Roger Dean leads a group that features Harry Beckett, among others,performing pieces by Lyell Cresswell, Colin Bright, and Iannis Xenakis – plus original compostions by Dean and violinist Hazel Smith. CD

A treasure trove of work from Kevin Ayers – all four of his legendary Harvest albums, plus his Island album – all packaged in a massive set with lots of bonus tracks too! The songs here are amazing – easily on a par with the creative height of the early Pink Floyd – a lot lighter and more whimsical than Ayers original fame with Soft Machine – sometimes extremely playful, and often quite catchy – almost a Donovan-esque blend of folksy roots and jazz inflections – but tuned a bit more towards trippier ends, thanks to instrumentation that includes celeste, electronics, flute, oboe, kazoo, cello, organ, and a wide range of different guitars! Some numbers are a bit more experimental, but the tunefulness of the work is what really wins us – a way of being tripped-out, yet plenty catchy too – a blend that nobody else could do as well as Kevin. CD1 features the album Joy Of A Toy – with bonus tracks that include "Religious Experience", "Soon Soon Soon", and BBC tracks "Clarence In Wonderland", "You Say You Like My Hat", and "Why Are We Sleeping" – the last with Soft Machine. CD2 features a live performance in Hyde Park in 1970, plus a bonus track. CD3 features the album Shooting At The Moon – with bonus tracks that include "Butterfly Dance", "Jolie Madame", "Gemini Child", "Hat", and "Puis Je". CD4 features 12 BBC tracks from May of 1970 to November of 1971. CD5 features the album Whatevershebringswesing – plus bonus tracks that include "Sad & Lonely Faces", "Stars", "Sad Songs", "Fake Mexican Tourist Blues", "The Lady Rachel (remake)", and "Watching The Sun Go Down". CD6 and CD7 feature BBC sessions from January of 1972 to April of 1973 – 33 tracks in all. CD8 features the album Bananamour – plus bonus tracks that include "Decadance (early mix)", "Why Are We Sleeping (live Mile End)", "Connie On a Rubber Band", "Caribbean Moon", and "Take Me To Tahiti". CD9 features Live At Queen Elizabeth Hall, May 1973 – 11 tracks. DVD features rare TV performances from France and the UK – including some Old Grey Whistle Test material – and the 1973 promo film for "Caribbean Moon". 140 tracks, all newly remastered – and a 68 page booklet too! CD

Late, laidback ballad material from the great Chet Baker – and a set that, like so many of his other 80s recordings, has a subtle brilliance that really sets it apart from his better-known material of the 50s! Baker's horn is open, airy, and does more with less than ever before – really feeling the placement of the notes as he works alongside superb piano work from Harold Danko, in a group that also features John Burr on bass and Ben Riley on drums. Titles include "Sea Breeze", "Angel Eyes", "Round Midnight", "You & The Night & The Music", "I'm A Fool To Want You", and "You Have Been Here All Along". CD

Excellent lost jazz work from Chet Baker! The CD combines 5 tracks from a never-before-heard live set recorded in 1953 at the Curran Theatre in LA, plus 9 more cuts from 1954 session that was issued on the long out-of-print LP Jazz At Ann Arbor. Both sessions feature Chet playing with pianist Russ Freeman, an amazingly understated player whose graceful darkness perfectly matches young Chet's sound on the trumpet. The pair are backed by Carson Smith on bass and either Larry Bunker or Bob Neel on drums – and the extended set's a wonderfully no-nonsense batch of jazz tunes that really sparkles in comparison with some of Baker's later live work. Titles include "All The Things You Are", "Maid In Mexico", "Lover Man", "My Funny Valentine", "Stella By Starlight", and "Russ Job". CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of 70s gems from the great Bobby Bare – back to back in a single set! First up is Winner & Other Losers – a set from a time when Bobby was really getting the freedom to do his own thing – which includes performing a lot of excellent tunes penned by his key collaborator Shel Silverstein! There's an easygoing charm that pervades the whole record – that wonderful way of putting over a song that Bare hit in his maturing years – with a quality that makes this stretch so different than his music from the previous decade. Arrangements, backings, and everything else about the record perfectly fits Bobby's approach – and titles include "Dropkick Me Jesus", "The Winner", "Climbin The Ladder & Climbin The Walls", "Bald Headed Woman", "My Better Half", "Brian Hennessey", "Lost In Austin", and "Yes Mr Rodgers". Hard Time Hungrys is a really cool concept album from the great Bobby Bare – a set that follows on the same strengths as his other Shel Silverstein-era gems for RCA, but which also has a unifying device with contributions from voices from the road – real old-timers that Bare has somehow tracked down and had brief conversations with as lead-ins to most of the tunes! The album is heavy on Silverstein-penned songs – and titles include "Hard Time Hungrys", "The Farmer Feeds Us All", "Back Home In Huntsville Again", "Bottles & Boxes", "Truck Driver Truck Driver", "The Unemployment Line", and "Alimony". CD

