Great work from one of the tightest acts of 60s soul – the always-energetic Sam & Dave, working here with an excellent batch of tracks by Isaac Hayes & David Porter! Sam & Dave had made records before this period – but the cuts here are all from the years when they were recording with Stax Records – really burning things up, thanks to the great material that was often both penned and produced by Hayes and Porter, and always given a sharp Memphis groove that took the already-great dynamics of the pair and knocked it out of the park! At the time of these recordings, Sam & Dave were so hot that James Brown refused to have them open for him – as they'd completely exhaust the energy of the crowd – and you'll be able to hear why, on titles that include "Hold On I'm Comin", "May I Baby", "Soul Man", "I Thank You", "You Don't Know Like I Know", "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby", "You Got Me Hummin", and "Wrap It Up". LP, Vinyl record album

Nice four CD set with two discs of jazz and two discs of blues plus a companion DVD. On the jazz side – a varied collection that features some older tunes, lots of great spiritual and avant music, plus work by more recent artists whose name's you'll know if you frequent our pages! Includes music by Jeff Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Malachi Thompson, Sun Ra, Chicago Underground Trio, Roscoe Mitchell, Cecil Payne, Fred Anderson, Archie Shepp & the Ritual Trio, Jimmy Forrest, and others. The blues collection has music from Zora Young, Syl Johnson, Junior Wells, Otis Rush, Eddie Burns, Little Walter, Willie Kent, Robert Ward, Lurie Bell, Magic Sam, Carey Bell, JB Hutto, Sunnyland Slim, Dave Specter, and more. CD

Sam Dees is a hell of a singer, and he's a hell of a songwriter too – one who's worked not just with the southern soul stars of his roots, but also a much wider range of soul talents too! This wonderful collection really gets at the strength of Dees' amazing ability to pen a special soul tune – as it features work from a surprisingly huge array of talents from all sides of the soul spectrum – including a fair bit of vocalists we never knew worked with Sam's material. We love Dees' own records to death – and have enjoyed many of his demo recordings over the years, too – but a set like this really shows the important influence he had on soul music in the 70s – the way he touched so many folks, and helped them out with his meaningful lyrics. The set features great notes on Sam and his contribution – and 22 tracks that include "Where Did We Go Wrong" by LTD, "Vanishing Love (UK rmx)" by The Chi-Lites, "Girl Overboard" by Dorothy Moore, "So Your Love Finally Ran Out" by Les McCann, "Run To Me" by Sidney Joe Qualls, "Save The Overtime" by Gladys Knight & The Pips, "Seconds Of Your Love" by Johnnie Taylor, "One In A Million You" by Larry Graham, "Spoiled By Your Love" by Anita Ward, "What A Way To Put It" by The Temptations, "Good Guys Don't Always Win" by Ray Crumley, and "My World" by Sam Dees himself! CD

Sam Dees is a hell of a singer, and he's a hell of a songwriter too – one who's worked not just with the southern soul stars of his roots, but also a much wider range of soul talents too! This wonderful collection really gets at the strength of Dees' amazing ability to pen a special soul tune – as it features work from a surprisingly huge array of talents from all sides of the soul spectrum – including a fair bit of vocalists we never knew worked with Sam's material. We love Dees' own records to death – and have enjoyed many of his demo recordings over the years, too – but a set like this really shows the important influence he had on soul music in the 70s – the way he touched so many folks, and helped them out with his meaningful lyrics. The set features great notes on Sam and his contribution – and 22 tracks that include "Where Did We Go Wrong" by LTD, "Vanishing Love (UK rmx)" by The Chi-Lites, "Girl Overboard" by Dorothy Moore, "So Your Love Finally Ran Out" by Les McCann, "Run To Me" by Sidney Joe Qualls, "Save The Overtime" by Gladys Knight & The Pips, "Seconds Of Your Love" by Johnnie Taylor, "One In A Million You" by Larry Graham, "Spoiled By Your Love" by Anita Ward, "What A Way To Put It" by The Temptations, "Good Guys Don't Always Win" by Ray Crumley, and "My World" by Sam Dees himself! CD

A treasure trove of rare work from the great Sam Dees – one of the best songwriters in 70s soul music, and an artist who managed to put more recordings in the vaults than he did in the charts! Sam's known best for a handful of singles and a classic album on Atlantic Records – but during the 70s, he continued to record amazing work on his own – often a demos, but with a quality level that was the same as the best indie soul of the time – which makes these recordings such a pleasure to discover! The CD follows strongly alongside other Ace release of this nature – and includes 13 never-heard tracks, plus a few rare singles, and a handful of other Dees cuts from a Hotlanta sampler – all brought together here in one great set! Sam's vocals are wonderful – very unique, and with a badass quality that really brings an edge both to his deep soul material, and the set's few more groove-oriented cuts. Titles include "I'm Your Biggest Fan", "Singing In Poverty", "Today Is A New Day", "We've Got To Get It Together", "Married But I'm Still In Love", "Child's Play", "What's It Gonna Be (alt)", "Claim Jumping", "What Good Is A Love", and "Gimme A Little Action". CD

An album that's a really beautiful showcase for the reed work of Sam Gendel – as he plays here alongside guitarist Fabiano Do Nascimento, who really seems to unlock a different side in Sam's music! The album's got a lean vibe – very similar to some of Fabiano's other records, which we love – and Gendel blows soprano sax, but in this gentle way that's almost flute-like – skipping and lilting around the acoustic guitar at the core, as the pair play without any other backing at all! The record is another feather in Fabiano's cap, and has us really appreciating Gendel more than before – thanks to titles that include "Astral Flowers", "Ate De Manha", "Poeira", "Tupi", "Daiana", "Foi Boto", and "Capricho". CD

An incredible tribute to the legendary Strata Records in Detroit – performed by Jazzanova with a host of other guests – and at a level that's maybe the greatest thing the group has ever given us on record! The vibe here is a lot more Strata and spiritual than the style you'd expect from Jazzanova – as they take on tunes by label legends like Lyman Woodard, Kenny Cox, Sam Sanders, Maulawi, and other talents from the same Motor City underground of the 70s that gave the world Tribe Records. Instrumentation is a blend of Fender Rhodes and lots of live jazz work on flute, tenor, trombone, and trumpet – sometimes topped with vocals from Sean Haefeli, who really helps open up the soulful side of the tunes! Wonderful throughout, better than we might have even guessed – with titles that include "Joy Road", "Face At My Window", "Ortotundes", "Loser", "Scorpio's Child", "Creative Musicians", "Lost My Love", "Inside Ourselves", and "Saturday Night Special". CD

