A great title for this one – given that the music here is right up there with the best Phil Ranelin recordings of the 70s! That likeness is no surprise, though – given that the group here is Phil's Tribe Renaissance ensemble – a lineup of players put together to recreate the groundbreaking music that Ranelin and others of the Tribe Records scene were doing on the Detroit scene of the 70s – wonderfully spiritual jazz, with a deeply soulful component too – clearly inspired by the work of creative scenes in Chicago and St Louis, but a lot more inside than both, and always with a righteous undercurrent as well. Players here include Ranelin on trombone, Nate Morgan and William Henderson on piano, Michael Session on alto and soprano sax, Carl Randall on tenor, Louis Van Taylor on flute and bass clarinet, George Harper Jr on tenor and baritone sax, Keith Fiddmont on soprano sax and flute, Danny Grissett on organ, and Taumbu on percussion. Titles include "A Tear In Elmina", "Shades Of Dolphy", "Solar", "Thrivin On A Groove", "Caravan", and "A Close Encounter Of The Very Best Kind". CD

A great title for this one – given that the music here is right up there with the best Phil Ranelin recordings of the 70s! That likeness is no surprise, though – given that the group here is Phil's Tribe Renaissance ensemble – a lineup of players put together to recreate the groundbreaking music that Ranelin and others of the Tribe Records scene were doing on the Detroit scene of the 70s – wonderfully spiritual jazz, with a deeply soulful component too – clearly inspired by the work of creative scenes in Chicago and St Louis, but a lot more inside than both, and always with a righteous undercurrent as well. Players here include Ranelin on trombone, Nate Morgan and William Henderson on piano, Michael Session on alto and soprano sax, Carl Randall on tenor, Louis Van Taylor on flute and bass clarinet, George Harper Jr on tenor and baritone sax, Keith Fiddmont on soprano sax and flute, Danny Grissett on organ, and Taumbu on percussion. Titles include "A Tear In Elmina", "Shades Of Dolphy", "Solar", "Thrivin On A Groove", "Caravan", and "A Close Encounter Of The Very Best Kind". CD

A fantastic presentation of this 70s classic from Renaissance – a set that also feels as if it's got a sound that goes back much further in the past – maybe not to the flowering of culture after the middle ages, but maybe more to the folk rock world of the 60s! The group have some of the styles of the early 70s British acid folk generation – right down to superb lead vocals from Annie Haslam, a singer to rival Sandy Denny in terms of subtle expression and gentle emotion. But there's also maybe a richer approach to production throughout – one that foregrounds some of the electric instrumentation a bit more, and makes superb use of larger orchestrations in just the right way – really lifting the spirits of the record at all the right times. Titles include "Vultures Fly High", "Trip To The Fair", "Ocean Gypsy", and the long "Song Of Scheherazade" suite! CD1 features the full album, plus a bonus single version of "Ocean Gypsy". CD2 features a full 1976 show recorded live at Nottingham University. DVD features two mixes of the full album – 5.1 Surround Sound and Resolution Original Stereo Mix – plus a bonus video that features a 1976 promotional film with three tracks! CD

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Seattle rapper Da Qween looks relaxed and regal on the cover – but the sound of the set has a taught intensity that comes through right away – fast rhymes, crispy beats, and a sense of urgency that holds on all the way through! There's a few sung vocal moments that get nice and mellow – and these are a great contrast to the rapped lyrical lines – served up with a strong production tip that keeps things sharp, on titles that include "Heartbreak/Heartbrake", "When Worst Comes To Worst", "When The Rain Comes", "Reefer Madness", "Worthy", "Hearda You", and "STFU". LP, Vinyl record album

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A massively sweet groover from Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes – smoother and warmer than some of his earlier albums, with a really soulful fusion vibe – and this perfect mix of jazz, funk, and soul that really takes Smith's music to a whole new level! Lonnie plays acoustic piano and "electric colorations" – working with a group that includes brother Donald on flute and vocals, Dave Hubbard on trumpet, and Leon Pendarvis on clavinet – and the whole thing's got a laidback, superdope feel that shows Smith at the top of his game – working earlier spiritual jazz currents into a tighter groove for the 70s, but never losing his soul at all! There's still a nice degree of spirituality to the set, and titles include "Renaissance", "Space Lady", "Between Here & There", "Mardis Gras", "Starlight & You", "Song Of Love", and "Mongotee". CD

