A late 70s classic from South African bassist Johnny Dyani – and an album that reunites him with Dudu Pukwana, the saxophonist in their original group The Blue Notes! The album also features John Tchicai on both alto and soprano sax, as well as added guitar from Afredo Do Nascimento, plus some added percussion. Tunes have a nice rhythmic feel, but the solos are also quite raw and searing – really blowing open the whole thing, in the manner of some of the post-Blue Notes early 70s work by Pukwana, Dyanai, and sadly departed bandmate Mongezi Feza. Titles include "Heart With Minor's Face", "Magwaza", "Eyomzi", "Mbiza", and "Radebe". CD also features 4 bonus alternate takes! CD

Great stuff – and a beautiful album of spiritual jazz recorded by this obscure piano player who worked briefly with Jackie McLean in the seventies. Billy Gault had an amazingly soulful way of putting together his work, but never got bogged down in too much sentiment. There's some beautiful stuff on here, including the awesome "Mode for Trane", and "The Time of this World is at Hand", a great track that features vocals by Joe Lee Wilson (some of his best) and Ellen Deleston. Wilson and Deleston also sing on a few others too – in a moody, soulful and spiritual way that's almost a post-Coltrane take on the sound of Andy & The Bey Sisters. Other titles include "Aisha", "When Destiny Calls", "Portrait Of A Joaner", and "Nothing But A Man". This truly is an incredible record – one of our all time favorites of this generation! CD

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Dexter Gordon in one of his greatest settings ever – playing live in the familiar confines of the Montmartre jazz club in Copenhagen, with sublime trio backing from Kenny Drew! The tracks are long and open – that style that Dex perfected with Steeplechase Records, which provides such a great showcase for his solo talents – and the album's a great illustration of why we never get tired of Gordon in this format! Each track pushes the 10 minute mark – and Dexter's got this bold, strong tone on tenor – but also these personal, very feeling qualities as well – the undercurrent of soul that he never seemed to develop until the later years of his life – underscored by Drew's work on piano, plus Mads Vinding on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums. Tracks include the long originals "Sticky Vicket", "Candlelight Lady", "Montmartre", and "The Rainbow People" – plus "Old Folks" and "There Is No Greater Love". CD

Excellent live work from Dexter Gordon's 60s stay at the Cafe Montmartre in Copenhagen – previously unissued, but easily some of Gordon's best of the time! The set varies slightly from Gordon's mostly-quartet live sides from Montmartre – in that it adds in trumpeter Donald Byrd, for a performance that's almost an extension of the One Flight Up album on Blue Note. Byrd's hard-edge sound on the trumpet really pushes the recording with a deeper feel than usual – creating some tight ensemble horn work up front, before rolling into the longer Gordon-styled solo feel of other Montmartre recordings. The rest of the quintet includes Kenny Drew on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Alex Riel on drums – and the set features extremely long versions of "So What" and "Lady Bird" – plus the shorter "Who Can I Turn To" and "Blues By Five". CD

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An incredible return to form for Billy Harper – and a landmark album recorded at the end of the 80s, when we'd all but given up on him! The session returns Billy to the majesty of his 70s work – placing him in the setting of long tracks, modal rhythms, and spiritual motivation – the uniquely Harper territory first forged with Lee Morgan and Max Roach, sounding better than ever here, with all the confidence of his youth. The group's a quintet – with Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Francesca Tanksley on piano, Clarence Seay on bass, and Newman Baker on drums – working perfectly as a unit, with a power level that's simply amazing. Harper's the main star, reaching towards the heavens with some incredible solos – but he also clearly knows that he wouldn't be able to do what he does without the great level of support he's getting from the rest of the group. Tracks include "Destiny Is Yours", "If One Could Only See", "Groove From Heaven", and "East West Exodus". CD also features 2 bonus tracks – "Dance In The Question" and "My Funny Valentine". CD

Some of the best Billy Harper work of the past decade or two – a 3 volume series of live performances, all recorded in the Far East in 1991! This first volume features Billy recorded in Korea, with a group that includes Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Francesca Tanksley on piano, Louis Spears on bass, and Newman Baker on drums – stretching out on long tunes that recall the brilliance of Harper's incredible Japanese recordings of the 70s – a masterful blend of searching and soulfulness! Titles include "I Do Believe", "If One Could Only See", "Croquet Ballet", and "Insight". CD

