A rare and unusual chapter in mid 60s Blue Note – the debut of tenorist Tyrone Washington, an up-and-coming talent from the hip New Jersey scene of the time! Washington's name may not have lasted long in the jazz annals, but at this important point in his career, he's working with a young Woody Shaw – also part of the Jersey scene – and together, the pair really make the album cook – stretching out with a soulful, spiritual sound that really points the way towards the indie scene of the 70s! Shaw's voice is a big part of the record, but Tyrone's still definitely in command – blowing his tenor with these quick flurries of notes that are somewhere in the Coltrane school, yet arguably moving already past him too – kind of a post-Coltrane vibe in the year before the great one passed away. Washington also wrote all of the album's 6 tracks – really fresh numbers that burn with intensity, and make the album as creatively inventive as some of the best Jackie McLean Blue Note sides from the time. In addition to Woody Shaw's trumpet, other players include James Spaulding on alto and flute, Kenny Barron on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums – a very hip lineup who really make magic on cuts that include "Yearning For Love", "Ethos", "Soul Dance", "Positive Path", and "Song Of Peace". CD

An essential collection of work from one of the hippest funk groups of the 70s – the mysterious Wood Brass & Steel, who also participated in the legendary Skullsnaps record! The first part of the set features an unreleased album that the group recorded for the All-Platinum label in 1973 – music that's hard and funky, but which also shows a strong current of jazz as well – the kind of material that has the group very much in the best Earth Wind & Fire territory of the period, with a sense of righteous perfection that should have made them huge – had the album not stayed in the vaults! The set includes their fantastic "Hey What's That You Say" – which was later reworked as "It's A New Day" for the Skullsnaps album – plus a few more cuts that later appeared on the Brother To Brother debut album – titles that include "Trespassing", "Let's Take A Stroll", "Jermilah", "If He Can Do It She Can Do It", "I Wish It Would Rain", and "A Love Of My Own". Next is the self-titled Wood Brass & Steel album – a legendary bit of east coast funk from the 70s – by a group who'd go on to have a huge influence both in the worlds of hip hop and house! Wood Brass & Steel feature two key players who later became part of the Sugarhill Records house band, and later the On-U Sound collective – Doug Wimbush and Skip McDonald – but the set's got a much fuller, more soulful vibe than work from those later projects – nice use of horns, as hinted at in the title – but not in a way that make these guys a brassy funk band either! Instead, there's a smooth groove throughout – one that comes up from the rhythms first, with a wonderful quality that's years ahead of its time – never disco, but not afraid of some faster rhythms that point the way towards underground club to come. The whole thing's the kind of funky lost gem that makes us happy to do what we do – and it's had long life over the past few decades, thanks to the rich variety of tunes on the set. Titles include the classic cut "Funkanova", an uptempo jazzy instrumental that continued to be a club favorite throughout the house years – plus loads of other good cuts, too, like "WBS Theme", "Welcome To The Party", "Same Ol Me", "Working On A Dream", and a version of "Always There". Hard & Heavy is the incredibly rare second album from Wood Brass & Steel – the mighty funk group we've loved for years for their landmark debut from the mid 70s! This sophomore set is from a few years later, and has the group honing their groove even more – working with these righteous currents in their music that expand the sound into territory that's almost a bit like Roy Ayers at times! As with Ayers, the vocals are often layered into the rhythms – sometimes sung by group members with this soulfully flowing current that has a subtle, sublime sort of vibe – and which works perfectly for the message in the music. Tunes are often in the faster side of midtempo – but never conventional club or disco at all – and there's this really special quality to the whole record, one that even tops the unique vibe of their first album. The original album was very briefly issued by Sugar Hill, during a time when the label was mostly doing hip hop – and is impossibly hard to find in the original pressing. Titles include "Open Up Your Heart", "Be Yourself", "Long Live Music", "Space Walk", "Fly With Music", "Superstar", and "Are You Busy". CD

A totally great look at the explosion of electronic sounds in German music during the 70s – a set that goes way past more familiar Krautrock territory, to bring together elements from the artier side of the spectrum too, and even run up to some of the first great moments of the German new wave! Soul Jazz have been down this path before, but this time they're maybe following the road a little farther – as the track selection is especially great, and has a way of really illuminating the special sound of this generation, even if you already know some of the music! There's a few more meditative moments than on previous volumes, mixed with some tuneful tracks, funky numbers, and even a few subtle rockers – all laid out in a way that really makes the songs sound great together as a whole. Titles include "Dronz" by Novalis, "Wide Open Space Machine" by Klaus Weiss, "Deutscher Wald" by Deutsche Wertarbeit, "I'll Be Your Singer You'll Be My Song" by AR & Machines, "The Brain Of Oskar Panizza" by Michael Bundt, "And The Waters Opened" by Between, "White Overalls" by La Dusseldorf, "Tanz Der Vogel In Den Winden" by Achim Reichel, "Hollywood" by Cluster, "Die Haut Der Frau" by Pyrolator, and "Passage" by Streetmark. LP, Vinyl record album

The title's a bit confusing, but the set's got Lux & Ivy going right back to the roots of the weird, wonderful sounds that inspired their music in The Cramps – offbeat, hard-edged 45s from the glory days of the 7" single – served up here in a range of styles, on a range of topics – all of which sound pretty darn wonderful together! There's definitely some raw soul numbers in the mix, next to rough-edged rockers, twang-heavy guitar tunes, and plenty more – all from an array of very small labels from the late 50s and early 60s. Titles include "Upturn" by Eddie Smith & The Hornets, "Payday" by Terry Richards, "Relief Check" by Bobby Sue & Her Freeloaders, "You Tell Her I Stutter" by Jimmy Lee Prow, "Nag" by The Halos, "Iggy Joe" by Willie Ward, "Party Line" by Kip Shane, "Two Cats & A Mouse" by Mickey Mandolin, "Fidel Castro Rock" by Danny Williams, "Jazz Vs Rock & Roll" by Woody Byrd, and "Magic Carpet" by The Aladdins. CD

A fantastic entry in this excellent series – one that goes way past the disco and boogie promised in the title – and which includes some modern soul gems that we might never have otherwise heard! There's a sense of warmth that really links these tunes together – not too-fast bangers for the clubs, but instead some rock-solid rare soul tunes that just happen to have a groove – and in styles that are way more than just familiar late 70s disco styles! We've loved the previous entries in this essential series, but Woody Bianchi really knocks this one out of the park – thanks to a song list that includes "Someone Special" by Rideout, "Springtime" by Arlana, "Love is The Answer" by Jay Player, "Sugar Sugar Sugar" by Razz Ma Tazz, "You're My Latest Inspiration" by Original Just Us, "Come On Everybody" by Coco York & Serge Ermoll Ensemble, "Disco Break (Woody Bianchi edit)" by Circle, "If I Love You" by GC Cameron, "Hot Flashes" by Magic City Band, "I Wanna Know" by Sunny Gayle, "Rapture" by Rev Jerry Burns & The Youth Ensemble, "Can You Feel It" by Formula One, "I Know Why You're Here" by The Variations, and "Rio De Janeiro (Woody Bianchi edit)" by Ipanema Brothers. 2CD set features 25 tracks in all! CD

A fantastic package that finally gives these recordings their proper due – one that takes the cuts that were issued on the albums Iron Man and Conversations (plus a million cheapo packages over the years) – and restores them to their original mono, right from the tapes – then adds in 85 more minutes of never issued material! The tracks here are a perfect balance of Dolphy in his final year – with some spiritual jazz currents, but still a strong sense of swing – with a fantastic lineup that includes Prince Lasha on flute, Sonny Simmons on alto, Clifford Jordan on soprano, Woody Shaw on trumpet, Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Richard Davis on bass, and both JC Moses and Charles Moffett on drums – almost a who's-who of people who would go onto shape the face of jazz in years to come. Titles include "A Personal Statement", "Ode To Charlie Parker", "Iron Man", "Come Sunday", "Burning Spear", "Muses For Richard Davis", "Alone Together", "Love Me", and "Jitterbug Waltz" – plus a number of other different versions of tunes. 3CD set comes with a 100 page booklet – featuring photos, essays, and interviews with Sonny Simmons, Sonny Rollins, Nicole Mitchell, Henry Threadgill, and David Murray. CD

