A lovely record from Woody Shaw – one of his excellent and understated sides from the early 80s, recorded with a quartet that includes Cedar Walton on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Victor Jones on drums. The tunes are mostly standards, but they're handled with a soulful depth that really takes them to the next level – and the album's got a great original called "Spiderman Blues", plus versions of "There Is No Greater Love", "All The Way", and "What's New". LP, Vinyl record album

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A real gem from Woody Shaw's greatest period – a very hip sextet session, recorded with Hayes, Cook, Shaw, and a rhythm section that includes Ronnie Matthews on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Guilhermo Franco on percussion. Tracks are long, and stretch out in that searching, modal style that Shaw was using a lot at the time – and although the Hayes/Cook team are listed as the leaders on the set, the record clearly owes a lot to Shaw's influence and style. Titles include "Ichi Ban", "Book's Bossa", "Brothers & Sisters", and a great take on "Moontrane". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning extended set from the great Woody Shaw – a majestic, spiritual album that almost feels more like something that you'd hear on the Strata East label than you might expect from the more straight ahead Contemporary Records imprint! The lineup is as majestic as the music – and Woody's trumpet is joined by alto and soprano sax from Gary Bartz, electric piano from Geroge Cables, tenor and flute from Benny Maupin, bass from Clint Houston, and drums from Lenny White – all very hip players who really help the record soar! If you dig the early work of Gary Bartz, or some of Shaw's more soul jazz outings of the early 70s – you'll definitely dig this one – and the double-length nature of the record gives all players plenty of room to do their thing! All the tracks are long, and the set list includes "Deed For Dolphy", "Boo Ann's Grand", and "New World". CD

Some of the best work ever from legendary trumpeter Woody Shaw – and honestly, a batch of music that may well be one of the best runs at a label by any jazz musician, period! Woody first came on the scene as a sharp talent from the east coast in the 60s – playing with a drive and fire that really set a whole new tone for the trumpet – one different from predecessors like Miles Davis, Lee Morgan, or Freddie Hubbard. And although he was already great on records for Blue Note and other labels, he really exploded as a leader with these sides for Muse – stretching forth with dynamic energy and boundless imagination – sometimes in a setting that was as spiritual as work on Strata East, sometimes in a straighter mode that put Shaw right up there with the best trumpeters of decades past. This Muse Records work has always been scattered and spotty on the reissue market, but is finally collected together here in one place – a stunning set of albums that includes The Moontrane, Love Dance, Little Red's Fantasy, Concert Ensemble At The Berliner Jazztage, In The Beginning, Iron Men, Setting Standards, Solid, and Imagination. The set features all tracks from these sessions – including bonus material not on the original LPs – plus very detailed notes and information, in the true Mosaic Records fashion! CD

A late date for Woody Shaw, but a great one too – a bit more straightforward than some of his more righteous albums of the 70s, but still proof that Shaw is easily one of the greatest trumpeters of his generation! The album's got a laidback sort of feel, and features a fair bit of familiar standards – but Woody and the group do plenty to transform them, especially on the solo spots. Shaw's leading a quintet here – with Steve Turre on trombone, Kirk Lightsey on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Carl Allen on drums – and titles include "Steve's Blues", "Dat Dere", "Imagination", "If I Were A Bell", "You & The Night & The Music", and "Stormy Weather". CD

A late date for Woody Shaw, but a great one too – a bit more straightforward than some of his more righteous albums of the 70s, but still proof that Shaw is easily one of the greatest trumpeters of his generation! The album's got a laidback sort of feel, and features a fair bit of familiar standards – but Woody and the group do plenty to transform them, especially on the solo spots. Shaw's leading a quintet here – with Steve Turre on trombone, Kirk Lightsey on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Carl Allen on drums – and titles include "Steve's Blues", "Dat Dere", "Imagination", "If I Were A Bell", "You & The Night & The Music", and "Stormy Weather". CD

