One of our favorite singers and one of our favorite composers – brought together in a dream of a vocal jazz album! We've always loved the tunes that Michel Legrand penned for films of the 60s and 70s – as they've got a depth, sincerity, and jazziness that goes beyond most of his contemporaries – but they've also never sounded better than in the hands of vocalist Karin Krog and arranger Palle Mikkelborg, who both really deliver a unique twist on the Legrand sound! Mikkelborg's arrangements for the set are extremely beautiful – sometimes using funky backings, sometimes softer strings – but always getting the right balance between emotion and grooviness that Legrand brought to his original recordings of the work. And guitarist Philip Catherine plays some nicely complicated lines that electrify the tunes with a weird, moody feel – often "singing" alongside Karin's deeply icy vocals in a really wonderful way. The tracks are all taken at slightly longer readings than you might expect, which makes for even more room for creative invention – and titles include "Watch What Happens", "Ask Yourself Why", "I Will Wait For You", "Once Upon A Summertime", and "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life". CD

The icy voice of Norwegian singer Karin Krog is a perfect match for Dexter's deep soulful saxophone, and the two of them perform wonderfully together in this rare set of tracks recorded in 1970 with Kenny Drew on piano and Niel Henning Orsted-Peterson on bass. Krog has always been tremendously respectful of the players that she records with, and unlike other jazz vocal recordings, where the soloists take back seat to the singer, her recordings have them coming out front, and really sharing the spotlight – both in solo space, and in the interplay between the singer and musicians. Tracks include "Blue Eyes", "How Insensitive", "Some Other Spring", "Blue Monk", and her "Tribute To Jimmy Scott". LP, Vinyl record album

A groundbreaking record from flautist Hubert Laws – a mixture of classical themes and jazz, handled with an airy CTI approach – and set to arrangements by Don Sebesky that are simply mindblowing! The album's a wonderful example of the way that CTI really pushed the boundaries of instrumental expression in the 70s – taking Laws wonderfully breathy work on flute, and mixing it with some well-crafted backings that also feature electric piano by Bob James, bass by Ron Carter, and percussion by Airto and Jack DeJohnette. The larger group is handled by Sebesky, who really brings some magic to the record – a sense of sound, space, and timing that's still a heck of a lot more mature and sophisticated than most instrumental recordings coming out today! Titles include "Syrinx", "Rite Of Spring", "Brandenburg Concerto No 3", and "Pavane". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from a group who really live up to their name – and who manage to come up with a sound that's unlike any of the other jazzy club acts on the market! Metropolitan Jazz Affair is a great collaboration between Patchworks, keyboardist Benjamin Devigne, and a few other artists – working here in a mode that's got echoes of 70s funk, soul, and jazz – and possibly a slight undercurrent of contemporary club – but one that's relatively subtle overall. Most tunes have a fair bit of keyboards, mixed with trumpet, bass, and percussion – as well as vocals from Eric Duperray that often hit a sweetly soulful style – crackling a little like some lost soul vocalist from years back, but with a slight European inflection too. Some numbers hit a bit of the pulsating groove of other club jazz artists – but there's still a more song-based approach going on overall too – one that gives the album a tremendous amount of depth! The tracks are about 50/50 vocal and instrumental – and titles include "Fourmi Rouge", "Bird Of Spring", "Roaming", "Swagger", "Turned To Clay", "You Can Dig", "Sigh Of Dawn", "Day Dreaming", and "Find A Way". CD

A great little session by Gerry – hidden amidst his 60s work, and a no-nonsense, gimmick-free album with some really great playing overall! The group on the set includes Bob Brookmeyer on valve trombone as well as piano, which he even plays in duet with Gerry on one track – and the quartet's approach is nicely relaxed, but still firmly exploratory, as they make their way through a number of strong original tunes that include "Subterranean Blues", "Spring Is Sprung", "Open Country", and "Four For Three". LP, Vinyl record album