Maybe not the first album of electronics to come out of the European scene – but a set that definitely marked that standout moment when moogy pop found a great way forward! Dan Lacksman had plenty of studio experience before cutting this gem of a record – and he brings that all to bear strongly here, working through both rock and easy modes – and using guitars and more conventional instrumentation alongside all the weird analog instrumental sounds, to give the tunes a catchy, playful sort of vibe – a bit like the territory that Perry & Kingsley explored, but more song-based overall. Titles include the slow funk classic "Sky Lab" – plus "Funky Kouly", "Spider", "In The Woods", "Hey Hey", and "Stay With Me" – plus the clunky cover of "Tchip Tchip" that starts off the record (you might skip that and begin on track 2!) CD

Killer live work from the Lyman Woodard Trio – and a split set that shows much much the group kept grooving on the Detroit scene, even after their initial early 70s fame! The first half of the CD features material from 1974 – recorded at JJ's Lounge in the Shelby Hotel in the Motor City – very jazz-based, with soaring organ from Lyman himself, guitar from Ron English, and drums from Leonard King. The whole thing's nicely recorded, with a strong focus on that sweet and super-dope tone that's always made Woodard so great – as you'll hear on the cuts "Even Today", "Jumpin The Blues", "If You Could See Me Now", and "ESP". The second half of the set is from 20 years later – recorded in 1993 at Sully's Roadhouse – with the same trio, equally tight and funky! In fact, the 1993 set's almost funkier, as it's got some originals by Woodard that are mighty nice – the titles "Lyman's Montuno" and "Belle Isle Daze" – next to the cuts "I Got A Woman", "Drown In My Own Tears", and "A Fine Romance". CD

Never-issued live material from Detroit organ great Lyman Woodard – material that's a great addition to some of the other rare material that's finally helping the world put together an overdue look at his contributions on the scene! Two of the cuts here resonate very strongly with Lyman's classic Saturday Night Special album – mid 70s takes on "Cheeba" and "Fish Feet", recorded with a very Strata-heavy group that includes Ron English on guitar, Norma Bell on alto, and Leonard King on drums – stretching out with a wonderful mix of funk and farther-reaching jazz! The set also features one more number from a few years later, and a slightly more complex presentation from Woodard – the tune "Paradise Now", recorded with a larger ensemble and Woodard on piano. CD

One of the few albums ever issued by Ronnie Barron – an artist with a long range of work on the New Orleans scene, ties to Dr John, and even a role in the Woodstock scene of the early 70s – all of which really come through on this well-done set! Barron's got all the roots in his music that you'd guess from that legacy – some Nola moments in the rhythms, and a great ability to add a lot of character to his lyrics – sometimes shifting nicely from track to track, and bringing a lot of funky charm to the whole thing! Titles include "Duke Of Crenshaw", "Happy Happy Happy", "Let It Shine", "Freeway Mama", "Louisiana Flood", and "Don't Let My Husband Catch You". LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual Japanese-only collection of work by bassist Ron Carter – pulled from American sides for Fantasy, and done by Suntory Whiskey! The set features the new tracks "Double Bass" and "36414" with Jay Berliner on guitar and Kenny Barron on piano – and other titles include "Ah Rio" with Chet Baker on trumpet, NY Slick wiht JJ Johnson on trombone and Hubert Laws on flute, "12+12" with Kenny Barron on piano, and "Epistrophy" with Barron and a mixture of woodwinds. LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal set from Eric Dolphy – one of his most perfectly realized moments at the head of a larger ensemble – and a record that definitely set the tone for countless spiritual jazz sessions of the 70s! Dolphy recorded this session for Alan Douglas in 1962, and it features a larger array of players than you'll find on most of his records for other labels – the cream of the "new thing" players that were around New York at the time, including Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Woody Shaw on trumpet, Prince Lasha on flute, Sonny Simmons on alto, and even Clifford Jordan on soprano sax – making a rare appearance on record on that instrument! Together, the players create a set of soundscapes that lies somewhere between Dolphy's Out To Lunch album, and some of the more modernist work by Mingus – a stunning batch of tracks that go out, but never too far. Titles include "Ode to CP", "Burning Spear", "Iron Man", and "Mandrake". LP, Vinyl record album

The score to RZA's major motion picture directorial debut (and just how cool is it to be writing that)!– Whatever the creative and/or financial fate of the movie Man With The Iron Fists, RZA's score with collaborator Howard Drossin is a classic! You already know that RZA is a genuine student of Hong Kong and Hollywood martial arts music and movies – and if you don't know this, he's also a hell of a soundtrack composer! His work for Ghost Dog is one of our favorite hip hop-based soundtracks ever made – and Man With The Iron Fists lives up to that legacy. It's a bigger, more grandly-composed soundtrack than Ghost Dog – with tense strings and an epic, Hollywood-ready sweep – but it still feels totally and truthfully like a RZA record! Collaborator Drossin has worked on some great action scores over the past decade and he proves to be an excellent partner. Includes an "Opening Titles" makeover of the Wu classic "Shame On A N***a", plus "Jungle Village", "Emperor's Gold", "The Brothel", "Rodent Fight", "Alley Fight", "Snake Charmer", "Shipwrecked", "The Temple Monks", "Face Off", "The Man With The Iron Fists", "The Last Battle", "All Iron And No Rust" and more. CD

One of Woody's last albums – a back to basics set, recorded with a group that include Kenny Garrett on alto sax, Kenny Barron on piano, and guest guitar work on one track by Peter Leitch. The approach is straight modal hardbop – in the spirit of Woody's first recordings for Muse – and although his genius seems to have faltered a bit, his work here is still incredibly solid, much more so than most other trumpeters of his generation, and still expressed in a preference for easily grooving longer tracks. Titles include "Speak Low", "Solid", "There Will Never Be Another You", "It Might As Well Be Spring", and "The Woody Woodpecker Song". CD

A rare second meeting between Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra – recorded for RCA a few years after their initial outing for Reprise, and done with a style that's even moodier than the first! Given that Nancy's less of a star at this point, Lee really dominates the album – and casts Sinatra in a space that's filled with his own dark themes of loneliness, pride, responsibility, and forbidden adult love. Backings are rich and large, but the voices are always upfront in the mix – and arrangers Larry Muhoberac and Clark Gassman really do a great job of getting the Hazlewood vision down perfectly. Most of the tracks are originals, and titles include "Got It Together", "Back On The Road", "Arkansas Coal Suite", "Congratulations", "Paris Summer", "Friendship Train", and "Tippy Toes". Also features two great bonus tracks – "Machine Gun Kelly" and "Think I'm Coming Down". LP, Vinyl record album

Tremendous work from Mal Waldron – four later albums that have him hitting a whole new level of power! Waldron's always been a compelling artist – from his 50s hardbop work to his 60s modern moments to his rich array of overseas recordings in the 70s. But on these 80s sides for Black Saint/Soul Note, he takes off in a rich new direction – one that's stepped in the sort of spiritual modes that other American players were using in the 70s, touched with some of Waldron's more creative, complex approaches to jazz! The lineup on these records is all great – with stellar reed work from either Sonny Fortune, Ricky Ford, or Charlie Rouse – and trumpet by the great Woody Shaw on two of the dates – plus bass by Reggie Workman, and drums from Eddie Moore and Ed Blackwell. Tracks are very long on most records – lots of hard-burning, stretched-out, all-soul solos that are mighty nice! Includes the full albums The Git Go, Seagulls Of Kristiansund, Crowd Scene, and Where Are You – packed in small LP-styled sleeves. CD

One of the most wonderful Phil Woods albums ever! No kidding – this is amazing! Woods played on lots of other records – and often in settings that made you wonder why people thought he was so great – but on this one, he's totally in the spotlight, fronting a mellow easy quartet that lets him play some incredible solos that go places we couldn't even imagine! The whole album's a fantastic treat – deeply soulful and introspective in a way that you can hardly imagine from most of Woods' other work in the 50s – and done with a rare energy that's made it one of our favorite albums for years. Every track sparkles – and the album's filled great tracks like "Gunga Din", "Waltz For A Lovely Wife", "Squire's Parlor", "I Love You", and "In Your Own Sweet Way". CD

A totally great look at the explosion of electronic sounds in German music during the 70s – a set that goes way past more familiar Krautrock territory, to bring together elements from the artier side of the spectrum too, and even run up to some of the first great moments of the German new wave! Soul Jazz have been down this path before, but this time they're maybe following the road a little farther – as the track selection is especially great, and has a way of really illuminating the special sound of this generation, even if you already know some of the music! There's a few more meditative moments than on previous volumes, mixed with some tuneful tracks, funky numbers, and even a few subtle rockers – all laid out in a way that really makes the songs sound great together as a whole. Titles include "Dronz" by Novalis, "Wide Open Space Machine" by Klaus Weiss, "Deutscher Wald" by Deutsche Wertarbeit, "I'll Be Your Singer You'll Be My Song" by AR & Machines, "The Brain Of Oskar Panizza" by Michael Bundt, "And The Waters Opened" by Between, "White Overalls" by La Dusseldorf, "Tanz Der Vogel In Den Winden" by Achim Reichel, "Hollywood" by Cluster, "Die Haut Der Frau" by Pyrolator, and "Passage" by Streetmark. CD

