A set that brings together earlier work from this hip Japanese duo, including some unreleased tracks – work that's definitely in the farther spectrum of some of the more creative work from that scene at the start of the 80s! Beats and sound samples come together with ease – sometimes at a level that's warm and cozy, sometimes more noisy and all-out – and the vocals on the tracks are often processed right down into the mix, creating a very electric experience overall! Titles include "De To Re Mi", "After The Intelligence", "Trick Or Treat", "Night Paradise", "Angel", "Love Season", and previously unreleased versions of "Tamare Kurawanka", "Kitsune", "Heartbeat", and "We Are Only Dancin". CD

Trombonist Marty Cook may not be the biggest name in jazz – but here, he works at the head of a quintet of top-shelf heavyweights, all of whom really serve up something special under his leadership! The great Jim Pepper is in the group on tenor and soprano sax, and Mal Waldron is on piano – often working here with very different qualities than under his own dates as a leader from the same time – a nice change, and proof of Mal's continued vitality over the years. John Betsch is in drums, and definitely makes his presence known – and Ed Schuller handles bass, on titles that include "Spirit War", "It's About Time", "Love Life", "Grab Bag", "Trapeze", and "Face The Nation". CD

Singer Dee Daniels has some great backing here – the trio of pianist Monty Alexander, who really bring a strongly soulful swing to the set! Dee's one of those 80s vocalists who can draw on older jazz traditions and borrow some of the inflections from soul music of the 60s and 70s – then spin things out with a lean, mean quality that's a great change from some of the too-familiar torch and jazz standard styles on the scene! The approach is maybe in the territory of Ernestine Alexander during her great run of albums on Concord – and as with those, there was less mainstream play with the music of Daniels – which is what makes it such a great discovery. Monty's on piano with John Clayton on bass and Jeff Hamilton on drums – and titles include "He Loves Me", "This Must Be Love", "Dr Feelgood", "Come Try My Love", "Adonnadee", and "I Got This Bridge I Want You To Buy". CD

A massive amount of work recorded by Chicago's mighty Tyrone Davis – an artist who burst into the world with a brilliant string of records for the Brunswick label! Actually, Davis mostly recorded for Brunswick's Dakar imprint – but that's a technicality we can handle, given the quality of the music on this set – short, tight, totally wonderful Chicago soul numbers – a perfect blend of Davis' bluesy roots and some of the hipper, more sophisticated styles that were breaking at Brunswick! We haven't checked for sure, but we do believe that some of these cuts weren't issued as LP tracks – and the 2CD collection features 51 titles that include "Need Your Lovin Everyday", "Can I Change My Mind", "One Way Ticket", "Love Bones", "True Love Is Hard To Find", "Wrapped Up In Your Warm & Tender Love", "This Time", "Where Lovers Meet", "Was It Just A Feeling", "After All This Time", "Come & Get This Ring", "We Got A Love", "When I'm Not Around", and lots lots more! CD

A beautiful session from vibist Walt Dickerson – a set that really lives up to its title, given Walt's tone and timing on the date! The group's a trio – with Dickerson's frequent partner Andrew Cyrille on drums, and the great Wilbur Ware on bass – playing with these warm, soulful tones that nicely offset more experimental moments from Dickerson and Cyrille. The album only features two long tracks – "The Nexus" and "Tell Us Only The Beautiful Things" – both of them the extended, let-loose explorations on vibes that Walt was developing in the 70s – a whole new approach to his instrument, one that's filled with new sounds and a very fresh sense of timing. Wonderful work throughout – with a depth and darkness that we really love! CD

A collection of work that Eric Dolphy cut for the Candid label in 1960 – most of it under the name of other leaders, pulled from a variety of records, and remastered here to make a strong collection of tracks that documents this semi-lost chapter of Dolphy's career. Given the strength of the short-lived Candid label – a hotbed of modern jazz in the early 60s, filled with Newport Rebels like Charles Mingus, Max Roach, Booker Little, and Dolphy – the sides are all on a par, or better than, Dolphy's work for other labels at the time. Titles include "Reincarnation Of A Love Bird (take 1)", "Stormy Weather (take 1)", "Quiet Please (take 1)", "Moods In Free Time (take 5)", "Hazy Hues (take 5)", and "African Lady (take 4)". CD

Live European work by Eric Dolphy – caught in a setting that was often freer and more creative than his American recordings! The work on the set is pulled from 2 different sessions – one with a group that includes with Idrees Sulieman on trumpet, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Rune Ofwerman on piano; the other with no trumpet, just piano, bass, and drums session, with Woode on bass again. All titles are relatively long – with Dolphy playing a spiritual mix of flute, alto, and bass clarinet – and the tunes are a strong mix of originals and standards, with titles that include "Sorino", "Loss", "Ann", "Alone", and "Geewee". CD features the bonus track "Sorino (alt take)". CD

A fantastic setting for the tenor sax of Dutch jazz legend Hans Dulfer – a set that's every bit as soul-drenched as some of his early records, but in a very different way! Hans blows here in a quartet with guitar, organ, and drums – handled by Joop Scholten, Herbert Noord, and John Engels respectively – all with a style that's never slavish to American modes of the previous decade, and which instead moves the game forward in a mighty nice way! Part of the difference is the phrasing – more on the guitar and organ than on the tenor – as Dulfer comes across with some warm, round tones that would be right at home in the hands of Hank Crawford or David Newman – on titles that include "Carbow", "Meeting The Six", "A Home Is Not A House", and "The Troubleshooter". CD features two bonus alternate takes! CD

Well-crafted late work from trumpeter Harry Edison – one of those players who saw greater fame in the earlier decades of his career, but was still working at the top of his game by the date of this session! Harry blows trumpet at a level that definitely earns him his nickname "Sweets" – not in a way that's too corny or polished, but just this really sweet, personal tone that makes for a very individual approach to his horn. The group features longtime bandmate Frank Wess on tenor – plus Hugh Lawson on piano, Lindy Huppertsberg on bass, and the great Alvin Queen on drums – on titles that include "Dejection Blues", "Bag's Groove", "Close Your Eyes", "Centerpiece", "Falling In Love With Love", and "On Green Dolphin Street". CD

Fantastic work from piano legend Bill Evans – recorded at the Keystone club in San Francisco just a month before his too-early death – and a batch of material that shows us that Bill still had plenty to offer the world! This isn't the work of a musician on his last legs – and instead, Evans is a master of imagination, phrasing, and timing – working with his superb late trio that features Marc Johnson on bass and Joe Labarbera on drums – and further opening up tunes we've already heard him open up before – leaving us breathless all over again, at that level that makes Bill Evans live material maybe even more important to understanding his genius than his studio material! Titles on this fourth volume include "Knit For Mary F", "MASH", "Your Story", "Tiffany", "Two Lonely People", "Like Someone In Love", and "Polka Dots & Moonbeams". CD

