A masterpiece of soundtrack scoring from Jerry Fielding – done for Sam Peckinpah's classic Mexico-set thriller with Warren Oates in the lead! Those other two names are more than enough to get us to needle drop the record – but it's Fielding's music that really captivates us – deep orchestrations that we never would have expected in his work the decade before – handled by Lennie Niehaus and Greg McRitchie, both of whom really unlock these channels of rich tonal colors in the music – while Jerry's score serves up all these nice changes throughout, including some key action moments, a touch of solo guitar flavoring, and other bold elements that really make the record leap from the speakers the way the film leaps off the screen. Titles include "Bring It To Me", "Gathering Information", "Marriage Plans", "Bennie's Revenge", "Killer's Rhapsody", "Requiem For Alfredo", "El Jefe", and "Road Kill". CD features bonus tracks – including the 12 minute "Hacienda Suite". CD

Maybe the most amazing work we've heard so far from Greg Foat – and that's really saying a lot, as the British keyboardist has given us some really incredible records over the years! The work's got a more ambitious vibe than some of Greg's straighter jazz sets – with large arrangements that also bring in voices at times – used in a really haunting way that's part late 60s Chess/Cadet Records, part acid folk – even though the instrumentation is mostly jazz overall! The core group also features this great mix of older British jazz giants and contemporary musicians – the legendary Ray Russell on guitar, with Duncan Lamont on tenor, Art Themen on soprano and tenor, Nat Steele on vibes, Warren Hampshire (of Hampshire & Foat) on guitar and percussion, and Moses Boyd, Clark Tracey, and Malcolm Catto on drums! Lamont is especially great – with these old school tenor solos that bring a strong current of soul to the more complex arrangements – and Foat himself plays piano, keyboards, and harmonium. Titles include versions of Tim Buckley's "Driftin" and Piero Piccioni's "Endless Love" – plus originals "The Mage", "The High Priestess", "Incantation", and "The Magic Radish". LP, Vinyl record album

A great recent album on Blue Note, and one that's an incredibly loving hommage to the label's great history. The group features Greg Osby on alto, Mark Shim on tenor, Stefon Harris on vibes, and Jason Moran on piano – and the four of them play together in a tight, soulful style that brings back memories of some of Blue Note's best mid 60s recordings. It's no surprise that the group runs through some of the better known cuts from the label's earlier years – like "Theme From Blow Up", "No Room For Squares", "Tom Thumb", "Ping Pong", and "Song For My Father" – but the mix of vibes and horns also transforms the sound into something new and fresh, and keeps the album from being just a rehash of old stuff. Quite nice, and nice and long! CD

Amazing sounds from the legendary Chris McGregor – a rare set of solo piano performances that shows a whole new side of his genius! The music here is still steeped in South African roots, yet has a style that's a bit more personal and intimate than some of Chris' better-known recordings with The Brotherhood Of Breath, or The Blue Notes – as McGregor here has to carry all the weight on his own – and does a tremendous job of spinning out these haunting melodies on piano – usually with a rhythmic pulse that's as compelling as the tune! The style's got echoes of previous Afro-inspired piano jazz from Randy Weston or Dollar Brand – but there's a deftness, and sense of feeling here that's completely McGregor's own – a really compelling quality that holds us rapt in ways that few other solo piano sets might do. This CD brings together lots more material than was on the original LP release – over 70s minutes of music, with track sthat include "Call", "Raincloud", "Umhome", "Mngqusho", "The Bride", "In His Good Time", "Ududu Nombambula", "Kwa Tebugo", and "Green Hymn". CD

Features Joshua Redman on saxophones, Aaron Goldberg on piano, Reuben Rogers on bass, and Gregory Hutchinson on drums. CD

Joshua Redman on tenor saxophone, Kevin Hays on piano, Christian McBride on bass, and Gregory Hutchinson on drums. CD

Joshua Redman on tenor and soprano saxophone, Matt Penman and Reuben Rogers on bass, and Gregory Hutchinson on drums. CD

Joshua Redman on tenor sax, Aaron Goldberg on piano, Reuben Rogers on bass, and Gregory Hutchinson on drums. CD

Really great work from tenorist Joshua Redman – an artist that many have been following for decades – but who, to us, really seems to be hitting a new level of genius in recent years! There's this understated confidence going on here – as if Redman no longer has anything to prove, and can just open up beautifully on the tenor – never breaking down too many barriers in jazz, but always blowing with this distinct sound that's very much his own – and which brings an edge to his well-written compositions on the record, which have a beautiful balance of color and rhythm. Pianist Aaron Goldberg is also fantastic – a very rhythmic player, but one who also leaves a lot of space between the notes – in ways that create this glow, or maybe a sense of waves of sound from his instrument – gently rocking the performance in this strong, yet subtle way. The rest of the quartet features Reuben Rogers on bass, and Gregory Hutchinson on drums that are bold, but never overdone – and the set of all-original material includes "How We Do", "DGAF", "Stagger Beer", "Vast", "Circle Of Life", and "Come What May". CD

An early killer from Johnny Griffin – a stripped-down quartet session for Blue Note, done in a format that really gave him plenty of room to open up! The rhythm section is a powerful trio led by Sonny Clark on piano, and featuring bassist Paul Chambers alongside the obscure drummer Kenny Dennis – but it's Griff's tone and conception that dominates the set – really blowing in a style that combines the soulful and the modern with incredible spontaneity, all wrapped up in a beautiful early Andy Warhol cover! Tracks are all longish, and titles include "The Congregation", "Latin Quarter", "I'm Glad There Is You", and "Main Spring". LP, Vinyl record album

The Jazz Is Dead series goes mighty deep with this gem of a record – opening the door for two legendary Tribe Records talents from the Detroit scene of the 70s – reedman Wendell Harrison and trombonist Phil Ranelin – both of whom sound superb throughout! As with other volumes in the JID series, the production pair really adapt their sound and strategy to fit the best modes of the guest – so that this time around, Ali Shaheed Muhammad's just adding some strong basslines to the tunes, and Adrian Younge plays a variety of keyboards and guitar – yet neither get in the way of the vision that's clearly coming from both Harrison and Ranelin! Tracks almost feel like an update of older Tribe Records modes – and drummer Greg Paul provides a nice crisp crackle at the bottom. Tunes include "Running With The Tribe", "Ursa Major", "Black Census", "Open Eye", "Genesis", and "Fire In Detroit". LP, Vinyl record album

An early killer from Johnny Griffin – a stripped-down quartet session for Blue Note, done in a format that really gave him plenty of room to open up! The rhythm section is a powerful trio led by Sonny Clark on piano, and featuring bassist Paul Chambers alongside the obscure drummer Kenny Dennis – but it's Griff's tone and conception that dominates the set – really blowing in a style that combines the soulful and the modern with incredible spontaneity, all wrapped up in a beautiful early Andy Warhol cover! Tracks are all longish, and titles include "The Congregation", "Latin Quarter", "I'm Glad There Is You", and "Main Spring". CD also features the bonus track "I Remember You". CD

Amazing sounds from the legendary Chris McGregor – a rare set of solo piano performances that shows a whole new side of his genius! The music here is still steeped in South African roots, yet has a style that's a bit more personal and intimate than some of Chris' better-known recordings with The Brotherhood Of Breath, or The Blue Notes – as McGregor here has to carry all the weight on his own – and does a tremendous job of spinning out these haunting melodies on piano – usually with a rhythmic pulse that's as compelling as the tune! The style's got echoes of previous Afro-inspired piano jazz from Randy Weston or Dollar Brand – but there's a deftness, and sense of feeling here that's completely McGregor's own – a really compelling quality that holds us rapt in ways that few other solo piano sets might do. This CD brings together lots more material than was on the original LP release – over 70s minutes of music, with track sthat include "Call", "Raincloud", "Umhome", "Mngqusho", "The Bride", "In His Good Time", "Ududu Nombambula", "Kwa Tebugo", and "Green Hymn". CD

