A massive celebration of the legendary Woodstock festival in 1969 – a heavy, oversized book that's filled with rare images from the event, unusual documents and plans for the performances, and all sorts of obscure bits of history and other details! This isn't some cheaply-done trivia book about Woodstock – as the whole thing was done with help from original planner Michael Lang, who provides countless never-seen items from his own archives – mixed with famous and rare photographs of the event by Henry Diltz, and work by other photographers too – in a huge book that follows the planning, the pilgrimage, the performance, and the legacy of the event – in a huge hardcover volume that's almost 300 pages, and full color throughout! Book

Sublime second generation soul from Brenda & The Tabulations – a sweet set of Philly grooves, recorded at Sigma sound with help from Norman Harris, Bobby Eli, and John Davis! The album's every bit as groove-heavy as you'd expect from work by those dancefloor heavyweights – and the record's a great change from the earlier style of Brenda and the group – more positive and progressive, yet still with a few of the fragile ballads that first got them noticed! There's a great sense of class and poise to the record – a progression from the early years that's similar to that which many other Philly artists experienced with Gamble & Huff – almost more surprising here, given that sometimes a Casablanca record didn't come out with the same sort of care. Titles include "Superstar", "Home To Myself", "I Keep Coming Back For More", "Let's Go All The Way Down", "Leave Me Alone", and "Everybody's Fool". CD also features a bonus 12" mix of "Let's Go All The Way Down" – and an excellent Reel Music job of mastering and liner notes! CD

Heavy heavy funk from the mighty Yvonne Fair – a 70s bad soul sister that we'd rank right up there with Betty Davis! Yvonne got her start working with James Brown in a sweeter mode, but by the time of this mid 70s debut, she'd hit a really hard-wailing sort of style – one that had the righteous vocal lead of singers like Davis, Maxayn, or a rare few others – and which gets support here from some really full, rich production from Norman Whitfield! Whitfield brings in bits of strings alongside the heavier bass, drums, and keyboards – and makes for a unique mix that almost goes a bit southern soul, while still staying in the hipper styles of 70s Motown – letting Yvonne get a bit personal on a few tear-jerking numbers, and come wailing back with full force on the funkier ones. Titles include the classics "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On" and "It Should Have Been Me" – plus "Let Your Hair Down", "Love Ain't No Toy", "Tell Me Something Good", "It's Bad For Me To See You", "Stay A Little Longer", and "Walk Out The Door If You Wanna". CD

One of the greatest Kool & The Gang albums ever – a monster live session that almost blows away their studio classics! The groove here is far more freewheeling and complex than some of their singles from the 70s – longer, tripped-out tunes with a definite undercurrent of jazz amidst the funk – loads of wicked horn bits from Ronnie Bell and Dennis Thomas that complicate things up nicely, while still staying soulfully in the groove. There's no vocals at all on the record – which further enforces the Kool Jazz sound of the set – and the album's even harder-hitting than their previous Sex Machine live album, so much so, the PJ's club had to close its doors shortly after the Gang's performance! Titles include the all-time killer sample cut "Duji" – plus "NT", "Ronnie's Groove", "Ricksonata", "Lucky For Me", "Sombrero Sam", and a medley of "Ike's Groove/You've Lost That Lovin Feeling". CD also features a rare bonus cut – "The Penguin" – recorded at the time, but not issued on the original album! Plus, this reissue is even better than the previous one – packaged with a full-color booklet of notes and rare images. CD

A rare set from legendary deep soul diva Betty Lavette – recorded as a one-off for Motown in the early 80s, but done in a deep soul style that has plenty of 70s touches! The feel here is almost in the Malaco mode – southern soul, but with some more sophisticated modern touches – an approach which takes Betty's great vocals and makes them come across with a warm, sensuous glow that's really great. And if you've got any doubts about the date of the record, or the label it's on, shelve them now – because this is a great record with plenty of wonderful mellow soul numbers that display a whole new side of Betty's talents – every bit as great as her earlier work for rootsier labels, and proof that she was always a shining star in the deep soul scene, no matter what the setting! Titles include "I Like It Like That", "Tell Me A Lie", "Right In The Middle", "Either Way We Lose", "Suspicions", and "Before I Knew Your Name". CD

Massive work from the great Cheryl Lynn – and a key bridge between late 70s disco and the newer grooves of the 80s club scene! The album's a mix of midtempo groovers with a few mellower tracks – and it's got a tight, slightly jazzy sound that was very fresh at the time, and which still holds up incredibly well today – really a cut above most of Cheryl's contemporaries, and most of her later work too! The standout cut on the record is the landmark groover "Got To Be Real" – but there's loads of other great ones, like "Star Love", "Daybreak (Storybook Children)", "Give My Love To You", "All My Lovin", "You Saved My Day", and "Come In From The Rain". Features bonus tracks – "Got To Be Real (7" version – with different vocals)" and "You Saved My Day (12" version)". CD

Amazing rare soul from Gwen McCrae – little-known material recorded for Columbia records in the years before her later 70s fame at TK! The style here is nice and rootsy – very southern soul in its approach, even more so than Gwen's earliest work at TK – thanks, perhaps, to less of a club or pop crossover need in the production. Yet there's also a key link with the TK years, too – production by Steve Alaimo, who's really finding his way here in a great way – borrowing bits from other southern soul modes, moving them down to Miami, and helping forge a whole new chapter in southern soul for the 70s. Gwen's vocals are incredible – arguably even deeper and more hard-hitting than on some of her bigger hits – and the freshness of the material further makes the set great. Plus, since Columbia never issued a full album of this work in the US (although there was one rare record of the singles in Europe in the 70s), this package makes the first-ever full length Columbia album from Gwen – put together with stunning sound, very detailed notes, and some great vintage images. Titles include "Leave The Driving To Us", "Ain't Nothing You Can Do", "Lay It On Me", "Lead Me On", "Lovin In The Lay A Way", "I'm Losing The Feeling", and "Been So Long". CD