Fantastic work from piano legend Bill Evans – recorded at the Keystone club in San Francisco just a month before his too-early death – and a batch of material that shows us that Bill still had plenty to offer the world! This isn't the work of a musician on his last legs – and instead, Evans is a master of imagination, phrasing, and timing – working with his superb late trio that features Marc Johnson on bass and Joe Labarbera on drums – and further opening up tunes we've already heard him open up before – leaving us breathless all over again, at that level that makes Bill Evans live material maybe even more important to understanding his genius than his studio material! Titles on this fifth volume include "Up With The Lark", "Morning Glory", "Emily", "Your Story", "Turn Out The Stars", "I Do It For Your Love", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", and "My Romance". CD

Fantastic work from piano legend Bill Evans – recorded at the Keystone club in San Francisco just a month before his too-early death – and a batch of material that shows us that Bill still had plenty to offer the world! This isn't the work of a musician on his last legs – and instead, Evans is a master of imagination, phrasing, and timing – working with his superb late trio that features Marc Johnson on bass and Joe Labarbera on drums – and further opening up tunes we've already heard him open up before – leaving us breathless all over again, at that level that makes Bill Evans live material maybe even more important to understanding his genius than his studio material! Titles on this sixth volume include "Laurie", "Emily", "Tiffany", "Knit For Mary F", "Who Can I Turn To", "You & The Night & The Music", "My Foolish Heart", and "Re Person I Knew". CD

Fantastic work from piano legend Bill Evans – recorded at the Keystone club in San Francisco just a month before his too-early death – and a batch of material that shows us that Bill still had plenty to offer the world! This isn't the work of a musician on his last legs – and instead, Evans is a master of imagination, phrasing, and timing – working with his superb late trio that features Marc Johnson on bass and Joe Labarbera on drums – and further opening up tunes we've already heard him open up before – leaving us breathless all over again, at that level that makes Bill Evans live material maybe even more important to understanding his genius than his studio material! Titles on this seventh volume include "Re Person I Knew", "Bill's Hit Tune", "Laurie", "But Beautiful", "MASH", "Two Lonely People", and "Days Of Wine & Roses". CD

Sublime live work from the great Bill Evans – two different radio performances from the 70s, both of them great! The first half might be the most notable – as the set just features the bass of Eddie Gomez alongside Bill's piano – a pairing we love so much, and which sounds so incredible, we don't even miss the drums at all – because Eddie's got such an inherent sense of rhythm that he fits perfectly with Evans' stunning approach to the piano – on titles that include "Two Lonely People", "Some Other Time", "Up With The Lark", and "TTT". Drummer Elliot Zigmund joins the duo on the second half of the set – but as with his other great work with the trio during the decade, he's a master of understatement – and still really lets Gomez and Evans control the flow – especially Bill, who often begins tunes in a way that feels as if he's not even going to wait for the others to join in! Titles include "Sareen Jurer", "Blue Serge", "Sugar Plum", and "Morning Glory". CD

The one and only album by Exit 9 – an obscure funk combo who recorded this rare set for Brunswick in 1975! The group is extremely tight instrumentally – working at a very fast funky clip that's kind of similar to work by Bohannon or Sound Experience – both of whom shared Exit 9's pre-disco approach to dancefloor grooves – more fast-funk than the tighter club sound of later years, and proof that a funky combo could hit the dancefloor if it had the right groove! Most numbers have vocals, and instrumentation includes lots of nice guitar work that keeps a rawer edge on the tracks – choppy and gritty in a really great way. Tracks include "MFB", "Miss Funky Fox", "Fly", "Julie I Love You", "Jive Man", and "Rhapsody in Funk". CD

A gem of a record from a stretch when the great Art Farmer was really continuing to perfect his sound – an album of understated brilliance that really showcases that special touch that Farmer could bring to a session! Art blows flugelhorn throughout – still in that cool, compressed style he used on the instrument, but with a bit of a bite too – emphasized by work in the quintet from tenorist Harry Sokal, whose balance with Farmer is wonderful! The rest of the lineup is mighty nice too – gently grooving rhythm work from Fritz Pauer on piano, Heiri Kanzig on bass, and Joris Dudli on drums – on titles that include "D's Dilemma", "Farmer's Market", "Foolish Memories", "Al Leu Cha", and "Larry's Delight". CD

The cover's a silly one, but the record is rock-solid all the way through – a wonderful blend of funky jazz and warmer soul, and a real lost treasure from the 70s TK Records empire! Fat is Fats Gallon – who plays drums on the record, and also sings lead vocals a bit too – with this raspy southern soul style that's a great counterpoint to the smoother sounds on the set! Things get plenty funky and tough throughout – and the small combo lineup ensures that the record steers quite clear of the more commercial styles that were coming out of the Miami scene in the 70s. There's a jazzy inflection to most of the instrumentation, which makes for some compelling changes that have kept this set going strongly with new generations over the years – and the instrumentation includes loads of great guitar and keyboard bits too. Titles include "Doing Bad", "Tip Of My Tongue", "How Can I Explain", "Magician Man", "Life Is A Beautiful Thing", "Satan's Dream", and "Free My Mind". CD

Really special magic from pianist Tommy Flanagan – exactly the of record that shows why his approach to the piano can be so great – this wonderful balance of fuller rhythms and lighter lyrical moments – given some equal spin here by guitarist Kenny Burrell, whose work in the quartet is every bit as great as Tommy's! There's a nicely understated vibe to the record – but just because the players make things seem so effortless – such a command of their instruments the moments of beauty just keep coming at a level that's breathtaking once you stop to think about the way they're spinning things out! The group also features George Mraz on bass and Lewis Nash on drums – the last of whom is perfect here – and this version of the album is a "part 2" to the original – with titles that include "Bluebird After Dark", "You Leave Me Breathless", "Blues In My Heart", "Barbados", "50 21", and "Something Borrowed Something Blue". Also features a bonus alternate of "You Leave Me Breathless". CD

A great title for this one – given the extremely poetic sound of Tommy Flanagan on the piano! For years, Tommy's had a great talent for being as bopper, yet can work as sensitive as a mellower, more lyrical player too – a brilliant combination that shows up instantly in the first few notes of this set – a late 80s recording that's filled with warmth and subtle imagination. The trio features George Mraz on bass and Kenny Washington on drums – the latter of whom really gets things swinging in some great gentle ways – and titles include "Raincheck", "Lament", "Caravan", "Voce Abuso", "Mean Streets", and "That Tired Routine Called Love". CD

A great pairing of lyrical jazz talents – the piano of Tommy Flanagan and the compositions of Thad Jones – working together here perfectly, at a level that reminds us how great Thad's music can be in a more intimate mode! Tommy's got that amazing command of the keyboard here that's always made his best records so great – an effortless ability to blend full-on lines with more subtle understanding of the true tonal possibilities of the instrument – balanced with the work of Jesper Lundgaard on bass and Lewis Nash on drums – both players who really share Flangan's sensitive approach. Titles include "To You", "Bird Song", "Let's", "Mean What You Say", "Elusive", "Zec", "Quietude", and "Three In One". CD