Incredibly spiritual soul from Ayanna Gregory – a stunning debut, with a richness that's simply mindblowing! Ayanna's got a musical vision that stretches way past the simple themes of some of her soul music contemporaries – pushing for a righteous vision that embraces a world of peace and beauty, hitting themes of the sort that we've come to love from the group Spiritual Ground, who are contemporaries of Ayanna's on the Maryland scene. The production is tremendous – not just beats and keys, but a sophisticated approach that also brings in strings, vocal choruses, and other elements that help elevate the music to a level that matches the message! The righteousness of the album's no surprise, considering that Ayanna's the daughter of activist Dick Gregory – who makes an appearance on one track on the set – but Ayanna's vision is a bit different than that of her father, and is expressed here in incredibly beautiful terms – far more redemptive than prescriptive! Titles include "Far Away", "Warriors Rise", "Phoenix", "Changes", "Feeding Off The Love Of The Land", "I Am Here", "Loving You Is Everything", "Beautiful Flower", and "You Are Free". CD

Searing greatness from Portland punk pioneer Greg Sage and his Wipers – the band's third album, and they're still pretty much at the top of their game here – showing a stronger songwriting hand than ever before, without dispensing with the vitally raw, timeless punky roots. This sounds as great 30+ years after it was recorded as it must have in the early 80s, and there's no doubt in our minds that some of the best underground rock of the later 80s, 90s and beyond would ever have materialized without the inspiration herein. Includes "Over The Edge", "Doom Town", "So Young", "Messenger", "Romeo", "Now Is The Time", "No One Wants An Alien", "No Generation Gap", "What Is" and "This Time". Includes a bonus side of outtakes, and more from the 1982 sessions! LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderfully surprising effort from guitarist Mike Allemana – a secret hero of ours in the Chicago jazz scene for many years – as a player who first worked with tenor giant Von Freeman, and later with guitarist George Freeman – and who's gone on to be both a supporter of and champion for their rights in jazz history! Here, Mike pays tribute to his first mentor – but with a sophisticated suite of tracks that's unlike anything we might have expected – beautifully rich sounds delivered by Allemana on guitar, Victor Garcia on trumpet, Greg Ward on alto, Geof Bradfield on tenor, Tomeka Reid on cello, Kendall Moore on trombone, Matt Ferguson on bass, and Michael Raynor on drums – the last of whom also played with Von Freeman too! The vibe is very different than the small combo jazz of the south side scene where the Freemans and Allemana regularly played – more painterly in sound, with these vibrant strokes of color and tone that paint a wonderful portrait – on titles that include "The Mediator", "Welcome Enter", "Communion & Renewal", "Libra Channeling", and "The Mentor's Benediction". CD

The second album from the Allman Brothers, and maybe the one where their sound really comes together – an incredibly chromatic approach to long-spun work on guitar – almost influenced by jazz at times, and definitely very different than some of the more jamming work of the scenes on the coasts at the time! The group really let the tunes open up and flow – brimming over with so much sublime guitar work from Greg Allman, already a very distinct voice on his instrument – matched with more guitar from Dicky Betts, and given all these warm organ lines from Greg Allman, whose vocals are wonderful too. This may not have been the first record to try to find a southern voice in modern rock, but it's definitely one of the most crucial – as you'll hear on titles that include the classic "Midnight Rider" – plus "In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed", "Revival", "Don't Keep Me Wonderin", "Hoochie Coochie Man", and "Please Call Home". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning early moment in the long career of reedman Idris Ackamoor – music that predates his famous 70s work with The Pyramids, but which came from the same Ohio scene – an early collective of spiritual jazz players who are captured here in an amazing live performance! Unlike work by The Pyramids, The Collective were never issued on record at the time – yet they've got a tremendously powerful blend of spiritual currents and avant ideas – always skating the line between inside and out, structure and freedom – with work from Ackamoor on alto, Margaux Simmons on flute, Steve Rumboat on French Horn, Lester Knibbs on piano, Greg LaMont Wright on soprano, and Steve Maniscoso on percussion. Titles include "Beginning Roots", "The Shepherd's Tune", "Idrissa's Dream", "Black Queen", and "Veil Of Solitude". CD

Daggerboard work here with the great west coast bassist Henry Franklin – aka Skipper, which you might know from his famous 70s albums for the Black Jazz label! Franklin's a talent who's been keeping the fires burning for decades on the west coast underground scene – and he's still a hell of a talent, and an equally great composer – as you'll hear here, when Daggerboard really lets him take the lead. If anything, Franklin's bass might be even more upfront in the mix than on some of his own recent albums – and the group's also joined here by the great Roger Glenn on vibes – another older west coast player who delivered a superb 70s album on Fantasy. The group's co-led by Erik Jekabson on trumpet and Gregory Howe on percussion – and some of the tracks also feature some great subtle use of a string quartet too. Titles include "Involuntary Separation", "Skipper's Garden", "Conception Point", "Video Culture", "Seven For Henry", and "Agapanthus". CD

An excellent solo set as a leader from drummer Mel Lewis – one that reminds us that he can still cook very strongly away from his big band with trumpeter Thad Jones! The set has Lewis in different groupings with an excellent set of the friends mentioned in the title – a top-shelf lineup that includes Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Michael Brecker on tenor, Gregory Herbert on alto, Hank Jones on piano, and Ron Carter on bass – working their way through a mix of different material that really takes on some great new energy in Lewis' hands – that mix of swing and complexity he forged in the group with Jones, but maybe even more compelling here in a smaller combo format. Titles include "Windflower", "De Samba", "Ain't Nothin Nu", "A Child Is Born", and "Sho Nuff Did". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best-remembered groups from the Detroit scene of the early 70s – thanks to the massive title track on this album, and a whole host of other wonderful cuts as well! The group features the great Steve Marcus on vocals – an artist who'd cut some key Northern soul singles for smaller labels in the 60s – but who really bursts out of the box here with great presentation from the Holland Dozier Holland empire! The record features some great songs by General Johnson and Greg Perry – and Perry also handled some of the production work for the record – really pushing the group with the sort of full, rich sound the Chairmen Of The Board brought to their own work. Titles include "Somebody's Been Sleeping", "Too Many Cooks (Spoil The Soup)", "One Man's Leftovers", "Love is Sweeter", "Age Ain't Nothin' But a Number", and "Back Track". LP, Vinyl record album

The long-overdue issue of the only recording by this lost Chicago/Swedish project – a massive lineup of young avant players from the start of the millenium – similar in construction to the Peter Brotzman Tentet, but working here with a very different sound! The group came together over the space of months, on both sides of the Atlantic – and really took their time to develop the album's two long compositions by Ken Vandermark and Fredrik Ljungkvist – working in amazing shades and tones that really reflect the individual personalities and strengths of the 16-member lineup. Each track spins out towards the half-hour mark – which allows lots of space for sounds from Mats Gustafsson on tenor, Ken Vandermark on clarinet and tenor, Fredrik Ljungkvist on tenor, clarinet, and baritone (were these guys having a competition?) – plus Guillermo Gregorio on alto and clarinet, Jeb Bishop on trombone, Per Ake Holmlander on tuba, Joe Morris and David Stackenas on guitars, Sten Sandell on piano, Jim Baker on piano and Arp, Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello, Kent Kessler and Johan Berthling on basses, Michale Zerang and Raymond Strid on drums and percussion, and Kjell Nordeson on drums, percussion, and vibes. There's a heck of a lot going on here – and titles include "Codeine Picasso" and "In This Very Room" – each of which have a mix of composition and improvisation that's not unlike some of the projects directed by Lonberg-Holm around the same time. CD

