A really key moment in the career of drummer Louis Moholo – already a legend for his work in The Blue Notes, and participation in other key projects on the London scene – here starting a new chapter of creation with his Viva La Black combo of younger moments from the diaspora! A key member of the group is saxophonist Steve Williamson – blowing tenor and soprano, and already a rising star on the British scene – yet the whole lineup is great, and the group also features searing tenor and alto from Sean Bergin, plus trumpet from Claude Deppa, bass from Roberto Bellatalla, and percussion from Thebe Lipere, who complements Moholo's drum work in a really great way. Tracks are loose and free, and very bold – based around themes from the composers – who include Chris McGregor, Mongezi Feza, and Keith Tippett – but taken into very open, individually expressive territory. Titles include "Woza", "Mad High", "Lost Opportunities", and "Tristan's Line". CD features two bonus tracks – alternates of "Woza" and "Mongezi Frames (part one)". CD

Marty Paich takes on a host of Broadway tunes from the 50s – but as always with his best work, the result is something quite far from its roots – an amazing batch of jazzy instrumentals that owes very little to the original conception of the tunes! Paich's got an incredible ear for arrangements here – one that manages to make a large ensemble swing with even more dynamic modes than some of his 50s LA contemporaries, but never in ways that fall into some of the more hi-fi oriented tricks or gimmicks of the time. There's always great space for solo voices and personal feelings in the music – which is important, given that the lineup includes Art Pepper on alto, Bill Perkins on tenor, Jimmy Giuffre on baritone, and Stu Williamson on trumpet – not to mention the legendary Scott LaFaro on bass. Titles include "I Love Paris", "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face", "It's All Right With Me", "Just In Time", "Lazy Afternoon", "If I Were A Bell", and " Younger Than Springtime". LP, Vinyl record album

The great first album from Ten Years After – recorded at a time when the group were maybe more strongly linked to the bluesy sounds of the beat group generation than in later years – although still with a hint of some of the trippy touches to come! There's a surprisingly strong dedication to American blues roots at many moments – not just on some of the songs by Sonny Boy Williamson or Willie Dixon – but, maybe thanks to producer Mike Vernon, or more likely the genius of Alvin Lee, the guitars are already getting a bit fuzzy at times, and the keyboards have some unusual tones that you never would have heard on the south side of Chicago. Titles include "I Can't Keep From Crying Sometimes", "Spoonful", "Feel It For Me", "Help Me", "Adventures Of A Young Organ", "I Want To Know", and "Losing The Dogs". LP, Vinyl record album

A great run of music from Grover Washington Jr – five full albums, plus lots of bonus tracks too! First up is Paradise – one of those records you see so much it's easy to forget how great it is! Grover's a real genius with the sax on this record – taking a "less is more" cue from Stanley Turrentine's 70s work, and toning down his playing to an even tighter style than on the Kudu albums of earlier years, to a level of ultimate economy that really leaves us breathless. Grover hits a rarified level here that we'd only reserve for a small few – like Steely Dan or The Crusaders, both groups who teeter on the same brink, and make it work perfectly. Titles include "Asia's Theme", "Tell Me About It Now", "Feel It Comin", "Icey", and "The Answer In Your Eyes". Winelight is a smooth smooth classic from Grover Washington Jr – a set that has a classy image on the cover, and a classic groove within – a completely sublime blend of jazz, soul, and funk, all given the sort of masterful finish that you might have found on the best records by The Crusaders at the time! The difference, though, is that Washington's the lead soloist throughout – crafting some especially nice lines on his trademark soprano sax – which he used in ways that made him one of the most important mainstream jazz artists of his time – and one of the few to really open the doors of the music to folks who might not have been listening otherwise. Grover's sense of space and timing is wonderful throughout – and titles include the classic debut with Bill Withers on "Just The Two Of Us" –plus "Winelight", "Let It Flow", "In The Name Of Love", "Take Me There", and "Make Me A Memory (Sad Samba)". On Come Morning, Grover Washington blows over some great arrangements from William Eaton – full, but lean too – and with the same sort of slinky groove that always worked best for Grover back at Kudu Records! The sound is tight, but never too slick – that magically soulful approach that always made Grover a real standout from his contemporaries – one of the few cats who could smooth out jazz without ever losing its soul – thanks to lots of well-crafted lead lines on soprano sax! Titles include "East River Drive", "Jamming", "Little Black Samba", "Be Mine", and "Reaching Out". Best Is Yet To Come is a set that strongly continues the special spirit that Grover Washington brought to his music during the Elektra Records years – as one of the few artists who really found a way to move forward from the style of 70s jazz funk, but not fall into some of the smoother jazz cliches that were about to envelop his contemporaries! Part of the strength of the record lies in Grover's strongly soul-based sense of timing – allowing for just the right amount of space between the notes to remind you that you're listening to a jazz soloist first and foremost, even when a guest like Patti Labelle might step in for a bit of vocals. Titles include "Brazilian Memories", "Mixty Motions", "Can You Dig It", "I'll Be With You", "Things Are Getting Better", and "The Best Is Yet To Come". Inside Moves has Washington soaring to the skies on soprano sax – as expressive a voice on the record as any soul singer might be – and maybe even more so on the few spots that do include vocals. Jon Lucien sings a bit on the record – and if you read these pages, you know how much we love him – but Grover's still the giant here, with a sense of timing and phrasing that few of his contemporaries could ever hope to match in a setting like this. Titles include "Jet Stream", "Sassy Stew", "Dawn Song", "Inside Moves", "Watching You Watching Me", and "Secret Stew". 5CD set features 19 more bonus tracks – all the single edits of songs from the albums! CD

