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The title and cover image are a bit misleading – as Victor had already been in the US for about 4 years by the time of this set – but as far as west coast jazz was concerned, he'd definitely "arrived" through a series of great contributions to classic albums! The outing's a trio date – with Feldman on both vibes and piano – drums by Stan Levey, and bass by a young Scott LaFaro, who really helps keep things interesting throughout! Feldman often changes moods with his change of instruments – and the album's almost an effort to show the full range of his talents in a smallish space – but the overall presentation is never too split-minded. Titles include "Serpent's Tooth", "Waltz", "Chasing Shadows", "Flamingo", "Sposin", "Satin Doll", "Bebop", and "Minor Lament". CD

Side one of this LP isn't much to write home about – dramatic orchestral music, written by Mark Lawrence, and conducted by Norman Paris – dark stuff to accompany the film in the title. Side two is great, though – jazzy "impressions" of the main themes, played by a group that's led by Victor Feldman, with a free lyrical approach that's better than most of his other work from the time. Titles include "Theme From David & Lisa", "David & Lisa's Love Song", "Paree Paree Paree", and "Clock Smash". CD

Massive work from this funky Nigerian cat – a set that offers up a key mix of James Brown funk and home-grown elements – all in a blend that's totally unique! The 1970 album mixes together equal parts African highlife and American soul – making for a style that's heavy one minute, lighter the next – and always changing things up in a really dynamic way! Percussion plays a big role on the funkier cuts, and guitar is on most numbers too – used with a lyrical, rhythmic style on the highlife numbers – and a much more hard-vamping approach on the funkier ones. Includes killer versions of "Mother Popcorn", "Let Yourself Go", "There Was A Time", "I Feel Alright", and "Cold Sweat" – plus the tracks "Okere Gwonko", "Everybody Needs Love", "Onuro", and "Magic Feet". CD

Vocalist Fay Victor pens lyrics for a jazz composer we're not sure we've ever heard with words before – modern piano legend Herbie Nichols, a player whose songs are often as full of angles and sharp changes as Thelonious Monk! And as you might guess from a style like that, the music doesn't easily lend itself to vocalization – but when it does, the results are amazing – as Victor's not only penned some fantastic lyrics for these tunes, she also delivers one of her best performances on record to date! The sound is modern, but never too outside – maybe like Jon Hendricks taking on some of Monk's music, in the way that Fay always retains a sense of humanity – working here with piano from Anthony Coleman, alto and baritone from Michael Attias, bass from Ratzo Harris, and drums from Tom Raney. Titles include "Descent Into Madness", "Non Fraternization Clause", "The Culprit Is You", "Shuffle Montgomery", "Sinners All Of Us", and "Bright Butterfly". CD

A fantastic double-length set – two full albums of music, essential for any fan of Brazilian jazz – or even jazz in general! First up is Esperanto – an incredible album from one of Brazil's greatest reed players of the 70s – the mighty Victor Assis Brasil – a free-thinking spirit who really took Brazilian jazz in bold new directions at the time! The record shows Victor absorbing a lot of post-Coltrane influences, and blending them with a tight approach to rhythm – laid down here by Dom Salvador on piano (and organ), Edison Lobo on bass, and Edson Machando on drums. The group is completed by Helio Delmiro on guitar, and Claudio Roditi plays trumpet on one track – but the real highlight is the amazing reed work by Brasil, which is filled with soul and warmth, plus a deep sense of exploration. The whole session was put together by Roberto Quartin in 1970 – and it's still extremely fresh today. Titles include "Children", "Gingerbread Boy", "Senegal", and "Marilia". Next is Toca Antonio Carlos Jobim – a fantastic album from this legendary Brazilian saxophonist – and one that's way different than the usual instrumental reading of the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim! The setting is less of a bossa-inspired one than a post-Coltrane mode – as Victor Assis Brasil blows alto sax, and a bit of soprano – on long, stretched out versions of Jobim compositions – often given a bit of modal energy, thanks to the group's strong piano and organ performances by Dom Salvador. The rest of the players are all great, too – Helio Delmiro on guitar, Edson Lobo on bass, and Edison Machado on drums – all players who grew up in the bossa jazz years of the 60s, but who here are set free to explore new territory by producer Roberto Quartin. The whole thing's wonderful – and titles include "Bonita", "Wave", "So Tinha De Ser Come Voce", and "Dindi". CD also features two bonus tracks – alternate takes of "Ao Amigo Quartin" and "Marilla". CD