A landmark album – even if it was the only session that Cannonball Adderley ever cut for Blue Note! The album was recorded at a time when Adderley was working with Miles Davis – and as such, the session features a group that includes Miles, blowing trumpet in a cool tone that's a perfect offset to Cannonball's more soulful style on alto sax – also different than the sound of his brother Nat, who was Adderley's more frequent partner on records. The rest of the group includes Hank Jones on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Art Blakey on drums – and like John Coltrane's Blue Train, the record's more of an "special session" than the usual Blue Note album, but the strength of the players make it one of the more memorable records of its day! Titles include "Somethin' Else", "One For Daddy-O", "Autumn Leaves", "Love For Sale", and a nice moody take on "Dancing In The Dark". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album – even if it was the only session that Cannonball Adderley ever cut for Blue Note! The album was recorded at a time when Adderley was working with Miles Davis – and as such, the session features a group that includes Miles, blowing trumpet in a cool tone that's a perfect offset to Cannonball's more soulful style on alto sax – also different than the sound of his brother Nat, who was Adderley's more frequent partner on records. The rest of the group includes Hank Jones on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Art Blakey on drums – and like John Coltrane's Blue Train, the record's more of an "special session" than the usual Blue Note album, but the strength of the players make it one of the more memorable records of its day! Titles include "Somethin' Else", "One For Daddy-O", "Autumn Leaves", "Love For Sale", and a nice moody take on "Dancing In The Dark". LP, Vinyl record album

Three full albums from Atlantic Starr – with lots of bonus tracks too! All In The Name Of Love has Atlantic Star at the height of their catchy commercial fame – bouncing along with rhythms that crossover nicely to the mainstream, yet still keep a bit of their previous funky edge intact! The groove here is almost in the style that Atlantic Starr inspired in so many other younger groups in the earlier part of the 80s – although it's also a bit more polished too. Most instrumentation is electric, and tunes are mostly written by the team of David and Wayne Lewis – both of whom sing on the record. Barbara Weathers also handles female vocals, and titles include "Once Lover At A Time", "Let The Sun In", "My Mistake", "I'm In Love", "Always", "Don't Take Me For Granted", and a version of Sam Dees' "All In The Name Of Love". We're Moving Up is one of the last in a long run of 80s hits from Atlantic Starr – a group who were already moving up the soul charts before the release of the album! The set continues their move into commercial territory started a few records before, but it also shakes loose of some of the colder sounds of 80s soul – and picks up a somewhat warmer vibe on the keyboards and rhythms. Porscha Martin sings female vocals with the group, and titles include "Under Your Spell", "Love Ain't Fair", "Woman's Touch", "We're Movin Up", "My Sugar", "You Deserve The Best", and "Don't Start The Fire". Love Crazy is a set that's got a nice change in groove from Atlantic Starr – a sound that's still got a lot of their best elements intact, but which also seems to bring on some of the best elements that were being introduced by the British scene too! Rhythms at points are maybe more in the Soul II Soul or Lisa Stansfield modes – which makes for some great tunes that really reinvigorate the group and update them for a new jack generation, while still holding onto the charms of the past. A few moments get more in a mellow quiet storm sound – all with the balance that made earlier Atlantic Starr albums classics – on titles that include "Love Crazy", "Hold On", "Masterpiece", "Girl Your Love's So Fine", "I Can't Wait", "If You Knew What's Good For You", and "Come Lover". 3CD package features all albums in tiny LP-styled jackets – with bonus tracks that include "One Lover At A Time (ext)", "Always (edit)", "Let The Sun Shine IN (ext rmx)", "All In The Name Of Love (single)", "My First Love (ext)", "Bring It Back Home Again (Joe Smooth ext mix)", "My First Love (7" edit)", and "Bring It Back Home Again (Joe Smooth underground mix)". CD

A set that's got Chet Baker Quintet on the cover, but which features the American trumpeter in a range of different settings – all brought together as his final album for the Barclay label in Paris! The set does feature a quintet on some tracks – with tenor work from either Bobby Jaspar or Jean-Louis Chautemps, depending on the tunes – both players who would really awaken new sonic sensibilities that Baker would explore with other tenorist in coming years – such as the great Phil Urso! There's also some quartet passages, and octet work that shows a wonderful ear for the overall sound of the group – and other players on the set include Benny Vasseur on trombone on the octet tracks, and a range of different pianists, including Rayond Fol, Rene Utreger, and Francy Boland. Titles include "Vline", "Exitus", "Chet", "Cheeketah", "Dinah", "Tasty Pudding", and "Anticipated Blues" – much more unsual material than some of Baker's other overseas sessions of the time! LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet little quartet session from the mid 50s – one of Chet Baker's legendary albums recorded in Paris at the time, with a quality that's nicely different from some of his work in the US! Part of that quality is the group – an unusual lineup that includes Gerard Gustin on piano, Jimmy Bond on bass, and Bert Dahlander on drums – but Baker is also changing things up a bit from the Pacific Jazz years too, and working with a more sophisticated understanding of sound and tone that would develop even more strongly in the later half of the 50s! As usual with Chet, the tunes are standards, but completely transformed by his handling – titles that include "I'll Remember April", "Tenderly", "Lover Man", "Summertime", and "You Go To My Head". LP, Vinyl record album

The title's not a hokey TV reference or anything like that – but a strong reminder that the Count Basie group was still very much in their prime during the 1970s, thanks especially to the recording talents that the Pablo label brought to records like this! Most of the work here was arranged and composed by Sam Nestico – the talent who was bringing a really fresh voice to the Basie group while still keeping most of its best elements intact. The track "Bundle O Funk" features some great Fender bass in the grooves, and is arguably one of the few funky tracks that Basie ever recorded – but other tracks get back to an all acoustic groove, and include "The Great Debate", "Ya Gotta Try", "Reachin Out", "Featherweight", and "Prime Time". CD

A fantastic album from The Box Tops – the kind of all-great, no-filler record that really set them apart from some of their 60s contemporaries! At this point, Alex Chilton's still not a songwriter, but he sounds tremendous in the lead on vocals – working with superb Memphis production, amidst a host of great tunes from the team of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, plus a few other key songwriters too! Penn produced the record, and really gives it a fantastic sound – the kind of special touches and genre-bending elements of his own later records – on titles that include "Deep In Kentucky", "Cry Like A Baby", "Trouble With Sam", "The Door You Closed To Me", "Lost", "Fields Of Clover", and "Every Time". LP, Vinyl record album

