A gem of a record from Finnish saxophonist Timo Lassy – a straight jazz set that reunites him with members of the Ricky Tick Big Band – including some of the musicians who first made big waves with Timo on record in the early part of this century! Lassy's at his best here – really creative as a soloist, and dropping some of the more groove-oriented qualities you'd hear on his other records – to work in an array of soulful sounds with a core quintet that includes electric piano, bass, drums, and percussion – augmented by larger horns from the Ricky Tick band, arranged by Valtteri Laurell Poyhonen, and featuring solos from Jukka Eskola and Kalevi Louhivuori on trumpets, and Aaro Huopainen on trombone. The tunes move along with a nice sense of rhythm, but also have all these amazing colors and tones that burst out with a great sense of delight throughout the performance – on titles that include "Teddy The Sweeper", "Waltz Unsolved", "Grande Opening", "Universal Four", "African Rumble", and "Sweet Spot". CD

Incredible early work from Yusef Lateef – some of his best! On these early Savoy side, Lateef is drawing from the wealth of influences that were running through the Detroit jazz underground of the 50s that spawned him – and apart from a strongly-conceived bop-influenced sound, you'll also hear Lateef experimenting a lot with jazz exoticism, using different reed instruments and odd small-group arrangements in a manner that's sort of a more "inside" version of similar work done at the time by Sun Ra and group. Lateef's work at this point is a key link in a tradition of exploratory Afro-centric jazz that runs through Roland Kirk's "Black Classical Music" of the 60s, and the underground output of labels like Tribe or Strata East during the 70s. About half the cuts on here are fairly straight, and still pretty nice, but those that aren't will open your eyes to Lateef's genius! Includes titles from The Fabric Of Jazz, The Dreamer, Jazz & The Sounds Of Nature, and Prayer To The East – with 19 numbers that include "Arjuna", "Valse Bouk", "Check Blues", "Gypsy Arab", "Sram", "Lover Man", and "8540 Twelfth Street". CD

Famous radio recordings of the legendary Charlie Parker – captured at the Royal Roost nightclub in the late 40s – blasting out with incredible power over the airwaves in the New York scene! The presentation of the material here includes bits of announcer patter – mostly from Symphony Sid, who's really one of those guys that you've gotta hear to believe – a surprisingly wonderful combination with Bird's famous alto sax – presented here in a milieu that really lets you hear the raw power of both Parker's music and the way in which he was put forward to audiences at the time! This second volume features work by Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Al Haig on piano, Tommy Potter on bass, and Max Roach on drums – and there's a slightly larger group on a few numbers too. Titles include "White Christmas", "Little Willie Leaps", "Half Nelson", "Ornithology", "Cheryl", and "On A Slow Boat To China". CD

With Kenny Dorham, Al Haig, Max Roach, Milt Jackson, Lucky Thompson & more. CD

... CD

A beautiful 100th Birthday tribute to the legendary altoist Charlie Parker – a special set that recreates the feel of some of his first important recordings – sides done in the mid 40s for the Savoy label, originally issued in LP form on very limited 10" albums! The early Bird 10" releases are impossible to find on vinyl – and are maybe reproduced here in a form that's even better than the original – with great vinyl, newly restored and remastered audio, and a quality level that's not nearly as likely to split and fall apart as the vintage versions. The box also features a big booklet of notes and other information – plus rare photos, ephemera, and other Charlie Parker material – and the whole thing's a great treasure from the early years of bop! Four full albums – all volumes of New Sounds In Modern Music with Charlie Parker in the lead, plus work from Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie on trumpets. Includes key versions of "Milestones", "Cheryl", "Billie's Bounce", "Chasin The Bird", "Ko Ko", "Now's The Time", "Constellation", "Parker's Mood", and "Confirmation". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Very unusual material from this famous pianist – given that the group here features John Hardee on tenor sax and Milt Page on organ! Titles include "The Bug", "Misty Morning Blues", "Solace", "Monk's Mood", and "Night & Day". LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

Music from Cannonball Adderley, Gene Ammons, Miles Davis, Billy Eckstine, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, Little Jimmy Scott, Ben Webster, Lester Yong & more. CD