Alessandro Chiappetta on guitar, Gianni Virone on tenor and soprano saxophone, Mauro Battisti on bass, and Alessandro Minetto on drums. CD

With Ray Brown on bass and Louie Bellson on drums. CD

Way back around the end of the last century, Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli gave us their first fantastic album as Black Star – and all these many years later, they're finally delivering a second set! Both the world and hip hop have changed a lot in the years between records – and you can definitely hear that in the music, which is sometimes as dark as the image on the cover, and given completely superb production from Madlib – who really adapts more to the spirit of the duo than bringing his usual bag of tricks to the album! The first album was a real benchmark set back in the day – and while some mini-haters might claim that the duo have lost their sense of relevance, we'd definitely disagree. Titles include "My Favorite Band", "No Fear Of Time", "Yonders", "The Main Thing Is To Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing", "Supreme Alchemy", and "Freequency". LP, Vinyl record album

Gritty, powerful raw soul from Charles Bradley – the full length debut from the 62-year-old Brooklyn singer – backed perfectly by The Menahan Street Band! It's incredible, a record that sounds just as rawly emotional and impeccably soulful in 2011 as it would have in 1971 – much like the work Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, there's no mistaking this for anything but the real deal. Rough hewn in beautifully so – with perfect, funky backing by team Menahan. A timeless treasure! Titles include "In You (I Found A Love)", "I Believe In Your Love", "The Telephone Song", "Golden Rule", "How Long", "Trouble In The Land", "Since Our Last Goodbye", "Heartaches And Pain", "The World" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A surprisingly rare album from pianist Alan Broadbent – recorded early in his career, on a short-lived pressing – and an excellent example of his strength in a trio format! LP, Vinyl record album

A righteous treasure from the end of the 60s – an album of vocal tracks recorded by the Minister Of Information for the Black Panther Party, set to backings from the legendary jazz visionary Horace Tapscott! Elaine Brown's less of a soul singer than a powerful speaker who delivers the lyrics with an almost folksy quality – singing boldly and with a sense of power that matches Tapscott's great orchestrations for the record – done in a style that's a fair bit like his Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra work for Nimbus Records, but a bit more inside – given the vocal setting of the record. Titles include "The Meeting", "The Panther", "Assassination", and "Very Black Man". LP, Vinyl record album

72 tracks – and a fantastic overview of the music of James Brown – from the gritty R&B years to his classic moments of 60s soul, to his mindblowing 70s funk and beyond! CD

This is the kind of killer hard soul material that made James' late 60s years so incredible! "There Was a Time" is one of our favorite-ever tracks by him, and it's got a massive kind of soulful energy that's sometimes missing from other tracks at the time. "I Can't Stand Myself" is a winner, too, and features James wailing hard in a pure unbridled soulful moment! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A great collection of tracks from one of Dave Brubeck's most inventive periods – that time when he was playing with time changes and rhythms on albums like Time Out, Time In, and other Columbia sets with his classic quartet with Paul Desmond! Titles include "Take Five", "Blue Rondo A La Turk", "Unsquare Dance", "Countdown", "It's A Raggy Waltz", "Bluette", "Cassandra", "Maori Blues", "Unisphere", and "Blue Shadows In The Street". LP, Vinyl record album

Loads of classics from the Columbia years! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most obscure of Brubeck's Columbia modern sessions – and one of the best! Side one features more "time" oriented tunes played with the Quartet that included Paul Desmond, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello – but side two features the extended "Elementals" work, written for the quartet with jazz orchestra conducted by Rayburn Wright. Desmond's alto is fantastic on that track – floating, eerie, and quite sophisticatedly swinging – and the others ("Cable Car", "Iberia", "Shim Wha", and "Unisphere") are all strong examples of the quartet's simple genius. CD

Easily the crowning moment of genius for the legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet – the moment when all things came together magically, and the group somehow elevated themselves to a whole new level in jazz! At the time of the set, Brubeck, Paul Desmond, and the rest had already been making plenty of waves with their creative yet swinging approaches to modern jazz – heard on a number of successful albums for Fantasy and Columbia in the 50s. But with this record, they really knocked one out of the park – blending Desmond's cool alto, Brubeck's unusual piano phrasing, Joe Morello's melodic drum work, and Eugene Wright's pulsating bass into a waltzing, almost modal groove that crossed over to many camps at the time! The classics "Take Five" and "Blue Rondo Ala Turk" were both hits on their own – but all titles are great, and include "Kathy's Waltz", "Strange Medow Lark", "Everybody's Jumpin", and "Pick Up Sticks". LP, Vinyl record album