A great Bethlehem Records date from vibes man Teddy Charles – stepping out here in a set that's one of his most openly swinging of the time! The record still has some of the modern currents of Teddy's other work, but also makes great use of Zoot Sims on tenor – really pushing him out front for some bold solos on most numbers – in a great group that also includes Jimmy Raney on guitar, Sam Most on flute, and Dave McKenna on piano. There's a bit of audience noise at times, but we can't tell for sure if this is an actual live album – given the clarity of the performances throughout. Titles include "Nigerian Walk", "Rifftide", "Yesterdays", "That Old Black Magic", and "Yale Blue". CD

A real standout in Chris Connor's legendary run for Atlantic Records – and a unique double-length set that was almost her answer to some of the 2LP Verve songbook sessions from Ella Fitzgerald! Like those, this album's based upon the work of a single composer – and features key Gershwin compositions from the 20s and 30s, redone here with a moody, mellow, jazz-based approach – one that unlocks even more darkness in these tunes than you might expect! Instrumentation is by a number of different small groups – assemblages of players who include Joe Newman on trumpet, Sam Most on clarinet, Herbie Mann on flute, Milt Jackson on vibes, Al Cohn on tenor, and Ralph Sharon on piano – all working with arrangements by Sharon, Ray Ellis, and Stan Free. The album features a whopping 34 titles in all – with tracks that include "A Foggy Day", "Strike Up The Band", "Nice Work If You Can Get It", "Little Jazzbird", "My One & Only", "That Certain Feeling", "Fascinating Rhythm", "Our Love Is Here To Stay", "Liza", "Soon", and "I Can't Be Bothered Now". CD features 2 bonus tracks – "Strike Up The Band" and "Summertime", done in different takes. CD

A real standout in Chris Connor's legendary run for Atlantic Records – and a unique double-length set that was almost her answer to some of the 2LP Verve songbook sessions from Ella Fitzgerald! Like those, this album's based upon the work of a single composer – and features key Gershwin compositions from the 20s and 30s, redone here with a moody, mellow, jazz-based approach – one that unlocks even more darkness in these tunes than you might expect! Instrumentation is by a number of different small groups – assemblages of players who include Joe Newman on trumpet, Sam Most on clarinet, Herbie Mann on flute, Milt Jackson on vibes, Al Cohn on tenor, and Ralph Sharon on piano – all working with arrangements by Sharon, Ray Ellis, and Stan Free. The album features a whopping 32 titles in all – with tracks that include "A Foggy Day", "Strike Up The Band", "Nice Work If You Can Get It", "Little Jazzbird", "My One & Only", "That Certain Feeling", "Fascinating Rhythm", "Our Love Is Here To Stay", "Liza", "Soon", and "I Can't Be Bothered Now". CD also features 4 bonus tracks. 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". CD features 2 bonus tracks – "Misty" and "Senor Blues". CD

A fantastic bit of lost hardbop – an obscure ABC album that has Kenny Dorham working with his Jazz Prophets group! The combo's a quintet with a unique lineup that includes Dick Katz on piano, JR Monterose on tenor, Sam Jones on bass, and Arthur Edgehill on drums – and the whole set's got an open-ended sort of approach that's much more like albums of the time on Blue Note or Savoy than it is the usually more staid ABC jazz sides of the 50s! Monterose and Dorham are fantastic, and really open up on the 5 tracks on the album – all of which are long enough to give the players plenty of room to blow. Probably one of the best jazz records ever recorded for ABC – with titles that include "The Prophet", "DX", "Tahitian Suite", and "Blues Elegante". CD

A sharp early 60s session from the Duke Ellington group – one that seems to draw strongly on the best late 50s work for Columbia Records, but which also seems to add in an extra crackle too! The tunes are relatively short, but the group pack plenty of punch in the small space – especially on the more rhythmic numbers, which almost seem to borrow a bit from Basie's bag – yet with more of the sophistication you'd expect on the Ellington horns. The work of Aaron Bell on bass and Sam Woodyard on drums is especially strong on this session – but there's loads of great interplay from reedmen who include Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Hamilton, Russel Procope, Harry Carney, and Paul Gonsalves – plus trumpet from Bill Berry, Cat Anderson, Roy Burrowes, and Harold Baker. Titles include "Taffy Twist", "Flirtbird", "Smada", "What Am I Here For", "Boo Dah", "Black & Tan Fantasy", and "I'm Gonna Go Fishin". LP, Vinyl record album

Ella Fitzgerald recorded famously in Berlin for Verve Records at the start of the 60s – but this set's from later on in the decade, and shows just how much Ella had grown as a singer! There's less of the easygoing good vibes of that previous album, and a much more mature, intimate quality at times – mixed with a few of the groovier styles that Fitzgerald was picking up in the second half of the 60s! Throughout it all, backing is just by a trio, but one who rock things with plenty of soul – Jimmy Jones on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Sam Woodyard on drums – on titles that include "So Danca Samba", "Summertime", "You've Changed", "Misty", "Midnight Sun", "Here's That Rainy Day", "Don't Be That Way", "These Boots Are Made For Walking", and "Oh Lady Be Good". LP, Vinyl record album

A cool collection of bluesy work from Red Garland – material pulled from the pianist's famous late 50s years on Prestige Records, including a number of cuts that weren't issued at the time of release! Some of the tracks here feature Garland working with a trio, while others have a horn player joining in – no surprise, given that Red's trio was one of the best backing groups ever used by Prestige. Other players include tenorists John Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins, and Arnett Cobb – who each play on one track – and rhythm players include either Paul Chambers or Sam Jones on bass, and Art Taylor of Charlie Persip on drums. Titles include "Red Beans", "Your Red Wagon", "Skinny's Blues", "PC Blues", "Prelude Blues", "Ralph J Gleason Blues", "Birk's Works", and "Ahmad's Blues". CD

