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The Quintet: Hot House: The Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Recordings (CD: Craft Recordings, 2 CDs)The Quintet: Hot House: The Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Recordings (CD: Craft Recordings, 2 CDs)
70 years on from the legendary 1953 concert at Massey Hall, Toronto that featured jazz legends Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, and Max Roach on stage together, comes this complete 2-CD collection. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £15.99 


The Quintet: Jazz At Massey Hall (Vinyl LP: Debut/ Craft Recordings)
This modern jazz summit meeting in Toronto has been called "the greatest jazz concert ever." We owe the survival of the music to Charles Mingus, who, along with Max Roach, taped the concert and subsequently issued it on his own new Debut label. There was tension between the giants before, during, and after the concert. Bird arrived without a horn and had to borrow a plastic alto (he made it sound like gold). The hall was three-quarters empty (the promoters had overlooked the coinciding heavyweight championship match between Marciano and Walcott). But the true heavyweights were onstage, and the results have been knocking out the world of jazz ever since. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £29.99 

The Quintet: Jazz At Massey Hall (Vinyl LP: Debut/ Craft Recordings)


Wolfgang Muthspiel, Scott Colley & Brian Blade: Dance Of The Elders (CD: ECM)Wolfgang Muthspiel, Scott Colley & Brian Blade: Dance Of The Elders (CD: ECM)
Wolfgang Muthspiel and his trio with Scott Colley on bass and Brian Blade on drums reaches a new creative peak on Dance of the Elders – the group’s follow-up up to the much lauded Angular Blues, which The Times called a “quietly impressive album”. Here Wolfgang’s successful stride continues, with his unique compositional signature on the one hand and the particularly vibrant interchanges with his trio colleagues on the other. The guitarist’s writing and approach to jazz is heavily folk-induced but equally inspired by classical music – both aspects are presented clearly throughout the album. Brian’s floating percussive injections and Scott’s nimble counterpoint on bass complement Wolfgang’s acoustic and electric playing in fluid interplay over intricate polyrhythms and adventurous harmonic landscapes. (ECM Records) 


Price:  £14.99 


John Scofield: Uncle John's Band (CD: ECM, 2 CDs)
Named for the Grateful Dead song that concludes this inspired double album, Uncle John’s Band features masterful guitarist John Scofield at his most freewheeling. Wide ranging repertoire finds his trio with Vicente Archer and Bill Stewart tackling material from Dylan’s “Mr Tambourine Man” to Neil Young’s “Old Man”, from Leonard Bernstein’s “Somewhere” to the Miles Davis Birth of the Cool classic “Budo”. And jazz standards including “Stairway to the Stars” and “Ray’s Idea” rub shoulders with seven Scofield originals that are variously swing, funk and folk-inflected. The red thread through the programme is the trio’s tremendous improvisational verve. “I feel like we can go anywhere,” says John Scofield of the group’s multi-directional versatility. Uncle John’s Band was recorded at Clubhouse Studio in Rhinebeck, New York, in August 2022. (ECM Records) 


Price:  £24.99 

John Scofield: Uncle John's Band (CD: ECM, 2 CDs)


Chris Botti: Vol.1 (CD: Blue Note)Chris Botti: Vol.1 (CD: Blue Note)
One of the most popular instrumentalists in the world, trumpeter Chris Botti gets back to the jazz essence of his artistry on his Blue Note debut Vol. 1 featuring beautiful new ballad renditions of standards including “Old Folks,” “My Funny Valentine,” “Someday My Prince Will Come” & “Blue In Green” as well as a cover of Coldplay’s “Fix You” and the vocal feature “Paris” with John Splithoff. The album was produced by David Foster and also features performances by violinist Joshua Bell, pianist Taylor Eigsti, guitarist Gilad Hekselman, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, and others. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £13.99 


Chris Botti: Vol.1 (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)

180g vinyl pressing. 


Price:  £25.99 

Chris Botti: Vol.1 (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)


Stacey Kent: Summer Me, Winter Me (CD: Believe Recordings)Stacey Kent: Summer Me, Winter Me (CD: Believe Recordings)
"Which album is that song on?’ is a question I often get asked after a concert at signings. Since our set lists invariably include a mixture of old and new repertoire, the answer is sometimes, ‘it’s not on any album.’ This album is therefore a collection of those songs. It’s a response to all those people who have said over the years, somewhat disappointed, ‘you haven’t recorded ‘If You Go Away’?’ and so on.

“So, whilst not exactly a requests album, Summer Me, Winter Me is a response to that informal and unscientific sounding, a representative selection of some of these ‘requests’.” - Stacey Kent (PIAS/Integral) 


Price:  £13.99 


Stacey Kent: Summer Me, Winter Me (Vinyl LP: Believe Recordings, 2 LPs)

180g black vinyl, gatefold sleeve. 


Price:  £28.99 

Stacey Kent: Summer Me, Winter Me (Vinyl LP: Believe Recordings, 2 LPs)


Sarah McKenzie: Without You (CD: Normandy Lane)Sarah McKenzie: Without You (CD: Normandy Lane)
Jazz pianist, composer and singer, Sarah McKenzie's sixth album, Without You, is a Brazilian jazz project that conveys her love for Brazilian music and culture. It includes a generous amount of Antonio Carlos Jobim songs along with four of McKenzie's originals and a few other selections, all played tastefully, and in her own inventive way. (PIAS/Integral)  


Price:  £13.99 


Veronica Swift: Veronica Swift (CD: Mack Avenue)
Vocal sensation Veronica Swift took the jazz world by storm with her critically acclaimed 2021 release This Bitter Earth, landing on the cover of DownBeat, topping the year end lists for vocal releases and wowing audiences with her eclectic stage show at the Hollywood Bowl and beyond. For her new album - aptly entitled Veronica Swift - the versatile artist stretches her wings and opens up her wide range of influences to share who she truly is: a once-in-a-generation vocalist with unabashed confidence. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £13.99 

Veronica Swift: Veronica Swift (CD: Mack Avenue)


Joey Alexander: Continuance (CD: Mack Avenue)Joey Alexander: Continuance (CD: Mack Avenue)
Pianist/composer Joey Alexander's 7th album, Continuance, is the story of a critically acclaimed artist at the peak of his creativity, not only as a bandleader but as a celebrated composer. At 20-years-old, Alexander has gathered his touring band consisting of Kris Funn (bass) and John Davis (drums) to translate their unique improvisation on the stage to the studio with the help of trumpeter Theo Croker. Featuring five newly written original compositions and breathtaking renditions of "I Can't Make You Love Me" (made famous by Bonnie Raitt) and the popular hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," Alexander's bound to make waves on a global level. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £13.99 


Miles Davis: In Concert At The Olympia, Paris 1957 (CD: Fresh Sound)
With little publicity and only one star arrived from America, Miles Davis, Bruno Coquatrix, owner and manager of the Olympia, accomplished an impressive feat by presenting a sold-out concert on Saturday, November 30, 1957, at 6 p.m. André Hodeir in Jazz Hot had written, "This concert by Miles Davis was one of the most beautiful jazz concerts we have ever heard in Paris. Brilliantly supported by Kenny Clarke, René Urtreger, Pierre Michelot, and Barney Wilen, the great trumpeter gave the best of himself in many passages."

The producer and owner of this recording was the late jazz promoter Marcel Romano, who brought Miles Davis to Paris. After more than 60 years in storage, Romano’s nephew and heir discovered the tapes and sold them to Fresh Sound Records for a commercial release. The recording of this historic concert is presented in its entirety for the first time in this edition. The remastered original tapes have been used to produce this CD, ensuring excellent sound quality. (Fresh Sound Records) 


Price:  £17.99 

Miles Davis: In Concert At The Olympia, Paris 1957 (CD: Fresh Sound)


Dave Brubeck Quartet: Live From The Northwest, 1959 (CD: Brubeck Editions/ Wienerworld)Dave Brubeck Quartet: Live From The Northwest, 1959 (CD: Brubeck Editions/ Wienerworld)
“The Dave Brubeck Quartet – Live from the Northwest, 1959” is the newest release from Brubeck Editions, the family-run label that only puts out music of the highest musical and technical quality. These exciting performances were recorded by the trailblazing and iconic audio engineer, Wally Heider, who pioneered the art of remote recording from his “studio on wheels.” The sound he achieved is stellar, and this is perhaps the best live recording you can hear this renowned jazz group.