One of the deepest soul sets from Esther Phillips' 70s years on Kudu Records – a set with some nicely gritty grooves and a surprisingly earthy feel at times – especially when compared to some of her other albums of the time! Backings are by James Brown's old reedman, Pee Wee Ellis – and although there's some of the usual Kudu electric funk in the mix, there's also some deeper soul elements too – a vibe that's often a bit laidback and open, almost more Atlantic Records at points – which is a mighty good fit for Esther's wonderful voice! As usual for Kudu, the players are an all-star lineup – one that includes Richard Tee on keyboards, George Benson on guitar, Maceo Parker on tenor, and Bernard Purdie and Billy Cobham on drums – and Don Sebesky's also on deck a bit, to sweeten a few tracks up with light strings. The album's got a great version of Bill Withers' "Use Me" that features a tasty break in the intro – and other titles include a great version of "Alone Again (Naturally)", plus the cuts "Let's Move & Groove", "Cherry Red", "Let Me In Your Life", and "You & Me Together". CD

A great little album from Jeannie Reynolds – and her lasting contribution to underground soul! Jeannie's vocals are nice and deep – with hints of southern diva phrasing, filtered through some of the tighter soul styles coming out of Chicago and other points north at the time! Detroit talents LJ Reynolds, Tony Hester, and Don Davis produce – save for one song by Michael Henderson – and the big highlight is the slow groover "The Fruit Song", a sly seductive stepper of a track, with rolling congas, sweeping strings, and a very catchy hook from Jeannie. That number runs for about 7 minutes long – and the album also includes a number of nice shorter cuts, like "I've Still Got My Pride", "The Feelin' Ain't There", and "You Want To Get Your Hands On A Woman" – all wonderful numbers that will have you loving Jeannie as one of your favorite new discoveries in 70s soul! CD also features 4 non-LP bonus cuts – "Phone's Been Jumping All Day", "Unwanted Company", "Lay Some Lovin On Me", and "Love Don't Come Easy For Me". CD

A tremendous little album from Jimmy Ruffin – as "ruff" as the title implies, with a much deeper groove than you might find from other Motown releases at the time! The style here is really wonderful – rich, heartfelt vocals from Jimmy that easily match the best of the Detroit underground of the time – a style that's a bit like Darrell Banks or JJ Barnes, with echoes of the southern sound of the 60s – but produced to perfection with all the best that Motown could muster! Jimmy gets lots of heavy help from Norman Whitfield – who produced about half the tracks on the set, and gives Ruffin a sound that's somewhere between his righteous soul with the Temptations, and the best Motown grooves of his earlier work for the label. Other production is by Brian Holland & Lamont Dozier, William Weatherspoon & James Dean, and Richard Morris – all of whom follow Whitfield's lead nicely – and although the album's got few runaway hits, it's a rock-solid effort throughout – just the kind of album that makes us love the Motown full-length scene even more than the label's singles! Titles include "Lonely Lonely Man Am I", "It's Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)", "Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me", "Everybody Needs Love", "Sad & Lonesome Feeling", "Love Gives Love Takes Away", and "Farewell Is A Lonely Sound". Great reissue package too – with excellent sound, very detailed notes, and some great vintage images! CD

The incredible lost album from the group Sisters Love – material slated for release in the early 70s, but never saw the light of day, save for a handful of singles – a mix of rootsier southern soul and impeccable west coast funk styles, finally brought to light and with bonus tracks, to boot! Sisters Love came to Motown/MoWest at a transitional time for the label(s), who sent the group on tour, released a rare few singles in the US & UK, but didn't get the group over into the public consciousness the way it deserved. Great songs that were written, produced & arranged by the cream of the crop of soulful talents – Willie Hutch, Hal Davis, Gene Page, Gloria Jones & Pamela Sawyer – but this is the Sisters Love show, and they shine brilliantly! Titles include the amazing "Fast Mack" (purportedly submitted for the soundtrack to The Mack – and it's funky enough!), "Communication", "Mr Fix-It Man", "You've Got My Mind", "Just A Little Understanding", "I'm Learning To Trust My Man", "Giving Up", "Do What You Gotta Do","You've Got To Make Your Choice", "Sweet Inspiration", "Give Me Your Love" and "Turn On Your Love Light". CD

One of the deepest soul records ever issued by Chess Records – and the album wasn't even done in Chicago! The album's the only full effort issued under the name of Kim Tolliver – a singer who'd worked previously for Fantasy as Kimberley Briggs – and it's a sublime effort from Tolliver and husband Fred Briggs, who'd worked together previously on work for Stax by Margie Joseph! The style here is quite unique – a mix of Kim's southern soul-styled vocals with some fuller, richer touches – almost in the same way that Gloria Scott comes across on her classic album with Barry White – but a bit more rough around the edges overall. The production is amazing – with a great sense of space and style – and some key use of echo that really underscores the emotion of the tunes. A good part of the album was recorded in Miami – with echoes of the TK modes of the time – but other recording was also done in Cleveland, which might account for the more unique aspects of the set. Regardless of location, though, the album's a tremendously individual effort – a bold, raw statement from Tolliver – filled with emotion that few of her contemporaries could match, and free of any crossover soul cliches that were really bogging down other artists at the time. Most tracks here are original – as original in conception as the sound of the record – and titles include "The Other Side Of Town", "The Way He Used To", "She Don't Know You Like I Do", "Takin A Woman's Stand", "I'm Losing The Feeling", "Learn To Get Along Without You", and "I Need You/Drop Whatever You're Doing". CD

Mary Wells has come a long way from Motown by the time of this sweet early 80s set – really changing up her style to go for a mature, sophisticated groove – that best side of modern soul at the time, put together with superb production by the great Greg Perry! The sound is warm, and plenty darn groovy – a mode that's almost in the same style that some of the hippest Philly International artists were hitting at the same point – really refining their sound, but still holding onto the best soulful elements of years before! But there's still a nice Detroit legacy going on too – that undercurrent of Motown togetherness that you might find in later work by Lamont Dozier – no surprise, since McKinley Jackson's helping Perry arrange the rhythms on the record. Titles include the great groover "These Arms", plus "Spend The Nights With Me", "You Make Me Feel So Good Inside", "Gigolo", "I'm Changing My Ways", and "I'm Not The One". Beautiful Reel Music reissue, too – loads of detailed notes – and bonus tracks that include 12" versions of "Gigolo" and "These Arms". CD