An incredible run of music – 19 songs that forever changed the face of soul music, thanks to the genius of Isaac Hayes! In the years before these cuts, Hayes was mostly working as a background talent at Stax Records – part of a songwriting team with David Porter, giving great tunes to Sam & Dave, and other deep soul acts too – while never getting the chance to shine in the spotlight on his own! That all changed after the big shift at Stax in 1968, at a time when the label rebounded with a big wave of pride and power, and really changed up the way they presented things – finally giving Ike the space he needed to emerge as one of the most unique male singers in soul, able to work with a majestic sense of presentation that forever changed the way artists like him would record! And while Hayes' full length albums were the cornerstones of this moment, his singles were the messengers to the masses – really fantastic shorter tracks that compacted the longform genius of his studio work into the space of a 45 – all while never losing the power in the music. The cuts here run the gamut from key crossover cuts, to soundtrack slices, stunning remakes of others' songs, and even a cool Christmas single too – on tracks that include "Walk On By", "Do Your Thing", "Ike's Mood 1", "I Stand Accused", "Winter Snow", "By The Time I Get To Phoenix", "Cafe Regio's", "Never Can Say Goodbye", "The Look Of Love", "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself", "Soul A Lujah", "Ain't That Loving You", "Soulville", "Shaft", and "The Mistletoe & Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Two wonderful albums from Loleatta Holloway – both a strong full-length document of her early genius in the Atlanta studios! First up is the Loleatta album from 1973 – and if you only know Loleatta Holloway as a disco singer, you'll be really amazed at this debut album – because Loleatta emerges first as deep soul singer with a strong southern vibe – very much in the mode the Atlanta scene did best, before picking up the pace a bit more as the 70s moved on! There's a mellow, blue sort of vibe to the record – but still plenty of that pride and power that made Holloway an equally great singer on an upbeat tune – served up here on tunes by Sam Dees, Ashford & Simpson, and other hip songwriters of the period – set to strong arrangements by Mike Terry, who does a great job of bringing out the lady at her best. Titles include "We Did It", "Mother Of Shame", "Only A Fool", "So Can I", "Our Love", and "Love Woke Me Up". Cry To Me is a wonderful album of southern soul from Loleatta Holloway! The record was her last in the deep soul mode – and it's a gem that should have made her as big as her later disco records – a really well-crafted extension of styles that Stax and Atlantic had done in the 60s, but given a smoother, more sophisticated vibe for the 70s! The record was produced by Floyd Smith, and it's got some of the most sophisticated production we've heard on a southern diva album from the 70s – with instrumentation that still boggles us with its brilliance. Case in point is the amazing cut "Cry To Me", which has these insane banks of "weeping" guitar that send chills down our spine! The cut was written by Sam Dees, who also penned some other fine material for the album – and titles include "I Know Where You're Coming From", "Just Be True To Me", "Something About The Way I Feel", and a cover of Ruby Andrews' "Casanova". CD

Pivotal work from trumpeter Freddie Hubbard – eleven full albums recorded by the young jazzman as a leader, together showing a really incredible scope of his talents in just a few short years in the studio! The Blue Note albums here already show an incredible evolution – from initial hardbop crackle at the best level of the label, to a slight shift into new thing territory that marks a more experimental side of Freddie's work that would take off later in the 60s. There's also two Impulse Records releases in the package – the completely sublime sextet outing of The Artistry Of Freddie Hubbard – a great date with Curtis Fuller on trombone, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and John Gilmore on tenor – making a rare appearance in the studio away from the Sun Ra Arkestra! The other Impulse album is titled Body & Soul – and has Hubbard amidst a larger group of modernists on most tracks, with these incredible Wayne Shorter arrangements – then in a small group with shorter on tenor and Eric Dolphy on alto and flute. Blue Note albums include Breaking Point, Blue Spirits, Open Sesame, Going Up, Hub Cap, Ready For Freddie, Hub Tones, and Here To Stay – with players who include Tina Brooks, Jimmy Heath, and Wayne Shorter on tenors; McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, and Herbie Hancock on pianos; Paul Chambers, Sam Jones, and Reggie Workman on basses; and James Spaulding making a key early appearance on alto and flute. 70 long tracks in all – and a very detailed booklet of notes with rare photos! CD

A totally wonderful album from the young Keith Jarrett – and a set that's different than most of the pianist's other well-known modes – not his solo improvisations, not his successful trio material, and not even his more outside quartet modes of the 70s – but instead this incredible criss-crossing of sounds that really stands apart from most of his other records! The album features Keith on piano and soprano sax – an instrument he played more early on – in open, freewheeling tracks that often mix tuneful passages with more rhythmic pulsations – handled with a core group that includes Charlie Haden on bass and Paul Motian on drums, working with guitar from Sam Brown, tenor from Dewey Redman, percussion from Airto, and some larger string and brass arrangements too! Jarrett also plays electric piano at times, and the album has some of the lyricism of Treasure Island, but with a very different vibe – spun out beautifully over the space of the double-length set. Titles include "Take Me Back", "Expectations", "Vision", "Common Mama", "The Magician In You", "Sundance", "Nomads", and "Bring Back The Time When". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best albums ever from Japanese guitarist Ryo Kawasaki – a set recorded with help from a hip array of American players who really help come up with a tight, soulful, electric groove! Kawasaki plays both electric and acoustic guitar – and as on other records, there's a strong dose of the organic that really sets his playing apart from other fusion artists of the time – a bit of exoticism, maybe, almost echoing some Japanese folk roots – but always focused more strongly into jazz-based territory. Artists on the set include Sam Morrison on flute and soprano sax, Larry Willis on Fender Rhodes, Alex Blake on bass, Badal Roy on tabla, and Steve Gorn on bamboo flute – and titles include the great track "Frostbite" – plus "Tane's Dream", "Bones", "Sombrero", "Sarabande", and "Suite In D". CD

Great work from this oft-overlooked smooth soul singer! Lew Kirton was part of the Miami soul scene that centered around TK Records in Florida – but he has a smooth sexy style that reminds us a lot more of northern modern soul singers – especially the most sophisticated side of the New York scene! This debut could easily stand next to late 70s material by Roy Ayers, or some of the best by Leroy Hutson – with some slight deep soul elements that might recall material by Sam Dees or Prince Phillip Mitchell. Like all those references, Kirton has a great way of grooving, but still hanging onto a deeper, more personal style in the lyrics. The songwriting is wonderful, a perfect match for Lew's deep vocals – and titles include "Something Special", "Why Should I Get Jealous", "Love I Don't Want Your Love", "Time To Get With It", and "Love Secret Agent". CD

A Blue Note debut from legendary reedman Charles Lloyd – who definitely wants to bring something new to his work on the label! The set features his Marvels combo – a quintet that features very prominent work from guitarist Bill Frisell, whose edgey tones here make for a very different sound than the use of guitar on some of Lloyd's recent records – especially as the group also features steel guitar from Greg Leisz, who shades things in with some washes of sound that really echo Frisell's tones too! The rest of the lineup features Reuben Rodgers on bass and Eric Harland on drums – and Lloyd plays both tenor and alto flute, with a warmth that really offsets some of the starker sounds of Frisell. The record features guest vocal work from Norah Jones and Willie Nelson – who sing on a song apiece – but the core appeal here is the interplay between Lloyd and guitar, but in a way that's very different than his 60s work with Gabor Szabo. Titles include "Of Course Of Course", "La Llorna", "Abide With Me", "Barche Lamsel", "All My Trials", and "Sombrero Sam". CD