The album's got a really classic-looking cover – much more like a jazz session from the 50s and 60s – and it's got a very classic vibe as well – filled with well-crafted, back-to-basics work from pianist Makoto Ozone! The set's got the New York feel that you'd expect from the cover – as Ozone's working in the city, with a trio that includes George Mraz on bass and Roy Haynes on drums – both really creative musicians who find a way to do more than just simple timekeeping for the set. Mraz is especially great – arcing and matching Makoto's vibe in just the right way – and Haynes is a treat, as always – and really hits the right lyrical side of his style. Titles include "Beautiful Love", "Spring Is Here", "Tangerine", "O Grande Amor", "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes", and "My One & Only Love". CD

A gem by Joe Pass – recorded "live" in the studio a few months before his legendary For Django album, but never issued until the 70s! The set's got a freeness that you don't always hear in some of Pass' other more restrained work – and working with a quartet that includes Mike Wofford on piano, Pass crafts some long and beautiful versions of tracks that include "Joy Spring", "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes", "Relaxin At Camarillo", and "Some Time Ago". CD

Tivon Pennicott conducting with Yoojin Park on violin, Philip Dizak on trumpet and orcheseral chimes, Joe Saylor on drums and timpani, Doninique Sanders on double bass and gong, Yasuhi Nakamura on double bass with the Tivon Pennicott Orchestral Strings. CD

A serious later session from Don Sebesky – one that shows that he's still capable of plenty of darkness in his music, even after scoring some smoother sets in the 70s! The album's definitely got something of a "jazz orchestra" feel – with a full orchestra that initiates the proceedings, and sets the scene with a low-toned, rumbling sort of style – before the album then opens up into some much more jazz solo-based work that has a much more redemptive feel! Players include Alex Foster on tenor, Jon Faddis on trumpet, Gordon Beck on piano, Richard Davis on guitar, and Joe Beck on guitar – all of whom get some nice space to state their cases as the album rolls on – on three long tracks that include "Bird & Bela In B", "Rite Of Spring", and "Sebastian's Tune". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Startling! This album is one of two that a young Tony Williams cut for Blue Note, back when he was just hitting the age of 20, and when he was already blowing the minds of masters like Jackie McLean (who first hired him) and Miles Davis (who stole him from Jackie for his own group!) with an approach to drumming that was freed from usual time constraints. Williams conception was so unique, other young modernists – like the album's Wayne Shorter and Sam Rivers on tenor, Herbie Hancock on piano, and Gary Peacock on bass – quickly benefited from his presence, as you'll hear in this amazing session that sounds very little like any other Blue Note release. Williams wrote all of the tracks, but the style is much freer than any sense of composition might imply – and the group is shaken up differently from track to track. Titles include "From Before", "Echo", and "Extras". CD

Startling! This album is one of two that a young Tony Williams cut for Blue Note, back when he was just hitting the age of 20, and when he was already blowing the minds of masters like Jackie McLean (who first hired him) and Miles Davis (who stole him from Jackie for his own group!) with an approach to drumming that was freed from usual time constraints. Williams conception was so unique, other young modernists – like the album's Wayne Shorter and Sam Rivers on tenor, Herbie Hancock on piano, and Gary Peacock on bass – quickly benefited from his presence, as you'll hear in this amazing session that sounds very little like any other Blue Note release. Williams wrote all of the tracks, but the style is much freer than any sense of composition might imply – and the group is shaken up differently from track to track. Titles include "From Before", "Echo", and "Extras". LP, Vinyl record album

A lovely set of 70s jazz vocals – recorded by American singer Ann Young, with backing by a Japanese combo led by pianist Yuji Ohno! The sound is pretty darn soulful – tracks that range from modal groovers to mellow ballads, all sung by Ann with a really rich vocal approach, and backed up with lightly dancing notes that give the album a really classic feel. The whole thing reminds us a lot of some of the best Lorez Alexandria work from the 70s – with a similar talent for hitting strong notes, and working in some great bass next to the vocals. Titles include a jazz dancer version of "Speak Low", plus "Old Devil Moon", "Don't Explain", "I Only Have Eyes For You", "Autumn In New York", and "It Might As Well Be Spring". LP, Vinyl record album