Totally great work from Deniece Williams – still mostly free from the tinny pop of later years, and done in a solidly soulful style at Sigma Sound, with arrangements and production from the mighty Thom Bell! The groove is almost an update of 70s Philly, with traces of the maturing mellow side of Williams – all wrapped up with a good degree of confidence on the vocals, but enough tenderness to remind us of the greatness of Williams' roots. Deniece at her early 80s best! Titles include "I Believe In Miracles", "Waiting By The Hotline", "It's Gonna Take A Miracle", "Love Notes", "How Does It Feel", "Now Is The Time For Love", "Waiting" and "A Part Of Love". CD

An incredible set from Bill Withers – a record that's part of his "second chapter" of 70s soul, when he was working for Columbia Records, and dropping a bit of the acoustic vibe of his start – yet still sounding completely sublime, and head and shoulders above most of his contemporaries! There's a wicked undercurrent of funk in the set – loads of great keyboards in place of the acoustic guitar that used to dominate the Withers sound – and the keys sound beautiful next to Bill's unique vocals, making them sound even more soulful than ever! Don Freeman handles most of the keyboards (thanks, Don!) – and titles include "If I Didn't Mean You Well", "Close To Me", "Naked & Warm", "My Imagination", and "Where You Are". CD

A stunner of a solo set from Edna Wright – once the lead singer for Honey Cone, but almost even better on this smooth soul masterpiece from the 70s! The album's got an immediately recognizeable moment in the leadoff cut "Oops Here I Go" – sampled famously by De La Soul and others – but the whole thing's amazing, a killer bit of warm, modern soul put together by the legendary Greg Perry – who makes the whole thing shine every bit as much as his own great Smokin album of the time! Edna's vocals are wonderful – more mature than before, and really stepping out with a proud, sophisticated sort of groove – almost in territory of Jean Carn or Gloria Scott, particularly the latter on some of the album's more grooving cuts. In addition to "Oops Here I Go", other cuts include "Come On Down", "You Can't See the Forest", "Nothing Comes to a Sleeper", "If The Price Is Right", and "Spend the Nights With Me". Great reissue package, too – with full notes and beautiful remastering! CD

A really great set of later southern soul from Eddie Hinton – recorded at Muscle Shoals with a nice 70s take on the classic 60s style of the genre – with powerful vocals from Hinton! The record's surprisingly rootsy for the time – and Eddie sings in a wonderful mode that has plenty of traces of Otis Redding and James Carr. The production has a modern touch, but never in a way that smooths out the real gritty soulfulness – and on these numbers, the album isn't out of step with some of the nice mid 70s work of Arthur Alexander or Paul Kelly. A genuine gem! Titles include "Get Off In It", "I Got The Feeling", "You Got Me Singing", "Yeah Man", Shout Bamalama", "Brand New Man", and "Shoot The Moon". CD

A masterpiece of southern soul – even if the record hides underneath a somewhat unassuming cover! The set was originally done for the Back Beat side of the Duke/Peacock label from Houston – but was recorded in Memphis with some great early work from Willie Mitchell, all in a lean mode that's somewhat different than the style he was developing over at Hi Records! Here, there's more of a focus on the wonderfully raspy charms of OV Wright's vocals – very personal, and very unique – all at a level that's quite different than so many of his deep soul contemporaries. As the title hints, the set features the two classic tracks "Nickel & A Nail" and "Ace Of Spades" – plus other great cuts that include "Don't Let My Baby Ride", "He Made Woman For Man", "Eight Men Four Women", "Don't Take It Away", and "Afflicted". CD

One of Bobby Blue Bland's best albums ever – a stunning mix of blues and soul that's the kind of killer stuff that will make you a fan of his forever! There's no beating Bland at this point in his career – and the record is one of the finest illustrations of the power he brought to his work, subtly balancing a sense of class with rootsier down-hominess that few other singers could ever handle so well. That blend allowed Bobby to reach out to way more audiences than most of his contemporaries – and it's still equally powerful today – and the album's arrangements by Joe Scott are impeccable, with a slight touch of jazz that we totally love. The album includes classics like "That's The Way Love Is", "Call On Me", "Cry Lover Cry", "Care For Me", "Bobby's Blues", and "Honky Tonk". CD reissue is wonderful – with full listings of dates and personnel for the tunes, wonderful mastering, and pages of great notes and images! CD

A great Motown album from Chris Clark – one of the few white singers ever signed to the label, and a great vocalist at that! Chris has a sound that's quite unique – halfway between Motown soul and some of the soul-inspired pop of the time – particularly that of UK singers like Dusty Springfield and some of her generation. There's a proud, bold sound here – all Motown in the backings, and often done with the kind of tightly-stepping grooves that have made some of Chris' singles big ones on the Northern Soul scene over the years. Titles include "I Want To Go Back There Again", "Day By Day Or Never", "From Head To Toe", "Sweeter As The Days Go By", "Do Right Baby Do Right", "Born To Love You Baby", "Love's Gone Bad", and "Whisper You Love Me Boy". CD also features a previously unreleased alternate stereo mix of "Do Right Baby Do Right" – and the overall package is amazing – with a 20 page full-color booklet that includes long notes on Clark's career, vintage photos, and even session details for the album! CD

A stunning full length set from Reel People – soulful club with vocals by a variety of wonderful singers that include Angela Johnson, Vanessa Freeman, Dyanna Fearon, Sharlene Hector, and Jag! The set really lives up to the promise of Reel People's work on singles over the years – filled with the kind of warm soul that we've come to love in their music, and which sounds even better here spread out over the course of a full LP! Every track is really wonderful – not a bit of filler at all – and the set's easily one of the strongest releases of its type in a long time! Plus, this 2CD package features both live and studio versions of the tunes – the whole main album on disc 1, and the live versions on disc 2! Titles include "The Rain", "In The Sun", "Second Guess", "The Light", "Butterflies", "Steppin", "Washing Away", "Back 2 Base", "Can't Stop", and "You Used To Hold Me So Tight". CD