Volume 2 in this great series of live work recorded by Harper in 1991 – a set of tracks performed in Taiwan, with a quintet that includes Eddie Henderson on trumpet! The feel here is similar to Harper's best late 70s work – with long tracks that open up in modal fashion, setting the stage for exploratory passages on the tenor – yet never going too far or too freakish to lose their soul. The blowing's in a perfect post-Coltrane mode, and the set features original Harper tunes that include "Destiny Is Yours", "Priestess", and "Trying To Make Heaven My Home". CD

The last and longest of Harper's 3 albums recorded in the Far East in 1991 – a mindblowing set of tracks performed in Malaysia, with a quintet that features Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Francesca Tanksley on piano, Louie Spears on bass, and Newman Baker on drums. The rhythmic component of the group is extremely strong – very well-suited to Harper's free-thinking explorations in sound – urging him onward with long spiralling passages that have one foot firmly planted in the soil, with the other pointed towards the heavens. Titles include "Soran Bushi BH", "Cry Of Hunger", "Call Of The Wild & Peaceful Heart". CD

A timelessly soulful session by drummer Louis Hayes – one with a feel that sums up much of the 70s underground soul jazz scene, but which also has roots that stretch back to Hayes' time with Horace Silver in the 60s! The ensemble's a sextet, playing with Silver-esque overtones – and featuring Eddie Allen on trumpet, Gerald Hayes on alto, Javon Jackson on tenor, Ronnie Matthews on piano, and Clint Houston on bass. Matthews' piano lines are especially strong – really setting up and leading the group through a great set of lesser-known numbers that roll and groove with a really righteous sound. Titles include a great reading of George Cables' "Quiet Fire", plus "Honey Dip", "Lament For Love", "The Walk", "New Endings", and"Spur Of The Moment". CD

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One of the strongest statements ever recorded by bassist Sam Jones – a wickedly soulful session that cooks on all burners! The album's got a rich depth that far surpasses most of Jones' trio sessions – and is a full quintet album, with Terumasa Hino on cornet, Bob Berg on tenor, Ronnie Matthews on piano, and Al Foster on drums. Matthews' strong and soulful lines really push the whole group along – stretching out with modal energy that really seems to set the horns free. All tracks are extremely fresh, and played at a level that brings out the best we'd expect from the players – possibly more in fact – and the record's an under-appreciated gem in the Steeplechase catalog of the 70s! Titles include "Del Sasser", "Visitation", "Occurrence", "Jean Marie", and "Before You". CD also features 3 bonus alternate takes! CD

A great little album from Jordan – one of a number of very hip sessions he cut in the mid 70s, working with his Magic Triangle group that included Cedar Walton on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. The group come together with an energy that's extremely rare – creative and experimental, yet never failing to swing, and working as one to explore a slightly cosmic approach to jazz, one that rarely shows up in Jordan's later work. The album's filled with great original tunes – including "One For Amos", "Inga", "Voices Deep Within Me", and "Scorpio" – and Jordan plays tenor and flute. CD also features a bonus unreleased version of "Bearcat". CD

A beautifully unique take on the music of Don Cherry and Ornette Coleman – served up here by a trio that features Kirk Knuffke on cornet, Jay Anderson on bass, and Adam Nussbaum on drums! The tunes are all classic Cherry or Coleman compositions – but the performance here is very different, with a robust quality that comes not just from the deeper range of the cornet, but also from the bold work on drum and bass – which still keeps things in that rompingly rhythmic mode of the group that Cherry and Coleman had together, but maybe both a bit more open in terms of the groove – and more focused on the one lead solo instrument. Knuffke's really opened up the sound of others in the past – but this record might well be his greatest achievement so far – as you'll hear on titles that include "Roland Alphonso", "The Sphinx", "Jayne", "Song In D", "Mind & Time", "Cherryco", "Golden Heart", "Paris Ambulance Song", and "Angel Voice". CD

A beautiful jazz-based take on the music of Erik Satie – one that really lives up to the spare spirit of the original compositions, but also opens the tunes up with a bit more soul as well! Jesse Stacken plays piano – with all the light touch and spacious presentation Satie intended for the music – while Kirk Knuffke blows cornet, often with an equally light, open touch – shading in the melodies in really gentle ways, but with a great deal of beauty – unlocking even more sentiment than is originally in the songs – and if you know the work of Satie, you know that's saying a lot! The music is beautiful – maybe one of the best extrapolations of Satie we've ever heard, on a par with some of the Nato Records experiments in the 80s – and titles include "Vexations", "Trois Gynopedies", "Six Gnossiennes", "Sarabande No 1", and "Petite Ouverture A Danser". CD