Massive mixes from the mighty Tom Moulton – a huge 4CD package that not only includes some classic lost and rare mixes from the 70s, but also a whopping 17 previously unreleased Moulton mixes, appearing here for the first time ever! If there's anyone who's ever been well-suited to reworking a Philly groove, it's Tom – given his long standing association with the soul scene in the City Of Brotherly Love – and his crucial role in pushing soul tracks into the clubs during the 70s. As with most of Tom's best work, the mixes here are richly faithful to the originals – and never try to overstate themselves at all, just focus on the best elements, and bring them to the forefront of the groove! 4CDs, 31 tracks, and Moulton remixes of "Back Stabbers" by The O'Jays, "Dirty Ol Man" by Three Degrees, "Trusting Heart" by The Trammps, "Do It Any Way You Wanna" by People's Choice, "Nights Over Egypt" by The Jones Girls, "I Don't Love You Anymore" by Teddy Pendergrass, "Year Of Decision" by Three Degrees, "Slow Motion" by Johnny Williams, "The Love I Lost" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, "She's A Winner" by The Intruders, "Trammps Disco Theme/Zing Went The Strings" by The Trammps, "Let's Groove" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "The Devil Made Me Do It" by Robert Upchurch, "Love Is The Message" by MFSB, "Party Time Man" by The Futures, and "See You When I Get There" by Lou Rawls. CD

Important 70s work from Don Cherry – one of the first albums to bring his overseas experiments to a larger US audience! The set builds nicely off of styles that Don forged earlier in France and Scandinavia – a freer style of music than his work with Ornette Coleman, and a richly organic groove that builds up strongly from the bottom, often with elements of world music settled in alongside the jazz – but there's also some funkier moments here too, a bit like the Brown Rice album, but looser overall! The groups on most numbers are relatively large and spiritual – almost like Alice Coltrane at times, but a bit more electric and funky at others – and players include Collin Walcott on sitar, Michael Brecker on saxes, Cliff Carter on keyboards, Lenny White and Tony Williams on drums, Lois Colin on harp, and Raphael Cruz on percussion. Cherry himself plays conch shells, bells, and flute in addition to his usual trumpet – and he even sings a bit on a few numbers, in a soulful, scatting sort of groove. Narada Michael Walden produced, and the whole set's got a very righteous feel – with tracks that include "Universal Mother", "Buddah's Blues", "Eagle Eye", "Mahakali", "Karmapa Chenno", "Surrender Rose", and "Journey Of Milarepa". CD

Plenty of swinging here – and a west coast session that features both tight ensemble work and some hip breakout solos! There's sort of a collective spirit to the record here – some key all-stars coming together in much tighter formation than you'd fine in an east coast blowing session date – a group that features Buddy Collette on alto, tenor, and flute, John Anderson on trumpet, Dave Wells on trombone, William Green and Chuck Gentry on additional reeds, Gerald Wiggins on piano, Curtis Counce on bass, and Max Albright on drums, and a bit of vibes. Arrangements are mostly by Anderson and Collette – and titles include "Mood For Max", "Crow's Nest", "Top Hat White Tie & Tails", "I Hear Bells", "Buzzin Cool", "One Morning In May", "That's All", and "Sunset Drive". CD

This stunning live set has been hailed by many as one of the finest moments of Miles' mid-60's career, and the record features amazing modernist performances by Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Tony Williams that just about blow away most of the studio recordings they cut at the same time. This set includes long versions of "Walkin", "Miles", "Stella By Starlight", and "If I Were A Bell". CD