2 of Woody Shaw's greatest albums – recorded 10 years apart, and forming a fantastic CD collection! Cassandranite features fantastic early work by Woody Shaw – an album originally recorded in 1965, when Shaw was part of a core soul jazz underground that was slowly forming an answer to the "new thing" movement of the mid 60s. The session was self-produced – and not only features some killer playing by Shaw, but contains a number of other wonderful touches. Larry Young plays piano (not organ) on two tracks; Herbie Hancock is on another 3; George Cables plays electric on the last track, which also includes Harold Vick; Joe Henderson plays tenor throughout; and the great Joe Chambers is on drums. The set is filled with fantastic modal originals, all along the lines of Shaw's "Moontrane" composition – and titles include "Baloo Baloo", "Three Muses", "Tetragon", and "Cassandranite". Love Dance is equally great – spiritual, soulful, and filled with some nice modal grooving! The group's one of the best he ever worked with on Muse – with Billy Harper on tenor, plus Rene McLean, Steve Turre, Joe Bonner, and Cecil McBee – and the approach reminds us of some of the work on Strata East from the same time. The highlight of the record is the cut "Sunbath", which was done in a more famous jazz dance version by singer Joyce Hurley – but Shaw's version has a very similar groove. Harper makes many of the other tracks shine brilliantly, and titles include "Love Dance", "Obsequious", and Harper's own beautiful composition "Soulfully I Love You". CD

A bold early statement from trumpeter Woody Shaw – a key album that showcases the genius that was blossoming in his best 70s work! The set features Woody working with a soulful group of west coast players from the LA scene – including Bennie Maupin, Ramon Morris, George Cables, Henry Franklin, and the legendary Fats Theus, who we mostly know from his funky album! The tracks are long and flowing – very much in the best Shaw writing style of the time – a mode that's clearly inspired by the freedoms of the post-Coltrane generation, but which never over-indulges in them – and always keeps its searching energy focused. George Cables plays some great electric piano on the sublime "Love For The One You Can't Have" – and other tracks include "The Awakening", "Song Of Songs", and "The Goat & The Archer". CD

The time is always right for Woody Shaw – as just about every album from the trumpeter's a gem, and this set's no exception to that rule! The set's an overlooked live date from the early 80s – one that features four long songs, just the sort of extended numbers that demonstrate Woody's wonderful talents on the trumpet – that soulful, soaring, exploratory style that really transformed the use of the instrument during Shaw's all-too-short time on this planet. The rhythm section is great – with Mulgrew Miller on long spiraling piano lines, Stafford James on bass, and Tony Reedus on drums – and Steve Turre's also in the group, blowing both trombone and that unique shell of his. Titles include "From Moment To Moment", "Time Is Right", "We'll Be Together Again", and "You & The Night & The Music". CD

The time is always right for Woody Shaw – as just about every album from the trumpeter's a gem, and this set's no exception to that rule! The set's an overlooked live date from the early 80s – one that features four long songs, just the sort of extended numbers that demonstrate Woody's wonderful talents on the trumpet – that soulful, soaring, exploratory style that really transformed the use of the instrument during Shaw's all-too-short time on this planet. The rhythm section is great – with Mulgrew Miller on long spiraling piano lines, Stafford James on bass, and Tony Reedus on drums – and Steve Turre's also in the group, blowing both trombone and that unique shell of his. Titles include "From Moment To Moment", "Time Is Right", "We'll Be Together Again", and "You & The Night & The Music". CD

A fantastic gift from the gods – a lost live performance from one of our favorite trumpeters of all-time – and a set that has him really stretching out in all of his genius! Woody Shaw is really at the peak here – working in that soaring, spiritual mode that he virtually helped invent during the 70s – and which he carried with a strong torch still burning way into the 80s, at a time when some of his contemporaries had maybe lost their path a bit. Here, Woody soars to the skies on waves of soul – working with a wonderful group that includes Steve Turre on trombone, Mulgrew Miller on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Tony Reedus on drums – all players that really seem to be their best when working with Shaw! The rich basslines of James are always a key part of some of our favorite records by Woody, and they're equally great here – on titles that include "Rosewood", "Apex", "From Moment To Moment", "Theme For Maxine", and "Song Of Songs". Also features a bonus track – "Sweet Love Of Mine" – recorded in 1985 by the Paris Reunion Band. CD

2 CD set that brings together 2 long out of print Muse albums by the late soulful trumpeter Woody Shaw. Both records are great, and are a very nice blend of Shaw's modernist side and soul jazz roots. Players include Ronnie Matthews, Cecil McBee, Frank Foster, Muhal Richard Abrams, Louis Hayes, and Slide Hampton – and titles include "Iron Man", "Symmetry", "Diversion Two", "In The Land of The Black", "Hello To The Wind", and "Obsequious". CD