A seminal set from Eric Dolphy – one of his most perfectly realized moments at the head of a larger ensemble – and a record that definitely set the tone for countless spiritual jazz sessions of the 70s! Dolphy recorded this session for Alan Douglas in 1962, and it features a larger array of players than you'll find on most of his records for other labels – the cream of the "new thing" players that were around New York at the time, including Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Woody Shaw on trumpet, Prince Lasha on flute, Sonny Simmons on alto, and even Clifford Jordan on soprano sax – making a rare appearance on record on that instrument! Together, the players create a set of soundscapes that lies somewhere between Dolphy's Out To Lunch album, and some of the more modernist work by Mingus – a stunning batch of tracks that go out, but never too far. Titles include "Ode to CP", "Burning Spear", "Iron Man", and "Mandrake". CD

A fantastic package that finally gives these recordings their proper due – one that takes the cuts that were issued on the albums Iron Man and Conversations (plus a million cheapo packages over the years) – and restores them to their original mono, right from the tapes – then adds in 85 more minutes of never issued material! The tracks here are a perfect balance of Dolphy in his final year – with some spiritual jazz currents, but still a strong sense of swing – with a fantastic lineup that includes Prince Lasha on flute, Sonny Simmons on alto, Clifford Jordan on soprano, Woody Shaw on trumpet, Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Richard Davis on bass, and both JC Moses and Charles Moffett on drums – almost a who's-who of people who would go onto shape the face of jazz in years to come. Titles include "A Personal Statement", "Ode To Charlie Parker", "Iron Man", "Come Sunday", "Burning Spear", "Muses For Richard Davis", "Alone Together", "Love Me", and "Jitterbug Waltz" – plus a number of other different versions of tunes. 3CD set comes with a 100 page booklet – featuring photos, essays, and interviews with Sonny Simmons, Sonny Rollins, Nicole Mitchell, Henry Threadgill, and David Murray. CD

J Dilla was always way more than just a hip hop artist – a visionary creator who was taken from us all too soon, given strong tribute here by the mighty talents of Miguel Atwood Ferguson – a contemporary of Dilla, and a similarly visionary talent! The music here was recorded live – a masterful blend of 60 musicians reworking some key cuts from the catalog of Dilla – in tribute both to his talents, and the warmth of his mother, who was with him when he passed – given great help from a large array of guests – including Shafiq Husayn, Amp Fiddler, Bilal, Dwele, Illa J, Karriem Riggins, Posdnous, and Talib Kweli. The music here is light years from its original hip hop roots – proof of all the many musical channels that J Dilla could help unlock – and tracks include "Morning Order", "Antiquity", "Le Yachting", "Untitled/Fantastic", "Welcome 2 Detroit", "Gobstopper", "Affolements Grantiques", "Don't Nobody Care About Us", "Jealousy", "Angel", "Reminisce", "Stakes Is High", and "Fall In Love". Comes in a nice, heavy duty package from the performance separately on a CD and DVD. CD

Nice one! Dizzy did the soundtrack for the lost Shirley Clarke verite drama The Cool World – a beautiful black and white film shot mostly on location in the Harlem of the early 60s. Mal Wladron wrote the material for the score, and Diz plays the music with a moody emotionality that you don't often hear in his other 60's work. The recording was made by his great group that included Kenny Barron and James Moody, and the titles include "The Pusher", "Duke's Fantasy", "Coney Island", and "Enter Priest". The CD also features the groovier Dizzy Goes Hollywood, which features the same group doing jazz readings of 60's soundtrack themes like "Carioca", "Never On Sunday", "More", and "Walk On The Wild Side". The whole thing's got 22 tracks in all, and is a very cool slice of Dizzy's career that you'll be hard pressed to find on vinyl! CD

A real gem from Woody Shaw's greatest period – a very hip sextet session, recorded with Hayes, Cook, Shaw, and a rhythm section that includes Ronnie Matthews on piano, Stafford James on bass, A real gem from Woody Shaw's greatest period – a very hip sextet session, recorded with Hayes, Cook, Shaw, and a rhythm section that includes Ronnie Matthews on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Guilhermo Franco on percussion. Tracks are long, and stretch out in that searching, modal style that Shaw was using a lot at the time – and although the Hayes/Cook team are listed as the leaders on the set, the record clearly owes a lot to Shaw's influence and style. A wonderful record that we just don't turn up often enough! Titles include "Ichi Ban", "Book's Bossa", "Pannonica", "Brothers & Sisters", and a great take on "Moontrane". LP, Vinyl record album

Great electronics from the Indian scene of the 80s – music that's a lot warmer and more evocative than you might guess from the "robotic" in the title – thanks to plenty of roots in the Kollywood soundtrack scene! The instrumentation is often spare, but still echoes the fuller scope of Bollywood brilliance – and at some level, Ilaiyaraaja's music here represents an 80s take on earlier Bollywood funk – sometimes a bit quirkier, due to the instrumentation – but hardly ever cold or stark at all, and very different from the kind of electronics that were brimming big on the European scene. Part of this quality really comes from the vocals – sung by singers who include KS Chitra, Malaysia Vasudevan, SP Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jayaram, and others – often in styles that have the playful back/forth approach of Indian film lyrics. The set's a treasure through and through – with 17 mesmerizing tracks that include "Kadal Mele", "Mancha Podi", "Adi Rani", "Poo Poo Kkum", "Ilasa Sirusa", "Eswarane", "Needhi Idhu", and "Poongatre". CD

Maybe not the first album of electronics to come out of the European scene – but a set that definitely marked that standout moment when moogy pop found a great way forward! Dan Lacksman had plenty of studio experience before cutting this gem of a record – and he brings that all to bear strongly here, working through both rock and easy modes – and using guitars and more conventional instrumentation alongside all the weird analog instrumental sounds, to give the tunes a catchy, playful sort of vibe – a bit like the territory that Perry & Kingsley explored, but more song-based overall. Titles include the slow funk classic "Sky Lab" – plus "Funky Kouly", "Spider", "In The Woods", "Hey Hey", and "Stay With Me" – plus the clunky cover of "Tchip Tchip" that starts off the record (you might skip that and begin on track 2!) LP, Vinyl record album

David Liebman on soprano and tenor saxophone and wooden flute, Richie Beirach on piano, Ron McClure on double bass, and Billy Hart on drums. CD

A really great blend of two different sides of the genius Roscoe Mitchell – his ear for composition, and his strong legacy of solo performance too! The "Pieces" in the title of the set might make you think that Roscoe is delivering one of his ensemble creations from more recent years – but the performance on the record is very much a step back to his early work on the late 60s and 70s – those moments when Mitchell was often at his best exploring sonic space on his own – as he does here on a variety of woodwind and percussion instruments, used in varying ways throughout the recording! Titles include "Glide & Run", "Skip", "Hey", "Light Green", "Vast Horizons", "Let's Go There", "Moving Bell", "Click", and "Now The Color Blue". CD

A really great blend of two different sides of the genius Roscoe Mitchell – his ear for composition, and his strong legacy of solo performance too! The "Pieces" in the title of the set might make you think that Roscoe is delivering one of his ensemble creations from more recent years – but the performance on the record is very much a step back to his early work on the late 60s and 70s – those moments when Mitchell was often at his best exploring sonic space on his own – as he does here on a variety of woodwind and percussion instruments, used in varying ways throughout the recording! Titles include "Glide & Run", "Skip", "Hey", "Light Green", "Vast Horizons", "Let's Go There", "Moving Bell", "Click", and "Now The Color Blue". LP, Vinyl record album

