The young Roy Buchanan live – working here in front of a New York crowd who are clearly in love with his talents! Roy only sings a bit – Billy Price handles most of the vocals – but he lets his guitar sing out loud and clear, with solos that dominate most of the tracks right after they get started – followed by some mighty nice work on organ and keyboards from Malcolm Lukens too. Titles include "I'm Evil", "I'm A Ram", "Can I Change My Mind", "Hot Cha", "Further On Up The Road", and "Roy's Bluz". CD

A really sweet little album from guitarist Kenny Burrell – one in which he takes older tunes ("a generation ago"), and updates them with a sweetly compressed Verve 60s groove ("today"!) The record features 2 small groups – one with Ron Carter on bass, Grady Tate on drums, and Phil Woods on some mighty nice alto sax – and another with Carter, Tate, and the great Richard Wyands on piano. The style is light, laidback, and recorded with a warm tone overall – in a mode that's almost a precursor to the CTI sound of the late 60s. Mike Maineri joins on vibes on one track – and titles include "Wholly Cats", "Rose Room", "As Long As I Live", and "A Smooth One" CD

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An insanely ripping little record – one that comes on with all the raw power of the heaviest work by Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin at the time – even though these guys never hit that sort of fame! The group's a trio with an incredibly deft touch – able to make the simple combination of guitar, bass, and drums explode in wonderfully fresh ways – with some quick-changes that really leave us breathless, and really show off their amazing talents – but never in a way that's overdone at all – as these guys have more of the bottom-end, blues-inspired appeal of Zeppelin during their early years. Vocals are by guitarist John Simms, who's also got a wild way of singing – and titles include "The Rocket Ride", "I'm Comin Home", "Birdcatcher", "My Heaven", "You Mystify", and "Tool Of My Trade". CD

Heady work from Cluster – a record that really helped set the tone for a whole generation of German experimentation! The sound here is incredibly dense – guitar and keyboard parts that are processed heavily, looped back on themselves, and sometimes supported by a bit of electronics – all at a level that's still quite fresh and free – never too jamming, nor too experimental for experiment's sake! There's an intrinsically rhythmic feel to the whole record – a cosmic pulse that ebbs and flows beautifully – and the whole thing still has a lot more of an edge than most of the later work from the team of Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius. The album was co-produced with Conny Plank – and titles include "Plas", "Im Suden", "Fur Dir Katz", "Georgel", "Live In Der Fabrik", and "Nabitte". CD

A really great side of the legendary Nat King Cole – tracks recorded late in his years at Capitol Records, and which really further his international appeal! The tracks here are all non-English versions of songs that Nat had recorded previously for Capitol – set to arrangements by Ralph Carmichael, and delivered with all the cool and class that always made Cole such a standout talent in the postwar years – an ever-evolving artist who seems to slip into the different languages here as if they were his own! Cole had recorded famously before in Spanish, but there's a lot more going on here – including "Autumn Leaves", "Passing By", and "You'll See" in French; "I Don't Want To Be Hurt" and "Autumn Leaves" in Japanese; "Answer My My Love" in German"; and "LOVE" done in Spanish, French, German, Italian, French, and Japanese! Also includes the tunes "Tu Sei Cosi Amabile", "Tu Eres Tan Amable", and "Le Bonheur C'Est Quand On S'Aime". CD

A brilliant blast from The Comet Is Coming – their second album on Impulse in less than a year – and it's as exciting as anything they've done so far! Their core vibe of mixing spiritual jazz with electronic experimentation is here in full force, but they take it new directions. While the trio carries the influences from 70s spacey fusion influences and modern London jazz on the other, it always feels fully unique and of their own invention. Part of what's so exciting is they can strip things down to minimalist vibe of melodic sax, spare drums and bubbling electronics to far-reaching jazz funk from one track to the next – this is trio with range! Poet Joshua Idehen delivers a righteous vocal on the opener "All That Matters Is The Moments" that sets the stage for the soaring ride that follows, including "The Softness Of The Present", "The Afterlife", "Lifeforce Part I", "Lifeforce Part II" and "The Seven Planetary Heavens". CD

One of Chick Corea's first true moments of genius – a record that has the pianist stepping out into more experimental territory, after doing years of 60s material in a more soul jazz and Latin-styled mode! The tracks have a great sense of arrangement, but also balance that with really well-crafted solos that get nice and free – played by a lineup that includes Woody Shaw on trumpet, Benny Maupin and Hubert Laws on reeds, and Jack DeJohnette on drums – really opening up to Corea's fresh sense of rhythm! The whole thing's great – and titles include the long tracks "Is", "Jamala", "This", and "It". CD

A sweet little set from Chick Corea – one that's got a bit of a Return To Forever vibe at times, but maybe taken down into tighter territory overall – which makes for pure jazz funk greatness throughout! Some tunes have a nice sense of groove – the choppy fusion of RTF, but more focused, and providing a great bump at the bottom for Chick to solo over the top – on Fender Rhodes, clavinet, and piano – with help from Joe Farrell on a variety of reeds, Bunny Brunel on bass, and Airto on percussion! There's a small bit of vocals on the set, but Chick's keys are the main star – and titles include "Slinky", "Drifting", "Glebe St Blues", "Fickle Funk", "Bagatelle 4", and "Hot News Blues". CD