The tapes were recorded in April, 1959 at the Multnomah Jazz Club and Clark College, both in the Portland, Oregon area. On this recording you can hear the Quartet’s mastery of spontaneous counterpoint improvisation. Four months later, the Dave Brubeck Quartet’s focus shifted to polytonal and polyrhythmic approaches when the group recorded the legendary “Time Out”, and changed the course of jazz forever. (Wienerworld) 


Price:  £15.99 


Ahmad Jamal: Emerald City Nights - Live at the Penthouse 1966-1968, Vol.3 (CD: Jazz Detective/ Elemental, 2 CDs)
Producer Zev Feldman’s new imprint, Jazz Detective, launches the third and final set of previously unreleased live recordings by Ahmad Jamal. Following the superb initial two volumes, ‘Emerald City Nights – Live At The Penthouse (1966-1968) Vol. 3’ captures spectacular performances by the master pianist’s trio at the Penthouse in Seattle.

Package includes reflections by Ahmad Jamal himself, interviews with fellow pianists Les McCann, Emmet Cohen, Monty Alexander, and Joe Alterman, and essays by producer Zev Feldman and journalist Eugene Holley, Jr., among others. The extensive booklet features rare photos by Don Bronstein, Chuck Stewart, and more. Transferred from the original tapes and mastered by the legendary Bernie Grundman. The package has been produced by Feldman and supervised by Ahmad Jamal himself shortly before his passing in April 2023. (PIAS/Integral) 


Price:  £29.99 

Ahmad Jamal: Emerald City Nights - Live at the Penthouse 1966-1968, Vol.3 (CD: Jazz Detective/ Elemental, 2 CDs)


Bill Evans: Tales - Live In Copenhagen 1964 (CD: Elemental)Bill Evans: Tales - Live In Copenhagen 1964 (CD: Elemental)
Elemental Music is proud to announce an exciting new collection of previously unreleased recordings by jazz piano master Bill Evans. The collection, which compiles music that has gone unheard since its debut on Danish radio, is the eleventh collection of hitherto unheard music by the pianist authorized by the Bill Evans Estate and produced by Zev Feldman. The set includes overviews by producer Zev Feldmanand by Evans authority Marc Myers, as well as new interviews with trio member Chuck Israelsand with drummer Larry Bunker's widow Brandyn Bunker. (PIAS/Integral) 


Price:  £18.99 


Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel: A Lovesome Thing (CD: Motema)
This one-and-only recorded collaboration between jazz greats Geri Allen and Kurt Rosenwinkel took place live at the famed Philharmonie de Paris in 2012. The two play as if with one mind. Geri spoke often of her desire to do a studio recording to document the ‘flow and freedom’ she experienced playing with Kurt that night in Paris. Unfortunately, we lost her before that studio session ever materialized, but fortunately, that concert was recorded.

The acoustics in the hall are magnificent. Produced by Kurt Rosenwinkel and Motéma’s Jana Herzen and dedicated to Geri’s memory, this album is truly a ‘lovesome thing’ for fans of Geri, of Kurt, and of piano and guitar jazz fans at large. (PIAS/Integral) 


Price:  £13.99 

Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel: A Lovesome Thing (CD: Motema)


Wes Montgomery & Wynton Kelly Trio: Maximum Swing - The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings (CD: Resonance, 2 CDs)Wes Montgomery & Wynton Kelly Trio: Maximum Swing - The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings (CD: Resonance, 2 CDs)
‘Maximum Swing: The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings’ is the first official release of the complete previously unissued recordings from jazz guitar giant Wes Montgomery with the Wynton Kelly Trio at the famed Half Note jazz club in New York City in 1965 with drummer Jimmy Cobb and bassists Paul Chambers, Ron Carter, Herman Wright and Larry Ridley.

Including over two hours from the original radio broadcasts with host Alan Grant, the deluxe set is mastered by Matthew Lutthans and comes with a multi-page booklet containing previously unpublished photos taken at the Half Note by Raymond Ross. (PIAS/Integral) 


Price:  £23.99 


Lee Konitz: Tenorlee (CD: Candid)
As the title suggests, the recording Tenorlee finds Lee Konitz, the great American saxophonist, playing exclusively on tenor - It was a spontaneous decision, and a tribute to his dear friend, Lighthouse All-Star saxophonist Richie Kamuca, who had passed away just days before Konitz entered the studio for these sessions.

With a trio featuring Lighthouse All-Star alum Jimmy Rowles on piano and Michael Moore on bass, Kontiz called out old and familiar songs. The intention was to "let the tunes happen" as only finely tuned jazz musicians of certain experience can. Of note is "Lady Be Good" which finds Konitz and Rowles quoting Lester Young's solo from the 1936 recording with Count Basie.

From 1978, originally on the Choice label, this album has been remastered and is presented here as the artist intended, with its original title, track order and album artwork, for the first time since its original release. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £13.99 

Lee Konitz: Tenorlee (CD: Candid)


Jimmy Giuffre 3: Music For People, Birds, Butterflies & Mosquitoes  (CD: Candid)Jimmy Giuffre 3: Music For People, Birds, Butterflies & Mosquitoes (CD: Candid)
After a string of two dozen brilliant albums beginning in the 1950's, clarinetist, saxophonist, flutist, composer and arranger Jimmy Giuffre stopped recording - For nearly ten years he focused solely on live performance - This album, Music for People, Birds, Butterflies and Mosquitoes, marked his return to the studio after his self imposed hiatus.

From 1973, originally on the Choice label, this album has been remastered and is being presented here as the artist intended, with its original title, track order and album artwork, for the first time since its original release. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £13.99 


Stacey Kent: Let Yourself Go (CD: Candid)
As the title suggests, 1998's Let Yourself Go: Celebrating Fred Astaire, is a tribute to one of Kent's heroes. The album features songs from The Great American Songbook made famous by Astaire on film. Like Astaire, Kent seamlessly and easily takes the audience along with her, creating an elegant intimacy in her performances. Thanks to the tight arrangements, effortlessly executed by Kent's skilled section, the recording exudes a remarkable sense of musical cohesion and sophistication. Kent's interpretation of the songs is marked by her understanding of the lyrics, conveying their emotional depth and subtle nuances. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £13.99 

Stacey Kent: Let Yourself Go (CD: Candid)


Toots Thielemans: Captured Alive (CD: Candid)Toots Thielemans: Captured Alive (CD: Candid)
NEA Jazz Master, Toots Thielemans, is widely considered to be the preeminent jazz harmonica player - It is safe to say that before him, the harmonica in jazz was simply not done, and Thielemans can be credited with legitimizing the instrument in the genre. Born in Brussels, Belgium in 1922. Theileman's excelled on accordion as a small child, before picking up the guitar as a teenager after hearing Django Reinhart. Along the way, he taught himself to play harmonica as a hobby. In 1948, during a visit to the US, he sat in on guitar with a jazz group at small club in New York and was "discovered." Engagements soon followed with the likes of Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones and more. As the story goes, in response to a musicians' union restriction, Thielemans was forbidden to play guitar at a gig. So, he pulled out his harmonica. The rest, as they say, is history. He went on to have a long and prolific career on the instrument, as both a band leader and session musician. With his unique sound, he became a go-to for film scores in the 1970s (The Pawn Broker, Midnight Cowboy). Perhaps most notably, Thielemans is unconsciously known to generations for having played the melody on Sesame Street's famous closing theme.