A great singer in a great group – a vocalist who's really coming into her own, and turning out to be a heck of a writer – as you'll hear on this album that features both original music, and lyrics set to tunes by jazz musicians who include Duke Jordan and Dexter Gordon! Allegra Levy's never going for an easy approach here – not trying crossover ballads or torch material, but also not trying to overdo things with too many tricks and gimmicks – just delivering rock-solid, jazz-based presentation of the tunes – which include some surprisingly poetic lyrics on a few of our favorite numbers. The group's got the right balance to make the music sparkle in all the right ways – with Stephen Riley on tenor, Kirk Knkuffke on cornet, Carmen Staaf on piano, Jay Anderson on bass, and Billy Drummond on drums – and titles include "Lullaby Of The Orient", "Cities Between Us", "Cherry Blossom Song", "I Shouldn't Tell You", "Misery Makes The Music", "Sleepwalk With Me", and "Soy Califa". CD

Joe Magnarelli can be one of the most explosively colorful trumpeters we know – and that's definitely the case here, as he works some beautiful magic alongside the alto of Andy Fusco and guitar of John Hart! Both players are equally imbued with hues, and weave this fantastic array of tones and colors throughout the set – especially on the few numbers that are Magnarelli originals! Joe's a player who would have been huge in the classic years of jazz recording – when his mix of technique and humanity would have grabbed many ears right away – but maybe that's also what makes a record like this so special – as it's part of a continuing statement of individuality from a player that only the few in the know can really appreciate. The group also features Ben Wolfe on bass and Byron Landon on drums – and titles include "Magic Trick", "Theme For Ernie", "2nd Anniversary", "Vercelli", "Akira's Riff", and a nice take on "Along Came Betty". CD

A double-helping of trio material from the great Tete Montoliu – a pianist with plenty of power to really open up in a setting like this! The album features Tete in clear command of the keyboard – playing with that amazing sense of flow that made him one of the leading European pianists from the 60s onward – really matured here to a point where he's constantly creating, but without any overdone sense that calls attention to itself – the kind of piano work that's initially quite subtle, but then really breathtaking when you sit back and realize how much has happened in such a short space! And on this album, the spaces are surprisingly large – lots of really long tracks that not only give Montoliu room to stretch out plenty, but which also feature great work on bass from John Heard and drums from Albert Tootie Heath. Titles include "Jo Vull Que M'Arcariciis", "Blue Bossa", "El Neu Carrer", "A Child Is Born", "Tune Up", "Doxy", "D&E", "Ladybird", and "My Old Flame". CD

You might recognize the last name of alto saxophonist Zaid Nasser, as his father was Jamil Nasser – the wonderful bassist who made some incredible music with Ahmad Jamal in the 60s and 70s! And while Zaid certainly lives up to the family legacy, his sound here is very nicely different – a sharp-toned alto approach, and one that can come across in these effortless flurries of notes that are really beautiful – sounds that are pointed, but also set out in constellation in a very thoughtful way – as Zaid works alongside Pasquale Grasso on guitar, Ari Roland on bass, and Keith Balla on drums. The deftness of Nasser's playing is very striking, and almost reminds us of Lou Donaldson on his early 60s sides for Blue Note, in the pre-funk years. Not surprisingly, he takes on two Donaldson tunes – "Sputnik" and "The Stroller" – alongside original compositions "Redd's Tune" and "Junior's Soul" – plus a great version of "Naked City", and the tunes "SOS", "Kaqavik", and "Never Let Me Go". CD

Dick Oatts has a wonderful group here – a well-chosen quintet of musicians who really seem to open up the possibilities in each others' sound, especially when it comes to tone, texture, and color! Oatts is always great – his raspy alto is deft, but always very personal too – and it's offset here by the sparkling trumpet of Joe Magnarelli, who seems to be exploring a lot of fresh territory on the mostly-original tunes provided for the album by Dick. Pianist Anthony Wonsey blocks things out strongly with his work on the keys – bringing in a soulful, stepping vibe that's mighty nice – before soaring out on his own solos too. And bassist Ugonna Okegwo rounds out the snapping rhythms provided by drummer Chris Smith – making for a pair who's sense of timing really inspires the others. Titles include "Como Uno", "Speaking Relative", "Do Da Day", "Yesteryear", "Lossofyou", and "Midwest Mideast". CD

