Syeeda's Song Flute", "Central Park West", "Mr PC", and "Cousin Mary". CD

Just the right sort of setting to unlock all the majestic power of David S Ware at his best – that tremendously soulful tone on tenor, and one that rivals Billy Harper when operating at a level of this nature! The performance is a live one, and features Ware in the company of guitarist Joe Morris, drummer Warren Smith, and bassist William Parker – the last of whom provides that trademark pulse that always seems to set Ware on fire – an inspiring sort of rhythm that really pushes his horn to searing, searching new heights! Tracks are all quite long, with a spiritual feel – and Ware also plays a bit of kalimba on the record, which is always a nice touch. Titles include "Nataraj", "Reflection", "Namah", "Crossing Samsara", "Shakti", and "Antidromic". CD

Stephanie Mills in fine formation here – working with the team of James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, who helped the lady reach the heights of her career in the early 80s! The sound here is catchy and contemporary, but hardly ever too commercial – just relaxed and grooving, in a mode that lets Stephanie's vocals flow nicely over the top, but with a bit more of an easygoing feel than in her records of previous years. As usual, Lucas and Mtume bring a nice touch of jazz into the album – a subtle warmth that makes the best moments sparkle, really resonating nicely with Mills' vocals. Titles include the massive hit "Never Knew Love Like This Before" – plus "Sweet Sensation", "Try My Love", "I Just Wanna Say", 'Wish That You Were Mine", "D-a-n-c-i-n'", "Still Mine", and "Mixture Of Love". LP, Vinyl record album

The complete Black Saint/Soul Note recordings of Bill Dixon – an amazing body of work that represents one of the strongest points in Dixon's career! Bill first burst on the scene with some important 60s avant albums on the Savoy label – including a key collaboration with Archie Shepp – but it wasn't until these 80s sides for the Italian label that his talents really took off – reaching out to new heights that explored some of the more serious themes in his music, often in longer-form conceptual recordings that are a great illustration of the freedoms offered by the label! The records also feature Bill working closely with a host of important musicians – including bassists Alan Silva, Peter Kowald, William Parker, and Barry Guy – and drummers Tony Oxley and Freddie Waits. The set features 9 full albums, each packaged in a mini LP-style sleeve – and titles include Bill Dixon In Italy Vol 1, Bill Dixon In Italy Vol 2, November 1981, Thoughts, Son Of Sisyphus, Vade Mecum, Vade Mecum 2, Papyrus Vol 1, and Papyrus Vol 2. CD