Organized as a purely jazz session, the date here prominently features a young Joanne Brackeen on piano. It is perhaps Brackeen's presence that makes this set so interesting. As an avant-garde player she provides the vehicle for Thielemas to explore more advanced ideas. The album covers a wide range of material, including two originals by Brackeen, alongside standards by Coltrane, Ellington, Mercer and Mancini. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £13.99 


John Coltrane: Coltrane (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)
Released in 1957 on Prestige Records, this album was recorded by Rudy Van Gelder on May 31, 1957. It documents Coltrane's first session as a leader, and has been reissued at times under the title The First Trane!. The line-up includes Johnnie Splawn (trumpet), Sahib Shihab (baritone saxophone), Red Garland and Mal Waldron (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Albert "Tootie" Heath (drums). (Universal Music) 


Price:  £29.99 

John Coltrane: Coltrane (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)


John Coltrane: Lush Life (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)John Coltrane: Lush Life (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)
Released in early 1961, Lush Life was assembled from previous unissued tracks from three recording sessions at Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey in 1957 and 1958. John Coltrane's Prestige years began when he joined the Miles Davis Quintet in 1955. During the next few years, when he was either with Davis or the Thelonious Monk Quartet, he functioned as both leader and sideman for this label. These recordings document the first part of his relatively short but highly influential time in the spotlight. Lush Life, a combination of standards and a blues, treated in the unique Coltrane manner - sound wedded to material in a completely personal way - contains three tracks without a piano. This is the first time he recorded in this manner, other than when Monk was 'strolling,' and it offers another aspect from, and of, Trane. (Universal Jazz) 


Price:  £29.99 


John Coltrane: Standard Coltrane (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)
The classic jazz album Standard Coltrane, originally released in 1962, has been reissued on vinyl by Craft Recordings, released as part of the Craft Jazz Essentials series. This memorable collection features, in addition to John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, trumpeter Wilbur Harden, pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £29.99 

John Coltrane: Standard Coltrane (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)


John Coltrane: Soultrane (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)John Coltrane: Soultrane (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)
Soultrane continued the reinforcement of Trane's importance as a stylist. As in Coltrane and John Coltrane and the Red Garland Trio, his first two albums as a leader for Prestige, the material in Soultrane is away from the ordinary. The Garland-Paul Chambers-Arthur Taylor rhythm section is a perfect accompanying unit for Trane who, by this time, was acknowledged to be-along with Sonny Rollins-one of the two most influential tenor saxophonists in jazz. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £29.99 


John Coltrane: The Last Trane (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)
The Last Trane represents the final studio session for Prestige in the productive recording relationship between John Coltrane and Red Garland. Often with trumpeter Donald Byrd on board, the two made a succession of dates in 1957 and '58 in which Coltrane's genius could be heard developing. His celebrated job with Thelonious Monk had deepened his harmonic understanding and reinforced his determination to explore beyond the boundaries of standard jazz improvisation. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £29.99 

John Coltrane: The Last Trane (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)


John Coltrane: Afro Blue Impressions (Vinyl LP: Pablo/ Craft Recordings, 2 LPs)John Coltrane: Afro Blue Impressions (Vinyl LP: Pablo/ Craft Recordings, 2 LPs)
The recordings that make up Afro Blue Impressions were acquired by jazz impresario/auteur Norman Granz during the tours he produced for many jazz artists during the 1960s, though they weren't issued until 1973. Recorded at shows in Berlin and Stockholm, the John Coltrane Quartet -- with pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison, and drummer Elvin Jones -- is in tremendous form here, using a familiar repertoire in order to expand upon the group's own building blocks in creating the new post-harmonic system that the saxophonist was developing. Reissued on vinyl by Craft Recordings, released as part of the Craft Jazz Essentials series. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £34.99 


Miles Davis Quintet: Steamin' With (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)
Featuring an all-star personnel of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones, Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet is one of the four albums that came out of the two legendary 1956 sessions of the quintet. Features compositions by Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Richard Rodgers and more. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £29.99 

Miles Davis Quintet: Steamin' With (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)


Miles Davis Quintet: Miles (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)Miles Davis Quintet: Miles (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)
The album is the debut record by the Miles Davis Quintet, and generally known by the original title Miles as indicated on the cover. It features the same personnel that played on the classic 1956 sessions, consisting of Davis, John Coltrane, Red Garland and Philly Joe Jones. Reissued on vinyl by Craft Recordings, released as part of the Craft Jazz Essentials series. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £29.99 


Miles Davis All Stars: Walkin' (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)
More than sixty years old, Walkin' still remains a crucial staging post in the history of jazz. Originally recorded in 1954 and initially issued on a couple of 10 albums, it features a mix of quintet and sextet material, recorded during his spell with Prestige Records and produced by Bob Weinstock. The various tracks were gathered together, along with a previously unreleased track, and issued as a 12 album in 1957. The end result is an important album in the development of bop music, a genre Miles Davis practically owned. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £29.99 

Miles Davis All Stars: Walkin' (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)


Miles Davis: Bags' Groove (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)Miles Davis: Bags' Groove (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)
Bags' Groove was recorded by Rudy Van Gelder and originally released by Prestige Records. It compiles material from two 10" LPs recorded in 1954, plus two alternative takes. It is described in Allmusic as "…a cornerstone of the post-bop genre." It features Thelonious Monk on the two takes of the title track, Sonny Rollins on tenor saxophone, Kenny Clarke on drums, Milt Jackson on vibraphone, Percy Heath on bass, and Horace Silver on piano in "Airegin" and "But Not For Me (Take 1)." Reissued on vinyl by Craft Recordings, released as part of the Craft Jazz Essentials series. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £29.99 


Thelonious Monk Trio: Thelonious Monk (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)
Thelonious Monk: the legendary jazz pianist and composer, considered one of the giants of American music. This is one of Monk's pivotal recordings and is an essential addition to all jazz collections. The album features his earliest recordings for the Prestige label performed with Gerry Mapp and Art Blakey or Max Roach. The album contains the earliest recorded version of the jazz standards "Blue Monk" and "Bemsha Swing". (Universal Music) 


Price:  £29.99 

Thelonious Monk Trio: Thelonious Monk (Vinyl LP: Prestige/ Craft Recordings)


Sun Ra: The Futuristic Sounds Of (Vinyl LP: Savoy/ Craft Recordings)Sun Ra: The Futuristic Sounds Of (Vinyl LP: Savoy/ Craft Recordings)
This special 60th Anniversary reissue of groundbreaking jazz artist Sun Ra's iconic 1962 album The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra features all-analogue re-mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI. The package includes Tom Wilson's original liner notes, plus insightful new essays by jazz historian Ben Young, as well as by Irwin Chusid, who is also a journalist, radio personality, and author. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £29.99 


Wes Montgomery: The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of (Vinyl LP: Riverside/ Craft Recordings)
Originally released on Riverside in 1960, The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery was recorded over just two days at the Reeves Sound Studios in New York City. Joining guitarist Wes are Tommy Flanagan (piano), Percy Heath (bass) and his brother Albert Heath (drums), one of the smallest groups Wes would record with during the course of his career. Yet what stands out more than anything are two innovations from Wes; his thumb picking playing style and the use of octaves.

Both fans and critics have lauded this album as the pinnacle of his studio work. It has been described variously as it burst onto the US scene in 1960 like a benign hurricane, and it still sounds like a gale 50 years later and this established him as the most formidable modern guitarist of the era and eventually its most influential. The album remains one of the most revered in jazz circles and should be an essential addition to any jazz collection. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £29.99 

Wes Montgomery: The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of (Vinyl LP: Riverside/ Craft Recordings)


Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Ugetsu (Vinyl LP: Riverside/ Craft Recordings)Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Ugetsu (Vinyl LP: Riverside/ Craft Recordings)
Ugetsu, a 1963 live set from the original Birdland, finds Art Blakey & His Jazz Messengers at the peak of their powers with one of their strongest lineups. The group primarily recorded sessions for Alfred Lion's Blue Note label, but this Riverside date is as strong as any of their previous outings. Having acquired the services of trombonist Curtis Fuller in 1961, the Messengers' front line was its most robust ever, with Wayne Shorter and Freddie Hubbard consistently turning in some of their best performances. Reissued on vinyl by Craft Recordings, released as part of the Craft Jazz Essentials series. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £29.99 


Chet Baker: Chet (Vinyl LP: Riverside/ Craft Recordings)
Few musicians have embodied the romantic, and ultimately tragic, jazz figure as totally as Chesney "Chet" Baker (1929-88). Unschooled yet eloquent in his music, the Baker mystique has only reinforced one of the most haunting trumpet styles and ingenuous approaches to jazz singing. Chet is Chet Baker's classic 1959 Riverside album featuring jazz legends Bill Evans, Kenny Burrell, Herbie Mann and Pepper Adams. Cut from the original analogue master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio. (Universal Music)

180g vinyl pressing. 