The last album in the initial run of the Free Design – recorded when the group had dropped to a trio of Sandy, Ellen, and Chris Dedrick. The feel here is a bit heavier than before – perhaps hinted at by the lyric "the world in pain is more than I can deal with", and an overall sound that's almost leaning more towards some of the easy rock harmony groups of the time than some of the group's earlier work. The whole thing's pretty darn fantastic – with some sublime early 70s production that gives the music a warm glossy finish – and chilling Chris Dedrick compositions like "Love Me", "Friends", "Go Lean On A River", "Friendly Man", and "One By One". The album also includes an amazing version of "Light My Fire", with some killer Fender Rhodes – and the CD reissue includes five live bonus tracks – "Four Love Seasons", "Friends", "Like To Love", "One By One", and "Where Do I Go". CD

Sunny wonderfulness from one of the grooviest vocal groups of all time! This is Free Design's legendary album for children – referred to in the title as "very important people" – and it's a strangely hip set of tracks designed to get the kids to open up in a groovy late 60s kind of way. Given that the Free Design always sounded like a bunch of hippy kids, the setting is perfect for them – and they dreamily make their way through a great set of nearly all original tracks that sparkle with an innocent charm that's slyly deeper than you'd guess from the kid-orientation of the set! Original titles include "Love You", "Kites Are Fun", "Daniel Dolphin", "Ronda 'Go Round", "Bubbles", "Little Cowboy", and "Scarlet Tree". CD features 2 bonus tracks – both outtakes from "For The Love Of Your Lips", a Chapstick commercial! CD

A never-issued live set from Japanese pianist Ryo Fukui – a tremendous player who was part of a special new generation of piano players in the 70s – very warm and fluid, but always with a sense of adventure too – in ways that make music like this very different than American work of the time! All tracks are nice and long, and Fukui begins the set with his classic "Mellow Dream" – spun out in an extended take with superb accompaniment from Satoshi Denpo on bass and Yoshinori Fukui on drums. As with so many of Ryo's recordings, the vibe here is far past a simple standard trio setting – as you'll hear on the group's inventive readings of titles that include "Mr PC", "Speak Low", "Body & Soul", and "Love For Sale". CD

A well-titled album from Japanese pianist Ryo Fukui – one that's got a warm sense of flow that takes it well past conventional piano trio work! The group here features Fukui on piano, Satoshi Denpo on bass, and Yoshinori Fukui on drums – all working together beautifully as a unit – with a vibe set fire by Ryo's work on the keys, and a sense of imagination that makes even familiar tunes sound completely fresh. The whole thing's in the best Japanese piano tradition of the 70s – that wonderful new territory explored by key pianists like Fukui – with a sound that's open and free, but never avant either. Titles include "Mellow Dream", "Baron Potato Blues", "Horizon", "What's New", and "My Funny Valentine". Features a bonus alternate take on "Early Summer". CD

Lyrical magic from pianist Ryo Fukui – a lost gem from the Japanese scene of the 70s, and a beautifully flowing album throughout! Fukui's got a wide-open touch to the piano that we totally love – and is easily one of the best of his contemporaries on the Japanese trio scene of the time – working in the open-ended mode that was allowed by labels in Tokyo during the 70s, a style that was never too far outside, but which really allowed the pianist to soar with a driving, rhythmic intensity. There's a bit of a modal groove to some of the tracks on the album, but more than that, there's just a beautiful sense of freedom – a love of sound and texture that's never reduced to mere experimentation, and which has Ryo taking full command of the keys to soar to the skies on waves of acoustic soul. The group on the set features Yoshinori Fukui on drums and Satoshi Denpo on bass – and tracks include "I Want To Talk About You", "Scenery", "Autumn Leaves", "Early Summer", and "It Could Happen To You". CD

A great later session from pianist Red Garland – recorded in the early 80s with support from Ahmad Jamal's old trio-mates – Jamil Nassar on bass and Frank Gant on drums! The Garland heard here is a gentler one than on his earlier recordings – playing with a nice Jamal-like sense of spacious exploration and mellow grooving. Tunes are mostly standards, but they're handled here in a manner that makes them feel much more like personal statements of expression than familiar chestnuts – and titles include "This Can't Be Love", "Misty", "But Not For Me", "Over The Rainbow", and "If I Were A Bell". CD

Later live work from Dizzy Gillespie – working in London here with a very hip ensemble! We're not entirely sure of the date, but given the skinny ties on a few of the players, we're guessing it's from that 80s stretch when Dizzy was still going strong – working in a great mix of Latin and bop modes that's always kept fresh through his creative energies! Slide Hampton's on trombone – and also wrote most of the arrangements – and other players include Arturo Sandoval on trumpet, Paquito D'Rivera on reeds, James Moody on sax and flute, Airto on percussion, and Danilo Perez on vocals – and Flora Purim also joins the group on vocals for a few numbers. Titles include "Kush", "Tanga", "Dizzy Shells", "Night In Tunisia", "Tin Tin Deo", "Seresta", and "Samba For Carmen". CD

The river is deep and the sound is wide – as the set features wonderful work from the Fort Apache Band of trumpeter/percussionist Jerry Gonzalez – recorded at a point when the group was really starting to cook! The music has its roots in Afro-Cuban styles, but stretches out with plenty of jazz as well – thanks to work from a lineup that includes both Steve Turre and Papo Vasquez on trombones, plus Wilfredo Velez on alto sax – all players who have a bold force in the lead, then soar of on great solos of their own! There's plenty of percussion on the group – played by Gonzalez with five other group members – and the set also features Jorge Dalto on piano and Andy Gonzalez on bass. Titles include "Elegua", "Bebop", "Rio Esta Hondo", "Parisian Thoroughfare", and "Guiro Apache". CD

One of the greatest trumpeters on the European scene of the past few decades – heard here in a completely sublime setting! Dusko Goykovich has played in many styles and many ways, but hasn't ever done a date with full strings before – a long-overdue placement for his wonderful tone on trumpet – shimmering out front of a larger ensemble, in the manner of classic "with strings" dates by Dizzy Gillespie or Art Farmer! Altoist Peter King arranged the album – and titles are all originals by Dusko, some of which you might know from earlier records – reworked here beautifully for the new setting. King also solos on a handful of tracks too – a rich voice that provides a nice balance with Dusko's trumpet. Strings are never overdone, and the album's always got a nice swing from a core rhythm trio that features Renato Chicco on piano. Titles include "Good Old Days", "Handful O Soul", "Danca Comigo", "St Germain Des Pres", "Adriatica", "In My Dreams", and "I Miss You So". CD

A legendary German session from the 60s – and a record that really showcases the unusual criss-crossing of modes that was going on in the European scene at the time! There's a very strong MPS vibe here – as trumpeter Dusko Goykovich leads a swinging sextet that includes Nathan Davis on flute, soprano, and tenor – blowing some tremendously soulful reed lines – plus incredible rhythms from Mal Waldron on piano, Peter Trunk on bass, and Cees See on drums. The record's an attempt to bring traditional Macedonian rhythms into a jazz perspective – but with players like these, it swings in a way any Macedonian album never could – damn soulful, and with a great exotic vibe. Davis is especially great, and plays in a soaring modal vein that's similar to his work on his classic MPS sides, and on the records he cut in America in the early 70s. The album's a beautiful session that often get's overlooked because it blends it with the Enja catalog – but it's really more of a record that belongs in an MPS reissue series, and is a great lost groover that's waiting to be rediscovered by the Dusty Groove crowd. Titles include "Macedonia", "Old Fisherman's Daughter", "Jumbo Uganda", "Bem Basha", "Saga Se Karame", and "The Nights Of Skopje". CD