Sublime duets between Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock – both 70s masters of the keyboard, but working here in an acoustic setting that's a great reminder of the talents both musicians had at the start! The tracks are very long, and balance structure with a lot of improvised intensity – often at a level that recalls some of the longform acoustic trio work that Herbie recorded for the Japanese market in the 70s, mixed with some of the sharper edges that Corea brought to his avant styles from the decade before! The presentation is wonderful – a very ear-opening record for fans of both artists – and titles include "Homecoming", "Bouquet", "The Hook", "Ostinato", "La Fiesta", and "Maiden Voyage". CD

It's the early 80s, and Gal's working with a style that's sure a lot sweeter and slicker than her earlier albums – but her voice is still fantastic, and we can't help liking the catchy tunes on the album, which are produced in a style that's similar to some of the modern soul-oriented work that Marcos Valle was doing around the same time. There's a lot of electric keyboards and percussion, but Gal's voice is still out front, singing in a lovely touching manner. Includes a nice remake of the classic "Baby" performed with backing vocals by Roupa Nova, plus the tracks "Ruma Louca", "Olhos Do Coracoa", "Mil Perdoes", "Sutis Diferencas", "Grande Final" and "Sim Ou Nao". CD

Light and lively work from the great Gal Costa – a set that's light years away from her Tropicalia experiments of a decade before, but which is equally beautiful in its own sort of way! First off, Gal's vocals are amazing – more expressive and dynamic than in the early days – with a range of different emotions that comes off wonderfully, and without some of the heaviness of some of her contemporaries – such as Maria Bethania. The arrangements, while not entirely tropical, mix together jazz choro modes with more contemporary touches – providing a surprisingly strong, sparkling backdrop for the lyrics! The album features a nice remake of "India", plus the tracks "Forca Estranha", "Olha", "Meu Nome E Gal", "Balance", and "Samba Rasgado". CD

Some of the rarest work ever by Sonny Criss – and a key link between his LA bop sides of the mid 50s, and his Prestige comeback sides of the late 60s! The CD features tracks from a rare album that Criss cut in Paris during the early 60s, while he was living in the city and working with the cream of its jazz players. This all-star set has Criss blowing some wonderfully soulful alto in a combo that includes Georges Arvanitas on organ and piano, Rene Thomas on guitar, Pierre Michelot on bass, and Philippe Combelle on drums. The original album is one of the rarest sides we've ever found ourselves looking for over the years – and it's wonderful to have the material back out again with such great fidelity! It's wonderful to hear Criss blowing with an organ/guitar group – but even the piano tracks are pretty darn great. Titles include "Early & Later (parts 1 & 2)", "St Louis Blues", "Once In a While", "Green Dolphin Street", and "Day Dream". CD

One of our favorite-ever Miles Davis albums – and a groundbreaking soundtrack that forever changed the way that jazz music was used in film! According to legend, the sounds here were recorded by Miles on a hot Paris night – late in the studio, after a live performance – in a very intimate setting that had he and the combo creating these little poetic passages along with the action in the film! In addition to sublime and moody muted trumpet from Miles – the small group also features tremendous tenor work from the great Barney Wilen – a French modernist who's at the height of his powers – and beautiful bass from Pierre Michelot, whose rich tones really frame the whole proceedings. The rest of the group features bop pianist Rene Urtreger and American drummer Kenny Clarke – but the real charm comes from the interplay between Wilen, Davis, and Michelo. Titles include "Florence Sur Les Champs-Elysees", "L'Assassinat De Carla", "Diner Au Motel", "Evasion De Julien", "Nuit Sur Les Champs-Elysees", "Le Petit Bal", "Au Bar Du Petit Bac" and "Sur L'Autoroute". This amazing 3LP version features one never-issued track – "L'Interrogatoire De Julien" – plus 16 more tracks from the sessions for the recordings, and a booklet of notes! LP, Vinyl record album

Two tremendous soundtracks from the mighty Francois De Roubaix – easily one of our favorite film composers of all time! Dernier Domicile Connu is wonderful – with a famous theme that mixes stepping strings and funky drums in this really magnificent way – before moving between spare instrumental moments and the return of the great theme – all with that incredible ear for space and sound that made Francois so different than so many of his contemporaries! Une Aller Simple has a few more conventional modes, but still hits all these cool moments too – and lots of that subtle funk that made De Roubaix ahead of his time – great use of electric bass under more standard instruments. Titles include "Jerk Carcerel", "Aspic", "Blues Pour Nicoletta", "La Vitesse La Mort", "Dernier Domicile Connu", "Gregg", "Les Maniaques", "Por Qui Porquoi", and "Jeanne Et Marceau". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare early date as a leader for drummer Jack DeJohnette – a set done for the Japanese Trio label, and with a vibe that's similar to Jack's wonderful records for Prestige! DeJohnette is not only one of the most inventive drummers in jazz at this point, he's also a musician who's willing to step way out of his usual bag – mixing in Fender Rhodes, organ, melodica, and marimba to the music – used in all these cool, creative styles alongside acoustic and electric bass from Dave Holland, who also plays a bit of percussion! The pair duet wonderfully together – with energy that's quite different than any sort of ECM-styled session of this nature – songs that have a good focus, and get really great results from both players. Titles include "Time & Space", "Lydia", "Hewineeway", "The Rain Forest", and "Turned Around". CD