An instant party in a single package – a set that brings together a whole host of rare singles from back in the day – all work that's almost an equal blend of old school funk and early hip hop! The work here comes from the Spring label and related Posse imprint – a company who were around on the New York scene to issue plenty of soul and funk during the 70s – then made the move into hip hop at the end of the decade, yet in a way that also brought some of their funky currents forward! Where other labels were maybe using a lean approach and more records as the basis for cuts, Spring already had access to some great groups to back up the MCs – and the result is a batch of funky cuts that are already primed for a party crowd in the South Bronx! As the 80s move in, the cuts use more beats and electro elements – yet that older ear for funk is still nicely in place, and really keeps things moving throughout. Titles include "Money (Dollar Bill Y'All) (long version)" by Jimmy Spicer, "Charley Says (Roller Boogie Baby)" by King Tim III, "The Beach (long vocal)" by Afrika & The Zulu Kings, "Go For What You Know" by The Bally Boys, "Tearin It Up" by D4, "Rockin It" by MC Flex & The Crew, "I'm Hot" by The Rangers, "Magic's Message" by Mr Magic, "To Whoever It May Concern" by DJ Hollywood, "Cars (Zulu club mix)" by Afrika & The Zulu Kings, and "King Tim III (Personality Jock)" by Fatback – a cut that some folks call the first-ever hip hop single! CD

An instant party in a single package – a set that brings together a whole host of rare singles from back in the day – all work that's almost an equal blend of old school funk and early hip hop! The work here comes from the Spring label and related Posse imprint – a company who were around on the New York scene to issue plenty of soul and funk during the 70s – then made the move into hip hop at the end of the decade, yet in a way that also brought some of their funky currents forward! Where other labels were maybe using a lean approach and more records as the basis for cuts, Spring already had access to some great groups to back up the MCs – and the result is a batch of funky cuts that are already primed for a party crowd in the South Bronx! As the 80s move in, the cuts use more beats and electro elements – yet that older ear for funk is still nicely in place, and really keeps things moving throughout. Titles include "Money (Dollar Bill Y'All) (long version)" by Jimmy Spicer, "Charley Says (Roller Boogie Baby)" by King Tim III, "The Beach (long vocal)" by Afrika & The Zulu Kings, "Go For What You Know" by The Bally Boys, "Tearin It Up" by D4, "Rockin It" by MC Flex & The Crew, "I'm Hot" by The Rangers, "Magic's Message" by Mr Magic, "To Whoever It May Concern" by DJ Hollywood, "Cars (Zulu club mix)" by Afrika & The Zulu Kings, and "King Tim III (Personality Jock)" by Fatback – a cut that some folks call the first-ever hip hop single! LP, Vinyl record album

A great slice of work from the New York underground of the post-disco years – served up by a family of labels that had been making things happen through most of the 70s! The set focuses strongly on the singles issued by the Posse and Spring Records labels – the former a new offshoot of the latter, especially geared towards 12" singles that were strongly focused on both the new sounds of the clubs and the streets – including lots of electro, bass-heavy funk, hip hop-inspired grooves, and mabye even some elements that would soon point the way towards house music to come! This side of the Spring Records label has never been covered in detail like this before – and the choice of cuts is as great as the notes on the music – which finally gives the Posse singles their due in the scene from back in the day. Titles include "We Come To Jam" by Blaze, "Sing A Song" by Lonnie Youngblood, "Have Your Cake" by Body, "Wired For Games (long version)" by C Brand, "Workin Out" by Ritz, "Live It Up (short vocal)" by Fonda Rae, "Get Up An Dance" by Mynk, "Spread Love" by Fatback, "Let's Get Nice (7" vocal)" by Glory, and "Got To Have Your Lovin (short vocal)" by Feel. CD