A bit of a variation on Hank Jones' Great Jazz Trio – at least in comparison to the group's better-known records from the Japanese scene in the late 70s and early 80s – but a variation that brings along some mighty nice changes, too! The rhythm section duo here is especially vibrant – rich basslines from Mads Vinding, and some tightly snapping drums from Billy Hart – who has this way of punctuating the tunes differently than previous drummers in the trio – creating a whole new scenario of swing for Hank to work with. Jones' piano is at the top of his gem at this point in his career – and titles on this first volume include "After You've Gone", "Summertime", "As Time Goes By", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "Days Of Wine & Roses", and "Prelude To A Kiss". CD

A bit of a variation on Hank Jones' Great Jazz Trio – at least in comparison to the group's better-known records from the Japanese scene in the late 70s and early 80s – but a variation that brings along some mighty nice changes, too! The rhythm section duo here is especially vibrant – rich basslines from Mads Vinding, and some tightly snapping drums from Billy Hart – who has this way of punctuating the tunes differently than previous drummers in the trio – creating a whole new scenario of swing for Hank to work with. Jones' piano is at the top of his gem at this point in his career – and titles on this second volume include "Angel Eyes", "Black Orpheus", "Gone With The Wind", "Dark Eyes", "Alone Together", "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise", and "On Green Dolphin Street". CD

A brilliant mid 70s set headlined by pianist Al Haig & guitarist Jimmy Raney – essentially a reunion of bandmates from the early 50s Stan Getz Quintet – beautifully done and in a timelessly appealing mode! What's great about this is that doesn't feel in the least a hokey revisit the old days kinda thing, as if we should have expected something so crass from such wonderful players. They play some evergreen jazz standards some numbers that made waves in the 60s and later, the group includes Jamil Nasser on bass, Frank Gand on drums, plus guitar by Doug Raney on "You Came To Me From Out Of Nowhere". Other numbers including Herbie Hancock's "Dolphin Dance", "Round Midnight", "Invitation", and "Enigma" – plus the bonus tracks "Watch What Happens", "I Love You" and "Get Out Of Town". CD

A beautiful Jim Hall experiment for the Jazzpar Prize in Denmark – a special set that features a core combo with additional material from a string quartet – all with results that give the record some of Jim's most tonally beautiful performances from the time! The core group is more than enough – especially as a youngish Chris Potter plays tenor, and seems to bring out these sharper tones than usual from Hall – a sound on Jim's guitar that instantly reminds us what a modernist he can be in the right setting – as the duo are given subtle support from Thomas Ovesen on bass and Terry Clarke on drums. The string group comes in on the second half of the set, and bring in some even more arch tones to the record – quite offbeat and edgey, with much more presence than the more subtle sounds when a group like this accompanies a jazz combo – almost Kronos-like at times. Titles include a cool funky string version of "Purple Haze", plus "Mr Blues", "Stella By Starlight", "Thesis", "In A Sentimental Mood", and "Chelsea Bridge". CD

Way more than just a set of tracks in the standard "songbook" mode – as Roland Hanna's touch on the keys really transforms the album's set of compositions by Alec Wilder! Hanna's playing solo here, and hitting some wonderfully fluid moments – pushing familiar tunes way past their usual limits, and taking things to some great new territory we hardly would have expected. There's a warmth to the record we really love, but a strong sense of energy too – an inherently rhythmic approach to the piano that's mixed in with Roland's sensitive notes and tones – sounding great on tracks that include "Ellen", "Mimosa & Me", "You're Free", "Moon & Sand", "The Star Wish", "While We're Young", and "I'll Be Around". And as an added bonus, Helen Merrill sings on a version of "Sounds Around The House". CD

Mighty nice work on vibes from Hiroshi Hatsuyama – a player who sometimes has a hard, chromatic approach to his instrument – sometimes has this much gentler way of painting in tone and color! The record's got maybe a few echoes of older American vibes sessions – but given that the whole thing was put out by the quirky Aketa's Disk label, there's a nicely fresh approach as well – unusual changes, and a way of recording that makes the vibes sound very distinct – especially in combination with the guitar of Atsushige Muraishi, bass of Haruo Ogoshi, and drums of Koji Kushima. A few tracks feature a pianist joining in – one with Fumio Itabashi – and titles include "Bb Blues", "Eyes Of Love", "For Heaven's Sake", "Midday Moon", and "Bag's Groove". CD

A really groovy harp jazz trio – one that moves through territory that's a bit like American player Dorothy Ashby on some of her small combo records – but with Japanese musician Tadao Hayashi in the lead! The approach is relatively lean – just the bass of Takao Kusagaya and drums of Koichi Suzaki for support – which leaves Hayashi plenty of space to craft these amazing combinations of notes on the instrument, in a style that still has a gentle groove, even when mellow – thanks to especially nice work on the bass! The tunes are mostly familiar, but sound really different in this setting – and the album has a recording quality that really makes the strings resonate strongly – maybe even more so than on a classic album by Ashby. Titles include "My Favorite Things", "Watch What Happens", "Wave", "The Impossible Dream", "Misty", and nice take on Barry White's hit "Love's Theme". CD

The lovely Kim Sang Hee takes on the music of both Tom Jones and Burt Bacharach – in a setting that has her working with nicely different backings for each of the different sources! The Burt Bacharach material is maybe our favorite – as Kim's sweet voice works wonderfully with the small combo backing of pianist Masahiko Sato, who really seems to get the right sense of space and timing for the Bacharach tunes that include "April Fools", "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head", and "This Girl's In Love With You". The Tom Jones material includes a range of different songs associated with Jones, not necessarily written by him – with groovy larger backings from the New Herd of Toshiyuki Miyama, with arrangements by Norio Maeda – on cuts that include "It's Not Unusual", "Little Green Apples", "Delilah", and "Green Green Grass Of Home". CD

A really groovy little record from singer Kim Sang Hee – a vocalist who works here in English throughout, but gets backing from a few different forces on the Japanese jazz scene! Things change up nicely throughout the record – so that some tracks have Fender Rhodes backings from the trio of Masahiko Sato, some have the groovy sound of the Freedom Unity group, and others have larger backings from the New Herd of Toshiyuki Miyama – who gets great arrangements from Norio Maeda! Kim's vocals are nice too – but it's the overall instrumental vibe that really sends the album home, and makes things groovy – as you'll hear on cuts that include "The Look Of Love", "We've Only Just Begun", "Close To You", "Scarborough Fair", "You've Made Me So Very Happy", "Spinning Wheel", and "Love Story". CD