Price:  £34.99 

Chet Baker: Chet (Vinyl LP: Riverside/ Craft Recordings)


Chet Baker: Plays The Best Of Lerner And Loewe (Vinyl LP: Riverside/ Craft Recordings)Chet Baker: Plays The Best Of Lerner And Loewe (Vinyl LP: Riverside/ Craft Recordings)
This is one of the last Chet Baker albums recorded in the States prior to the artists relocating to Europe in the early '60s. Likewise, the eight-tune collection was the final effort issued during his brief association with the Riverside Records imprint. The project was undoubtedly spurred on by the overwhelming success of the Shelly Manne-led combo that interpreted titles taken from the score to My Fair Lady (1956). In addition to becoming an instant classic, Manne's LP was also among of the best-selling jazz platters of all time. While Baker and crew may have gained their inspiration from Manne, these readings are comparatively understated. That said, the timelessness of the melodies, coupled with the assembled backing aggregate, make 'Chet Baker Plays the best of Lerner and Loewe' a memorable concept album. (Universal Music)

180g vinyl pressing. 


Price:  £34.99 


Bill Evans Trio: How My Heart Sings! (Vinyl LP: Riverside/ Craft Recordings)
Bill Evans's return to full activity in 1962 came almost a year after his celebrated trio recordings at the Village Vanguard. Just ten days after that classic "live" session, bassist Scott LaFaro had died in a highway accident. Evans, deeply shaken, eventually reformed his trio with the same drummer (Paul Motian) and Chuck Israels on bass. Their first visit to a studio was for a dual purpose: to make an all-ballad-tempo album, Moonbeams, and this "normal" set at the same time.

It was producer Orrin Keepnews's thought that recording eight slow numbers in a row might prove unduly enervating; accordingly, the total two-album repertoire was interspersed over three days of recording and the net result was two excellent additions to the Evans catalogue. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £29.99 

Bill Evans Trio: How My Heart Sings! (Vinyl LP: Riverside/ Craft Recordings)


Bill Evans Trio: Moon Beams (Vinyl LP: Riverside/ Craft Recordings)Bill Evans Trio: Moon Beams (Vinyl LP: Riverside/ Craft Recordings)
Recorded in New York City over the course of three sessions in May and June of 1962, Moon Beams is the first studio recording by the Bill Evans Trio following the sudden accidental death of bassist Scott LaFaro the year before. Chuck Israels replaces LaFaro, playing more of an accompanist's role than was Scott's style, and Paul Motian resumes his drumming duties with the trio. This lineup produced material for two albums that would be amongst Evans's most popular. Moonbeams includes ballads from the '62 sessions, which also yielded the more upbeat How My Heart Sings that same year. Moonbeams captures some of Evans's most introspective playing, his sense of loss evident but soothed by Israels's empathetic performances. Evans also expresses his lyricism underlaid with rhythmic firmness, even in the extraordinarily slow "Love in Vain." (Universal Music)

180g vinyl pressing. 


Price:  £29.99 


Charlie Parker: Now's The Time - The Genius Of Charlie Parker (Vinyl LP: Verve)
This 1957 release, the third in a series of albums expanding on Bird's 10" Clef releases from the early 1950's, Now's The Time boasts some of Parker's purest recordings and strongest playing, featuring two different quartets. His lyrical and fluid improvisations on cuts like "The Song Is You" and "Laird Baird" are on full display, prime examples of his unmatched genius. This Verve By Request title is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Third Man in Detroit. (UNiversal Music) 


Price:  £34.99 

Charlie Parker: Now's The Time - The Genius Of Charlie Parker (Vinyl LP: Verve)


Max Roach + 4: Moon Faced And Starry Eyed (Vinyl LP: Mercury/Verve)Max Roach + 4: Moon Faced And Starry Eyed (Vinyl LP: Mercury/Verve)
Roach's solid group featuring Ray Bryant, Julian Priester, and Stanley and Tommy Turrentine are joined by the great Abbey Lincoln on vocals for two tracks, "Never Leave Me" and Cole Porter's "I Concentrate On You." A fantastic and often overlooked album, this is the first US reissue since the album's release in 1960. This Verve By Request title is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Third Man in Detroit. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £34.99 


Junior Mance: Junior (Vinyl LP: Verve)
Pianist Junior Mance, a veteran of albums and dates with Dinah Washington and Cannonball Adderley, was offered his own recording date by Norman Granz during a session with Dizzy Gillespie. The result is this 1959 debut album, a bluesy and swinging date with Gillespie's drummer Lex Humphries and bassist Ray Brown. Highlights include the original "Jubilation" and Cole Porter's "Love For Sale". This Verve By Request title is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Third Man in Detroit. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £34.99 

Junior Mance: Junior (Vinyl LP: Verve)


Abbey Lincoln: Over The Years (Vinyl LP: Verve)Abbey Lincoln: Over The Years (Vinyl LP: Verve)
Recorded in 2000, mostly in New York, Over the Years is aimed at summing up Abbey Lincoln's long career and is likely her best album. Performing in quartet and accompanied, on some tracks, by the tenor saxophone of Joe Lovano or the trumpet of Jerry Gonzalez, the singer delivers, as usual, a tour de chant punctuated by her singular, nonchalant, haranguing and poetic voice. Borrowing from her own compositions or standards, such as Michel Legrand's "Windmills Of Your Mind", Abbey Lincoln continues her personal story of music and song. Abbey sings to her people, the people of blues, gospel and jazz, as if the work songs of yesteryear had never ceased to resonate within her. A subtlety of interpretation that culminates in the apotheosis of an a cappella "Tender As A Rose". This 140-gram vinyl is the first international vinyl reissue, pressed at GZ, and is presented in a wide-spine, single-sleeve jacket. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £34.99 


Jack Wilson: Easterly Winds (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
The Chicago-born pianist and composer Jack Wilson enjoyed a wide-range of musical associations including work with the likes of Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Lou Rawls, Gerald Wilson, Roy Ayers, and recording leader dates for Atlantic before he made his Blue Note debut in 1966 with the highly unique Something Personal. Easterly Winds—the second of Wilson’s three Blue Note albums and arguably his finest—found the pianist at the helm of a first-rate hard bop sextet with Lee Morgan on trumpet, Garnett Brown on trombone, Jackie McLean on alto saxophone, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. The six-song set presented four Wilson originals including the groovy opener “Do It" and the sublime ballad “Nirvanna” in addition to a tender rendition of the Johnny Mandel tune “A Time for Love” and “Frank’s Tune” by Frank Strozier, which was recently reimagined by Makaya McCraven on his 2021 Blue Note remix project Deciphering the Message.

This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket. (Blue Note Records) view larger image


Price:  £39.99 

Jack Wilson: Easterly Winds (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)


Sonny Rollins: Newk's Time (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)Sonny Rollins: Newk's Time (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
Sonny Rollins first appeared on a Blue Note recording session in 1949 as part of Bud Powell’s Modernists during a period when the saxophonist was coming up on the scene and cutting his teeth alongside bebop innovators including Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis. After he began leading his own record dates in the 1950s, Rollins hooked up with Alfred Lion again and recorded four tremendous albums for Blue Note in less than a year between December 1956 and November 1957. Following two quintet dates that were released as Sonny Rollins, Volume 1 and Vol. 2, the saxophone colossus returned to Van Gelder Studio in September 1957 with a quartet comprised of pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Philly Joe Jones to record Newk’s Time (the album title was a reference to his nickname Newk due to his resemblance to Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Don Newcombe). Rollins & Co. romp through a typically eclectic set that includes pieces by his jazz peers (Miles Davis’ “Tune Up” & Kenny Dorham’s “Asiatic Raes”), Broadway showtunes (the saxophone-drums duet “Surrey with the Fringe on Top” & the sumptuous “Namely You”), pop songs (“Wonderful! Wonderful!” which was a hit for Johnny Mathis in 1956), and Rollins’ own spirited original “Blues for Philly Joe.”

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £25.99 


Grant Green: Green Street (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
Grant Green began his lengthy and prolific Blue Note career with the 1961 release of his debut album Grant’s First Stand, a stellar soul jazz outing that featured the guitarist in an organ trio with Baby Face Willette on Hammond B3 and Ben Dixon on drums. When he returned to Van Gelder Studio next in April of that year it was once again with a trio but this time one with a leaner sound featuring Green backed by bass (Ben Tucker) and drums (Dave Bailey). The spare setting and sturdy support created spacious realms for Green to expound at length, unspooling his inventive, bluesy lines on a 5-song set that included the no-nonsense originals “No. 1 Green Street,” “Grant’s Dimensions,” and “Green With Envy.” Green also showcased his singular tone on a stunning version of Thelonious Monk’s “‘Round About Midnight” and an alluring rendition of the standard “Alone Together.”