An insanely fantastic look at the strong legacy of gospel music from Savoy Records – a company who were initially a powerhouse in the fields of jazz and R&B, but who moved into the gospel world and dominated that market for decades! Savoy is a bit like Chess Records – a company who really learned how to record blues singers and soulful styles from the secular world, then used that same ability to work some real magic on songs from the more spiritual side of the spectrum – an approach that really made for top-shelf music, even as the decades moved on! Savoy's gospel legacy has always been a bit underground – not nearly as reissued for larger audiences as their jazz and blues material – but this collection does a great job of correcting that lack, by presenting their music in a wonderful format – all in a mix of rare cuts and classics from the gospel underground. This first volume focuses on work from the earliest years of Savoy's gospel productions – and features 24 tracks by The Davis Sisters, Gospel Chimes, Jimmy Scott, Roberta Martin Singers, Swindell Brothers, Christones, Gospel Harmonettes Specials, Harmonizing Five, Famous Ward Singers, Blind Boys Of Alabama, Stars Of Faith, Gospel Cavaliers, and even the Staple Singers! LP, Vinyl record album

An insanely fantastic look at the strong legacy of gospel music from Savoy Records – a company who were initially a powerhouse in the fields of jazz and R&B, but who moved into the gospel world and dominated that market for decades! Savoy is a bit like Chess Records – a company who really learned how to record blues singers and soulful styles from the secular world, then used that same ability to work some real magic on songs from the more spiritual side of the spectrum – an approach that really made for top-shelf music, even as the decades moved on! Savoy's gospel legacy has always been a bit underground – not nearly as reissued for larger audiences as their jazz and blues material – but this collection does a great job of correcting that lack, by presenting their music in a wonderful format – all in a mix of rare cuts and classics from the gospel underground. Savoy kept going strong into the 80s, in a mix of styles that includes some funk and boogie – served up here on 17 tracks by artists that include Solomon Burke, Genobia Jeter, World Wonders, Edith Moreno, Glenn Jones & The Modulations, Hollywood Stars, James Cleveland, Holy Lights Of Baltimore, Sensational Williams Brothers, Gospelaires Of Dayton, Helen Hollins Singers, Edith Moreno, and The 4th Of May. LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks recorded back in 1955 as two separate albums and reissued here on this 2LP set. Adderley and his alto sax are joined by Donald Byrd on trumpet, Nat Adderley on cornet, Jerome Richardson on tenor sax and flute, Horace Silver on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Kenny Clarke on drums. The tracks include "Bohemia After Dark", "Chasm", "Willow Weep For Me", "Late Entry", "Hear Me Talkin To Ya", "With Apologies To Oscar", "We'll Be Together Again", "Spontaneous Combustion", "Caribbean Cutie", and "Flamingo". LP, Vinyl record album

Great small group work from pianist Errol Garner – mostly trio sides recorded between 1945 and 1949, plus a four tracks recorded with the Slam Stewart Quartet. 41 tracks in all. CD

A nice little collection of some of Dizzy Gillespie's best bop material for Savoy – tunes that were originally recorded as 78rpm singles – then issued together on this classic album of all-star players! The tunes are short, catchy, and often very grooving – that mix of whimsy and modernism that made Dizzy stand out from the start – handled by a few different groups of players, with musicians who include Milt Jackson on vibes, John Coltrane on tenor, Wynton Kelly on piano, and Percy Heath on bass. Titles include "Tin Tin Deo", "Star Dust", "The Bluest Blues", "The Champ", "Birk's Works", "Caravan", "Time On My Hands", and "Ooh Shoo Be Doo Bee". CD

A great blend of older jazz styles and the sweet 70s funk of Robin Kenyatta – served up with a hip sort of sparkle overall! There's a few familiar jazz modes in here that definitely live up to the spirit of the title – but most of the record is more open, laidback, and somewhat spiritual – thanks to help from a hip lineup that includes Billy Harper on tenor sax, Dwight Brewster and Larry Willis on electric piano, Winston Wright on organ, Lew Soloff on trumpet, and Jimmy Knepper on trombone! Some of the best tracks here are surprisingly open and earthy – almost pointing back towards Kenyatta's Until album, but a bit more inside – and other cuts have a warmer sort of 70s glow, more in the mode that Robin was hitting on other Atlantic albums of the time. Titles include "The Need To Smile", "Mellow In The Park", "Jessica", "River Boat", "Two Bass Blues", and "Smooth Sailing". LP, Vinyl record album

