Not as all-out funky as some of the funky blues albums on Chess at the time – but still nicely funky, and a very different album than usual for T Bone! The record has Walker's vocals and guitar backed by some larger arrangements that have a nice little bounce – lots of electric bass rolling around to kick the tunes into gear, and get T Bone to play a bit faster than usual. A few cuts are more laidback and bluesy, but over the course of the record things get plenty groovy for our tastes! Titles include "Goin To Funky Town", "Party Girl", "Long Skirt Baby Blues", "I'm In An Awful Mood", and "Jealous Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little set from T-Bone – recorded at the end of the 60s, with a lineup that includes other blues musicians like Joe Turner, Otis Spann, and George Harmonica Smith, plus jazz funk players like Paul Humphrey and Ernie Watts! The vibe is very laidback – and most tracks on the album stretch out in an extended free-form style that's quite unusual compared to T-Bone's other records. As usual, his guitar and vocals are very soulful – and titles include "Paris Blues", "Blues Jam", and "Jot's Blues". A real gem on Flying Dutchman/Bluestime. CD

Later work from guitar genius T-Bone Walker, but still very much in the style of his best R&B work! The album features small group backings that do the best to bring out the jazzier side of T-Bone's style – one that was a direct influence on countless jazz funk guitarists in later years – and players include Plas Johnson, Earl Palmer, Lloyd Glenn, and Barney Kessell playing some second guitar. Titles include "T Bone Blues", "Papa Ain't Salty", "Two Bones & A Pick", "Mean Old World", "T Bone Shuffle", and "Blues For Marili". CD

A great collection of blues-based material recorded by the Flying Dutchman label! LP, Vinyl record album

T Bone Walker with a very cool group – the great Preston Love on trumpet, plus Lloyd Glenn on piano and Mel Brown on guitar – along with some tight drums from the great Paul Humphrey! LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible collection – one no home should be without! This isn't blues, this is T Bone Walker – a guitar pioneer, and a musician who's got just as much jazz in his style too. Fantastic recordings throughout – 52 tracks in all. CD

A sweet funky set from the mighty T-Bone Walker – a record that still includes loads of his wickedly sharp guitar lines, but which also gives him a tight groove with electric bass and great drums from the legendary Paul Humphrey! The bottom end here kicks as much as Walker's work on the top – which gives the record a cool crossover mix of blues, soul, and funk – not that different from some of the funky blues experiments going on over at Chess Records at the time, but with more of an LA twist. A young Tom Scott plays some great tenor lines on the record – and titles include "Vietnam", "T Bone Blues Special", "Sail On", "For BB King", "Cold Cold Feeling", and "Shake It Baby". CD features two bonus tracks – live versions of "Sail On" and "Stormy Monday Blues". CD

20 songs. CD

... CD

A set that features two early 80s albums from the great Doug Sahm – plus a full CD of rare bonus material from the early days too! First up is Hell Of A Spell – a set that marks a new label for Doug Sahm, and maybe a slight shift in sound too – one that uses roots modes that extend a bit more past more familiar Texas territory, but only to showcase the depth in Sahm's music that continued to make him a legend long after his too-early passing! Doug's got a way of delivering a lyric that goes right past any sense of poster or artifice – a quality that makes these tunes completely charming, even though the modes might seem easy or familiar. The lineup includes some nice tenor sax and organ work – and titles include "Hangin On By A Thread", "Tunnel Vision", "Ain't Into Lettin You Go", "All The Way To Nothing", "Hell Of A Spell", "Can't Fake It", and "I Don't Mind At All". Nuevo Wave Live is a great concert set from Doug Sahm – continuing that great tradition of really letting his tunes open up before an audience – on titles that include "San Antone", "She's About A Mover", "Who Were You Thinkin Of", "The Rains Came", "T-Bone Shuffle", and "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues". CD2 features lots more tracks 25 additional titles that include early material in The Pharoahs, Mar Kays, and Dell-Kings – plus some solo tracks, one number with The Spot Barnett Band – and other tracks supposedly with Ernest Tubb, T-Bone Walker, and Freddy Fender – a few of each, but without much detail in the notes. CD

Music from Howlin' Wolf, Otis Rush, Lonnie Johnson, Sippie Wallace, Memphis Slim, T-Bone Walker, Junior Wells, Sonny Boy Williamson, Eddie Boyd, Willie Dixon, and more – 16 tracks total. CD

Features work by Charles Brown, Pee Wee Crayton, Erskin Hawkins, Johnny Otis, Otis Rush, T-Bone Walker, Junior Parker, Albert King, and others! CD