A seminal recording from Keith Tippett's Ark – a large ensemble of British avant players that coexisted with (and shared members from) Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath! The set was recorded at a time when many on the scene where exploring territory that could only be reached with a larger group – pushing the boundaries of British jazz with a forcefulness borrowed from more progressive experiments – yet still at the best moments (such as this recording), keeping things restrained enough to let even the smallest voices and ideas be heard. Both Keith Tippett & Stan Tracey are on piano – and other players include Elton Dean, Trevor Watts, Harry Miller, Peter Kowald, Phil Wachsman and Louis Moholo – plus vocals from Julie Tippetts and Maggie Nichols. The expanded set features 4 side-long compositions – and although the degree to which they were "composed" isn't explicit, because there's a lot of fiery free playing and interplay, the album's not without focus or direction, and never descends into a din, as a group this large might verge upon. Titles include "Frames", parts 1 to 4. CD

A soaring batch of disco gems, club cuts, and undiscovered nuggets – all pulled together to make a set that's even better than the first entry in this Disco Wonderland series! DJ Andy Smith and associates bring together a great array of fresh tracks from back in the day – not massive disco hits, but also not the kind of rare gems that maybe never made the cut for a good reason – and instead, the tracks here work together perfectly, and even get a few special mixes along the way by Smith and the crew, which includes a few contemporary cuts that fit perfectly next to the vintage material. Titles include "Get Up & Dance (Bad Bikini re-edit)" by Disco Circus, "You're The Best" by The Emotions, "Heaven" by The Gibson Brothers, "Dreamin" by Greg Henderson, "You Don't Know (Crissy Kybosh rmx)" by Serious Intention, "For The Love Of Money" by Armada Orchestra, "You & I" by Ronnie Jones, "Sweet Dynamite" by Claudja Barry, "Dance Freak" by Chain Reaction, "Night Of My Life" by Full Intention & Nick Reach Up with Jazz Morley, "I'm In Love" by Cela, "Love Don't Come Easy" by New Jersey Connection, "Lost Without You (Andy Smith re-edit)" by Will Sessions & Amp Fiddler, and "Ghetto Disco" by Ted Taylor. 2CD version features one CD of the songs mix, another unmixed! CD

A pair of classic roots reggae albums from the 70s – brought together here on a single set with a huge amount of bonus tracks – many on CD for the first time! The work of Joe Gibbs is massive here, and happens with plenty of help from Errol Thompson as well – at a level that shows that even at a time when reggae was hitting huge international interest on the bigger labels, there was still so much more going on in the Jamaican underground – particularly with more message-oriented work like this! And sure, roots reggae might be watered down a fair bit in the coming decade – but here, there's an undeniable power to the music that's made even better by the raw rhythms and nicely dirty production modes from the pair – on cuts that were initially issued on the related volumes 1 and 2 of the United Dreadlocks albums on Gibbs' own label. Titles include "Set The Children Free" and "Lovelight" by Gregory Isaacs, "Children Of Israel" by Dennis Brown", "Wicked Have Fe Dressback" by Earth & Stone, "Devil's Throne" by Junior Delgado, "Tribulation" by Joy White, "Whip Them Jah" by Dennis Brown, "Judgement Time" and "Rasta Man Say" by Junior Ross & The Spear, and "Marcia" by Freddie McKay, "Cool Mi Black Brother" by Afriques, "Set Up Yourself" by Ferris Thomas, "The Creator" by George Nooks, "Wise Bird" by Cornel Campbell, "Close To Me" and "Memories" by Ruddy Thomas, "Heart & Soul" by Junior Byles, "My Man" by Marcia Aitken, and "Hooligan" and "Vineyard" by Dennis Brown". Plus, in the best Doctor Bird fashion, the set comes with 24 more bonus tracks – work by Prince Far I, Marcia Aitkin, Culture, Trinity, Althea & Donna, Mighty Diamonds, Leo Graham, Bobby Melody, Dennis Walks, Silford Walker, Glen Washington, and others. CD

Beautiful work from the Brooklyn scene of the early 80s – at a moment when it seemed like some of the more spiritual styles of the 70s had fallen out of mainstream favor, but were still being served up beautifully on obscure records like this! Mustafa Abdul Rahman isn't just a tenor player, as he works here as a fantastically majestic leader – leading a small combo through sounds that soar to the heavens on righteous energy – often with vocals from Odell Grier, and delivered with instrumentation from Ahmed Abdullah on trumpet, Richard Radu Williams on bass, Rafik Abdul Rahim on piano, Gregg Bufford on drums, and Babafumi Akunyon on congas and percussion. There's a spirit here that's a bit like Abdullah's own record of the period, and other players come into the mix from time to time – including a young Malachi Thompson, who plays trumpet on one track. Titles include the originals "Polygamy", "Silent World", and "God Is" – plus a take on Coltrane's "Some Other Blues", and the more traditional standards "Afternoon In Paris" and "One & Only Love". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing look at the psychedelic scene in late 60s Memphis – music that's really mindblowing for the time, yet which often never got its due – given the stronger mainstream focus on Memphis as a hub for blues and soul! (In other words, had any of these cats hit the Sunset Strip in the late 60s, they would have been huge!) Given that Memphis already had a strong studio scene in place – where some of these musicians worked on other sessions – the recordings here are incredibly advanced – often full of cool production techniques and other little twists and turns – all elements that take already-great fuzzy, freaky, hairy rock and roll – and turn it into something even more incredible by the time it's caught on tape! Most of these names are new to our ears, and the package is definitely a historical treasure trove – as pleasing to our record collectors' sensibilities as the music is to our ears. Sound quality is excellent, and many numbers have not been issued before – titles that include "Eat Me Alive" and "We're In Town" by The Goatdancers, "Crazy Man's Woman" and "Shoo Shoo Shoo Fly" by Greg McCarley, "Blue Music Box" by Changin Tymes, "For Your Love" by the Honey Jug, "Rockin In The Same Old Boat" by Triple X, "Deja Vu" by Judy Bramlett, "Come On Along & Dream" by The Poor Little Rich Kids, "Flying Horse Of Louisiana" by Knowbody Else, "Dancing Girl" by The 1st Century, and "Ticket To Ride" by Mother Roses – plus an advertisement for The Goatdancers too! CD

The deep classic Harder Shade Of Black set from producer Leonard Chin – first released in 1974 – with performances by the Santic All All Stars, Horace Andy, Gregory Isaacs, Augustus Pablo and more – with numbers ranging fro sweetly soulful vocal numbers to heavy instrumentals, dubs and rhythms that the legendary status! Chin is among the lesser known producers, to the mainstream roots canon anyway, but he cut tracks with some of the best reggae singers of all time – some of which are on this set, and it features material that's been sought after and out of print for years! It includes restored original cover art for the first time since the original 70s release, and the CD includes a booklet with Chin interviews, a nice set of notes and photos and more tracks than ever before. Includes "I'll Be Around" by Gregory Isaacs, "Better Shade Of Dub" and "Palace Of Peace" by Santic All Stars, "Peace In The Valley" by Roman Stewart, ""Children Of Israel" by Horace Andy, "Pne Thousand Swords" and "Harder Shade Of Black" by August Pablo, "Jah Guide" by Big Joe, "Chalice Blaze" by Jah Woosh, "I Don't Want To Lose You" by Paul Whiteman, "Yamaha Ride" by I Roy and more. 21 tracks on the CD. CD