The Savoy jazz catalog gets the remix tradition – following nicely in the mode of similar projects on Verve or Blue Note! The work here is all pulled from classic bop sessions of the late 40s and 1950s – key tracks that defined the sound of Savoy back in the day, but cut down here to their core elements – then laid out over more contemporary rhythms for the modern dancefloor! The best numbers actually preserve some sense of jazz soloing – an approach that we like better than other too-abstract remakes of older jazz on the market – and titles include "Moose The Mooche (Quantic rmx)" by Charlie Parker, "Night In Tunisia (DJ Jazzy Jeff rmx)" by Duke Jordan, "Lover Man (King Britt's Speakeasy mix)" by Dizzy Gillespie with Sarah Vaughan, "Minor Vamp (Basement Boys 12")" by Curtis Fuller, "Yardbird Suite (St Etienne mix)" by Herbie Mann, "Bohemia After Dark (Diamond D rmx)" by Cannonball Adderley, "Caravan (DJ Smashish rmx)" by Dizzy Gillespie, and "Movin Nicely (Eclipse rmx)" by Modern Jazz Quartet. CD

An insanely fantastic look at the strong legacy of gospel music from Savoy Records – a company who were initially a powerhouse in the fields of jazz and R&B, but who moved into the gospel world and dominated that market for decades! Savoy is a bit like Chess Records – a company who really learned how to record blues singers and soulful styles from the secular world, then used that same ability to work some real magic on songs from the more spiritual side of the spectrum – an approach that really made for top-shelf music, even as the decades moved on! Savoy's gospel legacy has always been a bit underground – not nearly as reissued for larger audiences as their jazz and blues material – but this collection does a great job of correcting that lack, by presenting their music in a wonderful format – all in a mix of rare cuts and classics from the gospel underground. A great 3CD set – with a huge amount of work – music by The Davis Sisters, Gospel Chimes, Jimmy Scott, Roberta Martin Singers, Swindell Brothers, Christones, Gospel Harmonettes Specials, Harmonizing Five, Famous Ward Singers, Blind Boys Of Alabama, Stars Of Faith, Gospel Cavaliers, Staple Singers, The Metro Tones, Betty Hollins, Gene Martin, Swan Silvertones, Artistic Sounds, James Moore, Holy Lights Of Baltimore, Brooklyn Skyways, World Wonders, Myrna Summers, Brockingham Ensemble, Prof Charles Taylor, Exciting Supreme Highlights, Highway QCs, Solomon Burke, Genobia Jeter, World Wonders, Edith Moreno, Glenn Jones & The Modulations, Hollywood Stars, James Cleveland, Holy Lights Of Baltimore, Sensational Williams Brothers, Gospelaires Of Dayton, Helen Hollins Singers, Edith Moreno, and The 4th Of May. CD

An insanely fantastic look at the strong legacy of gospel music from Savoy Records – a company who were initially a powerhouse in the fields of jazz and R&B, but who moved into the gospel world and dominated that market for decades! Savoy is a bit like Chess Records – a company who really learned how to record blues singers and soulful styles from the secular world, then used that same ability to work some real magic on songs from the more spiritual side of the spectrum – an approach that really made for top-shelf music, even as the decades moved on! Savoy's gospel legacy has always been a bit underground – not nearly as reissued for larger audiences as their jazz and blues material – but this collection does a great job of correcting that lack, by presenting their music in a wonderful format – all in a mix of rare cuts and classics from the gospel underground. This second volume features work from Savoy's prime 70s gospel years – 20 tracks by artists who include The Metro Tones, Betty Hollins, Gene Martin, Swan Silvertones, Artistic Sounds, James Moore, Holy Lights Of Baltimore, Brooklyn Skyways, World Wonders, Myrna Summers, Brockingham Ensemble, Prof Charles Taylor, Exciting Supreme Highlights, and Highway QCs. LP, Vinyl record album

With Bud Powell, Fats Navarro, and Tadd Dameron. LP, Vinyl record album

Players include Milt Jackson on vibes, JJ Johnson on trombone, Jimmy Heath on sax, Percy Heath on bass, and Joe Harris on drums. CD

Features Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, Stan Hope on piano, Buster Williams on bass, Ralph Dorsey on percussion, and Grady Tate on drums. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Features some of John Coltrane's great late 50s work with Wilbur Harden – the start of his modal moment! CD

Fantastic early work by John Coltrane – an album that shows that he was already reaching far, even in the 50s! The tracks on the set are quite long – quite speculative work that predates some of the searching experiments that Trane began in the 60s, with a nice undercurrent of spiritualism that's missing from some of his other work of the period. The work's played by a hip sextet co-led with trumpeter Wilbur Harden, and featuring Curtis Fuller on trombone, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Art Taylor on drums, and Ali Jackson on bass. Titles include the classic original reading of "Dial Africa", plus the super-extended "Gold Coast", and the nice "Oomba". CD

