Really wild work from La Lupe – a set of all English-language tunes, arranged with a really jazzy bounce by Harvey Averne! The sound here is a bit less Latin Soul than you might think, but it's still pretty darn compelling – kind of a dynamic, dramatic reworking of 60s pop modes – served up with Lupe's amazing vocals, and pushed into strange territory with her odd accent on the tunes, and Averne's equally forceful push on the grooves. Titles include "Touch Me", "Once We Loved", "Always Something There", "Love Is So Fine", "Ciao My Love", and "Down On Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Not just flute to boot – but a heck of a lot more jazz, too – thanks to a lineup that features Johnny Griffin on tenor, Curtis Fuller on trombone, and Herbie Mann on flute! The presence of the three players really make this set a cooker – quite possibly Machito's best Latin jazz album ever, and right up there with the more-familiar Kenya set! Like that one, this is a perfect blend of modes – a late 50s extension of the cubop vibe first started by Diz and Chano Pozo, taken to new territory, and really cooked up nicely in the process! Rhythms are nice and exotic – not the usual Machito groove, but way way more – and the jazz solos are what really sends the whole thing home. Herbie Mann wrote all the tracks – and titles include "Love Chant", "African Flute", "Carabunta", "Bacao", "Davis Cup", and "Afternoon Death". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic trio session from Charles Mingus – one of the few he ever recorded! The set's got Mingus on bass, working with regular drummer Danny Richmond and pianist Hampton Hawes – an unusual choice for the record, but a player whose sense of freedom and intensity at this point really helps bring in some of the energy of some of the larger group recordings from Mingus! Hawes' incredible piano lines really fly over the top, and Mingus' bass comes to the forefront as well – getting plenty of room for personal elements that Charles never got as strongly in the larger sessions. The set list includes a mix of originals and standards, with "Back Home Blues", "Hamp's New Blues", "Dizzy Moods", and "Laura". CD

Two rare sessions originally recorded for a larger collection called The Birdland Story and gathered here under the title Minor Strain. The first set is led by Lee Morgan and features Wayne Shorter on sax, Bobby Timmons on piano, Jimmy Rowser on bass, and Art Taylor on drums. The second half of the record features a septet session with Thad Jones on trumpet, Billy Mitchell and Frank Wess on reeds, Hank Jones on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Osie Johnson on drums. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty darn nice album of Latin tracks – despite the obvious cheeseball theme of the record. Sure, it seems a bit of a cop-out for Tito to be doing a My Fair Lady album – but keep in mind that just about everyone was doing one of them at the time (after Shelly Manne had his big hit LP in the same style), and remember the proximity of the Broadway theatres to the offices of the New York indies that put out Latin albums (also located on Broadway, mostly). Tito's classic band gives the material a nice lively groove, especially on the tracks "On The Street Where You Live", "Get Me To The Church On Time", "You Did It", and "I Could Have Danced All Night". LP, Vinyl record album

Pure genius from arranger Johnny Richards – a seminal and hard to find album recorded for Roulette, in the late 50s! Richards first came to fame working for Stan Kenton in the early 50s – and although is work is featured on some of Kenton's best-remembered albums, Richards also had a lot more tricks up his sleeve than he ever used with Stan – a good many of which he puts into play on the hard-driving Latin tracks of this set! 6 numbers in all, with titles that include "Omo Ado", "Kele Kele", "La Pecadora", "Ochun", "Oluo Anu", and "Ofo". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful document of some of the most laidback jazz ever recorded – the sublime 50s recordings of the Johnny Smith group, done at a time when the lineup included Stan Getz! The tunes on the set feature Johnny's mellow electric guitar setting the pace, alongside wonderfully-blown early solos from Stan, plus some other tenor work from Zoot Sims and Paul Quinichette, who also sit in the tenor chair on a few of these recordings. The tunes are mostly standards, but done in a great style that's not exactly cool jazz, but which has a groundbreakingly easy groove that's simply sublime! CD features a number of bonus and unreleased cuts, with 19 tracks that include "What's New", "Yesterdays", "Vilia", "Ghost Of A Chance", "Jaguar", "Moonlight In Vermont", "Tabu", and "Where Or When". CD

Ahhh . . . What a mix – and the music is as evocative and smokey as the title and the cover! Jeri Southern's never sounded so good – working here with Lennie Hayton on a set of sad songs of lost love – and the album's proof that she could really be a great jazz-styled singer when she wanted to be. The whole thing's got a great sense of class, poise, and bubbling under sexuality that's probably best summed up by Jeri's pose on the cover! Titles include "Detour Ahead", "Yesterdays", "This Time The Dream's On Me", "Deep In A Dream", "I Must Have That Man", and the sublime "Coffee Cigarettes Memories". CD