Miles Davis' first-ever performance in Japan – a really unique concert that featured the quintet with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams – augmented by a young Sam Rivers on tenor! The presence of Rivers really gives the set an edge – and although Miles is holding Sam a bit more in check than on some of his "new thing" albums from the time, there's an overall quality here that's different than the other Davis quintet albums of the time. The set was one of a number of important Miles Davis live sessions from the period – including albums from Berlin, Antibes, and Chicago – and titles include "If I Were A Bell", "My Funny Valentine", "So What", "Walkin'" and "All Of You". CD

A great document of the more soulful shift made by Charles McPherson in the 70s – and an album that features his moody alto work set amidst a slightly larger group – filled with great players that include Chris Woods on flute, Richard Williams and Cecil Bridewater on trumpet, Frank Wess on tenor sax, Garnett Brown on trombone, and Barry Harris on piano. The tracks are deceptively easygoing, but swing with a nice spiritual soul jazz undercurrent – and McPherson blows in some warm, open modes that really grab us on the best tunes. Includes a great version of "Naima", plus the tracks "Bell Bottoms", "Cheryl", "Invitation", and "Charisma". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge dip into the world of all-girl bands from the 60s – not sweet-voiced, teeny-bopping pop acts – and instead a host of raw, garagey groups that come across with a heck of a lot of power! There's some folks out there who might tag a famous 70s group or two as the first female rock band – but as the compilers of this long-running series know, the phenomenon goes way way back – so much so that there's no need to fuss and fight about any "first", and instead just dive in and enjoy all the wonderful music on the set! Production is nice and lean on most of these cuts – no added strings or orchestral sweetening – and these groups work in territory that's got all the raw power of any of the male groups to be tagged with the "garage" label over the years. Three tracks on the set are previously unreleased, the package has superb notes on the material, and titles include "Pink Dominos" by Chiyo & the Crescents, "I Don't Know Why" by The Wrong Black Bag, "Ask Me" by Debbie Williams & The Unwritten Law, "Dimples" by The Misfits, "Melvin" by The Belles, "Stardust Come Back" by Girls Take Over, "Really Gonna Shake" by Sandra Barry & The Boys, "Skinny Minnie" by The Beat Chics, and "Never Till Now" by The Bootles. CD

An amazing tribute to one of the best soul songwriters in the 70s – the mighty Phillip Mitchell, a key force in mixing together deep soul roots with more sophisticated styles for the time! Mitchell's got this mighty positive way of putting over a tune – lyrics that still hold onto the emotion of the past, yet also come through things with a forward-thinking style too – one that really helps get past obvious cliches, and which always seems to make a Mitchell-penned track stand out as the real gem on an album of 70s soul! Many of the artists here are from a southern soul background – no surprise, as Mitchell made most of his magic south of the Mason/Dixon line – and the set really brings together a great number of artists, and really shows the deep reach that Mitchell had at the time. Titles include "Hitch Hiking To Heartbreak Road" by Bobo Mr Soul, "Something New To Do" by Bobby Sheen, "Carry Me" by Ernie Shelby, "I Don't Do This" by Sidney Joe Qualls, "Free For All" by Mel & Tim, "Come Through Me" by Garland Green, "Here I Am Again" by Candi Staton, "You Made Me What I Am" by Erma Coffee, "Gonna Have A Murder On Your Hands" by JJ Williams, "Archie's In Love" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "Leftovers" by Millie Jackson, "How Can I Go On Without You" by Corey Blake, and "That's The Way I Wanna Live My Life" by Tommie Lee. CD

A crucial European performance by Albert Ayler in the mid 60s – one that wasn't issued until many years after the recording, but which has become one of the sharpest pictures of his genius at the time! The vibe here is different than the Ayler albums for ESP – still very much in the same territory, but with this approach that's really reaching out with a deeply spiritual consciousness – an energy to embrace the whole history of jazz, both very old and very new – and re-form its entire ideology into a richly personal expression. Ayler's tremendous on tenor, but Don Ayler is often equally great on trumpet – and the unusual group features Michel Samson on violin, William Fowell on bass, and Beaver Harris on drums. Titles include really unique readings of "Bells", "Prophet", "Our Prayer/Spirits Rejoice", "Ghosts", "Truth Is Marching In", and "Spiritual Rebirth/Light In Darkness/Infinite Spirit". CD