Damn wonderful work from Woody Shaw – a sublime set for Columbia Records, and one that's head and shoulders above most major label jazz of its generation! Woody's still in his most soulful modes here – the soaring, spiritual, joyous tones we always love in his Muse Records work from a few years before – delivered here with a tightness and vision that even goes beyond those records – thanks to help from Mulgrew Miller on piano, Gary Bartz on alto sax, Steve Turre on trombone, Stafford James on bass, and Tony Reedus on drums. As with most of Shaw's best records, this is truly a great group effort – from the bold tones of Turre, to the soul-drenched pulsations of James, to the highly rhythmic modes from Miller's piano – all fused together perfectly under Woody's magical vision as a leader, and set fire on tunes that include "United", "Katrina Ballerina", "Pressing The Issue", and "The Greene Street Caper", and "Blues For Wood". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked moment of genius from Canadian bassist Neil Swainson – maybe the only album of his we've seen as a leader, and a tremendous showcase for the talents of Joe Henderson on tenor and Woody Shaw on trumpet! The album's a beautiful burner – filled with original songs by Neil, and handled by the group with some of the soulful flow you'd find on the best Woody Shaw albums for Muse Records in the 70s – a mode that's very much out of time, especially as the whole thing was issued on the Concord label, which isn't usually such a strong showcase for material as soulful and expressive as this! The rest of the combo features Jerry Fuller on drums and Gary Williamson on piano – and titles include "Don't Hurt Yourself", "49th Parallel", "Port Of Spain", "On The Lam", "Labyrinth", and "Southern Exposure". CD

An overlooked moment of genius from Canadian bassist Neil Swainson – maybe the only album of his we've seen as a leader, and a tremendous showcase for the talents of Joe Henderson on tenor and Woody Shaw on trumpet! The album's a beautiful burner – filled with original songs by Neil, and handled by the group with some of the soulful flow you'd find on the best Woody Shaw albums for Muse Records in the 70s – a mode that's very much out of time, especially as the whole thing was issued on the Concord label, which isn't usually such a strong showcase for material as soulful and expressive as this! The rest of the combo features Jerry Fuller on drums and Gary Williamson on piano – and titles include "Don't Hurt Yourself", "49th Parallel", "Port Of Spain", "On The Lam", "Labyrinth", and "Southern Exposure". CD

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Includes: This Land Is Your Land, Pretty Boy Floyd, Phildelphia Lawyer and more! 21 tracks total. CD

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A real gem from Woody Shaw's greatest period – a very hip sextet session, recorded with Hayes, Cook, Shaw, and a rhythm section that includes Ronnie Matthews on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Guilhermo Franco on percussion. Tracks are long, and stretch out in that searching, modal style that Shaw was using a lot at the time – and although the Hayes/Cook team are listed as the leaders on the set, the record clearly owes a lot to Shaw's influence and style. A wonderful record that we just don't turn up often enough! Titles include "Ichi Ban", "Book's Bossa", "Pannonica", "Brothers & Sisters", and a great take on "Moontrane". CD

Excellent stuff – a record that we love it to death, and listen to all the time! Woody Herman's band meets the soulful arrangements of Richard Evans, and the whole thing cooks nicely in the Chess studios in Chicago. The result is a tasty blend of soulful big band tracks, with a strident groove that Woody never duplicated, and with the kind of baroque arrangements that Evans was bringing to some of the best soul work on Cadet at the time. Donny Hathaway plays organ, and the group does a killer version of his own "Flying Easy". Other titles include "The Hut", "Sex Machine", and "It's Your Thing" – but it's all great! LP, Vinyl record album

Notable sidemen include Shorty Rogers, Stan Getz, and Terry Gibbs – plus vocals by Marry Anne McCall. CD

Funky Woody from the 70s – an excellent and overlooked album, one that has Woody leading a great group with a fair bit of electric players, in a funky big band style that sparkles with the best of the genre! The group's filled with younger unknown players – but from the sound of the record, you can tell that these kids had been listening to a lot of funk – and had a great ear for mixing electric rhythms with cutting solos on tenor, trumpet, and funky flute. Includes a great version of Chick Corea's "Spain", plus the tracks "Lake Taco", "King Cobra", "Toothless Grin", "Jazzman", and "Don't You Worry Bout A Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

