A solo album – tracks include "Green Chimneys", "Monk's Mood", "Ask Me Now", "Panonica", "Bye-Ya", "Off Minor", and two versions of "Round Midnight". CD

One of the last great albums that Hank Mobley ever cut! Although Mobley's 70s output was nothing compared to his 60s Blue Note work, this 1972 session for Cobblestone/Muse is a winner, and features the aging tenorist co-leading a crack quintet with Cedar Walton, and featuring Billy Higgins, Sam Jones, and Charles Davis. The set's freer than Mobley's Blue Note work, but the group's right on the money – and the record is dominated by fierce soulful solos. Walton plays both acoustic and electric piano, at times, the record feels as if it might have been issued on the Black Jazz label. Tracks include "Sabia", "Breakthrough", "Early Morning Stroll", and the beautiful "House On Maple Street". CD

Harold Ashby on tenor saxophone with John Hicks on piano, Keter Betts on bass & Jimmy Cobb on drums. CD

Music from The Browns, U.S. Maple, The Flying Luttenbachers, Lake Of Dracula, Yona-Kit, You Fantastic!, UFO Or Die, Zeek Sheck Care Company, Shakuhachi Surprise, Melt-Banana, Strangulated Beatoffs, and more. CD

Leon Thomas and Gary Bartz are joined by Eddie Henderson, Bob Butta, Geoff Harper and Steve Johns. 7 numbers in all, including "Precious Energy", "You Treat Me Like A Yo Yo", "Sunflowers", "Cousin Mary", "Woman", "Close Your Eyes" and "Boom, Boom, Boom". CD

A hell of a record from the obscure George Scott – a singer who never hit much fame after this, but who really knocks it out of the park with a righteous deep soul style! Backings are more stripped-down than you'd expect from the date – much more like some indie soul set from the late 60s, with the kind of edge you'd hear on a small southern label – presentation that's perfect for the raw style of Scott's vocals! We know very little about the overall record – typical for releases on the enigmatic Maple label, which always seems to turn out work that's great, but obscure. Titles include "Family Tree", "Let The Past Be The Past", "My Neighborhood", "This Aching Heart", "Find Someone To Love", "Sweetthang", and "Nobody Can Save Me". LP, Vinyl record album

The early roots of The Guess Who – served up here in a double-length collection of material that's overflowing with great cuts before their famous years on RCA! The group's sound is already pretty strongly formed here – thanks to vocals and piano from Burton Cummings, and guitar work from Randy Bachman – maybe in more familiar garage territory on a number of cuts, but definitely finding that special sort of approach by the middle of the set – especially once Cummings discovers the more soulful, expressive side of his vocals. The set's got 28 tracks in all – put together by Bachman himself – and titles include "Friends Of Mine", "Maple Fudge", "Of A Dropping Pin", "We're Coming To Dinner", "Sitar Saga", "Miss Felicity Grey", "There's No Getting Away From You", "Croyez Moi", and "Shadows Cross The Shadows". CD

One of the hippest bandleaders of his generation, even if his group wasn't as famous as those of Basie or Kenton! Pierce was a bit like the former in the heavy swing of his group, but also a fair bit like the latter in that he had a great ear for finding young modernists – players who would work well within the tighter ensemble of the larger group, but also be willing to try out new ideas on their solos – even in a relatively short span on record! The Pierce style was always subtle, but extremely rewarding – especially when given a few repeat listenings. Players here include Joe Newman, Bill Harris, Hal McKusick, Freddie Green, Oscar Pettiford, and Nat Pierce. Includes "Old Rev", "Trip To Nathan's", "Maple Leaf Rag", "That's All", "Sioux City Sue", "Rojiserro", and "The Bearded One". LP, Vinyl record album

A jangle-pop spectacular from The Five Man Electrical Band – an incredibly groovy outfit from late 60s Canada! Although issued at the end of the 60s, the album's got a sweetly-crafted feel that sounds a lot like some of the best mid 60s pop – particularly that coming from overseas – almost a lost Brit Invasion sort of sound, but one that's tuned with a few odder touches that show the group's ear for some of the west coast musical changes of the time. All tunes are incredibly catchy, and recorded with great focus on the jangly lead guitar – so much so that the vocals are almost buried down a bit more in the mix, which makes for a kind of cooly tripped-out sound. Titles include "Maple Lane", "Fancy Dancin Man", "Black Sheep Of The Family", "Running Back", "Didn't Know The Time", "Five Man Electrical Band", and "Private Train". CD also features a whopping 9 tracks added to the original album – some by the group as The Staccatos – with titles that include "Half Past Midnight", "Weather Man", "Super Girl", "Let's Run Away", "Catch The Love Parade", and "Whisper Words". LP, Vinyl record album

A (completely) terrific and (totally) powerful jazz funk trio set from Galactic drummer Stanton Moore – even if we don't know why all the tunes have parenthesis! There's no question that the set is emphatic – with Moore just killing it on the kit – backed just as dexterously Robert Walter on B3, toy piano and clavinet, and Will Bernard on guitar. There's a bottom heavy groove that we just love, with complex, unpredictable changes, but nothing that's too far out there. Jazzy funk & instrumental rock(ish) jams with loads of space for the players to breathe and do their thing without ever wearing out their welcome. This might be Stanton's best to date. Tracks include "(Late Night At The) Maple Leaf", "(Proper) Gander", "Wissons (Of Vu)", "Over (Compensatin')", "(Who Ate The) Layer Cake, "(Here Come) The Brown Police" and more! CD

The cover may look like some indie soul set from the 80s, but Mabu's Madness is a rare east coast funk combo from the start of the 70s – one who issued this killer set on the tiny Maple label with a mighty heavy sound! The album's got a vibe that's a bit like some of the best funk albums on the Stang/All-Platinum label – nicely raw in all the best spots, with some unconventional instrumentation that's not afraid to soar between hard funk and sweeter soul moments – all topped with vocals from Brad "Mabu" Young, who also provides all the heavy drums on the set – which really seem to set the combo on fire! Brad's almost got a slight dose of Hendrix in his vibe, which is echoed by some of the heavy fuzz on the guitar at points – on titles that include "Seize The Time", "Show Me How", "Do The Best You Can", "We'll Make You Proud", "Mind Your Business", and "She Turned Me On". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Cecil Payne on baritone sax, Marcus Belgrave on trumpet, and guest piano from Larry Willis. CD