Great 90s work from Dorothy Moore – a set that has her returning to the deep soul modes in which she first got her start – with maybe a slight 90s tweak in terms of production, but an approach that's very much in the classic mode of Malaco Records! Dorothy's got some great songwriting help here – as the album features tunes from George Jackson, Sam Dee, and Frederick Knight – who make for a record that's overflowing with overlooked gems, sung by Moore with that voice that can still knock it out of the park! Titles include "Read Me My Rights", "What You Won't Do For Love", "A Woman Without Love", "Till The End Of Time", "Stay Close To Home", "It's Rainin On My Side Of The Bed", "I Betcha Didn't Know That", and "Before I Fall In Love Again". CD

The music of Carlos Nino just seems to be getting deeper and deeper with each new release – and even on a record like this, which has a birthing concept that's tied to its title, the overall sound is much more sophisticated and mindbending than you might expect! Things are still very much in the organic, meditative mode that Nino has forged for himself – but there's a rising power here that almost makes the man a bit of a mystic – seeming to channel the energy of the planet, and work it through a sonic palette with assorted guests – all in a way that feels completely effortless, without ego or fanfare, and with a vibe that's uplifting, but in a very subtle way. Nino handles a wide range of instrumentation, mixed with his wizardry of production – and other contributors include Jamael Dean and Surya Botofasina on organ, Dexter Story and Jamire Williams on drums, Nate Mercerau on guitar and pedals, Devin Daniels and Sam Gendel on alto, Andre 3000 on flute, and Iasos on his own legendary celestial instruments! Individual players are very spaced out in the recording – and Nino acts as a "cosmic guide", according to the notes – a role he first set out to do in music many years back, and one in which he's deservedly earned with records like this. LP, Vinyl record album

The music of Carlos Nino just seems to be getting deeper and deeper with each new release – and even on a record like this, which has a birthing concept that's tied to its title, the overall sound is much more sophisticated and mindbending than you might expect! Things are still very much in the organic, meditative mode that Nino has forged for himself – but there's a rising power here that almost makes the man a bit of a mystic – seeming to channel the energy of the planet, and work it through a sonic palette with assorted guests – all in a way that feels completely effortless, without ego or fanfare, and with a vibe that's uplifting, but in a very subtle way. Nino handles a wide range of instrumentation, mixed with his wizardry of production – and other contributors include Jamael Dean and Surya Botofasina on organ, Dexter Story and Jamire Williams on drums, Nate Mercerau on guitar and pedals, Devin Daniels and Sam Gendel on alto, Andre 3000 on flute, and Iasos on his own legendary celestial instruments! Individual players are very spaced out in the recording – and Nino acts as a "cosmic guide", according to the notes – a role he first set out to do in music many years back, and one in which he's deservedly earned with records like this. LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant bit of psychedelia – still as fresh today as it was many decades back – and the crowning achievement of Pink Floyd during the early Syd Barrett years! The album's got all the best elements of the group firmly in place – the penchant for long-jamming tracks that still manage to always maintain a sharp edge – mixed with some of the wittier, more playful lyrics that Barrett brought to the group – all wrapped up with a sense of depth and darkness that goes way beyond most of their contemporaries. The record's a masterpiece through and through – from its first guitar-heavy jam on "Astronomy Domine", through the strutting, vamping madness of "Bike" – all up and down other gems that include "Lucifer Sam", "The Gnome", "Take Up Thy Stethoscope & Walk", "Interstellar Overdrive", "Chapter 24", and "The Scarecrow". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little record, and one that shows just why Blue Note chose to put "amazing" in the title of every Bud Powell album they released! The set's a live one, done at Birdland – and Bud's working here with a trio that features the young Sam Jones on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums – both musicians you might be more likely to hear over at Riverside Records, and who help give Powell a mighty solid formation here! There's a strong sense of cohesiveness to the trio, and we're always in love with Jones on bass – but it's also clear that Bud's the shining star of the date, as he amazes the world once again with his restless sense of imagination and creativity on the keys of the piano! Titles include "Marmalade", "Monopoly", "John's Abbey", "Dry Soul", "Time Waits", "Buster Rides Again", and two takes of "Sub City". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little record, and one that shows just why Blue Note chose to put "amazing" in the title of every Bud Powell album they released! The set's a live one, done at Birdland – and Bud's working here with a trio that features the young Sam Jones on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums – both musicians you might be more likely to hear over at Riverside Records, and who help give Powell a mighty solid formation here! There's a strong sense of cohesiveness to the trio, and we're always in love with Jones on bass – but it's also clear that Bud's the shining star of the date, as he amazes the world once again with his restless sense of imagination and creativity on the keys of the piano! Titles include "Marmalade", "Monopoly", "John's Abbey", "Dry Soul", "Time Waits", "Buster Rides Again", and two takes of "Sub City". CD reissue also includes 2 bonus alternate takes. CD

An amazing set from altoist Sonny Red – a player who hardly ever got to make any albums as a leader, and who really burns brightly on this Blue Note classic! Red's got a tone on alto that's as deep and sharp as most tenorists of his generation – extremely soulful, but with a really raspy edge that's almost modern at times – a combination that's quite unique, and which makes his playing on a few key albums well worth tracking down. This album's one of the best of Sonny's few dates on record – and it features the saxophonist working with two different groups – both headed by Wynton Kelly on piano, and with either Sam Jones or Paul Chambers on bass, and either Roy Brooks or Jimmy Cobb on drums – a hell of a great rhythm lineup, no matter how you slice it! Both groups are right on the money, and the whole album swings very nicely – and titles include "Alone Too Long", "The Lope", "Nadia", "Bluesville", and "Blues In the Pocket". LP, Vinyl record album

Tight 80s Latin from Mongo Santamaria – a set that still has him working with longtime maestro Marty Sheller – in a mix of older Latin modes and a few slightly more modern touches! The group here is somewhat large, but the sound is nice and lean – a groove that's heavy on Mongo's congas, with horns from EJ Allen on trumpet, Sam Furnace on saxes, and Tony Hinson on tenor and flute. There's additional percussionists on the set, and piano is by Bob Quaranta – who also plays a bit of DX7 on a few tracks that have a bit of a fusion bent – never too electric, but with some echoes of the Vaya Records years. Titles include "La Manzana", "Sweet Love", "Mayeya", "Oasis", "Una Dia De Play", "Soy Yo", and a nice cover of Sade's "Smooth Operator". CD

Frank Strazzeri on piano – with Frank DeLarosa or Harvey Newmark on bass, Michael L Stephans or Will Bradley Jr. on drums, and special guest Sam Most on flute. CD

