An early gem from keyboardist Carlos Franzetti – a mid 70s session done with a really ambitious sound, and easily one of Franzetti's most righteous recordings ever! At the time of the set, Carlos was fresh on the New York scene from years in his native Argentina – but he's working here with a host of American players to craft a record of boundless soul and imagination – in a style that mixes free solo work on keyboards and saxes with added strings on many tracks, and a few choice vocals that really expand the set. There's a sound here that almost reminds us of the mix of modes used by another Argentinian, Gato Barbieri, in some of his best work of the period – but Franzetti's approach is much more in a spiritual soul jazz mode than Gato's, yet it shares a similar optimism and ability to freely combine styles. Players on the session include Omar Clay on drums, Marvin Blackman on soprano and tenor sax, Kenny Rogers on flute, and Ray Mantilla on congas – and voices are by Mel Dancy and Gayle Dixon Clay. Titles include "Southamelodic", "In The Dawn Of Time", "Prime Element", "Lola", "Aldebaran", "Norma Jean", "Shave & Haircut", and "Alborada". Originally only out on the Argentinian Trova label – beautifully presented here! CD

One of the coolest records we've ever heard from this legendary Argentine pianist – a set that has Jorge Lopez Ruiz playing lots of Fender Rhodes, and mixing it in with both rootsy Latin percussion and a number of other keyboards too! The set's almost a South American version of some of Herbie Hancock's work with the Headhunters – with more traditional percussion passages in the mix, but blended with sounds that include Arp and mini-moog too – which gives the whole thing a criss-crossing vibe that alternates from the surface of the planet to the deeper ranges of the cosmos! Ruiz is wonderful throughout – often very spacious, in a thoughtful way that only makes each note have more power – and titles include "La Hora De La Sed Maldita", "Eterna Prescencia", "Mira Tu", "El Viaje De Dumpty", "Balewada", and "Para Nostros Solamente". CD

One of the coolest records we've ever heard from this legendary Argentine pianist – a set that has Jorge Lopez Ruiz playing lots of Fender Rhodes, and mixing it in with both rootsy Latin percussion and a number of other keyboards too! The set's almost a South American version of some of Herbie Hancock's work with the Headhunters – with more traditional percussion passages in the mix, but blended with sounds that include Arp and mini-moog too – which gives the whole thing a criss-crossing vibe that alternates from the surface of the planet to the deeper ranges of the cosmos! Ruiz is wonderful throughout – often very spacious, in a thoughtful way that only makes each note have more power – and titles include "La Hora De La Sed Maldita", "Eterna Prescencia", "Mira Tu", "El Viaje De Dumpty", "Balewada", and "Para Nostros Solamente". LP, Vinyl record album

Guitarist Sebastiao Tapajos really sounds wonderful here – playing in a spare setting, but a lively one too – thanks to work from percussionist Pedro Dos Santos, who plays a wide variety of instruments that really keep things groovy! There's a feel here that's a bit like some of Baden Powell's small combo records – kind of a post-bossa approach, with more complexity in the guitar work – and a groove that never stops being interesting – thanks to Pedro's work on tamborin, berimbau, tumbadora, and a host of other instruments too. Includes "Estudio No 1", "Despedida De Mangueira", "Encuentro Marcado", "Cantico Del Agua", "Himalaya", "Santarem", "Sorongaio", "Solfeggeto", "Cajita De Musica", "Munganga", "Primavera" and "Solo De Bambu". CD features bonus tracks – "Primavera/Favela", "Samba Em Preludio/Despedida De Mangueira", "Munganga", "Todo E Moda", and "Sorongaio". CD

Brazilian guitarist Sebastiao Tapajos usually records in a relatively mellow mode – but here, he's working with percussive backings from Pedro Dos Santos – who plays a wide variety of instruments, and really adds a lot to the sound of the set! There's kind of a bossa guitar with percussion vibe to the record – although Tapajos' style always moves past just straight bossa – and Pedro handles all sorts of percussion elements, and even brings in some cool vocal effects – on titles that include "Escola De Samba", "Laberinto", "Catedral", "Dora/Saudade Da Bahia", "Ganga", "Rio Das Ostras" "Emboscada", "Feitio De Oracoa", and "Sambaden". Features 9 bonus tracks – including "Ganga", "Catedral", "Samba Do Aviao", "Laberinto", "Cancion Del Fuego Fatuo", and "Tornei A Caminhar". CD