Easily the crowning moment of genius for the legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet – the moment when all things came together magically, and the group somehow elevated themselves to a whole new level in jazz! At the time of the set, Brubeck, Paul Desmond, and the rest had already been making plenty of waves with their creative yet swinging approaches to modern jazz – heard on a number of successful albums for Fantasy and Columbia in the 50s. But with this record, they really knocked one out of the park – blending Desmond's cool alto, Brubeck's unusual piano phrasing, Joe Morello's melodic drum work, and Eugene Wright's pulsating bass into a waltzing, almost modal groove that crossed over to many camps at the time! The classics "Take Five" and "Blue Rondo Ala Turk" were both hits on their own – but all titles are great, and include "Kathy's Waltz", "Strange Medow Lark", "Everybody's Jumpin", and "Pick Up Sticks". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A rare bit of gospel from the Louisville scene at the start of the 80s – but a set that's also got plenty of secular soul appeal too – thanks in part to the righteous message in Lamont's lyrics, which would fit with some of the deeper sounds of 70s soul – and thanks also to the wicked instrumentation, which has this great indie vibe, again with plenty of wonderful 70s soul elements! The group's got bits of organ, chromatic guitar, and some gentle basslines that really guide the way – but it's definitely the lead vocals of Lamont Butler that make the whole thing come together – a singer with a sound that's every bit as hip as his look on the cover, and a really universal way of making a message. Titles include "Time For A Change", "Ungodly War", "Smile", "Brighter World", "Thank You Lord", and "Love One Another". CD

The pairing of Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb is probably one of the greatest ideas ever in the history of pop music – as you'll hear on the album's title track, "By The Time I Get To Phoenix". Glen's original hit version of the song – written by a wee Jimmy at a young age – forever cut the way for his unique blend of pop, country, and easy vocal styles. The tune also kicks off this pretty nice little album of tracks that features great lesser known numbers, including some surprisingly great country covers. Titles include "Back In The Race", "My Baby's Gone", "Tomorrow Never Comes", "Bad Seed", "Love is A Lonesome River", and "I'll Be Lucky Some Day". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the biggest albums ever from The Chambers Brothers – a set that helped them cross over big into the mainstream – shaking off their previous folksy roots with a rumbling approach to psychedelic soul! The record's got a much heavier groove than any of the group's previous work – a way of hitting a track that still holds onto their gospel-influenced roots, but which also brings in plenty of the fuzzier, funkier touches that were sparking in soul music during the late 60s – especially over at Columbia Records, where their labelmate Sly Stone was capturing a big audience with a very similar sound. The record features the full-length version of the group's massive "Time Has Come Today", an excellent psychedelic soul number that's been lifted for movies and TV shows more times than we can count – and other tracks include "People Get Ready", "Please Don't Leave Me", "In The Midnight Hour", "What The World Needs Now Is Love", "All Strung Out Over You", "I Can't Stand It", "So Tired", and "Uptown". LP, Vinyl record album

Ray Charles at the height of his 60s powers – maybe not his first album of country-tinged material, but a set that has Ray drawing on all the strengths of previous sessions for Tangerine, then really sending the whole thing over the top! The arrangements are superb – handled by Onzy Matthews with that soulful sense of larger backings that he was mastering at the time over at Capitol Records – and a few key cuts feature organ work by a young Billy Preston, who brings a superb sense of color to the record. Yet through and through, the star on the center stage is Charles – singing with an incredible voice that brings whole new life into these tunes, and with a mode that's very different than his sound on Atlantic Records in the previous decade. The Raelettes provide vocal support, but never overwhelm – and the set features two great Percy Mayfield tunes – "We Don't See Eye To Eye" and "You're In For A Big Surprise" – plus the tracks "Tears", "Going Down Slow", "Let's Go Get Stoned", "Crying Time", and "You've Got A Problem". CD

Ray Charles at the height of his 60s powers – maybe not his first album of country-tinged material, but a set that has Ray drawing on all the strengths of previous sessions for Tangerine, then really sending the whole thing over the top! The arrangements are superb – handled by Onzy Matthews with that soulful sense of larger backings that he was mastering at the time over at Capitol Records – and a few key cuts feature organ work by a young Billy Preston, who brings a superb sense of color to the record. Yet through and through, the star on the center stage is Charles – singing with an incredible voice that brings whole new life into these tunes, and with a mode that's very different than his sound on Atlantic Records in the previous decade. The Raelettes provide vocal support, but never overwhelm – and the set features two great Percy Mayfield tunes – "We Don't See Eye To Eye" and "You're In For A Big Surprise" – plus the tracks "Tears", "Going Down Slow", "Let's Go Get Stoned", "Crying Time", and "You've Got A Problem". LP, Vinyl record album

