Wonderful recent work from Joao Bosco – one of the few artists from 70s Brazil who's kept his sound strong over the years! This album's got a very intimate feel – mostly just Joao's vocals and acoustic guitar at the core, augmented with some light group backing that shifts from track to track – a bit of bass, added guitar, and percussion – always used in gentle ways that makes us feel like the album's still a solo effort from Bosco. Given Joao's wonderful songwriting talents, the approach takes us even more deeply into his personal space – and the tunes really have a way of speaking to us, even beyond the boundaries of language. Bosco whistles a bit on the record, too – which is a beautiful touch – and titles include "Pintura", "Tanto Faz", "Tanajura", "Jimbo No Jazz", "Perfeicao", "Navalha", "Pronto Pra Proxima", and "Alma Barroca". CD

James Brown, proud and loud – a smoking 60s album that provides a great link between his earlier styles and his freer roots – with a brilliant blend of funk, soul, and a touch of raw R&B! Given the power of The Godfather at this point, there's no denying that even the older cuts have a punch that few others could match – making for a record that feels mighty darn unified, despite the stretch of time between a few of the recordings. Titles include the funky gems "Ain't That a Groove (pts 1 & 2)", "The Scratch", "Is It Yes or Is It No", and James' great version of "The Bells" that's always been one of our favorites – plus Just You & Me", "I Love You Yes I Do", "Come Over Here", and "I Don't Mind". The cover also comes with an "autographed" photo of James on the back with the text "James Brown Fans – Frame This 8 x 10 Picture" – and an image that says "Soul Brother #1 Is Peeking At You Thru The Key Hole"! LP, Vinyl record album

Not the first album from Roy Buchanan, despite the title – but a set that helped firmly cement his strong 70s legacy – thanks to plenty of the almost-effortless guitar craft that made Roy one of the key forces to carry blues inspiration towards a more rock-oriented world at the time! Despite his face on the cover, Roy doesn't even sing at all – he leaves that to vocalist Bill Sheffield, who's got a soulful style that really matches the grooves – which leaves Buchanan to spin out all these long, well-crafted guitar lines that are more important to the record than the lyrics. Titles include "I'm A Ram", "In The Beginning", "You're Killing My Love", "Wayfaring Pilgrim", and a nice take on the Cannonball Adderley/Joe Zawinul tune "Country Preacher". CD

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 record with a bit of a gag in the title, but a set that has the mighty Caravan at their classic best – simply soaring to the skies on some of the best-crafted prog lines of their generation! The lineup has shifted a bit from before – only core members Pye Hastings on guitar and Richard Coughan on drums – but the sound is still wonderful, as Dave Sinclair steps on with lots of cool work on keyboards – and the group get assorted guest help from Brit jazz giants who include Tony Coe on tenor, Pete King on flute and alto, Henry Lowther on trumpet, Frank Rocotti on congas, and Rubert Hine on Arp! Peter Geoffrey Richardson is also a core member of the group, and provides electric viola at many spots – an instrument which doesn't change the Caravan sound, so much as slide right in and expand it. Titles include "The Dog The Dog He's At It Again", "A Hauting We Shall Go", "Headloss", "Surprise Surprise", "Memory Lain Hugh", and "C'Thlu Thlu". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the previously unreleased "original mix" of the entire album as well as additional bonus tracks. CD

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 goofy cover, and a tribute to Alice In Wonderland, but a nice little record – one that has Chick Corea playing a wide variety of keyboards next to acoustic piano – coming up with a sound that's sometimes cosmic, sometimes spacious, but always a lot more creative than most of his contemporaries! The album's got a bit of a high concept feel – as strings and larger arrangements sometimes slide into the mix – and all compositions, arrangements, and production were handled by Chick. And just when things seem as if they might get a bit too arty, tunes slide back into a more straightforward jazzy mode – keeping some of the best Corea elements in place over the course of the record. Other players include Herbie Hancock, John Thomas, Harvey Mason, and Joe Farrell – and Gayle Moran sings a bit on the record. Titles include "Dear Alice", "The Woods", "Rhapsody", "The Mad Hatter", "Falling Alice", and "Humpty Dumpty". 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