One of Jeri Southern's grooviest albums – thanks to jazzy backings from Marty Paich! The album's got that wonderfully full-fleshed sound that Paich could bring to a vocal date like this in the late 50s and early 60s – the same sort of perfect balance he brought to his work with Mel Torme, and which turns out to be a great fit for Jeri Southern's vocals as well! The group's slightly larger than his Dek-Tette – but features an equally great array of west coast hornmen who really shade in the tunes beautifully – including Don Fagerquist on trumpet, Bob Enevoldsen on trombone, Herb Geller on alto, and Georgie Auld on tenor. Yet despite the horn flourishes, Southern's vocals are always firmly in the lead – on titles that include "Lazy Bones", "Ridin High", "He Reminds Me Of You", "Porgy", "Warm Kiss", and "Isn't This A Lovely Day". LP, Vinyl record album

Like Eddie Harris, Lou Donaldson, and a few other aging soul jazz stars in the late 60s, Sonny Stitt turned to the electric Varitone sax to juice up his career a bit. And while he never used it to as good effect as players like Harris and Donaldson, he still managed to crank out some nice sounds, mostly because the instrument gave his tenor tone a sort of humbler, fragile tone. This album has Stitt as the lead soloist with a largeish group that includes Walter Perkins, Seldon Powell, Les Spann, and Ellis Larkins. There's also a tenor player called Hank Freeman that someone told us was actually Von Freeman – but we're not sure if we believe that. Tracks include "Manhattan Fever", "Quintessence", "Maybe", and "I Keep Coming Back For More". LP, Vinyl record album

Stitt's on the Varitone here – blowing away on a mellow set of late night tracks that features some great original compositions! Sure, the groove is perhaps a bit sleepier than some of his other sides of the time, but Sonny always does well in this sort of late nite mode – and the arrangements give him plenty of room to solo over the top. Titles include "Afro Serenade", "I Don't Care If You Do", "Lovin Mood", "Night Of Surrender", "Dreamer", and "Gotta See My Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

Sarah Vaughan definitely earns her divine nickname here – singing sublimely here in a warmly jazzy setting from her early years at Roulette Records! The style's a nice extension of Vaughan's best sides at Mercury – and is almost a nice back-to-basics approach, the kind of reminder that Sarah always sounds best when she's heard at her jazziest – as on this album, with arrangements and piano from Jimmy Jones, and some great trumpet lines from Harry Edison! The sound is often nicely spare and laidback – letting Vaughan's vocals really come up strongly in the mix, and flow with a tremendously natural, but creatively dynamic style that really leaves us breathless. Titles include "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Somebody Else's Dream", "What Do You See In Her", "Jump For Joy", "Ain't No Use", "I'm Gonna Laugh You Out Of My Life", and "When Your Lover Has Gone". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

The title's no lie – as Sarah Vaughan sings here in some very soulful company – thanks to arrangements from Gerald Wilson, which make this record one of the standout from her years on Roulette Records! The other players aren't listed, but they're clearly the kind of top-shelf bunch that Wilson would have pulled together – and there's a nice Hammond player who gets a lot of space, and brings the organ to bear with Vaughan's vocals – in a way you don't always hear on other records! There's also a strong trumpet and tenor soloist, who both do a great job of opening up Wilson's charts – and titles include "Taste Of Honey", "Easy Street", "Gravy Waltz", "In Love In Vain", "What Kind Of Fool Am I", "The Good Life", and "Moanin". CD

Joe Williams is away from Count Basie here, but he's still sounding great – and getting a slightly warmer approach overall – in keeping with the promise of the title! The arrangements aren't credited on the notes, but they've got a slightly lusher feel than Basie – a bit more strings on the ballads, which sound great with Williams' vocals – and a tighter, jazzier feel on some of the groovers – which still evoke a bit of the older days. Whatever the setting, Joe's got a way of putting over a tune that's simply tremendous – as you'll hear on titles that include "Just As Though You Were Here", "When Did You Leave Heaven", "Somebody", "Darn That Dream", "Stella By Starlight", "When A Woman Loves A Man", "I Only Want To Love You", and "With Every Breath I Take". LP, Vinyl record album