Ray Charles at the height of his 60s powers – maybe not his first album of country-tinged material, but a set that has Ray drawing on all the strengths of previous sessions for Tangerine, then really sending the whole thing over the top! The arrangements are superb – handled by Onzy Matthews with that soulful sense of larger backings that he was mastering at the time over at Capitol Records – and a few key cuts feature organ work by a young Billy Preston, who brings a superb sense of color to the record. Yet through and through, the star on the center stage is Charles – singing with an incredible voice that brings whole new life into these tunes, and with a mode that's very different than his sound on Atlantic Records in the previous decade. The Raelettes provide vocal support, but never overwhelm – and the set features two great Percy Mayfield tunes – "We Don't See Eye To Eye" and "You're In For A Big Surprise" – plus the tracks "Tears", "Going Down Slow", "Let's Go Get Stoned", "Crying Time", and "You've Got A Problem". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A rare bit of UK soul from Rick Clarke – a sweet little set that's got a nicely lean feel – part of that 80s UK style of R&B that really seemed to set the scene for the coming years that would give the world artists like Omar and Soul II Soul! The groove here definitely echoes some of the kick of the latter – a focus on drum machine beats, spare basslines, and keyboards that underscore Rick's vocals in a great way, and never overwhelm them. The homegrown approach makes the whole thing a really timelessly appealing set – done in collaboration with Peter Hinds, on cuts that include "If You Think You're In Love", "Better Luck Next Time", "Grooving On", "Time Keeps Moving On", "See You Along The Way", "Don't Say A Word", and "I Wanted Your Love". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A full-on jazz rock classic from Colosseum – still grooving hard here, and in an expanded version of their early sound! The core group's still very much in power – with some great organ and vibes from Dave Greenslade, fierce sax work from Dick Heckstall-Smith, and pounding drums from Jon Hiseman – but the album also adds in a bit more instrumentation, and expanded arrangements from Neil Ardley – for a sound that's got some even more majestic touches than before! The excellent (and under-rated) Barbara Thompson plays some flute, alto, and soprano sax on the set – and titles include "Three Score & Ten Amen", "Time Lament", "Take Me Back To Doomsday", "Theme For An Imaginary Western", "Bring Out Your Dead", and "The Daughter Of Time". LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary album from a legendary moment in jazz – and one that's got a very unique lineup, given that the young tenor genius John Coltrane meets up here with the brilliant piano of Cecil Taylor! The pair were both very influential in the farther reaches of jazz, yet in very different ways – so working here together on this unique session really creates a special moment in jazz – as both musicians are an incredible force on record, and create a really strong sense of tension throughout. The rest of the group is great – Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Chuck Israels on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums – an equally unique blend of talents brought together for the session – stretching out on long tracks that include "Shifting Down", "Double Clutching", and "Just Friends". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

Features work from John Doe, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, and Dave Alvin – on titles that include "Past All Dishonor", "Frankie Silver", "Time Stands Still", "Heart From The Sun", "When The Rain Comes Down", and "Sanctuary". LP, Vinyl record album

A great selection of material from the sometimes overlooked Dutch pianist Rein DeGraaf – a player who's been making great music since the 60s – and who's heard here on a series of recordings from 1972 up through 2002! We're not sure, but we think all the cuts on this set are exclusive to the album – and showcase the way that Rein can easily slide in with all-star hornmen – a quality that made him very much in-demand for accompanying overseas visitors on the Dutch scene – as you'll hear here, amidst reed work from players who include Charlie Rouse, Bud Shank, Ferdinand Povel, James Clay, Bob Cooper, Herb Geller, and Dexter Gordon! Rhythm players vary – although drummer Eric Ineke is on most numbers – and there's also a few beautiful duets as well. Titles include "Now Is The Time", "I Want To Be Happy", "Out Of Nowhere", "Eternal Triangle", "We'll Be Together Again", and "Days Of Wine & Roses". CD