A totally fresh take on French sounds of the late 60s – served up here with a sound that's as revolutionary as the image on the cover! This isn't the dreamy strings of familiar Paris in the Spring – but instead, the sound of change that happened in and around 1968 – as a whole new generation of younger French musicians, singers, artists, and intellectuals were really making themselves known in bold new ways! You'll recognize a few names here – like Serge Gainsbourg or Brigitte Fontaine – but the collection goes way beyond those bigger names, and features loads of obscure artists from the scene that will be a real revelation. The collection was done by the same Saint Etienne team that gave us the excellent English Weather and Songs For The Carnegie Deli compilations on Ace – and titles include "L'Elu" by Ilous & Decuyper, "La Metaphore" by Jacques Dutronc, "Looking For You" by Nin Ferrer, "Chanson D'Un Jour D'Hiver" by Cortex, "Couleurs" by Leonie, "Leslie Simone" by William Sheller, "Litanies" by Triangle, "Baleines" by Francois De Roubaix, "Lileth" by Leonie, "Ystor" by Ys, "Chanson Pour Que Tu M'Aimes U Peu" by France Gall, "Le Victime" by Karl Heinz Schafer, "Les Adventures Extraordinaires D'Un Ballet De Banque" by Bernard Lavilliers, "Helicoptere" by Mireille Darc, "Les Garde Violent Au Secours Du Roi (alt version)" by Jean Claude Vannier, and "La Chanson D'Helene" by Romy Schneider & Michel Piccoli. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic look at the Spring Records label in New York – a company that had a few big crossover hits in the 70s, but also issued a lot more rare and obscure material over the years – with a long legacy that even hit the early years of the old school scene! One of Spring's great contributions was finding a way for fast funk groups to shift into a disco mode when the earliest years of the clubs got going – but there's also a lot more going on here too – including some great deep soul ballads, warm midtempo steppers, and cuts that point the way towards the modern soul generation on the rise. The package also features six never-issued cuts, alongside some well-chosen and overlooked Spring Records gems – all put together with the usual strong notes and excellent sound we love from Ace/Kent! Titles include "If We Get Caught I Don't Know You" by Prince Philip Mitchell, "Falling In Love" by Victor Tavares, "Save The Best For Me" by The Determinations, "Do You Feel Me" by Act I, "I'm The Other Half Of You" by Maxine Weldon, "If You Could Turn Into Me" by The Fatback Band, "Magic's In The Air" by Ronnie Walker, "Hold On" by Ray Godfrey, "If You Say You Love Me" by Us, "The Storm Is Passing Over" by Jackie Verdell, "Beauty" by The Joneses, "Kill The Monster" by Flower Shoppe, "I Ride Alone" by The Internationals, "Get Right" by Richard Barbary, "Daddy's Coming Home" by Prince Harold, and "Of Your Life" by Vernon Brown. CD

Chet Baker on trumpet and vocals, Glauco Masetti on alto saxophone, Fausto Papetti on baritone saxophone, Gianni Basso on tenor saxophone, Mario Pezzotta on trombone, Renato Sellani on piano, Franco Cerri on bass, and Gene Victory on drums. CD

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Two fantastic albums – the amazing Dolphin, with Lou Levy on piano – plus Spring Is Here, also with Levy – plus Monty Budwig on bass and Victor Lewis on drums! CD

... CD

That's the great Joe Henderson on the cover, and this issue is titled after one of his greatest albums – a great indication of all the jazz-based goodness you'll find within! In addition to a long cover feature on Joe, the issue also has articles on the International Anthem label, jazz spots in Tokyo, ESP Records, the scene in Lisbon, vibist Joel Ross, pianist Mal Waldron, and a rethinking of smooth jazz too! As with previous issues, the presentation is fantastic – more book-style than magazine – square bound, with lavish color photos and images throughout – and lots of other great features too! Magazine

Bill Carrothers on piano, Drew Gress on bass, and Bill Stewart on drums. CD

Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" and the original improvisation "Spectre D'Un Songe" – performed on two pianos by Sylvie Courvoisier and Cory Smythe. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

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A trio date with Parker on bass, Hamid Drake on drums, and Daniel Carter on alto and tenor sax. CD

Dierk Peters on vibraphone, Caleb Wheeler Curtis on alto saxophone, Adam O'Farrill on trumpet, Walter Stinson on bass, and Buz Donald on drums. CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