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Vocalist Fay Victor pens lyrics for a jazz composer we're not sure we've ever heard with words before – modern piano legend Herbie Nichols, a player whose songs are often as full of angles and sharp changes as Thelonious Monk! And as you might guess from a style like that, the music doesn't easily lend itself to vocalization – but when it does, the results are amazing – as Victor's not only penned some fantastic lyrics for these tunes, she also delivers one of her best performances on record to date! The sound is modern, but never too outside – maybe like Jon Hendricks taking on some of Monk's music, in the way that Fay always retains a sense of humanity – working here with piano from Anthony Coleman, alto and baritone from Michael Attias, bass from Ratzo Harris, and drums from Tom Raney. Titles include "Descent Into Madness", "Non Fraternization Clause", "The Culprit Is You", "Shuffle Montgomery", "Sinners All Of Us", and "Bright Butterfly". LP, Vinyl record album

Two rare albums from Uncle Victor Chukwu – a hell of a guitarist, and the driving force behind both of these Nigerian gems from the late 70s! Akalaka is a record that's maybe higlife in outward appearance, but which has a very different quality overall – in part because the guitar work from Victor Chukwu is so sharp and searing, there's often a bit more edge on some of the tunes than the lighter, brighter notes you'd usually associate with the genre! Plus, the vocals have this nicely echoey vibe – ringing out with a quality that's equally great, whether the lyrics are in English or Igbo – on long titles that include "Akalaka", "Born Throw Away", "Ogbu Mmadu", and "Nwanne Bu Nwanne". Next up is an album that Victor Chukwu did with the Black Irokos group – a set that's even more striking, and almost experimental at times – with all these odd elements played right down near the bottom of the guitar strings, which are then echoed out with effects that make them sound very cool next to the percussion! There's a bit of horns in the mix, but the guitar and offbeat vocals are the main appeal – on the long tracks "Onwu Uwa", "Anya Ukwu", and "Oge Chukwu Ka Nma". LP, Vinyl record album

Lost Latin sides by Victor Feldman – a killer bit of west coast jazz, cooked up with percussion until it's smokin red hot! The tracks on the set represent a host of sessions cut in the years 1958 and 1959 – featuring Feldman on vibes and piano – working with a great array of players that includes west coast jazzers like Conte Candoli on trumpet, Frank Rosolino on trombone, Walter Benton on tenor, and Scott LaFaro on bass – as well as percussionists Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, Armando Peraza, and Ramon Rivera. The music is a great blend of jazz and Latin – really solid all the way through, and presented here for the first time with all the tracks from the sessions – a total of 17 tunes, 6 of which are released here for the first time ever! Titles include "Lady Of Spain", "Cuban Pete", "Cuban Love Song", "Spain", "Poinciana", "Pancho", "Woody N You", and "Fiesta". CD

A totally great record, and one that's way groovier than you might expect from the somewhat staid cover and title! Maybe even forget the "Soviet" reference at all – and just thing 60s Cali groovy – as Victor Feldman is at his hippest here, playing both piano and vibes – and working with a wonderfully well-chosen combo that includes work from Carmell Jones on trumpet, Nat Adderley on cornet, Harold Land on tenor, and Herb Ellis on guitar – all coming together in a mode that's somewhere between Pacific Jazz and Verve Records – which makes this whole set a standout album that hides under a very unassuming cover! Titles include "Ritual", "Madrigal", "Vic", "Polyushko Polye", and "Gennadi". CD

Feldman plays piano and Fender Rhodes – with Hubert Laws on flute, Lee Ritenour on guitar, Harvey Mason on drums, and Alex Acuna and Milt Holland on percussion. Titles include "Chasin The Sunrise", "Let Me Count The Ways", "Down In Cancun", "Valentino", and "Stick Together". CD

A US album, but with work by Brit jazz greats like Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott on tenor, Dizzy Reece on trumpet, and Phil Seamen on drums! CD