A gem of a record from this pair of Basie-ites – one that allows Joe Williams to hit some different modes than on his fuller records with the Count – set up here in a nicely relaxed groove with trumpeter Harry Sweets Edison! Arrangements are by Ernie Wilkins, but are more laidback than some of his fuller charts – and we love hearing Joe at a level when he doesn't have to punch it out of the park, and can just fall back in a sweet groove alongside Harry's trumpet, which then often gets a spot to solo on the tune. Charles Thompson plays piano – again with a style that's more easygoing than Basie – and titles include "Out Of Nowhere", "Together", "Winter Weather", "By The River Saint Marie", "Alone Together", "Deep Purple", and "Lover Come Back To Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Texas Shuffle", "Broadway", "Lester Leaps In", "Time Out", "Topsy", "Dickie's Dream", and "9:20 Special". LP, Vinyl record album

Sarah Vaughan gets some backing from Count Basie – making for a record that's one of her jazziest and swinging of the time! As with other Basie-related vocal sessions from the early 60s, this one has a soulful edge and a nice little bounce – one that makes for a more solid approach that gets Sarah's jazz vocals firmly back on track, and away from some of the more overly-produced ballad albums of the time. We like those records too – but on a record like this, she really gets back to basics! Titles include "Perdido", "You Turned The Tables On Me", "Mean To Me", "Corner Pocket", "Alone", "Little Man", and "The Gentleman Is A Dope". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A really great album by Billy Eckstine – much more swinging and upbeat than some of his other 50s sessions, and with a strongly pronounced jazz flair overall! The album's supposedly recorded live in Vegas in the wee hours of the morning, and features Billy blowing a bit of trumpet as well as singing – all set to some nicely thumping orchestrations by Bobby Tucker, who really knows how to hit the right groove for this sort of a set. Titles include "Lady Luck", "Have A Song On Me", "Deed I Do", "Without A Song", "Moonlight In Vermont", and "Lush Life". CD features a huge amount of previously unissued bonus tracks – titles that include "Prelude To A Kiss", "Fools Rush In", "I Apologize", "Little Mama", "Prisoner Of Love", "Alright Okay You Win", and "In The Still Of The Night". CD

An excellent live performance – presented here with loads of unreleased tracks! Players include Clark Terry and Cat Anderson on trumpets, Quentin Jackson on trombone, and Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, and Paul Gonsalves on saxes! CD

Don't pass this up – as the package features 2 excellent albums by the vastly underrated John Handy! Although John Handy made some weak pop/soul jazz LPs in the 70's, his early work for Roulette is stellar, and long overlooked by jazz collectors. The first album in the set, In The Vernacular, was recorded right around the time that he was working with Mingus and Randy Weston. Modernist alto playing, but with a warm soulful sound, and a great deal of imagination. Sharp sharp tones, like the best of Jackie McLean's hard bop work, and excellent accompaniment by Roland Hanna, Roy Haynes, and the great Richard Williams. Tracks include "I'll Close My Eyes", "Suggested Line", "Problem Too", and "Blues In The Vernacular". The second album in the set is Quote Unquote – and even better album, recorded slightly later. Handy's alto is honed to a razor sharp point, fresh from his work with Mingus, and the writing and playing is at a level that he (and few other alto players) ever reached again. A young Walter Bishop plays piano, and the cuts include "No Coast", "Boo's Ups & Downs", and "Quote, Unquote". LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliantly bright, tuneful 60s sounds from Tommy James & The Shondells – groovy stuff that's often as deeply catchy as their bigger hits, but also a bit more obscure as well – which makes this album a lot more fresh than some of their other records! There's still a nice raw jangly quality to the backdrops, which really offsets the sweet vocals nicely – a balance the really sends home these jaunty tunes in a great way! Titles include "Gettin Together", "I Want To Be Around You", "There's So Much Love All Around Me", "Some Happy Day", "So Deep With You", "Real Girl", and "Lost In Your Eyes". LP, Vinyl record album

Purely classic 60s gems from Tommy James & The Shondells – kicking off with the all time great pop title track – and featuring loads of tunes that are nearly as wonderful! The group were hit radio kings at the time, and they cover some great ones by others, too, like "California Sun" and " Shout" – and the set's filled with excellent, head of the pack pop tunes like "Trust Each Other In Love", "Baby Let Me Down", "I Like The Way", "Gone, Gone, Gone", "Mirage", "Let's Be Lovers" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A rare non-Blue Note late 50s session that features Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan – and a stone cooker that feels like some of the best Jazz Messengers dates of the time! There's a chance that the session was possibly cut "under duress", like a number of other jazz albums on Roulette during the period – but that doesn't stop it from being a full-on, open-fire groover – lots of long tracks done in perfect hardbop formation! In addition to Mobley's tenor and Morgan's trumpet, the combo also features Curtis Fuller on trombone, Billy Root on additional tenor, Ray Bryant on piano, Tommy Bryant on bass, and Specs Wright on drums. The album features four long blowing tunes – "Walkin", "All The Things You Are", "Bag's Groove", and "There Will Never Be Another You". CD