An incredible chapter of John Coltrane's early career – one of a pair of albums he cut with trumpeter Wilbur Harden for Savoy records! The title's a bit misleading, as the sound here really isn't "mainstream" at all – but more in the longer modal mode that would emerge more strongly in Coltrane's later recordings. The album is really significant – in that it almost marks the first time that Trane got to express his voice freely, and work through a more visionary sound – but big credit also goes to Wilbur Harden, who wrote all the longer tracks on the set, and who is coming at the record from kind of a Yusef Lateef exotic perspective. Other players include Tommy Flanagan and Lateef-bandmates Doug Watkins on bass and Louis Hayes on drums – and titles include "West 42nd Street", "EFFPH", "Snuffy", and "Rhodomagnetics". CD

A 70s collection of some of Coltrane's groundbreaking recordings for Savoy from the late 50s – recorded in the company of a super-hip sextet with Wilbur Harden on trumpet, and done in a way so that the tracks open up nice and long, in strong modal grooves that point the way towards Trane's later work in the 60s. The set features 5 long tracks issued in the 50s – "Anedac", "BJ1", "Once In A While", "Dial Africa", and "Oomba". CD

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

The title gets it right – as these recordings are definitely some of the first-ever by Miles Davis – some done under his own name, some as a key sideman with other artists! The first 8 cuts feature Davis with group of his own, featuring his famous boss of the time, Charlie Parker, on alto sax – plus John Lewis on piano and Max Roach on drums. Most tracks have a few versions, and titles include "Half Nelson", "Little Willie Leaps", "Milestones", and "Sippin At Bells". Next are 7 more tracks done on sessions that feature vocalist Rubberlegs Williams and reedman Herbie Fields – tunes that include "That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch", "Pointless Mama Blues", and "Bring It On Home". Last up is a bonus Charlie Parker tune – a classic 1945 recording of "Now's The Time", with Miles on trumpet. CD

A great collection of rare R&B singles recorded by H-Bomb Ferguson – an artist who really lives up to his name! The package features a fair amount of unreleased material mixed in with the singles – and Varetta Dillard sings on a few tracks too! LP, Vinyl record album

A long overdue follow-up to Curtis Fuller's first Blues-Ette session for Savoy – one that was recorded 34 years after the original! The passage of time hasn't dampened the genius of the players, though – as Fuller's still tremendously in charge of his talents here, and is working with the equally great Benny Golson – whose sound has only gotten deeper in the maturing years since the original Savoy session. The rest of the original group is represented by Tommy Flanagan on piano and Al Harewood on drums – with only new bassist Ray Drummond coming in to replace Jimmy Garrison from the original date. Tunes here all have that wonderful Fuller/Golson crackle – an approach to hardbop that features tight leads that really hook us into the tunes, then break off into well-crafted solos with a lot of feeling. Titles include "Capt Kid", "Is It All A Game", "Sis", "Blues-Ette 93", "Along Came Betty", and "Manhattan Serenade". CD

Collects two different sessions – a quartet date from 1945 with Mike Bryan on guitar, Slam Stewart on bass, and Harold Doc West on drums, and a trio date from 1949. CD

A Savoy piano two-fer featuring small group work by Errol Garner and Billy Taylor. CD

Includes a side's worth of material from each pianist – with Garner titles including "Cottage For Sale", "Rosalie", "Stairway To The Stars", "September Song" and more; and Taylor songs including "Mad Monk", "Solace", "Misty Morning Blues" and more, with sidemen including Al Hall, Jimmy Crawfor, John Hardee, Milt Page, John Simmons, and Shadow Wilson. LP, Vinyl record album

A classic Savoy side that brings together bop sessions recorded earlier in the label's life – done by different groupings that feature some of the best players of the early bebop years. Sonny Stitt, Kenny Dorham, and Bud Powell are part of a group that play "Ray's Idea", "Fool's Fancy", "Bebop In Pastel", and "Bombay". Fats Navarro, Leo Parker, Tadd Dameron, and others perform "Eb Pob", "Goin To Minton's", "Fat Girl", and "Ice Freezes Red". Stan Getz, Max Roach, and Hank Jones play "Opus De Bop", "Running Water", and 2 other tunes. All tracks are short and straight bop! CD