Great work from Woody – not as funky as some of his other 70s albums, but still a really excellent album with a much better sound than you'd expect! The group's filled with young hip players – most of whom we don't know, but who play with a lot of soul – and even Woody's pretty darn great, playing alto and soprano sax with much more of an edge than in earlier years. Inlcudes a funky remake of "Corazon", plus the tracks "Naima", "Lazy Bird", "America Drinks & Goes Home", "Blues For Poland", and "Bass Folk Song". Nice electric piano work too! LP, Vinyl record album

Tremendous trumpets from Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw – a real standout from the mid 80s revival years of Blue Note – and a perfect setting for both players! The tracks are long, but tight too – with just the right balance of solo voices from Hubbard and Shaw – and excellent additional work on alto and flute from a young Kenny Garrett! The rhythms have a fluid feel that are especially great for Hubbard's approach – and are handled by Mulgrew Miller on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Carl Allen on drums. Titles include "Desert Moonlight", "Lotus Blossum", "Hub-Tones", "Lament For Booker", and "Boperation". CD

Two of our favorite trumpet players of all time team up with a group of then-young lions for a late 80s session of killer material – definitely one of the best Blue Note new recordings of the time! Kenny Garrett, Mulgrew Miller, Ray Drummond and Carl Allen join Freddie and Woody for one of Woody's last dates, and the playing is filled with fire from the get go. Shaw's complex modern approach plays nicely off of Hubbard's soulful style . Six tunes: "Down Under", "The Eternal Triangle", "The Moontrane", "Calling Miss Khadija", "Nostrand & Fulton" and "Tommorrow's Destiny". CD

The second set from this wonderful Kenny Clarke tribute group – a combo with a stunning lineup that includes Woody Shaw and Nat Adderley on trumpets, Joe Henderson and Nathan Davis on tenors, Grachan Moncur on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums! The tunes are mostly originals by the group members, done in the boppish mode of Clarke's classic years –but which also feature many of the soul jazz inflections of the players involved – on titles that include "For Klook" "Work Song", "The Man From Potter's Crossing", "Locksley", and "Jamaican Hot Nights". CD

A stunning extended set from the great Woody Shaw – a majestic, spiritual album that almost feels more like something that you'd hear on the Strata East label than you might expect from the more straight ahead Contemporary Records imprint! The lineup is as majestic as the music – and Woody's trumpet is joined by alto and soprano sax from Gary Bartz, electric piano from Geroge Cables, tenor and flute from Benny Maupin, bass from Clint Houston, and drums from Lenny White – all very hip players who really help the record soar! If you dig the early work of Gary Bartz, or some of Shaw's more soul jazz outings of the early 70s – you'll definitely dig this one – and the double-length nature of the record gives all players plenty of room to do their thing! All the tracks are long, and the set list includes "Deed For Dolphy", "Boo Ann's Grand", and "New World". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the hippest jazz recorded for a major label in the 70s – sublime spiritual jazz sides from the great Woody Shaw! Features the full albums Rosewood, Woody III, For Sure, and United. CD

2 CD set that brings together a huge amount of the best tracks cut by trumpeter Woody Shaw during the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The selection is excellent, and the material is culled from Muse records like The Iron Men, Imagination, Solid, and Cassandrite – plus a few Blue Note 60s sessions. There's a number of great cuts that feature Shaw in his youthful edgey period, playing with Herbie Hancock, Larry Young, and Joe Henderson – and there's a lot more that have him laying down mature soulful solos with the likes of Kenny Barron, Kenny Garrett, and Kirk Lightsey. Titles include "Dat Dere", "Spiderman Blues", "Solid", "Obsequious", "Baloo Baloo", "Tetragon", and "Nutville". CD

A late date for Woody Shaw, but a great one too – a bit more straightforward than some of his more righteous albums of the 70s, but still proof that Shaw is easily one of the greatest trumpeters of his generation! The album's got a laidback sort of feel, and features a fair bit of familiar standards – but Woody and the group do plenty to transform them, especially on the solo spots. Shaw's leading a quintet here – with Steve Turre on trombone, Kirk Lightsey on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Carl Allen on drums – and titles include "Steve's Blues", "Dat Dere", "Imagination", "If I Were A Bell", "You & The Night & The Music", and "Stormy Weather". LP, Vinyl record album