Trumpeter Terumasa Hino at a level that's quite different than most of his early work in Japan – recording in New York, and using a very spiritual approach – one that's clearly influenced by some of the other players in the session! The album features one long track – a bit improvised, and almost free at times – but also given a strong sense of direction, too – that balance between completely unbridled expression and structure that can make some of the best spiritual jazz sessions so great! Hino's on trumpet, and also plays some flugelhorn – and other players include Steve Grossman on tenor and flute, Pete Yellin on alto and flute, Dave Liebman on alto and tenor, Olu Dara on trumpet, Bob Moses on drums, Dave Holland on bass, and Mike Garson on piano and Fender Rhodes. CD

An amazing moment from Japanese trumpeter Terumasa Hino – an early 70s session recorded in America – with fantastic work from Gary Bartz on alto and Reggie Workman on bass! The album's not like Hino's later American dates – which were often more fusion based – as the style here is sublimely spiritual, with long tracks stretching out in just the same energy as some of the first few albums by Bartz! Also like Bartz, the tunes really stretch out, but never go too far outside – less avant than searingly expressive, with fantastic work from both horn players throughout. The group also features a guitarist, who colors the sound nicely – and the album features two long tracks – "Sister Mayumi" and "Each Other Love Nature". CD

A fantastic collaboration between Japanese trumpeter Terumasa Hino and avant bassist Reggie Workman – one that might seem unusual if you only know Hino's later work, but which was part of a few key collaborations that Hino and Workman did together at the start of the 70s – part of a real spiritual awakening in the trumpeter's music! The tracks are long and very expressive – and the group is mostly Japanese – with Hino on trumpet, Workman on bass, Motohiko Hino on drums, Kiyoshi Sugimoto on guitar, Mideo Ichikawa on electric piano, Yuji Imamura on conga, and Takao Uematsu on bass clarinet and tenor – all working together in a spirit that's clearly caught the imagination of the post-Coltrane years, and which is completely different than the straighter hardbop that Hino was recording just a few years previously. Titles include "A Part", "Ode To Workman", and "Be & Know". CD

Groundbreaking work from Japanese trumpeter Terumasa Hino – recorded on an early trip to New York, back in 1970, working with a sextet that includes some of his own Japanese players, like drummer Motohiko Hino and pianist Hideo Ichikawa, plus the great American bassist Reggie Workman! The album features 2 very long tracks – "Gongen" and "Peace & Love" – both a bit free, and infused with a post-Coltrane sense of spiritual exploration. Hino's really changing his style a lot in this setting – taking a lot more chances than on earlier Japanese sessions, reaching out towards a future jazz approach for the 70s. CD

One of the warmest, most lyrical albums recorded on the unique Aketa's Disk label in Japan – a set that offers up their own spin on some of the trio modes of the bigger labels of the time – all served up in a nicely offbeat performance from drummer Tsunoda Hiro! Each of the two tracks on the album runs for well over 20 minutes, and each takes up a side of the record – as Hiro works with bandmates Koichi Yamazaki on bass and Shoji Aketagawa on piano – the latter of whom is especially great, with an ability to be romping one minute, lyrical the next, always with a personal flavor that's very distinct! Titles include "Strange Melo" and "Summer Samba". CD

Groove Holmes is definitely dancing in the sun here – working with full arrangements from Mario Sprouse, in a sweetly soulful style that's not unlike Johnny Hammond at the time! Groove still plays Hammond on most numbers – but also a bit of mini Korg too – and although the backdrops are in a fully-arranged jazz funk mode, there's still a strong focus on Holmes' keyboard lines up front, which still get plenty of space to stretch out and do their thing. Sprouse plays a bit of keyboards on the record too – and titles include a remake of "Misty", plus "Let's Groove", "Dancing In the Sun", "Highway Of Life", and "Calypso Holiday". CD

A rare vocal session from pianist Takehiro Honda – one recorded with American singer Mama T, who sings here in English throughout! Mama's name is one that might make you think she's a blues singer – but her approach is mostly that of a 60s soul jazz vocalist – jazz at the core, but with some more soulful inflections at times, in a way that really takes the tunes and makes them her own! Honda's playing acoustic piano, using lots of bluesy undercurrents – and titles include "Misty", "Bell", "Stormy Monday", "For Once In My Life", and "I Love You More Today Than Yesterday". CD

The cover here is slightly tropical-looking, and that's reflected a bit in the music – as the set expands from the more familiar trio modes of pianist Masaru Imada, to bring in help from a key batch of American musicians, both electric and acoustic! Imada handles a bit of Fender Rhodes next to the piano, and guitarist Kazumi Watanabe adds a bit of work to the record as well – in the company of a core trio that features Will Lee on electric bass and Steve Gadd on drums – topped with work from David Sanborn on alto and Randy Brecker on flugelhorn! The set's got some added percussion on most tracks too – and the approach isn't entirely fusion, but more of the jazz we know from Imada, warmed up a bit by the other group members. Titles include "Blue Sunset", "Samba Domingo", "Sky Sailing", "Mermaid Princess", "Water Wonderland", and "Love Lagoon". CD

Beautiful work by a pianist you've probably never heard – an unsung talent from the Japanese scene of the past 30 years, and a great player with a richly spiritual vibe! At some level, Fumio Itabashi works in a mode that's similar to McCoy Tyner in his post-Coltrane years – a flowing, searching approach to the piano that's often served up in highly rhythmic modes – especially on the work in this collection, which was done by the Japanese Ultra-Vybe label, and focuses more on the groove-oriented side of Fumio's recordings! Hearing the 2CD set is like discovering a lost player from the American soul jazz scene of the 70s – and on the package, Fumio is heard solo, trio, and in some slightly larger groups that have him working with additional horn players as well. Most of the recordings were only ever issued in Japan, and titles include "Goodbye", "Nippon Blues", "Don't Say Goodbye", "Up Into The Sky", "Alligator Dance", "Rise & Shine (full edit)", and a few takes on his excellent "Watarase", played by a number of different groupings of musicians! CD

Pianist Takashi Kako has one of the most unique approaches to his instrument we've ever heard – especially in a setting like this, which is more improvised music than straight jazz! Unlike some of the more dynamic pianists of that scene in the 70s, Takashi handles his instrument with this subtle sense of sound, even when free – lyrical at times, and always somewhat poetic as he paints in space and color with a wonderfully abstract approach. These qualities are all supported with beautiful work from a quartet lineup that features Keiki Midorikawa on bass and cello, Masahiko Togashi on percussion, and Masami Nakagawa on alto and flute – and on one track, Kenji Murata joins in on voice. Titles include "Legend Of The Sea Myself", "Ants", "Naissance", and "Inori". CD