Important 70s work from Don Cherry – one of the first albums to bring his overseas experiments to a larger US audience! The set builds nicely off of styles that Don forged earlier in France and Scandinavia – a freer style of music than his work with Ornette Coleman, and a richly organic groove that builds up strongly from the bottom, often with elements of world music settled in alongside the jazz – but there's also some funkier moments here too, a bit like the Brown Rice album, but looser overall! The groups on most numbers are relatively large and spiritual – almost like Alice Coltrane at times, but a bit more electric and funky at others – and players include Collin Walcott on sitar, Michael Brecker on saxes, Cliff Carter on keyboards, Lenny White and Tony Williams on drums, Lois Colin on harp, and Raphael Cruz on percussion. Cherry himself plays conch shells, bells, and flute in addition to his usual trumpet – and he even sings a bit on a few numbers, in a soulful, scatting sort of groove. Narada Michael Walden produced, and the whole set's got a very righteous feel – with tracks that include "Universal Mother", "Buddah's Blues", "Eagle Eye", "Mahakali", "Karmapa Chenno", "Surrender Rose", and "Journey Of Milarepa". LP, Vinyl record album

Miles Davis' first-ever performance in Japan – a really unique concert that featured the quintet with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams – augmented by a young Sam Rivers on tenor! The presence of Rivers really gives the set an edge – and although Miles is holding Sam a bit more in check than on some of his "new thing" albums from the time, there's an overall quality here that's different than the other Davis quintet albums of the time. The set was one of a number of important Miles Davis live sessions from the period – including albums from Berlin, Antibes, and Chicago – and titles include "If I Were A Bell", "My Funny Valentine", "So What", "Walkin'" and "All Of You". CD

Vocalist Fay Victor joins the wonderful group Other Dimensions In Music – for a performance that really helps deepen the sound and knock the whole thing out of the park! Make no mistake, we already love the instrumental side of the group – Roy Campbell on trumpets and other instruments, Daniel Carter on saxes and flute, William Parker on bass, and Charles Downs on drums and percussion – all shifting instruments, and working together in a mode that's very strongly in a legacy that runs from the AACM through the loft jazz generation! But the presence of Victor's voice really adds a whole new layer – contributions from various texts, which are spoken and sung, but in ways that are as unconventional as the music that Campbell and Carter make on their horns. Titles include "An Open Letter", "We Is We Trini", "Saltfish Refried", "Three Friends Advised", "Kitch Goes Home", and "John Gilman Wants Tobacco". CD

A massive fourth volume to this totally great series – and quite honestly, maybe the funkiest so far! Compiler Tobias Kirmayer really knows his stuff – after years of recording and reissuing great music on his own Tramp label – and if anything, his time in the funky underground has only given him a sharper ear for rare singles and lost soulful nuggets – as you'll hear in this wonderful compilation! The set's overflowing with killers from the late 60s and early 70s – and most of them are numbers we've never seen reissued before – quite a feat, given how many funk collections have shown up over the years. Snowboy bills the set as a "high-quality collection of obscenely rare" funk and soul 45s – and he's totally right about all of that – although we'll also add that musically, it's pretty darn great too! Titles include "Sticks & Stones" by Dino & The Dell-Tones, "Shakers & Movers (parts 1 & 2)" by Carl Westmoreland, "Talk About Soul" by Rudy Tee & The Reno-Bops, "Discotheque Soul (edit)" by Ricky Williams, "Hey Rugh Nut" by Zodiacs, "Hipster" by C Forture & J Brinson, "I Don't Think We Are Going Back Again" by Soul Brothers Inc, "Machine Gun" by Odyssey Group, "Night Club" by The Dave Harris Trio, "Honky Games" by Iris Bell with the Jive-Ettes, and "Booty Whip (unreleased acetate version)" by Bro Byron. CD

A pretty amazing collection of rare work from the Native American underground – not the late 60s/early 70s records that tried to cash in on growing pride for the Native American scene, but obscure Canadian sides that represent a rich array of sounds we've never heard before! The styles here are great – and run from folksy to trippy to surprisingly tuneful – and although the music spans a 20 year space, there's a really solid early 70s approach overall – with production that's never too slick, and a real sense of respect for the singer/songwriters who make the package so great. The whole thing's as much a book as it is a musical collection – as the notes are hugely expansive, over 120 pages with the CD set – and answer a huge amount of questions, and fill in a lot of background detail too. The set features 34 titles in all – with work by names we'd never heard before – Willie Dunn, Sugluck, Willie Thrasher, Lawrence Martin, William Tagoona, Sikmiut, Saddle Lake Drifting Cowboys, Morley Loon, Peter Frank, David Campbell, and others. CD

Features Russell Gunn on trumpet, flugelhorn, organ bass, and beatbox – plus Gregory Tardy and Bruce Williams on reeds, Andre Heyward on trombone, James Hurt on piano and organ, Rodney Jordan on bass, Woody Williams on drums, Khalil Kwame Bell on percussion, and DJ Apollo on turntables. CD