Heavy funk from two different decades – some real lost treasures from the 70s, stacked up here with some equally great work from recent years! The package is a massive second helping from the Truth & Soul family of labels – one that not only shows their continuing dedication to the best in deep funk, but also a recent turn towards older soul from the 70s – served up on a host of recent reissues that are really great! Most work here was only issued on 45s by the label – making the overstuffed collection a bargain at this price, especially given that some of the 45s aren't that easy to find of late. CD is different than the LP, with some tracks that are exclusive to this format, and vice-versa – and it features 18 tracks that include the previously unreleased "Odyssey Revised" by The Fabulous Three – plus "Love Comes & Goes" and "My World" by Lee Fields, "This One's For My Baby" and "PJs" by El Michels Affair, "An Earthquake's Coming" and "Is It Me You Really Love" by Black Velvet, "Just A Little While Longer" and "I Can't Help Myself" by Funky Music Machine, "Nora Se Va" and "La Valla" by Bronx River Parkway, "What's Going On" and "I'm Glad You're Mine" by Timothy McNealty, and "Agua Con Sol" by Bronx River Parkway. CD

Music from Dusty Springfield, Shawn Phillips, Mark Lindsay, Marvin Hamlisch, Dionne Warwick With Glenn Jones, Tom Jones, Burt Bacharach, Richard Chamberlain, Gene Pitney, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, and more. CD

A great Motown album from Chris Clark – one of the few white singers ever signed to the label, and a great vocalist at that! Chris has a sound that's quite unique – halfway between Motown soul and some of the soul-inspired pop of the time – particularly that of UK singers like Dusty Springfield and some of her generation. There's a proud, bold sound here – all Motown in the backings, and often done with the kind of tightly-stepping grooves that have made some of Chris' singles big ones on the Northern Soul scene over the years. Titles include "I Want To Go Back There Again", "Day By Day Or Never", "From Head To Toe", "Sweeter As The Days Go By", "Do Right Baby Do Right", "Born To Love You Baby", "Love's Gone Bad", and "Whisper You Love Me Boy". CD

A totally cool book – and one that goes way past the familiar Led Zep images you may know from their classic records of the 70s – as this hefty volume is filled with strange an unusual covers for records that contain music by the band – rare imports, unusual pressings, and a huge amount of concert recordings as well! There's just a hint of what's inside on the cover – and the collection features Led Zeppelin records from around the world, both full LPs and 7" pic sleeves – some on black vinyl, others on colored vinyl and strange pressings – all lovingly collected, and served up here in full color images throughout! The book is heavy, hardcover, and features over 300 illustrations – oversize, and in glorious color. Book

Mindblowing work from Minnie Riperton – her first solo album, cut at the end of the 60s, after a number of years of work with the group Rotary Connection. The album builds off the now famous sound of Rotary Connection – but takes it to the next level, with arch-baroque production by the great Charles Stepney – who couches Minnie's fantastic vocals in a suite of shimmering soulful tracks that mix strings, horns, jazzy piano, and slight touches of bouncing rhythms. The overall sound is impossible to describe – sort of a cross between Burt Bacharach on A&M, Scott Walker's 3rd album, and the sound of Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On. The album's pure genius all the way through – one of the highlights of the Chicago scene of the 60s – and proof that Riperton, Stepney, and crew were shooting for the outer limits of soul music! Titles include "Les Fleur", "Only When I'm Dreaming", "Rainy Day In Centerville", "Memory Band", "Expecting", "Whenever Wherever", and "Oh, By The Way". LP, Vinyl record album

A whole host of tunes that will help you say goodbye to winter and hello to spring – a light and lively mix of postwar cuts in a variety of styles – from early rockers, to instrumentals, radio pop gems, and even a bit of R&B – all put together with a very playful vibe! The set's similar to the other "season" titles from Bear Family – showing how similar themes move through American music in different ways – almost like you're tuning into some old AM station in the month of May, discovering a whole host of tunes you might never have heard otherwise! Oddly, there's also a theme of chickens and eggs running through the set – which features 28 titles that include "Chicken Rock" by Fat Daddy Holmes, "Spring Fever" by Vilas Craig & The Kollege Kings, "One Fried Egg" by The Charioteers, "Rock Chicken Rock" by Ray Coleman & His Skyrockets, "Jungle Bunny" by The Fabulous Pearls, "The Rooster" by Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm, "Chicken Reel" by les Paul, "Easter Day" by The Dixon Brothers, "April Love" by Shirley Jones & Pat Boone, "Egghead" by Al Allen, "Spring Fever" by The Velvets, "End Of Spring" by Les Baxter, and "It Might As Well Be Spring" by Jerry Duane with the Monarchs. CD

An incredible collection of Stevie Wonder cover versions – different versions of familiar tunes, but ones that really manage to sparkle with all the righteous soul of the Stevie himself! It's been over a decade since DJ Spinna brought us the last version of his Wonder Of Stevie series – and during that time, he's managed to come up with a huge amount of great tracks that make the whole thing go way way deeper than before – not just cuts that copy the Wonder mode, but which seem to draw strong inspiration from its genius, and really soar to the skies! Much of the music here resonates with a charm that's located around the years of albums like Music Of My Mind and Innervisions, with all the jazzy currents that might imply – and some cuts are 70s vintage, others are more contemporary. Titles include "Bird Of Beauty" by US Atlantic First Navy Show Band, "It's My Pleasure" by Billy Preston, "Love's In Need Of Love Today" by John Minnis Big Bone Band, "As" by Tony Sherman, "Buttercup" by Jackson 5, "Have A Talk With God" by East St Louis Gospelettes, "Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me" by Quincy Jones, "Golden Lady" by Reel People with Tony Momrelle, "If You Don't Love Me" by GC Cameron, "If She Breaks Your Heart Again" by Foreign Exchange, "Don't You Worry Bout A Thing" by Black Sugar, "Go Home" by Jrod Indigo, and "Make My Water Boil" by David Ruffin. LP, Vinyl record album

