... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Introspective improvisations from saxophonist Dylan Baldi and drummer Jayson Gerycz – both members of the band Cloud Nothings, but working here in a much more free jazz-styled setting! Side one features an extended track titled "Hermit Thrush/Vat Of Oil" – really building up nicely at first with open, almost rambling work on the drum kit – matched with saxophone work from Baldi that slowly builds, still in soulful spiritual territory for the most part – occasionally hitting some wilder, raspier moments – almost in an Arthur Doyle sort of way. Side two has some more subtle sonic interplay on "Frog Congress At Dawn", a very organic track – and ramps things up with more freewheeling improv on "The Holy Retrievers In Transit". LP, Vinyl record album

A great lost live set – recorded in 1958 during that pivotal time when Miles was working with Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones. The whole thing's a great example of how the group could hold up the perfection of Kind Of Blue in a live setting – and the long tracks include "Jazz At The Plaza", "If I Were A Bell", and "Oleo". LP, Vinyl record album

Slamming funky club from the 70s – as Kenny Dope re-presents some of the best tracks ever by Randy Muller – the creative genius behind BT Express, Brass Construction, and Skyy! Back in the day, Randy had a way of laying the horns alongside the bassline that was totally unique – an approach that was one of the first to link together funk and disco, and hit a groove that countless other groups tried to cop! For the collection, Kenny went back to Randy's original tapes and pulled out the strongest elements – inflecting the grooves with an edge that's even funkier and sharper than the originals, yet always preserving the classic sound of the tracks. CD features a mix-like format that includes a few shout outs – and a total of 11 tracks that include "Movin" and "Ha Cha Cha" by Brass Construction, "High" and "Here's To You" by Skyy, "Boogie's Gonna Get Ya" by Rafael Cameron, "I Surrender" by Funk Deluxe, "Changin" by Brass Construction, and "Express" and "Peace Pipe" by BT Express. CD

A driving batch of samba and bossa instrumentals – played by a sax section that has a nice spooky edge to it! Baritones dip, altos soar, and tenors solo through the middle – giving the tracks a nice wide range of sound, made even more so by the echoey 60s production used on the set, handled in a mode that seems to expand the sax sound while compressing the percussion and rhythms! Titles include "E Luxo So", "Faceira", "Teleco Teco No 2", "La Vem A Bahiana", "Apito No Samba", "Rosa Morena", and "Desafinado". CD

Diego Rivera's a hell of a tenorist – and he plays a bit of soprano too – packing a heck of a lot into just a little bit of space, almost with the mix of hardbop and soul jazz we'd hear from 60s favorites like Benny Golson or Jerome Richardson! As with both of those artists, Rivera's got a way of making his presence known right from the start – but then never needs to overstate himself – as his playing is always right on the money, with just the right notes along the way – supported here by a crack quartet that features Helen Sung on piano, Boris Kozlov on bass, and Donald Edwards on drums – plus trumpet from Etienne Charles on three of the album's twelve tracks. Many tunes are originals by Diego – just the right material for his balance of expression – and titles include "Indigenous", "Sombras Del Pasado", "Secret Life Of Plants", "Melina Maria", "BLM Plaza", "Shir Lashalom", and "Purpose". CD

First great volume in this series that focuses on the brilliant organ players in the Blue Note catalog, with a mix of grooves that ranges from hard funky playing to more complicated Coltrane-esque lines. Tracks include "Plaza De Toros" by Larry Young, "Brown Sugar" by Freddie Roach, "Silver Metre" by John Patton, "Ain't It Funky Now" by Grant Green, "Butter (Fo Yo Popcorn)" by Jack McDuff, "Boop Bop Bing Bash" by George Braith, and "Face To Face" by Babyface Willette. 12 tracks in all! CD