Rare small group work from the great Johnny Hodges – an unissued live set from the start of the 60s, and one that has Johnny working with key Ellington sidemen in a very Ellington-like setting! Solo Hodges could usually take one of two forms – more soulful small group material that has less of the arrangements of his longtime leader, the Duke – and more Ellington-based performances, of which this set is definitely one – as Hodges leads a hip combo with Ray Nance on trumpet, Lawrence Brown on trombone, Harry Carney on baritone, Al Williams on piano, Aaron Bell on bass, and Sam Woodyard on drums. Tunes are almost all numbers by Ellington or Billy Strayhorn, but done in a nice lean style, with key solo performances throughout – and titles include "Rocking In Rhythm", "Jeep Is Jumpin", "Things Ain't What They Used To Be", "Sophisticated Lady", "Mood Indigo", and "Solitude" – plus "Good Queen Bess", "Perdido", and "Autumn Leaves". The sound quality is great – very clear, with a nicely crisp tone on the horn parts, especially Hodges and Carney! CD

An amazing tribute to one of the best soul songwriters in the 70s – the mighty Phillip Mitchell, a key force in mixing together deep soul roots with more sophisticated styles for the time! Mitchell's got this mighty positive way of putting over a tune – lyrics that still hold onto the emotion of the past, yet also come through things with a forward-thinking style too – one that really helps get past obvious cliches, and which always seems to make a Mitchell-penned track stand out as the real gem on an album of 70s soul! Many of the artists here are from a southern soul background – no surprise, as Mitchell made most of his magic south of the Mason/Dixon line – and the set really brings together a great number of artists, and really shows the deep reach that Mitchell had at the time. Titles include "Hitch Hiking To Heartbreak Road" by Bobo Mr Soul, "Something New To Do" by Bobby Sheen, "Carry Me" by Ernie Shelby, "I Don't Do This" by Sidney Joe Qualls, "Free For All" by Mel & Tim, "Come Through Me" by Garland Green, "Here I Am Again" by Candi Staton, "You Made Me What I Am" by Erma Coffee, "Gonna Have A Murder On Your Hands" by JJ Williams, "Archie's In Love" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "Leftovers" by Millie Jackson, "How Can I Go On Without You" by Corey Blake, and "That's The Way I Wanna Live My Life" by Tommie Lee. CD

A treasure trove of soul from LA's mighty Money Records – home to some of the best indie singles on the west coast at the end of the 60s! The work here really runs the gamut of hip styles from the time – and includes group soul, Northern groovers, and even a bit of funk too – packaged together beautifully by the folks at Kent Records, who make this third volume sparkle every bit as strongly as other volumes in their Money Records series! There's an equal mix of male and female singers on the set, and the package features not only rare 45s on Money and related labels, but also a few unissued cuts as well – making the whole thing essential to own, even if you've got a pile of rare Money singles at home. Titles include "Girl You're So Fine" by Bobby Angelle, "Give Back Your Lovin" by Don Trotter, "The Skate" by The Larks, "If She Wants To Go" by Choice Of Colors, "I'll Give My Love To You" by Eric Williams, "You Got Me Dizzy" by Bobby Angelle, "Don't Take My Mind" by Bettye Swann, "Put Your Weight On It (part 2)" by Filmore Street Soul Rebellions, "Doin The Thing" by Question Marks, "Open Up Your Eyes" by The M&Ms & The Peanuts, "Why'd You Put Me On" by Bobbi Row & The Englishmen, "Sad & Blue" by The Mysteries, "Speak To Me In Your Soulful Way" by Hank Jacobs & The TKOs, and even "Hard Times Are Coming" by an Unknown Duo! CD

A fantastic program of live recordings – all captured at the Museum Of Contemporary Art in Chicago – as part of their 50th Anniversary tribute to the AACM! Roscoe Mitchell works here in a very unusual format – with four different trios, each heard separately – then grouped together in different ways on larger recordings that feature all members in varied formation! The trios feature James Fei on reeds and electronics with William Winant on percussion and vibes; Hugh Ragin on trumpet withTyshawn Sorey on trombone, piano, and percussion; Craig Taborn on piano, organ, and electronics with Kikanju Baku on drums and percussion; and Jribu Shahid on bass and percussion with Tani Tabball on drums and percussion. Mitchell plays a range of reeds and percussion – and some of the percussion used is from the collection of various Art Ensemble Members, being exhibited by the museum. The performances are great – and not only is Mitchell still at the height of his improvisational powers, but he's also got the other musicians working in a spirit that really lives up to the tradition of the AACM! CD