A great later date from Woody Shaw – fully recorded in the CD generation, which gives the trumpeter even more room to stretch out than usual! The tracks are perfect demonstrations of the way that Shaw can open up and really fill the space of a longer tune – improvising soulful magic at a level that's maybe only matched by Freddie Hubbard during his return to acoustic jazz during the same time. The overall sounds are more inside than some of Woody's albums of the 70s, but no less inspiring – and the group here features Fred Henke on piano, Neil Swainson on bass, and Alex Deutsch on drums – a great rhythm section that hits some warmly flowing rhythms. Titles include "The Dragon", "Joshua C", "In Your Own Sweet Way", "The Organ Grinder", and "Just A Ballad For Woody". CD

A fantastic record – one of Shaw's real landmarks of the 70s, and a lasting testament of soul jazz genius! The record features Shaw working with a group that includes a number of like-minded players – Frank Strozier, Ronnie Matthews, and Stafford James – all of whom fit together perfectly with Shaw to craft some strident tunes with the same sort of modal groove and soulful spiritualism as his work on the Moontrane record. Titles include "Sashianova", which has a great modal groove, "Jean Marie", and "Tomorrow's Destiny" – but the whole album is great together, and we never tire of listening to it! LP, Vinyl record album

We completely love the music of Woody Shaw – but unfortunately, the legendary trumpeter left this planet way too soon, and only gave us about 20 years of recordings! Fortunately, the vaults have yielded some gems like this over the years – unreleased live material that not only adds to the space in Woody's catalog, but also really shows us how special he could be in a live setting! Shaw's got this strength of imagination and inner spirituality that never falters at all, even when the tracks are stretching out nice and long – which they really do here, as almost all the numbers move way past the ten minute mark – and have Woody blowing magnificent solos throughout. The group is great, too, with Mulgrew Miller on piano, Tony Reedus on drums, and Stafford James on some especially crucial bass – an instrument that always seems to drive Shaw onto new heights when it's handled the right way, which it definitely is here. Titles include "Eastern Joy Dance", "Rahssan's Run", "The Organ Grinder", "Pressing The Issue", "Sweet Love Of Mine", "Katrina Ballerina", and "400 Years Ago Tomorrow". CD

We completely love the music of Woody Shaw – but unfortunately, the legendary trumpeter left this planet way too soon, and only gave us about 20 years of recordings! Fortunately, the vaults have yielded some gems like this over the years – unreleased live material that not only adds to the space in Woody's catalog, but also really shows us how special he could be in a live setting! Shaw's got this strength of imagination and inner spirituality that never falters at all, even when the tracks are stretching out nice and long – which they really do here, as almost all the numbers move way past the ten minute mark – and have Woody blowing magnificent solos throughout. The group is great, too, with Mulgrew Miller on piano, Tony Reedus on drums, and Stafford James on some especially crucial bass – an instrument that always seems to drive Shaw onto new heights when it's handled the right way, which it definitely is here. Titles include "Eastern Joy Dance", "Rahssan's Run", "The Organ Grinder", "Pressing The Issue", "Sweet Love Of Mine", "Katrina Ballerina", and "400 Years Ago Tomorrow". CD

A real standout set from the 80s years of trumpeter Woody Shaw – a solidly burning live set that blows away most of his studio work from the time! The album's noteworthy first of all for the presence of Bobby Hutcherson on vibes – whose soulful spiritual approach of the period dovetails nicely with the strongly righteous tone of Shaw's horn – but the rest of the group is great too, and benefits from extremely strong bass work from Stafford James, tight drums from Tony Reedus, spiraling piano lines from Mulgrew Miller, and some bold lines on trombone from a young Steve Turre! Tracks are all quite long – really flowing with an open, soulful sort of energy that really puts Shaw at the top of his power, and almost urges Hutcherson onto new heights in the process. Titles include "To Kill A Brick", "Apex", "Orange Crescent", and "All The Things You Are". LP, Vinyl record album

A lovely record from Woody Shaw – one of his excellent and understated sides from the early 80s, recorded with a quartet that includes Cedar Walton on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Victor Jones on drums. The tunes are mostly standards, but they're handled with a soulful depth that really takes them to the next level – and the album's got a great original called "Spiderman Blues", plus versions of "There Is No Greater Love", "All The Way", and "What's New". CD