A trio of early 70s LPs from Klaus Weiss & Niagara – in a massive 3LP wood box set! First up is the 1971 self-titled debut – a pretty astonishing set of heavy, hypnotic drums and percussion. It features just 2 long jams, "Sangandongo" and "Malanga" and it's pretty much an all percussion affair! Sub is a legendary bit of heavy funk. The lineup here includes fuzzy guitar, electric piano, and of course, lots of heavy percussion – all served up in a way that's jamming, but a lot more straightforwardly funky than some of the group's contemporaries on the European scene! Ack Van Rooyen plays trumpet, Ferdinand Povel plays tenor and flute, and the production is often very tripped-out – abstracting the jazz roots a bit with some really cool touches. A great bridge between the MPS scene and the more progressive German groups – with titles that include "SUB", "Bones", "Niagara", "Terra Incognita", "Gibili", and "Kikiriti". Afire is another seminal percussion effort – and an album with a very strong focus on the rhythms – but the groove is still somewhat melodic too, thanks to inventive use of some of the smaller, more tuned percussion instruments by other members of the group. There's almost a funky batucada groove going on here – a rich, round sound that comes from a very tight small combo! Titles include "City Walk", "What For", "Terpischore", "Carnival", "Rhythm Go", "Dance In Seven", "Rolling", "Malanga Two", and "The Third One". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful piece of soulful spiritualism! This great Muse album is one of Woody Shaw's strongest seventies LPs, and one of the few that really captures the energy that he had when he first appeared on the scene in the mid 60s. The group is a large ensemble packed with great players like Azar Lawrence, Cecil McBee, and Steve Turre – and the album's filled with great compositions that display Woody's best modernist soul jazz sides, like "Tapscott's Blues" and "Sanyas". The record also includes a reworking of Shaw's "Moontrane", which he recorded with Larry Young on the classic Unity album. LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant date from the later years of Woody Shaw – an album that equally shows Woody's own talents, and those of his key group of younger players too! Shaw's trumpet is perfect in both modes here – the hard-blown righteous numbers Woody first gave the world from his start, and the warmer, more sensitive ballads he was crafting a bit later in his career – never too smooth or mellow, but showing a nice link to tradition in his tone. All tracks are longish, and the group features Steve Turre on trombone, Mulgrew Miller on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Tony Reedus on drums – all familiar players to Shaw, working tightly together on the date. As an added bonus, Bobby Hutcherson joins the group for most of the set – ringing out a strongly soulful tone on his vibes, on titles that include "Misterioso", "400 Years Ago Tomorrow", "Diane", and "Sweet Love Of Mine". The album also features a bonus interview track with Woody too! LP, Vinyl record album

A rare second meeting between Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra – recorded for RCA a few years after their initial outing for Reprise, and done with a style that's even moodier than the first! Given that Nancy's less of a star at this point, Lee really dominates the album – and casts Sinatra in a space that's filled with his own dark themes of loneliness, pride, responsibility, and forbidden adult love. Backings are rich and large, but the voices are always upfront in the mix – and arrangers Larry Muhoberac and Clark Gassman really do a great job of getting the Hazlewood vision down perfectly. Most of the tracks are originals, and titles include "Got It Together", "Back On The Road", "Arkansas Coal Suite", "Congratulations", "Paris Summer", "Friendship Train", and "Tippy Toes". Also features two great bonus tracks – "Machine Gun Kelly" and "Think I'm Coming Down". CD

An excellent 70s European session recorded by Mal Waldron – one that shows off some of his more avant jazz inclinations at the time! The group's a searing one, with an unusual combination of players – Steve Lacy on soprano sax, Manfred Schoof on trumpet, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Makaya Ntshoko on drums – and while the pairing of Lacy and Waldron is a familiar, and excellent one – it's also great to hear both of them in this quintet mode too. The tracks are all long – with an approach that's in that later Waldron modal mode on the rhythms, but which gets freer and more open on the solos. Titles include "The Seagulls Of Kristiansund", "Hurray For Herbie", and "One-Upmanship". CD

An excellent 70s European session recorded by Mal Waldron – one that shows off some of his more avant jazz inclinations at the time! The group's a searing one, with an unusual combination of players – Steve Lacy on soprano sax, Manfred Schoof on trumpet, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Makaya Ntshoko on drums – and while the pairing of Lacy and Waldron is a familiar, and excellent one – it's also great to hear both of them in this quintet mode too. The tracks are all long – with an approach that's in that later Waldron modal mode on the rhythms, but which gets freer and more open on the solos. Titles include "The Seagulls Of Kristiansund", "Hurray For Herbie", and "One-Upmanship". CD

An essential collection of work from one of the hippest funk groups of the 70s – the mysterious Wood Brass & Steel, who also participated in the legendary Skullsnaps record! The first part of the set features an unreleased album that the group recorded for the All-Platinum label in 1973 – music that's hard and funky, but which also shows a strong current of jazz as well – the kind of material that has the group very much in the best Earth Wind & Fire territory of the period, with a sense of righteous perfection that should have made them huge – had the album not stayed in the vaults! The set includes their fantastic "Hey What's That You Say" – which was later reworked as "It's A New Day" for the Skullsnaps album – plus a few more cuts that later appeared on the Brother To Brother debut album – titles that include "Trespassing", "Let's Take A Stroll", "Jermilah", "If He Can Do It She Can Do It", "I Wish It Would Rain", and "A Love Of My Own". Next is the self-titled Wood Brass & Steel album – a legendary bit of east coast funk from the 70s – by a group who'd go on to have a huge influence both in the worlds of hip hop and house! Wood Brass & Steel feature two key players who later became part of the Sugarhill Records house band, and later the On-U Sound collective – Doug Wimbush and Skip McDonald – but the set's got a much fuller, more soulful vibe than work from those later projects – nice use of horns, as hinted at in the title – but not in a way that make these guys a brassy funk band either! Instead, there's a smooth groove throughout – one that comes up from the rhythms first, with a wonderful quality that's years ahead of its time – never disco, but not afraid of some faster rhythms that point the way towards underground club to come. The whole thing's the kind of funky lost gem that makes us happy to do what we do – and it's had long life over the past few decades, thanks to the rich variety of tunes on the set. Titles include the classic cut "Funkanova", an uptempo jazzy instrumental that continued to be a club favorite throughout the house years – plus loads of other good cuts, too, like "WBS Theme", "Welcome To The Party", "Same Ol Me", "Working On A Dream", and a version of "Always There". Hard & Heavy is the incredibly rare second album from Wood Brass & Steel – the mighty funk group we've loved for years for their landmark debut from the mid 70s! This sophomore set is from a few years later, and has the group honing their groove even more – working with these righteous currents in their music that expand the sound into territory that's almost a bit like Roy Ayers at times! As with Ayers, the vocals are often layered into the rhythms – sometimes sung by group members with this soulfully flowing current that has a subtle, sublime sort of vibe – and which works perfectly for the message in the music. Tunes are often in the faster side of midtempo – but never conventional club or disco at all – and there's this really special quality to the whole record, one that even tops the unique vibe of their first album. The original album was very briefly issued by Sugar Hill, during a time when the label was mostly doing hip hop – and is impossibly hard to find in the original pressing. Titles include "Open Up Your Heart", "Be Yourself", "Long Live Music", "Space Walk", "Fly With Music", "Superstar", and "Are You Busy". CD

A great little record, and one that definitely hangs strongly on the "and more" promised in the title – as alto sax genius Phil Woods moves very far from the familiar "Charlie Parker With Strings" format you might expect – almost as a statement that shows how much both the setting and Woods have evolved over the decade! There's definitely strings on the set – a full backing that's really seems to inspire Woods towards some of his best work of the period – as does the core rhythm contributions from Ben Arnov on piano, Reggie Johnson on bass, and Douglas Sides on drums – all players who seem to be higher in the mix than the strings, which really emphasizes their presence. The tracks include some long takes on classic Bird/strings songbook material, plus some great surprises – all in nicely different versions. Titles include "April In Paris", "All The Things You Are", "I'll Remember April", "Easy To Love", "The Midnight Sun Will Never Set", "Repetition", "The Best Thing For You Is Me/How Deep Is The Ocean", "Solitude", "Willow Weep For Me", and "I Get Along Without You Very Well". CD

Electronic music with soul from a variety of contempory artists – compiled by Alex Stevenson of Patchwork Pirates and material with the personal endorsement of the Gilles Peterson – featuring truly exceptional stuff by B Brova, Mosca, 16bit, Hypno, George Fitzgerald and more! Brownswood Electr*c is a fresh step in highlighting worthy modern artists, a venture not unlike the great Brownswood Bubblers sets. It's material from the from the electronic underground, nicely utilizing materials pioneered in club groove styles, genres and scenes over the years – club soul, dubstep, drum & bass, broken beat, etc – but the stuff here dodges pigeonhole or easy categorization. Excellent stuff – a real win for team Brownswood! 15 tracks in all: "Computa Love" by B Bravo, "Wad" by Pearson Sound, "Square One" by Mosca, "Over The Top" by Hypno, "Painted Jezebel" by George Fitzgerald, "BB Thing" by KiEnRa, "Underpass" by Rockwell, "Serged" by Mount Kimble, "Lady In Red (Club Edit)" by Clueless and more. CD