Beautifully soulful work from drummer Victor Lewis – and a record that introduced the world to the tremendous tenor talents of Seamus Blake! The set's got a relaxed, flowing vibe that reminds us a lot of some of Lewis' collaborations with Bobby Watson – although Blake's tenor tone gives the record a deeper twist overall – set up beautifully alongside piano from Eduardo Simon and bass from Christian McBride, and also featuring a bit of trumpet and flugelhorn from Eddie Henderson – although honestly, Blake's the real standout horn talent on this date. Lewis wrote most of the tunes himself – somewhat poetic numbers, but with a lot of soul and swing – and titles include "The Loss Of A Moment", "Know It Today Know It Tomorrow", "Between Two Worlds", "The Truce", and "If You Only Knew Me". CD

Jeff Palmer on organ, John Abercrombie on guitar, Arthur Blythe on alto saxophone, and Victor Lewis on drums. CD

Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and Victor Wooten. CD

Vocalist Fay Victor pens lyrics for a jazz composer we're not sure we've ever heard with words before – modern piano legend Herbie Nichols, a player whose songs are often as full of angles and sharp changes as Thelonious Monk! And as you might guess from a style like that, the music doesn't easily lend itself to vocalization – but when it does, the results are amazing – as Victor's not only penned some fantastic lyrics for these tunes, she also delivers one of her best performances on record to date! The sound is modern, but never too outside – maybe like Jon Hendricks taking on some of Monk's music, in the way that Fay always retains a sense of humanity – working here with piano from Anthony Coleman, alto and baritone from Michael Attias, bass from Ratzo Harris, and drums from Tom Raney. Titles include "Descent Into Madness", "Non Fraternization Clause", "The Culprit Is You", "Shuffle Montgomery", "Sinners All Of Us", and "Bright Butterfly". CD

... CD

An incredible album of jazz tracks by one of Brazil's greatest reed players of the 70s – the mighty Victor Assis Brasil – a free-thinking spirit who really took Brazilian jazz in bold new directions at the time! The record shows Victor absorbing a lot of post-Coltrane influences, and blending them with a tight approach to rhythm – laid down here by Dom Salvador on piano (and organ), Edison Lobo on bass, and Edson Machando on drums. The group is completed by Helio Delmiro on guitar, and Claudio Roditi plays trumpet on one track – but the real highlight is the amazing reed work by Brasil, which is filled with soul and warmth, plus a deep sense of exploration. The whole session was put together by Roberto Quartin in 1970 – and it's still extremely fresh today. Titles include "Children", "Gingerbread Boy", "Senegal", and "Marilia", which is a bonus track that wasn't on the original LP. LP, Vinyl record album

Features Victor Goines on tenor and soprano sax and clarinet, Peter Martin on piano, Carlos Henriquez on bas, and Greg Hutchinson on drums. CD

Shuichi "Ponta" Murakami, Masahiro Sayama, and Yoichi Murata. CD

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... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most far-reaching, exploratory records cut by Booker Ervin during the 60s – a set that really lives up to the "freedom" in its title! The album really takes off from some of Ervin's other work of the time – and stands along next to the equally-great Space Book as a departure from his roots as mostly a Texas-styled tenorman. There's still a bit of Ervin's deeper soul in the mix, but the sound has more of the sharp edges that Booker was working on with Charles Mingus at the time – long solos filled with plenty of feeling, and a sound that's simply breathtaking throughout! The group's a quartet – especially well-matched with Jaki Byard on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums – all perfect partners for the unique vibe going on for the session. All tracks are great, and titles include "A Lunar Tune", "A Day To Mourn", "Cry Me Not", "Grant's Stand", and "Al's In". CD also features the bonus track "Stella By Starlight". CD

Includes the songs "Athlete", "Orange", "Smile", "You Are An Esper", "Panther", "Sho-Jo-Ji", "Yellow Bird", "Pink Promenade ", "Center Street", and "Drops Of Sound ". CD

Includes the songs "Sunday After School ", "Wake In Good", "Step Up Action", "Grand Blue", "Mr. Dharma", "Taste Of Wind", "Good Moon", "Forget Me Not", "Tokyo Train", and "Be Ambitious". CD