An overlooked album from pianist Eddie Costa – recorded in the late 50s for Dot Records! The set's a bit different than some of Costa's other material from the time – in that has Eddie playing with a much heavier touch on the left hand – inflecting the keys in a bluesier mode, but also working here with some modern touches from drummer Paul Motian, who's in the trio along with bassist Wendell Marshall. Costa's tone has changed decidedly for the record – and he's often got a loudly flowing approach to the keys that echoes later work by McCoy Tyner, Steve Kuhn, and other key 60s innovators. And even though tracks are again mostly familiar numbers, Costa's really pushing them to new levels – pushing, pausing, and twisting them into unusual time structures and melodic progressions. Titles include "House Of Blue Lights", "Diane", "When I Fall In Love", "My Funny Valentine", "What's To Ya", and "Anabelle". CD

Warm and soulful samba from Wilson Das Neves – an artist who's reemerged a bit in recent years, but still working with all the swinging charm he had in the 60s and 70s! The set's got some lyrical touches that are mighty nice, and which fit well with the raspy quality of Wilson's aging vocals – almost a trace of choro mixed in with the samba, at least in the way the tunes sparkle with a nice depth of feeling and sensitivity. The vocals have a very human quality – even more so than before – and titles include "Minha Trajetoria", "Coquetel", "Folha No Ar", "Estava Faltando Voce", "Assedio", "Nao Da", "Outono Chegou", and "Ingrata Surpresa". CD

A stunning collection of work from Kiki Dee – a British singer that most folks only discovered in the US in the mid 70s, thanks to a duet with Elton John – but one who gave her homeland some fantastic music in the 60s! The set's the first to fully dip into this part of Kiki's career, and bring all the best bits together – early singles and an album for the Fontana label, plus European material too – then her full album for Motown from the end of the 60s, plus nine more bonus tracks recorded for Motown too! The whole thing's a massive book-styled package – with loads of notes and photos – and the music shows just what a groovy singer Kiki was back in the day – the kind of powerhouse female vocalist that England always seemed to do better than us at the time. The set features 60 tracks in all – the albums I'm Kiki Dee and Great Expectations, plus rare tracks and singles – a set list that includes "Runnin Out Of Fools", "There He Goes", "The Day Will Come Between Sunday & Monday", "My Whole World Ended", "I'll Have You You'll Have Me", "Oh Be My Love", "Mr Loneliness", "You're My World", "While They Watch", "On A Magic Carpet Ride", "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You", "Hungry Heart", "Now The Flowers Cry", "I'm Going Out", "Don't Destroy Me", "Why Don't I Run Away From You", "Sunshine", "Patterns", "With A Kiss", "That's Right Walk On By", and "Senza Te". CD

A live set recorded in 1965 – and more straight ahead soul jazz than Lou's later funk work on Blue Note, even though Leo Morris/Idris Muhammad is on drums. The album is a nice transitional session, though, with a good lounge jazz feel, and some nice long cuts like "Fried Buzzard", "Summertime" – and "The Thang", which have a rawer feel than most of his Blue Note stuff. 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

"Throw Your Hands Up" features Outkast. "Armed Robbery" features Thorough, Gillie Da Kid, Toni Hickman, and Big Duke. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A really cool limited single – with two contemporary vocal jazz gems! Kurt Elling takes on the groovy tune "Stepping Out" by Joe Jackson – really unlocking the jazzy core of the song, almost as anthem for the New York that Elling now calls home – and Mark Murphy handles the classic "Stolen Moments" – a cut he's done a few times, but which is presented here from his great Verve album with Til Bronner at the production helm! 7-inch, Vinyl record

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

A great snapshot of jazzy London in the years before the acid jazz explosion of the late 80s – and a surprisingly great soundtrack that's stood the test of time much more than the actual film! The music here represents a jazz-based undercurrent of the London scene that was already turning its ears back in time – to a pre-mod era of the late 50s, which is the setting for Colin MacInnes original novel used for the film – portrayed here in a pastiche of vocal and instrumental songs that often have a fair bit of classic touches! Gil Evans was brought in for most of the instrumentals, and turns out some really sparkling charts that have all the charm of his best work of the 50s – and other contemporary artists do a pretty great job themselves – at least on the more jazz-based numbers. Evans numbers include versions of Charles Mingus' "Boogie Stop Shuffle" and "Better Git It In Your Soul", plus his own "Va Va Vaoom" – and the better jazzy tunes includes the excellent "Killer Blow" by Sade, plus "Have You Ever Had It Blue" by The Style Council, "That's Motivation" and "Absolute Beginners" by David Bowie, "Rodrigo Bay" by Working Week, "Selling Out" by Slim Gaillard, and "Riot City" by Jerry Dammers. CD