It's the mid 80s and Mickey Hart's behind the production on this album, so you know it has a slick, glossy touch all over it, with a very "world music" approach. But the beauty of Olatunji's playing and subtle complexity of the rhythms trump the flashy approach. The lineup is huge, with guest spots by Santana and Airto. 5 numbers in all, including "The Beat Of My Drum", "Loyin Loyin", "Ife L'Oju L'Aiye", "Akiwowo" and "Se Eni A Fe L'Amo – Kere Kere". LP, Vinyl record album

Great work from Basie's Roulette years – a time when the group seemed to be extra snapping and soulful! Players include Frank Foster, Frank Wess, and Billy Mitchell on reeds – plus Snooky Young, Thad Jones, and Joe Newman on trumpets – and Al Grey, Henry Coker, and Benny Powell on trombones! LP, Vinyl record album

Count Basie rewrites history – updating his older work for the Roulette Records years, in this hip collection that features lots of new arrangements from Frank Foster – and rich performances from his great group at the time! The recordings are all new, as are the conceptions of the tunes – so there seems to be even more syncopated swing in the rhythms than on any of the older takes on the material – that fresh sound that the group grew into with Neal Hefti – still going strong here in Foster's hands. So although the tunes are Basie classics – and classics from other bands of the 30s and 40s – the performances and solos are plenty fresh! Titles include "Swinging The Blues", "Out The Window", "Texas Shuffle", "Down For Double", "Lester Leaps In", "Topsy", "Taps Miller", "Shorty George", "Jive At Five", and "Dogging Around". CD

Benny Carter was really on fire in the 60s – a saxophonist who was not only re-asserting his role as a soloist, but also a growing new talent in the field of arranging, as well – on records like this killer outing with the Count Basie group, and a host of other excellent albums to come! The set features all original material by Carter – penned and arranged specifically with a Basie flair, and that group's special blend of modern elements and old-school swing – developed in the years with Neal Hefti, and carried through strongly here with Carter. Benny himself plays alto with the group – and other players include Frank Foster and Budd Johnson on tenors, Sam Herman on guitar, and Eddie Jones on bass – whose instrument lines up wonderfully with the drums of Sonny Payne to make for some very sweet bottom action on the set. Thad Jones and Snooky Young are on trumpets – and titles include "The Trot", "Easy Money", "Goin On", "The Swizzle", "Who's Blue", "The Legend", and "Turnabout". LP, Vinyl record album

Billy Eckstine gets a new lease on life – working here with great backings from the Count Basie band, in a mode that's a bit like some of Billy's own large ensemble recordings of the mid 40s! The sound is a bit more Basie-inflected than before, but that also unlocks some great swinging, soulful currents in Eckstine's vocals – modes that maybe weren't coming through as strongly in some of his pop material of the time, but which are right at home in the company of the Count! The material's great, too – darker, more brooding tunes – of the sort that Joe Williams might sing with the group – and the balance of presentation often gives equal time to vocals and instrumental passages in the spotlight. Titles include "Blues The Mother Of Sin", "Lonesome Lover Blues", "Drifting", "I Want A Little Girl", and "Song Of The Wanderer". CD

Billy Eckstine gets a new lease on life – working here with great backings from the Count Basie band, in a mode that's a bit like some of Billy's own large ensemble recordings of the mid 40s! The sound is a bit more Basie-inflected than before, but that also unlocks some great swinging, soulful currents in Eckstine's vocals – modes that maybe weren't coming through as strongly in some of his pop material of the time, but which are right at home in the company of the Count! The material's great, too – darker, more brooding tunes – of the sort that Joe Williams might sing with the group – and the balance of presentation often gives equal time to vocals and instrumental passages in the spotlight. Titles include "Blues The Mother Of Sin", "Lonesome Lover Blues", "Drifting", "I Want A Little Girl", and "Song Of The Wanderer". LP, Vinyl record album

Breakfast Dance & Barbecue? Our stomachs are growling already! The album's a great little live set from Basie – recorded at the Americana Hotel in Miami at 2 in the morning – and is one of the totally great, totally smoking live sessions that Basie recorded for Roulette – maybe some of his best work ever! The group's an all-star lineup – with Frank Foster and Frank Wess on tenor, Joe Newman and Thad Jones on trumpets, Freddie Green on guitar, and Sonny Payne on drums – plus Joe Williams vocalizing on a few of the tunes on the set. The tracks are a bit longer than usual – which is quite nice – and titles include "Let's Have A Taste", "Moten Swing", "Who Me", and "Counter Block". Includes 10 bonus tracks, not on the LP. CD