Soothing field recordings – featuring "A Mid-Summer's Thunderstorm" and "Wind In The Autumn Woods". LP, Vinyl record album

Killer cuts from the seemingly endless legacy of Indian film music – with an especially strong focus on those 70s and early 80s moments when the work was especially funky! If you know this scene at all, you'll know that even past the years of disco in the US, Indian film musicians were still using plenty of the funky drums, riffing guitar, and heavy basslines that you'd find in American blacksploitation soundtracks from the previous decade – so even the cuts here from the mid 80s still sound pretty darn wonderful, and mix with the 70s tracks to make for a massive package of Bollywood funk! Titles include "Come Closer" by Salma Agha, "Dance Music" by Bappi Lahiri, "Streets Of Calcutta" by Ananda Shankar, "Orchestral Music" by Raghunath Seth & Dheeraj, "Jeena Bhi Kya Koi Jeena Hai" by Salma Agha & Bappi Lahiri, "Dum Maro Dum" by Asha Bhosle, "Love Me Baby" by Annet Pinto, "Ding Dong Ding Dong" by Sharon Prabakar, "Sansanikhez Koi Baat" by Asha Bhosle & Hemant Bhosle, "Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja" by Parvati Khan, and "Are Di Se Dil Mile" by RD Burna. LP, Vinyl record album

Arguably one of the greatest concept albums of the 80s – and the only really strong full length album cut by Frankie Goes To Hollywood! At the time of the set, the group was riding high on the success and controversy of their singles "Relax" and "Two Tribes" – but in the ambitious ZTT mode, sought to expand their sound way past familiar hits, and into a realm of sonic exploration that rivaled that of labelmates Art Of Noise. Don't get us wrong, because the Frankie of this album is still very much in groove-oriented territory – but they also let Horn take over with some more striking tunes that are both longer and shorter than the usual pop track – offsetting the vocal numbers on the record with a rich tapestry of musical backdrops that also more firmly forward the group's social and sexual leanings. The album features surprising covers of "War", "Do You Know The Way To San Jose", and "Born To Run" – plus the hits "Relax" and "Two Tribes", and the original numbers "Welcome To the Pleasure Dome", "Krisco Kisses", "The Ballad Of 32", "Wish The Lads Were Here", "Black Night White Light", "The Only Star In Heaven", "The Power Of Love", and "Bang". CD

A strong companion album to the Midnight Rockers gem from Horace Andy – and one that lets producer Adrian Sherwood take the helm even more than before, as the set features a hip mix of dubs, reworks, and alternate versions of tunes on the album! Horace's great vocals are still there in the mix – but there's also some instrumental cuts, and guest appearances from Daddy Freddy and Lone Ranger – plus plenty of top-shelf work from Sherwood too! Titles include "Come After Midnight", "Dirty Money Business", "Sleepy's Night Cap", "More Bassy", "Dub Guidance", "Hell & Back", "Away With The Gun & Knife", and "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City". CD

An instant classic from saxophonist Nat Birchall – the kind of set that first made us fall in love with him all those many years back, when we first heard his early records on the Gondwana label! Nat's working here in a mode that's spiritual, but on long tracks that have a great modal vibe – really enforced by the energy of his group here, which features some especially great piano from Adam Fairhall – a player with a very majestic command of his instrument, and one that really sets the tone for the whole record! Other members of the group include Michael Bardon on bass, Paul Hession on drums, and Lascelle Gordon on percussion – but Birchall is clearly the shining light in the front – blowing beautiful long solos on tenor, plus a bit of wood flute too – with occasional contributions on mbira and balafon as well. Tracks are all nice and long, and include "Nile Valley", "Sun In The East", "Lokumbe", and "Unity" LP, Vinyl record album

Four fantastic albums from Bobby Bland – all brought together in a single package for the first time! First up is Come Fly With Me – great work from Bobby Blue Bland – one of the few artists to rise up at the end of the 50s, and still find a way to chart their own path forward in soul with fresh material like this! Bobby's voice is still incredible here, and he works with production from Al Bell and Monk Higgins, the latter of whom arranged – in this cool style that's a bit like some of the territory that Tyrone Davis was taking on at Columbia Records during the second half of the 70s – fuller arrangements that bring some sophisticated soul touches to the music, but in ways that never lose the core of Bobby's genius! Titles include "Lady Lonely", "Night Games", "You Can Count On Me", "Love To See You Smile", "Come Fly With Me", and "To Be Friends". The next album is I Feel Good I Feel Fine – and Bobby Bland sounds pretty good too – thanks to arrangements from the great Monk Higgins, who does a perfect job of mixing Bland's trademark vocals with some sweet late 70s arrangements! The sound is upbeat, but never in a cliched disco mode – more in the territory that you'd hear Johnnie Taylor using over at Columbia Records – maybe a good comparison, given the Memphis roots that both artists shared – as both also evolved a lot to shift their sound with the changing modes of the time. And as with Johnnie, Bobby never loses the core that makes him great – as you'll hear on titles that include "Tit For Tat", "Soon As The Weather Breaks", "In His Eyes", "Someone To Belong To", "I Feel Good I Feel Fine", and "Little Mama". Sweet Vibrations is a real gem from the start of the 80s – arranged by Monk Higgins, who co-produced the set with Al Bell – a duo who'd already given Bobby some great records before, but who really knock it out of the park with this one. There's an extra-special quality going on here – maybe a slight reintroduction of blues roots, but still with a very contemporary spirit – set up to superb backings throughout. Titles include "Soul With A Flavor", "Hollywood Woman", "You'd Be A Millionaire", "Sweet Vibrator", "Special Kind Of Fool", and "A Real Woman Is What It Takes". Try Me I'm Real is record with a title that certainly fits the bill – as the amazing voice of Bobby Bland is as real here as it ever was, and blended with superbly soulful backings that take the singer's sound forward for a whole new generation! Some of Bobby's contemporaries were content to just stick in a straight blues mode – but Bland really grew and developed a lot as an artist, thanks in part to Monk Higgins and Al Bell – who are both at the production helm of the record, and balance the bluesy roots of Bobby with some richer soul backings that really knock the whole thing out of the park! We love Bobby Blue Bland during his early Duke Records years – but we love him equally as much for music like this, on titles that include "But I Do", "What A Difference A Day Makes", "Givin Up The Streets For Love", "A Song For You My Son", "Just You Just Me", and "Love Is Where It's At". CD

A set that maybe has a bit more of a stripped-down vibe than some of the other records by The Browns – stronger acoustic guitar, which is matched by the superb vocals of Jim Ed Brown and sisters Maxine and Bonnie! There's some slight traces of RCA production, but in keeping with the title, things are nicely and folksy – very up-close, which makes the vocals even more stunning – on titles that include "My Pretty Quadroon", "Pretty Wildwood Flower", "Columbus Stockade Blues", "John B Sails", "In The Pines", and "Down In The Valley". LP, Vinyl record album

A trio of excellent Gary Burton albums from the 60s – collected together in a single set! Something's Coming is the launch of vibist Gary Burton as a leader – a force in jazz that would continue strongly for decades to come! At the time of the record, Burton had already been making waves as a session player on the Nashville scene – where RCA had some especially strong ears – but he's launched here in a mode that's quite far from those roots, and already filled with those modern, chromatic modes that would have Burton pushing the sound of the vibes forward strongly throughout his career – even on an early record like this! The group is very like-minded, and well-chosen – players who are spacious and modern, but never too much so – a quartet with Jim Hall on guitar, Chuck Israels on bass, and Larry Bunker on drums. Titles include "Melanie", "Careful", "Six Improvisatory Sketches", "Something's Coming", and "Little Girl Blue". Next up is a very cool take on the music of Sound Of Music – handled with some help from arranger Gary McFarland, in a way that really unlocks the modal potentials of the tunes! As you might expect from the revolutionary vibist Gary Burton, the approach here is quite different than the usual jazz album of Broadway material – and instead, both Burton and McFarland do a heck of a lot to open up the coolest potential of the songs – as they bring in other hip players who include Bob Brookmeyer on trombone, Phil Woods on alto, Joe Puma on guitar, and Steve Swallow on bass. Titles include "An Ordinary Couple", "Sixteen Going On Seventeen", "Do Re Mi", "Edelweiss", and a great take on "My Favorite Things". Time Machine is filled with beautiful sounds from Gary Burton – a seminal 60s session that really has the vibist coming into his own, and finding that new path towards musical expression that would flower even more strongly in the 70s! The album has Burton really strengthening up his sense of chrome – matching the boldness of other important 60s vibes players on the rise – like Karel Velebny or Bobby Hutcherson – but also working this really special magic in the way he lets each note resonate in the air – often with a much longer decay on the sound than the actual moment of its creation! Burton also plays a bit of piano on the record, overdubbed with his vibes – but in a way that's quite different than the vibes/piano combo of earlier acts – like the MJQ, or George Shearing Quintet – thanks to work from Steve Swallow on bass and Larry Bunker on percussion. Tracks include "Six Nix Quix Flix", "The Sunset Bell", "Deluge", "Chega De Saudade", and "Falling Grace". CD