An album that came out right at the start of the 70s, at a moment when the Japanese piano trio scene was really beginning to find its way forward – yet one that's also got a very different vibe than some of the bigger records to come! If you know the work of pianist Masaru Imada, you'll know that he's got a way of approaching a tune that's very much his own – lyrical and patient, but always working with a sense of flow that makes his work on the keys breathtaking – especially on tracks that are slightly longer than usual, as they are here. The trio features Takashi Mizuhashi on bass and Masahiko Ozu on drums – and two tracks feature tenor from Ichiro Mimori, the "plus one" in the group's name, and a player who makes a great addition to the set! Titles include the originals "Gad", "Maki", and "Sea Horse" – plus nice takes on "Autumn Leaves" and "On Green Dolphin Street". LP, Vinyl record album

Madleen Kane's still serving up her trademark sensuous brand of disco – which made her as big on the dancefloors as she was between the pages of Playboy at the time! Thor Baldursson handles the grooves here – with that great compressed style that always makes his work so great – a seemingly tremendous amount of studio energy all pushed down against the rhythms – added vocals, strings, and more – driven strongly by core instrumentation from a small combo that features Thor on keyboards. Side one works almost like a mini disco symphony – with cuts "Forbidden Love/Fire In Your Heart", "Cheri", and "Secret Love Affair" flowing together nicely with lots of percussion in the rhythms. Side two is a bit more varied – and titles include "Don't Leave Me Now", "You & I", "Couldn't Find A Better Way For Saying Goodbye", and "Retro". LP, Vinyl record album

A key transitional album for The Kinks – a record that took them from the lighter "picture postcard" rock of their late 60s albums, into the headier concepts that would mark most of their early 70s work! The concept here is fortunately a light one – a faux-hillbilly sort of groove, carried off by Ray and the group in a nice mix of London Muswell and East Tennessee. The tunes are nicely short and focused, with some older styles of music that almost give the record a Tom Waits-ish feel at times – and titles include "Muswell Hillbilly", "Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues", "20th Century Man", "Skin & Bone", "Alcohol", and "Have A Cuppa Tea". LP, Vinyl record album

A great album of mellow soul tracks from Curtis Mayfield – laidback, slinky, and almost to his earlier work what Let's Get It On was to the early 70s career of Marvin Gaye! The album's got a warm, soulful vibe that's totally great – not as all-out funky or politically righteous as before, and instead more deeply personal, and almost intimate at times – in a way that really lets Curtis open up with those fragile and heartbreaking vocals that made his 60s work so great. The restraint here is totally great – another mid 70s masterpiece from arranger Rich Tufo – and at times, Mayfield hits a similar mode to some of Leroy Hutson's best Curtom work from the time! Titles include "Just Want To Be With You", "All Night Long", "When We're Alone", "I'm Gonna Win Your Love", "Sparkle", "Never Say You Can't Survive", and "Show Me Love". Features a bonus single edit of "Show Me Love". CD

A very unusual session for Carmen McRae – a live recording that features only her vocals and piano, on spare readings of a number of sophisticated songs that ably demonstrate the class and care she was bringing to her work at the time! The approach is quite different from some of the smoother, more soul-based records that McRae was cutting in the 70s – a very laidback, late nite sort of date that takes us right back to Carmen's earliest years on record – but with a 60s' worth of hipness thrown into the mix. She's still got some sense of poise on the tunes, but also brings up a slightly earthy undercurrent at points too – a relaxed, mature vibe that really fits the intimacy of the record. Titles include "The Last Time For Love", "More Than You Know", "I Can't Escape From You", "I Could Have Told You", "Please Be Kind", and "Supper Time". CD

A unique large group session from Art Pepper – one of his few this way as a leader, despite constant 50s presence as a sideman in big ensembles! Arrangements are by Marty Paich, who more than makes things swing – and there's a nice rhythm section dancing underneath a larger group – with Russ Freeman on piano, Joe Mondragon on bass and Mel Lewis on drums. Players in the fuller lineup include Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Herb Geller on alto, Bill Perkins on tenor, and Bob Enevoldsen on trombone and tenor – and titles are mostly modern numbers written by other jazzmen like Horace Silver, Denzil Best, Jimmy Giuffre, and Sonny Rollins. Titles include "Groovin High", "Move", "Four Brothers", "Anthropology", and "Airegin". CD