... 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

Hard to say goodbye to a group this good – one of the heaviest combos working the Japanese scene in the early 70s – graded with guitar work from Shigeru Narumo that we'd put right up next to any of the best British or American players of the time! Shigeru clearly gets his inspiration from blues, but turns his music into hard rock overall – especially when the vocals come into the mix, and the whole thing is driven by the intense drums of Hiro Tsunoda and heavy bass of Masayoshi Takanaka! The album packs as heavy a punch as any English work issued on Vertigo at the same time – and titles include "Out To The Sea", "Goodbye To My Friends", "521 Seconds Schizophrenic Symphony", "Before You Descend", "Five More Pennies", and "Rolling Down The Broadway". LP, Vinyl record album

Naked guys on motorcycles – and that's just on the front cover – a great indication that you're really in for something special from this legendary Japanese band! Flower Travellin Band are one of those combos who clearly started out with an inspiration in blues, but quickly take things out to much trippier territory – long jams that are more psych than anything else at points, especially when the guitars get really freaky and fuzzy! There's almost a heady Bay Area vibe to the whole thing – although the record has some sinister currents that would have really freaked out an acid-dropping hippie – all of which makes for the kind of record that never loses its power over the decades. Titles include "Black Sabbath", "Twenty First Century Schizoid Man/Anywhere", "Anywhere/Louisiana Blues", and "House Of The Rising Sun". LP, Vinyl record album

A really hard-jamming band from the Japanese scene at the start of the 70s – the kind of quartet who take simple instruments but find a way of making music that's completely their own! The record's instrumental, and definitely has some ties to European prog – but there's also a sound that's much rougher around the edges – especially on the guitar and organ, which would both be equally at home on a blues rock record, but never have this intensity or complexity! The group show their hard rock chops at a few points too – and titles include "The Hole In A Sausage", "Dedicated To Bach", "Clock", "The Conflict Of The Hippo & The Pig", "Waltz For MPB", and "Naked Mountain". LP, Vinyl record album

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

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

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

Easily one of the greatest records ever from the Keef Hartley Band – and certainly the group's jazziest! The album's awash in great horn parts that dance along beautifully with the rootsier vocals of the set – sung by guitarist Miller Anderson, in a rough-edged style that has some American bluesy overtones. The set features a great instrumental called "Premonition" – a really tasty little jazz rocker – and saxophonist Jimmy Jewell and trumpeter Henry Lowther get in some great licks on the album as well. Titles include "Morning Rain", "The Time Is Near", "Another Time Another Place", "Change", and "Premonition". CD

A long-lost album from one of our favorite jazz talents of all time – British tenor legend Tubby Hayes, a player we'd easily place on a short list with giants like Dexter Gordon or Sonny Rollins! Like both of those players, Hayes has an incredible talent for longform solos that never lose their fire, direction, or imagination – a quality that emerges here maybe even more strongly than on some of the records that preceded it – as Hayes works with just a quartet, on long tracks that are really dominated by both his great sound, and the strong contributions of pianist Mike Pyne – an equal star on the set! At a time when British jazz was going for a lot of new recording modes, crossover styles, and other gimmicks, the whole thing is a back to basics record for Tubby – but also one that shows just how much he's grown as a soloist in just a few short years – really on fire, as the tenor is driven strongly by the efforts of Ron Mathewson on bass and Spike Wells on drums, completing a great quartet who really get the energy of their leader. Titles include a great version of the Duke Pearson tune "You Know I Care", a lovely take on "Where Am I Going", and the Hayes originals "For Members Only", "Rumpus", and "Grits Beans & Greens". Fantastic stuff – long overdue, and instantly a key addition to the Tubby Hayes Fontana catalog of the 60s! CD