One of Woody's last albums – a back to basics set, recorded with a group that include Kenny Garrett on alto sax, Kenny Barron on piano, and guest guitar work on one track by Peter Leitch. The approach is straight modal hardbop – in the spirit of Woody's first recordings for Muse – and although his genius seems to have faltered a bit, his work here is still incredibly solid, much more so than most other trumpeters of his generation, and still expressed in a preference for easily grooving longer tracks. Titles include "Speak Low", "Solid", "There Will Never Be Another You", "It Might As Well Be Spring", and "The Woody Woodpecker Song". CD

One of Woody's last albums – a back to basics set, recorded with a group that include Kenny Garret on alto sax, Kenny Barron on piano, and guest guitar work on one track by Peter Leitch. The approach is straight modal hardbop – in the spirit of Woody's first recordings for Muse – and although his genius seems to have faltered a bit, his work here is still incredibly solid, much more so than most other trumpeters of his generation, and still expressed in a preference for easily grooving longer tracks. Titles include "Speak Low", "Solid", "There Will Never Be Another You", "It Might As Well Be Spring", and "The Woody Woodpecker Song". CD

Soulful brilliance from Woody Shaw – a searing live set that matches the power of earlier classics like Moontrane and Blackstone Legacy! The album's got Woody working with a heck of a great group – Carter Jefferson on tenor and soprano sax, Onaje Allan Gumbs on piano, Clint Houston on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums – all of whom come together with just the right mix of earthy grooving and spiritual searching that puts Woody in his best light. Jefferson is especially great – as it's his soaring work on reeds that really give the album a sense of spirit – but credit should also be giving to the well-knit rhythm team, whose ability to push out in flowing lines of power really raises the energy of the performance. Titles include "Stepping Stone", "In A Capricornian Way", "Seventh Avenue", and "Theme For Maxine". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic gift from the gods – a lost live performance from one of our favorite trumpeters of all-time – and a set that has him really stretching out in all of his genius! Woody Shaw is really at the peak here – working in that soaring, spiritual mode that he virtually helped invent during the 70s – and which he carried with a strong torch still burning way into the 80s, at a time when some of his contemporaries had maybe lost their path a bit. Here, Woody soars to the skies on waves of soul – working with a wonderful group that includes Steve Turre on trombone, Mulgrew Miller on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Tony Reedus on drums – all players that really seem to be their best when working with Shaw! The rich basslines of James are always a key part of some of our favorite records by Woody, and they're equally great here – on titles that include "Rosewood", "Apex", "From Moment To Moment", "Theme For Maxine", and "Song Of Songs". Also features a bonus track – "Sweet Love Of Mine" – recorded in 1985 by the Paris Reunion Band. CD

A tremendous document of a legendary group – one that was even better in a live setting than they were on record – and that's saying a hell of a lot, given the great records they left behind! The quintet here features trumpeter Woody Shaw at his most righteous – working alongside co-leader Louis Hayes on drums – at the head of a brilliant lineup that features Junior Cook on tenor, Ronnie Mathews on piano, and Stafford James on bass! At some level, the vibe here is a hipper 70s extension of ideas that Cook and Hayes worked on with Horace Silver in the 60s – but there's also a lot more of the spiritual fire that Woody was bringing to his groundbreaking albums for Muse Records – which is underscored both by James' ultra-heavy work on bass, and the skyward-reaching sounds of Mathews on piano. Cook has a brilliant edge on his tenor – sometimes missing from other records – and titles on this second volume include "Some Other Blues", "Invitation", "Round Midnight", "What's New", and "All The Things You Are". Rene McLean is featured on tenor on one track that doesn't include Cook – and all tracks are nice and long! CD

A perfect summation of the Woody Shaw genius in the 70s – bold, righteous jazz – delivered with a soaring, joyous message that's impossible to deny! By the time of this release, Shaw had matured to a point where he was easily one of the most important voices on the trumpet in his generation – a 70s player who pulled together strands of the previous generation – from Coltrane to Lee Morgan to Larry Young – all wrapped up in amazing music like this! The set's a major label date, but it's got a righteous power to rival the best indie label sessions from companies like Strata East or Muse – and the lineup features other key spiritual players of Shaw's generation – including Carter Jefferson on tenor, James Spaulding on alto and flute, Rene McLean on alto, Onaje Allen Gumbs on piano, Steve Turre on trumpet, Buster Williams on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. Titles include the sublime "Woody III" suite, plus "Escape Velocity", "Organ Grinder", and "To Kill A Brick". LP, Vinyl record album