Two great later albums from guitar legend Jimmy Raney – back to back in a single set! First up is Stolen Moments – a sweet set that has Jimmy's guitar matched with that of son Doug – both players working rhythm and melody, and skipping around each other in this joyous way that's quite different from some of Jim's earlier work. That sublime Raney tone is still very firmly in place – but it's matched by the youthful energy of Doug, too – and given a gentle swing that's really appreciated, thanks to work from Michael Moore on bass and Billy Hart on drums. Titles include "Jonathan's Waltz", "Stolen Moments", "I Should Care", "Samba Teekens", and "Alone Together". Duets features spare strings – just the guitars of Doug and Jimmy Raney, working together in a set of mostly standards – swinging things surprisingly well, even without any other players helping them out – thanks to a natural sense of rhythm in both musicians! The pairing of the instruments is wonderful here – sensitive collaboration that has each of them shading their sounds, inflecting their tones, and really finding a way to support without overwhelming each other – the kind of father/son relationship that's already quite rare, and just about non-existent in music! The interplay is wonderful – no "two generations" gimmick at all, and instead just some really well-matched players who clearly delight in finding new ways to work together. Titles include "Action", "Invitation", "My One & Only Love", "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Days Of Wine & Roses", "Oleo", and "It Might As Well Be Spring". CD

One of the more adventurous trio dates from Hilton Ruiz – with Hakim Jami on bass and Steve Solder on drums! CD

With Buster Williams on bass and Billy Higgins on drums – on titles that include "Straight Street", "Arrival", "One For Hakim", "Medi II", and "Misty Thursday". CD

Guitarist Gene Segal has his instrument wrapped up nicely here in a trio – with work on Hammond Charette and drums from Bruce Cox – in a group that has a nicely different vibe than some of the more retro-styled organ combos! Segal changes up his sound a bit from track to track – sometimes playing with a bit of chromatic fuzz – sometimes more string-sensitive – and almost always working with his own compositions, which again really change things up in a good way – providing a fresh perspective on the traditional mix of Hammond and guitar, while also never resorting to any gimmicky modes. Titles include "Dharma", "Us", "Two Sides To Every Story", "Creeper", "Spiral", "Blues Out", and "Sunken Treasure". CD

Beautiful! Just duets between Archie Shepp on tenor and soprano and Horace Parlan on piano – a surprisingly wonderful pairing that really brings out some soulful sides of Shepp's horn! LP, Vinyl record album

Beautifully soulful duets – Parlan on piano, and Archie Shepp on tenor and soprano sax! LP, Vinyl record album

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Pianist Mark Soskin has played on dozens of records over the decades, yet has given us just a handful as a leader – which is quite a shame, as his work on an album like this is totally great! The pianist has this warmth and flow right from the start – the kind of understated accompaniment he can bring to others, but which really sparkles out in the lead here – in the company of bassist Jay Anderson and drummer Anthony Pinciotti – who both often really let Mark take off, and overwhelm the proceedings with his many charms! Soskin's work on the keys often is so effortless, it might be easy to miss the subtle shadings and personality he brings to the music – but we're guessing that, like us, you'll be grabbed by the album right away. Titles include a great version of Luiz Eca's "The Dolphin", plus the Soskin originals "Hearts & Minds" and "Slider" – plus takes on "If I Should Lose You", "Sometime Ago", "Eiderdown", and "Old Folks". CD

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A great later moment from trumpeter Idrees Sulieman – a player that most folks know for his famous 50s appearances on Prestige Records sessions, before he left these shores and had a much more obscure later career overseas! During that time, though, Sulieman really grew as a player – especially in his phrasing, which is wonderful here – very rich and personal, with a mouthy style that's quite compelling, especially on the groovers! The group's one of those top-shelf Steeplechase combos from the time – as strong as you'd hear on an old Prestige date – and features Per Goldschmidt on tenor and baritone, Horace Parlan on piano, Mads Vinding on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. Titles include "Groovin High", "Tell Me What's Your Name", "Lipstick", "Happy Ending", and "The Center Of Copenhagen". LP, Vinyl record album

Tenorist Gregory Tardy comes on here with a surprising degree of complexity – a range of expressions on his instrument that run from straightforward, to sharply angular, to dark-toned and sonorous – all in the space of a single session! The sense of individual spirit is stronger than ever with Tardy – as he reaches into so many different areas with his well-developed approach to the music – especially sharp on his own compositions, which make up a good amount of the album here. The group also features well-matched trumpet from Philip Dizack, who seems to shift his mood to match Tardy's – and the rest of the quintet includes John Chin on piano, Sean Conly on bass, and Jaimeo Brown on drums. Titles include "The Law Of Biogenesis", "Lil Patient One", "Ancient Of Days", "Song For Joshua", "The Myth Of Privacy", "The Narrow Door", and "Precious Abby". CD

