Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra – with Wycliffe Gordon on trombone and tuba, Wessell Anderson and Victor Goines on reeds, Marcus Printup and Ryan Kisor on trumpet, and others. CD

Players include Branford Marsalis on soprano and tenor, Kenny Kirkland on piano, Charnett Moffett on bass, and Jeff Tain Watts on drums – and titles include "Black Codes", "For Week Folks", "Chambers Of Tain", "Aural Oasis", and "Delfeayo's Dilemma". LP, Vinyl record album

Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Printup, Riley Mullins, Roger Ingram, Russell Gunn, Ryan Kisor, and Seneca Black on trumpet, Wess Anderson on clarinet, alto and soprano saxophone, James Carter on clarinet, bass clarinet, and baritone saxophone, Victor Goines on clarinet, tenor and soprano saxophone and bass clarinet, Walter Blanding on soprano saxophone, Robert Stewart on tenor saxophone, Ron Westray and Wayne Goodman on trombone, Wycliffe Gordon on trombone and tuba, Michael Ward on violin, Eric Reed on piano, Reginald Veal on bass, and Herlin Riley on drums and tambourine with vocals from Cassandra Wilson, Jon Hendricks, and Miles Griffith. CD

Wynton Marsalis is working in lean quartet formation here – no sax from brother Branford, whose own star was rising – and instead lots more room to really stretch out on his own languid lines on trumpet! The rest of the quartet features Marcus Roberts on piano, Robert Hurst on bass, and Jeff Watts on drums – all of whom work in subtle ways to match Marsalis' shadings in sound – a rich tapestry of colors and tones that lies somewhere in a space between early Miles and modern Freddie Hubbard. Titles include "J Mood", "Insane Asylum", "After", "Much Later", "Skain's Domain", and "Melodique". CD

A bit more of a high concept album than some of Wynton Marsalis' previous efforts – a set with a few more added horns on side one, and an extended suite on side two! The work definitely shows Wynton's increasing concern with jazz history – his desire to embrace, and sometimes represent, decades of past musical expression in his work – a real Lincoln Center sort of impulse, but one that still comes off relatively well here, and without as much hoke as you'd expect. Side one has Wynton working with regular pianist Marcus Roberts, plus Todd Williams on tenor and soprano sax and Wes Anderson on alto – and side two features a completely different group, much more in an older-styled jazz vein – with Michael White on clarinet, Danny Barker on banjo, Teddy Riley on trumpet, and Freddie Lonzo on trombone. Titles include "The Majesty Of The Blues", "Hickory Dickory Dock", and the expanded "New Orleans Function" suite. CD

Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, Wycliffe Gordon on trombone, Wessell "Warmdaddy" Anderson on alto saxophone, Victor Goines on tenor and soprano saxophone and bass clarinet, Cyrus Chestnut, Eric Lewis, Farid Barron, and Marthaniel Roberts on piano, Rodney Whitaker on bass, Herlin Riley on drums, and Roland Guerrero on percussion. CD

Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, Marcus Roberts on piano, Robert Leslie Hurst III on bass, and Jeff Tain Watts on drums. Titles that include "Caravan", "A Foggy Day", "Cherokee", "April In Paris", "New Orleans", "Soon All Will Know", and "Autumn Leaves". CD

The first in Wynton Marsalis' excellent Soul Gestures trilogy – a set that features some especially nice work from Joe Henderson on tenor sax! The set was recorded at a time when Henderson was really coming back into his own – and the long, extended tracks on the record really let Joe stretch out with the sort of freely expressive solos honed over previous decades of work! Henderson's presence brings a sharpness here that you might not expect – and a deeper sense of soul than some of Wynton's previous stiffer attempts at modernism. Other players include Marcus Roberts on piano – another great presence on the date – Bob Hurst on bass, and Jeff Watts and Elvin Jones on drums. Titles include "LC On The Cut", "Thick In The South", "Elveen", "Harriet Tubman", and "So This Is Jazz Huh". CD

Wynton Marsalis' second date for Columbia Records, and an album that already has him stretching out from the first! Unlike before, when Wynton was given a few older players to help establish his sound, the group here is all Marsalis' own – with brother Branford on tenor and soprano sax, Kenny Kirkland on piano, Jeff Watts on drums, and either Phil Bowler or Ray Drummond on bass. Tracks are a mix of originals, and well-chosen modern moments from years past – played with a mix of soulful colors and more angular sounds, almost in the manner of VSOP from a few years before. Titles include "Fuschia", "Knozz Moe King", "Later", "The Bell Ringer", "Think Of One", and "Melancholia". CD

A mix of new material and Peanuts classics performed by the Wynton Marsalis Septet – featuring Eric Reed, Wycliffe Gordon, and Wessell Anderson – and a smaller piano trio led by Ellis Marsalis. CD

Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, Eric Clapton on guitar, Don Vappie on banjo, Carlos Henriquez on bass, Victor Goines on clarinet, Ali Jackson on drums, Chris Stainton on keyboards, Dan Nimmer on piano, Chris Crenshaw on trombone, and Marcus Printup on trumpet. CD

Players include Branford on soprano and tenor, Kenny Kirkland on piano, Charnett Moffett on bass, and Jeff Tain Watts on drums – and titles include "Black Codes", "For Week Folks", "Chambers Of Tain", "Aural Oasis", and "Delfeayo's Dilemma". CD

The last chapter in Wynton Marsalis' Soul Gestures trilogy of the early 90s – and like the others, it's a set with its own sort of sound and feeling – another illustration of the many talents of Marsalis at the time! Despite the "levee" reference in the title, the work's hardly the down-home effort you might expect – and instead, the tracks are long, freewheeling numbers played with a bit more soul than some of Wynton's earlier work, yet still a relatively modern sensibility overall. Nobody lets their hair down too much here, but the album's also nicely free of the sort of cliches you might expect from the project – none of the fake Crescent City modes that might hurt the date. Players include Marcus Roberts on piano, Wes Anderson on alto, Todd Williams on tenor and soprano, Reginald Veal on bas, and Herlin Riley on drums. Titles include "Jig's Jig", "Levee Low Moan", "In The House Of Williams", and "Superb Starling". CD

Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, Wes Anderson on alto sax, Todd Williams on tenor sax, Marcus Roberts on piano, Reginald Veal and Robert Hurst on bass, and Herlin Riley and Jeff Watts on drums. CD

Wynton Marsalis on trumpet and a bit of vocals – in a group that features Ellis Marsalis on piano, Reginald Veal on bass, and Herlin Riley on drums. CD

The classic debut of a young Wynton Marsalis – cut after a stretch when Wynton was working with Art Blakey, and had really sharpened his chops! The record's a wonderful return to straight jazz tradition for Columbia – but it also has some modern moments too – proof that the younger generation of 80s jazz players still had plenty of fresh sounds to bring to the table. Half of the record has Marsalis paired with the VSOP rhythm section – in a way that provides a nice link with the more modern edges of Columbia jazz a decade before. Wynton's sometimes a bit serious in his approach, but also opens up with freer Blakey-inspired moments too – and other players here include Herbie Hancock and Kenny Kirkland on piano, Jeff Watts and Tony Williams on drums, Clarence Seay and Ron Carter on bass, and Branford Marsalis on sax. Titles include "Twilight", "RJ", "Hesitation", "I'll Be There When The Time Comes", and "Father Time". CD

A great run, with seven shows presented in sequential order, including set breaks and announcements. Players include Wycliffe Gordon on trombone, Wessell Anderson on alto and sopranino sax, Todd Williams and Victor Goines alternating on sax, Eric Reed on piano, Ben Wolfe or Reginald Veal on bass, and Herlin Riley on drums. CD

Wynton Marsalis is working in lean quartet formation here – no sax from brother Branford, whose own star was rising – and instead lots more room to really stretch out on his own languid lines on trumpet! The rest of the quartet features Marcus Roberts on piano, Robert Hurst on bass, and Jeff Watts on drums – all of whom work in subtle ways to match Marsalis' shadings in sound – a rich tapestry of colors and tones that lies somewhere in a space between early Miles and modern Freddie Hubbard. Titles include "J Mood", "Insane Asylum", "After", "Much Later", "Skain's Domain", and "Melodique". LP, Vinyl record album

With Carlos Henriquez on bass, Ali Jackson on drums, and Eric Lewis on piano. CD

Features Wycliffe Gordon on trombone and tuba, Victor Goines on tenor and soprano sax, Wessell Anderson on alto, Eirc Lewis and Danilo Perez on piano, and others. CD

Features guest guitar from BB King guitar, John Lee Hooker, and Joe Louis Walker – plus Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, and Bernard Purdie on drums. CD

Features Branford Marsalis on saxophones, Robert Hurst on bass, and Jeff Watts on drums – plus special guests Wynton Marsalis and Courtney Pine. CD

Well, "album of the year" might be a hard claim to live up to – but this is a heck of a great record! The album's one of Blakey's real sleepers – cut years away from his time at Blue Note, with a fluid soulful approach that steps off his work at Prestige quite nicely. The real strength of the set is the group – as even at this point, Blakey's got an insanely perfect ear for picking young talent. Every player's a star, and the group features work by Bobby Watson, James Williams, Bill Pierce, Charles Fambrough, and even a young Wynton Marsalis, who still sounds pretty nice at this point. The set list include some great tracks, too, originals by group members that include "Soulful Mister Timmons", "Little Man", "In Case You Missed It", and "Ms BC". CD