A trio of excellent albums from master drummer Tony Williams – all brought together in a single package! Believe It is crackling funky fusion from Tony Williams' "new" version of his classic Lifetime group – a quartet that featured some smoking guitar work by jazz rock legend Allan Holdsworth! The sound on the set is very full-on and jamming – fuzzed-out guitars taking over most of the tracks, and Tony jumping into the fray with some really frenetic work on drums – miles away from his earlier jazz work in the 60s, and really taking off with the best sort of rock/jazz fusion energy! Titles include "Snake Oil", "Fred", "Proto Cosmos", "Red Alert", and "Mr Spock". On Million Dollar Legs, Tony Williams is a million miles from his work with the Miles Davis Quintet on this record – grooving in a heavy rock/fusion mode with his New Lifetime group that includes Allan Holdsworth on guitar, Tony Newton on bass and vocals, and Alan Pasqua on keyboards! The tracks have a post Jeff Beck kind of approach – lots of heavy riffing in a way that does create a bit of funk at the right moments, almost in the Alphonze Mouzon/Tommy Bolin mode – and Williams' drums are right at home in the setting, and somehow filled with as much imagination and creativity as before! Titles include "Sweet Revenge", "Inspirations Of Love", "Lady Jade", "What You Do To Me", and "Joy Filled Summer". Joy Of Flying is a key record in the evolution of Tony Williams as a drummer – and kind of a powerful summation of all the changes he'd made in the 70s – before a return to straighter jazz in the next decade! Williams' drumming here is incredibly fierce at points – almost at a Billy Cobham level – but he also shows the sensitivity to deeper sounds that he first brought into play during the 60s – and manages to mix an ear for fusion modes with some freer elements too – thanks to help from a lineup of players that includes Herbie Hancock and Brian Auger on keyboards, Cecil Taylor on piano, Jan Hammer on Fender Rhodes, Stanley Clarke on bass, Ton Scott on lyricon, and Ronnie Montrose on guitar. Titles include "Tony", "Coming Back Home", "Morgan's Motion", "Eris", "Open Fire", and "Hittin On 6". Great CD reissue – full notes, and a 20 page booklet with the usual Reel Music attention to detail! CD

A lost early 60s treasure – the earliest known recordings of the far too few ever made by Karen Dalton – spare, but beautiful live material captured at Boulder's The Attic coffee house/folk club in 1962 – plus a DVD! Karen's voice is as transcendent as ever on these solo recordings, with Karen playing 12-string guitar and banjo. Her voice, phrasing and playing is laidback and honest, and the sound quality is surprisingly wonderful given the vintage – remastered at Abbey Road from the reel-to-reel. Karen brings a bluesy soulfulness to the coffee house folk scene that's really unrivaled – and captured here in its natural beauty. She does some Fred Neil tunes, and also applies her unique approach to traditional material, and more from the deep American songbook! 21 tracks on 2CDs: including a beautiful, nearly unrecognizable reading of the American music standard that is the title track, "It's Alright", "Everytime I Think Of Freedom", "Red Are The Flowers", "Blues On The Ceiling", "Run Tell That Major", "Fannin' Street", "In The Evening", "Old Hannah", "Prettiest Train", "It Hurts Me Too", "Katie Cruel", "No More Taters", "Good Morning Blues" and more. Includes a bonus DVD featuring some great film footage from a 1969 French documentary filmed in NYC, featuring Karen's performances of "God Bless The Child", "It Hurts Me Too", "A Little Bit Of Rain" and "Blues Jumped The Rabbit". CD

Way more than the trad jazz and bebop you might guess from the title – as the set's an incredible compilation of unreleased British jazz treasures – mostly from the 60s, and showing the London scene in the grip of some very formative years! In the immediate postwar years, UK jazz was a pretty straight and tight thing – but as the 60s approached, the sound of London really opened up – not just because of a huge influx of key post-colonial players, but also because the locals were really gaining confidence, and trying out a wealth of new styles on their own – styles that explode wonderfully here, in a mix of 60s modern styles that's really incredible. All tracks here are pulled from the archives of the artists, and many capture key players at periods we haven't heard this strongly before – with work by a quintet with Mike Taylor on piano and Dave Tomlin on tenor; a quintet with Henry Lowther on trumpet, Lyn Dobson on tenor, Tony Hymas on piano, and Harry Miller on bass; a septet with John Stevens on drums, Kenny Wheeler on flugelhorn, Alan Skidmore on tenor, and Ray Warleigh on alto; a quintet with Joe Harriott on alto and Kenny Wheeler on flugelhorn; a quartet with Mike Osborne on alto and John Surman on baritone; Amancio D'Silva on guitar with the quintet of Don Rendell and Ian Carr; a quartet with Lol Coxhill on soprano sax and Steve Miller on piano, and work by groups that include Elton Dean's Just Us, Gary Windo's Symbiosis, and Graham Collier Music. CD

An incredible collection of Stevie Wonder cover versions – different versions of familiar tunes, but ones that really manage to sparkle with all the righteous soul of the Stevie himself! It's been over a decade since DJ Spinna brought us the last version of his Wonder Of Stevie series – and during that time, he's managed to come up with a huge amount of great tracks that make the whole thing go way way deeper than before – not just cuts that copy the Wonder mode, but which seem to draw strong inspiration from its genius, and really soar to the skies! Much of the music here resonates with a charm that's located around the years of albums like Music Of My Mind and Innervisions, with all the jazzy currents that might imply – and some cuts are 70s vintage, others are more contemporary. Titles include "Bird Of Beauty" by US Atlantic First Navy Show Band, "It's My Pleasure" by Billy Preston, "Love's In Need Of Love Today" by John Minnis Big Bone Band, "As" by Tony Sherman, "Buttercup" by Jackson 5, "Have A Talk With God" by East St Louis Gospelettes, "Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me" by Quincy Jones, "Golden Lady" by Reel People with Tony Momrelle, "If You Don't Love Me" by GC Cameron, "If She Breaks Your Heart Again" by Foreign Exchange, "Don't You Worry Bout A Thing" by Black Sugar, "Go Home" by Jrod Indigo, and "Make My Water Boil" by David Ruffin. 2CDs – one of the cuts unmixed, one with the tracks in a continuous mix by Spinna! CD