With Nick Brignola on baritone saxophone, Roger Kellaway on piano, John Lockwood on accoustic bass, and Adam Nussbaum on drums. CD

With Jimmy Rowles on piano, George Mraz on bass, and Akira Tana on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of the dueling cover story issues of Wax Poetics – headed by great features on classic rap legend Big Daddy Kane, blue-eyed soul hero Daryl Hall, upstart hip hop gamer Joey Badass and progressive jazzy soul singer Jose James! Solid, worthy choices one and all – and pretty much every artist featured in Issue 54 could just as easily be on the cover! Includes interviews with Steely Dan's Donald Fagen, an extremely rare interview with Jimmy Spicer, plus pieces on Laura Nyro, Ghetto Brothers, Bobby Caldwell, Clams Casino, Nosaj Thing and Keyboard Kid. As always, it's got both both classic and comparably rarely seen photos, shots of old school cover and inner label art and more. Another essential issue! Magazine

The last great single from X-Clan. The song starts off with the intro to Jimmy Castor's "Troglodyte" – 'Cavemen...Neanderthals...Troglodytes' over a haunting Ry Cooder recording of an old spiritual, followed by a single gunshot. The music and beats kick in with some of the most biting and clever attacks on the enemies of the 5% – from the 10% to swine eaters, from grafted devils to the Rainbow Coalition. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Reid Anderson on bass and electronics, Ethan Iverson on piano, and David King on drums. CD

... CD

A great little soundtrack – one that's in a mode that might well be our favorite from the Italian scene of the early 70s – a style that's funky and breezy at once, dreamy and groovy, and delivered with instrumental inflections that still have us scratching our heads at the process! Stelvio Cipriani is at his best here – even though the set has more acoustic piano instead of electric – as his role at the help is superb, as he works through light percussion, warm horn arrangements, slight strings, and other cool elements that perfectly balance between bossa and jazz, cinema and lounge, all with an organic, effortless quality that hangs tight throughout all the tracks on the record. Eddie Constantine sings on two tracks, but most numbers are instrumental – and titles include "Ricordi Nel Bosco", "Second Spring", "Tema Di Anna", "Fantasia Tragica", and "It Was A Dream". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty warm and lyrical set by Kenny – accompanied here by a larger group that includes Cecil Payne, David Amram, and Cannonball Adderley on horns, plus a young Cedar Walton on piano. Dorham wrote 4 of the album's tracks, and they provide a perfect showcase for his polished trumpet style. Titles include "Spring Cannon", "Blue Spring", "Poetic", and "Passion Spring". CD

Stan Getz on tenor saxophone, Lou Levy on piano, Monty Budwig on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. CD

One of the few albums ever cut by reedman Rudolph Johnson – a hell of a saxophonist, and one with a great ability to combine the spiritual with the searing – a bit like Joe Farrell at his CTI best, but not as freewheeling – nicely focused, and a little bit funky in all the right parts – in ways that make this album one of the real standouts on the legendary Black Jazz label! The groove is nice and hard, and plenty dark – with lots of sharp edges around the offbeat rhythms, and a "bite" that makes the album one of the heaviest titles on the label. Other players include John Barnes on piano, Reggie Johnson on bass, and Ray Pounds on drums – and titles include the great "Diswa", which has sort of of a tight jazzy hip hop sample feel to it, plus "Mr TJ", "Little Daphne", and "Spring Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

The icy voice of Norwegian singer Karin Krog is a perfect match for Dexter's deep soulful saxophone, and the two of them perform wonderfully together in this rare set of tracks recorded in 1970 with Kenny Drew on piano and Niel Henning Orsted-Peterson on bass. Krog has always been tremendously respectful of the players that she records with, and unlike other jazz vocal recordings, where the soloists take back seat to the singer, her recordings have them coming out front, and really sharing the spotlight – both in solo space, and in the interplay between the singer and musicians. Tracks include "Blue Eyes", "How Insensitive", "Some Other Spring", "Blue Monk", and her "Tribute To Jimmy Scott". CD