Well, "album of the year" might be a hard claim to live up to – but this is a heck of a great record! The album's one of Blakey's real sleepers – cut years away from his time at Blue Note, with a fluid soulful approach that steps off his work at Prestige quite nicely. The real strength of the set is the group – as even at this point, Blakey's got an insanely perfect ear for picking young talent. Every player's a star, and the group features work by Bobby Watson, James Williams, Bill Pierce, Charles Fambrough, and even a young Wynton Marsalis, who still sounds pretty nice at this point. The set list include some great tracks, too, originals by group members that include "Soulful Mister Timmons", "Little Man", "In Case You Missed It", and "Ms BC". LP, Vinyl record album

Acoustic magic from Herbie Hancock – proof that he wasn't only cutting electro records in the 80s! The set's got a fluid, open feel that's a bit like some of the VSOP Quintet work – although the group here is slightly different, with Hancock on acoustic piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums – plus a young Wynton Marsalis on trumpet – stepping in where Wayne Shorter and Freddie Hubbard left off. The tracks are somewhat sharp-edged and modern, but never in a way that's too outside – more just a continuation of the VSOP mode, with some of the Marsalis love of darker colors and tones. The double-length set has plenty of room for long solos – and titles include "Well You Needn't", "Round Midnight", "Clear Ways", "A Quick Sketch", "The Eye Of The Hurricane", "Parade", "The Sorcerer", "Pee Wee", and "I Fall In Love Too Easily". CD

The last album that Jimmy Heath ever gave the world – and a record that makes us miss him even more – as the whole thing takes Heath back to that spectacular mix of solo expressionist, thoughtful composer, and sensitive arranger territory of his best early years! And if you want proof of Jimmy's warm, open spirit – the set begins with a one minute bowed bass solo before Heath's horn even comes into play – then works sublime magic on a number of original numbers, and a few well-chosen classics – all put together by Jimmy as a "ballads" album, but in a way that's hugely different from some of the more facile songbook sessions of over-recorded standards. Instead, the Heath arrangements throughout are wonderfully fresh, and have a soulful quality that really blows us away – more than even on some of his other late records, which is what makes this final session so bittersweet. The core group features Kenny Barron on piano, Monte Croft on vibes, Russell Malone on guitar, and Lewis Nash on drums – and the set features vocals from Gregory Porter on one track, and Cecile McLorin Salvant on another – and Wynton Marsalis blows a trumpet solo on a third track. Titles include "Ballad From Upper Neighbors Suiter", "Left Alone", "Inside Your Heart", "La Mesha", "Con Alma", "Fasion Or Passion", and "Don't Explain". CD

With performances by Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Roberts, Betty Carter, Kenny Barron, Jimmy Heath, Dr Michael White, Jay McShann, Milt Grayson, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra & more. CD

The last album that Jimmy Heath ever gave the world – and a record that makes us miss him even more – as the whole thing takes Heath back to that spectacular mix of solo expressionist, thoughtful composer, and sensitive arranger territory of his best early years! And if you want proof of Jimmy's warm, open spirit – the set begins with a one minute bowed bass solo before Heath's horn even comes into play – then works sublime magic on a number of original numbers, and a few well-chosen classics – all put together by Jimmy as a "ballads" album, but in a way that's hugely different from some of the more facile songbook sessions of over-recorded standards. Instead, the Heath arrangements throughout are wonderfully fresh, and have a soulful quality that really blows us away – more than even on some of his other late records, which is what makes this final session so bittersweet. The core group features Kenny Barron on piano, Monte Croft on vibes, Russell Malone on guitar, and Lewis Nash on drums – and the set features vocals from Gregory Porter on one track, and Cecile McLorin Salvant on another – and Wynton Marsalis blows a trumpet solo on a third track. Titles include "Ballad From Upper Neighbors Suiter", "Left Alone", "Inside Your Heart", "La Mesha", "Con Alma", "Fasion Or Passion", and "Don't Explain". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the last great records ever cut by Jon Hendricks – one of our favorite singers of all time! The album's a bit of a "tour de force" – with Hendricks singing alongside a host of famous jazz musicians and vocalists, working in an all star setting that's sometimes too good for its own good, but at other times works magically! The best moments are those when Jon actually takes the lead himself, singing in that warm, raspy, honest style that's always made him the kind of a singer that brings meaning to lyrics that always leave us cold from other vocalists. The album's got a wonderful re-reading of the Italian classic "Estate", redone here with English lyrics as "In Summer" – and one of Hendricks finest moments on record! Other tracks include "Listen To Monk", "Sugar", "Freddie Freeloader", "High As A Mountain", "Trinkle Tinkle", and "The Finer Things In Life" – and players include Tommy Flanagan, George Benson, Wynton Marsalis, Stanley Turrentine, and Al Jarreau. CD