Sarah Vaughan gets some backing from Count Basie – making for a record that's one of her jazziest and swinging of the time! As with other Basie-related vocal sessions from the early 60s, this one has a soulful edge and a nice little bounce – one that makes for a more solid approach that gets Sarah's jazz vocals firmly back on track, and away from some of the more overly-produced ballad albums of the time. We like those records too – but on a record like this, she really gets back to basics! Titles include "Perdido", "You Turned The Tables On Me", "Mean To Me", "Alone", "Little Man", and "The Gentleman Is A Dope" – plus 2 bonus tracks. CD

Excellent work from Betty Carter – much more sophisticated than some of her 60s work! The album features Betty recorded in that hip trio format that she developed to fantastic heights during the decade. Betty sings standards and originals with a warmth an imagination that we can hardly describe accurately – bringing emotion into the songs that we'd hardly heard in earlier recordings, and using a trio in ways that we'd never heard before with a vocalist. Incredible stuff all the way through, very much on a par with any of Betty's later work – and featuring cuts that include a sublime version of "Open The Door", plus "New Blues", "I Was Telling Him About You", "Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love", and "Making Dreams Come True". LP, Vinyl record album

Despite any prejudice you might have against Maynard Ferguson, he actually does a damn good job backing up Chris Connor's lovely voice on this record – probably because his band is super-hip, and includes players like Jaki Byard, Joe Farrell, and Rufus Jones. Connor is in fine icy form, as usual – and it's nice to hear her get a bit more jazzy backing than some of the more somber arrangements you'll hear on her Atlantic sessions. Titles include "The Wind", "Send For Me", "Where Do You Go?", and "Deep Song". CD

The debut album of The Fallen Angels – one of those great late 60s psych groups who were signed up in a big mid-decade frenzy, got a chance to record some superb work, then were almost completely ignored by their record label! The group have a vibe that's right on the same cusp that the LA scene was hitting at the time – clearly band members with earlier garage, blues, and maybe even a bit of folk experience – coming together in headier territory with plenty of fuzz on the guitar, mixed with all sorts of other weird touches along the way – including sitar, vibes, celeste, kazoo, and even a bit of soft shoe! There's clearly a nice sense of wit in the proceedings – and even though mostly-pop Roulette Records didn't do a thing with the record, it's gone on to become a well-deserved underground treasure over the years. Titles include "Painted Bird", "Introspective Looking Glass", "Your Mother's Homesick Too", "You Have Changed", "No Way Out", "Room At The top", and "Your Friends Here In Dunderville". LP, Vinyl record album

Notable sidemen include Al Haig, Horace Silver, Duke Jordan, and Roy Haynes. 16 tracks total. CD

Two different quartet sessions – the first with Al Haig, Tommy Potter, and Roy Haynes; the second with Horace Silver, Joe Calloway, and Walt Bolden. CD

Features George Duvivier on bass, Art Taylor on drums, and Powell on piano. Tracks include "Billie's Bounce", "Shaw Nuff", "Ko Ko", "Ornithology", "Dewey Square", and "Moose The Mooche". CD

A well-done French collection of material that orginally appeared on Roost and Roulette – a side each of different trio material! Side one features a 1947 trio with Curley Russell on bass and Max Roach on drums. Side two features a 1953 date with George Duvivier on bass and Art Taylor on drums. Side three is a 1960 session in paris, with Pierre Michelot on bass and Kenny Clarke on drums. And side four returns to New York in 1964, with John Ore on bass and JC Moses on drums! LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal sounds from the great Bud Powell – recorded right at an early moment when the pianist was bursting into Birdland fame – working here with a key trio that features Curley Russell on bass and a young Max Roach on drums! Bud seems to have a bit more color in his keys here than in later years – a sense of tone that's balanced by his increasingly deft flights on the keys – that amazing command of imagination and energy that makes a record like this one of the best bold statements of modernism from the bop generation. Many tunes are older standards, but transformed in Bud's hands – partly given a nod to the midtown modes from other players of the postwar years, then completely dismantled once the solos take off. Titles include "Buds Bubble", "Burt Covers Bud", "Off Minor", "I Should Care", "I'll Remember April", and "Everything Happens To Me". Japanese-only LP features 16 tracks in all! LP, Vinyl record album