Very early work from Waylon Jennings – the kind of material that shows just what a journeyman he was in country music! Long before he was a 70s superstar, filling large venues, Waylon was out there working the small clubs – including JD's in Phoenix, where this small-issue album was originally for sale! The set's not a live record, but certainly captures not just the spirit of the southwest scene at the time – but also the unique mix of modes that helped forge Jennings' unique sound – as bits from different strands of both rock and country are forged together with that already-amazing Waylon vocal style! Titles include a great early take on "Sally Was A Good Old Girl" – plus "Money", "Dream Baby", "It's So Easy", "Lorena", "Love's Gonna Live Here", "White Lightning", "Abilene", and "Don't Think Twice It's All Right". LP, Vinyl record album

Soulful music from Soulpersona – a warm and just smooth enough ride on the Soulacoaster! Soulpersona is the producer, arranger and instrumentalist behind the curtain – a genuine talent who has attracted an impressive roster of singers and collaborators for this set – including Sibel Thrasher of the legendary Roy Ayers Ramp group – plus Deborah Jordan, Darien of Reel People, Kia Bennett, Replife and Juliet Ashby. This is a fresh, timeless modern take on classic and cosmic soul, with a breezy and moving sound, bits of 70s soul jazz and keyboard funk and programmed beats with real heart and soul! Titles include "Flying Easy" and "Weightless" feat Deborah Jordan, "Candy Wrapper", "Walk On Through" and "Perfect Life" feat Princess Fressia, "In Your Eyes" feat Sibel Thrasher, "Can't Hide" feat Darien, "Lifetime" and "So Natural" feat Kia Bennett and more. CD

One of the coolest collections ever put out by The Numero Group – and that's saying a lot, given the hipness of the label! Downriver Revival chronicles the story of a unique studio in Michigan – Double U Sound, a custom recording spot that captured a wonderful range of soul, funk, gospel, and other sounds from the local community – beautifully presented here in a full CD, plus a bonus DVD that features the near-complete 200 song archive of the studio! The DVD's really unique – so we'll talk about it first: Done with an interactive menu that lets you literally comb through the boxes of tapes in the Double U vault – selecting each reel recorded by the studio, and sampling the rich array of wonderful sounds from this untapped Michigan scene – a huge amount of music, far more than you'd ever find on a CD compilation. The DVD also features a documentary on the studio and Downriver Revial project – and that alone would be worth the price of admission – but the CD then features 24 key numbers pulled from the vaults – tracks that were either issued on rare 45s, or never issued at all – and which represent a wonderful array of soulful sounds that definitely lives up to the Numero standard! Titles include "There's A Light" by Shirley Ann Lee, "Take Care Of Us" by The Revelations, "Untitled Jam" by Bobby Cook & The Explosions, "Foot Stumping (alt)" by Organics, "While You Were Gone" by Combinations, "Heaven" by Deliverance Echoes, "Untitled" by Burgess Band, "Round N Round" by Junior Mays Group, and "Walk With Me" by Calvin Cooke. CD

Promotional release with music from Belinda Carlisle, Babylon Zoo, Dubstar, Nigel Kennedy, Mica Paris, Reel 2 Real, Pet Shop Boys, Mansun. Tina Turner, Crowded House, George Martin, Damon Albarn, and more. CD

A great collection from the Soul Togetherness scene – a name that can always be trusted to deliver a smoothly grooving tune! Most of the work here is contemporary, but the set includes a few classics too – key cuts that help support the older-styled vibe that's present in the newer cuts here – an approach to soul music that echoes some of the best American work of the late 70s/early 80s modern years – that smooth-without-slick approach that we've always loved so much. Titles include "Let The Love" by Bennson, "Amazing" by Reel People, "Tonight" by Peo with Mirjam, "Woman In Love" by Sophia Nelson, "Caught Up In A Whirlwind" by Richard Stepp, "When Love Comes Calling" by George Gbenson, "Cuz It's You Girl" by James Walsh Gypsy Band, "What Have I Got To Lose" by Jean Wells, "My People" by Teddy Pendergrass, "B Side Of Love" by Gina Foster, and "Adore U" by Sherree Brown. CD

Wonderfully righteous work from the Wackie's label – a heady set of long roots reggae tunes with a very message-oriented vibe – all with the feel of a very small label scene from the Kingston scene of five years before, than some of the bigger and more commercial Jamaican music from the start of the 80s! The sound is nice and lean – snakey guitar lines in a very echoey, dubby space – as Clive Davis and Christopher Harvey harmonize together on the lyrics, somehow bringing a lot more power to the message than if they were delivered by a single singer. Titles include "Sun Will Shine", "Great Jah Jah", "Roman Soldiers", "Living In The Ghetto", and "Where Is That Love". CD

There's nothing wooden about this music at all – as the album's one of the loosest, freest, liveliest sessions to ever come from the legendary trumpeter Tomasz Stanko – a performance that was originally done for Radio Bremen in 1972, and which is very different than most of his other albums from the time! The music here is all freely improvised, with a vibe that's at the headiest of the FMP generation – as Stanko's trumpet interacts with the tenor and flute of Janusz Muniak, bass of Bronislaw Suchanek, violin of Zbigniew Seifert, and drums of Janusz Stefanski – all players who are completely unbridled all the way through! If you only know Seifert from his mellower albums later in the 70s, he'll blow you away here – as, like a few other key musicians at the time, he's got a way of improvising on his instrument that matches the energy of a reedman – and which really adds a lot to the group. The set features six pieces, all improvised – issued here commercially for the first time ever, and a real revelation! LP, Vinyl record album

There's nothing wooden about this music at all – as the album's one of the loosest, freest, liveliest sessions to ever come from the legendary trumpeter Tomasz Stanko – a performance that was originally done for Radio Bremen in 1972, and which is very different than most of his other albums from the time! The music here is all freely improvised, with a vibe that's at the headiest of the FMP generation – as Stanko's trumpet interacts with the tenor and flute of Janusz Muniak, bass of Bronislaw Suchanek, violin of Zbigniew Seifert, and drums of Janusz Stefanski – all players who are completely unbridled all the way through! If you only know Seifert from his mellower albums later in the 70s, he'll blow you away here – as, like a few other key musicians at the time, he's got a way of improvising on his instrument that matches the energy of a reedman – and which really adds a lot to the group. The set features six pieces, all improvised – issued here commercially for the first time ever, and a real revelation! CD