One of the key early albums in the career of trumpeter Clark Terry – and a set that's also noteworthy for being a key 50s session for the great Thelonious Monk! If you only think of Terry from his later smiling face on record covers, the player here you'll find is very different – one that has a lot more bite, and whose horn not only matches the sharpness of Monk's piano – but also delivers some great original material that allow you to hear Thelonious in a nicely varied setting than his own records! The group features excellent rhythm work from Sam Jones on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums – and titles include great originals like "In Orbit", "Pea Eye", "Argentina", "One Foot In The Gutter", and "Buck's Business". LP, Vinyl record album

Tower Of Power's one of those groups that still manages to sound great after all of these years – hitting hard on the socking soul sounds the East Bay combo first crafted back in the 70s – bringing plenty of romping rhythms and heavy horns that became their calling card over the years! The group's sound is so great, in fact, that even on a cover-heavy set like this, they still manage to bring something fresh to the table – reworking older soul tunes with a pretty classic sound overall, and getting just the right sort of production that supports their efforts. Guest vocalists here include Sam Moore, Joss Stone, and Tom Jones – but honestly, we're more partial to the group's own singer Larry Braggs, whose work on the CD is every bit as great as the bigger names. Titles include "Me & Mrs Jones", "You Met Your Match", "I Thank You", "Loveland", "Star Time", "Mr Pitiful", and "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel". CD

Think you know the sound of Atlantic Records in the 60s? Think again – because this stunning series opens the vault to a huge amount of rare treasures from the legendary label! The package is amazing – and offers up rare tracks that were mostly only issued by Atlantic on singles – including some on the other imprints associated with the company – some by names we never even knew recorded for the label, others by bigger names, but represented here by obscure material that goes way past their hits – and which is ultra cool because of that. There's also a fair bit more deep soul than you might expect from the usual Atlantic mix – tremendous vocals, and often in less hit-heavy modes – which makes the whole thing a great revelation – and just one more reason to bow down and give even more expect to one of the key companies who helped soul music find a home in the 60s. Plus – as if that's not enough – the whole thing comes in a very cool 7" gatefold package – which emphasizes the from-singles nature of the collection. Volume 3 is overflowing with amazing sounds from the heart of the 60s – rare 45rpm tracks by Atlantic stars, Stax artists, and a few lesser-knowns too. Titles include "Hello Stranger" by The Capitols, "Help Me (parts 1 & 2)" by Ray Sharpe, "Long Distance Love" by Ted Taylor, "Lonely Soldier" by Mike Williams, "How Can You Babysit A Man" by Ned Towns, "Keep Looking" by Solomon Bourke, "I'm Sorry" by Fred Lowrey, "Please Uncle Sam" by The Charmels, "Share What You Got" by William Bell, "Reputation" by The Four Shells, "Me & My Baby" by Mary Wells, "Got No One" by The Delcardos, "Weak Spot" by Ruby Johnson, "Good Love Bad Love" by Eddie Floyd, "Bingo" by Ned Towns, "I Had A Dream" by Johnny Taylor, "I Can't Take It" by Ray Sharpe, "You Can't Love Them All" by The Drifters, "Believe It Or Not" by Rex Garvin & The Mighty Cravers, "Patch My Heart" by The Mad Lads, "She's The One I Love" by The Delcardos, "Find Me Somebody" by Bobby Womack, "Hello Stranger" by The Capitols, "So Much Love" by Ben E King, "Help The Bear" by Ted Taylor, and "I Feel A Sin Coming On" by Solomon Burke. CD

A treasure trove of soul music from a famous London label of the 70s – almost all of it American work, but hand-picked with the kind of selection that made Contempo a strong precursor for later British reissue labels – like Ace/Kent, Charly, or Expansion Records! Contempo grew out of the magazine Blues & Soul – that very long-running bible of soul music that came out of London – and like the magazine, the label really focused on lesser-known acts, both from the 60s, and more contemporary years too – often with an eye towards tunes that still warranted greater discovery by the world at large. Some of the numbers are great groovers, others are in a deep soul mode – and in the later years, you can definitely hear a growing love of disco – especially on some of Contempo's own productions. The company also recorded older American soul singers when they visited the UK for shows during the 70s – finding audiences that were stronger than they had back home, and a label that was also willing to give them a chance in the studio. There's a huge amount of great work here – from late 60s American soul through late 70s clubby groovers – and as usual with Cherry Red, the whole 3CD package comes with a very detailed booklet of notes and photos. The set features 63 tracks in all – with work by The Exciters, Bettye Swann, Major Lance, Black Stash, The Montclairs, Jimmy Thomas, Ultrafunk, Moses Dillard, Ernie Bush, Mr Superbad, Dorothy Moore, Sir Mack Rice, Sam & Dave, Rice & Beans Orchestra, Oscar Toney Jr, Richie Pitts, The Masai, JJ Barnes, African Music Machine, Cymande, Juggy Jones, Armada Orchestra, Banzai, and many others! CD

A surprisingly strong collection of country cuts from a very unusual scene – material recorded for the tiny Cuca Records label in Wisconsin – a company who was more likely to open their doors to just about anyone, than they were to carefully pick who got to record in their studio! Yet because of that approach, Cuca was able to capture some fantastic sounds that would have otherwise been lost to more commercial concerns – music that here represents an underground of country singers and late rockabilly acts from the scene in southern Wisconsin – all artists with the kind of twang and subject matter you'd be much more likely to discover down in Tennessee! As usual with Numero Group, the record is as musically great as it is culturally compelling – put together with plenty of care, and a stunning set list that includes "Happy Don't Last Forever" by Nancy Lee Jordan, "Little Hero" by Dixie Drifter, "Cardinal" by John D Curnow, "Six Foot Down" by Gene Ski & The Troubadours, "There's A River" by Sam Podnay, "Hello Houston" by Johnny Madrid, "Wanderer" by The Lavenders, "Challenge" by Larry Phillipson, "Run Little Girl" by Harrison Two, "Heaven Help The Working Girl" by Janet Kaye, "Trouble Sweet Trouble" by Curley Fields & The Kentuckians, and "When I See You" by Rog Winters & The Plainsmen. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Guitar Frank, Memphis Piano Red, Lottie Murrell, Sam Chatmon, Hammie Nixon, Walter Brown, Archie Edwards, Lonnie Pitchford, Joe Savage, Cedell Davis, Guitar Slim & more. LP, Vinyl record album