Elegant, but also incredibly powerful work from Fumio Karashima – exactly the kind of record that shows why he's one of our favorite Japanese jazz talents ever! Karashima's a near-lost talent on these shores, but at the time of this set he had an incredible command of the piano that we'd rank right up there with the greatest American players of the 70s – a sense of poise, timing, and creative expression that's heard beautifully in this set of mostly original material. There's no cliches, no easy trio tricks going on here – and the work has a soulfully flowing quality with universal appeal that extends far beyond Karashima's role in the Japanese scene. Trio members include Motohiko Hino on drums and Ikuo Sakurai on bass – and titles include "Elegant", "Ancient Tales", "Hangin Out", and a version of Wayne Shorter's "Nefertiti". CD

We love the 70s work of Japanese pianist Fumio Karashima – and this album is one of our favorites from the decade! Fumio's got this way of being both bold and lyrical at the same time – long flows on the keyboard that are partly in the school of McCoy Tyner, but used to transform the more personal touches of an older scene like Hank Jones or Tommy Flanagan – really bursting forth here with long tracks that bristle with the new sort of imagination that the Japanese scene was unlocking at the time! The rest of the trio is equally great – with George Mraz on bass and Motohiko Hino on drums – and titles include "Tears", "Revlis", "Landscape", "The Fall", and "In My Usual Wal". CD

An incredibly soulful set of piano tracks – very much in the best tradition of work by George Cables or Joe Bonner, both of whom also recorded for the Why Not label at the same time! Japanese pianist Fumio Karashima has this fantastically rhythmic approach to the keys of the piano – not funky, but this magical flow that's sometimes modal, sometimes more in his own groove – spun out over some beautifully long tracks on the set! The pianist is working here with drummer Jimmy Hopps and bassist Isao Suzuki – and Hopps' light, lyrical touch on the kit (a bit like Billy Higgins at his best) is a perfect foil for Karashima's stretched-out piano lines – darkly modal, with a searching soulful quality that's proof that the Why Not label was one of the best proponents of the post-Coltrane sound of the 70s! Titles include "Little Island", "Blue Three", "Piranha", and "Lament". CD

A cheesy cover but a wonderful album – incredibly sensitive piano trio work from Fumio Karashima – easily one of our favorite players from the Japanese scene of his time! Fumio has a way with a tune that's really amazing – a talent for penning and playing original material that's filled with subtle emotion, warm shades of color, and a depth of expression that really makes him stand out from the pack. There's certainly a Bill Evans influence going on here, but Karashima's also prone to bolder moments on the keys as well – a bit of a McCoy Tyner touch at the best moments. Trio features Nobuyoshi Ino on bass and George Ohtsuka on drums – and titles include "Mum", "Starting Off", "Brother", "Who Are You", and "Little Island". CD

Larry Coryell lends his guitar to this sweet trio set from Japanese pianist Fumio Karashima – bringing in a slight bit of electricity to a set that's otherwise acoustic! The format here is real back to basics for Karashima – a set of mostly jazz standards, played by a trio that includes Ikuo Sakurai on bass and Motohiko Hino on drums – often in a boldly driving way that shows off Fumio's best talents on the keys, and which never seems to bow that much to the presence of Coryell. Titles include "Footprints", "Nica's Dream", "Oleo", "Round Midnight", "Wise One", and "In Your Own Sweet Way". CD

Sometimes it seems like guitarist Barney Kessel cuts some of his most interesting work overseas – a trend that's really continued here in a Japanese trio date with Kunimitsu Inaba on bass and Tetsujiro Obara on drums – both players we're not sure we've heard with Kessel before, and who do a great job of laying back and really letting his wonderful work on guitar lead the energy of the session! As with some of his 70s recordings, Barney manages to have this slight rasp while also sounding nice and warm – a really individual voice that comes across beautifully here – on tunes that include "Triste", "Manha Do Carnaval", "Autumn In New York", "My Secret Love", and "There Is No Greater Love". CD

Morgana King in one of her most classic settings – working here with arranger Torrie Zito, whose sophisticated talents are a great match for her unique voice! Zito blends light strings and warm jazz touches in this perfect pillowy style – couching King's voice without ever smothering it at all – as Morgana steps, dips, and soars with effortless ease – really flowing through the tunes with that breathy richness that no other singer could ever hope to match! King's cut many great records over the years, but this is one of her best – and titles include "All Blues", "Meditation", "I'll Follow You", "Easy Living", "Cuore Di Mama", "Bluesette", and "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes". CD

Mad funky soul from King Hannibal – a down and dirty singer from the Atlanta scene of the 70s! The notes on the back say "He's black, he's proud, he's arrogant – the combination is powerful" – and we've gotta say that we agree with that assessment, because King really grabs his groove from the very first note on the set! Backings are hard and funky – lots of fuzzy guitar work from Herman Hitson and Lee Moses – and the tunes come across with a gritty mode that sometimes rolls into mellower southern soul styles, but still never lose their edge. Bits of politics creep into the lyrics nicely, but never get in the way of the groove – and tracks include a long version of Hannibal's classic "Hymn No 5", plus "Party Life", "I Got That Will", "The Truth Shall Make You Free", "Wake Up", "Black Girl", and "It's What You Do". CD

Hans Koller is a saxophonist – one of the best on the German scene from the 60s onward – but he shares the stage here with a very hip array of brass players, in a mode that maybe makes the album one of Koller's most striking from the time! There's plenty of work from the leader himself on soprano and tenor – but the long tracks also feature standout solos from some of the key other musicians too – a lineup that includes Albert Mangelsdorff and Erich Kleinshuster on trombones, Ack Van Rooyen and Herbert Joos on flugelhorns, and Kenny Wheeler and Ernst Lambrecht on trumpets – most of whom you might know from their own work as leaders. Things get quite free at some points, a bit more swinging at others – and the group's held down by the work of Fritz Pauer on piano and Paul Schwarz on electric piano. Titles include "Jessica's Dream", "Last Not Least", "Festival", and "Tiger Panther & Co". CD

Two familiar German players, working here with the great Roland Hanna on piano – a musician who brings a beautifully open, lyrical quality to the proceedings! Guitarist Attila Zoller and tenorist Hans Koller recorded famously before, but at a level that was maybe more avant overall – yet here, although things are spare and the trio has a nice rhythm-less quality – there's still an inherent sense of swing to the players, and a cohesion that maybe takes us back to the Jimmy Giuffre trio sides of the late 50s – even though Jimmy never would have used a piano! Wonderful throughout – with titles that include "Comes Evening", "Afternoon Sun", "Afterthoughts", "Penthouse Fever", and "Big Apple Sister". CD

One of the coolest records we've ever heard from German reedman Rolf Kuhn – a player who worked in more traditional modes in the postwar years, but who really let his hair down and his freak fly in the 70s! This album follows very strongly in that later tradition – as it's got this open, bounding vibe that few would have expected from Rolf's work at the start – maybe a touch of fusion for inspiration, but much more modal overall – with a great lineup that features Joachim Kuhn on piano, Bob Mintzer on tenor, Peter Weike on electric guitar, Detlev Beier on bass, and Mark Naussef on drums and percussion. Rolf himself plays clarinet with a sound that's very different than his 60s material, and also throws in a bit of electronics too – on titles that include "Compulsion", "Horror Dream", "No Se", "Spring Ball", and "Don't Split". CD

