One of the hippest albums we've ever heard from saxophonist Teodross Avery – a set dedicated to the legacy of John Coltrane, and which definitely has the spirit of the master alive and well in Avery's solos! The tracks are all classics from the Coltrane songbook – performed by a quartet that's tight, sharp, and very much on the money – really leaping ahead strongly with Adam Schulman on piano, Jeff Chambers on bass, and Darrell Green on drums – but also maybe yielding more to the lead spirit of Avery's strengths on tenor and soprano than Coltrane's group might have done. Teodross is incredible throughout – opening up with even more spirit and soul than we might have expected – on titles that include "Afro Blue", "Pursuance", "Bakai", and "Blues Minor". CD also features the tracks "After The Rain" and "Africa". CD

Unheard music from guitar genius Robbie Basho – a selection of tracks that were never issued at the time, all rescued from Basho's archive of over 100 reel to reel tapes! Robbie gave us some groundbreaking records on Takoma, Vanguard, and Blue Thumb – which established him as one of the most important guitarists of the new acoustic generation to rise up in the 60s, alongside important contemporary John Fahey. But Basho also kept on evolving in his music before his untimely early death in 1986, even though he was often not getting the attention from labels that he deserved – which is why a package like this is so great! The tapes were a bit murky on details – but the tracks appear to include some work from the late 60s, contemporaneous with Basho's early recordings for Takoma – but they also move well into the later years, at a time when Robbie's spiritualism was rising even more, through his devotion to Sufism. There are many vocal passages on the set, done in that surprisingly majestic mode that Basho had in the later years – a more well-developed style than his early singing – and the set, of course, features countless moments of sublime work on 12 string guitar. 5CD set features 54 tracks in all – and a 48 page booklet of notes, essays, and photos. CD

Hard to believe this excellent series is hitting its ninth volume – and this time around, Ryley Walker is at the helm – making excellent musical choices that really keep things fresh! As with previous volumes, the focus is on the most creative talents of the acoustic underground – usually heard here in a solo setting, but sometimes with light additional instrumentation – pushing forward that tradition of music that Tompkins Square has been so essential in capturing in recent years – almost as if the label has become the Takoma Records of the 21st Century! Walker makes some great choices here, and focuses on some overlooked and up-and-coming talents, including a few from our hometown of Chicago. Tracks include "Wooden Waltz" by Eli Winter, "Leicester Hwy" by Shane Parish, "Boat Ride" by Kendra Amalie, "World Of Objects (guitar edit)" by Fire Toolz, "Knots Where Never Was" by Lucas Brode, "Seedlings" by Dave Miller, "Variations On Themes For Blind Dogs" by Pete Fosco, and "I Used To Sing" by Matthew Rolin. CD

A really fantastic collection of rare gospel music – one that's put together with a fair bit of thought, and a great deal of love – even more than most other collections of the music that we usually get our hands on! The selection of songs is as thoughtful as the long, well-crafted liner notes – and the music here comes from an assortment of rare singles from the farther reaches of the gospel recording world in the late 60s and 1970s – almost all of it very localized, as you might guess from the title – and with a very strong focus on our fabulous city of Chicago. Titles include "Rocky Roady" by Joanne & Sonny, "Black Pride" by Rev HH Harrington, "No Other Love" by Messiahs Of Glory, "I Want You To Help Me" by Travelers Of Zion, "Christ Rose" by Rev John Thomas, "Try Jesus" by Gospel Carolets, and "The Number" by Wondering Gails. LP, Vinyl record album

A really fantastic collection of rare gospel music – one that's put together with a fair bit of thought, and a great deal of love – even more than most other collections of the music that we usually get our hands on! The selection of songs is as thoughtful as the long, well-crafted liner notes – and the music here comes from an assortment of rare singles from the farther reaches of the gospel recording world in the late 60s and 1970s – almost all of it very localized, as you might guess from the title – and with a very strong focus on our fabulous city of Chicago. Titles include "Rocky Roady" by Joanne & Sonny, "Black Pride" by Rev HH Harrington, "No Other Love" by Messiahs Of Glory, "I Want You To Help Me" by Travelers Of Zion, "Christ Rose" by Rev John Thomas, "Try Jesus" by Gospel Carolets, and "The Number" by Wondering Gails. CD

A lost mid 70s gem from mandolin player Roland White – who had earlier, along with his brother Clarence, helped bring bluegrass back into contemporary relevance with their group The Kentucky Colonels and went on to play with giants from Lester Flatt to Bill Monroe. I Wasn't Born To Rock'N Roll was first released on the Ridge Runner label out of Ft. Worth, TX, back in 1976 – and it's as worthy of a rescue mission for Tompkins Square as even their incredible sets of music from many decades earlier! The musicianship on White's record is excellent, but it's most wonderful for the rawly passionate and purely honest it is. There's just one original in the set, which is more devoted to the tried-and-true, and there's not reason for it not to be. Roland also sings lead and players include Kenny Wertz on guitar and tenor, Roger Bush on bass and high baritone, Alan Munde on banjo and Dave Ferguson on occasional fiddle. Titles include "Kansas City Railroad Blues", "The Storms Are On The Ocean", "Love Please Come Home", "Doin My Time", "Can't You Hear Me Calling", "She Is Her Own Special Baby", "Live And Let Live" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing violinist from Greece, but one who recorded in New York during the 20s – on a host of rare 78rpm material presented in this lavish set! Alexis Zoumbas has a wonderfully melancholy feel to his instrument – a style that mixes virtuostic passages with these deeper, bluer qualities that are more folkloric – often supported with just a bit of work on acoustic bass for the recordings, or a bit of very cool cymbalom as well! The quality of the package and music reproductions puts this one right up there with collections of ethnic 78s on Tompkins Square or Honest Jons – and titles include "Alimbeis", "Tzamara Arvanitiko", "Syrtos Sta Dyo", "Frasia", and "Epirotiko Mirologi". LP, Vinyl record album