One of the last great records ever cut by Jon Hendricks – one of our favorite singers of all time! The album's a bit of a "tour de force" – with Hendricks singing alongside a host of famous jazz musicians and vocalists, working in an all star setting that's sometimes too good for its own good, but at other times works magically! The best moments are those when Jon actually takes the lead himself, singing in that warm, raspy, honest style that's always made him the kind of a singer that brings meaning to lyrics that always leave us cold from other vocalists. The album's got a wonderful re-reading of the Italian classic "Estate", redone here with English lyrics as "In Summer" – and one of Hendricks finest moments on record! Other tracks include "Listen To Monk", "Sugar", "Freddie Freeloader", "High As A Mountain", "Trinkle Tinkle", and "The Finer Things In Life" – and players include Tommy Flanagan, George Benson, Wynton Marsalis, Stanley Turrentine, and Al Jarreau. CD

An essential look at black voices within music criticism – one that features articles from the 60s up to the present, plus individual sections that look at important black musical writers and publications that supported their work! Editor Willard Jenkins presents the whole thing almost like a conference based around historical works – blending articles by Leroi Jones, Stanley Crouch, Greg Tate, Billy Taylor, Herbie Nichols, Rex Steward, AB Spellman, and others – with an introductory round table discussion between some of the readers in the book, then initial chapters on black jazz magazines, black press dispatch, newspaper writers, magazine freelancers, and up-and-coming younger black music writers. The revelatory book is 312 pages in this softcover edition. Book

Wonderfully righteous work from the Wackie's label – a heady set of long roots reggae tunes with a very message-oriented vibe – all with the feel of a very small label scene from the Kingston scene of five years before, than some of the bigger and more commercial Jamaican music from the start of the 80s! The sound is nice and lean – snakey guitar lines in a very echoey, dubby space – as Clive Davis and Christopher Harvey harmonize together on the lyrics, somehow bringing a lot more power to the message than if they were delivered by a single singer. Titles include "Sun Will Shine", "Great Jah Jah", "Roman Soldiers", "Living In The Ghetto", and "Where Is That Love". CD

The greatest work so far from Zo – a set that's awash in amazing keyboards, all played with a sound that almost puts Zo at the level of 70s greats like Webster Lewis or George Duke! At some level, there's a really classic Lonnie Liston Smith sort of groove going on here – one that's flowing and righteous, with lots of warm undercurrents. But at another level, there's some of the sharper edges and more snappingly spacey tones of some of Zo's contemporaries – particularly those from his hometown scene in Detroit. Yet the blend here is far different than either of those two references might imply – a melding of modes with whole new results, and an overall sound that's different even than Zo's already great previous work. There's a real deepening of spirit going on here – a more sophisticated approach that shows that Zo's really been improving his craft over the past few years, and taking his talents for writing and arranging to a whole new level! Many numbers have some sort of a groove, but there's also an equally jazzy sensibility to many tracks too – as well as a tremendous sense of power that really builds as the album rolls on. A few numbers feature vocals by Tiffany Paige, but most of the set is instrumental – with titles that include "The Watch", "Welcome Home (parts 1 & 2)", "Time Table", "Rudiment", "Overnight Experience (parts 1 & 2)", "Snare Junction 2.0", "Yooou", and "Inertia". CD

A completely obscure gem from the Venezuelan scene of the 70s – not Latin music at all, but instead a wicked bit of jazzy prog played by a group who are totally tight, and really take off right from the start! There's a bit of vocals, but really most of the set is instrumental, with a blistering blend of guitar, keyboards, and heavy drums – all at a level that's maybe not too far from some of the sweet rockish moments from 70s giants like Jan Hammer, or the Clarke/Duke Project! George Henriquez plays electric piano, Hammond, Arp, and moog – and Alvaro Valcon lays down loads of great guitar solos – on titles that include "Dreams", "El Conde De Casanare", "Manzur", "Un Dia Como Hoy", and "Solenoide".' LP, Vinyl record album

This tenor giant gets better and better with each new album! Eric Alexander is one of our favorite new jazz artists of the past decade – still a relatively young player, but with a sound that's incredible, steeped in years of tradition, yet freely creative in his own unique way. His tenor solos on this set stand up to some of our favorite older work by players like Clifford Jordan or Sonny Rollins, and if anything, the backing may be some of the best he's ever received on record. Alexander's playing here with longtime friend and musical partner Harold Mabern – who's as sympathetic to Alexander's sound as he once was to that of Frank Strozier – and the other players in the group include trumpeter Nicholas Payton, John Webber, and Joe Farnsworth. Titles include "Andre's Turn", "After The Rain", "This Girl's In Love With You", "A House Is Not A Home", and "Summit Meeting". CD

A record that's got hardly any focus on the vocals at all, and which hardly needs them either – as the set's in that best 70s prog tradition that really lets all the instruments to all the "singing" in the music! The group's from Argentina, and serve up a fusion-influenced style at times, but with results that are definitely in the prog side of the spectrum – with work on flutes, saxes, and keyboards from Ara Tokatlian, who really shapes the record's sound – driven strongly by bass from Guillermo Bordarampe and drums from Jose Luis Perez. Ignacio Elisavetsky serves up all the great guitar solos – and titles include "Elemental De Aire", "Elemental De Agua", "Elemental De Fuego", and "Elemental De Tierra". LP, Vinyl record album

Billy Bang has always been one of the most incredible players on his instrument – a jazz violinist who could take the strings into freely creative territory, yet also somehow manage to swing – a balance that nobody ever seemed to manage as well as Bang! And while Billy's work in groups is always wonderful, the strengths of his genius maybe come through even more in a solo setting like this – as Bang uses the violin in ways that are completely unheard of, even in jazz work of the decade before – but also while somehow holding to an inherent core that always makes his music make immediate sense, even to the most casual listener. The album's a true testament to the genius that Bang brought to jazz violin – and why we still love him on the instrument more than anyone else. Titles include "Theme For Masters", "Sometime Later", "Improvisation On Sweet Space", and "Loweski". This great edition comes in a gatefold LP-styled cover – almost like a mini version of the original record released by Hat Hut – with bonus tracks that include "Fiddle In The Floodlight", "Subway Ride With Giuseppi Logan", "Echo Vamp", "Prana", and "A Pebble Is A Small Rock". CD