British jazzman Johnny Scott leads a larger orchestra in a set of serious and dramatic pieces for this 60s film that paired Sherlock Holmes and Jack The Ripper (how many of these were made over the years?) The mood of the music is stark and dramatic – mostly going for the sort of string-heavy horror approach that you'd expect, but occasionally hitting some lighter modes. LP, Vinyl record album

The Johnny Smith sound is a wonderful one – not just the sound that he makes with his groundbreaking work on the strings of the guitar, but also the way he records the instrument – which set a new standard in jazz guitar albums, and also helped pave the way for countless generations to come! A date like this is a great example of the standard-setting work that Smith was able to give us in his prime – and the approach slightly updates the Smith guitar sound of the early 50s – clarifying it a bit, but still keeping that great tone right out front – with a group that includes Hank Jones on piano, George Duvivier on bass, and Ed Shaughnessey on drums. Titles include "Misty", "Embraceable You", "Blues Chorale", "Prelude", "As Long As There's Music", and "Round Midnight". CD

Ahhh . . . What a mix – and the music is as evocative and smokey as the title and the cover! Jeri Southern's never sounded so good – working here with Lennie Hayton on a set of sad songs of lost love – and the album's proof that she could really be a great jazz-styled singer when she wanted to be. The whole thing's got a great sense of class, poise, and bubbling under sexuality that's probably best summed up by Jeri's pose on the cover! Titles include "Detour Ahead", "Yesterdays", "This Time The Dream's On Me", "Deep In A Dream", "I Must Have That Man", and the sublime "Coffee Cigarettes Memories". CD

The title might sound a bit clinical, but the music within is anything but – and instead is that sort of special, magical work that always makes Sonny Stitt a real cut above most of his contemporaries! The notes try to link Stitt to Charlie Parker – but apart from a postwar sense of invention on alto sax, the sounds within are quite different – more spacious and soulful than Parker, although equally deft in their own sort of way – blown with a confidence that knows how to take its time, in a way that comes through especially strong on the mellow cuts. At the surface, there might not be anything special to the record – but the first listen will definitely let you know you're in they company of something special – on titles that include "Blues For Yard", "Harlem Nocturne", "Windy Ride", and a haunting take of "Because Of You". CD

With Dean Earl on piano, Bernie Griggs on bass, and Marquis Foster on drums. Tracks include "Indiana", "They Can't Take That Away From Me", "Flyin' Home", and "Body And Soul". CD

Stitt hits the Varitone for Roulette, and while his work isn't as funky as that of Eddie Harris or Lou Donaldson, the instrument lets him get in a nice raw tone, with a good honest edge that comes through despite backing by a largeish group. Other players include Ernie Hayes on organ, Walter Perkins on drums, and JJ Johnson on trombone – and the set includes short tracks like "Round Midnight", "Beastly Blues", "Jumpin With Symphony Sid", and "Morgan's Song". LP, Vinyl record album

A bit different than some of Dinah Washington's other 60s work for Roulette – a set that's not entirely back to the blues promised in the title, but one that's definitely got a strong bluesy undercurrent! The backing's, by Fred Norman, aren't nearly as lush as on other Roulette sessions – more in a punctuated mode that's a bit in Ray Charles territory of the time – a more polished take on older bluesy modes, with some nice jazz moments from time to time. Titles include "It's A Mean Old Man's World", "Key To The Highway", "Duck Before You Drown", "No Hard Feelings", "Romance In The Dark", "Let Me Be The First To Know", and "You've Been A Gold Old Wagon". CD features 3 bonus tracks – 2 previously unissued – "No One Man", "Me & My Gin", and "Don't Say Nothing At All". CD

Fantastic work from Dinah Washington – a singer who's really hitting her stride here during her years for Roulette Records – with a vibe that's maybe her most mature, most sophisticated to date! Washington still has currents of her bluesy roots in her approach, but she's also moving into this boozy mode that's almost more human and heartfelt overall – a contrast to the brassy style of her earlier vocals, almost as if the world's challenges have brought her so much more learning, she's able to bring that experience to bear in her songs. The prime example of this is the excellent "Drinking Again" – one of Dinah's standards of the 60s, and a tune that's performed perfectly here – thanks to help from Fred Morman's orchestrations. But the whole album's equally great – and other tracks include "Miss You", "A Handful of Stars", "Destination Moon", "You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You", and "Where Are You". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the most important work ever recorded by Randy Weston – 5 early albums that really pushed the boundaries of modern jazz! First up on the set is Little Niles – a fantastic set that features some of Weston's best early compositions – angular and Monk-ish numbers, but with a profound influence from African rhythms. Next up is Live At The Five Spot – a really compelling live set that features Randy working out Little Niles-ish numbers with a live group that includes Kenny Dorham and Coleman Hawkins. After that is Piano A La Mode – a sublimely simple album of mellow piano tracks – followed by a series of previously unissued tracks done with a quartet that includes Roy Haynes, Cecil Payne, and Ron Carter. Following that are some of Randy's most Afro-centric albums – very unique for the time, and equally powerful today – the records Uhuru Afrika and Highlife – both of which feature larger groups working through some distinctly African ideas in jazz. Nearly every record features arrangements by Melba Liston – and if you've ever wondered where to start with Randy, this is it – because the set encapsulates nearly all of the biggest contributions he ever made to jazz! 40 titles in all – with tunes that include "Little Niles", "Nice Ice", "Earth Birth", "Gingerbread", "Saucer Eyes", "204", "CB Blues", "Where", "Fe Double U Blues", "African Lady", "Bantu", "Kucheza Blues", "Blues To Africa", and "Congolese Children". CD