Sublime early work from Djavan – a bit of jazz, a bit of samba, and a bit of soul – all wrapped together in wonderfully warm arrangements! The sound here is sophisticated without being sleepy, and there's still a lightness to Djavan's music at this point – a style that manages to plumb the depths of his vocals, yet without some of the too-emotive moments of later work – a very careful balance that makes for an album that's lovely and delightful all the way through! The set includes loads of nice tracks – like the jazzy "Serrado", plus "Minha Mae", "Numa Esquina De Hanoi", "Alagoas", "Samba Dobrado", and "Dupla Traico". LP, Vinyl record album

Brazilian accordion player Dominguinhos first got his start in forro – but here, the sound is something else entirely – a very groovy mode that you might expect from the style of the cover! There's still plenty of accordion on hand, but it's often mixed with arrangements that have some funky samba currents – with a great current of soul that's a great surprise, and augmented by keyboards from Wagner Tiso and guitar from Gilberto Gil! There's vocals throughout, and some nicely jazzy touches in the instrumentation – which further makes the whole thing sound warm, wonderful, and very unique. Titles include "Tenho Sede", "Veja", "Quero Um Xanego", "O Babulina", "Gracioso", "Baiao Violado", and "O Canto De Acua". CD

Some great funky grooves by this legendary British ensemble – featuring excellent keyboard work by Brian Auger, recorded during the period when he was really beginning to stretch out a bit, and hit a much more open-ended kind of sound. Julie Driscoll is still on vocals, singing in her raw sound, but Brian's Trinity group gets a fair number of nice instrumental moments on the set – which are greatly appreciated! The CD brings together all the tracks from the original double LP – and titles include "Light My Fire", "Czechoslovakia", "Finally Found You Out", "In Search Of The Sun", "Ellis Island", "I've Got Life", and "Save The Country". CD

There's a lonely look to the cover of the record – even more desolate than Nighthawks At The Diner – but Eggs Over Easy have this warm sound that really makes you feel right at home, right away – maybe in part because the group get some nice help on production from Link Wray! The vibe's a bit like some of Link's own vocal work at the time – although the group are stronger singers, and have a great way of harmonizing with some roots elements in the best sort of way – not strictly delivering versions of the styles that influenced them, but using that great A&M sense of freedom to really craft something new! Titles include "Arkansas", "Home To You", "Song Is Born Of Riff & Tongue", "Don't Let Nobody", "Night Flight", and "Pistol On A Shelf". CD

Stone Latin Soul – from one of the greatest groups of the genre! In the late 60s, New York was on top of the Latin Soul sound – blending together bits from Puerto Rican and African-American roots to come up with a whole new sound. But by the time of the early 70s, LA had taken over the groove – and nobody did it better than El Chicano! The combo had a really wonderful sound that was Chicano soul at its best – lots of jazzy stepping rhythms topped off with fuzzy guitars, sweet keyboard bits, and some warm and wonderful west coast soul-styled vocals. There were plenty of Latin influences in the rhythms, but the sound itself was pure LA – done with a really righteous groove throughout! This set brings together a dozen of the group's best tracks for the Kapp and MCA labels from the early 70s – and tracks include "Cubano Chant", "Viva Tirado", "El Cayuco", "The Latin One", "Tell Her She's Lovely", "Sabor A Mi", "Ahora Si", "Cantaloupe Island", and "Juntos". CD

One of the most jazz-based groups of the German prog scene of the early 70s – heard here on a rare outing that features Mal Waldron playing electric piano with the group! Despite Waldron's presence, though, the real keyboard star of the set is Jimi Jackson – who plays mellotron and organ on the record, and sounds especially wonderful on the side-long track "The Call" – a fantastic 17-minute track that arose out of collective improvisations by the group! Instrumentation on the whole set is great – and includes the keyboards, plus heavy bass, vibes, marimba, guitar, sax, and even a bit of electric violin! Titles include "Radio Marrakesch/Orient Express", "Dreaming Girls", and "The Call". CD