A long-lost album from one of our favorite jazz talents of all time – British tenor legend Tubby Hayes, a player we'd easily place on a short list with giants like Dexter Gordon or Sonny Rollins! Like both of those players, Hayes has an incredible talent for longform solos that never lose their fire, direction, or imagination – a quality that emerges here maybe even more strongly than on some of the records that preceded it – as Hayes works with just a quartet, on long tracks that are really dominated by both his great sound, and the strong contributions of pianist Mike Pyne – an equal star on the set! At a time when British jazz was going for a lot of new recording modes, crossover styles, and other gimmicks, the whole thing is a back to basics record for Tubby – but also one that shows just how much he's grown as a soloist in just a few short years – really on fire, as the tenor is driven strongly by the efforts of Ron Mathewson on bass and Spike Wells on drums, completing a great quartet who really get the energy of their leader. Titles include a great version of the Duke Pearson tune "You Know I Care", a lovely take on "Where Am I Going", and the Hayes originals "For Members Only", "Rumpus", and "Grits Beans & Greens". Fantastic stuff – long overdue, and instantly a key addition to the Tubby Hayes Fontana catalog of the 60s! This great 2CD version features the full versions of all the sessions, with a number of takes on some of the tunes – including an unusual version of "Where Am I Going" with the guitar of Louis Stewart instead of the piano of Mike Pyne. Also has a hardcover package, and a nice booklet of notes! CD

Featurs Lance Hayward on piano, Lyn Christie on bass, and Clarence Tootsie Bean on drums. Tracks include "So In Love", "For You", "Danny Boy", "Polka Dots and Moon Beams", "Perdido", and "Killing Me Softly". CD

2 pivotal works in the career of Pierre Henry! Variations Pour Une Porte Et Un Soupir is beautiful batch of spare electronics – translated as "Variations Between A Door & A Sigh" – the piece is exactly that! One track will evoke strange creaking door sounds, the next will have a breathy, sigh-like quality – and then the whole thing starts all over again. Maddening, but wonderful in its own way! After that, the CD moves into La Reine Verte – composed for a show with Maurice Bejart, and a continuous electronic work that's filled with slowly progressing analogue bubbles, almost in a 60s sci fi sort of way, but a bit freer and looser, and pretty darn scary! CD

A fantastic symphony of noises by Pierre Henry – less electronic than some of his other work, and featuring sounds from a huge variety of sources! Excuse our French if we get a few of the details wrong (the notes aren't in English!), but it appears that instruments used include porcelain eggs, sable, shells, snails, prepared piano, Basque drums, paper, cellophane, money, flutes, guitar, polyester, and countless other odd items, chosen for their odd sounds. The booklet shows Henry sitting in front of about 2 dozen tape recorders – and we're not sure if that's the way the piece was played, but it makes sense. Still sounds pretty darn live to our ears though! 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

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

At the end of the 60s, Milt Jackson and Ray Brown cut some very groovy records together – teamed up in a great pairing of styles that pushed both of them way past the more standard sounds of earlier years! This album's one of the best of the bunch – as it features pianist Monty Alexander joining the pair, bringing in some warmly soulful elements on piano – in ways that are a great bridge between his work for MGM and MPS! The set also features great tenor from Teddy Edwards – blowing with a deep tone and a sharp edge – and in addition to vibes by Jackson and bass by Brown, the group also features Dick Berk on drums. The set was recorded live at Shelly's Manne-Hole – and titles include Alexander's "That's The Way It Is", plus "Blues In The Basement", "Wheelin & Dealin", and "Tenderly". 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

Early brilliance from Joe Walsh – whose guitar and vocals are amazing here! Titles include "Take A Look Around", "Funk #48", "Bluebird", "Collage", "Lost Woman", and "Fred". 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

... CD

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

Something Special indeed – as the album was one of the biggest hits for Kool & The Gang, and showed that the group still had plenty of energy left to groove into the 80s! The record features production work by Brazilian music maestro Eumir Deodato – who by this point had become a sweet and smooth talent with a real flair for putting over a modern soul groove! Deodato's approach is really great – smooth, yet soulful, without any tricks or gimmicks – and a real appreciation for lead vocals and a catchy little hook! The album features the group's party classic "Get Down On It", plus "Steppin Out", "No Show", "Pass It On", "Be My Lady", "Take My Heart", and "Good Time Tonight". CD

A nice little live set by Rita Lee – the ex-member of Os Mutantes who went onto become a huge Brazilian pop star in the 80s and 90s. This set – done for MTV Brasil's equivalent of Unplugged – has Rita singing in a mellow small group mode, performing with a few guest stars, and running through a selection of older material. Titles include "Agora So Falta Voce", "Flagra", "Doce Vampiro", "Jardins Da Babilonia", "Luz Del Fuego", "Balada Do Louco", "Eu E Meu Gato", "Alo Alo Marciano", and "Gita". CD