A great album from trumpeter Roy Campbell and his Pyramid Trio – aka William Parker and Hamid Drake! Tracks include "Tazz's Dilema", "Malcolm, Martin And Mandela", "Imhotep", 'Impressions Of Yokahama", "Ethnic Stew And Brew", "Heavenly Ascending" and "Amadou Diallo". CD

Players include William Parker on bass, Zane Massey on tenor, and Zen Matsuura on drums. CD

A wonderful title for this album of understated brilliance – a strong early 90s offering from Walton's Eastern Rebellion group, done in a mode that's very similar to their initial Timeless recordings of the 70s! The quartet this time around features Walton's piano alongside the drums of co-founder Billy Higgins – plus bass by David Williams, and tenor by Ralph Moore, fresh off of some excellent work as a leader for the Landmark label in the late 80s. The tracks are all long and inventive – soulbop at its best, with titles that include "Roni's Decision", "In The Kitchen", "Dear Ruth", "Simple Pleasure", and "Sixth Avenue". CD

Danny Cobb is one of those singers who never fully got their due – in part because his work was recorded over a number of different labels in the post war year, and also because he usually acted as a vocalist for a bigger name leader – as in most of the tracks on the set, which feature Danny singing with groups led by Lucky Thompson, Paul Williams, and Arnett Cobb! Yet Cobb's got a fantastic presence of his own – one that really unifies the work here, which is culled from sessions done for labels that include Savoy, Acorn, Deluxe, Jubilee, and Vee Jay – great material with Danny's blues-tinged vocals in a mix of jazzy and R&B-styled settings – on titles that include "A Brand New Deal", "Ay Lah Bay", "Someday Baby", "I Need Your Love", "I'm So Happy", "I'll Never Take My Love From You", "Rockaway Blues", and "Don't Mess With My Woman". CD

A great live set from Cedar Walton's Eastern Rebellion group – still held down by the core team of Walton and drummer Billy Higgins, and featuring some great tenor work from Ralph Moore, plus bass by David Williams. Moore's presence is always a welcome thing on any session – and the longer live tracks on this session really let him stretch out with the kind of imaginative blowing we've always come to expect in his work. The titles are mostly familiar, but the setting is fresh, and titles include "Something In Common", "A Child Is Born", "Seven Minds", "Django", and "Jacob's Ladder". CD

Spiritual genius from trumpeter Roy Campbell – a player who was too often trapped in the underground during this point in his career – even though he plays with a majesty that demands to be heard! There's a power here that's undeniable – as Campbell works in beautifully triangulated formation with bassist William Parker, and drummer Zen Matsuura – who also handles a range of percussion with a care for sound that takes us back to early experiments from the AACM. Each number offers up a different sort of statement of righteousness – and titles include "Brother Yusef", "Camel Caravan", "Song For Alan", "Ancestral Homeland", and "The Positive Path". CD

The incredible debut of Phil Ochs – easily one of the most powerful folk albums of the 60s, and a set that wears its politics on its sleeve like few other records! In an era when many folkies worked a social agenda with sly jokes and twee metaphors, Ochs went straight for the jugular and took his topics head on – singing directly about the topics with a voice nearly shaking in anger, and working here with jagged guitar accompaniment that only further underscores the mood of the tunes. There's a rawness here that beats even Dylan's most political moments from the early albums, and the simple brilliance of the set makes it as powerful today as it was upon its release over 40 years ago. Titles include "Talking Vietnam", "One More Parade", "Automation Song", "Talking Cuban Crisis", "What's That I Hear", "Bound For Glory", "The Bells", and "Ballad Of William Worthy". LP, Vinyl record album

A very unusual set for pianist Cedar Walton – one that has him working with vocalist Abbey Lincoln, in a session that marks a high point for both of them at the time! Cedar's group on the set is in a very Eastern Rebellion mode – with Bob Berg on tenor, Billy Higgins on drums, and David Williams on bass – and Abbey joins the group on four of the album's eight tracks – the best of which are original numbers that feature a freshly inventive vocal style that really makes the album something special. Abbey sings some great lyrics to her originals "Castles" and "Not In Love" – as well as Cedar's excellent "The Maestro", a tune dedicated to the late Ellington. And the band grooves nicely on versions of Jobim's "Sabia", plus "Blue Monk" and "On The Trail". CD