A groundbreaking record from flautist Hubert Laws – a mixture of classical themes and jazz, handled with an airy CTI approach – and set to arrangements by Don Sebesky that are simply mindblowing! The album's a wonderful example of the way that CTI really pushed the boundaries of instrumental expression in the 70s – taking Laws wonderfully breathy work on flute, and mixing it with some well-crafted backings that also feature electric piano by Bob James, bass by Ron Carter, and percussion by Airto and Jack DeJohnette. The larger group is handled by Sebesky, who really brings some magic to the record – a sense of sound, space, and timing that's still a heck of a lot more mature and sophisticated than most instrumental recordings coming out today! Titles include "Syrinx", "Rite Of Spring", "Brandenburg Concerto No 3", and "Pavane". CD

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Pretty light stuff from Alphonze Mouzon – without the heavy pounding drums of his Tommy Bolin/fusion years, and with more of the sweet smooth R&B inflected grooves of his later work. Most of the tracks are instrumental, and although there's plenty of strong players on the record – Ronnie Laws, Ernie Watts, Brandon Fields – the overall sound is pretty slicked over. Titles include "I Can Give You More", "We Almost Made It", "Come & Fly With Me", and "Waterfall". LP, Vinyl record album

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This is the kind of Italian disco we can get our ears around! Bebu Silvetti is on keyboards, and at the helm of the orchestra – working here like an Italian Barry White, on a groove that's very similar to the best work of the Love Unlimited Orchestra! The tracks have a harder focus on the drums and beats than you'd expect – which punches things up nicely, and is a perfect complement to the breathy vocals and smooth Euro grooving over the top of the mix. Great stuff – a real treasure, and with a lot more soul than you'd expect! Titles include "Primitive Man", "Spring Rain", "Two Cups Of Coffee", "Voyage Of No Return", "Coconut Rain", and "Contigo". CD

Willie Smith on piano. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Germany's wild psych group The Petards get a nice cover feature this time around – and the album's got other great articles on underground acts from the past – including Sand Salisbury, The Flippers, Auntie Pus, Les Problemes, Lipstick Killers, and Charging Rhinoceros Of Soul! And if you don't know all those groups, don't worry – the usual detailed level of coverage from Ugly Things makes for a nicely deep dive – one that always has us really getting excited about artists we might have missed by otherwise – enthusiasm that's always pushed even further by the other great features in the magazine! As always, there's plenty to read – almost 150 pages, and plenty of text! Magazine

Startling! This album is one of two that a young Tony Williams cut for Blue Note, back when he was just hitting the age of 20, and when he was already blowing the minds of masters like Jackie McLean (who first hired him) and Miles Davis (who stole him from Jackie for his own group!) with an approach to drumming that was freed from usual time constraints. Williams conception was so unique, other young modernists – like the album's Wayne Shorter and Sam Rivers on tenor, Herbie Hancock on piano, and Gary Peacock on bass – quickly benefited from his presence, as you'll hear in this amazing session that sounds very little like any other Blue Note release. Williams wrote all of the tracks, but the style is much freer than any sense of composition might imply – and the group is shaken up differently from track to track. Titles include "From Before", "Echo", and "Extras". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes music from Aya, Peyton, Eventide, Chungking, Who Da Funk, Sharam Jay, and Moguai. CD

A dozen songs from Black Mighty Orchestra, Bossa Nostra, Holland Tunnel Project, Gazzara, LTJ X-Perience, Sarah Jane Morris, Jaymz Nylon, Belladonna, Voo Doo Phunk, and Don Carlos. CD

Includes tracks by Cheap Trick, NRBQ, Hot Date, Gerard McMahon, Dreamers, Jack Mack & The Heart Attack, and Big Spender. LP, Vinyl record album