Great work by this legendary hard swinging band – an early 60s American album issued on Atlantic Records, in the years before the Clark Boland Band's legendary run on MPS! Despite the early date, the album's got all the core elements of the band's sound in place – soaring rhythms, sharp-edged frontlines, and some great solo work by players who include Benny Bailey, Derek Humble, Jimmy Woode, Shahib Shihab, Idrees Sulieman, and Fats Sadi – coming together in a brilliant trans-Atlantic meeting of jazz talents! Tracks include "Long Note Blues", "Speedy Reeds", "Sonor", and "Om Mani Padme Hum". CD

They got the "jazz date" right in the title on this one – as Chris Connor works here with some exceptional small combo backing – all in a mode that almost takes her back to the earliest sound of her first few records on Bethlehem! Ralph Sharon's the maestro here – handling all the arrangements for a few small combos with players who include Oscar Pettiford on bass, Sam Most on flute, Eddie Costa on vibes, Joe Puma on guitar, and Lucky Thompson and Al Cohn on tenor – all modern-minded players who turn out to be a really great fit for Connor on the date. A few numbers even feature added Latin percussion from Mongo Santamaria – and titles include "All I Need Is You", "Driftwood", "Fancy Free", "It Only Happens When I Dance With You", and "Lonely Town". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Dankworth's greatest albums of the 60s – recorded in both New York and London, with a mix of American and British players that includes Ronnie Scott, Bob Brookmeyer, Phil Woods, Chuck Israel, Lucky Thompson, and Kenny Wheeler. The album's a suite of tracks based on the Zodiac – and, like other albums of this nature, it oddly rises to the occasional with some wonderfully creative playing, and some of the most solid writing that Dankworth did in the 60s. (Why is it that these records work so well? Is it because the 12 sides of the Zodiac inspire such a change of moods and personalities that the musicians really get into the spirit of things?) Tracks are shortish, but quite evocative – and the soloists all get enough space to express themselves well within the scope of the piece. Titles include "Aquarius", "Pisces", "Cancer", etc. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the classic early Miles Davis & John Coltrane sessions for Prestige – a well-crafted quintet album that shows Miles finding a stronger voice than ever, and Coltrane beginning to emerge as a key force on his own! Backing is subtle and soulful – handled by the trio of Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones – and although the tracks are mostly ballads and standards, they're all nicely given the Davis treatment on the set, turned into beautiful new vehicles for jazz imagination and improvisation! Titles include "If I Were A Bell", "I Could Write A Book", "Oleo", and "Woody'n You". CD

An insanely wonderful record from De La Soul – a set that's sometimes eclipsed by its legendary precursors, but which would easily stand as the best record in the catalog by any other group! Prince Paul's production is impeccable – leaner than before, likely due to new restrictions on samples – but with a focus that really hones in on the incredible word play that De La have developed even more strongly than before! That strong sense of whole album presentation the group really helped forge in hip hop is definitely in place here – on titles that include the classics "Ego Trippin' (Part 2)" and "Breakadawn", "Eye Patch", "En Focus", "Patti Dooke", "I Be Blowin'", "3 Days Later", "Area", "I Am I Be", "In The Woods", and "Stone Age". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic work from EABS – a combo who continue to amaze us with the diversity of sounds they create, and the depth of feeling they can get from a mix of acoustic and electric instruments! There's maybe an even deeper spiritual vibe going on here than previous records – music that's not afraid to borrow some currents from the world of contemporary soul, yet still stays strongly in jazz territory overall – electric rhythms at some points, acoustic at others – blended with a range of wonderful keyboards from Marek Latarnik Pedziwiatr, next to trumpet from Jakub Kurek, and tenor and soprano sax from Olaf Wegier. The great tenorist Jan Ptaszyn Wroblewski guests on the track "A Farewell To Mother Earth" – and other tracks include "Lucifer", "Dead Silence", "Mystery Of Monolith", "Global Warning", "Ain't No Mercy", and "The Odyssey Of Dr Heywood Floyd". CD

Fantastic work from EABS – a combo who continue to amaze us with the diversity of sounds they create, and the depth of feeling they can get from a mix of acoustic and electric instruments! There's maybe an even deeper spiritual vibe going on here than previous records – music that's not afraid to borrow some currents from the world of contemporary soul, yet still stays strongly in jazz territory overall – electric rhythms at some points, acoustic at others – blended with a range of wonderful keyboards from Marek Latarnik Pedziwiatr, next to trumpet from Jakub Kurek, and tenor and soprano sax from Olaf Wegier. The great tenorist Jan Ptaszyn Wroblewski guests on the track "A Farewell To Mother Earth" – and other tracks include "Lucifer", "Dead Silence", "Mystery Of Monolith", "Global Warning", "Ain't No Mercy", and "The Odyssey Of Dr Heywood Floyd". LP, Vinyl record album

The spirits here are way more than Slavic – as Eabs continues its strong run of genre-breaking work in jazz – music that's often a bit hard to pin down as it moves through a range of sounds, styles, and sonic approaches! There's certainly some jazz at the core, but there's also a richer sense of the overall presence of the music – maybe that earlier experimental quality of ECM, but brought back into a fuller group, and nicely shaken of any sort of ECM pretense – with a vibe that's younger and more earnest to get their message across. A key part of their approach features some key sound effects from Spisek Jednego, who layers in all these organic elements – next to some fantastic keyboard contributions from Marek Pedziwiatar, reeds from Tenderlonious and Olaf Wegier, trumpet from Jakub Kurek, guitar from Vojto Monteur, drums from Marcin Rak, and bass from Pawel Stachowiak. Titles include "Sun Worship", "Sleza", "The Noon Witch", "Woodland Spirit", and "The Darkness". CD

Genius, pure genius! It was hard for Earth, Wind & Fire to go wrong at this point – and the album's a stellar blend of jazz, funk, and soul, all done in that perfect style they'd hit by the mid 70s. And even though this one was a monster album, of the type that you see in everyone's record collection from the time, it's still got a freshness that we always forget about – and lots of nice twists and turns that show that the band hadn't lost their more sophisticated roots. Case in point is the wonderful "Brazilian Rhyme", a short little groover that you'll instantly recognize as a sample from the first Tribe Called Quest album. Other tracks include "Jupiter", "In The Marketplace", "Magic Mind", "Runnin", "Be Ever Wonderful", and "Serpentine Fire". Plus, the CD features bonus tracks "Would You Mind?", "Runnin (original Hollywood mix)", and "Brazilian Rhyme (live)". CD

One of the Duke's greatest jazz recordings – and an album that features some incredible solo work on piano – at a level with other modernist small group sessions in the Ellington catalog, like Money Jungle or Live at the Whitney! As the title says, Duke's piano is very much in the foreground – working in spare trio format that includes Aaron Bell on bass and Sam Woodyard on drums, both plucked from the larger orchestra, and given some great space to work on the set! Duke's the real star, though, and he sparkles tremendously on tunes that include "Summertime", "A Hundred Dreams Ago", "So", "Springtime In Africa", "Blues For Jerry", and "Fontainebleau Forest". CD also features the bonus tracks "Lotus Blossom", "All The Things You Are" (in 2 versions), and 4 different "Piano Improvisations"! CD

A seminal meeting of the old and new generations of jazz in the 60s – put together in perfect Impulse fashion! At some level, this is actually an early 60s John Coltrane Quartet album – with Duke Ellington sitting in for McCoy Tyner on piano, as that's the lineup on about half of the album – tracks that feature Coltrane on tenor, Elvin Jones on drums, and Jimmy Garrison on bass, all working with Ellington on the keys. On other titles, though, the album features Coltrane playing with a Duke-ish trio that has Aaron Bell on bass and Sam Woodyard on drums – slightly less modern, but with a nice sense of depth throughout! Overall, the the record does a great job of balancing between the best talents of both players – and titles include "Big Nick", "The Feeling Of Jazz", "Take The Coltrane", and "My Little Brown Book". CD