Well, "album of the year" might be a hard claim to live up to – but this is a heck of a great record! The album's one of Blakey's real sleepers – cut years away from his time at Blue Note, with a fluid soulful approach that steps off his work at Prestige quite nicely. The real strength of the set is the group – as even at this point, Blakey's got an insanely perfect ear for picking young talent. Every player's a star, and the group features work by Bobby Watson, James Williams, Bill Pierce, Charles Fambrough, and even a young Wynton Marsalis, who still sounds pretty nice at this point. The set list include some great tracks, too, originals by group members that include "Soulful Mister Timmons", "Little Man", "In Case You Missed It", and "Ms BC". CD

Amazing sounds from Joe Henderson's later years – a completely sublime take on the music of Billy Strayhorn, and a wonderful demonstration of Henderson's mature talents on the tenor! There's a fantastic balance here between darkness and light, grit and clarity, heard in Joe's very first notes on the set – and holding on strong through some of the bolder moments in the set – with work by a shifting lineup, from solo to quintet, that features Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, Stephen Scott on piano, Christian McBride on bass, and Gregory Hutchinson on drums. Yet although Marsalis might be a draw for some folks, we really love it best when Henderson gets to do his own thing – stretching out in these marvelous laidback solos that are heavy on those rich tones he developed in his early years, yet turned towards Strayhorn's brilliant ear for space between the sounds. Titles include "Blood Count", "Isfahan", "Rain Check", "Lotus Blossom", "A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing", and "Upper Manhattan Medical Group". CD

Features guest work from Branford Marsalis on tenor, Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, Toots Thielemans on harmonica, Buster Williams on bass, and Miles Davis on trumpet! CD

An extended suite for a large ensemble conducted by Gunther Schuller and featuring 30 (!) musicians including Randy Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, John Handy, Bobby Watson, John Hicks, Sir Roland Hanna, John Abercrombie and Victor Lewis. CD

Features Ronnie Matthews and George Cables on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Al Foster on drums – plus guest trumpet from Wynton Marsalis. CD

Features Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, and Kenny Garrett! CD

One of the first true moments of genius from producer Hal Willner – the man who helped open up so many ears to diverse music with projects like these! The album's a tribute to the music of Nino Rota, as used in the films of Federico Fellini – but rather than just be a slavish remake, the set instead has a set of ultra-hip jazz musicians providing their own interpretations of Rota compositions – in a range of formats that's completely breathtaking, and which takes these sublime melodies and transforms them even past their use in the films! The set features fantastic Jaki Byard solo performances of "Amarcord" and "La Strada", solo vibes from Dave Samuels on "La Dolce Vita/Juliet Of The Spirits", the Clarla Bley Big Band performing "8 1/2", solo soprano sax and gong from Steve Lacy on "Roma", David Amram playing "Satyricon", solo Bill Frisell guitar on "Juliet Of The Spirits", a great "La Dolce Vita Suite", with passages by Muhal Richard Abrams and Sharon Freeman, and even a medley of "The White Sheik/I Vitelloni/Il Bidone/Nights Of Cabiria" by arranger William S Fischer with Branford Marsalis and George Adams on saxes, Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, and Kenny Barron on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

The best album of Christmas jazz you could ever buy! Why? Well, the record's totally hip – with way more going on than just the usual jazz versions of Christmas carols. But unlike other hip Christmas albums, this one also never loses the feeling of the season – and although the work is a bit more challenging than usual for a holiday album, it also always swings, and in a very festive style! This CD mixes together music from both the original Jingle Bell Jazz album and the classic God Rest Ye Merry Jazzmen album from the 70s – but leaves off some tracks from the former to make room for the latter. Titles include "Deck The Halls" by Herbie Hancock, "Blue Xmas" by Bob Dorough and Miles Davis, "Jingle Bells" by Duke Ellington, "We Three Kings" by Wynton Marsalis, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Paquito D'Rivera, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Dexter Gordon, "White Christmas" by Lionel Hampton, "I'll Be Home For Christmas" by McCoy Tyner, and "Deck Us All With Boston Charlie" by Lambert Hendricks & Ross. CD

Decades of jazz recordings, pulled together in support of the famous documentary series – with a total of 94 tracks in all! Music from Louis Armstrong, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Jimmie Lunceford, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Horace Silver, Clifford Brown, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, Weather Report, Dexter Gordon, Wynton Marsalis, and much more. CD

With Junior Mance on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Kenny Washington on durms – plus guest trumpet from Wynton Marsalis, Wallace Roney, Doc Cheatham, and Claudio Roditi, as well as Red Rodney on flugelhorn. CD

Produced and arranged by Johnny Mandel – with guest trumpet from Wynton Marsalis on two tracks! Titles include "Isn't It A Pity", "Here's to Life", "Come A Little Closer/Wild Is The Wind", "You're Nearer", "Summer", "Quietly There", and "A Time For Love". CD