The second album from the Allman Brothers, and maybe the one where their sound really comes together – an incredibly chromatic approach to long-spun work on guitar – almost influenced by jazz at times, and definitely very different than some of the more jamming work of the scenes on the coasts at the time! The group really let the tunes open up and flow – brimming over with so much sublime guitar work from Greg Allman, already a very distinct voice on his instrument – matched with more guitar from Dicky Betts, and given all these warm organ lines from Greg Allman, whose vocals are wonderful too. This may not have been the first record to try to find a southern voice in modern rock, but it's definitely one of the most crucial – as you'll hear on titles that include the classic "Midnight Rider" – plus "In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed", "Revival", "Don't Keep Me Wonderin", "Hoochie Coochie Man", and "Please Call Home". LP, Vinyl record album

A much-needed look at the early sound of The Blue Notes – a performance right before they left South Africa, and with a nicely different sound than some of their later London performances issued on the Ogun label! The group here are already very much in their own sound and spirit, but with less of the free improvisation of the 70s – more some of the rhythmic modes you'd know from other South African jazz of the period, but mixed with the kind of complexity you'd hear in a Charles Mingus record – all sorts of of amazing arrangements that are peppered with really wonderful solos from the members of the sextet! The lineup is different than the quartet and quintet dates of the following decade – with tenor saxophonist Nick Moyake working alongside Dudu Pukwana on alto, Mongezi Feza on trumpet, Chris McGregor on piano, Johnny Dyani on bass, and Luis Moholo on drums. The set features a range of great modern jazz compositions by the players – including "Coming Home", "Two For Sandi", "Dorkay House", "B My Dear", "Vortex Special", and "Now". CD

A record with a really special story, and maybe one of the best sessions we've heard from the gang at Wide Hive in many years! The setting is the legendary Studio A at Fantasy Records – where this unique group recorded the album days before the closing of that storied recording spot – working with a sense of soulful imagination that seems to channel all the greatness of the 70s jazz captured in the spot, with a lean, laidback mode that's completely wonderful all the way through! The group features key work from the mighty Roger Glenn on vibes – an artist who did some of his own great work at Fantasy in the 70s with Larry Mizell – and there's also really wonderful work on tenor and alto from Kasey Knudsen, alongside sounds from Mike Blankenship on Rhodes, and Wide Hive stalwarts Gregory Howe on Hammond B3 and Erik Jekabson on trumpet. All tunes were penned by Howe and Jekabson, and arranged by the latter – and titles include "Journey Down Parker", "Last Days Of Studio A", "Steak Out", "Heroine's Portrait", "Conducting Poppies", and "Rabbit Trap". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible collection of mellow soul – filled with rare tracks from the Sony and BMG catalogs, including a fair bit of work that hasn't otherwise been reissued on CD! There's an easygoing vibe here that we totally love – a laidback approach to soul that's smooth, but never too slick – and which flows out wonderfully in the legacy first explored by Marvin Gaye and Roy Ayers in the earlier part of the 70s! A heck of an overstuffed set too – with 17 rare numbers at one low price, well over an hour of music that includes "Say You Love Me Girl" by Breakwater, "Holding You Loving You" by Don Blackman, "I'll Always Be In Love With Love" by Greg Perry, "Hold Me Tighter In The Rain" by Billy Griffin, "Never Can Say Goodbye" by New Birth, "I'm Back For More"by Al Johnson, "How About Love" by Chocolate Milk, "If You Want It" by Niteflyte, "Touch Me Baby" by Tamiko Jones, "Sunshower" by Dr Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, "I Love You" by Weldon Irvine, and "Love Everlasting" by Jon Lucien. CD

A wonderfully surprising effort from guitarist Mike Allemana – a secret hero of ours in the Chicago jazz scene for many years – as a player who first worked with tenor giant Von Freeman, and later with guitarist George Freeman – and who's gone on to be both a supporter of and champion for their rights in jazz history! Here, Mike pays tribute to his first mentor – but with a sophisticated suite of tracks that's unlike anything we might have expected – beautifully rich sounds delivered by Allemana on guitar, Victor Garcia on trumpet, Greg Ward on alto, Geof Bradfield on tenor, Tomeka Reid on cello, Kendall Moore on trombone, Matt Ferguson on bass, and Michael Raynor on drums – the last of whom also played with Von Freeman too! The vibe is very different than the small combo jazz of the south side scene where the Freemans and Allemana regularly played – more painterly in sound, with these vibrant strokes of color and tone that paint a wonderful portrait – on titles that include "The Mediator", "Welcome Enter", "Communion & Renewal", "Libra Channeling", and "The Mentor's Benediction". LP, Vinyl record album

With Freddie Green on guitar and shaker, Cleveland Eaton on bass, Gregg Field and Harold Jones on drums. Orchestra includes Willie Cook and Harry Edison on trumpet, Sonny Cohn, Dale Carley, Frank Szabo, and Bob Summers on trumpet and flugelhorn, Mitchell Wood, Dennis Wilson, Grover Mitchell, and Bill Hughes on trombone, Eric Dixon on tenor, Kenny Hing on tenor and flute, Bobby Plater and Danny Turner on alto and flute, and Johnny Williams on baritone. CD

A beautiful record – although one that's tinged with a touch of sadness, given the setting. In what was becoming an unfortunate tradition in their later years, the remaining members of the legendary South African jazz group The Blue Notes join together to mourn the passing of one of their original bandmembers – the great bassist Johnny Dyani, a player whose sound had a key influence on both African and European jazz scenes of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The group for this session is reduced to Chris McGregor on piano, Louis Moholo on bass, and Dudu Pukwana on alto and soprano saxes – working together in a beautiful session of tunes that hearken back to the rhythms of the group's roots – while still allowing some of the freer interplay that they discovered in later years. McGregor's piano is especially nice – tinged with sadness and appropriate blue notes – providing a nice undercurrent to the solo work of Pukwana. Titles include "Funk Dem Dudu", "Eyomzi", "Blues For Nick", and "Monks & Mbizo". CD

A beautiful record – although one that's tinged with a touch of sadness, given the setting. In what was becoming an unfortunate tradition in their later years, the remaining members of the legendary South African jazz group The Blue Notes join together to mourn the passing of one of their original bandmembers – the great bassist Johnny Dyani, a player whose sound had a key influence on both African and European jazz scenes of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The group for this session is reduced to Chris McGregor on piano, Louis Moholo on bass, and Dudu Pukwana on alto and soprano saxes – working together in a beautiful session of tunes that hearken back to the rhythms of the group's roots – while still allowing some of the freer interplay that they discovered in later years. McGregor's piano is especially nice – tinged with sadness and appropriate blue notes – providing a nice undercurrent to the solo work of Pukwana. Titles include "Funk Dem Dudu", "Eyomzi", "Blues For Nick", and "Monks & Mbizo". LP, Vinyl record album

A much-needed look at the early sound of The Blue Notes – a performance right before they left South Africa, and with a nicely different sound than some of their later London performances issued on the Ogun label! The group here are already very much in their own sound and spirit, but with less of the free improvisation of the 70s – more some of the rhythmic modes you'd know from other South African jazz of the period, but mixed with the kind of complexity you'd hear in a Charles Mingus record – all sorts of of amazing arrangements that are peppered with really wonderful solos from the members of the sextet! The lineup is different than the quartet and quintet dates of the following decade – with tenor saxophonist Nick Moyake working alongside Dudu Pukwana on alto, Mongezi Feza on trumpet, Chris McGregor on piano, Johnny Dyani on bass, and Luis Moholo on drums. The set features a range of great modern jazz compositions by the players – including "Coming Home", "Two For Sandi", "Dorkay House", "B My Dear", "Vortex Special", and "Now". CD