Pretty dark stuff from Piazzolla – recorded in 1969, but with the moody feel of his best nuevo tango work from later years! Piazzolla's bandoneon is out in the lead working these magically woven lines of sound and song, and the quintet washes behind him in dark pools of color and emotion. Great stuff – about as great as you can get from Piazzolla – and with tracks that include "Fugata", "Adios Nonino", "Otono Porteno", "Finale", and "Soledad". CD

One of the coolest 70s albums we've ever heard from the always-cool Jorge Lopez Ruiz – a set that expands out from his earlier jazz work with a flurry of wonderful sounds and styles, set up in a much more ambitious vibe overall! Yet despite the sophistication of the setting, the work is also pretty darn groovy too – lots of funky jazz touches next to more modern inflections – with a larger lineup that includes later ECM great Dino Saluzzi on bandoneon, Donna Caroll on cool wordless vocals, and other musicians on electric piano, percussion, guitar, trumpet, soprano sax, and violin! With the latter instrument and the bandoneon, Ruiz is giving a nod to the modern tango world of Astor Piazzolla, yet coming across with some European cinematic modes as well – all in a well-done set that's completely compelling all the way through. Titles include "El Grito Del Hombre", "La Alegria Del Hombre", "El Ruego Del Hombre", "La Nostalgia Del Hombre", and "El Adios Del Hombre". LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool split album from pianist Enrique Villegas – and one that's nicely different than some of his other records from the time! Side one features a long tribute to Thelonious Monk – a blended medley of "Bemsha Swing", "Round Midnight", and "Blue Monk – played with a trio that includes the great Jorge Lopez Ruiz on bass and Eduardo Casalla on drums – followed by other tracks on side two that have a very Monkish approach – nicely angular, and with a vibe that shows just how much Villegas learned from Monk, but maybe filled in with more of the expansive notes he brings to his own music too. These tracks include "It Might As Well Be Spring", "St Thomas", "Charmaine", and "It's Only A Paper Moon". CD

A really burning live set from Argentine tenorist Chivo Borraro – a set that features very extended performances that capture Borraro and his group at their most modern! Chivo burns here in a way you don't always hear on other sessions – very relaxed and opening up in the comfortable confines of the Cricket night club in Buenos Aries – with help from Fernando Gelbard on piano, Jorge Lopez Luis on bass, and Pocho Lapouble on drums – keeping things swinging, but in a loose way that really lets the leader go where he wants! The extended format and bold energy put the record in territory that's similar to, but more avant than, some of the Dexter Gordon live sets coming from the European scene of the time – and titles include "Africa", "Minor Key", "Blues Con Amague" and "Lover Man". CD

A magical meeting of two tremendous talents – saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and bandoneon player Astor Piazzolla – heard here in a rare Italian recording from the 70s! The album's a really unique effort for both musicians – a bit more pensive and thoughtful than some of Piazzolla's usual work from the 70s, and much less jazz-based than Mulligan's other records – more in a soundtrack mode, and one that seems to have echoes of Gato Barbieri's score to Last Tango In Paris! Like that great record, this one mixes Argentine styles with freer, more fluid ones – updating roots with a 70s sense of sophistication, and really letting Gerry Mulligan take off in long, open-ended solos that are among some of his best work of the decade. Other instrumentation includes marimba, guitar, keyboards, and percussion from Tullio De Piscopo – plus a bit of strings as well – and titles include "Hace Viente Anos", "Deux Xango", "Viente Anos Despues", "Reunion Cumbre", "Reminiscencia", and "Anos De Soledad". CD