A previously unreleased live date from late in the career of Ben Webster – recorded at The Renaissance in Hollywood in 1960, but unissued until nearly 25 years later! The group features Jim Hall on guitar, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Red Mitchell on bass, and Frank Butler on drums – and tracks are all longish, and live-feeling – with that sense of fragility that marked some of Webster's later recordings in this mode, and even further deepened the humanity in his tone. And while the recording quality is definitely "live" at times, Ben's tone comes through loud and clear – different than on some of the tighter Verve recordings of a few years before, but in a way that's really great. Titles include "Georgia On My Mind, "Caravan", "Stardust", and "Ole Miss Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

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A really unusual album from the mighty Ohio Players – their first full length set, and a record that's very different than their better-known work on Westbound and Mercury – but every bit as great! The band is tight and funky, but in a sort of deep soul 60s way – with arrangements and playing that have a hard edge, and with nice guitar rhythm tracks – a bit trippy and fuzzy at times, but also with a style that's got more of a 60s vintage than the headier styles they hit at Westbound. The group are great in this format – and the album includes lots of great original tracks – like "Bad Bargain", "Lonely Street", and "Street Party" – plus very cool covers of "Summertime" and "Mother In Law". Other titles include "Here Today & Gone Tomorrow", "Stop Lying To Yourself", "Over The Rainbow", "Find Someone To Love", "Cold Cold World", and "The Man That I Am". CD

No need to be cautious here – as the album's the sort you can jump into right away – thanks to some wicked grooves from legendary guitarist Calvin Keys! Calvin's had a great revival in recent years, but this album's the stuff that first put him on the map – a brilliant early date for the Black Jazz label, done in a unique blend of spiritual and soul jazz modes! Keys' guitar has a sharper focus here than on his other 70s set for the label – and he's working with some beautifully complex arrangements, played by a group that includes Charles Owens on tenor, soprano sax, and flute – plus Kirk Lightsey on electric piano, Henry Franklin on bass, Oscar Brashear on trumpet, Owen Marshall on percussion, and Ndugu Chancler on drums. Most titles are originals – and tunes include the nice groover "Aunt Lovey", plus "Tradewinds", "Night Cry", "Renaissance", and "Efflugence". CD

Forget the Shakespearean reference in the title – which might make you think the whole album's got a Renaissance bent – because the album's a nice bit of funky flute jazz from Hubert Laws, done with the same groovy vibe as some of his earlier albums for the CTI label! The set was produced by Bob James, and has lots of strong James touches – from the sweet work on Fender Rhodes and clavinet that works nicely with the flute on most tracks, to the full group rhythms that make the best tracks into nice smooth groovers! A few tunes get more introspective, in Hubert's Afro-Classic mode – and titles include "Guatemala Connection", "What Are We Gonna Do", "Undecided", "Forlane", and "Tryin To Get The Feelin Again". CD

Mad music from Jean-Pierre Massiera – the legendary producer who was steeped in the hippest sounds of the French scene of the 60s, then moved to Quebec to forge a wild style that was all his own! Jean-Pierre rarely ever issued work under his own name – and instead recorded under a host of pseudonyms, or in projects with other artists – which made for an ever-shifting array of new names, new sounds, and unusual records – a good deal of which are collected here in this set! The package really focuses on the freakiest side of Massiera's sound – the fuzzy, electric qualities that were first picked up from a European scene that included early prog, analog electronics, and hip pop experiments by folks like Pierre Henry or Jean-Claude Vannier – moved well into Massiera's own territory over the course of recordings like this – with lots of weird studio tricks, odd effects, and other hip bits. There's a really funky feel to many of the tracks here – that psyche-funk groove you might find on other Finders Keepers collections – and Andy Votel has written some very copious notes for the package, fully detailing Jean-Pierre's massive (and massively weird!) musical legacy. 18 tracks in all – including "Space Woman" by Herman's Rocket, "Onomatopaeia" by Human Egg, "Bizarre" by Les Chats Renaissance, "Visitors" by Visitors, "Ivresse Des Profondeurs" by SEM Studios, "L'Eletrocute" by Jesus, "Itubo Del Anno" by Basile, "Mao Mao" by The Starlights, "Pop Or Not" by Chico Magnetic Band, "Kriminal Theme" by Les Maledictus Sound, "Egg" by Atlantide, "Sing Sing" by Chris Gallbert, and "Secret La Vielle Dame" by Afterlife. LP, Vinyl record album

