Features Monty Alexander on piano and melodica, Jay Davidson on saxophone, Steve Jankowski on trumpet, Robbie Shakespeare on bass, and Sly Dunbar on drums and rhythm programming. Tracks include "Chameleon", "Monty's Groove", "The In Crowd", "Soulful Strut", and "Moanin". CD

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Stanley Clarke certainly knows how to keep things fresh after all these years – coming across here with a nicely lean quality that really offers up a strong focus on his well-crafted work on electric bass – still with some of the fusion-leaning sounds of his classic years, but also hitting a slightly different flavor, too! The work's not nearly as smooth as you might expect – and in a way, the record would be perfect for the sort of headphone-jamming listening that Clarke inspired back in the 70s – even though there's a really different quality to the record overall, almost a 21st Century twist on the classic Stanley sound. The core group is nice and small – just Ronald Bruner on drums and Ruslan on keyboards, plus some guest piano from Hiromi – and other guest work from vocalist Cheryl Bentyne, saxlphonist Bob Sheppard, and guitarist Charles Altura. Titles include "Fulani", "Soldier", "How Is The Weather Up There", "No Mystery", "Labyrinth", and "Sonny Rollins". CD

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Magician features Bob Cranshaw on fender and acoustic bass, Grady Tate on percussion, Jose Mangual on congas, Norman Gold on organ and Jackie Williams on tambourine. The second album features Eddie Calhoun on bass, Kelly Martin on drums, and Charles Ike Isaacs on bass. CD

Stephane Grappelli on violin, Bucky and John Pizzarelli on guitar, and Jon Burr on bass. CD

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Features John Pizzarelli on vocals and guitar – backed by a quintet led by George Shearing. CD

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A timeless mix of heart tuggingly intimate strings and beautiful vocals by Esperanza Spalding – a set that feels deep down close to the heart, and in turns, quite soaring – all the while wonderful! The aspects we loved so dearly on Esperanza's previous albums are also done here – touching on soulful Brazilian, soul jazz and chamber pop & soul influences, lovely wordless vocals as well as sweeter singing, and beautiful performances by the players. Ms Spalding is on bass and vocals with Leo Genovese on piano, Rhodes & melodica, Terri Lyne Carrington on drums and Quintino Cinalli on percussion. The great Milton Nasciemento guests on "Apple Blossom", and other titles include "Little Fly", "Knowledge Of Good And Evil", "Really Very Small", "Chacarera", "Wild Is The Wind", "Apple Blossom" and "Short And Sweet". CD

McCoy Tyner on piano. CD

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Dave Brubeck on solo piano. CD

Features a long list of guest musicians including Roy Hargrove, Jon Hendricks, Joe Lovano, Gerry Mulligan, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride and George Shearing. CD

Two Erroll Garner albums – back to back on a single CD! First up is the obscure ABC album Close Up In Swing – Erroll Garner at the start of the 60s – but still sounding wonderfully unique, and coming across with a timeless vibe that makes the record every bit as great as his classics from the 50s! The format is simple – just Garner on piano, with Eddie Calhoun on bass and Kelly Martin on drums – but the sound is sublime, and in that special Garner-like approach that nobody else could match – very rhythmic, with a gritty pulse at the core – yet topped with these explosive lines on the keys that all make complete sense – not showoffy pyrotechnics, but sublime lyrical lines that never fail to blow us away. Titles include "All Of Me", "No More Shadows", "You Do Something To Me", "The Best Things In Life Are Free", and "El Papa Grande" – a nice number with a bit of a Latin pulse! New Kind Of Love is a really unusual album from piano giant Erroll Garner – a jazz album at the core, but one that was also used as the soundtrack for an obscure Paul Newman film of the 60s! We always love Erroll Garner in a fuller setting – something that's not always easy to find on record – and this album features his piano in the lead, over the top of some great backings from Leith Stevens – known best for his jazz soundtracks of the 50s! Stevens' provides a light bank of strings and woodwinds as support for Garner – and some of the best tunes here have a slight bossa undercurrent – quite sparkling, and very nice overall. Titles include "The Tease", "Mimi", "Paris Mist", "Fashion Interlude", "Louise", and "Theme From A New Kind Of Love". CD

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