A one-off record by a UK group – but one that's gone on to become legendary over the years, thanks to a quality and vision in the music! These guys are perfectly poised at the later end of psych – still using all the right elements in all the right ways, but with more focus and tunefulness too – maybe a bit like that quality that The Move had right at the start, but which holds up in a very unique spirit here. It's almost like these guys decided that they liked all the shorter songs by Pink Floyd, then came up with some equally great material of their own – then called up Bill Wyman to produce the record. And the production is great – handled by Wyman, who sometimes gets too much credit for the record – as the genius is clearly the group's own. Titles include "Dreamworld", "Under The Rainbow", "She Said Yeah", "Jacob's Bladder", "Introspection (parts 1 & 2)", "Cardboard Watch", and "Don't Take Me". CD features bonus mono single mixes of "Shades Of Orange" and "Loving Sacred Loving". CD

We've loved the music of Shaun Escoffery for many years now – right from that time when he emerged from the UK scene as key talent in the Omar generation – the kind of strong songwriting voice and confident singer that really helped mark a difference from the world of soul in the US! Escoffery has evolved wonderfully over the course of his superb recordings – and here, he continues to grow even more – coming on strong, and maybe with more of a 60s soul inspiration than ever before – kind of a romping, vibrant approach to the music that echoes the Motown generation, while still also sounding immediately contemporary, and graced with a production style that maybe makes Shaun's vocals sound even more powerful than ever! We've been waiting decades for Escoffery to get the international fame he deserves – and maybe this record is the one that will put him over the top, given the strength of the songs and the overall set as a whole. Titles include "River", "Imagine", "Lucky", "Soldier", "Heat", "With These Eyes", "Need To Believe", "Candle", "You Remind Me", and "Surrender". CD

Guitar jazz genius from the amazing Tal Farlow – working here at the height of his powers on a classic session for Verve – a real standout album from the 50s, and one with some slightly more modern overtones than even other Farlow sessions at the time! Part of the strength of the set is the piano work of Eddie Costa – which dances nicely in between the notes, often creating the same sense of counterpoint and interplay as on Costa's excellent albums with Sal Salvador from the same period. Farlow's tone is amazing throughout – rough and pointed, yet always fluid – and titles include "Lean On Me", "The More I See You", "Stella By Starlight", "Topsy", "All The Things You Are", and "Wonder Why". CD

Early work from Seu Jorge – heard here with the group Farfoca Carioca, but still in a style that's got the same soulful samba touches of his own work! The sound is a bit more upbeat here – vocals that are often sung by the whole group at once, even though Jorge gets plenty of solo moments – and the instrumentation is live and funk-based, but with plenty of jazzy flourishes on the horns, and a fair bit of Brazilian percussion too. And while the record maybe doesn't pack a punch that's as hard as some of Seu Jorge's best work, it's still plenty darn great on its own – a rare example of a set like this coming from Brazil at the time, and a real precursor for grown to come – not only in Jorge's music, but in Brazilian grooves in general! Titles include "Bebel", "Sao Gonca", "Moro No Brasil", "Jacare", "Indio", "Rabisca Robson", and "Menino Da Central". CD

A nice one from Ella – and a good move past the Songbooks mode that sometimes dogged her years on Verve a bit too much! This set has Ella singing to light arrangements by Frank DeVol – nothing fancy, but a good set of tunes that are perfect for the lovely style that Ella was hitting back in the 50s. Tracks are short, uncomplicated, and very nicely swinging – even in the gentler moments – with titles that include "Let's Fall In Love", "Sweet & Lovely", "Moonlight Serenade", "I Remember You", and "East Of The Sun". CD

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A very well done compilation truly including some of the very Best Of Serge Gainsbourg – programmed chronologically starting with the late 50s – not only some of the best of Serge, but some of the most provocative, innovative and creatively fearless popular music ever! From the more elegant, jazzier early number and on through the great duets, more sultry and stripped down numbers and bits of all the great strains of his inimitable style. Features the previously unissued "Comme Un Boomerang", plus "Leau A La Bouche", "Baudelaire", "Elaeudanla Teiteia", "Comic Strip", "Requiem Pur Un C", "L'Anamour", "Elisa", "La Decadanse" with Jane Birkin, "Bonnie And Clyde" with Bridgette Bardot, "Aux Armes Et Caetera" and more. 27 tracks on the 2LP version, LP1 from 1960-1968 and LP2 from 1968 to 1979. LP, Vinyl record album

A massive collection of music from one of our favorite singers of all time – the legendary Serge Gainsbourg, a French vocalist who worked equally well in jazzy, funk, and groovy modes – always with a groundbreaking quality that had Serge taking his lyrics to places that few previous singers dared to touch! This set brings together work from the earliest years of Gainsbourg – when he was mixing jazz and Latin modes in a hip Left Bank sort of style – then really shows him taking off in the 60s, bringing in funk in the 70s, and even working with some Jamaican dub elements towards the end of the package! There's a few key duets with Jane Birkin, and one more with Jane Birkin – and titles include "Sea Sex & Sun", "Mister Iceberg", "Bonnie & Clyde", "Ballade De Melody Nelson", "Cargo Culte", "L'Hotel Peculier", "Amour Sans Amour", "Coco & Co", "Ces Petits Riens", "Black & White", "Ford Mustang", "Initials BB", "Requiem Pour Un Con", "Sex Shop", "Torry Canyon", "Ah Melody", "En Melody", "Hold Up", "New York USA", "La Javanaise", "Aux Armes Et Caetra", "Daisy Temple", "Harley David Son Of A Bitch", "Sorry Angel", "Ronsard 58", "Black Trombone", "Elisa", "Nazi Rock", "Vu De L'Exterieur", and even the wild "Lemon Incest" – a duet with his daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg. CD