A lost treasure – finally brought back to light! The album features previously unissued material by the team of Art Pepper and Warne Marsh – tracks recorded back in 1956 for Contemporary records, but only issued many years later as part of the Complete Contemporary project for Pepper's work. Why these dates never made it to wax is a real mystery to us – because the pairing of Pepper's alto and Marsh's tenor is perhaps even greater than the more famous team of Marsh & Konitz – and the sound here is completely wonderful – fluid, modern, and exceptionally poised – yet never without soul! CD includes a few master and original takes of some numbers – and titles include "All The Things You Are", "Tickle Toe", "Warnin", "Stompin At The Savoy", "What's New", "Avalon", and "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me". CD

An underrated 70s effort from Sonny Rollins, featuring him fronting a dynamite group with Stanley Cowell and Mtume at the height of their Afro-centric electric jazz period. Longtime sideman Bob Cranshaw plus David Lee round out the rhythm section, and this is one of Rollins' LPs featuring the excellent Japanese guitarist Masuo, plus Rufus Harley guests on one number, so you can guess this is one righteous affair. Rollins sounds awesome, laying extended solos over some tremendous funky vamps by the group on numbers like "The Cutting Edge" and "First Moves", and working in a more contemplative vein on "To A Wild Rose" and "A House Is Not A Home". Also includes a lengthy take on "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". CD

A classic set that brings the east coast tenor of Sonny Rollins into contact with a west coast rhythm section of Ray Brown and Shelly Manne! Despite Rollins' silly look on the cover, and the album's overall "western" theme, the session's a brilliant one – right up there with Sonny's strongest trio sides of the late 50s, and a key link in a string of excellent recordings for Blue Note, Prestige, and Riverside! The lack of a piano really opens up the style of the set – letting Sonny explore freely on his solos, while Brown's bass and Manne's drums do more than enough to keep the rhythms going on their own. Solos aren't as "out" as on the Village Vanguard sessions, but certainly every bit as inspired – and titles include "I'm An Old Cowhand", "Solitude", "Come, Gone", "Way Out West", and "Wagon Wheels". CD features 3 bonus tracks! CD

Searingly soulful work from the group of guitarist Shungo Sawada – a player we mostly know from his groovy instrumental sides of the 60s, but who sounds plenty darn hip in this setting! The record has a nice sort of soul jazz groove on most numbers – one that takes Shungo's warmer hollow-body guitar sound and wraps it around some sharper lines on alto sax and piano – plus a bit of flute on some numbers – all in ways that extrapolate nicely from mid 60s Blue Note and Prestige modes, and take off in unusual timings and rhythms. The set features work from Hideyuki Kikuchi on alto and You Tokuyama on piano – and tracks include versions of the Wayne Shorter tunes "Chief Crazy Horse" and "Footprints" – plus others that translate as "Formation", "Unlucky Guy", "Naughty Doggie", and a version of "Last Train To Clarksville". LP, Vinyl record album

Far-reaching and incredibly soulful work from Mal Waldron and Gary Peacock! Both players are at the height of their powers here, and have a warmth and sense of interplay that makes the session one of the best they did alone or together during the time. The group's a trio, with Hiroshi Murakami added in on bass – and the overall feel is similar to some of the best Japanese trio sessions of the early 70s, with great recording, long drawn-out introspective songs, and free unbridled playing that you don't always get on American sessions by the same players. Titles include "Walking Way", "What's That", "She Walks In Beauty", and "The Heart Of The Matter". LP, Vinyl record album

Really evocative work from pianist Mal Waldron – a rare Japanese session cut with trumpeter Terumasa Hino, and a hip group of players who really make the set sparkle! The album's easily one of the most spiritual that Mal ever cut – and features two side long tracks that build beautifully, with soaring, searching rhythms that are unlike anything else we've ever heard in another Waldron record. Other players include Takao Uematsu on tenor, Isao Suzuki on bass, and Motohiko Hino on drums – and the set also feature added percussion, which really adds to the spiritual quality of the music. Titles include "Reminiscent Suite" and "Black Forest". CD