One of the coolest records we've ever heard from this legendary Argentine pianist – a set that has Jorge Lopez Ruiz playing lots of Fender Rhodes, and mixing it in with both rootsy Latin percussion and a number of other keyboards too! The set's almost a South American version of some of Herbie Hancock's work with the Headhunters – with more traditional percussion passages in the mix, but blended with sounds that include Arp and mini-moog too – which gives the whole thing a criss-crossing vibe that alternates from the surface of the planet to the deeper ranges of the cosmos! Ruiz is wonderful throughout – often very spacious, in a thoughtful way that only makes each note have more power – and titles include "La Hora De La Sed Maldita", "Eterna Prescencia", "Mira Tu", "El Viaje De Dumpty", "Balewada", and "Para Nostros Solamente". CD

A great demonstration of the incredible keyboard skills of Argentine pianist Enrique Villegas – an artist who issued a few albums here in the US, but had a much longer recorded legacy back home! This mid 60s date is one of Enrique's classics – and shows his amazing command of the keys, with a mixture of fluid lyricism and richer rhythmic currents – almost like Erroll Garner matched with Oscar Peterson, but handled with a special flavor that's very much his own! The romping left hand side of Enrique's style is greatly encouraged here by the work of Jorge Lopez Ruiz on bass and Eduardo Casalla on drums – and titles include "Hindustan", "Shadow Waltz", "Moonlight & Shadows", and the long "Tributo A Duke Ellington". CD features four bonus tracks by the same trio, recorded later – "Don't Blame Me", "Stormy Weather", "The Man I Love", and an "Improvisation" track. CD

The music of Jerome Kern is explored here in territory that's nicely far from the original – really open, fluid trio instrumentals from Enrique Villegas – who's very much at the height of his more modern, open style here! The tunes are familiar, but really pulled apart as well – as Villegas makes them his own through inventive arrangements and a very freewheeling approach to the piano – much less structured than his earlier work, and given equally open support from Oscar Alem on bass and Osvaldo Lopez on drums! Titles include the side-long "Temas De La Comedia Musical Showboat" – plus "Dearly Beloved", "The Way You Look Tonight", "A Fine Romance", and "Long Ago & Far Away". CD

The piano of Argentine jazz legend Enrique Villegas gets some great accompaniment here from Ellington sidemen Paul Gonsalves on tenor and Willie Cook on trumpet! Villegas normally recorded in trio modes, or more intimate settings – and it's great to hear him here with a more swinging style, one that really gets great solo work out of the Ellingtonians too – very similar to some of the other non-Duke sessions that Gonsalves was able to cut on a variety of scenes around the world in the 60s! Other players include Alfredo Remus on bass and Eduardo Casalla on drums – and titles include "Perdido", "Blues For BA", "St Louis Blues", "I Can't Get Started", and "Just Friends". CD features three bonus tracks too "Blues En Do", "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen", and "Lullaby Of The Leaves". CD

Music from Tam-Tam 2000, Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca, Africando, Orchestre Baobab De Dakar, Sam Mangwana, Papi Oviedo, Julian Avalos & Afro-Andes, Cuarteto Oriente, 4 Etoiles, Ruy Mingas, Vieja Trova Santiaguera, and Conjunto Cespedes. CD

A trio of mid-to-late 60s Italian spy soundtracks – Italo Greco and Gianni Boncompagni's work for Riuscira' Il Nostro Eroe A Ritrovare Il Piu' Grande Diamante Del Mondo, Boncompagni's score for Colo Di Sole, and Bruno Canfora's work for Spia Spione – on one great CD from Beat Records! We'll admit to knowing very little about the films, but we must say, this material is very nicely curated, which shouldn't come as surprise given Beat's always warmly presented film score sets. It covers the genre terrain beautiful, from big scale, action-y orchestras, to stripped down, loungey cocktail jazz and beyond. The material from each of the three soundtracks is comprised of sequences on the title themes. 31 tracks in all! CD

A very cool late 60s spy soundtrack from Italian maestro Armando Trovajoli – possibly one of his most dynamic scores of the time, filled with a range of modes – from jazzy, to moody, to mellow! The main theme of the film has a leaping, soaring piano/horn line that's totally great – quite driving and catchy, with enough of a groove to make it alone worth seeking out – but other tracks are plenty wonderful too, and feature a nice array of jazzy passages mixed with sweeter strings, plus a few sparer, more contemplative moments that echo the theme in very subtle ways. The lovely Lara Saint Paul sings the theme song "The Touch Of A Kiss" – and other titles include "The Report Is Completed", "Just Pull The Trigger", "The Last Gift", "A Bank In Zurich", "The Cottage Over The River", "Unexpected Note", "A Forced Meeting", "Suddenly An Old Friend", "Tears & Spies", and "She Dangerous Stuff". CD