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £25.99 

Grant Green: Green Street (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)


Tina Brooks: True Blue (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)Tina Brooks: True Blue (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
In addition to appearing as a sideman on dates led by Kenny Burrell, Freddie Hubbard, and Jackie McLean, tenor saxophonist Tina Brooks recorded several of his own Blue Note sessions as a leader between 1958-61. However, only one would be released during Brooks’ too-brief lifetime, the hard bop masterpiece True Blue. A jewel of the Blue Note catalog, the album was recorded in June 1960 just one week after Brooks appeared on Hubbard’s own Blue Note debut Open Sesame. Once again Brooks and Hubbard joined forces on the frontline with Duke Jordan on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Art Taylor on drums. The quintet take flight on five of Brooks’ distinctive compositions including “Good Old Soul,” “Up Tight’s Creek,” and the grooving title track before closing with an elegant version of the standard “Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You.”

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £25.99 


Wayne Shorter: Night Dreamer (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
1964 was a pivotal year in the musical life of Wayne Shorter. Early in the year the saxophonist was still a member of Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, appearing on classic Blue Note albums like Free for All and Indestructible. That summer he would join the Miles Davis Quintet, cementing a line-up that became one of the seminal bands in jazz history. But before that he stepped out confidently as a Blue Note artist when he entered Van Gelder Studio in April to record his masterful label debut as a leader Night Dreamer. The sublime 6-song set signaled the arrival of one of the most important new voices in jazz, a visionary composer and thrilling improviser with a wholly distinctive sound. Timeless Shorter originals including “Black Nile,” “Virgo,” “Armageddon,” and the extraordinary title track are given transcendent performances by a quintet featuring trumpeter Lee Morgan, pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Reggie Workman, and drummer Elvin Jones.

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £25.99 

Wayne Shorter: Night Dreamer (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)


Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Mosaic (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Mosaic (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
The 1961 album Mosaic marked a pivotal moment in the story of Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers with the drummer welcoming the arrival of trumpeter Freddie Hubbard (replacing Lee Morgan) and pianist Cedar Walton (replacing Bobby Timmons). The band also expanded to a sextet with the addition of trombonist Curtis Fuller who joined existing members tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter and bassist Jymie Merritt to establish a powerful new line-up that would perform together until 1964 and record several classic albums including Buhaina’s Delight and Free for All. Mosaic opens with a flourish as the band launches into the magnificent title track composed by Walton, and the set also includes memorable compositions by Shorter (“Children of the Night”), Fuller (“Arabia”), and Hubbard (“Down Under” and “Crisis”).

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £25.99 


Hank Mobley: No Room For Squares (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
In addition to boasting one of Reid Miles’ greatest album cover designs, Hank Mobley’s 1963 album No Room for Squares is also a marvel for the music alone. The tenor saxophonist had already notched several hard bop masterpieces in his Blue Note belt including Soul Station and Workout, but No Room for Squares was an even more ambitious effort that found Mobley elevating his game as a bandleader, improviser, and a composer. The album was drawn from two different sessions each featuring a different quintet line-up. A March 7 date found Mobley with trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Butch Warren, and drummer Philly Joe Jones who deliver thrilling performances of the Mobley originals “Up a Step” and “Old World, New Imports.” Mobley returned to Van Gelder Studio on October 2 with Jones once again on drums plus trumpeter Lee Morgan, pianist Andrew Hill, and bassist John Ore to lay down takes of Mobley’s skittering tunes “Three Way Split” and “No Room for Squares” in addition to two remarkable Morgan tunes: the gorgeous ballad “Carolyn” and the grooving “Me ‘N You.”

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £25.99 

Hank Mobley: No Room For Squares (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)


Lou Donaldson: Alligator Bogaloo (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)Lou Donaldson: Alligator Bogaloo (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
Alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson scored a hit with “Alligator Bogaloo,” the jaunty and memorable lead cut and title track of his 1967 soul jazz classic, but the album brims with funky grooves from start to finish with the breezy “Aw Shucks,” rollicking “Rev. Moses,” and the sinuous minimalism of “One Cylinder.” Alligator Bogaloo marked the beginning of a fruitful and long-running collaboration between Lou and organ master Dr. Lonnie Smith, with the stellar band also featuring the young guitar star George Benson, influential drummer Leo Morris (aka Idris Muhammad), and cornetist Melvin Lastie.

This Classic Vinyl Edition is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £25.99 


Bud Powell: Time Waits (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
In the late 1940s, Blue Note founder Alfred Lion became enthralled with the modern sounds of bebop and began recording several of the new music’s innovators including the brilliant pianist Bud Powell, who Lion dubbed The Amazing Bud Powell. Powell could be erratic, but as a producer Lion always seemed to draw the best out of the piano master, and cut numerous classic sides including “Un Poco Loco” and “Bouncing with Bud.” The fourth volume of The Amazing Bud Powell series, titled Time Waits, was recorded in 1958 and found Powell in particularly fine form on an ebullient set of his original tunes including “Buster Rides Again,” “Monopoly,” and “John’s Abbey.” Powell’s playing is endlessly inventive as he takes flight in a trio setting with bassist Sam Jones and Philly Joe Jones, who elevates the session with some of his most inspired drumming on record.

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £25.99 

Bud Powell: Time Waits (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)


Herb Geller: Fire In The West (Vinyl LP: Jazz Workshop)Herb Geller: Fire In The West (Vinyl LP: Jazz Workshop)

Audiophile grade 180g vinyl. 


Price:  £33.99 


Wes Montgomery: The Complete Full House Recordings (CD: Riverside/ Craft Recordings, 2 CDs)
Released to celebrate influential jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery's centennial, The Complete Full House Recordings brings together all the recordings from the Full House sessions with two previously unreleased performances. Featuring Johnny Griffin, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers & Jimmy Cobb this collection has new liner notes by journalist Bill Milkowski . (Universal Music) 


Price:  £15.99 

Wes Montgomery: The Complete Full House Recordings (CD: Riverside/ Craft Recordings, 2 CDs)


Bud Powell: The Best Of, 1944-62 Vol.2 (CD: Acrobat, 2 CDs)Bud Powell: The Best Of, 1944-62 Vol.2 (CD: Acrobat, 2 CDs)
Hailing from Harlem, jazz pianist Bud Powell was born on 27 September 1924 and would become one of the most important and influential jazz musicians of the post-war era. Brief, patchy and sadly interrupted by illness and misfortune as his career was, he helped change the conventions of jazz piano at the birth of bebop, and introduced techniques taken up by dozens of noted players in his wake.

Abandoning the established striding left-hand technique in favour of spacey irregular patterns of dissonant chords, while the right hand developed rapid free-flowing melodic lines effectively mimicking the saxophone style of Charlie Parker on the piano. It resulted at times in inspired, brilliant and breathtaking solos, with a daring attack and intensity, which greatly influenced artists of later years such as Bill Evans. Acrobat’s 2CD set, The Best Of Bud Powell 1944-62 Vol.1 (ADDCD3116), presented a selection of his most noted recordings, however there were many of equal quality and interest that could not be included.