A stunning look at one of our favorite singers of all time – captured here in the grooviest period of her career, and presented with a huge amount of rare and unreleased material too! In the late 60s, after her famous recordings for Verve, Blossom Dearie moved to the London scene, worked with hip arrangers, songwriters, and producers – and came up with a sound and style that was even more sublime than her earlier work – sometimes with touches of mod rhythms, sometimes bits of jazz, bossa, or soundtrack elements – and delivered in a mode that's unlike anything else she recorded before, or afterwards! This massive package brings together four albums from that time – That's Just The Way I Want To Be, Soon It's Gonna Rain, Sweet Blossom Dearie, and Blossom Time At Ronnie Scott's – plus two full CDs with 27 more London sessions that appear here for the first time ever! Those tracks include mono versions of some album tracks, but also some unusual tracks too – like "You Have Lived In Autumn", "The Joker", "Rings & Things", "Now That We're Here", "Wave", "What Is", "Feeling Good Being Me", "Windows Of The World", "Inside A Silent Tear", "Until It's Time For You To Go", "Didn't We", "Inside Out", "Let It Be Me", "While We're Lovin Me", "My Favorite Things", "What The World Needs Now", and "I'm Hip" – and the package then also has some bonus singles added to the albums – including "The Music Played", "Discover Who I Am", "Moonlight Saving Time", "Wallflower Lonely Cornflower Blue", and "Feelin Groovy". Plus, the whole thing comes in a cool 10" slipcover, with a huge booklet of notes and images in the middle! CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Jim Denley on flute, alto saxophone, voice, and drums and Kimmo Vennonen on electronic manipulations and sampler. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Hard to believe it took a few decades in the careers of both players for them to record together – but that's exactly what you've got here – a landmark meeting of Count Basie and Duke Ellington from the early 60s, near the tail end of Duke's classic stretch on Columbia! Teo Macero produced the session with just the right amount of care and class to keep the whole thing from being an exercise in cliche – and there's a surprising amount of depth here that you might not expect – the best modern elements of Duke's orchestra on Columbia, coming into play with a bit more of the fire and vamp of the Basie group at the time! Titles include "Battle Royal", "Wild Man", "Segue In C", "Jumpin At The Woodside", "To You", and "Take The A Train". CD

Hard to believe it took a few decades in the careers of both players for them to record together – but that's exactly what you've got here – a landmark meeting of Count Basie and Duke Ellington from the early 60s, near the tail end of Duke's classic stretch on Columbia! Teo Macero produced the session with just the right amount of care and class to keep the whole thing from being an exercise in cliche – and there's a surprising amount of depth here that you might not expect – the best modern elements of Duke's orchestra on Columbia, coming into play with a bit more of the fire and vamp of the Basie group at the time! Titles include "Battle Royal", "Wild Man", "Segue In C", "Jumpin At The Woodside", "To You", and "Take The A Train". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Peter Erskine on drums, John Taylor on piano, and Palle Danielsson on double-bass. CD

Amazing work from one of the most inventive trios ever led by pianist Bill Evans – a fantastic group that features the young Eddie Gomez on bass and the mighty Jack DeJohnette on drums! Both players would develop into strong leaders of their own in later years – but here, on this unreleased material from 1968, it's amazing to hear them already shaping sounds with a new sense of freedom – that mixture of complexity and lyricism that Bill brought to his groups from the end of the 50s onwards – delivered here in the hands of musicians who'd both take that spirit, and run with it even more strongly in years to come. Gomez is no stranger to Evans, and had already recorded often with his piano – one of the most sublime pairings of the 60s – but DeJohnette really brings something special to the group – maybe more of a special sonic range at times that allows him to stand out, yet never distract. As with other Resonance releases of this nature, the material is issued for the first time ever – beautifully produced by Dutch radio in June of 1968, and presented here as an extended set with tracks that include "Very Early", "You're Gonna Hear From Me", "Five", "Turn Out The Stars", "Nardis", "Emily", "Who Can I Turn To", and "Alfie". CD

Three wonderful albums from this overlooked group – plus bonus tracks too! First up is Crossroads Of Time, great work from a group who definitely are in the budding years of the UK progressive scene – but one who also knows how to stick to a tighter combo sound too! The record's got a really wonderful vibe – the full-on fire of some late beat group work, but much more farther-reaching in conception – both lyrically and instrumentally, especially when some light production touches kick in to do great things to the organ and vocals. The musical themes are a bit heady, too – some nicely political touches, but in a subtle way – and the group also turn out a nice cover of Love's "7 + 7 Is", alongside other tracks that include "Crossroads Of Time", "I'll Be Your Friend", "Prodigal Son", "Largo", "Love is The Law", and "Inspiration For A New Day". Next is In Fields Of Ardath – very cool work from this unique Welsh group of the 60s a combo who might have started out in beat group modes, but really go for something different on this unique set! Eyes Of Blue have this spacious style that almost recalls the Moody Blues at times – but they're also much more gritty and soulful as well – almost as if they hit territory between the Moodies first record and their ambitious later works, but also draw on wider musical references that have them covering a Django Reinhardt tune on one track, and throwing in some classical references on another. Titles include the cut "Merry Go Round", which they did for a film with Quincy Jones – plus "The Light We See", "Souvenirs", "Little Bird", "Door", "Spanish Blues", "Chances", and "After The War". The set also features the really beautiful album Bluebell Wood – recorded by an incarnation of the group as Big Sleep, and with a different sound that's really great – moodier, mellower, and with slow-building piano and organ lines doing all these great things next to the vocals! Titles include "Saint & Septic", "Odd Song", "Free Life", "Death Of Hope", "Watching Love Grow", and "Bluebell Wood". Bonus tracks include "Apache 69 (mono)" and "QIII (mono)". CD

... CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

The title's a great one for this solo piano set from Tommy Flanagan – as the legendary talent really relaxes into these tunes – letting them open up with his sense of gentle imagination on the keys – that special quality that has made Flanagan such a compelling handler of standards and ballads for so many decades in jazz! There's a few unfamiliar numbers on the set – but most tunes are classics reworked by Tommy with this effortless approach to the piano – one that allows for plenty of bluesy currents on the left hand, while opening up these lyrical elements on the right – stunning throughout, at a level that would only have a bass or drum getting in the way. Titles include "Some Other Spring", "Untired Blues", "Smooth As The Wind", "Valse Hot", "Goodbye", "You Stepped Out Of A Dream", and "Who Can I Turn To". Japanese CD features the bonus track "Dance Of The Infidels". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Jerry Granelli on drums and synth, Charlie Haden on bass, Robben Ford on guitar, Denny Goodhew on alto saxophone and bass clarinet, Ralph Towner on synthesizer, and Julian Priester on trombone. CD

Al Green's last secular album for Hi Records – but still a nice little cooker that's overflowing with Memphis soul! As with Green's previous set for Hi, the album's produced by Al himself, and not Willie Mitchell – in a style that's a bit rougher, chunkier, and almost funkier than the sound that Mitchell had been giving Al as the 70s moved on. Tunes have a nice snapping feel overall, and a lot heavier soul vibe than you might expect for the time – making the record a nice lost sleeper in Green's classic Hi Records catalog! Titles include "King Of All", "I Say A Little Prayer", "Happy Days", "Blow Me Down", "Lo & Behold", "Wait Here", "Truth N Time", and "To Sir With Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Tremendous work from an alto player with a very unique conception – a player who was unlike Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, or some of his precursors on the instrument – and instead really took off in bold new directions, like Lou Donaldson or fellow Chicagoan Sonny Cox in the mid 60s! On the album Playin For Keeps, Bunky's got a very sharp edge on his horn – one that's deft and skillful, but never too boppish. Instead, he really uses space and timing to carve out a new sort of groove – one that's punctuated slightly by the rhythms of the combo, but which also firmly takes its cue from Bunky's own forcefully blown horn. Players here include Cleveland Eaton on bass, Willie Pickins on piano, and Harold Jones on drums – and titles include "Playin For Keeps", "Mi Compasion", "Brazilano", "Mama Looka Boo Boo", and "What Can I Do". Testifyin Time is a really great little record – and one that goes way past the hokey soul jazz reference you might guess from the title! Bunky Green's definitely "testifyin" on the set – but he's really moving past 60s soul jazz cliches, and never falling into some of the too-gospelly notes of some of his contemporaries. Instead, he finds a great space between hardbop, modern jazz, and more soulful moments – all delivered with a hip freshness that's right up there with some of his best contemporaries on the Argo/Cadet label at the time. Thank Chicago for that quality – and the combo on the record, which includes Marshall Thompson on drums, Cleveland Eaton on bass, James Meyer on tenor, and Walter Strickland on trumpet. Titles include "Tamra", "Orbit Six", "My Ship", and "Tweedlee Dee". CD features 17 tracks in all – including one bonus track, "Step High", recorded in 1960 with Wynton Kelly. CD

A real step forward for saxophonist Muriel Grossmann – as the set seems to have a new sort of fire that wasn't there on her debut – as Grossmann and quartet open up to embrace the world of modal rhythms! The tunes here all have this fantastic sense of pulse – energy that comes from these sublime basslines by Gina Schwarz, balanced with open-ended drumming from Uros Stamenkovic, and given all these warm colors by guitarist Radomir Milojkovic – a player who's equally brilliant on the record as Grossmann – who blows both soprano sax and alto, each with this amazingly intuitive sense of a solo – as if her spirit is effortlessly flowing through the horns. Titles include "African Dance", "Peace For All", "Bliss", "Natural Time", "Lightning", "Your Pace", and "Happiness". Includes bonus track "Inner Fire" CD