One of the most ambitious recordings to date from Chicago improviser David Boykin – a large group performance done in the freely collaborative spirit of older AACM recordings! There's a relaxed, spontaneous vibe here that we really love – as Boykin and other Chicago players work through a variety of sound textures and musical ideas, using a range of instruments that runs from conventional saxes, flute, and guitar, to more unusual sounds from nose flute, bible harp, kitchen bowls, shenai, and many other less-common instruments. The entire work runs for 70 minutes in length, divided up into 10 shorter segments. CD

Here's a summer house we'd really like to visit on our next vacation – a legendary spot in Sweden, where Don Cherry created freely with some of the hippest players on the local scene in 1968! The tracks here were all recorded for later commercial release, which never ended up happening – and they represent a key bridge in Cherry's career between his important American work of the mid 60s, and his growing global consciousness to come – maybe a first chapter in the sound that would become the Organic Music Society! The set features work from an array of musicians that includes Cherry on pocket trumpet and flute, Bernt Rosengren on tenor and flute, Gunnar Lindqvist on reeds, Tommy Koverhult on tenor and a variety of flutes, Jacques Thollot and Leif Wennerstrom on drums, Torbjorn Hultcrantz and Kent Carter on bass, and percussion from Bulent Ates – plus other members of the group! There's no vocals, but there's a strong sense of rhythmic cohesion throughout – freewheeling jazz, but not entirely free either – and filled with a global inspiration that makes the whole thing come off with an organic sense of beauty. Titles include "The Machine Age", "Sir Charles Brackeen A", "Mao", "Samba", "Plotslight", and "Human". LP, Vinyl record album

Roscoe Mitchell returns to a mode that he explored freely back in the 70s – loose, improvised collaborations with other musicians – done at a level that offers up a richly organic blend of sonic elements and musical moments! Some of Mitchell's later work has been more structured, but the approach here is very much in the best early AACM mode – or maybe a bit like Roscoe's classic Sackville recordings – extended "conversations" between his own flutes and saxes, the drums and percussion of Kikanju Baku, and the piano, organ, and keyboards of Craig Taborn. All players are nicely restrained – and as with Mitchell and the Art Ensemble, the mix of instruments is never used in any way that's gimmicky at all – but with subtle shifts that really emphasize the need of the players to communicate together. Titles on this second volume include "Frenzy House", "Chipper & Bing", "Stay Hayfer", "They Rode For Them", "Just Talking", "I'll See You Out There", "Next Step", and "Fly Over & Stay Awhile". CD

Early live material from British tenor giant Ronnie Scott – sides not recorded at his own famous club, but by the BBC for broadcast – which maybe makes them some of Scott's first recordings of this nature, and certainly some of the best from the time! The first large chunk of material features Ronnie heading up an octet – not only blowing freely, in some of his best bop modes of the time – but also really showing off his talent as an arranger – in front of musicians who include Jimmy Deuchar on trumpet, Derek Humble on alto, Benny Green on baritone sax, and Victor Feldman on vibes, piano, and congas! Peter King also joins the group on tenor on a few tracks too. LP, Vinyl record album

A prog group from Caracas, but one who've also got elements in their music that hints at changing styles in the decade to come – including some nicely digital elements on some of the keyboards, and a way of compressing things down to help the music soar even more than it otherwise might! Make no mistake, these guys are still masterful musicians, and really have their chops down right from the start – but they also have this great way of thinking a bit more forward, and letting lead singer Pedro Castillo come in with some occasional more pointed vocal passages too. Lyrics are all in Spanish, and titles include "Atabal Yemal", "Anhelos", "Presencias Y Ausencias", "Cascada", and "Las Olas". LP, Vinyl record album

A pivotal record in the sound of the US scene at the end of the 60s – and a record that seems to trace an entire evolution in rock during the space of just one album! Touch have roots that go back to The Kingsmen and Don & The Goodtimes – and you can definitely hear garage elements in the organ and guitars – but they're also stretching out freely in all the heady freedoms of the late 60s – with a soaring approach that definitely lives up to the cover image! There's a blend of rough and rootsy with confident and cosmic going on – a really powerful approach that's made the album a standout for years, even if the group never hit some of the fame of their bigger contemporaries. Titles include "We Feel Fine", "Friendly Birds", "Down At Circe's Place", "The Spiritual Death Of Howard Greer", and "Seventy Five". CD features some great bonus tracks – rare demo versions fo "We Finally Met Today", "Alesha & Others", and "The Spiritual Death Of Howard Greer" – plus film music for "The Second Coming Of Suzanne", and the cut "Blue Feeling". CD

A stunning second set of solo piano work from Francois Tusques – in a setting that we like even more than some of his more bombastic group material! Here, Tusques is almost a completely different player – freely improvising, but at a very sensitive level too – in a way that's maybe a bit like Jaki Byard's solo material, but more avant – as Tusques also has a way of unlocking these cool sounds on the piano at times – almost making us wonder if he's playing inside the box, or using items to prepare some of the keys as well! The song titles are as political as the cover – even if the instrumental music is not – and tunes include "Georges Jackson Assassine Par Les Pigs", "Attica 71", and "Seize The Time". LP, Vinyl record album

A really great collection of work from the legendary BYG/Actuel label – home not just to the famous avant jazz recordings that have made the company a legend, but also a host of other unusual sounds that don't often get the exposure they deserve! This collection finally gives that full range of BYG sounds their due – as it mixes some of the avant classics from Paris at the end of the 60s with other freely creative work from the French scene – including some great contributions from British artists who were as unbridled at BYG as the American musicians were with their jazz material! The set features tracks from the key years of the catalog – titles that include "Le Nouveau Monde" by Alice, "Terrestrial Beings" by Don Cherry, "Ancient Ethiopia" by Sun Ra, "Ragalia" by Areski & Brigitte Fontaine, "Le Cocotier (part 2)" by Coeur Magique, "Dexterity" by Art Ensemble Of Chicago, "Time Of Your Life" by Daevid Allen, "Change The World" by Gong, and "Willing To Fight" by Aynsley Dunbar. 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