A date recorded in 1980, with an equally laidback feel as some of the earlier Ann Burton albums from the 70s! Burton's singing with only bass and piano for accompaniment – no drums at all, which makes for a very gentle, laidback sound – a perfect showcase for Ann's unique talents. Given that Burton was easily one of the most sensitive singers of the 70s, the lack of instrumentation is hardly a challenge – as she makes things swing beautifully all on her own, even when mellow – and has this way of holding rapt attention without any need for other instrumentation. Titles include "The End Of A Love Affair", "Lover Come Back To Me", "The Days Of Wine & Roses", "It's A Pity To Say Goodnight", "Baubles Bangles & Beads", "Some Other Spring", and "What Is There To Say". CD

Aaron Copland conducts his classic Appalachian Spring with the Boston Symphony! LP, Vinyl record album

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Wonderful late work from piano legend Bill Evans – a set that was recorded in 1977, but not issued until after his death in 1980 – at which point it became an instant essential in his catalog! As with so many of Bill's 70s recordings, the session benefits from the bass work of Eddie Gomez – rich, round, and warm – a perfect accompaniment for Evans' sometimes faltering piano work at the time – and a player that Evans was incredibly lucky to be working with during much of his later years. Elliot Zigmund is on drums, a beautifully sensitive player – and the set includes a sublime version of Michel Legrand's "You Must Believe In Spring", plus the tracks "Theme From Mash", "The Peacocks", "Sometime Ago", and "Gary's Theme". CD also features 3 previously unissued bonus tracks – "Without A Song", "All Of You", and "Freddie Freeloader". CD

Wonderful late work from piano legend Bill Evans – a set that was recorded in 1977, but not issued until after his death in 1980 – at which point it became an instant essential in his catalog! As with so many of Bill's 70s recordings, the session benefits from the bass work of Eddie Gomez – rich, round, and warm – a perfect accompaniment for Evans' sometimes faltering piano work at the time – and a player that Evans was incredibly lucky to be working with during much of his later years. Elliot Zigmund is on drums, a beautifully sensitive player – and the set includes a sublime version of Michel Legrand's "You Must Believe In Spring", plus the tracks "Theme From Mash", "The Peacocks", "Sometime Ago", and "Gary's Theme". CD also features 3 previously unissued bonus tracks – "Without A Song", "All Of You", and "Freddie Freeloader". CD

Wonderful late work from piano legend Bill Evans – a set that was recorded in 1977, but not issued until after his death in 1980 – at which point it became an instant essential in his catalog! As with so many of Bill's 70s recordings, the session benefits from the bass work of Eddie Gomez – rich, round, and warm – a perfect accompaniment for Evans' sometimes faltering piano work at the time – and a player that Evans was incredibly lucky to be working with during much of his later years. Elliot Zigmund is on drums, a beautifully sensitive player – and the set includes a sublime version of Michel Legrand's "You Must Believe In Spring", plus the tracks "Theme From Mash", "The Peacocks", "Sometime Ago", and "Gary's Theme". CD also features three bonus tracks – "Without A Song", "All Of You", and "Freddie Freeloader". CD

Stan Getz on tenor saxophone, Lou Levy on piano, Monty Budwig on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. CD

A groundbreaking record from flautist Hubert Laws – a mixture of classical themes and jazz, handled with an airy CTI approach – and set to arrangements by Don Sebesky that are simply mindblowing! The album's a wonderful example of the way that CTI really pushed the boundaries of instrumental expression in the 70s – taking Laws wonderfully breathy work on flute, and mixing it with some well-crafted backings that also feature electric piano by Bob James, bass by Ron Carter, and percussion by Airto and Jack DeJohnette. The larger group is handled by Sebesky, who really brings some magic to the record – a sense of sound, space, and timing that's still a heck of a lot more mature and sophisticated than most instrumental recordings coming out today! Titles include "Syrinx", "Rite Of Spring", "Brandenburg Concerto No 3", and "Pavane". CD

... CD

Rare broadcast material from Bud Powell – from two different 1953 dates, March 21 and March 23 – the latter of which features Charles Mingus on bass and Roy Haynes on drums! CD