Pianist Joel Weiskopf has been making records for a number of years – but with each recent release, he seems to be honing his craft even more – able to balance darkness and light with effortless ease, but often in a way that never calls too much attention to itself, or to its maker! There's a subtle sort of brilliance going on here – a way of working things under the surface, which is offset by some of the bolder lines from tenorist Rob Scheps, who also plays a bit of soprano sax on the record – and illuminates the sound nicely, often in contrasting ways with Weiskopf! Joel's not afraid to hit a few more sensitive, lyrical moments, but can shift gears easily too – which he seems to do especially well when urged on by the bass of Joe Fitzgerald and bass of Marcello Pellitteri. Titles include "LML", "The Message", "Song For Karla", "The Original Search", "Temporary Estrangement", "Another Chance Today", and "Victory March". CD

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Drummer Eliot Zigmund rose to great fame in the trio of Bill Evans in the late 70s – and after that, he also had a strong stretch with pianist Don Friedman – both artists he seems to really pay tribute to here! The date's a nicely understated one – warm sounds that are spacious, but swinging – piano from Mike Eckroth, tenor and soprano from Chris Cheek, and bass from Morrie Louden – all players whose sense of timing is strongly matched with that of Zigmund, who only seems to take a few points in the recording to really state his presence. The choice of material here is wonderfully thoughtful, too – a range of tracks by Charles Minugs, Kurt Weil, Steve Swallow, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gordon Jenkins, and others – all of which might have come out sounding a lot more hodge-podge in the hands of another leader, but which work together beautifully here. Titles include "Supposition", "Liebslied", "Duke Ellington's Sound Of Love", "Olha Maria", "Eiderdown", "Goodbye", and "Time Was". CD

A warmly wonderful trio record – from a time when Chet Baker was exploring a whole new side of his talents! The group features just Doug Raney on guitar and Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass – which gives Chet a lot of room to open up! LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful love letter to the Detroit jazz scene from pianist Greg Burk – not the famous motor city jazz world of the postwar years, but a really special time in the 90s when things were a bit more underground – and when Burk spent some formative years in the city! The notes recall some amazing days of warmth and collaboration with Detroit musicians – and the music here was all composed during that time, and really sparkles with the spirit that Burk speaks of in the notes – this soulful, lyrical, immediately personal flow between his piano, the bass of Matteo Bortone, and the drums of John Arnold. The compositions are wonderful – music that will really have us paying attention to Greg's skills as a writer – and titles include "Cass & Palmer", "Jangle", "Scene Unseen", "Matins", and "Woodward Stride". CD

A tribute to the late trumpeter Chet Baker, but one that's got a rock-solid swinging feel that's quite different than most of Baker's music on record! The group here is a fantastic lineup – with Alex Sipiagin handling the trumpet parts, but in a way that's often quite un-Chet-like – alongside strong tenor from Seamus Blake, bold bass from Scott Colley, and dynamic drums from Bill Stewart – all working under the leadership of pianist Olegario Diaz, who colors the tunes with nicely vivid notes that fly from his fingers with a sparkling sense of imagination. Many numbers are from the Chet Baker songbook, but Diaz also wrote a few great songs of his own – and titles include "Everything I Love", "Star Eyes", "Just Friends", "CTA", "Rise & Fall Baker", "Bernie's Tune", and "I Remember Chet". CD

Fantastic vibes all around – a double set of work from the team of Walt Dickerson and Richard Davis! First up is the album Divine Gemini – a set that has some incredible interplay between the vibes of Walt Dickerson and bass of Richard Davis – both players who've already had a long resume of creative music by the time of this session, yet coming together here in ways that are completely new and fresh! Dickerson's often in the warmer side of his tones – still quite free at points, but never too obtuse – and always with plenty of room for the lovingly soulful sounds of Davis' bass. Titles include "Lucille", "Divine Gemini", "Always Positive", and "Her Intuition". Next up is the album Tenderness – a set recorded during the same space as the previous album from Walt Dickerson and Richard Davis – but sometimes with a slightly different feeling in the sound! There's definitely some of the tenderness promised by the title – especially at those great points when the colors of Dickerson's vibes are flowing beautifully next to Davis' mellow basslines. But there's also other points that are a bit more dynamic, too – bold notes from Walt that have this sense of texture that's really amazing – followed by equally wonderful sounds from Richard. Titles include "Tenderness", "So Thoughtful", "The Road Must End", and "Play Son Play". CD