A stunning early moment in the long career of reedman Idris Ackamoor – music that predates his famous 70s work with The Pyramids, but which came from the same Ohio scene – an early collective of spiritual jazz players who are captured here in an amazing live performance! Unlike work by The Pyramids, The Collective were never issued on record at the time – yet they've got a tremendously powerful blend of spiritual currents and avant ideas – always skating the line between inside and out, structure and freedom – with work from Ackamoor on alto, Margaux Simmons on flute, Steve Rumboat on French Horn, Lester Knibbs on piano, Greg LaMont Wright on soprano, and Steve Maniscoso on percussion. Titles include "Beginning Roots", "The Shepherd's Tune", "Idrissa's Dream", "Black Queen", and "Veil Of Solitude". LP, Vinyl record album

Joe Gibbs and Errol Thompson moe than live up to their title as the Mighty Two just as this heavy compilation more than lives up to the title of nothing but scorchers! Gibbs and ET showcase their mastery of all styles here, veering from hard and heavy roots to sweet lover's numbers and even a few bouncing tracks aimed a the dancehall! Top notch singers and dee jays are all featured over throbbing rhythms at the hands of Gibbs' Professionals crew, with 40 tracks in all, including "Two Sevens Clash" by Culture, "Money In My Pocket/Cool Runnings" by Dennis Brown and Prince Mohammed, "Babylon Too Rough" by Gregory Isaacs, "Cool Out Son" by Junior Murvin, "Boxing Around" and "No Man's Land" by Cornell Campbell, "Just Like A River" by the Mighty Diamonds, Left With A Broken Heart" by George Nooks, "Su Su Pon Rasta/Heavy Manners" by Dolphin Naggo Morris and Prince Far I, "Funeral" by Prince Alla, "I'm A Natty" by Jacob Miller, "Rockers A Nuh Crackers" by Glen Washington, "Jah Bring I Joy In The Morning" by Bobby Melody, "Burn Babylon" by Sylford Walker, "Stop Picking On Me" by Max Romeo, "Keep On Knocking" by Jaco Miller, "Virgin Girl" by Eek-A-Mouse, "Hello Carol" by Enos McLeod, "My Princess" by Sammy Dread, and "Uptown Ranking" by Althea & Donna. CD

A bold new chapter in the career of vibraphonist Stephon Harris – and proof that he's one of the most amazing players of his generation, one who's always growing into new sounds and styles! Despite the "Duke" in the title here, the work isn't a simple homage to the classics of Ellington – and instead, it uses some lesser-known themes by Duke as vehicles for new waves of color, sound, and tone from Harris – scored in the same soulful way as his brilliant work on Grand Unification Theory from a few years back. The style here is hardly Ellington, and is more a shimmering mix of small combo jazz and strings – headed up mostly by Harris' vibes and marimba, but also featuring Steve Turre on trombone, Anne Drummond on flute, Greg Tardy on clarinet, and Xavier Davis on piano. 3 tracks here are from Harris' own The Gardner Meditations – "Memoirs Of A Frozen Summer", "African Tarantella", and "Dancing Enigma" – and Ellington titles include "Thanks For The Beautiful Land On The Delta", "Portrait Of Wellman Braud", "Bourbon Street Jingling Jollies", "Single Petal Of A Rose", and "Sunset & The Mocking Bird". CD

A stunning club groover that still holds up well after all these years! The album's title cut – the classic "I'm Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair)" – has an incredibly tight groove, a catchy hook, and the best sort of New York sound – with tight instrumentation that has a very soulful sound. Jocelyn Brown's on vocals, and the production's by Patrick Adams and Greg Carmichael. Carmichael handles a lot of other tracks on the LP, and they're all nice groovers, like "I Wanna Give You Me", "You Got Me Dancing", and "I Hope It's The Right Time". LP, Vinyl record album

We're ultra-proud to be Chicagoans – and one of the many things that makes is proud is The Chicago Defender – our city's famous African-American newspaper, easily one of the best and most important in a long legacy of progressive 20th Century publications! This very hefty book tells the full tale of the Defender – offering up hundreds of pages that look not just at the paper's history, but also its role in the segregated black community of Chicago, and its lasting impact – both at a local and national level. The book is extremely well-researched, and written by an author who was also part of the Defender staff in its later years – and the whole thing clocks in at a whopping 633 pages, hardcover, with some black and white images. Book

Another great set from Pressure Sounds! They really got us open when they pulled together their first set by the Royals, Pick Up The Pieces, and this dub and Dee Jay outing makes a perfect companion set. Excellent dubs rendered by the heaviest of the heavy mixologists: Tubby, Jammy, Scientist, Lee Perry and Errol T plus some rare, rare DJ versions from Prince Far I and I Roy, all packaged to the usual high Pressure Sounds standards. 19 tracks casting the Royals soulful reggae in a new light, 68 minutes of music in all, with rhythms built in Kingston by the cream of Jamaica's session players. Check the massive track list: 2 versions of "If You Want Good": "Negusa Nagast" featuring Knowledge & Prince Far I, dub mix by Scientist and "Nose Hole" with a dub mix by Ernest Hookim, "Waizero" ("Facts Of Life") dub mix by Scientist, "Wigwam" ("Blacker Black") dub mix by Scientist at Channel One, 3 versions of "Pick Up The Pieces": "Llongo" dub mix by Lee Scratch Perry & King Tubby, "Pride Of A Black Man" by Gladdy Anderson, and "Monkey Fashion" chatted up by I Roy, "Land Of Milk & Honey" ("Promised Land") dubbed by Errol T at Randy's, "Manna From The Sky" ("Malnutrition") dubbed by Prince Jammy, "Peace, Love & Dub" ("Peace & Love") dubbed by Ernest Hookim at Channel One, "Tirang" aka "Only For A Time" dub, "Tekla" with King Tubby being dubby on "Sufferer Of The Ghetto", "MIA" a dub of "Way Of Life" by Gregory Isaacs, "Jemima Antonia Dub" a dub of "Oh My Love", 2 versions of "Ghetto Man" "Sugar Candy" by I Roy and "Oongaan" by King Tubby, "Janhoi" featuring Knowledge & Prince Far I versioning "Make Believe" and "Jammy's Dub" with Prince Jammy dubbing the same rhythm and "Dub The Wrong" ("When You Are Wrong") dub mix by Ernest Hookim at Channel One. LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet and jazzy pop from early 70s Brazil – a great little album that we'd rank with our favorites by Marcos Valle and Edu Lobo! Arthur Verocai isn't nearly as well-known as those two, but he works in a similar territory – taking jazz, large arrangements, and nice touches of electric funk – and working them into a groove that has the soaring and ambitious feel of the best post-Tropicalia work of 70s Brazil! This rare gem was self-produced, and fell of the map almost as soon as it was released – but it really deserves wider recognition, and shines with a depth that makes it an instant classic to our ears! Titles include "Presente Grego", "Caboclo", "Pelas Sombras", "O Mapa", "Sylvia", "Karina", "Velho Parente", and "Dedicada A Ela". CD