The only thing "straight" about Steve Lacy's horn is its shape – as the soprano sax here is used in some extremely inventive and modern ways, especially for the date of the session! We don't think we're going out on a limb to say Lacy is one of the foremost melodic improvisors of his time, and easily one of the most talented soprano players too – and his early date as a leader shows both his forward looking involvement with the avant garde (he'd played with Cecil Taylor just before this date and does a couple of his compositions here) and a career-long fascination with Thelonious Monk. Although the group here is piano-less – with Charles Davis on baritone sax, John Ore on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums – there's a definite Monk-like edge to many of the numbers, carried off especially by the sharp turns in Lacy's horn! Titles include "Criss Cross", "Air", "Donna Lee", "Louise", "Played Twice", and "Introspection". CD

Lakeside's first album for Solar – and the beginning of a very fruitful relationship for the band and the label! The record's a great one – cut long before the Solar funk sound had gotten cliched – and it includes a key early hit in the Solar sound, the band's "It's All The Way Live", a seven minute funky workout in the tight LA ensemble funk mode – a standard-setting cut that really helps the growing sophistication of the LA scene set itself apart from the sounds of New York and Philly! The whole album's a gem – and other tracks include "Given In To Love", "Time", "Visions Of My Mind", "One Minute After Midnight", and "Shot Of Love". CD features the bonus track "One Minute After Midnight (original single version)". CD

Gunter Lenz can be as great of a leader as he is a bassist – and that's definitely the case here, on a very horn-heavy session that shows off a side of Gunter's vision that you might not expect from his core instrument! The group's a sextet, with wonderfully intertwining work from Ernst Ludwig Petrowsky on alto and flute, Gebhard Ullman on tenor and bass clarinet, and Claus Stotter on trumpet and flugelhorn – players who get solos that are often very out at points, but always held in nicely by the sharper rhythms delivered by Lenz on bass with Thomas Cremer on drums and Bob Degen on piano. Titles include "Majorleague", "Heavy Petal", "Subtone Bells", "Floating Open Times", "Bluesarna", and "Back To The Earth". CD

Fantastic work from bassist Gunter Lenz – a set with maybe a jokey title, but a heck of a lot of power underneath – one of those overlooked German jazz gems from a very special time in the scene! The players here are aware of the farther reaches of jazz, yet work together with more inside stile – yet always with a sensibility that there's a much broader frontier that informs their music! The lineup features Frank St Peter on alto and flute, Lesek Zadlo on tenor and soprano, Johannes Faber on trumpet, Bob Degen on piano, and the great Joe Nay on drums – and titles include "Speed Freak", "Children Of The Night", "The Bear Is Gone", and "Do Not Tear The Posters Down". CD

A very hip group, and a wonderful meeting between trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and pianist Kirk Lightsey! We always like Kirk, but love him even more when he's working with a horn player – as his sound seems to catch fire, and move with even bolder notes than usual – which is definitely the case on the album's opener, a nice take on Hubbard's classic "Gibraltar" – in a spirit that continues strongly throughout! Bass is from Santi Debriano, drums are from Eddie Gladden, and Jerry Gonzalez plays percussion on one track – and Freddie's in that great 80s sound of his – a mode that's a return to the straighter hardbop of his Blue Note years, but with the phrasing learned during his 70s funk years – on titles that include "Gibraltar", "Evidence", "Brigitte", "Temptation", and "Society Red". Great 2CD edition – one that features 5 more bonus alternate takes on the bonus CD! CD

A crucial album from percussionist Ralph MacDonald – a set that not only catapulted him into the limelight, after strong work on countless records for other artists – but a record that also gave Ralph some long-standing fame, thanks to some key groovers on the set! The album's got a percussion-heavy take on funky fusion – never too over the top, but with more of an edge than some of the more polished 70s sessions on CTI or Columbia – although done with similar players who include Bob James on keyboards, Grover Washington Jr on soprano and tenor, Eric Gale on guitar, and Richard Tee on percussion. Ralph's congas are very strongly up in the mix – and heard to famous effect on the classic "Jam On The Groove", a killer break cut from the old days, as well as a nice version of "Mister Magic", plus the tracks "Calypso Breakdown", "Sound Of A Drum", and "Where Is The Love". CD

A Japanese live date from pianist Junior Mance – and a record that's an overlooked gem in his catalog from the 80s! The set was recorded in a small club in Tokyo, and there's this great groove to the whole thing – almost more back in the soul jazz roots in which Mance was launched in the 60s, but with longer cuts that show some of the increasing sophistication in his style, but all without ever losing the groove! A good part of that is the rhythm team here – superb work from bassist Martin Rivera, next to the drums of Rudy Lawless – on titles that include "Something", "Smokey Blues", "Small Fry", "Emily", "No Greater Love", and "Summertime". CD

An album from Junior Mance that's a real cut above – a live date in Tokyo that has the pianist working with great help from Frank Wess on tenor sax and flute – a hell of a bandmate, and a really sparkling talent in this setting! The whole thing's got a bite and edge that really stands out from some of the other albums from both players at the time – maybe in part because the great Alvin Queen is on drums, working with superb work on bass from Martin Rivera – a rhythm player who kicks the whole thing right into gear on just about every cut! Mance and Wess are wonderful – both with a lot more grit than usual – and titles include "The Search", "Opus De Funk", "Alone Together", "Long Ago & Far Away", "I Want To Be Happy", and "Billie's Bounce". CD

Beautifully introspective work from reedman Emil Mangelsdorff – material that's very different than the sounds he was bringing to the German jazz scene in his youth, and which showcase the mature command he developed over his instruments during the passage of time! The record features material recorded almost a decade apart, but still with a nicely unified vibe – four later tracks that have Mangelsdorff soloing in these tracks that really demonstrate his growing sense of tone – balanced with earlier material that features some slightly different smaller groupings – three trio numbers with Jo Flinner on piano and Gerhard Bitter on bass, and four more with the great Attila Zoller on guitar. Mangelsdorff blows soprano, alto, and flute – and titles include "Phrygian Summer", "Corrina", "Joanne", "After The Snow", "Mezzanine Floor", "Stiner", "Ember", and "Songe Ma Belle". CD

A very cool record, and one that's a bit beyond easy description – recorded by a group that's led by Emil Mangelsdorff on alto and clarinet, and which features piano, soprano, and tenor from a young Joki Freund – plus work from Gustl Mayer on tenor, Fritz Hartschuch on vibes, Gunter Lenz on bass, and Volker Kriegel on guitar! Emil's got roots in more trad jazz styles, but there's something groovier and cooler going on here – especially with Freund and Kriegel in the mix, and the album's heavy use of vibes – all of which give the album a more mixed-up vibe that's very Saba/MPS! CD