Music from Blind Lemon Jefferson, Lillian Glinn, Charles Brown, T Bone Walker, Percy Mayfield, Albert Collins and his Rhythm Rockers, Mance Copeland, Freddy King, and more. CD

14 songs from John Lee Hooker, Big Bill Broonzy, Mickey Baker, Otis Spann, Champion Jack Dupree, Curtis Jones, T-Bone Walker, and Memphis Slim & Buddy Guy. CD

Classic American release of these famous German recordings – with music by Memphis Slim, John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Willie Dixon, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, and Shakey Jake – often playing together! CD

Music from Washboard Sam, Ernest Tubb, Jazz Gillum, Wynonie Harris, Louis Jordan, Bob Wills, Bill Monroe, Clyde Moody, T-Bone Walker, Champion Jack Dupree, Arthur Smith, Roy Milton, the Delmore Brothers, and more. CD

Blues so raw, they may well have come from beyond the grave – a great selection of early material from John Lee Hooker, originally released as 78rpm singles on the Specialty and Sensation labels in the postwar years – presented here with new mastering and surprisingly stunning fidelity! Hooker's guitar work alone is amazing – completely hypnotic, and recorded with this raspy sound that really blows us away – almost T-Bone Walker-like in its intensity at this point – and the vocals add plenty too, especially since most cuts don't feature any other instrumentation at all. The CD features a whopping 20 cuts in all – with titles that include "Burnin Hell", "Henry's Swing Club", "Miss Sadie Mae", "Sail On Little Girl Sail On", "Alberta", "Hastings Street Boogie", "Black Cat Blues", and "21 Boogie". CD

One of the coolest collections of work related to Ray Charles that we've ever seen – a huge box that brings together both some of the music that inspired Ray, then his own recordings, then tracks that he did that inspired other artists too! The first four CDs feature work from a generation both before Ray started recording, and material contemporary to his important early sides – and the set first begins with cuts by artists doing a song, then moves into Charles' own interpretation of the song – showing the way that he really changed things up, as he take son music from Cecil Shaw, Lowell Fulson, Tommy Dorsey, Leroy Carr, Don Gibson, Charlie Parker, T Bone Walker, Swan Silvertone Singers, and dozens of other artists! The last three CDs then feature songs first sung by Ray, followed by either covers of the same tunes, or songs that really owe a lot to them – music from Eddie Bo, Jimmy McGriff, Bobby Peterson, Sammy Davis Jr, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Cochran, Brenda Lee, Richard Groove Holmes, Bobby Parker, Sandy Nelson, and dozens of others too! The package features 171 titles in all – including 15 never-issued live tracks from Ray Charles. CD

Tiny Grimes is one of the most unique guitarists in jazz – a player with a force and power that's clearly rooted in the blues – given that he can hit the strings like T Bone Walker or Pee Wee Crayton – but a style that's clearly jazz overall, and delivered with a heck of a lot of punch! Features Lloyd Glenn on piano, and Panama Francis on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Muddy Waters, Lil' Son Jackson, T-Bone Walker, Memphis Slim, Brownie McGhee with Sonny Terry, Jimmy Rogers, John Lee Hooker, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Son House, Big Joe Williams, Sonny Terry, Smokey Hogg, Snooks Eaglin, Lowell Fulson, Gatemouth Brown, Pee Wee Crayton, and Roy Brown. CD

Hardly the surf album you might expect from the title – although the set is a killer batch of guitar instrumentals – with more than enough power to blow any west coast groups right off the beach! At this early point in his career, Freddie King is way more than just a blues guitarist, and his style here was a definite precursor to funk – hard, heavy, and with the kinds of little tricks that would be taken up a lot by other players in the funky 45 era. The recording quality is great, and really brings out the deeper tones in King's instrument – creating a great link between the earlier T Bone Walker generation, and lots of heavy guitarists to come. Tracks are all nice, and titles include "San Ho Zay", "Side Tracked", "Wash Out", "In The Open", "Heads Up", "Just Pickin", and "Swooshy". LP, Vinyl record album

Jay McShann on piano & vocal, T Bone Walker on guitar, Roland Lobligeois on bass and Paul Gunther on drums. CD