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Important early European work by Dexter Gordon – recorded during his successful 60s run at the legendary Cafe Montmartre, where using the new freedoms of that scene, he re-invented himself as a player, and gave a much needed boost to European-American jazz relations! The tracks on the set are all very much in the best spirit of Gordon's Montmartre years – long and open-ended, with a real focus on the tenor solo work, but also some excellent support by a rhythm trio that includes Kenny Drew, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen, and Alex Riel. Titles include "So What", "You've Changed", "Heartaches", and "Devilette". CD

An album that bursts out beautifully, right from the very first note – then continues to hold us rapt throughout, with that strong sense of surprise we love from a really well-done piano trio album! LeeAnn Ledgerwood's no stranger to the recording studio, but this album really feels like something special and different – a set that has her musical imagination maybe sparked with even more swing than before, all balanced with a warmly lyrical touch – and set up in perfect communication with the bass of Ron McClure and drums of Billy Hart! The album's the sort that someone might be playing, and you'd step over and ask "What's that?" – especially on the more upbeat numbers, which really grab us. Titles include the originals "Renewal" and "I Wish You Knew" – plus "All Blues", "Summernite", "502 Blues", "A Shade Of Jade", and "Autumn Leaves". CD

A great meeting of these two alto giants – and a wonderfully soulful session that matches Gary Bartz's own great work from the same time! The overall feel of the session is quite spiritual – as Bartz and McLean seem to egg each other on, into far-reaching lines and freespirited grooves that are totally great. Rhythm is by a European trio of Thomas Clausen, Bo Steif, and Alex Riel – but the trio does more than enough of a good job to set the mood – especially on the excellent track "Great Rainstreet Blues", which sounds like some lost dark groove from the Black Jazz label! Other titles include "Watercircle", "Monk's Dance", and "Ode To Super". CD features a few bonus alternate takes, too. CD

Fantastic work from Gary Smulyan – a baritone saxophonist who may well be one of the few really standout players on his instrument these days – working in a legacy that puts his mighty talents right up there with Pepper Adams, Serge Chaloff, and a rare few others who could really make the baritone swing! Smulyan plays here in just a trio – David Wong on bass and Rodney Green on drums – and the tracks are long, flowing, and open – really illustrating Gary's strength as a soloist, and his deft imagination on an instrument that doesn't easily give itself to some players. The song list is great, too – titles by Ted Curson, Al Cohn, Mal Waldron, and Jimmy Giuffre – plus one tune by Gary too. Titles include "Ahma See Ya", "Vodka", "Deep People", "Cohn Pone", "Tale Of The Fingers", and "Hanid". CD

A gem of a record – the kind of overlooked 70s session we really treasure! Reed player Frank Strozier was one of the all-time under-discovered greats – and this set reunites him with his old Memphis partner/MJT+3 bandmate, Harold Mabern – a perfect pairing for Strozier's warm and fluid style on alto sax and flute! The pair always worked perfectly together, and on this session of laidback modern soul jazz material, they hit a very nice groove, and play off the best of each other's warm lyrical tendencies. Other players include Danny Moore, Lisle Atkinson, and Michael Carvin – and the set's filled with great original tutnes that include "Kram Samba", "Neicy", "Sidestreet", "Hit It", and "For Our Elders". CD

As a rule, we shouldn't like sessions that have a Marvin Gaye tune as the title – but in this case, we'll make an exception! The album's great one – filled with warmth, fire, and imagination – and key proof that Frank Strozier was still going strong in the 70s – after some early breakout work on the Chicago scene, and two brilliant early 60s albums on Riverside. The session has Strozier reunited with Memphis hometown partner Harold Mabern – a perfect accompanist to his fluid sound and soulful tone – and the rest of the group features Stafford James on bass, Louis Hayes on drums, and Danny Moore on trumpet. Tracks include some great originals – like "Chelsea Drugs", "The Chief", "Ollie", and "Psalm For John Coltrane". CD also features 5 other bonus tracks – all alternates. CD

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A brilliant sextet session from Stanley Cowell – one of his few larger group sessions of the time, done during a period when he was recording almost exclusively in trio format! The album features a well-crafted sextet with lots of nice edges – bringing together Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Rick Margitza on tenor, Dick Griffin on trombone, Peter Washington on bass, and Billy Hart on drums – all to shade and color Cowell's rich piano work and fresh compositions for the set. There's a deeply soulful feel to the record that's quite wonderful – a new exploration of Cowell's inspirations from the 70s, taken to some very tight territory here – but never with any sense of slickness at all. Titles include the excellent "Bright Passion", plus "Departure", "Setup", "Varions", "Bip Bip Bam" and "Sendai Sendoff". CD