A bold leap forward from Gilberto Gil – his first album recorded during the Tropicalia years, and an amazing collaboration with arranger Rogerio Duprat! The album's got a sound that really bridges scenes in Brazil – elements of older folkloric musics, folded with samba rhythms, folded again with psychedelic touches from Os Mutantes – who also help out on the set – all wrapped together with a sound so revolutionary, it still crackles with energy all these many years later! The sound and style are impossible to describe accurately, which is part of the charm of the record – and it's key placement as one of the prime musical texts of the Tropicalia years. Titles include "Marginalia II", "Luzia Luluza", "Pega A Voga, Cabeludo", "Frevo Rasgado", "Domingou", and "Domingo No Parque". CD also features 4 bonus tracks – "Barca Grande", "A Coisa Mais Linda Que Existe", "Questao De Ordem", and "A Luta Contra A Lata Ou A Falencia Do Cafe". CD

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The best of Brazil, old and new – as Joao Gilberto meets up with a younger generation of Brazilian vocalists – Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Maria Bethania – all for a wonderful session of stripped-down bossa! The work is very much in Joao's best style of the early 70s – a back to basics return, handled with even more intimacy than before – with production by Gilberto, and some beautifully understated arrangements from Johnny Mandel! Tracks are all nice and long, and allow for lots of vocal interplay between the four singers on the set. Titles include "Cordeiro De Nana", "Aquarela Do Brasil", "Milagre", and "Bahia Com H". CD

Important work from Robert Fripp and the brothers Peter & Michael Giles – recorded a year before the first King Crimson album with a mad sound that's somewhere in between Bowie's early Deram recordings, and some of the Syd Barrett work with Pink Floyd! Although Fripp's guitar figures nicely in the sound of the group, the overall style is much more whimsical and heavily arranged than any of his later work – done with a playful blend of strings and piano, and also some surprising jazz undercurrents from time to time. There's none of the overblown modes of the early King Crimson sound – and if anything, the record's a charmingly understated set that's ripe for rediscovery by ears trained on newly revived strands of 60s music! Titles include "The Sun Is Shining", "One In A Million", "Saga Of Rodney Toady", "North Meadow", "Call Tomorrow", "Digging My Lawn", "Erudite Eyes", and "The Crukster". CD features 6 bonus tracks – including "She Is Loaded", "Under The Sky", "Newly Weds (single)", and "One In A Million (mono)". CD

Not as freely improvised as you might think – but a nice set from the mid 50s, issued here with bonus unreleased tracks, and one that features Grappelli as the lead soloist in a quartet with Maurice Vander on piano and harpsichord, Pierre Michelot on bass, and Baptiste Reilles on drums. Tracks include "Dans La Vie", "If I Had You", "Body & Soul", "Fascinatin Rhythm", "Time After Time", "Slow En Re Majeur", and "Someone To Watch Over Me". CD

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A great little collection of early work from Johnny Hallyday – one of the first big rockers to emerge from the French scene in the 60s – and an artist who's really coming into his own with tracks! Some titles have Hallyday taking on American or Anglo material, with new French lyrics – but there's also some other cuts of his own – and together, the tracks really get at the special sort of charm that would make Johnny a much bigger star for a lot longer than most of the earlier American artists who inspired him! Backings are often by Joey & The Showmen, but some cuts feature larger arrangements from Eddie Vartan, Jacques Denjean, and others – in a set of 22 titles that includes "Les Coups", "Je L'Aime", "Les Mauvais Garcons", "Excuse Moi Partenaire", "Reviens Donc Chez Nous", "Mes Yeux Sont Fous", "O Carole", and "Les Monts Pres Du Ciel". CD

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The fantastic first Verve album from Tim Hardin – a record that's almost a genre unto itself, given the very unique approach that Tim brings to his music! The set might be one of the first times that the world of folk was able to reach out and really find a home in so many other styles too – as there's a blend of jazz-inflected instrumentation and vocals that helped lift Hardin and these songs way past the pop folk moment of the mid 60s – so much so, there's arguably an influence here that just keeps going on over the decades! Gary Burton provides some great vibes, John Sebastian blows a bit of harmonica, and Artie Butler creates these gentle arrangements that are perfect – still making you feel like you're meeting Tim Hardin on his own, but with secret subtle support. Nearly every song's a classic – and titles include "Don't Make Promises", "It'll Never Happen Again", "Reason To Believe", "How Can We Hang On To A Dream", and "Misty Roses". CD features five bonus tracks! CD