The title's an apt one here, as Jimmy Rogers was one of the many bluesmen who started out in the south, but headed to Chicago for greater fame – which was a good thing for Chess Records, who managed to come some of these great sides in the 50s! Rogers both sings and plays guitar – the later of which has a sometimes snakey quality that almost echoes a slight bit of jazz – a mode that recalls some of the inventions T Bone Walker was putting down at the time, but a little bit rootsier overall. Players on these sessions include Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Otis Spann, and Willie Dixon – and tracks include "Money Marbles & Chalk", "Ludella", "You're The One", "Back Door Friend", "I Used To Have A Woman", "Sloppy Drunk", "Blues Leave Me Alone", and "Walking By Myself". CD

With Vinson on vocals and alto, Hal Singer on tenor, Jay McShann on piano, T-Bone Walker on guitar, Jackie Sampson on bass, and Paul Gunther on drums. CD

A great little collection, mostly with vintage work from the late 40s through the 60s – including performances by Texas Johnny Brown, Sticks McGhee, John Lee Hooker, Blind Willie McTell, T-Bone Walker, Guitar Slim, Al King, Cornell Dupree, and Chuck Norris! CD

Music from Roy Milton And His Solid Senders, Wynonie Harris, Ivory Joe Hunter, Doc Sausage And His Mad Lads, Fats Domino, Johnny Otis Quintette, Eddie Mack And Orchestra, Professor Longhair And His New Orleans Boys, Jewel King, Roy Hawkins And His Orchestra, Joe Liggins And His Honeydrippers, T-Bone Walker, Tiny Bradshaw, and more - twenty eight tracks in all. CD

Includes music by Ma Rainey, T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Williams, John Lee Hooker, Blind Willie McTell, Big Bill Broonzy, Robert Johnson, Henry Thomas, Sleepy John Estes, Bessie Smith, and more – 200 songs total! CD

Music from Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Otis Rush, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Junior Wells, Willie Dixon, T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Little Walter, and more. CD

Music from Goree Carter, Amos Milburn, Tommy Brown, Luke Jones, Joe Breown, Jimmy Preston, Doles Dickins, Cecil Gant, Big Joe Turner, the Treniers, T Bone Walker, Billy Wright & more. CD

Sweetly glowing grooves from Ebi Soda – a set that features some really fantastic keyboards on most tracks, making their way along electric rhythms that have a beautifully laidback vibe! The approach is almost a 21st Century reworking of classic jazz funk – more sophisticated, and less tied to familiar forms – and unafraid to use the right production elements from time to time to expand the color palette of the performance! Louis Jenkins handles the great keys on the record – and the core group features guitar, bass, trombone, and drums – augmented by guest tenor, alto, and trumpet. J Harli sings on "Summer One", and Chloe Bodur provides vocals to "Run For President" – and all other tunes are instrumental, and include "Spooki", "Zip Your Boots Up Lad", "Ecchi", "Meow Meow", "Playstation", and "Something To Do In The Future". CD features bonus Ash Walker dubs of "Playstation", "Ecchi", and "Spooki". LP, Vinyl record album

Really fantastic early work from guitar genius Wes Montgomery – a series of live recordings from his Indianapolis roots – done at a level that's quite different than his bigger records of the 60s! Even at this early age, Wes is already a chromatic master – able to get sounds out of his guitar that are so different than most of his contemporaries – playing in a small combo mode on most tracks, but with less of the R&B influence than most postwar guitarists. Instead, Montgomery is pure jazz all the way through, but also without that too-clean tone that some folks were going for – just a great focus on color and open, honest tone – in the company of musicians who include Carl Perkins and Buddy Montgomery on piano, Mel Rhyne on Hammond, Monk Montgomery on bass, David Baker on trombone, and David Young on tenor. Those last two players only make a few appearances – as most groups are horn-less, which gives Wes even more solo space – on titles that include "Four", "Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea", "It's You Or No One", "Ecaroh", "Sandu", "Whisper Not", "Four On Six", "Mr Walker", "Round Midnight", "West Coast Blues", "Tune Up", "So What", and "The End Of A Love Affair". CD

A tremendous collection of work from moog maestro Mort Garson – a name you might know from projects like the Wozard Of Iz, Lucifer, or Ataraxia – stepping out here on some much more obscure recordings, including some that appear here for the first time ever! Garson was easily one of the hippest and most talented artists to work with the moog and related analogue electronics – and his music was always a cut above some of the more simple moog pop instrumentals – as Mort brought in lots of original ideas and compositions to his recordings, while also using the electronics for melody as much as for effect. That blend is very much in place here – on tracks from a number of different projects, including some cool advertising work – and at times, there's a slinky sensuality to Garson's electronics that almost sound like the Italian cinema work of Stelvio Cipriani. Titles include "Killers Of The Wild", "Music For Advertising 2", "Is He Trying To Tell Us Something (inst)", "Geisha Girl", "Space Walker", "Dragonfly", "Cathedral Of Pleasure", "Realizations Of An Aeropolis", and "Son Of Blob Theme". LP, Vinyl record album