One of the few 70s albums as a leader from pianist Albert Dailey – a player who was making great magic with Stan Getz at the time, but who also seems to have a completely different voice on his own! Dailey's got a way of being open, joyous, and very creative – but always in a style that's never too familiar, nor ever aping the modes of some of his more famous 70s contemporaries – which creates a very fresh sound to the whole record, that kind of special, stand-alone spirit that maybe graces some of the best of the Japanese-recorded trio dates of the 70s, and a rare few American sessions too. Accompaniment is superb – Buster Williams on bass and Billy Hart on drums – both players with more than enough imagination to both keep up with Dailey's creativity, and augment him in just the right way – on titles that include "Body & Soul", "Yesterdays", "Lover Man", "Music That Makes Me Dance", and "That Old Feeling". CD features the bonus track "Night & Day". CD

Harold Danko sounds wonderful here with his long-established trio – a group so well-matched, most of the songs on this set arose from collective improvisations during the recording sessions! Yet these aren't outside, avant tunes – in which all players roam freely in space – and instead, they're melodic, rhythmic, very tuneful extrapolations that are often based on older standards – but which are so transformed, you can't really hear any roots of the originals – as the players take flight in that magical collaborative creation that marks jazz at its best! Danko plays piano, Jay Anderson is on bass, and Jeff Hirshfield is on drums – and titles include "Sky Blues", "Stream Of Tears", "Shallow Waters", "Mademoiselle Dreamy", "Total Obsession", and "Ancient & Distant". CD

Harold Danko sounds wonderful here with his long-established trio – a group so well-matched, most of the songs on this set arose from collective improvisations during the recording sessions! Yet these aren't outside, avant tunes – in which all players roam freely in space – and instead, they're melodic, rhythmic, very tuneful extrapolations that are often based on older standards – but which are so transformed, you can't really hear any roots of the originals – as the players take flight in that magical collaborative creation that marks jazz at its best! Danko plays piano, Jay Anderson is on bass, and Jeff Hirshfield is on drums – and titles include "Sky Blues", "Stream Of Tears", "Shallow Waters", "Mademoiselle Dreamy", "Total Obsession", and "Ancient & Distant". CD

Brilliant work from a great player who never stopped growing! After a 70s career laced with some free and spiritual playing, Foster moves back to basics here by teaming up with pianist Horace Parlan and some European rhythm accompaniment – in a set that concentrates on tone, sound, and color! Foster's tenor solos alone seem to carry the album on some tremendously strong and soulful shoulders – and the set's filled with great original compositions that include "John R & Garfield", "The House That Love Built", "Dunbar's Delight", and "Lightly Stroking". CD features an unissued bonus track – Kenny Dorham's "Scandia Skies". CD

Lost genius from Dexter Gordon's initial years in Europe – a set that has him still stretching out in familiar Scandinavian modes, but with a slightly tighter sound too! The group's notable in that it features trumpeter Rolf Ericson – whose horn really adds a lot to the frontline, and has a surprisingly strong talent for matching Gordon's beautifully-blown longform solo modes! Rhythm is from the trio of Lars Sjosten on piano, Sture Nordin on bass, and Per Hulten on drums – and titles include "All The Things You Are", "Darn That Dream", "Straight No Chaser",and "I Remember You". LP, Vinyl record album

A later cooker from this former Jazz Messengers trumpeter – with a group that also features Junior Cook on tenor, Robin Eubanks on trombone, and Mickey Tucker on piano! Titles include "Fuller Up", "Yo What's Up", "PB", and "Whisper Not". CD

Excellent work by Jordan – recorded right at the same time as his classic sides for the Strata East label, and with a similar feel! The group on the set is the same as heard on the Glass Bead Games album – Cedar Walton on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – and it's hard to imagine a tighter 70s soul jazz ensemble, especially one with such a capacity for sounding both exploratory and open, while also managing to keep things always at a nicely swinging pace. The album's filled with original tracks by the members of the group – including "Seven Minds", "Impressions Of Scandinavia", "The House On Maple Street", and "Miss Morgan". CD also features previously unissued bonus tracks – "Scorpio" and "Firm Roots". CD