There's two stylish British hipsters on the cover, but the album's filled with classic American jazz tracks – each hand-picked by Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller, and served up with plenty of soul! The work here begins in hardbop territory, and moves through 60s soul jazz and more righteous moments in the 70s – and while there's a few more recent tracks, the vibe of the record is very vintage throughout – and really reflects that longtime London love of obscure American records – sounds from a scene that has really taught us a lot over the decades! There's a few tracks here we haven't seen in years, and some great old favorites too – and titles include "Some Kinda Mean" by Sam Jones, "Now At Last" by Blossom Dearie, "Trees & Grass & Things" by Charles Williams, "Cherrystones" by Eugene McDaniels, "The Hipster" by Harold McNair ,"Chains" by Blacks & Blues, "Bend Your Head Down Low" by Geoffrey Stoner, "Sphynx" by Brand New Heavies, "Look At Me Look At You" by Marlena Shaw, "Get Up Off Your Knees" by David Axelrod, "Psychedelic" by Lee Morgan, "Terra Firma Irma" by Joe Gordon, "Rhythm Changes" by Kamasi Washington, "Just In Time To See The Sun" by Leon Thomas, "Bolivia" by Ulf Sandberg, and "Mi Hermano" by Blue Mitchell. CD

Seminal work from one of the most exciting times in modern music – the groundbreaking New York post-punk, post-disco club years – when everything was up for grabs! The work on the set does a really great job of documenting the way that boundaries were blown during the time – as funk met punk, rock met rap, soul met ska, avant garde met mainstream – all in pursuit of the groove! For years, this period has gone under-documented and under-understood – largely because of the complexity and diversity of the music in the scene. But as always, the folks at Soul Jazz Records have done a fantastic job of bringing the whole thing to light – choosing all the best tracks we could have hoped for, and packaging the album with a great set of notes that really gets at the heart of the matter! This 2016 remastering of the collection has a slightly different set list than the first – and titles include "Baby Dee" by Konk, "You Got Me" by Theoretical Girls, "Contort Yourself" by The Contortions, "Clean On Your Bean #1" by Dinosaur L, "Helen Fordsdale" by Mars, "Do Da Da" by The Dance, "Wawa" by Lizzy Mercier Descloux, "Reduction" by Material, "Pini Pini" by Arto Neto, "Too Many Creeps" by Bush Tetras, "Bye Bye Bayou" by Alan Vega, "Breakfast" by Implog, "Reduction" by Material, and "Son Of Sam" by Chain Gang. LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album – even if it was the only session that Cannonball Adderley ever cut for Blue Note! The album was recorded at a time when Adderley was working with Miles Davis – and as such, the session features a group that includes Miles, blowing trumpet in a cool tone that's a perfect offset to Cannonball's more soulful style on alto sax – also different than the sound of his brother Nat, who was Adderley's more frequent partner on records. The rest of the group includes Hank Jones on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Art Blakey on drums – and like John Coltrane's Blue Train, the record's more of an "special session" than the usual Blue Note album, but the strength of the players make it one of the more memorable records of its day! Titles include "Somethin' Else", "One For Daddy-O", "Autumn Leaves", "Love For Sale", and a nice moody take on "Dancing In The Dark". LP, Vinyl record album

Two classic Lloyd Charmers albums – both new to CD, and presented here with lots of first-time CD bonus tracks too! First up is the great Gold Connection album – an obscure little record, but a soulful one too – a rare 70s Federal Records session that mixes together reggae and soul – with vocals by a trio of female singers that includes a young Marcia Griffiths and Cynthia Schloss! Lots of tracks take a disco inspiration, but slow the pace down a lot more for the Kingston scene – so that the grooves are dubby steppers with a lot more going on at the bottom than their American counterparts up north – laidback, and given some nice instrumentation from Willie Lindo on bass, Harold Butler on keyboards, and Cedric Brooks on tenor! Titles include "That's The Way I Like It", "Fly Robin Reggae", "Love's Theme", "Soul Charm", "Do It Anyway Reggae", "Latin Hustle Reggae", and "Darling I Like It". Next up is Sweet Dreams, a very unique album from Jamaican sweet soul singer Dobby Dobson – an artist who seems to owe a bit to Sam Cooke, and who references music from Sam's era too – remaking some older cuts with a warmer, sweeter 70s vibe overall! The Lloyd Charmers production makes for an unusual blend of reggae and classic soul – and titles include "Little Stars", "Sweet Dreams", "Oh Gee", "You're Mine All Mine", "Muriel", "My Special Prayer", and "It's A Miracle". 2CD set features 20 more bonus tracks – including the great Supernatural Thing project from Richard Ace with Lloyd Charmers – and more tracks from Sister Stern, The Africans, Richard Ace, Delroy Wilson, and CHARM! CD

Maybe one of the best-known sessions from the excellent Dutch pianist Rein De Graaff – a set that earns its title by recording in New York – and using a really fantastic lineup that features Tom Harrell on trumpet and flugelhorn, Ronnie Cuber on baritone, Sam Jones on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums! The sound is classic hardbop all the way through, with a vibe that wasn't often showing up on jazz records at the time – with even more of an edge than some of Rein's overseas sessions, and maybe the bold, soulful vibe that only the Beehive label was capturing so well during this period! Cuber is tremendous – we love to hear him open on up a date like this – and the young Harrell is fantastic too. Titles include "Wail", "Solar", "81st & 1st", "Fifty Six", and "A Monk's Dream". CD

A sharp early 60s session from the Duke Ellington group – one that seems to draw strongly on the best late 50s work for Columbia Records, but which also seems to add in an extra crackle too! The tunes are relatively short, but the group pack plenty of punch in the small space – especially on the more rhythmic numbers, which almost seem to borrow a bit from Basie's bag – yet with more of the sophistication you'd expect on the Ellington horns. The work of Aaron Bell on bass and Sam Woodyard on drums is especially strong on this session – but there's loads of great interplay from reedmen who include Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Hamilton, Russel Procope, Harry Carney, and Paul Gonsalves – plus trumpet from Bill Berry, Cat Anderson, Roy Burrowes, and Harold Baker. Titles include "Taffy Twist", "Flirtbird", "Smada", "What Am I Here For", "Boo Dah", "Black & Tan Fantasy", and "I'm Gonna Go Fishin". CD

Ella Fitzgerald recorded famously in Berlin for Verve Records at the start of the 60s – but this set's from later on in the decade, and shows just how much Ella had grown as a singer! There's less of the easygoing good vibes of that previous album, and a much more mature, intimate quality at times – mixed with a few of the groovier styles that Fitzgerald was picking up in the second half of the 60s! Throughout it all, backing is just by a trio, but one who rock things with plenty of soul – Jimmy Jones on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Sam Woodyard on drums – on titles that include "So Danca Samba", "Summertime", "You've Changed", "Misty", "Midnight Sun", "Here's That Rainy Day", "Don't Be That Way", "These Boots Are Made For Walking", and "Oh Lady Be Good". Great 2CD package – with 20 tracks in all! CD