A soaring batch of disco gems, club cuts, and undiscovered nuggets – all pulled together to make a set that's even better than the first entry in this Disco Wonderland series! DJ Andy Smith and associates bring together a great array of fresh tracks from back in the day – not massive disco hits, but also not the kind of rare gems that maybe never made the cut for a good reason – and instead, the tracks here work together perfectly, and even get a few special mixes along the way by Smith and the crew, which includes a few contemporary cuts that fit perfectly next to the vintage material. Titles include "Get Up & Dance (Bad Bikini re-edit)" by Disco Circus, "You're The Best" by The Emotions, "Heaven" by The Gibson Brothers, "Dreamin" by Greg Henderson, "You Don't Know (Crissy Kybosh rmx)" by Serious Intention, "For The Love Of Money" by Armada Orchestra, "You & I" by Ronnie Jones, "Sweet Dynamite" by Claudja Barry, "Dance Freak" by Chain Reaction, "Night Of My Life" by Full Intention & Nick Reach Up with Jazz Morley, "I'm In Love" by Cela, "Love Don't Come Easy" by New Jersey Connection, "Lost Without You (Andy Smith re-edit)" by Will Sessions & Amp Fiddler, and "Ghetto Disco" by Ted Taylor. LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing relic of a bygone age – a special limited CD that was done in collaboration with the long-lost Eccentric Soul Omnibus funky 45 collection from Numero! The original package is pictured on the front – a very limited box of 7" singles that featured tracks were then unique to the set – rare soul and funk gems that had not appeared on other Numero compilations or 45s – presented as a unique collection that continues Numero's tireless digging of the American soul underground of the 60s and 70s. This CD set brings together 22 of those rare nuggets – and for a lot less than the $250 price tag of the 7" box – a nice helping of rare funky soul that includes "Strike" by Union, "Together (part 2)" by Elements Of Peace, "Questions" by Pat Stallworth, "This Time" by Family Connection, "Hands On A Golden Key" by Stone Creations, "What It Is" by Curtis Liggins Indications, "Man Oh Man" by Walter & The Admerations, "Look Around" by Two Plus Two, "A Child Is Born" by Aggregations, "You Make Me Nothing" by Energetics, "The Stretch" by 13th Amendment, "Everyday" by Inbassador, "Can I Say It Again" by Soul Walkers, "The Max" by Prophets Of Peace, "Party Time" by Black Soul Express, "Patience" by Rokk, and "Give Me One More Chance" by Procedures. CD

An incredible collection of spiritual jazz gems – really wonderful material that you'd hardly ever hear otherwise, pulled together in this amazing 4th edition of the Jazz Bizniz series! The collection is totally tremendous from the start – filled with cuts we've either never heard, or forgotten about – soulful and righteous numbers taken mostly from obscure indie sets of the 70s and 80s, and mixed up with a few contemporary tracks too – all with a deeply soulful flavor that's totally great! There's a bit of a world influence at times – which further pushes the spirit of the set – and the package is exactly the kind of collection that keeps us digging strong year after year – looking for amazing music like this to really feed our soul. Titles include "Glass" by Jeff Resnick, "Makini" by Sal Davis, "Jojo" by Ensemble Perfecta, "Love Message" by Teo'Dore, "Benign Beginning" by Lamont Johnson, "Jobu" by Motivators, "Honesty" by Najite Olokun Prophecy, "Overdose" by Phavia Kujichagullia, "Dancer" by Gregory Charles Royal, and "Schizophrenia" by Cirius B. CD

A look at Memphis soul music that goes way beyond any Stax, Goldwax, or Atlantic Records collections you might own – partly because all of the tracks here are from a time in the city when all those other labels had stopped recording! Memphis is usually remembered for a 60s/early 70s stretch when the city was brimming over with record labels, studios, and top soul talent – but that latter aspect of the scene didn't stop when the record companies went bust – and instead, it just went underground, as lesser-known artists kept on developing great new sounds and styles! As you'd guess from the title, most of the work here is in a modern soul mode – often with rhythms that have a bit of boogie or club in the mix, but also with some of that developing southern soul approach that was maybe more strongly associated with the Malaco label down in Jackson. The scope of music is great, and the set's got very detailed notes on this under-documented time in the history of Memphis soul music – to support a great tracklist that includes "Can We Melt The Ice" by Morris, "You Mean Everything To Me" by Sweet Pearl, "The Doctor" by LA, "Stone Crush On You" by OT Skyes, "What Does It Take To Know A Woman Like You" by Greg Mason, "Always" by Silk Satin & Lace, "Right Thing" by Kick, "Convict Me" by Libra, "Slice Of Heaven" by Cato, "I'm Choosing You" by Magic Morris, "No Seat Dancin" by Frankie Alexander, and "Keep It To Yourself" by Captain Fantastic & Starr Fleet. LP, Vinyl record album

An incredibly cool collection – one that offers up all sorts of weird and wonderful soul music covers of mainstream mellow 70s hits – new versions of the famous tunes that pull them strongly over to the world of R&B, often with results that are better than the original versions! The set is both a great demonstration of how much soul there was lurking in the original AOR productions of the mid 70s, and how strongly those currents could be unlocked even more in the right hands – as you'll hear in these sublime takes on tunes by Hall & Oates, Toto, Seals & Crofts, The Doobie Brothers, and other 70s pop giants. Titles include "Dirty Work" by Pointer Sisters, "Minute By Minute" by Peabo Bryson, "Georgie Porgy" by Side Effect, "He's Gone" by Dee Dee Bridgewater, "Summer Breeze" by Main Ingredient, "Lazy Nina" by Greg Phillinganes, "In The Way" by Brothers Johnson, "This Is It" by Millie Jackson, "Takin It To The Streets" by Quincy Jones, "I Hope You'll Be Very Unhappy Without Me" by Tavares, "God Only Knows" by Betty Lavette, "Let Em In" by Billy Paul, and "A Love Of Your Own" by The Ebonys. CD

Larry Carlton and Steve Lukather on guitar – with Rick Jackson on keyboards, Chris Kent on bass, and Gregg Bissonette on drums. CD

South African freedom songs performed by a number of vocalists and accompanying musicians, with vocalists including Sathima Bea Benjamin, Sam Hlatschwayo, Fana Kekana, Mnfanafuthi Magwaza, Selaelo Maredi, Thembi Mtshali, Sipo Mzimela, Themba Ntinga, and Seth Sibanda; with musicians including John Betsch on drums, Greg Brown on basss, Muneer Abdul Fataah on cello, Talib Adul Kadr on alto and flute, Abdullah Ibrahim on piano, and Malindi Mbityana on trombone. LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Greg Allman's excellent solo debut – all the more impressive given that it came out just weeks apart from the Allman Brothers' classic Brothers & Sisters – here's a southern rock legend stepping out and showing different sides of his immense talent around the same time his band was also near a creative peak! Greg's uniquely expressive voice is in the spotlight here, on tunes that touch on laid back southern rock, but gospel blues & soul tinged, too, sans guitar heroics for the most part. Includes the eternally great "Midnight Rider", "Queen Of Hearts", "Please Call Home", "Don't Mess Up A Good Thing", a really cool country rock take on "These Days", "Multi-Colored Lady", "All My Friends" and certainly only of the fresher takes "Will The Circle Be Unbroken". LP, Vinyl record album

A Chilean group with a really wonderful sound – one that mixes familiar folksy guitar and flute with some larger string arrangements – in a style that's quite sublime, and which echoes strongly with the British acid folk generation! Lyrics are all in Spanish, but there's a timeless universality here that gets past any language barrier – an earthy feel that holds strongly throughout, and which unfolds with incredible beauty throughout the set. Titles include "Arrebol", "Mentes Prenadas De Amor", "Estrecha A Tu Hermano", "Fantastico", "Cosas Que Suceden", "Ecliptica", and "Tanto Parcelamiento". CD