The second fantastic album from Tim Hardin – a singer/songwriter classic that's gone on to have a tremendous amount of pull and power over the years – and for good reason too! With songs like these, Hardin set the stage for so many other singers to come – bringing in a lot of his own personal sense of history and failings, but never in a way that was wallowing in its own weakness – and instead used just the right balance in the lyrics to help these songs instantly transcend Tim's own handling of the words! And yet, despite so many versions of so many of these tunes by others, we still love Hardin's readings the best – augmented here by some light arrangements that set things up personally, yet still retain all the intimacy of the music – on tunes that include the classic "If I Were A Carpenter" , plus "Red Balloon", "Black Sheep Boy", "It's Hard To Believe", "Lady Came From Baltimore", and "You Upset The Grace Of Living When You Lie". CD features 5 bonus tracks too! CD

A career-spanning set of work from one of the hippest composers of the 20th Century – a huge box set that not only features most of his important works, but also includes 14 pieces that appear here for the first time ever! And yes – there have been other box sets of Pierre Henry's music – but this one is very different than those, and even has very little in common with the Polyphonies set from a decade before – music that stands as a fantastic testament to the never-ending genius of Pierre, even up until the final years of his life! Henry began as one of the key experimentalists in the French musique concrete scene of the 50s – but quickly established a style of his own that often relied as heavily on silence as it did sounds – sometimes delivered with a sense of humor, and often able to adapt to more everyday modes or down to earth settings – which may well be why Henry is not only one of the best-remembered artists of his generation, but also has been sampled by hip hoppers, and become a big influence on electronic music as well. The set features a whopping 13CDs in all – and unreleased works include "Astrodanse", "Professeur Robot", "Ma Grande Paque Russe", "Gouttes D'Eau 2", "Jerusalem", "Une Minute Eternelle", "Grand Tremblement", "Utopia Hip Hop (final)", "La Note Seule", "Construction Tournante", and "Fragments Rituels Metamorphose". Other tracks include "Le Voyage", "Prisme", "Variations Pour Une Porte Et Un Soupir", "Interieur/Exterieur", "Dracula", "Entite", "Art De La Fugue Odyssee", "Futuristie", "Pierres Reflechies", "Envol", "Coexistence", "Apocalypse De Jean", and "Messe De Liverpool". CD

A new version of Henry's Antogonismes IV – originally commissioned by the WDR in Cologne, and presented here with stunning sound that really lives up to the spirit of the piece! The theme of "antagonisms" is very apt – as the work slowly progresses by working up noises between various instruments and sound sources, building and shifting in the manner of some of Henry's pivotal work from the early 60s. CD

Includes the 20 minute "Gouttes D'Eau" or water drops section from Pierre Henry's Hugosymphonie. CD

Life-changing music from Pierre Henry – one of the key French electronic music composers of the 20th Century – and an artist who went on to have a big impact in the 21st Century as well! This set mixes together key Henry compositions with nine never-released works – all remastered by Henry in his own famous studio – where he took up most of his later-life creative activity, after an initial association with the famous RTF Studio in Paris! The sounds here are incredible – truly an illustration of the genius of the man who once said "it is necessary to destroy music" – a thesis that Pierre expounds on more fully in the notes within. The package features a total of 29 works in all, presented on 12 CDs with a big booklet of notes – and works include "Chroniques Terriennes" (2016), "Etudes Transcendantes Pour Un Piano Imaginaire" (2015), "Grande Toccata" (2006), "Gymkhana" (1970), "Pleins Jeux" (2008), "Kyldex" (1973), "Une Tour De Babel" (1988), "La Reine Verte", "Rock Electronique" (1963), "Histoire Naturelle" (1997), "Facies" (1960), "Le Livre Des Morts Egyptien" (1988), "Fragments Pour Artaud" (1970), "La Noire A Soixante" (1961), "Deuxieme Symphonie" (1972), "Spatiodynamisme" (1953), and "Concerto Des Ambiguites" (1950). CD

During the 1950s, Paris was a particularly supportive environment for American jazz players with a slightly more traditional bent – swing-era giants who were perhaps fading a bit in the eyes of US audiences, but who were still very much on top with the French crowds. This CD is strong proof of that legacy – and it features three different sessions that each are fronted by a famous American swing trumpeter. All sessions are pretty great – but our particular favorite is the one with Peanuts Holland, as it features some great tenor work by Guy Lafitte and vibes by Geo Daly, giving the session a quite different feel than the usual swing-based session. There's a total of 15 tracks on the CD – and all the material's quite rare. Titles include "Purple Sound", "Yesterdays", "Blue Feeling", "Buck's Bon Voyage", and "Gift For The Club". CD