Therefore, this additional 2CD collection covers a similar era, with pieces selected from a wide spectrum of the projects and periods which gave rise to some of his best-known performances. The regard in which he was held by his peers is underlined by the litany of jazz greats with whom he performs on many of these recordings, artists such as: Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Sonny Stitt, Fats Navarro, Art Blakey, Ray Brown, Max Roach, Buddy Rich, Percy Heath and Curly Russell. It’s an absorbing and entertaining showcase for a fine jazz musician whose influence can be traced in the music of Horace Silver, Wynton Kelly, Andre Previn, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, and Chick Corea. (Trapeze Music) 


Price:  £12.99 


Benny Goodman: Hits Collection Vol.1 1931-38 (CD: Acrobat, 4 CDs)
Benny Goodman was a clarinettist and band leader, equally at home with small bands or fronting a large orchestra, whose music covered the spectrum of jazz and popular music in the four decades spanning World War Two, and who earned the nickname of “The King Of Swing” as a pioneer of that style of jazz. He was so popular that he racked up well over 150 hits in the quarter century or so from 1930 to the early 1950s. Indeed, so successful was his catalogue, this collection has been extended across two volumes: this 94-track 4CD covers the years from 1931-38,

This collection comprises all hits with his orchestra and small bands during these years on the Melotone, Columbia and Victor labels. It features his No.1 hits from these years and includes: Moon Glow, It’s Been So Long, Goody-Goody, The Glory of Love, These Foolish Things, You Turned The Tables On Me, Goodnight My Love, This Year’s Kisses, Don’t Be That Way and I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart. It includes performances by featured vocalists Jack Teagarden, Billie Holiday, Mildred Bailey, Scrappy Lambert, Ann Graham, Helen Ward, Ray Hendricks, Margaret McCrae, Jimmy Rushing, Betty Van and Martha Tilton. It’s a fascinating and enlightening overview of a key era of popular music when swing arrived on the scene, and a fine showcase for one of the most influential musicians of his times. (Trapeze Music) 


Price:  £19.99 

Benny Goodman: Hits Collection Vol.1 1931-38 (CD: Acrobat, 4 CDs)


Benny Goodman: Hits Collection Vol.2 1939-53 (CD: Acrobat, 3 CDs)Benny Goodman: Hits Collection Vol.2 1939-53 (CD: Acrobat, 3 CDs)
This collection comprises all of Goodman's hits with his orchestra and small bands on the Victor, Columbia, Okeh & Capitol labels. It features his No.1 hits from these years: Darn That Dream, There’ll Be Some Changes Made, Somebody Else Is Taking My Place, Jersey Bounce and Taking A Chance On Love. The collection includes performances by featured vocalists such as: Louise Tobin, Mildred Bailey, Martha Tilton, Helen Forrest, Peggy Lee, Art Lund, Lou McGarrity, Dick Haymes, Jane Harvey, Dottie Reid, Peggy Mann, Liza Morrow, Eve Young, Matt Dennis, Lillian Lane, Al Hendrickson, Jimmy Ricks, Nancy Reed and Helen Ward.

He continued to play swing, but he practiced and performed classical pieces and commissioned them for clarinet. Despite health problems, he continued to perform, his last concert being six days before his death on 13 June 1986, from a heart attack. It’s a fascinating and enlightening showcase for one of the most influential musicians of his times. (Trapeze Music) 


Price:  £16.99 


Hank Jones: Solo & With His Own Bands 1947-59 (CD: Acrobat, 2 CDs)
Hank Jones was a jazz pianist of the post-war decades, whose active recording career spanned 60 years, but who did much of his most renowned work during the post-bop years of the 1950s. Jones, one of seven children, was raised in a musical family and studied piano at an early age under the influence of Earl Hines, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, and Art Tatum. Learning his trade as bebop developed in the 40s, he was a noted sideman with many different leaders’ bands, but, with a style that critics called: “eloquent, lyrical and impeccable.” He made many noted recordings as a solo artist and leading his own small groups, recording for a variety of labels during these years.

This 42-track collection comprises selected recordings from these years of Hank Jones solo performances, plus recordings leading his own trios, quartets and quintets on the Clef, Savoy, Epic and Capitol labels. He played with many of the top names of the day, and this collection features performances with Charles Mingus, Max Roach, Ray Brown, Wendell Marshall, Kenny Clarke, Donald Byrd, Herbie Mann, Barry Galbraith, Milt Hinton, Paul Chambers, Kenny Burrell, Elvin Jones and others.

It includes titles from his albums Hank Jones Piano, Urbanity, The Jazz Trio Of Hank Jones, Hank Jones Quartet & Quintet, Blue Bird, The Rhythm Section, Have You Met Hank Jones, Relaxin’ At Camarillo, Swing Songs From Gigi, The Talented Touch and Porgy & Bess: Swinging Impressions. It’s a varied and fascinating insight into his approach to music in different environments playing standards and originals, and an entertaining showcase for an often overlooked jazz luminary. (Trapeze Music) 


Price:  £12.99 

Hank Jones: Solo & With His Own Bands 1947-59 (CD: Acrobat, 2 CDs)


Johnny Hartman: Smooth & Swinging - The Singles & Albums Collection 1947-58 (CD: Acrobat, 2 CDs)Johnny Hartman: Smooth & Swinging - The Singles & Albums Collection 1947-58 (CD: Acrobat, 2 CDs)
Johnny Hartman was a jazz and easy listening singer with a rich baritone voice and a stylish way with ballads who recorded with some of the top bands and accompanists of the day during his career, including Earl Hines, Dizzy Gillespie and Erroll Garner. Unlike his more middle-of-the-road peers in the world of post-war sophisticated pop, he did not make records aimed at the singles charts so is less well-known than artists like Tony Bennett and Mel Torme. However, he was a singer who was highly-regarded by his peers, and became famous during the 1970s for an album he made with John Coltrane.

This 52-track collection comprises material drawn from singles and albums, featuring recordings with the orchestras of Earl Hines, Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Carroll, George Williams, Norman Leyden, Perez Prado, Howard Biggs and Frank Hunter, plus the Errol Garner Trio. It includes selected titles from Regent/Savoy album Johnny Hartman Sings, and his albums on the Bethlehem label Songs From The Heart, All Of Me: The Debonair Mr. Hartman and And I Thought About You. He was a fine interpreter of the repertoire of the Great American Songbook, and this collection offers an insight into the talents of a performer who has not has the attention he merits, and is an entertaining showcase for his work. (Trapeze Music) 


Price:  £12.99 


Zoe Rahman: Colour Of Sound (CD: Manushi)
The universe of sound inhabited by pianist Zoe Rahman contains worlds of influence and tradition that enable her to pour out melodies and arrangements that are enchanted with spirit, poise, and energy. Her vast range of musical reference radiates a special love and appreciation for the iconic McCoy Tyner, as well as friend and mentor Joanne Brackeen, filtering these influences into a deeply personal sound that conjures the folkloric yearning reminiscent of Bheki Mseleku.

Zoe's mastery of form creates visionary textures, as on the album opener, 'Dance of Time', where she utilises Rowland Sutherland on flute and sets the band off into sparks of fire. The magical timbre of her brother Idris Rahman's clarinet melds beautifully with the piano on 'Little Ones', the melody rising gorgeously, journeying in and out of different sensations and feelings. Zoe's music has an energy that makes you want to dance, like on 'Sweet Jasmine', with its joyful and gloriously irresistible South African funk rhythm and vibration. 'Roots' pushes the envelope of the trio format, whilst 'Peace Garden' gently charms and beguiles. 'Unity' showcases Zoe's compositional brilliance and intricacy, and the skill of her orchestration leaves you with the feeling that you've been listening to a much bigger band than just eight musicians.

Sensations and vibrations are a major element of Zoe Rahman's music. She reaches deep into the soul of the listener, conjuring sounds from a broad musical palette, drawing you into her mysterious and transparent, earthy and heavenly, contemporary and ancient worlds. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £14.99 

Zoe Rahman: Colour Of Sound (CD: Manushi)


Joshua Redman: Where We Are (CD: Blue Note)Joshua Redman: Where We Are (CD: Blue Note)
Acclaimed saxophonist Joshua Redman makes his Blue Note debut with where are we, his first-ever vocal project which features vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa, pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Joe Sanders, and drummer Brian Blade plus special guests Nicholas Payton on trumpet, Kurt Rosenwinkel on guitar, Peter Bernstein on guitar, and Joel Ross on vibraphone. At its core the album is both a celebration and critique of America-each song is about a specific geographical location in the United States-but it is also, to varying degrees, a ballads album, a standards album, an album of romantic longing, an album of social reflection, an album of melodic invention, and an album of improvisational adventure. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £13.99 


Ketil Bjørnstad: Nightwalker (CD: Grappa, 2 CDs)
Nightwalker is a suite inspired by Ketil Bjornstads own experiences as a 'nightwalker' ...in nature, in the streets of Oslo or in a musical landscape. In Ketil's own words:" A nightwalker can hold an entire life in his head while he is walking. This suite is based on both dreams and experiences, states of mind we all have, with their sudden shifts, and often with a dramatic arc we don't understand, because it is only afterwards that we can grasp what happened and why things turned out as they did. The entire suite was written in the course of the winter, spring and summer of 2022, that dark year that none of us had envisaged.