A Chilean group with a really wonderful sound – one that mixes familiar folksy guitar and flute with some larger string arrangements – in a style that's quite sublime, and which echoes strongly with the British acid folk generation! Lyrics are all in Spanish, but there's a timeless universality here that gets past any language barrier – an earthy feel that holds strongly throughout, and which unfolds with incredible beauty throughout the set. Titles include "Arrebol", "Mentes Prenadas De Amor", "Estrecha A Tu Hermano", "Fantastico", "Cosas Que Suceden", "Ecliptica", and "Tanto Parcelamiento". CD

The debut album from Greg Foat – the first of many great records the keyboardist would soon give us, and a set that came as quite a surprise on the mostly-reissue Jazzman label! Yet the set also makes a lot of sense – as Foat is clearly inspired by some of the British greats of the past, both from the world of jazz and soundtrack scenes – and he works here in a style that mixes his own great keyboards with some fuller arrangements, nice percussion, and even some very cool wordless female vocals! Foat himself plays Hammond, keyboards, piano, and harpsichord – and titles include "Time Piece 1", "Dark Is The Sun", "Hello Old Friend", "Yeah You Are", "Uncle Bessie", "Bright Is The Sun", and "Time Piece 2". CD

An early 70s call to action from the great Dick Gregory – a figure who began his career on the comedic stage of the Civil Rights generation, but soon rose to become one of the most powerful voices for change – so much so that Gregory changed his own ambitions, and move all his activities from entertainment to social action! Dick first gave the world this book in 1972, a masterful unpacking of the forces of repression at work – both overt and covert – and although a fair bit of history has been filled in since the time of its publishing, the messages within still hold a great deal of power – and are essential to anyone seeking change in a larger context. America has changed a lot from the 70s, but the issues at hand here are still crucial – and still delivered with a clarity that few folks can do this well. Softcover edition is 293 pages. Book

The debut album from Greg Foat – the first of many great records the keyboardist would soon give us, and a set that came as quite a surprise on the mostly-reissue Jazzman label! Yet the set also makes a lot of sense – as Foat is clearly inspired by some of the British greats of the past, both from the world of jazz and soundtrack scenes – and he works here in a style that mixes his own great keyboards with some fuller arrangements, nice percussion, and even some very cool wordless female vocals! Foat himself plays Hammond, keyboards, piano, and harpsichord – and titles include "Time Piece 1", "Dark Is The Sun", "Hello Old Friend", "Yeah You Are", "Uncle Bessie", "Bright Is The Sun", and "Time Piece 2". LP, Vinyl record album

A Chilean group with a really wonderful sound – one that mixes familiar folksy guitar and flute with some larger string arrangements – in a style that's quite sublime, and which echoes strongly with the British acid folk generation! Lyrics are all in Spanish, but there's a timeless universality here that gets past any language barrier – an earthy feel that holds strongly throughout, and which unfolds with incredible beauty throughout the set. Titles include "Arrebol", "Mentes Prenadas De Amor", "Estrecha A Tu Hermano", "Fantastico", "Cosas Que Suceden", "Ecliptica", and "Tanto Parcelamiento". CD

The great second album from Chris McGregor's Brotherhood Of Breath – a record that's much more obscure than the group's debut, and which has them moving into even deeper territory! As before, there's a wonderful post-colonial groove going on here – one that builds from McGregor's roots in South African jazz, but inflects it with some of the bolder, more modern modes of the London jazz scene in Chris worked after leaving Africa in 1964. But unlike before, some of the more free-thinking London styles take even stronger roles here – stretching out in solos that are a bit looser and more exploratory, and which point the way towards the more avant-oriented direction that McGregor and contemporaries would take in the Ogun years – yet not in ways that leave behind the inherent sense of rhythm in the music. The album starts out with rolling South African jazz piano lines that are quite familiar – but then soon opens up into much less structured territory, with solo work from players who include Mongezi Feza, Harry Beckett, Alan Skidmore, Mike Osborne, Harry Miller, Gary Windo, Dudu Pukwana, and Nick Evans. Most tracks are long – and titles include "Think Of Something", "Joyful Noises", "Nick Tete", "Do It", and "Funky Boots March". CD

Wonderful work from Gregory Porter – easily one of the best new jazz singers to emerge in the past decade or so, and one whose approach is soulful enough to rival the greats of the 70s! There's echoes here of Bill Withers, Gil Scott-Heron, and Al Jarreau – and like all those artists, Gregory's a singer who really moves past simple styles and generic conventions – into a mode that's vivid and rich right from the start, and defiitely his own territory – a world of sound that's a delight to experience! Most backings are straight jazzy, but inflected with some soul modes – and the album's even better and more incredible than Porter's debut for Motema. Titles include "On My Way To Harlem", "When Did You Learn", "Mother's Song", "Imitation Of Life", "Our Love", "Be Good", and "Painted On Canvas". CD

A nicely stripped down set of duo jazz – the first recorded pairing of drummer Andrew Cyrille and sax player Greg Osby – just a near perfectly rendered set of exciting duo play from top notch jazz instrumentalists! Each is a fine foil for the other, and this one one of the most winning duet sets of recent years and an excellent record on the Tum label. Includes Osbys "Equalatogram", "Cyrille In Motion", "Noodle", "Pop Pop" and "Concepticus", Cyrille's "With You In Mind", "No. 11", "Low Blue Flame", "The Music In Us" and "Roscoe", plus a nice take on Monk's "Work". 13 tracks in all. CD

The debut album from Greg Foat – the first of many great records the keyboardist would soon give us, and a set that came as quite a surprise on the mostly-reissue Jazzman label! Yet the set also makes a lot of sense – as Foat is clearly inspired by some of the British greats of the past, both from the world of jazz and soundtrack scenes – and he works here in a style that mixes his own great keyboards with some fuller arrangements, nice percussion, and even some very cool wordless female vocals! Foat himself plays Hammond, keyboards, piano, and harpsichord – and titles include "Time Piece 1", "Dark Is The Sun", "Hello Old Friend", "Yeah You Are", "Uncle Bessie", "Bright Is The Sun", and "Time Piece 2". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that's nicely different than the "best of" you might expect – as the record features all new material – both songs that appear here for the first time, and new recordings of older gems – which all come together with the laidback, easygoing vibe that makes Gregory Isaacs one of the most soulful singers on the Jamaican scene at the time! And yes, the man certainly saw plenty of international fame over the years – but we love him best in these more homegrown modes – working with producer Alvin Ranglin, on slow-stepping grooves that let that magical voice really slide in and find its groove. Titles include "A Riot", "Once Ago", "Jailer", "No Footstool", "Village Of The Under Privilege", "Payroll", "Border", and "Tumbling Tears". LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous roots side from Isaacs, more well known for his smooth crooning over lover's rock rhythms. Isaacs heads up the production, with a bit of help from Sly & Robbie on the astounding title track, "Soon Forward", a huge single in its day. Tracked at Channel One with an all star cast that includes Sly & Robbie, Horsemouth Wallace, Santa Davis, Bo Peep, Bingy Bunny, Sticky and Skully, Gladdy Anderson, Winston Wright, Ansell Collins, Bobby Ellis, Deadly Headly and Wire Lindo, plus Leroy Sibbles, Dennis Brown and Junior Delgado on backing vocals, this set lives up every bit of its promise. Prime material from the waning years of the golden age of Jamaican roots music, sung by the premier voice of the era. 10 numbers in all, including "Universal Tribulation", "Mr Brown", "Down The Line", "Lonely Girl", "Bumping And Boring", "My Relationship", "Slave Market", "Black Liberation Struggle" and "Jah Music". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little album of smooth soul cuts from Greg Perry – an extremely talented arranger, producer, and songwriter whose credits includes work in soul, pop, and country – appearing here in one of the few sessions he ever cut under his own name! There's a bit of a southern soul feel to the album, although most of the record's got a modern feel – and we'd compare this one to mid 70s work by Lou Courtney, which has a similar combination of styles. A classic level effort that's been too long undiscovered! Cuts include "Where There's Smoke (There's Fire)", "Melody", "(I Can See The) Handwriting On The Wall", "How's Your Love Life, Baby", "A Taste Of You (Is A Taste Of Love)", "Come Fly With Me", "I'll Always Be In Love With You" and "Let's Get Away From It All". CD