Some of the greatest jazz work ever recorded by Michel Legrand! Although Legrand's always been known for his sweet soundtrack work and his famous easy listening sides – he's also a heck of a jazz pianist, and here in this rare 1959 session, he works in a trio format that puts him right up there with the best of the French piano-technics of his generation, like Maurice Vander or Rene Utreger. The arrangements are wonderfully off-beat – and Legrand dances around the piano with a versatility that we didn't know he had. The group features Guy Pedersen on bass and Gus Wallez on drums – and titles include "Paris In The Spring", "Sous Les Ponts De Paris", "Paris Canaille", "Moulin Rouge", and "La Vie En Rose". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A set that's one of the key calling cards of Lindisfarne – a record that's a perfect demonstration of the way the group mixed some of the older British acoustic folk touches with some rising roots rock elements – still mostly non-electric in most parts, but with a vibe that gives a record like this a nice sort of punch! Things are never too polished, and these guys are clearly not going for a commercial hit – but they're also not afraid of a catchy lyric, too – a nice blend with their use of 12 string guitar, mandolin, and other acoustic elements. Titles include "Uncle Sam", "Together Forever", "Fog On The Tyne", "Passing Ghosts", "Meet Me On The Corner", and "Train In G Major". CD features the bonus tracks "Scotch Mist" and "No Time To Lose". CD

There's nothing out of tune here – as Lindisfarne are at their early best, and have a focus and clarity that really makes them stand out from the rest – even amidst the hipper folk-oriented groups of the UK scene at the time! As with some of their contemporaries, Lindisfarne can bring in some jazzier elements from time to time – but they also electrify things more, too – using both electric piano and organ next to acoustic and electric guitar – and reaching for standout instruments on different tracks, when needed – all to support the well-crafted vocals that make the tunes come across with a very down to earth vibe – especially when the harmonies take over. Titles include "Road To Kingdom Come", "Winter Song", "We Can swing Together", "Scarecrow Song", "Clear White Light", and "The Things I Should Have Said". CD features the bonus tracks "Nothing But The Marvellous Is Beautiful" and "Knackers Yard Blues". CD

Stone classic LL Cool J! There was a time we didn't really rate this one on the same level as Radio, but listening with fresh ears after all these years – prime old school Def Jam with an energy that's really missing in so much of the hip hop to follow in the next couple years – and the raw drum machine and cuts approach to production STILL holds up and the rhymes, brags and delivery represent a bygone era of hip hop perfectly. Bigger And Deffer and a hella solid slice of mid-to-late 80s rap. Includes "Go Cut Creator Go", "I'm Bad", "Get Down", "My Rhyme Ain't Done", ".357", "Kanday", "Bristol Hotel", and that OG hip hop ballad "I Need Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Summer Time", "Games", "Me & My Crazy World", "So Love", "Get Your Hustle On", and more. CD

The second of two groundbreaking albums for the Paris jazz scene. Although Loussier's formula was often copied during the 60s, at the time of these recordings, his mix of jazz and classical styles was fairly revolutionary – and a perfect way to link the postwar European love of jazz with older musical traditions on the continent. And sure, Bach got overdone during the 60s by artists like Swingle Singers or Walter Carlos – but this set's some of the first jazz Bach ever recorded, and thanks to some great rhythm work by Christian Garros and Pierre Michelot, it still sounds pretty darn jazzy! Titles include "Prelude No 6", "Fugue No 16", "Gigue", "Menuet 1", and "Allemande". CD

A beautiful classic from Magna Carta – a British group with a sound that's a lot more down to earth than you'd guess from their name – which maybe implies the sort of majesty you'd usually hear from a prog group! Instead, the trio have a very charming, down to earth approach – acoustic guitar and harmonized vocals – moving past folk, but just barely – so that they're using all these more modern chord progressions, and getting some light larger touches in the arrangements – which are all handled by Tony Visconti, who plays bass along with Rick Wakeman on organ and piano, and Peter Willison on cello – an instrument that often shades in the tunes in just the right way. Titles include "Going My Way", "Seasons", "Give Me No Goodbye", "Ring Of Stones", and "Scarecrow". CD

... CD