A sweet Tommy Flanagan trio date – recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1977, but with a warmth and intimacy that's like catchy Tommy at a small club date! Trio members include Keter Betts on bass and Bobby Durham on drums – but the focus is very strongly on Flanagan's piano – given plenty of space to stretch out, in tones that are awash in rich colors – ringing out beautifully on tunes that include "Barbados", "Blue Bossa", "Woody N You", "Some Other Spring/Easy Living", and "Star Crossed Lovers/Jump For Joy". CD features the bonus track "Heat Wave". CD

A great one from Sonny Fortune – done with the fusiony sound he was working so well with at the time, and still filled with a tight conception and an incredible group of musicians who bring depth and deliver some really great solos! The title track is an incredible 10 minute cut that breaks into a beautiful modal groove about 4 minutes into it – and that groove is completely wonderful. It's far from the only high point of a set filled with them. Players include Kenny Barron on Fender Rhodes, Woody Shaw on coronet & flugelhorn, Gary King on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, Sammy Figueroa on congas, Rafael Cruz on percussion, and Sonny doing his thing on flute, piccolo and sax. Other tracks include "Bacchanal", "Never Again Is Such A Long Time", "There's Nothing Smart About Being Stupid" and "The Afro-Americans". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic meeting of the musical minds – coming together here in a set of live improvisations recorded at a record store in Greece! The setting's an unusual one, and the music is too – sounds that really move past the usual for all three players, but especially David Grubbs and Mats Gustafsson – both of whom seem very comfortable here in some of the sonic territory that we normally hear more from Rob Mazurek! Grubbs' guitar is quite different than on some of his own records – especially the solo acoustic moments – and Mats reminds us that he's not just a hell of a saxophonist, but also a master of many other ways to disturb the flow of air – delivering work here on flute, fluteophone, and live electronics – the last of which is matched with more electronics from Rob Mazurek, who also plays piccolo trumpet and wood flute too. Every song has a different shape and texture, which is a further testament to both the sensitivities of the musicians, and their sympathies with each other – and titles include "Not In A Hall Of Mirrors", "Creep Mission", "City Stones Sleep", and "Goats & Hollers". CD

A really unique little album – a righteous blend of funky jazz, vocal chorus, and soulful leads – recorded in the German scene of the early 70s! The group features a number of key players from the MPS side of the funky jazz spectrum – and the record feels like some of the best high-concept projects from that legendary label – particularly those with a strong message in the music! Mladen Bobby Gutesha arranges and conducts – and the group features Leo Wright on alto and flute, Sigi Schwab on guitar, Ingfried Hoffmann on organ, Jiggs Whigham on trombone, and Milo Pavlovic on trumpet – creating these great core grooves, which are then topped by a vocal chorus singing messages in freedom in a number of different languages! Jimmy Woode sings lead vocals on a few tracks – and titles include "Angelitos Negros", "Soldat", "Masters Of War", "I Have A Dream", and "Schtil Di Nacht Is Ojssgeschternt". CD

A wonderful testament to the soul and sensitivity of the music of John Hicks – a loving tribute to the late, great pianist – handled here by some of his closest jazz associates! Even without Hicks' compositions, the group would be great enough – but given that John's musical legacy lives on in the songs, there's a deeper sense of feeling here that really unites the music – a rich extension of that flowing, spiritual side of his music that first flowered most strongly in the 70s, then continued to please us for years in a series of excellent later albums. Elis Wood-Hicks delivers some great work on flute throughout the set – and other players include Craig Handy on tenor and soprano, Eddie Henderson on trumpet, and core rhythm from Larry Willis on piano, Curtis Lundy on bass, and Steve Williams on drums. Willis' later tones on the keys are a wonderful complement to Hicks' tunes, and Lundy's bass is always an element that makes a set great – and continues that legacy here. Titles include "Mind Wine", "After The Morning", "Blues In The Pocket", "Single Petal Of A Rose","Avotcja", and "Yemenja". CD

Maybe one of the most beautiful albums we've heard from William Hooker in years – and a set that has so much more to offer than just his work on drums! There's certainly some of the freer, more improvised moments on the record that you'd expect from Hooker – but there's also these wonderfully tuneful passages, too – work that draws from all sorts of warmly crafted sounds from other group members – a lineup that features Mara Rosenbloom and Mark Hennen on piano, Jimmy Lopez on percussion, Charles Compo on flute, Stephen Gauci and Sarah Manning on saxes, and Jal Rohm Parker Wells on bass. There's also a bit of electronics from Theo Woodward – an element that's used sparingly, but in really great ways – and at the core, Hooker is still very much in charge of the proceedings, as you can feel when he really gets going on the kit. Titles include "Right Speech", "Ring Pass Not", "Seven Rays", "Major Planetary Centres", "Sequence Of The Form", and "Synthesis Of Understanding". LP, Vinyl record album

Early recordings by Alberta Hunter – with three tunes from 1935 with unknown accompaniment; from 1939 accompanied by Charlie Shaves, Buster Baiiley, Lil Armstrong, and Wellman Braud; with Eddie Heywood in 1940; and with Leroy Jones, Sam Clanton, Al Casey, and Al Matthews from an unknown date. LP, Vinyl record album

With a name like Chubby, the set ought to be a snoozer – but Chubby's Back swings nicely, thanks to some strong bass work by Jackson! The group's a Chicago ensemble, featuring lesser-known players of the 50s – like Vito Price, Cy Touff, Don Lamond, and Jimmy Gourley – plus trombone by Bill Harris, whose earlier work is clearly an influence on Jackson's own here. Tunes are in a swinging Basie/Hefti mode – and titles include "Flyin The Coop", "Plymouth Rock", "Tiny's Blues", and "Raffles". I'm Entitled To You is quite possibly the hippest record ever cut by bassist Chubby Jackson – a session of mostly original numbers performed by a pretty great group that includes Jackie Paris on vocals on 3 tracks! Apart from trombonist Bill Harris and tenor saxophonist Vito Price, most of the players here are lesser-known 50s talents – but they come together perfectly in a post-Woody Herman styled group that blasts out Jackson's musical vision nicely. Most tracks have a strong brassy lead with breakaway solos on trumpet, trombone, and saxes – and Chubby's bass work is bold and proud throughout, really prominent in the mix and driving the tunes with incredible force. Paris vocals are always a treat – he sings on the tunes "I'm Entitled To You", "Big Fat Nothin", and "Do Me Sum'n", all great numbers – and other titles include "To Seek", "New York To Chicago", "Gus' Blues", and "Mister Duff". CD

Jay Z picks up pretty close to the point where he left off for Kingdom Come – his first album in 3 years – and you can only call it a comeback if you really thought he'd stay away! For Kingdom Come he uses a number of the same production geniuses as he did for the Black Album and his previous LPs – including Just Blaze, Kanye and the Neptunes – and Dr Dre's along for the ride, too. Overall, the album lacks the arch drama that made the Black Album such a great front-to-back listen, but Kingdom Come starts fairly strong and sustains well enough to warrant a welcome home. Tracks include "Oh My God", "Kingdom Come", "Show Me What You Got", "Lost One" feat Chrisette Michele, "Do U Wanna Ride" feat John Legend, "30 Something", "Anything" feat Usher & Pharrell, "Hollywood" feat Beyonce, "Trouble", "Dig A Hole" feat Sterling Simms, "Minority Report" Ne-Yo and "Beach Chair" featuring Chris Martin. LP, Vinyl record album

Really beautiful sounds from this great little group – an ensemble who definitely seem to evoke some of the organic qualities of the forest, while also moving between melodic moments and freer, almost windblown levels of sonic expression! At the core is the amazing Chad Taylor on drums – whose looseness and open ear are perfect for the proceedings – led by David Lord on a variety of guitars, and colored strongly by the work of Christine Tavolacci on flutes, David Tranchina on bass, and Nathan Hubbard on vibes, marimba, and percussion! The guitar mixes with other instruments in a really great way, unlocking marvelous colors throughout – on titles that include "Trees Yield Tomte", "All Orange Aleuria", "Nectria", "Wood Nymph", "Green Cap", and "Infant Elm". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little project that's very much in the same spirit as the Havana Cultura project on Brownswood – a set that features British producer Mala working with a host of contemporary Cuban musicians – all in a groove that takes their roots, and pushes them very firmly towards the future! Mala's not shy about his input here – and really works a lot of electronics and production techniques throughout the set – taking the core acoustic sounds, and moves them into some of the more 21st Century modes that you'd hear from other artists on Brownswood! Things get somewhat abstract at times, yet still have plenty of soul – and titles include "Ghost", "Curfew", "The Tourist", "Change", "Noches Suenos", "The Tunnel", "Mulata", and "Tribal". CD