A beautiful American release from Toninho Horta – and one that features some great guest work by Joyce too! The sound here is a nice extension of Horta's early EMI albums in Brazil – a bit more jazz-based and somewhat polished – but still light years away from the sound of contemporary fusion in the US at the time. Toninho often uses that cool wordless style of singing that makes his music so magical – and in addition to some guest vocals from Joyce on two tracks – other artists include Nivaldo Ornellas and Wayne Shorter on saxes, Robertinho Silva on drums, and Marcio Montarroyos on flugelhorn. Titles include "Sunflower", "Mountain Flight", "Luisa", "Ballad For Zawinul", "Raul", and "Pilar". CD

A lovely blend of fusion and Brazilian roots – and one of Toninho Horta's standout sets from his US years at Verve! The album's got a warm, organic feel that's quite different from other American fusion of the time – still filled with some of the influences that drove that music in the US, but carried off in a way that's much deeper and more personal overall – thanks to Toninho's always-great approach! Horta sings wordlessly and plays guitars – and the instrumentation shifts a bit from track to track, creating different moods with the addition of players who include Pat Metheny on guitar, Onaje Allen Gumbs on synth, Billy Drewes on soprano sax, and Nana Vasconcelos on percussion. Titles include "Spirit Land", "Francisca", "Sun Song", "Bicycle Ride", "Eternal Youth", and "Gershwin". CD

Incredibly great work from Toninho Horta – especially considering that the album's a US release from the early 90s! Horta's working here in a tight trio with Gary Peacock on bass and Billy Higgins on drums – both players we can trust to keep things real, and help Toninho hit a groove that's solidly jazzy. The style is more straight jazz than some of Horta's other work – but in a really great way – and although he sings a bit on the set in that wordless way of his, there seems to be more of a focus than before on well-played guitar solos, both electric and acoustic. Titles include "Pica Pau", "Lullaby Of Birdland", "My Funny Valentine", "Minas Train", "Footprints", "Tarde", and "O Amor Em Paz". CD

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Ibis are one of those Italian groups from the 70s with a sound so strong, they make you forget that you don't even know the words to their lyrics – as the focus on all the other elements in the record is so great! These guys are maybe a bit more reined in than some of their longform prog contemporaries, but not by much – and they use their more compact space to provide some focus to tunes with guitar lines so heavy, and hooks so powerful, it might take you a minute to realize they're singing in Italian – especially when you start enjoying the production on the vocals. Titles include "Narratio", "Premessa", "Dedicated To Janis Joplin", "Strada", and "Ritrovarci Qui". CD features the bonus track "Noi". CD

Ibis soar to the sun on this mighty set of prog from the Italian scene of the 70s – a record that's filled with long-spun organ lines, very dynamic drumming, and a sense of song structure that does a great job of mixing higher concepts with some key catchier moments! The group aren't on the cover, which might indicate the understated way they put the whole thing together – still fierce enough when they want, but always very concerned with the overall group sound as it comes together from its separate elements. Titles include the long "Divinity" and "Divine Mountain/Journey Of Life" suites – each in multiple parts! CD

A playful bit of pop from the Japanese scene of the early 80s – a set that mixes in a nice range of different styles and instrumental elements at once, maybe with the same sort of charm as some of the Ze Records material from the time! Yu Imai handles a Prophet 5 and other keyboards, and produced and arranged the set – but the real warmth of the record comes from the vocals of female singer Chibo, who's got just the right balance to make the tunes come off well – without every sounding too goofy or forced. When the lyrics are in English, she could almost hit the territory of Christina – and titles include "Thermo Limbo", "Do The Wolf", "Swimming Under Glass", "Oriental Oriental", "Exotic Dance", "Narcissa", and "Watashi No Suki Na Kuni". LP, Vinyl record album

With a name like Chubby, the set ought to be a snoozer – but it swings nicely, thanks to some strong bass work by Jackson! The group's a Chicago ensemble, featuring lesser-known players of the 50s – like Vito Price, Cy Touff, Don Lamond, and Jimmy Gourley – plus trombone by Bill Harris, whose earlier work is clearly an influence on Jackson's own here. Tunes are in a swinging Basie/Hefti mode – and titles include "Flyin The Coop", "Plymouth Rock", "Tiny's Blues", and "Raffles". CD

A second full length set from Jafrosax – one of the few Japanese combos to successfully blend jazzy riffs with more electric dance rhythms! The sound here really isn't club jazz, but more a soulful house with sax solo sort of mode – one that has plenty of tenor blowing over the top of funky beats, keyboards, and other tasty instrumentation. A fair bit of the tracks on the set are instrumental, but some of the best feature vocals – by singers who include Ria, Jurianne, Deeizm, and Miho Sugiura. Titles include "Free No 2", "Easy That Would Be", "Float In Afternoon", "Saxtatic", "Future Freedom", "Sweet Music", and "Sepia Rose". CD