Wonderful work from Gregory Porter – easily one of the best new jazz singers to emerge in the past decade or so, and one whose approach is soulful enough to rival the greats of the 70s! There's echoes here of Bill Withers, Gil Scott-Heron, and Al Jarreau – and like all those artists, Gregory's a singer who really moves past simple styles and generic conventions – into a mode that's vivid and rich right from the start, and defiitely his own territory – a world of sound that's a delight to experience! Most backings are straight jazzy, but inflected with some soul modes – and the album's even better and more incredible than Porter's debut for Motema. Titles include "On My Way To Harlem", "When Did You Learn", "Mother's Song", "Imitation Of Life", "Our Love", "Be Good", and "Painted On Canvas". CD

A legendary album – one that has Aretha Franklin returning to her roots in gospel music – but working with all the strength and power that Atlantic Records had to offer! From early years recording as a young voice alongside her father's congregation, Aretha has matured into a hell of a lead singer – and really knocks it out of the park here alongside the mighty James Cleveland, and the Southern California Community Choir! While it might have been nice to record the set back home in Detroit, the California setting for the material works perfectly to elevate Franklin to a special place in the heavens – tying together her heritage in beautiful ways, and making for another great stride forward in her career during the 70s. One of the best ideas ever for a soul music concept album – with titles that include "Mary Don't You Weep", "How I Got Over", "Precious Memories", "Wholy Holy", "Never Grow Old", "Amazing Grace", and Climbing Higher Mountains". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the greatest music we've heard so far from Nostalgia 77 – a group who started many years back as a jazz-referenced project – but one who here are definitely a fully-fledged combo with a very spiritual vibe! As before, producer Benedic Lamdin is at the helm of the lineup – yet the production is minimal, and instead the whole thing has this instrumental flowering of group members in ways that really fit the spirit of music by Dollar Brand, Chris McGregor, and Sun Ra – who are all covered on the set alongside the group's own original compositions too! The horn work is especially wonderful – a blend of flute from Gareth Lockrane, tenor from James Allsop, and trumpet from Alex Bonney – held down by bass from longtime 77 stalwart Riaan Vosloo on bass, plus Tim Giles on drums, and Ross Stanley on piano and organ. Titles include "Dakar", "Ishmael", "The Sun Is Big", "Love In Outer Space", "Flower", and "The Hooper". CD

Maybe the greatest music we've heard so far from Nostalgia 77 – a group who started many years back as a jazz-referenced project – but one who here are definitely a fully-fledged combo with a very spiritual vibe! As before, producer Benedic Lamdin is at the helm of the lineup – yet the production is minimal, and instead the whole thing has this instrumental flowering of group members in ways that really fit the spirit of music by Dollar Brand, Chris McGregor, and Sun Ra – who are all covered on the set alongside the group's own original compositions too! The horn work is especially wonderful – a blend of flute from Gareth Lockrane, tenor from James Allsop, and trumpet from Alex Bonney – held down by bass from longtime 77 stalwart Riaan Vosloo on bass, plus Tim Giles on drums, and Ross Stanley on piano and organ. Titles include "Dakar", "Ishmael", "The Sun Is Big", "Love In Outer Space", "Flower", and "The Hooper". LP, Vinyl record album

A double-whammy of a package – one that's like attending a totally hip festival of avant jazz, and finding a time machine to take you there in the process! This overstuffed box brings together recordings from two years' worth of the Burg Altena International New Jazz Meeting in Germany – 4CDs from 1972, and 4 from 1973 – packaged in a very cool box that features loads of photos, and reprints of pages from the programs to both festivals too! But the music here is what really matters – as the performances are all long, often freely improvised, and usually much more way-out than the material you'd hear from any of these players on record. Plus, the choice of musicians is quite unique – some familiar faces from the European underground, but also some real surprises, too – at a level that makes this collection a bit different than others of its nature. The 1972 discs features full sets by Chris McGregor's Brotherhood Of Breath, a quintet led by keyboardist Wolfgang Dauner with guitarist Attila Zoller, reedman Phil Woods European Rhythm Machine with Gordon Beck on electric piano, a duet between Jan Frederyk Dobrowolski on piano and Jacec Bednarek on bass, a quintet led by reedman/violinist Michal Urbaniak with Urszula Dudziak on voice and Adam Makowicz on electric piano, a quartet led by vibist/pianist Karl Berger with Ingrid Berger on voice and Peter Kowald on bass, and the Scandinavia New Jazz Group – with Bobo Stenson on electric piano, Lennart Aberg on tenor, Kjell Westling on soprano sax, Palle Danielsson on bass, and Bengt Berger on drums. 1973 is equally exciting – a performance of the fantastic Anima trio with Paul Fuchs on reeds, Limpe Fuchs on drums and voice, and Friedrich Gulda on acoustic and electric piano; a quintet led by trumpeter Terumasa Hino with Mikio Masuda on piano and Motohiko Hino on drums; the Theo Loevendie Consort, with Theo on alto and soprano, Hans Dulfer on tenor and flute, Martin Altena on bass, and Leo Cuypers on piano; Tune For Bassclarinets with the named instrument played by the quartet of Gunter Hampel, Willem Breuker, Michel Pilz, and Jef Sicard; and the Reform Art Unit, which includes Franz Kogelmann on trumpet, Fritz Novotny on reeds, Sepp Mitterbauer on pocket and regular trumpet, and Giselherr Smekal on organ and piano. Hours of music – and a wonderful package overall! CD

Brazilian funk, Brooklyn style – and one of the hippest collections of Brazilian grooves we've ever heard! The collection was put together by New York DJs Sean Marquand and Greg Caz – and it's got a wickedly funky vibe that comes from plenty of 70s samba soul! The style here is really different than other Brazilian Beats titles from Mr Bongo – as the work here is all classic, and chosen from a really fresh perspective – the new wave of interest in this music that's been bubbling up from the American underground, with a completely different perspective on the grooves from older scenes in Rio, Tokyo, or London! Most tracks here should be new to your ears – and although some of the tracks here have been reissued before, but they really come alive in different ways, thanks to the depth and careful pacing of the set. 22 tracks in all – with titles that include "Cafua" by Nonato, "Taieiras" by Ely Camargo, "Jeep" by Erasmo Carlos, "Cobra Criada" by Joao Bosco, "E Necessario" by Tim Maia, "Marcas" by Quarteto Uai, "Skim Dum Dum Dum" by Ana Rosely, "Black Soul Brothers" by Miguel De Deus, "Mais Kriola" by Helio Matheus, "A Festa" by Silvio Cesar, "Tava Mas Nao Tava" by Edson Frederico, "Uma Rosa Pra Dita" by Os Increveis, "Aleluia" by Robson Jorge & Licoln Olivetti, and "Beija-Flor Suite" by Chalo Eduardo. LP, Vinyl record album