Small group material with Armstrong on trumpet and vocal, Ellington on piano, Trummy Young on trombone, and Barney Bigard on clarinet. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the lesser-remembered Basie sessions for Roulette – but one of the best ones too! The album follows nicely in the "dance" style of Basie's earlier albums for Clef – by offering a set of work that was typical of that the group might have performed on one of their more popular live sets for swingers. The tunes are a bit familiar, the charts are more rhythmic and not too far out – but the playing is top-shelf all the way, and the set grooves with a style that makes you easily understand why the Count was still going strong at the time. Titles include "It Had To Be You", "Fools Rush In", "Easy Living", "Give Me The Simple Life", "Secret Love", and "It's A Pity To Say Goodnight". LP, Vinyl record album

Count Basie's always had plenty of blues roots in his music – but this sweet vocal session with Joe Williams pushes that quality even further – by featuring a selection of tunes from Big Bill Broonzy, Leroy Carr, Ivory Joe Hunter, and other legendary blues talents! The sound is maybe a bit more laidback than usual for Basie on Roulette – often with the Count's piano kind of slinking into a tune before the bigger ensemble joins in – and Williams taking this bluesy approach to the vocals that's plenty darn nice. An overlooked gem from the pair – with titles that include "Mean Mistreater", "Tomorrow Night", "Keep Your Hand On Your Heart", "Night Time Is The Right Time", "Key To The Highway", and "Lyin Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Strike Up The Band", "Guess I'll Have To Change My Plans", "Poor Little Rich Girl", "Are You Havin Any Fun", "Anyting Goes", and "With Plenty Of Money". LP, Vinyl record album

Killer work from this overlooked Art Blakey stretch of the mid 70s – a time when the drummer was getting back to basics, and re-igniting his music with help from some key younger players! This set sparkles with sharp tenor from the great David Schnitter – already a powerhouse out of the box, and driven onto new heights by Blakey! Also present is pianist Albert Dailey, whose conception helps bring in some fresh sounds to the Jazz Messengers universe – alongside flute player Ladji Camara, who also vocalizes on one cut. Yoshio Suzuki handles bass, and old line trumpeter Bill Hardman comes in to round out the group – on titles that include "Uranus", "Third World Blues", "Namfulay", and "Backgammon". LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure album by Willie Bobo – and a great one too! The session predates Willie's more famous work on Verve, and it catches the percussionist as he's coming off of some very successful years in the Cal Tjader band – a place where he really picked up a flair for jazzy and lyrical grooves. There's a fair bit of bossa nova influence on the set, but it's handled in a really unique way – as Willie's group blends together organ and piano, plus some sax and flute from a young Joe Farrell – making for a sound that's partly in the New York Latin mode, and partly in the more open and breezy styles of Willie's west coast roots. A great little album, with a really wonderful feel – and titles include "O Barquinho", "Let Your Hair Down Blues", "Capers", "Bossa Nova In Blue", and "Naked City Theme". CD features 2 bonus tracks – "Trinidad" and "Timbale Groove". CD

One of Chris Connor's most obscure albums from the 60s – and one of her nicest too! The record's got a less polished feel than some of Connor's work for Atlantic or ABC – recorded live at the Village Gate, and divided up into "late" and "early" shows that both have a slightly different spirit. Backing is by a small group that includes Mundell Lowe on guitar, Ronnie Ball on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Ed Shaunessy on drums – and the liveness of the recording really comes through, in a way that gets more at the boozy Chris of late nite clubs than you'd hear on most of her studio albums. Titles include "All Or Nothing At All", "Old Devil Moon", "Goodbye", "Only The Lonely", "Black Coffee", "Ten Cents A Dance", and "Only The Lonely". CD