With the initial King's Disease album, there was no doubt that Nas was firmly back on top – yet he somehow seems to have raised the bar even further here – working with sharp production from Hit Boy, at a level that really cuts to the core of the tunes, and delivers the kind of urgent, upfront lyrics that first made Nas so great back in the day! There's a handful of guests along for the renaissance – including Lauryn Hill, EPMD, Charlie Wilson, and YG – and titles include "Death Row East", "40 Side", "Store Run", "Nobody", "YKTV", "Nas Is Good", "Count Me In", "Composure", "Brunch On Sundays", and "No Phony Love". CD

With the initial King's Disease album, there was no doubt that Nas was firmly back on top – yet he somehow seems to have raised the bar even further here – working with sharp production from Hit Boy, at a level that really cuts to the core of the tunes, and delivers the kind of urgent, upfront lyrics that first made Nas so great back in the day! There's a handful of guests along for the renaissance – including Lauryn Hill, EPMD, Charlie Wilson, and YG – and titles include "Death Row East", "40 Side", "Store Run", "Nobody", "YKTV", "Nas Is Good", "Count Me In", "Composure", "Brunch On Sundays", and "No Phony Love". LP, Vinyl record album

No need to be cautious here – as the album's the sort you can jump into right away – thanks to some wicked grooves from legendary guitarist Calvin Keys! Calvin's had a great revival in recent years, but this album's the stuff that first put him on the map – a brilliant early date for the Black Jazz label, done in a unique blend of spiritual and soul jazz modes! Keys' guitar has a sharper focus here than on his other 70s set for the label – and he's working with some beautifully complex arrangements, played by a group that includes Charles Owens on tenor, soprano sax, and flute – plus Kirk Lightsey on electric piano, Henry Franklin on bass, Oscar Brashear on trumpet, Owen Marshall on percussion, and Ndugu Chancler on drums. Most titles are originals – and tunes include the nice groover "Aunt Lovey", plus "Tradewinds", "Night Cry", "Renaissance", and "Efflugence". LP, Vinyl record album

Stunning stuff from the early 70s – one of the richest moments in the history of Ethiopian popular music! Haile Sellassie's reign was nearing its end, and the country was in the grip of a new renaissance of modernist ideas. To the rest of us, this means that the music scene was absorbing and mixing in a lot of strong influences from around the globe – and on this CD you'll hear funky rhythms, reggae bits, soulful vocals, and lots of other influences, all filtered through a strange sensibility that makes the results come out sounding amazingly otherworldly! There's 17 cuts on this first volume, and work is performed by Mahmoud Ahmed, Mulugen Mellesse, Getachew Kassa, Teshome Meteku, and Seyfu Yohannes. Also includes a few great instrumentals by lost artists! CD

A pair of late 70s albums from electric jazz maestro Jean Luc Ponty – back to back in a single package! First up is Aurora – one of the hippest of Jean Luc Ponty's mainstream efforts from the 70s – a tightly jamming album that's made even better by plenty of keyboards from Patrice Rushen! Rushen's sound really brings a warmer, more soulful groove to the record – stretching out with flowing solos that remind us a lot of her own early work for Prestige, placed here as a nice contrast to the heavy guitar work of Darryl Stuermer and the sometimes-frenetic work on violin by Ponty. Tracks have a definite rock fusion approach, but still offer up enough jazzy moments – and titles include "Is Once Enough", "Renaissance", "Aurora (parts 1 & 2)", "Passenger Of The Dark", and "Lost Forest". Cosmic Messenger is an album that really lives up to its title – as the mighty Jean Luc Ponty mixes together keyboards and electric violin in a really cosmic style – pushing forward both his music and the sound of 70s fusion at the same time – and with the sort of rock-solid approach that always helped his records find a much bigger audience than standard jazz albums at the time! The violin was nothing new in jazz by the time of this set – but in the hands of Jean-Luc, it really takes off in a different way – more keyboard-styled in the structure of the riffs, balanced here with additional keyboards from Allan Zavod, next to more guitar, bass, and percussion – but always in a way that's never too rock-jamming overall. Titles include "Ethereal Mood", "Fake Paradise", "Puppets Dance", "Cosmic Messenger", "Art Of Happiness", and "Egocentric Molecules". CD