The title track was most likely meant to be something of a hit for Les McCann back in his early Pacific Jazz years – and while it maybe didn't hit the heights of the charts at the time, it's still a great little cooker that leads off a tasty little set! The group here is Les' "Ltd" combo – with Ron Jefferson on drums and Herbie Lewis on bass – almost a west coast answer to the classic Ramsey Lewis group in Chicago, although one that plays here with a slightly more laidback sort of groove. Jefferson's rhythm is always a treat, and Herbie's bass is nice and sharp too – and tracks include some good originals by Les, including "The Shampoo", "Smile Stacey", "Someone Stole My Chitlins", "Filet Of Soul", and "You Thought I Knew" – plus versions of "Out Of This World" and "Woody N You". LP, Vinyl record album

The Moomins comics have delighted the world for generations – but fewer folks have seen the early 80s Moomins TV show – which is a masterpiece of felt-based, stop-motion animation! And while the images on the screen are amazing, the music for the program is equally great – spare, slow electronic numbers that have a beautifully playful vibe, but something of a dark edge too – maybe much more in the mode of more whimsical underground electronic work from the early 70s than you'd guess from the date of the show! The program was animated in Poland, and some of these tunes have a style that's similar to the coolest Polish electronic sound library material we've stocked over the years – although the musicians themselves were actually part of the post punk scene in Leeds. Titles include "Creepers", "Piano Waltz", "Leaving Moomin Valley", "Hobgoblin's Hat", "Traveling Theme", "Midwinter Rites", "Woodland Band", and "Comet Shadow". CD

A key second chapter in the long and wonderful career of Joni Mitchell – a set that brings together the four albums she recorded for the Asylum label in the mid 70s – a post-Blue period that really had Joni opening up and exploring a lot in her music – including a jazzier side of the spectrum that never showed up as strongly before! First up is For The Roses – a sometimes-overlooked album in the career of Joni Mitchell – but a set that's every bit as great as the two huge hits that bracket it! Joni's really finding a great way forward, sounding more mature, and bringing some jazzier currents into her music – thanks in part to help from reedman Tom Scott and bassist Wilton Felder of The Crusaders – and a style of songwriting that's sometimes more fluid than before, and often a lot more biting too! Titles include "Woman Of Heart & Mind", "You Turn Me On I'm A Radio", "For The Roses", "Barbangrill", "Cold Blue Steel & Sweet Fire", "Let The Wind Carry Me", "Lesson In Survival", and "Judgement Of The Moon & Stars". Court & Spark is a key record in the second chapter of Joni Mitchell on record – a set that has both her vocals and her overall music style flowing with all these amazing touches you might not have heard a few years before – jazzier currents in her music that really set the album apart from earlier work in Joni's career! Mitchell responds to the music with soaring vocals that are completely wonderful, and nicely changed up in character from tune to tune – given backing by a host of great jazz and studio players who include Tom Scott on reeds and Joe Sample on keyboards! Titles include her classic version of "Twisted" – a redone version of the old Annie Ross track – plus the classic hit "Help Me", and "Just Like This Train", "Car On A Hill", "Court & Spark", "Down To You", "Free Man In Paris", and "People's Parties". Miles Of Aisles is the first-ever live album from Joni Mitchell – and a record that sounds a fair bit different than a concert set might have during the Reprise years – as Joni's got plenty of help from Tom Scott & The LA Express, who bring a tight yet intimate vibe to the proceedings! Joni's definitely a superstar at this point – as you might guess from the size of the amphitheater on the cover – but she's also got an even stronger ability to come across with a personal, pointed style – one that's very different than the overblown hype of so many other 70s live albums. The set includes a few tracks not yet on albums, and a nice mix of material – including the live version of "Big Yellow Taxi" that ended up as a hit single – and the cuts"You Turn Me On I'm A Radio", "Blue", "Woman Of Heart & Mind", "Both Sides Now", "Real Good For Free", "Jericho", "Circle Game", "Cactus Tree", "The Last Time I Saw Richard", "People's Parties", and "Woodstock". Hissing Of Summer Lawns is a further step forward in the career of Joni Mitchell – a record that not only continues the jazzier currents she explored in the 70s, but also brings in a whole bunch of different modes as well – so much so, it's almost as if Joni's daring anyone to still call her a folk singer with the album! The themes are wonderfully sophisticated, as is the songwriting – the king of material that would keep Mitchell strong for decades, while so many of her contemporaries faltered – as you'll hear on the tracks "In France They Kiss On Main Street", "Sweet Bird", "Shadows & Light", "The Boho Dance", "Don't Interrupt The Sorrow", "The Jungle Line", and "Edith & The Kingpin". CD

It's Dance Time, Memphis style – thanks to a hip album of instrumentals from the great Willie Mitchell! This one's actually a bit rougher around the edges than some of Willie's other work, with strong guitar and groovy organ, very much in a Booker T & The MGs mode! The tracks groove along with a sound that's more Stax than Hi – which is ok by us, as the feel is nicely raw and raunchy! Titles include "Morning After", "Buster Browne", "Poinciana", "Twine Time", "Apple Jack", and "Wiggle Rock", "Fever", "Woodchopper's Bal" and more. CD

One of the grooviest takes on The Beatles we've ever heard – served up by a hip group of LA players led by pianist Don Randi! The style here is very hard and percussive – more soulful and swinging than the original tunes on the Rubber Soul album, and often done with a tightly vamping set of rhythms that are halfway between instrumental soul and early funk! The rest of the players include the Hal Blain and John Clauder on drums, Julius Wechter on percussion, Tommy Tedesco on guitar, Gary Coleman on vibes, and Hal Gordon on congas – all coming together in a soulful blend that really transforms these tunes. The overall feel is a bit like other piano-heavy soul jazz groovers from the LA scene of the 60s – particularly the work of the Harold Johnson Sextet – and Randi's piano is recorded way upfront in the mix, really dominating the tunes with a strongly rhythmic quality. Titles include "Norwegian Wood", "It's Only Love", "Run For Your Life", ""Think For Yourself", "You Won't See Me", "The Word", and "I'm Looking Through You". CD

The music of Carlos Nino has just gotten more and more spiritual as the years go on – and that's really saying a lot, given how spiritual he was right at the start! But with recent records, Nino has transformed from a jazz-inspired musician to maybe more of a sonic astronaut – able to take organic moments of expression and weave them into a rich tapestry of tone, color, and life – almost as if he's reworking the plane of existence, and trying to find the door to greater enlightenment in the process! That approach definitely comes through here, as Nino opens up in the company of contributors who include Jamael Dean on piano and keyboards, Devin Daniels on alto, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on strings, Jesse Peterson on guitar, Sam Gendel on alto, and Jamire Wiliams on drums – as well all players whose work appears in different ways on a variety of tracks – all helmed by the sonic exploration of Carlos, with a bit of help from veteran travelers Iasos and Laraaji. Titles include "Explorations 7", "Actually", "For The Shapalaceer", "Luis' Special Shells", "Jamirelandflight", "Waterwavesarrival", "In The Moment", "Youwillgetthroughthis I Promise", "Dreamsishappening", and "Recurrent Reiki Dreams". CD

The first recordings ever from Orchestra USA – the landmark third stream jazz group co-led by John Lewis and Gunther Schuller! The group sprang out of Schuller and Lewis' preoccupations with bringing jazz to a more serious environment – merging traits of 20th century classical with jazz-based improvisation – in a format that included standout solo players, as well as larger backings from strings and woodwinds. And while some of that group's recordings were a bit dull, this one's totally great – not nearly as stiff and academic as you'd think – with some really strong solo work on saxes, and a soulful approach that gets past any formalism that could mar the proceedings. Players include Eric Dolphy, Phil Woods, Leo Wright, Nick Travis, and Jim Hall – and titles include "Three Little Feelings (parts 1, 2, & 3)", "Milesign", "Milano", "Natural Affection", and "Donnie's Theme". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer set by one of the greatest pianists of the postwar era – and one that features Horace Parlan's piano trading lines with the legendary Turrentine brothers (both Stanley & Tommy), playing here at the height of their powers! Tommy Turrentine's trumpet is especially great here – spurring on Stanley's tenor into a groove that's a lot deeper, and more soulful than usual – a perfect sound in the frontline, kicked up nicely by Horace Parlan's piano! Rhythm is from the team of George Tucker on bass and Al Harewood on drums – very tight and crackling throughout – and the album's easily one of the most cooking Blue Notes from the time. Titles include "Wadin", "Oh So Blue", "Speakin My Piece", "Up In Cynthia's Room", "Rastus", and "Borderline". CD