Excellent live work by Ahmad Jamal – recorded during his classic years, when he was wowing audiences all over the US! The set features 2 CDs, with material recorded at the Pershing Lounge and Alhambra in Chicago, The Spotlite Club in Washington DC, and the Black Hawk in San Francisco. On the 2 CDs, you're getting a huge amount of material – 32 tracks that made up some of Jamal's best-selling albums of the early 60s, all recorded with the classic trio of Israel Crosby and Vernel Fournier. Titles include "Moonlight In Vermont", "Woody N You", "Poinciana", "Cherokee", "Tater Pie", "Billy Boy", "Snowfall", "Sweet & Lovely", and "Darn That Dream". CD

A really special album from Belgian reedman Bobby Jaspar – a rare late 50s record that features some of his best work of the decade on flute! The session's got Bobby playing with great backings on vibes by Fats Sadi and Michel Hausser – both of whom use the instrument in ways that resonate strongly with the modern tones in Jaspar's phrasing – and the great Kenny Clarke is on drums, with bass from either Paul Rovere or Jimmy Merrit, plus additional percussion from Humberto Canto. There's a light groove on most numbers – kind of a lyrical swing that's perfect for the flute and vibes! Titles include "Le JAMF", "Speak Low", "Doxology", "Jeux De Quartes", "Chasing The Bird", and "Misterioso". CD

The music of Antonio Carlos Jobim performed by Elis Regina, Maria Bethania, Gal Costa, Sarah Vaughan, Zizi Possi, Rosa Passos, Sylvia Telles, Ella Fitzgerald, Robert Sa, Nara Leao, and Astrud Gilberto. CD

The music of Antonio Carlos Jobim opened up huge new territory for male singers in Brazil during the 60s – a way of being personal and emotive, but without any of the overdone modes of the generation before – nor some of the false bravado that was usually mixed in with the presentation of the lyrics! Instead, Jobim allowed a stripped-down, warmly poetic approach that opened up huge new territory for singers in the bossa generation and beyond – as you'll hear in this very cool collection of classic work that begins during the initial time of Jobim's first compositions, and runs through the 60s and 70s to show an array of artists who were really helping to transform his music. Titles include "Ligia" by Chico Buarque, "Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar" by Caetano Veloso, "So Danco Samba" by Joao Donato, "Tema De Amor De Gabriela" by Ney Matogrosso, "Samba De Uma Nota So" by Baden Powell & Jimmy Pratt, "So Tinha De Ser Com Voce" by Pedro Mariano, "Olha Maria" by Emilio Santiago, "Agua De Beber" by Tamba Trio, "Dindi" by Lucio Alves, and "Ana Luiza" by MPB4. CD

A stunning lost bossa nova soundtrack! The score was penned for the 1967 film Garota De Ipanema (Girl From Ipanema), and although you've heard some of the tracks before in other versions, the overall album is very nice – and is a wonderful tribute to the early days of bossa nova! Jobim and Vinicius perform, as well as Baden Powell, Tamba Trio, Nara Leao, Elis Regina, Ronnie Von, Chico Buarque, and Quarteto Em Cy – and titles include "Por Voce", "Chorino", "Aria Para Se Morrer De Amor", "Rancho Das Namoradas", and "Tema Da Desilusao". We think some of the material might have popped up on otheralbums from time to time, but there's still enough stuff here that we hadn't heard elsewhere – and that we like a lot! LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal set from Linton Kwesi Johnson – the kind of well-done early 80s set that had the UK scene showing the Jamaican one how to take some of its best elements and move forward – as the words and knowledge of Linton come into play with heady backings from Dennis Bovell and The Dub Band! Production is relatively straightforward – handled by the pair together, and using the best bassy elements of Bovell's music, while not getting in the way of the messages in Johnson's words – which are many, and very smartly focused at key targets of the time! Titles include "Making History", "Di Great Insohreckshan", "Wat About Di Workin Class","Reggae Fi Radni", "Reggae Fi Dada", "New Craas Massahkah", and "Di Eagle An Di Bear". Features bonus tracks – "Di Eagle An Di Bear (12" version)", "Insohreckshan (dub)", and "Historic (dub)". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the wildest sets ever recorded by Japanese guitarist Ryo Kawasaki – and that's saying a lot, given some of his other work! The vibe here is fusion, but with a definite 80s spacey twist that's hinted at by the cover – as Kawasaki handles most of the instruments himself, mixing his cool guitar lines with keyboards, rhythm patterns, and other elements – all in a wonderful wave of sound, almost similar to some of the Japanese electronic instrumental work of the time, but still very jazz-oriented overall! Titles include a nice reading of "Concierto De Aranjuez" – plus "Cancion Del Fuego Fatuo", "Introduction From Schelomo", "A Felicidade", "Marilyn", "Mercy Of The Dragon", "Hawaiian Caravan", and "Twilight Song". LP, Vinyl record album

Very unusual work from a surprisingly hip high school choir in Chicago – working at the legendary Kenwood High School, which was once home to Minnie Riperton and Chaka Khan! The group sings material from two original rock operas – one with songwriting contributions from soul singer Bettye Plummer – and Cavalleria Rusticana is all acapella, and just OK – but the rock opera Stop features some great instrumentation by a very cool combo, nice and funky at times! LP, Vinyl record album