CD2 contains the Nightwalker suite played on the classic Fender Rhodes piano, sent through an equally classic Leslie that creates this almost ghostly intensity and a unique atmosphere which give the suite a totally different vibe. (Proper Music)  


Price:  £27.99 

Ketil Bjørnstad: Nightwalker (CD: Grappa, 2 CDs)


Scott Hamilton Quartet: At PizzaExpress Live - In London (CD: PX Records)Scott Hamilton Quartet: At PizzaExpress Live - In London (CD: PX Records)
Marking 40 years since his first appearance at PizaExpress Live in London, the revered US saxophonist Scott Hamilton releases a new live album, the first release on the newly formed PizzaExpress label PX Records. Having appeared at the club in Dean Street, Soho, across six different decades, Hamilton is very much part of the fabric of PizzaExpress Live and this new live album, which features Scott's UK-based quartet of John Pearce (piano), Dave Green (bass) and Steve Brown (drums), captures a 7-track set featuring an array of classic standards including The Girl From Ipanema and Pure Imagination. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £13.99 


Enrico Pieranunzi, Bert Joris & Frankfurt Radio Big Band: Chet Remembered (CD: Challenge)
In this tribute to the famous Chet Baker, Enrico Pieranunzi continues his collaboration with Bert Joris for their second album together on Challenge Records. "This CD has a very special meaning for me. Remembering Chet takes me back to 1979 when I first met him. That meeting would soon prove to be a turning point in my musical life. Playing together, sharing concerts or recording sessions with him allowed me to be in close contact with an artist of rare jazz experience who caused an enormous change in my playing. Many of the tunes on this CD come from those important years of collaboration." - Enrico Pieranunzi (Proper Music) 


Price:  £14.99 

Enrico Pieranunzi, Bert Joris & Frankfurt Radio Big Band: Chet Remembered (CD: Challenge)


AMC Trio featuring Randy Brecker: Following The Light (CD: Jazzline)AMC Trio featuring Randy Brecker: Following The Light (CD: Jazzline)
The Slovakian jazz group AMC Trio together with the legendary Randy Brecker on trumpet and on two songs Randy's wife Ada Rovatti. Despite the name, the band does not perform exclusively in trio formation, but expands the lineup with illustrious guests of the jazz genre.

The AMC Trio band has been around for about twenty years and consists of pianist Peter Adamkovic, bassist Martin Marincak and drummer Stanislav Cvanciger. It has its musical foundations in mainstream jazz but over the years has managed to develop its very own musical sound and style. The band incorporates many self-experienced stories and emotions in their compositions. Although their music is influenced by Slovak music, it goes beyond the usual jazz progressions and touches on a number of diverse genres. For example, the wide range of melodies is inspired by popular and classical music, melodies from Eastern Slovak folk music, nature, literature and spirituality. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £14.99 


AMC Trio featuring Randy Brecker: Following The Light (Vinyl LP: Jazzline)
 


Price:  £29.99 

AMC Trio featuring Randy Brecker: Following The Light (Vinyl LP: Jazzline)


Solveig Slettahjell: Gullokk (CD: Jazzland)Solveig Slettahjell: Gullokk (CD: Jazzland)
The idea of a selected "Nordic Songbook" presented as a quartet album is something that Norwegian vocalist Solveig Slettahjell has nurtured for several years. Throughout, Solveig's unhurried, easy-going style places its mark upon each of the songs so clearly, it would be easy to assume they were all her own. Her voice, immediately recognisable, dominates without overpowering the measured accompaniment. No excesses, no superfluous ornamentation. In this eclectic collection we find Edvard Grieg's "Ved Rondane", Eva Dahlgren's "Guldlock", Alf Proysen's "Trassvisa hennes Tora", songs by Allan Edwall, Orup and Anne Grete Preus, interspersed with folk tunes and newly written material by Slettahjell herself and Andreas Ulvo. The songs are brought together in the performance of them, their unification both organic and whole, as though all sprang from the same source.

The quartet comprises some of the finest musicians in Norwegian jazz today; Andreas Ulvo on piano, Trygve Waldemar Fiske on bass and Pal Hausken on drums. Together they treat these songs with the same love and creative spark that characterises jazz's handling of "the American Songbook". The whole project has the feeling of a kind of Scandinavian chamber jazz inspired by many who have gone before - Zetterlund, Johanson, Brockstedt, Rosseland - but with Slettahjell and the quartet's clear ownership and personal signature as the central element. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £13.99 


Solveig Slettahjell: Gullokk (Vinyl LP: Jazzland)
 


Price:  £25.99 

Solveig Slettahjell: Gullokk (Vinyl LP: Jazzland)


Henry Threadgill Ensemble: The Other One (CD: PI Recordings)Henry Threadgill Ensemble: The Other One (CD: PI Recordings)
The latest from Pulitzer Prize-winner Henry Threadgill, The Other One, is comprised of a three-movement composition entitled "Of Valence" that was the musical component of a large multimedia work performed and recorded live at Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn, New York in May, 2022.

Written for a 12-piece ensemble - made up of an unusual instrumental combination of three saxophones, violin, viola, two cellos, tuba, percussion, piano and two bassoons - The New York Times described the performance as possessing "a galvanic sense of swing," and "in lock-step with his every surprise rhythmic feint - producing an obliquely danceable, straightforwardly joyous Threadgillian energy." (Proper Music) 


Price:  £13.99 


Don Rendell: Live At Klooks Kleek (CD: O.M. Swagger)
Don Rendell is one of the legends of British Jazz. Although best-known for the classic albums like Shades of Blue and Dusk Fire he recorded in the 60s as part of the Don Rendell Ian Carr Quintet he made his name in the 50s as one of the leading tenor players on the British scene moving from side-man to recording under his own name. Thus, when Dick Jordan and his partner Geoff Williams set up their London club, Klooks Kleek, the special guest on the opening night in January, 1961 was Don Rendell.

Rendell went on to make numerous appearances at Klooks Kleek as he always drew a crowd. This date was recorded on 11th September, 1963 with a line-up of Don Rendell (tenor/soprano saxophone). Kenny Baker (trumpet), Glenn Hughes (Baritone Saxophone), Johnny Mealing (piano), Chick Andrews (drums) and Lennie Williams (bass). The band play covers like 'Billy's Bounce', 'Mean to Me' and 'Straight No Chaser' with the front line cutting loose with some amazing solos. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £12.99 

Don Rendell: Live At Klooks Kleek (CD: O.M. Swagger)


Gary Burton: The New Quartet (Vinyl LP: ECM)Gary Burton: The New Quartet (Vinyl LP: ECM)
As well as being the great vibes innovator of the era, Gary Burton has been a most astute talent scout. In 1973, The New Quartet introduced Abraham Laboriel: this was the first recording of the bassist who would shortly become one of the most in-demand session players across all genres. "It must be emphasised that Laboriel sounds like a major artist in the making with his astonishing bass work," wrote Melody Maker.

Guitarist Mick Goodrick also emerged as a player to watch with this album, shining in a well-conceived programme with compositions of Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Carla Bley, Mike Gibbs and bandleader Burton.

Luminessence, ECM's new audiophile vinyl-reissue series, is a kaleidoscope, shedding light on the jewels of the label's deep catalogue in elegant, high-quality editions - audiophile vinyl pressing, high-grade tip-on gatefold sleeves that include new liner notes. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £36.99 


Don Cherry, Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden & Ed Blackwell: Old And New Dreams (Vinyl LP: ECM)
Don Cherry, Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden and Ed Blackwell came together to celebrate the work of mentor Ornette Coleman, but the repertoire of their Old and New Dreams quartet soon blossomed into a project of much wider scope, addressing also the musical experiences the players had made individually in their travels around the world.

As well as superlative versions of Ornette's "Lonely Woman" and "Open or Close" this highly influential album, now regard as a classic of new jazz, includes pieces by Cherry and Blackwell inspired by African music, Redman's enigmatic "Orbit of La-Ba", and Haden's impressionistic "Song for the Whales". Recorded in Oslo in August 1979 and produced by Manfred Eicher.

Luminessence, ECM's new audiophile vinyl-reissue series, is a kaleidoscope, shedding light on the jewels of the label's deep catalogue in elegant, high-quality editions - audiophile vinyl pressing, high-grade tip-on gatefold sleeves that include new liner notes. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £36.99 

Don Cherry, Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden & Ed Blackwell: Old And New Dreams (Vinyl LP: ECM)


Sam Rivers: The Quest (CD: Red Records)Sam Rivers: The Quest (CD: Red Records)
During the mid-1970's multi-instrumentalist Sam Rivers was at the forefront of the progressing jazz scene, running the famous jazz loft Studio Rivbea and recording large and small ensembles for domestic and foreign labels.