A fantastic tribute to the legendary Disco Spectrum series of compilations – a run of records that first burst forth at the end of the 90s, and showed the world that there was a huge amount of underground music to discover from the mainstream disco years! Disco Spectrum cuts aren't the ones you'll know from Saturday Night Fever – or from K-Tel compilations of the time – and instead, they represent the much deeper current of groove that was still burning bright away from the limelight, even while the more commercial disco crumbled into dust – music that was sometimes cut by artists who disappeared quickly, sometimes by older masters, and sometimes by talents who never fully got the respect they deserved. Both Joey Negro and Sean P have given us some great sets before, but this one is right at the top of their talents – filled with gems that include "Let Me Down Easy" by Rare Pleasure, "Spread Love" by Al Hudson & The Soul Partners, "Can't Shake Your Love (Larry Levan 12" mix)" by Syreeta, "Trinidad (special disco mix)" by John Gibbs & US Steel Orchestra, "Isabelle & The Rain" by Jo Boyer, "Don't Let My Rainbow Pass Me By (club 12" mix)" by Cloud One with Margo Williams, "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This" by Idris Muhammad, "I Don't Want You Back" by Ramona Brooks, "Hot To Trot" by Alfredo De La Fe, "Out Of My Hands" by Omni, "Under The Skin" by The Brothers, "Let Me Love You" by Bunny Mack, "Can You Get Down" by Universe City, and "I Want You For Myself" by George Duke with Lynn Davis. CD

A great little set of rare soul music – served up by the Cairo imprint of Mississippi Records – and done with a very similar approach to their other reissues of folk, blues, and world music! The set focuses in on rootsier sounds, especially from the 60s – with lots of deep soul gems from both big names and some more obscure artists – all packaged with a detailed booklet of notes, in the best Mississippi style! The style is almost as if Folkway Records put together their own soul collection, but with work from other labels – and titles include "In My Heart" by Barbara & The Browns, "Tired Of Being Your Fool" by Nelson Sanders, "It's Not That Easy" by Reuben Bell & The Casanovas, "Since You've Been Gone" by The Falcons, "Can't Stay Away (parts 1 & 2)" by Slim & Ann, "Don't Ever Leave Me" by Bob & Earl, "Go Now" by Bessie Banks, "I Keep Forgetting You Don't Love Me No More" by The Thornton Sisters, "Don't Mistreat Me" by The Queenettes, "Let Me Down Easy" by Betta LaVette, "Life Is Too Short" by Benny Spellman, "Lament" by Mamie Perry, "I'm Missing You" by Loretta Williams, and "Everybody Knows" by OV Wright. LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Texas Alexander, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Cannon's Jug Stompers, Robert Johnson, Speckled Red, Victoria Spivey, Leadbelly, Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Boy Williamson, Brownie McGhee, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Elmore James. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Dorothy Moore, Mica Paris & Will Downing, Patti Austin & James Ingram, Phyllis Nelson, Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson, Patti LaBelle, Vanessa Williams, Joyce Sims, Shirley Brown, Millie Jackson, and more - twenty tracks in all. CD

An unusual piano-less quintet led by Howard Alden on guitar and Dan Barrett on trombone – with Chuck Wilson on alto sax and clarinet, Frank Tate on bass, and Jackie Williams on drums. CD

A vintage performance from the Verve years – featuring a small group with Lawrence Brown on trombone, Harry Carney on baritone, Ray Nance on cornet, violin, and vocal, Sam Woodyard on drums, Aaron Bell on bass, and Al Williams on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous double-length set by this hip group of legendary players – a quartet lineup that features trumpeter Roy Campbell, reedman Daniel Carter, bassist William Parker, and drummer Hamid Drake – all working together in sounds that definitely reach some other dimensions in music! The format is very loose and open-ended – perfect for the loft jazz-styled improvisations from the combo – working here in a very friendly, supportive setting in front of a Parisian audience – who clearly inspire the musicians to new heights. Some tracks are quite long, but stand as bold statements throughout – and others are a bit shorter, and nicely compact. Titles include "Other Dimensional Space Travelers Hip Bop", "Blues Configuration", "Slam Me Down", "Blues For Baghdad", "Desert Dance", "Suite For Miles Davis", and "James Brown Ascension". CD

Trumpet player Christian Scott really steps into his own realm of excellence on Yesterday You Said Tomorrow – his best work yet for Concord – a nice mix of moods ranging from sweeter melodic modernism with a rawish, but tight underbelly to heavier, more searing sounds! Here Scott is masterfully blending influences of the 60s heroes with a profoundly modern sensibility, and the players are near perfectly suited to Scott's approach. The material is largely from Scott's pen, but they take on Thom Yorke of Radiohead's "The Eraser" early on in the set, a tune adapted to hypnotic modern jazz sound wonderfully. Players include Matthew Stevens on guitar, Milton Fletcher on piano, Kris Funn on bass and Jamire Williams on drums. Includes the Scott compositions "KKPD", "Isadora", "Angola, LA & The 13th Amendment", "The Last Broken Heart (Prop 8)", "American't" and "An Upending Repentance", Stevens's "After All" and more. CD