Quite an interesting session from the Art Ensemble Of Chicago – and exactly what it says in the title! The group pay tribute to the Chicago blues masters of their hometown – but somehow manage to do so in a way that gives the work a style that pushes the tunes with plenty of Art Ensemble touches! Material was recorded live in performance in Switzerland in 1993 – at a point when the group still featured Lester Bowie on trumpet – and for the performance, the core ensemble is expanded by Frank Lacy on trombone, James Carter on tenor sax, Amina Claudine Myers on organ and vocals, and Herb Walker (of Saturn Records fame) on guitar. But even more important is the return of Chicago Beau, who'd worked with the group during their heady Paris days – and whose work here represents the key "blues" component of some of the tunes. Titles include "Hoochie Coochie Man" "Odwalla", "I, The Blues", "Tin Pan Alley", and "Got My Mojo Workin". CD

An excellent early album by King Errison – arguably his best, and a wild mixture of conga-driven tracks that draw from funk, soul, jazz, and Caribbean sources! Players include Preston Love on saxes, George Bohannon on trombone, Calvin Keys and David T Walker on guitar, Wilton Felder on bass, and Benny Parks on drums – and the set grooves like a lost LA soul jazz side on Uni or Chisa, with a bit more of hard edge to it! All tracks are great – and titles include "Samba D Jubilee", "Pwalyetta", "Yesterday Is History", "Zola", "Dracula", and "Dance After the Feast". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little follow-up to one of our favorite compilations ever from Kent Records – a motherlode of under-discovered soul from 70s powerhouse Spring Records! Spring is best known for its big hits with Joe Simon during the decade – but at the same time, the label also issued countless great singles by lesser-known artists – great little gems that run the gamut from southern soul to heavy funk, harmony soul, and disco – all with a quality level that matches or beats most of the other indies of the time! This wonderful set brings together some of the best from those years – and includes work issued not only on Spring, but also on the related Event and Posse labels – served up here as a whopping 24-track package that's supported by great notes on all the music. Titles include "It's So Good To Know" by Mayberry Movement, "I'm A Lover" by Vernon Brown, "You & I Go Good Together" by Garland Green, "Turn Yourself Around" by Clare Bathe, "Walk All Over God's Heaven" by Jackie Verdell, "Baby There's Nothing You Can Do" by The Joneses, "I'm On My Way" by Winfield Parker, "Ain't It Amazing" by Prince Harold, "Dry Bones In The Valley" by The Internationals, "Mr Everything" by Little Eva Harris, "It Takes Both Of Us" by Act One, "I'll See You In Hell First" by Phillip Mitchell, "Sherry Washington" by Ray Godfrey, and "Just Can't Say Hello" by Ronnie Walker. CD

A great little follow-up to one of our favorite compilations ever from Kent Records – a motherlode of under-discovered soul from 70s powerhouse Spring Records! Spring is best known for its big hits with Joe Simon during the decade – but at the same time, the label also issued countless great singles by lesser-known artists – great little gems that run the gamut from southern soul to heavy funk, harmony soul, and disco – all with a quality level that matches or beats most of the other indies of the time! This wonderful set brings together some of the best from those years – and includes work issued not only on Spring, but also on the related Event and Posse labels – served up here as a whopping 24-track package that's supported by great notes on all the music. Titles include "It's So Good To Know" by Mayberry Movement, "I'm A Lover" by Vernon Brown, "You & I Go Good Together" by Garland Green, "Turn Yourself Around" by Clare Bathe, "Walk All Over God's Heaven" by Jackie Verdell, "Baby There's Nothing You Can Do" by The Joneses, "I'm On My Way" by Winfield Parker, "Ain't It Amazing" by Prince Harold, "Dry Bones In The Valley" by The Internationals, "Mr Everything" by Little Eva Harris, "It Takes Both Of Us" by Act One, "I'll See You In Hell First" by Phillip Mitchell, "Sherry Washington" by Ray Godfrey, and "Just Can't Say Hello" by Ronnie Walker. CD