A classic Savoy side that brings together bop sessions recorded earlier in the label's life – done by different groupings that feature some of the best players of the early bebop years. Sonny Stitt, Kenny Dorham, and Bud Powell are part of a group that play "Ray's Idea", "Fool's Fancy", "Bebop In Pastel", and "Bombay". Fats Navarro, Leo Parker, Tadd Dameron, and others perform "Eb Pob", "Goin To Minton's", "Fat Girl", and "Ice Freezes Red". Stan Getz, Max Roach, and Hank Jones play "Opus De Bop", "Running Water", and 2 other tunes. All tracks are short and straight bop! LP, Vinyl record album

A nice little collection of some of Dizzy Gillespie's best bop material for Savoy – tunes that were originally recorded as 78rpm singles – then issued together on this classic album of all-star players! The tunes are short, catchy, and often very grooving – that mix of whimsy and modernism that made Dizzy stand out from the start – handled by a few different groups of players, with musicians who include Milt Jackson on vibes, John Coltrane on tenor, Wynton Kelly on piano, and Percy Heath on bass. Titles include "Tin Tin Deo", "Star Dust", "The Bluest Blues", "The Champ", "Birk's Works", "Caravan", "Time On My Hands", and "Ooh Shoo Be Doo Bee". CD

40's LP collection of some of the earlier sides that Dizzy cut for Savoy, with be bop classics like "Our Delight", "One Bass Hit", "Oop Bop Sh'Bam", "Salt Peanuts", and "Dizzy Atmosphere". The groups include players like Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Al Haig, and Kenny Clarke, and the set's virtually a who's who of early be bop, with Dizzy heading up the lead. CD

A bebop classic from Dizzy Gillespie – a full album comprised of some famous 78s recorded for the Savoy label at the start of the 50s – the kind of hard-grooving material that made Diz a fan favorite right from the start! There's some nice use of vocals in the mix – not just from Dizzy, but also from Joe Carroll as well – an overlooked vocalese genius from the early days of bebop – not as well-known as Eddie Jefferson or King Pleasure, but working here in a very similar spirit! Diz sings with Joe a bit too, and other players include JJ Johnson on trombone, Milt Jackson on vibes, Bill Graham on alto and baritone sax, and Wynton Kelly on piano. Cuts include "Bopsie's Blues", "School Days", "We Love To Boogie", "Umbrella Man", "I Couldn't Beat The Rap", "Pop's Confessin", and "Lady Be Good". CD

Classic early bop material from Dexter Gordon – originally issued as 78s in the 40s, and packaged here in a hip 50s album with a very groovy cover! The set features work from 1945, 1946, and 1947 – with Gordon in different three different groups – one with Leo Parker on baritone and Tadd Dameron on piano, one with Leonard Hawkins on trumpet and Bud Powell on piano, and one with Argonne Horton on piano. Titles include "Setting The Pace (parts 1 & 2)", "Dexter's Riff", "So Easy", "Long Tall Dexter", "Dexter Digs In", and "Dexter's Deck". CD

Classic early bop material from Dexter Gordon – originally issued as 78s in the 40s, and packaged here in a hip 50s album with a very groovy cover! The set features work from 1945, 1946, and 1947 – with Gordon in different three different groups – one with Leo Parker on baritone and Tadd Dameron on piano, one with Leonard Hawkins on trumpet and Bud Powell on piano, and one with Argonne Horton on piano. Titles include "Setting The Pace (parts 1 & 2)", "Dexter's Riff", "So Easy", "Long Tall Dexter", "Dexter Digs In", and "Dexter's Deck". CD

A rarity from the bop era – hard-blowing tracks that run for a duration that's way longer than the standard three minutes of most 78rpm singles. Here, Gordon and Gray blow head to head in some of their famous "battle" sessions – working with players like Sonny Criss, Howard McGhee, Hampton Hawes, and Barney Kessel in a format that was very popular on the LA bop scene. Each side of the 2LP set features one long track – and titles include "Disorder At The Border", "Cherokee", "Byas A Drink", and "The Hunt". Great 70s package – with notes on all the material the material. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Early recordings by Johnny Hartman – a variety of material, most originally issued as singles during the late 40s. Backing is by swinging small groups that include players like Cozy Cole, Tyree Glenn, Tony Mottola, and Sanford Gold – and the arrangements are a bit more hard-edged than some of Hartman's later work, which really brings out a different side of his style. 10 tracks in all, including "Why Was I Born?", "Why Must I Be Tormented"?, "What's To Become Of Me?", "I'll Never Smile Again", "I Let a Song Go Out Of My Heart", "There Goes My Heart" and "Sometime Remind Me To Tell You". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic Coleman Hawkins work for Savoy – featuring Hawk blowing in a number of small group settings. We're not really sure where he "returns" from on this one – but the playing is great, and tracks include "Flight Eleven", "Should I", "Modern Fantasy", "Last Stop", "I'm On My Way", and "Goin Down Home". CD