With Collin Walcott, Paul McCandless, Glen Moore, and Dilip Naik. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic treasure from the South African jazz scene of the 60s – a record that's full of soul and spirit, and which draws enough from the piano of leader Chris Schilder as it does from the tenor of Winston Mankuku Ngozi! Nogzi's a player who's very much in the John Coltrane camp, but with a spirit that's all his own – a rich tone that reaches back to late 50s hardbop styles, but which gets a more fluid, modal expression here – alongside well-crafted lines from Schilder on piano, in a quintet with guitar from Garry Kriel, bass from Phillip Schilder, and drums from Gilbert Matthews. There's certainly a South African spirit in some of the rhythms, but the music itself is more in the righteous territory of late 60s Blue Note – like the most creative work from Lee Morgan or Hank Mobley – on titles that include "The Birds", "Look Up", "Before The Rain & After", "Spring", and "You Don't Know What Love Is". LP, Vinyl record album

This is the kind of Italian disco we can get our ears around! Bebu Silvetti is on keyboards, and at the helm of the orchestra – working here like an Italian Barry White, on a groove that's very similar to the best work of the Love Unlimited Orchestra. The tracks have a harder focus on the drums and beats than you'd expect – which punches things up nicely, and is a perfect complement to the breathy vocals and smooth Euro grooving over the top of the mix. Great stuff – a real treasure, and with a lot more soul than you'd expect! Titles include "Primitive Man", "Spring Rain", "Two Cups Of Coffee", "Voyage Of No Return", "Coconut Rain", and "Contigo". CD also features a bonus track – a single edit of "Spring Rain". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A totally fresh take on French sounds of the late 60s – served up here with a sound that's as revolutionary as the image on the cover! This isn't the dreamy strings of familiar Paris in the Spring – but instead, the sound of change that happened in and around 1968 – as a whole new generation of younger French musicians, singers, artists, and intellectuals were really making themselves known in bold new ways! You'll recognize a few names here – like Serge Gainsbourg or Brigitte Fontaine – but the collection goes way beyond those bigger names, and features loads of obscure artists from the scene that will be a real revelation. The collection was done by the same Saint Etienne team that gave us the excellent English Weather and Songs For The Carnegie Deli compilations on Ace – and titles include "L'Elu" by Ilous & Decuyper, "La Metaphore" by Jacques Dutronc, "Looking For You" by Nin Ferrer, "Chanson D'Un Jour D'Hiver" by Cortex, "Couleurs" by Leonie, "Leslie Simone" by William Sheller, "Litanies" by Triangle, "Baleines" by Francois De Roubaix, "Lileth" by Leonie, "Ystor" by Ys, "Chanson Pour Que Tu M'Aimes U Peu" by France Gall, "Le Victime" by Karl Heinz Schafer, "Les Adventures Extraordinaires D'Un Ballet De Banque" by Bernard Lavilliers, "Helicoptere" by Mireille Darc, "Les Garde Violent Au Secours Du Roi (alt version)" by Jean Claude Vannier, and "La Chanson D'Helene" by Romy Schneider & Michel Piccoli. CD

A whole host of tunes that will help you say goodbye to winter and hello to spring – a light and lively mix of postwar cuts in a variety of styles – from early rockers, to instrumentals, radio pop gems, and even a bit of R&B – all put together with a very playful vibe! The set's similar to the other "season" titles from Bear Family – showing how similar themes move through American music in different ways – almost like you're tuning into some old AM station in the month of May, discovering a whole host of tunes you might never have heard otherwise! Oddly, there's also a theme of chickens and eggs running through the set – which features 28 titles that include "Chicken Rock" by Fat Daddy Holmes, "Spring Fever" by Vilas Craig & The Kollege Kings, "One Fried Egg" by The Charioteers, "Rock Chicken Rock" by Ray Coleman & His Skyrockets, "Jungle Bunny" by The Fabulous Pearls, "The Rooster" by Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm, "Chicken Reel" by les Paul, "Easter Day" by The Dixon Brothers, "April Love" by Shirley Jones & Pat Boone, "Egghead" by Al Allen, "Spring Fever" by The Velvets, "End Of Spring" by Les Baxter, and "It Might As Well Be Spring" by Jerry Duane with the Monarchs. CD