25 songs from Dave Evans, Davey Graham, Bert Jansch, John James & John Renbourn, Peter Finger, Leo Wijnkamp Jr, and John James. CD

A well-crafted comeback from pianist Will Boulware and his Rainbow group – one that shares many qualities of his Over Crystal Green album, but which also takes things a bit further! Will's still got that great blend of acoustic and electric keys here – a sound that's really the strongest side of the record, and which takes us back to those first mid 70s moments when keyboardists were blending the two modes to reach an even fuller sound than before. But one main difference here is the presence of Phoebe Snow on vocals on 3 of the album's tracks – giving the record a bit more of a "soul" feel at those moments, in a way that occasionally disturbs the gentle Rainbow balance. Still, the overall sound here is still pretty great – with tenor from Michael Brecker, guitar from Peter Bernstein, drums from Steve Gadd, and a bit of guest keys from Philippe Saisse. Titles include "One Finger Snap", "Trouble In Mind", "Kentucky", "Foolish Door", "New & Old", "Peace", and "Rainbow". CD

A fresh take on the HH album from guitarist Lionel Loueke, which itself was a fresh take on the music of Herbie Hancock – translated here in ways that take both Loueke's album and the original inspiration far past their roots! Gilles Peterson is best known as a presenter and producer – but in recent years, he's taken a more active role in music making – something he does here by reworking Lionel's original music in very abstract ways, with some help from Alex Patchwork on the mixes. Titles include "Butterfly (version)", "Tell Me A Bedtime Story (version)", "Driftin (version)", "Hang Up Your Hang Ups (version)", "One Finger Snap (version)", and "Watermelon Man (version)". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the key records from the Detroit Tribe Records scene of the 70s – a masterful blend of spiritual jazz and deeper ideas, and maybe the greatest record ever cut by trumpeter Marcus Belgrave! The set was originally issued on the Gem Eye label in 1974, in a pressing of only 1000, the record's done nothing but increase in legend since – and for good reason too, given that the Tribe pressing got wider circulation, and other reissues have really helped establish the legend of the music! The groove picks up in the same domain as the better Art Ensemble Of Chicago records of the late 60s and early 70s – with the rubbery funk electric bass lines and celestial groove of the funkier moments, but deeper sounds of more spiritual points too. Trumpeter Marcus Belgrave plays in a beautiful ensemble, packed with Tribe labelmates – Wendell Harrison on tenor sax & percussion, Phil Ranelin on trombone, and Harold McKinney on electric piano. Roy Brooks and Billy Turner are on drums and percussion, and the expansive vibe is fleshed out with the help of Lorenzo Brown on bongos and Daryl Dybka on mini Moog. The record includes Belgrave's beautiful epic "Space Odyssey", which has a long flowing cosmic groove, nice electronics, and haunting trumpet solos. Other cuts include "Gemini II", "Marcia's Opal", "Glue Fingers (Parts I & II)", and "Odoms Cave". CD

One of the key records from the Detroit Tribe Records scene of the 70s – a masterful blend of spiritual jazz and deeper ideas, and maybe the greatest record ever cut by trumpeter Marcus Belgrave! The set was originally issued on the Gem Eye label in 1974, in a pressing of only 1000, the record's done nothing but increase in legend since – and for good reason too, given that the Tribe pressing got wider circulation, and other reissues have really helped establish the legend of the music! The groove picks up in the same domain as the better Art Ensemble Of Chicago records of the late 60s and early 70s – with the rubbery funk electric bass lines and celestial groove of the funkier moments, but deeper sounds of more spiritual points too. Trumpeter Marcus Belgrave plays in a beautiful ensemble, packed with Tribe labelmates – Wendell Harrison on tenor sax & percussion, Phil Ranelin on trombone, and Harold McKinney on electric piano. Roy Brooks and Billy Turner are on drums and percussion, and the expansive vibe is fleshed out with the help of Lorenzo Brown on bongos and Daryl Dybka on mini Moog. The record includes Belgrave's beautiful epic "Space Odyssey", which has a long flowing cosmic groove, nice electronics, and haunting trumpet solos. Other cuts include "Gemini II", "Marcia's Opal", "Glue Fingers (Parts I & II)", and "Odoms Cave". CD