A sweet little 50s session from Hawk – recorded for the World Wide subsidary of Savoy, in a great style that has plenty of room for solo space! Tracks are long, and arranged by Billy Ver Plank – with a moody small combo mode that lets Hawkins get in plenty of those edgey bits in his solos, hidden underneath ostensibly sweeter playing. The rest of the group includes Frank Wess, Marshall Royal, and Frank Foster – and titles include "Ooga Dooga", "Thanks For The Misery", "There Is Nothing Like A Dame", and "An Evening At Papa Joe's". LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

A great 50s album that features material JJ Johnson did for Savoy in the late 40s – singles recorded in 1946, 1947, and 1949 – and they already mark Johnson as one of the most inventive trombonists of his generation – a player working with none of the hoke of earlier eras, and with a clean, modern sound that's almost like that of a bop trumpet at times. Players on these dates include Leo Parker on baritone sax, Bud Powell or Hank Jones on piano, Sonny Rollins on tenor, and Max Roach on drums – and titles include "Coppin The Bop", "Jay Jay", "Mad Bebop", "Jay Bird", "Boneology", "Down Vernon's Alley", "Riffette", "Yesterdays", "Audobon", "Don't Blame Me", and "Goof Square". CD

With Al Hall on bass, Albert Nicholas on clarinet, Hot Lips Page on trumpet, JC Heard on drums, Jimmy Shirley on guitar, Ben Webster on tenor sax & JC Higginbotham on trombone. CD

One of Hank's few non-trio sets as a leader – and a great set of hardbop tunes that features work by Donald Byrd, Jerome Richardson, Herbie Mann, and Kenny Clarke. The horns add in a lot more than you get on the usual Jones album – taking Hank's piano into firey territory that shows he can groove with the best of them! Titles include "Bluebird", "Hank's Pranks", "Alpha", "Wine & Brandy". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Hank Jones' key mid 50s sides for the Savoy label – and quite possibly the hippest of the bunch, thanks to the presence of a young Donald Byrd on trumpet! The core trio here is Hank's group with Eddie Jones on bass and Kenny Clarke on drums – but it's Donald Byrd's trumpet that really makes the album shine – by adding in a slightly sharper edge than you might normally hear on some of Jones' sweeter trio sets. An additional trumpeter – Matty Dice – joins the group on some of the tracks too, blowing alongside Byrd in a relaxed, open-ended way that's totally great. Titles include "An Evening At Papa Joe's, "Summer's Gone", "Don't Blame Me", "And Then Some", and "Almost Like Being In Love". CD

Early Hank Jones session for Savoy, that, despite the "trio" tag in the title, is actually a quartet session with Paul Chambers on bass, Kenny Clarke on drums, and Bobby Jaspar on flute. With a lineup like that, you can imagine how well the session stands up, and the added flute makes it groove in a way that stretches past the usual trio session from the time. Plus, the tracks are nice and long (there's only 4 of them on the LP), which lets Jones show off his strong talent for warm lyrical soloing, especially on the tracks "Minor Contention" and "Spontaneous Combustion". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Sharp-edged early bop material from a very hip sextet – one that features both Howard McGhee on trumpet and Milt Jackson on vibes – plus a very young Jimmy Heath on alto and baritone sax! CD

Arrangements by Eddie Sauter. CD

Two different live sets from pianist Marian McPartland – one with Eddie Safranski on bass and Don Lamond on drums – the other with Vinnie Burke on bass and Joe Morello on drums! CD

With Joe Morello on drums & Bob Carter & Vinnie Burke on bass. CD

Unusual material from these two British pianists – McPartland with a trio that features Bob Carter on bass and Mousie Alexander on drums – Shearing with either Gene Ramey or Curley Russell on bass, and Cozy Cole or Denzil Best on drums! CD

Obscure work from the Savoy Records catalog of the 50s – a set that features trio work by all three female pianists named on the cover! The set's noteworthy for the work of Adelaide Robbins – who we only know from this set – and also includes some of the few non-RCA 50s recordings by Barbara Carroll, who continued to record for years. CD

Earlier work from Charles Mingus, including from his sextet with John La Porta and Teo Macero and with the Wally Cirillo Quartet. Collection also features one later track – the 1971 number "OP" with the hip Japanese group Toshiyuki Miymama and His New Herd. CD