A strange bit of country soul – but a great one, and unique gem from Don Crawford! Another Shade Of Black was recorded by Don Crawford in New York, with bit of a crossover folksy feel that's more like work you'd hear from Muscle Shoals, but it's in a slightly more experimental mode. The album's got Crawford on vocals and acoustic guitar, and instrumentation includes a string quartet, banjo, dulcimer, and a bit of organ. Titles include "Keep Yourself Together", "Song For Sister Angela", "For All The Ladies", "If It Feels Good – Do It", and "Goofin Away The Day". CD

Earthy work from Don Crawford – a very unique artist who works in a mix of soul and folk modes – a bit like Terry Callier at points, but with some more unusual touches as well! This album's got a pretty full set of arrangements, which makes for more of a Callier-like quality than some of Don's other records – but even so, the music's more like the straighter 60s folk of Callier than some of the soaring soul sounds of his Cadet years in the early 70s. Crawford's got a deeply soulful voice that rings out beautifully in this setting – and makes the whole sound of the album come through beautifully. Titles include "Fire Island Saturday", "Small Brown Baby", "Silent Scream", "Benediction", and "I Too Wanted Peace". CD

Very folksy soul work from Don Crawford – recorded in New York, with a feel that's almost an extension of the Village folk sound of the mid 60s, but with some slightly hipper touches! The album was arranged by Crawford and organist Robert Freedman – and most tracks feature Crawford's guitar and vocals with little other backing, save for some bass by Ron Carter. The sound makes you think of Terry Callier's work of the time, and if it's not quite on that level, it is still very nice! Titles include "My Daddy Gave Me Wings Of Wax", "A Lady Like You", "Fear Fountain", "Would You Understand My Nakedness", and "Song For My Daughter". CD

... CD

A great CD that combines volumes 1 and 2 of Stan's early live recordings at Storyville – excellent small group sessions done with a group that includes Jimmy Raney on guitar, Al Haig on piano, Teddy Kotick on bass, and Tiny Kahn on drums. The mix of guitar and tenor is great together – a sound that became one of Stan's calling cards in the early 50s – and even the live setting can't stifle the strength of his unique tone. The CD features a total of 13 cuts in all – and titles include "Budo", "Jumpin With Symphony Sid", "Yesterdays", "Thou Swell", "Mosquito Knees", and "Parker 51". CD

A nice overview of work by the three jazz giants – includes Charlie Parker recordings from 1947 with Miles Davis, Duke Jordan, Tommy Potter, and Max Roach; Dizzy Gillespie recordings from 1953 with Bill Graham, Wade Legge, Lou Hackney, and Al Jones; and Coltrane recordings from 1960 with McCoy Tyner, Stephen Davis, and Billy Higgins! LP, Vinyl record album

A totally great collection of work from the young Ronnie Hawkins – one of the last great raw rockers to emerge in the 50s – and an artist who's maybe equally famous for his searing backing band, The Hawks – a combo that features a young Levon Helm, and who later morphed into The Band! The style here is upbeat, frenetic material in the best rockabilly and R&B-inspired styles of the early rock years – driving drums from Helm really propelling the tracks forward, with plenty of incredible guitar and piano too – served up here in a very cool package! The set features a 10" LP with titles that include "Oh Sugar", "Clara", "Horace", "My Gal Is Red Hot", "Baby Jean", "Forty Days", "Wild Little Willy", and "Southern Love" – plus a CD that features 32 tracks, a 12 page booklet, and a very cool cover! LP, Vinyl record album

We're sure you know the group from their mega-hit oldie title cut – a garagey tune with a very catchy hook – but you might also appreciate them for the soulful finish they put on other tracks on this set, clearly inspired by groups on Atlantic, and going for a blue-eyed soul approach that they're not always known for. Titles include "Soul Searchin Baby", "Lots Of Pretty Girls", "Shake A Tail Feather", "Good Lovin", "The Lover", and "Love Makes The World Go Round". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice one from Tommy James & The Shondells from the start of the 70s – after they started taking stylistic detours away from massively approachable pop with strains of psychedelia and otherwise weirder sounds – the group doesn't get the kind of late cult love for that as groups like The Monkees, but they deserve it! The songs still work as pop, there's a tunefulness in the sound even in long passages that shun vocals in favor of heavy drums and washes of organ, but there's plenty of big choruses and sing-a-long potential throughout. Titles include "Travelin", "Gotta Get Back To You", "Moses & Me", "Kelly Told Anne", "Bloody Water", "Candy Maker", "Talkin & Signifyin" and more. LP, Vinyl record album