Soaring sounds from the late Woody Shaw – a killer collection of his original compositions, all pulled from out-of-print volumes in the Woody Shaw live series! The material here is prime soulful 70s Shaw – with a core group that features Larry Willis on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums – a trio who perfectly set up those rolling, modal, soulfully-expansive grooves that really helped Woody open up – finding keen inspiration on tunes that include "Ginseng People", "Little Red's Fantasy", "Rahsaan's Run", "Stepping Stone", "Opec", and "Organ Grinder – all done in versions that are well over ten minutes long! Other players include Carter Jefferson on soprano sax on one track, Steve Turre on trombone on three others – and Mulgrew Miller on piano on one number. CD

One of the greatest Woody Shaw albums of the 70s – a masterpiece of soulful expression, filled with the kind of righteous touches we always love in Woody's work! The album's recorded live, with an even more open feeling than some of Shaw's studio sets – and features an excellent group of modernist 70s soul jazz players – all wrapped together with fire and imagination, and the sort of soaring rhythms that really makes the all shine brightly! Players include Rene McLean on alto and flute, Frank Foster on tenor and soprano, Slide Hampton on trombone, Ronnie Matthews on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums – and at some surprising moments, the horn players also play a bit of percussion! Titles include a killer reading of "In The Land Of The Blacks" – plus "Jean Marie", "Hello To The Wind", and "Obsequious". LP, Vinyl record album

Never-issued work from trumpet genius Woody Shaw – and a set that we'd easily stand next to any of Shaw's classics from this stretch in his career! Part of the strength of the record comes from the man himself, but there's also a really fantastic contribution from the group as a whole – a rock-solid lineup that features Larry Willis on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums – plus some really beautiful work from the great Carter Jefferson on tenor and soprano sax, who really gets plenty of room to showcase his sometimes-overlooked talents on the the tracks in the set. The group have a modal energy that hearkens back to some of Woody's early 70s material – and titles include "Love Dance", "Round Midnight", "Theme For Maxine", "Stepping Stone", "Seventh Avenue", "In Your Own Sweet Way", "Invitation", and "Teotihuacan". Also features a bonus recording from 1981, with Woody in a quartet that features Mulgrew Miller on piano – "We'll Be Together Again". CD

Majestic work from Woody Shaw – the third volume of a rare live performance from 1977, one that features Woody at the height of his powers, running through long and beautiful tracks with a deeply soulful feel. The style here is similar to Woody's best work of the mid 70s on the Muse label – extended tracks performed with a group that includes Stafford James on bass, Steve Turre on trombone, Mulgrew Miller or Larry Willis on piano, and Victor Lewis on drums. Titles include "Ginseng People", "Organ Grinder", "Teotiuacan", "Seventh Avenue", and "Little Red's Fantasy". CD

One of our favorite Woody Shaw albums from his later years – and an album that's got the same joyous spirit and free soaring feel of his best 70s work on Muse – really soaring with a sense of life and freedom in a really great way! The core group on the album is the Tone Jansa Quartet – led by European reedman Jansa, and working in a space that's quite similar to that of Shaw's backing groups on previous sessions – strong modal currents in the rhythms, and with Tone's work on soprano, tenor, and flute turning out to be a great partner for Woody's trumpet! Jansa wrote all the tunes on the set, and gave them a soaring feel that we really love – just the right mix of introspection and exploration found on classic Shaw sessions like Little Red's Fantasy or Lovedance. Titles include "Midi", "Boland", "Call Mobility", "River", and "May". LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous live session from 1969 – a bit rough on the recording quality, but completely wonderful in terms of playing! The unique date features Woody Shaw playing in a group with Art Blakey – a few years before Shaw formally joined the Jazz Messengers, and in a looser, freer mode that's got all the best hallmarks of the groundbreaking New Jersey scene of the time! Blakey's usual tightness as a drummer is really let up for the set – which features him cascading and withdrawing as fits the needs of the players – breaking down the structure of the tunes to allow for very long solo work by Shaw, tenorist Carlos Garnett, and pianist George Cables. Scotty Holt keeps some massively soulful time on bass, and Garnett's searing solo work is worth the price of the album alone – almost topping the best of his own recordings from later, more famous years. Titles include a reading of "Night In Tunisia", plus the fantastic "Original Theme" by Shaw. And as we say, the recording quality's a bit rough, but the solo work is great! CD