A crack later set from German altoist Emil Mangelsdorff – a player who started out in more trad jazz settings in the 50s, but who's a very different musician here overall – one who seems to have absorbed all the best contemporary elements on the German scene of the 70s and 80s, then found a way to deliver things with a very special flavor of his own! The album's brimming over with great original tunes – some by Emil, some by the quartet's bassist, Gerhard Bitter – a key player in the rock-solid lineup that also includes Thilo Wagner on piano and Janusz Stefanski on drums. Mangelsdoff has a tone that's completely sublime – very much his own, and a delight throughout – on titles that include "Blues For Saskia", "Bossa Alicanta", "This Side Up", "Butterfly Man", "Euroshima", and "My Phone Number". CD

A real treasure from reedman Maulawi Nurudin – originally recorded as part of the Strata Records scene in Detroit, but done in Chicago in 1973 – and issued here for the first time ever! The vibe here is almost more Tribe Records than some of the other Strata sides – as Maulawi blows tenor and other reeds over these modal grooves with drums from Tani Tabbal, plus bass and keyboards from other unknown musicians – all in a laidback style that's rich and soulful – almost a spiritual jazz take on territory that would later be explored by Grover Washington Jr, especially given Maulawi's use of soprano sax! Titles include great takes on "Maiden Voyage", "People Make The World Go Round", and "I Say A Little Prayer" – plus the originals "Orotunds", "Where Is The Place", and an "Unknown Track". CD

A great little set from Lonette McKee – and much hipper than her later work on Warner Brothers! This Sussex set has Lonette working with Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey – in a cool blend of styles that's slightly soulful, slightly funky, slightly folksy, and pretty darn cool! The recording is early enough not to fall into Theodore disco modes – and it's great to hear him and Coffey reaching for some hip new styles in Lonette's music – with results that vary between righteously soulful numbers, and other tunes that have a slinkier singer/songwriter feel. Titles include "Do To Me", "To Whom It May Concern", "Save It", "I'm Alone", "Message From The Earth", "You Mean A Lot To Me", and "I'm Alone". CD

One of the most obscure sessions in the long career of jazz singer Helen Merrill – a vocalist who's got a reputation for cutting plenty of obscure sessions around the globe! This date features a mature Merrill sounding wonderful – recording in a nicely understated setting for a Japanese label, with backing from a trio that features Kosei Uchida on piano, Hideo Kawahara on bass, and Tim Horner on drums. As on some of Merrill's other magical records, the songs here are less important than the interpretation – as she works a very personal sort of spell on tunes that include "Imagination", "Bye Bye Blackbird", "While We're Young", "Falling In Love With Love", and "All Blues/St Louis Blues". The set also features trio instrumentals "Milestones", "Bossa Nouveau", and "Put Your Little Foot Right Out". CD

The title's an apt one, because after frustrations experienced working for Columbia and other labels, Mingus is finally allowed the freedom here to present his own ideas in all their unfettered glory – working with a bracingly tight quartet that features Eric Dolphy on alto and bass clarinet and Ted Curson on trumpet! A number of the tracks here are familiar in their titles from other records, but the versions here stretch out far longer – moving past 10 minutes on 2 of the album's 4 tracks, and approaching that limit on others. But even more noticeable is the spareness of the sound – as the smaller group versions allow for a tremendous amount of solo space, really letting the focus fall on the two horn players, with the bass of Mingus and drums of Dannie Richmond shading in the space behind and beyond. Titles include "Folk Forms No. 1", "All the Things You Could Be By Now If Sigmund Freud's Wife Was Your Mother", and the original uncensored version of "Faubus Fables". CD

One of Charles Mingus' classic recordings for the Candid label – far and away some of the best recordings he ever made, and some of the few studio sessions that really let him stretch out and do his thing! The Candid label didn't last long – but during their short stretch of recording, they gave musicians like Mingus a chance to do things they weren't able to do at bigger labels – and this 1960 session is a great change from some of the tighter style that Charles was using just the year before at Columbia. The group is a searing combo – Eric Dolphy on alto, Booker Ervin on tenor, Ted Curson on tenor, and Jimmy Knepper on trombone – really taking off on long tracks that are filled with brilliant solo work – titles that include "Lock Em Up", "MDM", and "Stormy Weather". CD

A great counterpart to the two famous Charles Mingus albums for the Candid label – really a third "lost" Candid album, recorded at the time of those sets, but never issued until many years later! As with those great dates, the work here is filled with righteous anger, unbridled emotion, and some of the most passionate jazz work of the 20th Century – directed by Mingus with unfailing energy on the bass, and featuring solo work from players who include Charles McPherson, Lonnie Hillyer, Booker Ervin, Paul Bley, Eric Dolphy, and Jimmy Knepper. None of the tracks here appeared on the albums that were released by Candid – Presents Charles Mingus or Mingus – and they were all recorded on the November 11, 1960 date that yielded part of that second album. Titles include "Bugs", "Reincarnation of a Lovebird", "R&R", "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams", and a soulful take on "Body and Soul". CD

One of Blue Mitchell's hippest funky sets of the 70s – an unusual little record that mixes a bit of funky harmonica with his own soulful trumpet! The approach definitely echoes a bit of the "blues" in the title – but the groove is much more straightforward and funky – that hard-edged approach that shows up on the best electric Mainstream sessions of the time, with a bad-stepping bottom that moves along nicely throughout! Harmonica's handled by Don Bailey, and other players include Joe Sample on keyboards, Herman Riley on tenor, Freddie Robinson on guitar, and Ray Pounds on drums. Cuts are all nice and long, quite open overall, and almost more relaxed than some of Blue's other Mainstream sessions – and titles include "Graffiti Blues", "Yeah Ya Right", "Express", "Asso Kam", and "Dorado". CD

Sweet electric 70s funk from Blue Mitchell – blowing here in some of the hippest arrangements of his career! Blue's trumpet alone is always pretty darn great, but for this album he's working with arranger Dave Matthews – who gives the tunes fierce groove that mixes vamping guitars with snapping drums – sort of picking up the groove that Matthews forged with James Brown, but allowing for a lot freer jazz interplay! The guitars are often recorded in a cool way that has them sounding a bit "watery" alongside the rhythms – so much so, you'd swear they were keyboards at times – and this approach sounds really great underneath Blue's tighter, harder, more punctuated solos over the top of the tracks. Additional support comes from horn players Joe Farrell and Seldon Powell – and titles include "Funk Walk", "Blue Funk", "Funny Bone", "Golden Feathered Bird", "Harmony Of The Underworld", and "Hot Stuff". CD

Bassist Red Mitchell's always had a wonderfully warm sense of tone – but it seems even warmer here than usual, in a nice small combo setting with a group billed as "friends" – and who certainly come across that way on the album! There's a relaxed, easygoing vibe to the whole record – almost like you're hearing Mitchell working after hours in the back room of a club with favorite musicians – playing the kind of music they've saved for themselves, in a quartet that features Harry Edison on trumpet, Dado Moroni on piano, and Ben Riley on drums – plus vocals on two tracks from Adrianne West. Edison is wonderful in the setting, as is Moroni – and titles include "Two Moons", "Black Forest Blues", "Fair Weather", "Never Let Me Go", "Teach Me Tonight", and "The Duck & The Duchess". CD features a bonus alternate of "Black Forest Blues". CD