... CD

A really special album in the career of the great Merle Haggard – a moment when he really started looking back to give credit to those who inspired him – and when he was also really able to express himself in a longer format too! Part of the credit might go to Capitol Records, who trusted Merle so much they not only let him record a concept album, but a 2LP set as well – plenty of space for Haggard to deliver some great spoken passages about the great Jimmie Rodgers, his life, and music – then move into some of Jimmie's classics, but updated nicely with a vibe that's very much Merle's own! Given the way that Hag was stretching out his vocal skills tremendously at the end of the 60s, there's a sense of inflection that's perfect for the bluesy currents of the songs – on titles that include "Blue Yodel No 4", "Waitin For A Train", "Mother The Queen Of My Heart", "My Old Pal", "No Hard Times", "Travelin Blues", "Down The Old Road To Home", "Jimmie's Texas Blues", "Train Whistle Blues", and "Mule Skinner Blues" – plus the classic train song "Hobo Bill's Last Ride". LP, Vinyl record album

Solo piano by Al Haig. LP, Vinyl record album

A rare post-Warner Brothers album from Harpers Bizarre – but done in a style that's still quite similar to their late 60s classics! Although the album's from the mid 70s, it's got a sweetly conveyed style that's focused strongly on the group's warm harmony style – and which mostly features, as before, songs and themes from years past – recast into a fresher, hipper LA-kind of style. The approach still has all the innocent charm of the group's key Warner albums – and the record's surprisingly free of AOR slickness or overdone production touches – and instead just relies on strong vocal harmonies and warmly jazzy arrangements to carry the sound. Titles include "Speak Low", "Banana King Louie", "That's The Way It Was", "Lullaby Of Broadway", "Society Strut", "Every Night", "Beechwood 4 5789", "Cowboy", and "As Time Goes By". CD

Billy Hart on drums, Chris Potter on soprano & tenor saxophone & bass clarinet, John Stubblefield on soprano & tenor saxophone, Mark Feldman on violin, David Fiuczynski on guitar, David Kikoski on piano & Santi Debriano on bass. CD

A fantastic session by Jimmy Heath – cut right at the time of his best 70s soul jazz work! This obscure set was recorded in New York in 1974, but not issued in this form until the mid 90s – and it features Heath with a stellar group that includes Curtis Fuller, Stanley Cowell, Mtume, Billy Higgins, and Pat Martino. The overall sound is modal soul jazz – in the style of the best work on Strata East, with a far-reaching spiritual approach that never goes too far outside, but which is ready to explore the farther aspects of jazz-based expression. Heath is incredible – leading the group on alto and soprano, blowing post-Coltrane lines that are supported by fantastic rhythm work by Cowell, Sam Jones, and Billy Higgins. Tracks include "The 13th House", "Time & The Place", "The Voice Of The Saxophone", and "No End". CD

A bold return to Blue Note for pianist Andrew Hill – his first record for the label in over 15 years, and a record that echoes with the modern tones of Hill's legendary Blue Note run in the 60s! The sound here is a bit more starkly modern and obtuse – done with more of a sense of space than Hill's tenser 60s recordings, in a way that's almost a more contemplative reflection of the "new thing" ideal. All tracks are originals, and Andrew is working with a quintet that includes Charles Tolliver on trumpet, Greg Tardy on tenor and bass clarinet, John Hebert on bass, and Eric McPherson on drums. Hill and Tolliver seem to dominate the record, though – musing gently, but starkly on their respective instruments – on a set of tracks that includes "Malachi", "Time Lines", "Smooth", "Whitsuntide", and "For Emilio". CD

One of our favorite records by Earl Hines – a hip little comeback set, recorded in the mid 60s with an Ellingtonish lineup that includes Clark Terry, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Lawrence Brown, Jimmy Hamilton, and Johnny Hodges. Hines' piano is certainly a strong force in the record, but even more delightful is the solid feel of the players overall – working with that complete coherence found in the best 60s sides by Duke, but touched here with some of Hines' sprightly approach to the melody. Titles include "Once Upon A Time", "Black & Tan Fantasy", "You Can Depend On Me", "Hash Brown", and "Fantastic That's You". CD

One of our favorite records by Earl Hines – a hip little comeback set, recorded in the mid 60s with an Ellingtonish lineup that includes Clark Terry, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Lawrence Brown, Jimmy Hamilton, and Johnny Hodges. Hines' piano is certainly a strong force in the record, but even more delightful is the solid feel of the players overall – working with that complete coherence found in the best 60s sides by Duke, but touched here with some of Hines' sprightly approach to the melody. Titles include "Once Upon A Time", "Black & Tan Fantasy", "You Can Depend On Me", "Hash Brown", and "Fantastic That's You". LP, Vinyl record album