Features Shipp on piano, with Roy Campbell on trumpet, William Parker on bass, and Gerald Cleaver on drums! CD

A great summation of all the growth, talent, and creativity that Cedar Walton had hit by the 80s – a record that draws on both his trio work and his larger projects like the Eastern Rebellion quartet – done with a vibe that's somewhere in the best space of both! The group here is a quintet – with old Jazz Messenger-mate Curtis Fuller on trombone and Bob Berg on tenor – as well as the rhythm team of David Williams on bass and Billy Higgins on drums. The range of players, ideas, and voices gives the record a really rich finish – but one that's till quite open and spontaneous, given the live setting of the recording. Titles include "Cedar's Blues", "Over The Rainbow", "Ugetsu", "Fiesta Espanola", and "Insight". LP, Vinyl record album

A very unusual set for pianist Cedar Walton – one that has him working with vocalist Abbey Lincoln, in a session that marks a high point for both of them at the time! Cedar's group on the set is in a very Eastern Rebellion mode – with Bob Berg on tenor, Billy Higgins on drums, and David Williams on bass – and Abbey joins the group on four of the album's eight tracks – the best of which are original numbers that feature a freshly inventive vocal style that really makes the album something special. Abbey sings some great lyrics to her originals "Castles" and "Not In Love" – as well as Cedar's excellent "The Maestro", a tune dedicated to the late Ellington. And the band grooves nicely on versions of Jobim's "Sabia", plus "Blue Monk" and "On The Trail". LP, Vinyl record album

Massive CD set with music from Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Leadbelly, Bessie Smith, Mississippi John Hurt, Lonnie Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Gene Autry, Memphis Minnie, Blind Willie McTell, Charley Patton, Sonny Terry, Big Bill Broonzy, the Mississippi Sheiks, Roy Acuff & his Crazy Tennesseans, Son House & Big Joe Williams. CD

A wide ranging collection from the Folkways label, including folk, blues, and even some jazz. Includes work by Lead Belly, Dave Van Ronk, Peggy Seeger, Mary Lou Williams, Bill Monroe, Lightnin' Hopkins, Lonnie Johnson, and others – 26 tracks total. CD

Kermit Ruffins and Derrick Shezbie on trumpet and vocals, Vincent Broussard on tenor saxophone, Corey Henry, Glen Andrews, Trombone Shorty and Stafford Agee on trombone, Philip Frazier on tuba, David Torkanowsky on Wurlitzer, Reed Watson on cowbell, Keith Frazier on bass drum, Derrick Tabb on snare drum, and Percy Williams on percussion. CD

Notable sidemen include Al Casey, Cedric Wallace, Paul Campbell, Nathaniel Williams, and Al Morgan. LP, Vinyl record album

The Detroit soul scene at the start of the 60s – music from a time before Motown was dominating the city's reputation, and a whole host of other great labels brought the motor city sound to the masses! The work here is quite a surprise if you're only thinking in terms of Northern Soul and some of the more uptempo Detroit groovers – as the work here burns on so many different levels – often with a style that reflects some of the nascent soul coming out of Chicago on labels like Chess and Vee Jay, the latter of whom is featured here amidst a range of other imprints that include Wand, Atlantic, Scepter, Time, Old Town, and Brent – all of whom released some of these early Detroit soul tracks as singles back in the day. In true Ace/Kent fashion, the set also features a few unreleased gems, plus a wonderful set of notes on the city's soul scene – alongside tracks that include "Nosey Folk" by The Del-Phis, "Answer Me" by Vivian Collins, "Can't We Get Together" by Harry Reid, "Here I Am" by Betty Lavette, "Shakin Fit" by The Pyramids, "That's No Way To Spend My Time" by The Pen Ettes, "Wedding Bells" by Melvin Davis, "You Lied" by Marva Josie, "Think A Little Sugar" by Barbara Lewis, "Just One More Time" by JJ Barnes, "My Letter" by Priscilla Page, "I Know How It Feels" by Laura Johnson, "I'm A Lonely Guy" by Timmy Shaw & The Sternphones, "Come Back To Me" by La Wanda William, "I Cried For My Last Time" by The Sonnettes, and "Tears Running & Falling From My Eyes" by James Lately. CD