One of the key records from the Detroit Tribe Records scene of the 70s – a masterful blend of spiritual jazz and deeper ideas, and maybe the greatest record ever cut by trumpeter Marcus Belgrave! The set was originally issued on the Gem Eye label in 1974, in a pressing of only 1000, the record's done nothing but increase in legend since – and for good reason too, given that the Tribe pressing got wider circulation, and other reissues have really helped establish the legend of the music! The groove picks up in the same domain as the better Art Ensemble Of Chicago records of the late 60s and early 70s – with the rubbery funk electric bass lines and celestial groove of the funkier moments, but deeper sounds of more spiritual points too. Trumpeter Marcus Belgrave plays in a beautiful ensemble, packed with Tribe labelmates – Wendell Harrison on tenor sax & percussion, Phil Ranelin on trombone, and Harold McKinney on electric piano. Roy Brooks and Billy Turner are on drums and percussion, and the expansive vibe is fleshed out with the help of Lorenzo Brown on bongos and Daryl Dybka on mini Moog. The record includes Belgrave's beautiful epic "Space Odyssey", which has a long flowing cosmic groove, nice electronics, and haunting trumpet solos. Other cuts include "Gemini II", "Marcia's Opal", "Glue Fingers (Parts I & II)", and "Odoms Cave". LP, Vinyl record album

Awe-inspiring solo guitar from Mark Fosson – brilliant stuff that rivals Fahey, Peter Lang and any other folk guitar geniuses who influenced him – recorded direct to reel-to-reel in Fosson's living room in 1976! Fosson's 12-string, the tape recorder and a rented microphone are all that went into the "production" – but the sound is impeccable, as is Fosson's playing! This is as wonderful as any rare folk guitar music we've been introduced to in quite a while! Includes "Quarter Moon" (plus and alternate take), "Arrival Of The Grand Picayune", "Cosmic Hiccup", "Frozen Fingers" (also with an alternate take), "Gorilla Mountain", "Nancy's Waltz", "Sky Piece" and the only non-original, "Back In The Saddle Again", which is a great, non-nostalgic take on the Gene Autry song. CD

Man, we've always loved trumpeter Tom Harrell – but over the last few years, we've grown to love him even more – thanks to the ever-advancing quality of records like this! Tom's always been one hell of a trumpeter, but he also seems to have grown into a richly visionary leader too – coming up with this amazing sound for his group, filled with even richer tones and more vivid colors than ever before! It's hard to really put our finger on it, but one listen to this album, and you'll know what we're talking about – a quality that makes you sit up and take notice, then go rifling through your collection to revisit all the Harrell sides from decades before. Of course, the strength of the group has a lot to do with the sound here – a wonderful lineup that features Wayne Escoffery on tenor, Danny Grissett on piano and Fender Rhodes, Ugonna Okegwo on bass, and Jonathan Blake on drums – on titles that include "Storm Approaching", "Let The Children Play", "Roman Nights", "Agua", "Study In Sound", "Bird In Flight", and "Year Of The Ox". CD

Nice work from the moment when acid house was beginning to show up on the Chicago scene! We can pretty much let the track listing do the talking on this nice compilation: Loleatta Holloway "So Sweet" produced by Farley Jackmaster Funk, Peter Black "I Can't Stop", Frankie Hollywood & Ricky D "Feel The Fire", Chip E "If Only You Knew", Fingers, Inc. "You're Mine", Full House "Communicate", Nightstar "Body Groove (Get In The Groove)" and Frankie Knuckles' "You Can't Hide". LP, Vinyl record album