Drum solos by English drummer Jon Hiseman. CD

A rare late 70s recording with David S. Ware on tenor and Alan Braufman on alto! LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent 70s set by Jackie & Roy – very different than their work of the 50s and 60s, with an approach that's much more far-reaching and complicated – a style that opens up their vocal talents majestically! Gone are the simpler ditties of earlier years, and in their place are warmly gliding numbers that open up to really unique vocal interplay – sometimes with Jackie in the lead, but other times trading back and forth with all the kind of complicated inflections you'd expect from early 70s CTI! Don Sebesky handled the arrangements with a great mix of spacey and breezy sounds – some slight electric touches at the bottom, but never in a way that makes the record too slick or smooth. Titles include a great version of "Bachinas Brasileiras #5", plus "Heading", "Summer Song", and "Lazy Afternoon". CD

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A tremendous album from Etta James – her follow up to the groundbreaking At Last record, and one that continues to push her into the sophisticated soul territory that would mark her as one of the greatest talents to record for Chess Records in the 60s! Etta's very different here than on her west coast work of the previous decade – an even more amazing vocalist, set up in these superb arrangements by Riley Hampton – the genius who would also elevate other Chicago talents like Lorez Alexandria and Walter Jackson with his beautiful mix of larger charts and tighter rhythms on the bottom! The shift in sound and sophistication is similar to territory Ray Charles was hitting at the time, but even rawer in the hands of Etta – and titles include her classic "Seven Day Fool" – plus "Don't Cry Baby", "Fool That I Am", "Dream", "I'll Dry My Tears", "It's Too Soon To Know", "Plum Nuts", and a stunning take on "In My Diary" – maybe even better than the version by The Moonglows. LP, Vinyl record album

(Note: This item is not for sale online until 7:00am on Sunday, April 13. It is in limited supply — and by nature of the Record Store Day rules it will be offered for sale first to customers who visit the Dusty Groove retail outlet in Chicago the morning of Saturday, April 12. It will not be pre-sold or reserved in any way. However, after 7:00am on April 13 we will offer up whatever we have left for sale online.) LP, Vinyl record album

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A real rarity from the Blue Note years of drummer Elvin Jones – a unique large group session that was recorded in 1973, but not issued by the label until many years later! As with many of the unreleased Blue Note sets, the quality is superb – Jones doing something a bit different, which is why the label maybe didn't release the album – and really expanding his musical vision past familiar modes – leading a tremendous group with superb saxophone work from Pepper Adams on baritone, and both Frank Foster and Steve Grossman on soprano and tenors – plus a young Jan Hammer on keyboards and piano, Cornell Dupree on guitar, and the mighty Gene Perla on bass – really giving everything a great sort of kick! But there's also plenty of percussion too – as the lineup includes work from Candido on congas, Warren Smith on tympani, and both Omar Clay and Richie Pablo Landrum on added percussion – all of which really sounds amazing next to Elvin's already dynamic work on drums. Titles include "The Prime Element", "Whims Of Bal", "Currents/Pollen", "Pauke Tanz", "The Unknighted Nations", "Don't Cry", and "At This Point In Time". CD

Maybe the funkiest album ever from Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings! The group have always been great, but there's something here that goes even farther than usual – an especially funky snap on the drums at the bottom, even on more laidback tunes – and a stone classic approach to funky soul, one that's definitely been honed to a "T" through their important work on the road during the previous few years! And Sharon Jones is great – sending home these tunes with a quality that may well pass most of her classic female soul inspirations from back in the day. And even though the set brings together some older singles and other odd bits, it's got a rock-solid punch that makes it a very unified album throughout! Titles include "Settling In", "I'm Not Gonna Cry", "When I Come Home", "Ain't No Chimneys In The Projects", "New Shoes", "Without A Trace", and "Inspiration Information". LP, Vinyl record album

"Starting Time" is a great early 60s session by Jordan – who at the time of the recording, was one of a number of firey young tenor players from Chicago – all of them hard-blowing, with a nice soulful bottom that opened up a bop sound to more moods and emotions – but Jordan stood apart from most of them with an approach that was decidedly more complex and forward-thinking. As you'll hear on the album's tracks, he wasn't content enough to just blow off a riff – but had to twist things up a bit, working a tune for more shades and colors than it might yield with another player, pushing on the proceedings with an edge that's very strong. The great Wilbur Ware's on bass, and a young Cedar Walton's playing piano, and with warmth like that, Jordan and trumpeter Kenny Dorham sound great next to each other. Loads of original hard bop lines by Jordan, including "Extempore" and "Quittin' Time", plus "Mosaic" and "One Flight Down" by Cedar Walton. Even better is A Story Tale – a brilliant collaboration between Clifford Jordan and Sonny Red! Red's tone is excellent – a sharper one next to Jordan's more supple blowing – and the pair are a perfect team to lead off tunes like "Prints", "Hip Pockets", "A Story Tale", and "Defiance". CD

Lou Josie of B. Bumble & The Stingers 7-inch, Vinyl record