2 later albums by Johnny Griffin – both recorded after his return to the US during the late 70s! Bush Dance is a pretty interesting little set – one that features Griffin working in an easygoing combo with slight electric touches – a group that features George Freeman on guitar, alongside Cedar Walton's acoustic piano, plus bass by Sam Jones, drums by Albert Heath, and percussion and congas from Kenneth Nash. The mixture of guitar and congas gives the album a very different feel than some of Griffin's other work – almost a lighter soul jazz touch that recalls some of the best Muse Records sides from the time. Tracks are long, and rhythms get nice and free at times – and titles include a 17 minute take on "Night In Tunisia" that really gets a bit wild, plus "Since I Fell For You", "Bush Dance", "Knucklebean", and "The JAMFs Are Coming". Call It Whatchawanna is a more straight-ahead album, and a great one too – recorded with a youthful and soulful rhythm combo that features Mulgrew Miller on piano, Curtis Lundy on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums – all supporting Griffin with warm round tones that work perfectly with his open solo style. Titles include "I Mean You", "Lover Man", "Call It Whachawanna", and "A Waltz With Sweetie". CD

Barry Harris on piano, Charles McPerson on alto saxophone, Jimm Raney on guitar, Sam Jones on bass, and Leroy Williams on drums. CD

An incredible run of music – 19 songs that forever changed the face of soul music, thanks to the genius of Isaac Hayes! In the years before these cuts, Hayes was mostly working as a background talent at Stax Records – part of a songwriting team with David Porter, giving great tunes to Sam & Dave, and other deep soul acts too – while never getting the chance to shine in the spotlight on his own! That all changed after the big shift at Stax in 1968, at a time when the label rebounded with a big wave of pride and power, and really changed up the way they presented things – finally giving Ike the space he needed to emerge as one of the most unique male singers in soul, able to work with a majestic sense of presentation that forever changed the way artists like him would record! And while Hayes' full length albums were the cornerstones of this moment, his singles were the messengers to the masses – really fantastic shorter tracks that compacted the longform genius of his studio work into the space of a 45 – all while never losing the power in the music. The cuts here run the gamut from key crossover cuts, to soundtrack slices, stunning remakes of others' songs, and even a cool Christmas single too – on tracks that include "Walk On By", "Do Your Thing", "Ike's Mood 1", "I Stand Accused", "Winter Snow", "By The Time I Get To Phoenix", "Cafe Regio's", "Never Can Say Goodbye", "The Look Of Love", "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself", "Soul A Lujah", "Ain't That Loving You", "Soulville", "Shaft", and "The Mistletoe & Me". CD

One of the avant garde classics in the early catalog of ECM Records – a set that has bassist Dave Holland working with two key bandmates from the Circle group – Anthony Braxton on saxes and flute, and Barry Altschul on percussion – as well as the great Sam Rivers on flute and sax, who was really taking off at the time! All tracks are originals by Holland – and Rivers' emotive, flowing approach proves the perfect balance for Braxton's intellectual approach – in a setting that really brings the most out of both players, thanks in part to elastic rhythms from Holland and Altschul. The overall approach leaves a great deal of space on this atmospheric set – but not in the usual mellower ECM way. Titles include "Four Winds", "Q & A", "Conference Of The Birds", "Interception", "Now Here (Nowhere)", and "See Saw". CD

Moody material from Bobby Hutcherson – and one of the first records to feature his vibes in the company of tenorist Harold Land – a player who would help Hutcherson make some mighty fine music over the years! The set's got a super-hip group – with Stanley Cowell on piano, giving the record a warm, spiritual undercurrent – one that works perfectly with the lyrical soul of Land's horn. Other players include Reggie Johnson on bass and Joe Chambers on drums – and titles include "Spiral", "Ruth", "Poor People's March", and "Visions". The album also includes one more track – "Jasper" – which was recorded in a 1965 session without Land and Cowell – but with Sam Rivers on tenor and bass clarinet, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, and Andrew Hill on piano! Recorded in the 60s, but only initially issued on vinyl in 1979! LP, Vinyl record album

Two early 70s gems from The Impressions – back to back on a single CD! Preacher Man is heavy soul from the early 70s version of the group – put together with all the same depth as Curtis Mayfield's work of the time! This time around, Rich Tufo is at the helm on production and arrangements – but he continues to wave the Curtom flag high with some wonderfully put-together backings that mix swirling strings and heavy funk, all in support of some very message-oriented lyrics! Tufo also penned most of the tracks on the set, and has a great ear for bringing the new politics of the 70s into play with the sweeter soul harmonies of the group's earlier years – still carried strong by original group members Sam Gooden and Fred Cash. Titles include "Find The Way", "Preacher Man", "What It Is", "Simple Message", "Thin Line", and "Color Us All Gray (I'm Lost)". Finally Got Myself Together is a great little album by The Impressions – possibly their best of the 70s! The record's got a very solid harmony soul approach, and Lowrell Simon wrote and produced a number of tracks with Rich Tufo – giving the album the same sweet sexy sound that he brought to his best solo records, and his late work with The Lost Generation! The best example of this is the fantastic soul cut "We Go Back A Ways", a sweet mellow groover in the Leroy Hutson vein, and one of their standout cuts in the post-Curtis days. Ed Townsend worked on a number of other cuts, too, and he brings a real tightness to the songwriting – especially on the cuts "Guess What I Got", "Try Me (One More Time)", and "I'm A Changed Man". CD

One of the most distinct early dates from reedman Charles McPherson – a unique "with strings" session recorded as a tribute to Billie Holiday – and with a style that shows off sides of McPherson's playing that wouldn't show up on other records for years to come! The album's got a beautifully understated quality – hip, adult arrangements by Ernie Wilkins – neither in his Basie-esque style of the early years, nor in any sort of slavish relationship to the Billie Holiday recordings of the 40s and the 50s either – which makes for a mode that just lets Charles flow with this wonderfully soulful tone on his alto – almost in a way that points towards some of Stanley Turrentine's music to come in such a setting. The core group features piano by Barry Harris, guitar by Earl Dunbar, bass by Sam Jones, and drums by Leroy Williams – plus larger backing by a string section – and titles include "Don't Explain", "Miss Brown To You", "Lover Come Back to Me", "Lover Man", and "God Bless the Child" – but all shaped beautifully and personally by McPherson! CD