Funky grooves, floating vocals, mellow keyboards, and a whole lot more – easily one of the greatest soundtracks ever from the legendary Armando Trovajoli – and certainly one of the grooviest too! There's a sublime quality to this score that's well made Sessomatto one of the best-remembered albums from the glory years of the Italian soundtracks – a sense of space, pacing, and timing that are simply breathtaking – and which are the perfect summation of Trovajoli's earlier experiments in music. As with his score to La Matriarca, the instrumentation here varies often – sometimes a bit of horns, nicely compressed; sometimes a floating harmonica line; sometimes keyboards; and sometimes a funky rhythm topped with vocals – all woven together in a rich pastiche of styles that makes the album one of the deepest soundtracks you'll hope to own from the time. The remastering here is wonderful – way better than the previous Japanese reissues, and done in a way that really isolates the best elements of the music – letting the simple balance of sound and space resonate beautifully, and exposing even more of Trovajoli's genius with a wealth of bonus tracks. These added numbers really open the whole thing up – taking the album way past the familiar "Sessomatto" theme (reworked and remixed for the dancefloor often in later years), and almost creating a mini-movie in sound – with all the requisite scene shifts and drama to match! CD features a whopping 41 tracks in all – with titles that include "Sessomatto", "Signora Sono Le Otto", "Two Happy People", "Ammuri Ammuri", "D'Amore Si Muore", "Un Amore Difficile", "Due Cuori E Una Birra", "Bravo Balli bene", "Scappa Gilda", "Vorrei Che Fosse Amore", "Searching For Something", and "L'Ospite". CD

Two very groovy soundtracks from Armando Trovajoli – an artist who can be one of the grooviest Italian film composers when he hits territory this great! Vedo Nudo has some really cool use of organ and rolling rhythms – a bit like Trovajoli's classic La Matriarca, but with a different flavor that includes nice use of jazzy instrumentation and some cool wordless vocals at points too – nicely varied, but also unified over the course of the 20 tracks that are presented on the CD! Dove Vai Tutta Nuda is presented here in a shorter range – just 6 tracks in all, but with a very nice sexy Italian groove – including a really cool vocal theme that mixes a breathy female lead with some great chorus vocals! CD

Excellent tracks from the Italian soundtrack heyday of the late 60s! This wonderfully packaged set features work by Armando Trovajoli, Piero Umiliani, Ennio Morricone, Riz Ortolani, Francesco De Masi, and Bruno Nicolai – with tracks from the films Rapporto Fuller-Base Stoccolma, Troppo Per Vivere Poco Per Morire, Tiffany Memorandum, Dalle Ardenne All'Inferno, and Come Rubare La Corona D'Inghilterra. Titles include "Arabella", "Diamond Bossanova", "Tema Di Cristine", "Beat Fuga Shake", "Notte Al Grand Hotel", "The Touch Of A Kiss", and "Argoman Bossanova". 16 tracks in all. LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful Italian/American collaboration – one that brings the reeds of Ken Vandermark and drums of Hamid Drake into contact with the live electronics of Luigi Ceccarelli and flutes of Gianni Trovalusci! The pairing of players is perfect, as Ceccarelli's electronics often have these percussive pulses – not drum machine styles, but those blocks of sonic energy that remind us of the best earlier use of improvised electronics, sometimes by artists who were also drummers – which makes the balance with Drake's percussion a really great match. And Vandermark is always opening up new territory on saxes, so working here with the amazing sounds of Trovalusci's flute makes for some really fantastic energy – on a single long improvisation, recorded at the Forli Open Music Festival. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant recording of John Coltrane's legendary "Ascension" – performed by an expanded version of the Rova Sax Quartet! The group here features core Rova members Larry Ochs, Jon Raskin, Steve Adams, and Bruce Ackley – "electrified" by the addition of Nels Cline on guitar, Fred Frith on bass, Otomo Yoshihide on turntables, Chris Brown on electronics, and Ikue Mori on drum machines and sampler. Added to this are some additional drums and violin – but oddly, the sound is still very sax-based overall – with Rova at the front, holding down the soulful spirit of Coltrane – and the other players bringing up the rest of the record with an edgey, improvised sound that almost reminds us of the best New York work of the early 80s! CD