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

Wome of Woody Herman's cooler, groovier work of the 60s – with work from young talents that include Don Rader on both trumpet and arrangements, plus Dusko Goykovich on additional trumpet, Nat Pierce on piano, and Sal Nistico on tenor! LP, Vinyl record album

Woody Shaw's debut for Columbia Records – and easily one of the most soulful major label jazz sessions of the 70s! The album's a beautiful summation of all that Shaw had done in the years before – his soaring, searing lines that first came to play as a sidemen for others, then took new shape on the Muse label as a leader – all really hitting home here in an immaculately put-together set! The album's still got all the best soul jazz elements of Shaw's work from a few years before, but it's even more powerful in its presentation – with none of the mis-steps that could sometimes mar Woody's albums when he wasn't hitting on all burners. Shaw plays both trumpet and flugelhorn, and the rest of the lineup includes Carter Jefferson on tenor and soprano sax, Onaje Allen Gumbs on piano, Clint Houston on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. Joe Henderson blows on three number – and titles include "Rosewood", "Every Time I See You", "The Legend Of Cheops", "Rahsaan's Run", "Sunshowers" and "Theme For Maxine". CD features 3 bonus tracks too – "Isabel The Liberator", "Joshua C", and "Why". CD

Woody Witt on tenor saxophone, Randy Brecker on trumpet, David Kikoski on piano, Johannes Weidenmueller on bass, and Ari Hoening on drums. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A great pair of musicians, reunited here in a live setting after working together on a classic album under Joe Farrell's name! The music here represents Farrell at a real height for the 80s – stretching out and blowing long, powerful solos on soprano, tenor, and flute – maybe dipping back to some of the energy he unlocked with Elvin Jones, but with a slightly warmer, more soulful quality that seems to be brought out from the presence of the great Woody Shaw on trumpet! The group features bold piano work from Gene Adler, great bass from Neil Swainson, and drums from Ronnie Burrage – and all tracks are quite long, with titles that include "Vim N Vigor", "Organ Grinder", "Molten Glass", and "Joshua C". CD

Unpublished works by Woody Guthrie, set to music by bassist Rob Wasserman, performed by Van Dyke Parks, Lou Reed, Studs Terkel, Ani DiFranco, Jackson Browne, Pete Seeger, Tom Morello, Kurt Elling, and others. CD

A beautiful mixing of modes – a set that blends the compositions of Woody Shaw with driving rhythms from a Latin jazz group – and a very strong frontline that's overflowing with top trumpet talents! In addition to leader Brian Lynch, the set also features performances by Dave Douglas, Josh Evans, Sean Jones, Etienne Charles, and others – working with core sounds from a combo that's heavy on percussion, with piano and bass to round things out. Trumpets criss-cross in a beautiful way – making new rhythmic magic from Woody's classic tunes, and also really stating a strong difference in the solo performances too. Most tracks are nice and long – and titles include "Zoltan", "In A Capricornian Way", "Tomorrow's Destiny", "Sweet Love Of Mine", "Just A Ballad For Woody", "On The New Ark", and "Song Of Songs" – plus Lynch originals "Blues For Woody & Khalid" and "Madera Latino Suite". CD

Features work by Richie Havens, Joan Baez, Odetta, Ramblin Jack Elliott, Tom Paxton, Country Joe McDonald, and Pete Seeger – plus narration by Peter Fonda and Robert Ryan! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Stravinsky's Ebony Concerto is dedicated to Woody Herman – and played here by Herman's orchestra. LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

Music from Arlo Guthrie, Will Geer, Robert Ryan, Odetta, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton, Joan Baez, Peter Fonda, Judy Collins, and more. CD

Music from Sweet Honey In The Rock, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Little Richard With Fishbone, Arlo Guthrie, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal, Brian Wilson, and more. CD