A great meeting of two generations of jazz – and one that really blows the top off some of Dexter Gordon's other European sessions of the time! The setting here is definitely one that's more a Gordon-based date – long tracks with rhythm backing from a trio with Kenny Drew on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Alex Riel on drums. But unlike some of the other long-blown Gordon-heavy albums for the stretch, the presence of Jackie McLean really brings in a new sort of fire – the kind of soaring, soulful energy he brought to his own records in these immediate post-Blue Note years – almost a Coltrane influence, and a sense of spiritualism that really comes through on some of his solo moments – even in this relatively straight setting. Titles include Gordon's "All Clean", Sahib Shihab's "Rue De La Harpe", Drew's "Sunset", and a nice take of "On The Trail". LP, Vinyl record album

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Features Brian Lynch on trumpet, James Williams on piano, and Steve Slagle on alto sax! CD

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Great European work from Shirley Horn – recorded live, in a setting that really lets her stretch out nicely – almost as if she's finding the new sort of maturity that would mark her music in the 80s, right during the space of the concert! The format is quite spare – just Horn's piano behind her vocals, plus bass from Charles Ables and drums from Billy Hart – the last of whom is especially restrained – often keeping way off to the side, but stepping in nicely when Shirley needs him to swing. And as on some of Horn's best records, the bass is key to the whole sound – inflecting the vocals with these deep tones that are beautiful – almost a nodding response to the careful emotion she brings to her lyrics. Titles include "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "Good For Nothing Joe", "Someone Like That In Your Life", "Git Rid Of Monday", "Mediation", "If Dreams Came True", "Lover Man", "Violets For Your Furs", "Baby Won't You Please", "My Man", "More Than You Know", and "Our Love Is Here To Stay". CD

A sweet little set – and a strong international meeting of talents, of the sort European labels were fond of putting together at the time! The group has a cohesive sound, as all have experience in both out and more swinging styles – and the great, and under-recorded, Charles Tyler plays alto & bari, and the mighty Johnny Dyani is on bass – with drummer Leroy Lowe finishing up the group. Jamal's vibes provide a dark, rich backdrop for Tyler's expressive blowing over the elastic rhythms played by Dyani and drummer Leroy Lowe. The set features 6 Jamal originals, and titles include "Dark Warrior", "Johnny's In Malmo", "Just Us", "Principal", "Whisper Sweet", and "Hucksterman". CD features a bonus track too! CD

Pianist Andy Laverne is really showing us all sides of his talents here – not just his wonderful skills on the keys of the piano, but also his strong ear for fresh compositions as well! All the tracks here are originals by Andy, and they're beautiful tracks that sparkle nicely with dark colors and tones – elements underscored strongly not just by Laverne's work on piano, but also by the album's sparkling contributions from Alex Sipiagin on both trumpet and flugelhorn! The pair together are a delight throughout – balanced out with a depth that seems so much more than just the sum of their parts – given a strongly soulful rhythm current by Mike Richmond on bass and Jason Tiemann on drums – the latter of whom has this snap to his work on the kit that moves along tunes that might have otherwise got lost in a moody morass. The whole thing is great – maybe one of the best sessions we've ever heard from Laverne – and titles include "Enigma", "Faith", "Touch Sensitive", "All Things Considered", "Paramour No More", and "Double Down". CD

A lyrically swinging set from alto saxophonist Chris Byars – one that often has his own instrument balanced alongside colorful tones from the guitar of Pasquale Grasso – in a way that's angular, but always easygoing! The blend is very nice – and augmented with additional bass clarinet from Stefano Doglioni and trombone from John Mosca – both of whom can come together with ensemble performances that, with a nice bottom sound, often make the album feel richer than the number of players on the date – and at other times, they step out singly, but with a tonal range that separates them a bit from the union of Byars and Grasso. The rest of the group features Ari Roland on bass and Stefan Schatz on drums – and titles include "Little India", "Taxi Bird", "Seabreeze", "Berk Bop", "Hello Pork Pie Hat", and "Lady Linda". CD

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Buck plays tenor, with Kenny Barron on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Billy Hart on drums! Titles include "Tokudo", "Oleo", "I'm Aquarius", and "SMY". LP, Vinyl record album

Horace is always one of our favorites, but the real stars of this album are the Franks – Frank Foster and Frank Strozier, working in a twin-horn frontline style that's simply magic! The set's got the same gentle groove as Strozier's excellent Steeplechase sides from the time – a 70s soul jazz sort of approach that's rich in tones and colors, and which has the tracks building nicely on one another in an almost blocky formation. Strozier's alto is incredibly soulful, and breaks out some nice moments from Foster that really stretch his sound – and titles include "Frank-ly Speaking", "Hit It", "Mirror Lake", "Chocolate Cadillac", "UAI", and "Misty Thursday". CD also features the bonus track "Veronica's Walk". LP, Vinyl record album

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