A fantastic mid 70s set led by drummer Steve Reid – fronting a group of players who groove tightly, but with a really sinister sound! Reid is an absolute steamroller on this set – laying down a fast-paced, super tight funky backdrop for the rest of the players to groove fluidly over the top. Three of the five tracks run well north of the 10 minute mark – and those pieces are strong as can be, providing just enough room for the players to lay out a groove that lies beautifully between the mid 60s avant garde of Ornette Coleman and the spiritual soul jazz of the mid 70s. The core group includes pianist Les Walker (who penned most of the material here), plus David Wertman on a wonderfully rubbery bass, Michael Keith on trombone and Arthur Blythe on alto sax – with guests Chris Capers (trumpet), Melvin Smith (guitar) and Charles Tyler (baritone sax) on "Center Of The Earth". Great stuff, with a really dark edge! Other tracks include "Kai", "Rocks (For Cannonball)", "C You Around", and "One Minute Please". CD

A great snapshot of the strength of the British jazz scene at the end of the 50s – one that features excellent work from a range of different groups! The main mode here is the mixture of bop and more tightly arranged swing styles made famous by some of the better known British acts of the time – but the great thing about the record is that it presents groups who didn't always get the chance to record that strongly at the time, heard here in a professionally done set by Decca. One of the strongest tracks is an earthy take on "Manteca", played by the quintet of drummer Phil Seamen – followed by two tighter tracks by Alan Clare's Quartet – "Satin Doll" and "Walk Easy". Trumpeter Bert Courtley delivers a reading of "Struttin With Some Barbecue" with the Courtley-Seymour Orchestra – and The Jazz Today Unit follows with equally traditional takes on "Doggin Around" and "Swingin The Blues". Jimmy Walker steps out from that group on a great soprano sax reading of "East Of The Sun" – and the record is completed by a take on "Jada" by the twin-trombone quintet of George Chisholm and Keith Christie. CD

The Pan Afrikan People's Arkestra steps out here in a very large version of the ensemble – led by the great Horace Tapscott on piano, and stretching out on some very long tunes that are filled with strong solo work from different members of the group! Key players include Adele Sebastian and Aubrey Hart on flute, Desta Walker and Sabir Mateen on tenor, Billie Harris on soprano sax, Louis Spears on cello, Lester Robertson on trombone, Johnny Williams on baritone, and Tapscott on piano – most of whom are musicians you might know from the classic set of Nimbus label material from the LA scene at the time. The vibe here is maybe a more spiritual take on territory explored by Sun Ra and his Arkestra – and this release, like others in the series, marks the first time this music is available to the public! Titles include long takes on "Noissesprahs", "Jitterbug Waltz", "Village Dance", and "Many Nights Ago" – plus the shorter "Crepuscule With Nellie" and "Middle Age Madness". CD

A fantastic mid 70s set led by drummer Steve Reid – fronting a group of players who groove tightly, but with a really sinister sound! Reid is an absolute steamroller on this set – laying down a fast-paced, super tight funky backdrop for the rest of the players to groove fluidly over the top. Three of the five tracks run well north of the 10 minute mark – and those pieces are strong as can be, providing just enough room for the players to lay out a groove that lies beautifully between the mid 60s avant garde of Ornette Coleman and the spiritual soul jazz of the mid 70s. The core group includes pianist Les Walker (who penned most of the material here), plus David Wertman on a wonderfully rubbery bass, Michael Keith on trombone and Arthur Blythe on alto sax – with guests Chris Capers (trumpet), Melvin Smith (guitar) and Charles Tyler (baritone sax) on "Center Of The Earth". Great stuff, with a really dark edge! Other tracks include "Kai", "Rocks (For Cannonball)", "C You Around", and "One Minute Please". CD

An early 70s classic from The Crusaders – and a record that has the group perfectly poised between the rougher soul jazz of their roots and some of the tighter styles they brought into play during the 70s! The sound here is heavily electric – thanks to great keyboards from Joe Sample and bass from Wilton Felder – but the style isn't nearly as slick as on later albums recorded under the Crusaders name, thanks to the hipper, looser feel the group were allowed while working for the Chisa label! As on the first album recorded after the group shifted their name from the Jazz Crusaders, the set features added guitar work by Larry Carlton, David T Walker, and Arthur Adams – all of whom really help to emphasize the funkier side of the tracks while Wayne Henderson's trombone and Wilton Felder's tenor remind us they've still got a great talent for jazz! Titles include "Search For Soul", "Gotta Get It On", "Look Beyond That Hill", "Ain't Gon Change A Thing", and "A Message From The Inner City". LP, Vinyl record album