Funky grooves, floating vocals, mellow keyboards, and a whole lot more – easily one of the greatest soundtracks ever from the legendary Armando Trovajoli – and certainly one of the grooviest too! There's a sublime quality to this score that's well made Sessomatto one of the best-remembered albums from the glory years of the Italian soundtracks – a sense of space, pacing, and timing that are simply breathtaking – and which are the perfect summation of Trovajoli's earlier experiments in music. As with his score to La Matriarca, the instrumentation here varies often – sometimes a bit of horns, nicely compressed; sometimes a floating harmonica line; sometimes keyboards; and sometimes a funky rhythm topped with vocals – all woven together in a rich pastiche of styles that makes the album one of the deepest soundtracks you'll hope to own from the time. The remastering here is wonderful – way better than the previous Japanese reissues, and done in a way that really isolates the best elements of the music – letting the simple balance of sound and space resonate beautifully, and exposing even more of Trovajoli's genius with a wealth of bonus tracks. These added numbers really open the whole thing up – taking the album way past the familiar "Sessomatto" theme (reworked and remixed for the dancefloor often in later years), and almost creating a mini-movie in sound – with all the requisite scene shifts and drama to match! CD features a whopping 41 tracks in all – with titles that include "Sessomatto", "Signora Sono Le Otto", "Two Happy People", "Ammuri Ammuri", "D'Amore Si Muore", "Un Amore Difficile", "Due Cuori E Una Birra", "Bravo Balli bene", "Scappa Gilda", "Vorrei Che Fosse Amore", "Searching For Something", and "L'Ospite". CD

Wonderfully groovy stuff – and one of the best soundtracks ever by the great Italian composer Armando Trovajoli! The record has a very similar feel to his legendary Seven Golden Men soundtrack – with a groovy swinging jazz vocal group (I Cantori Moderni) over jazzy riffing and groovin – on upbeat tunes that are very cool, with a mod 60s style throughout! The whole thing swings mightily – and kind of feels like what might have happened if the Swingle Singers ever recorded with Lalo Schifrin – his best jazz-infused instrumentation, and their wonderfully dynamic vocal approach. Titles include "The Getaway", "Seven Times Blues", "The Big Brain", "Jail", and "Seven Times Seven". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A killer from the Czech scene of the early 70s – and a set that clearly draws its inspiration from the sound of mid-60s London – especially artists who mix jazz and soul, like Georgie Fame or Zoot Money! The core combo is totally great – with a very R&B-drenched vibe – and they work here with guest vocals from singers Marie Rottrova and Petr Nemec, who take turns singing the tunes. But maybe the best moments are the longer Hammond instrumentals – "Quasimodo's Dream" and "Sunny" – which both feature searing solos from Vladimir Figar, who's a hell of a player on the organ, with some mighty nice ideas! Other titles include "Big Chain", "Nothing's Too Good For My Baby", "Purple Angels", "Chain Of Fools", "Hey Lonely Girl", and "Ain't No Way". CD features a whopping seven bonus tracks – all titles that were issued on the group's previous Flamingo album. CD

A sweet 70s groover from Italian soundtrack maestro Armando Trovajoli – one that has some nice funky tracks! There's a bit more electricity running through the mix than on Trovajoli's 60s recordings – sweet keys and bass bubbling under the strings, and often hitting some nice laidback funky tunes in a sexy 70s Euro style. Some cuts are mellower and more traditional, but the electric ones, especially those with a bit of moog, are totally great – and the album's a great reminder of why Trovajoli continues to be one of our favorite soundtrack composers ever! Titles include "Racconto Televisivo", "Brutti Sporchi E Cattivi", "Nonna Antonecca", and "Il Sogno". This stunning version is overflowing with bonus tracks – a total of 22 numbers in all, and way more than the previous CD release! CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Stirring action from Armando Trovajoli – a soundtrack composer you may remember more for his late 60s jazz and bossa efforts – but who stands head to head with the best in this early 60s blood and sandals epic! Most numbers have a bold, proud feel – just the sort to match the masculine action on the screen – and full horns soar on the best numbers, rising in might before crashing into some mellower, moodier, more exotic moments! CD features 19 tracks in all – with some pretty stunning sound! CD

A fantastic score from the great Armando Trovajoli – one of his few 60s classics to get any sort of circulation in the US – and one of the best! The album's got loads of scatting vocals by his great group I Cantori Modern – alongside upbeat chase tracks, crime jazz, and even a bit of electric harpsichord too! The music mixes together bubbling organ with swinging vocal riffs by I Cantori Moderni – an excellent little combo directed by Alessandro Alessandroni with a cool breezy vocal style that works perfectly with the other instrumentation. Tracks include "Ping Pong", "Thunder Bolt", "Walk On Home", and "Golden Bricks". LP, Vinyl record album

The title doesn't give you much to go on – but take it from us, this is a great little compilation – one that's filled with rare jazz work from a variety of European soundtracks of the 60s and 70s! The range of tracks here is really great – and wide enough to include a few favorites, plus an even wider range of rare and obscure numbers – most of which are pulled from the catalog of EMI Italy, and include a number of tunes that have never been issued to the public before! And even better, there's a fair bit of work on here that's from soundtracks that aren't normally jazzy overall – but which feature one or two great jazz tracks, pulled out nicely here and intermingled with the rest of the top-shelf set. 18 tracks in all – 5 previously unreleased – with titles that include "Eva" by Michel Legrand, "A Place For Lovers (jazz suite)" by Manuel De Sica, "Spaghetti A Detroit" by Fred Bongusto, "Adulterio All'Italiana" by Armando Trovajoli, "Ballando Con Raquel" by Nino Rota, "This Is Life" by Piero Piccioni, "Sideslip (new edit)" by Berto Pisano, "Jazz Interlude" by Giorgio Gaslini, "That's Show" by Gianni Dell'Orso, "Monitor Jazz" by Carlo Rustichelli, and "Kiss Me Worren Please" by Bruno Nicolai. CD

On the heels of their Sessomato Experience, Easy Tempo release this compilation of older Italian soundtrack grooves – by Luis Bacalov, Armando Trovajoli, Piero Umiliani, and Piero Piccioni – remixed by modern European mixologists – like Kid Loco, Jazz Brothers, Rainer Truby Trio, Maffia Sound System, and Gak Sato. As with the other projects, the effort is an attempt update some of these funky grooves, and turn them towards the modern dancefloor. This CD version has an extra mix of Umiliani by the High Llamas, a mix of Umiliani's "Mah Na Mah Na" by the Karminsky Experience and a remix of "Sessomatto" by Raphael Sebbag. CD

Similar to the first volume, this one's got some groovy Italian soundtrack themes remixed by some of Europe's best handlers of the genre. The set features work by Piero Umiliani, Armando Trovajoli, Berto Pisano, Mario Migalardi, and Lesiman – all remixed and remodeled by the likes of Gak Sato, Kid Loco, Raw Deal, BNX, and The Karminsky Experience! Very groovy stuff, and another chapter in the Italian effort to fold time back on itself! CD

Slammin's a definite good choice for the title of this one – as this 5th entry in the Easy Tempo series seems even funkier than the other volumes – a set that's got plenty of full-on grooves, hand-picked from the genius Italian soundtrack years of the 60s and 70s! If you're looking for a place to start digging the full range of talents of the maestros of this time, you'd be hard pressed to find a better collection – as the Easy Tempo name always means the best bits from this scene, served up in a package that packs a lot more punch than any single individual soundtrack! Titles include "Loco Love Motor" and "The Frog" by Augusto Martelli, "Montreal Non Stop" and "Anice Nuraghi" by Luiz Bacalov, "L'Arcangelo" by Piero Umiliani, "Running Fast" by Stefano Torossi, "Blazing Magnum" by Armando Trovajoli, "Trop's" by Alberto Baldan Bembo, "Vuca" by Tony Mimms, and "The Chicken" by Dick Oliver. CD