This trio had been playing together for quite a while, and it really shows with the group turning on a dime, presenting a studio version of their continuous live performances of the period. Each of the four performances recorded here feature one of Rivers instruments, leading off his swirling, nasal soprano saxophone on 'Expectation', before moving into the wide open and free flute led improvisation on 'Vision'. With

Dave Holland & Barry Altschul. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £15.99 


Hank Jones Trio (CD: Red Records)
The music produced by the Hank Jones Trio is never nostalgic but firmly planted in the 'nineties, which seen from today, was truly a golden age for piano trios. If at the time you loved the trios of Tommy Flanagan, Cedar Walton, and Kenny Barron, for examples, you already know what to expect from this magnificent live recording from the trio's performance at the Brassgroup Acireale Jazz Festival, July 17, 1991. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £15.99 

Hank Jones Trio (CD: Red Records)


Charlie Parker: The Long Lost Bird Live Afro-Cubop Recordings (CD: Rockbeat / Wienerworld)Charlie Parker: The Long Lost Bird Live Afro-Cubop Recordings (CD: Rockbeat / Wienerworld)
Following the critical praise for the set as a Record Store Day UK release, this CD debut captures one of the biggest names in jazz – at the peak of his powers; live in concert. This live album contains 18 selections from Charlie Parker, one of jazz's greatest saxophonists. All the recordings were captured in the late 1940s and early '50s at storied venues such as Carnegie Hall and Birdland in New York, The Jubilee in Los Angeles, and the Portland Civic Auditorium.

Focused on experiments in Afro-Cuban fusion, Parker is joined by a dazzling array of jazz legends including Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson, Art Blakey, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Red Rodney, and others. The track listing matches the cast of musicians; 'Cherokee' and 'A Night in Tunisia' are captured in pristine form, while maintaining the live-ness and intimate jazz spontaneity of Parker's best recordings.

The package includes an essay by rock keyboardist Keith Emerson. While these tracks have previously appeared on other albums, this is the first time they have been gathered in this package. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £15.99 


Nina Simone: You've Got To Learn (CD: Verve)
The Newport Jazz Festival had always brought the best out in Nina Simone. When she took to that famous stage on July 2, 1966, the audience was treated to the full range of her artistry—from the opener, a breathtaking version of “You’ve Got To Learn” to an electrifying performance of her signature protest anthem “Mississippi Goddam”. Unwilling to let her leave the stage, and after sustained applause, her fans were rewarded with the show-stopping encore, “Music For Lovers”. This previously-unknown and unreleased recording showcasing Nina’s exceptional performance makes it clear why hearing Nina Simone in concert was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £13.99 

Nina Simone: You've Got To Learn (CD: Verve)


Nina Simone: You've Got To Learn (Vinyl LP: Verve)Nina Simone: You've Got To Learn (Vinyl LP: Verve)
 


Price:  £25.99 


Nina Simone: Wild Is The Wind (Vinyl LP: Verve)
'Wild Is The Wind, Nina Simone’s sixth album for Philips, has all the variety her work for the label was known for—from the minimal title track to the traditional folk song “Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair” to the banned-on-radio “Four Women”. In 2020, the album was ranked 212 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £39.99 

Nina Simone: Wild Is The Wind (Vinyl LP: Verve)


Chet Baker: In Europe - A Jazz Tour Of The Nato Countries (Vinyl LP: Wax Time)Chet Baker: In Europe - A Jazz Tour Of The Nato Countries (Vinyl LP: Wax Time)
In 1955, Chet Baker prepared the first European tour of his newly formed quartet. The tour began in Holland in September 1955 and continued with stops in Germany, Switzerland, and France. In Paris, pianist Dick Twardzik died from a heroin overdose in his hotel room on October 21, 1955. He was only 24-years old, and his early death was a tragedy for the jazz world. Chet was marked for life by this tragedy and from that point on his own addiction would haunt him forever.

This album compiles material from three studio sessions made during that European tour. Side A presents music recorded right after Twardzik's death, and Side B has tunes from the only two studio sessions recorded by Baker with Twardzik.

Limited edition 180g vinyl one-off high-definition audiophile pressing, with deluxe inner sleeve - the complete album + bonus track. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £22.99 


Miles Davis + 19 (with orchestra under the direction of Gil Evans): Miles Ahead (Vinyl LP: Pan Am Records)

180g pressing. 


Price:  £22.99 

Miles Davis + 19 (with orchestra under the direction of Gil Evans): Miles Ahead (Vinyl LP: Pan Am Records)


Bill Evans & Shelly Manne with Monty Budwig: Empathy (Vinyl LP:  Soundsgood)Bill Evans & Shelly Manne with Monty Budwig: Empathy (Vinyl LP: Soundsgood)
Bill Evans spent late 1961 and most of 1962 participating on a variety of recording projects which featured him playing either solo or along with musicians with whom he rarely worked. Empathy was the first of only two albums Evans recorded with drummer Shelly Manne (their second collaboration, A Simple Matter of Conviction, was taped in 1966). It features the pianist and drummer in a trio format, with Monty Budwigon bass, and presents an unusual program, with four out of six tunes Evans would never record again in any format.

Limited edition 180g vinyl audiophile pressing - gatefold sleeve, the complete album + 2 bonus tracks. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £25.99 


Yusef Lateef: Cry!-Tender (Vinyl LP: Wax Time)
Although his main instruments were the tenor saxophone and the flute, Yusef Lateef was known for his innovative blending of jazz with Asian music. In addition to the oboe and bassoon (which are both unusual in jazz), he played various other instruments.

Lateef began recording as a leader in 1957 for Savoy Records, a non-exclusive association that continued until 1959. The earliest of his albums for the Prestige subsidiary New Jazz overlap his Savoy Recordings. Cry! - Tender was one of these early albums for New Jazz, recorded during this initial period of Lateef's career and the only session he ever recorded with trumpeter Lonnie Hillyer.

180g vinyl - limited edition audiophile pressing - the complete LP + 2 bonus tracks. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £22.99 

Yusef Lateef: Cry!-Tender (Vinyl LP: Wax Time)


Yusef Lateef: Psychicemotus (Vinyl LP: Impulse)Yusef Lateef: Psychicemotus (Vinyl LP: Impulse)
This excellent 1965 album from the always versatile Yusef Lateef runs the gamut musically, from the Coltrane influenced "Semi-Octo" to soulful reads of standards from Hammerstein/Kern, Fats Waller and Erik Satie, and a beautifully rendered original 'Bamboo Flute Blues'.

This Verve By Request title is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Third Man in Detroit. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £34.99 


Albert Ayler: Love Cry (Vinyl LP: Impulse)
1968's Love Cry mixes Albert Ayler's free jazz with a catchy combination of nursery rhythms and brass band marches, resulting in a peak example of experimental jazz of the period. This was Ayler's last recording with his brother, Donald, who keeps the pace fiery along with the rhythm section of bassist Alan Silva and drummer Milford Graves, and harpsichordist Call Cobbs.

This Verve By Request title is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Third Man in Detroit. (Universal Music)

 


Price:  £34.99 

Albert Ayler: Love Cry (Vinyl LP: Impulse)


Sun Ra: Space Is The Place (Vinyl LP: Impulse)Sun Ra: Space Is The Place (Vinyl LP: Impulse)
Space Is The Place - highlighted by the rousing 21-minute title track - is both an essential album and a great onramp for new listeners to travel the spaceways of Sun Ra's other-worldly blend of avant-garde jazz, experimental rock, and Afrofuturism.

This Verve By Request title is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Third Man in Detroit. (Universal Music)

 


Price:  £34.99 


Pharoah Sanders: Black Unity (Vinyl LP: Impulse)
For 1971's Black Unity, Pharaoh Sanders added groove to foundation of spiritual and free jazz he had explored on his previous Impulse! albums. The result is a piercing and emotive 37-minute rhythm-driven title track exploration of African, Latin, aborigine and Native American sounds.

This Verve By Request title is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Third Man in Detroit. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £34.99 

Pharoah Sanders: Black Unity (Vinyl LP: Impulse)


Charlie Haden & Kenny Barron: Night And The City (Vinyl LP: Verve, 2 LPs)Charlie Haden & Kenny Barron: Night And The City (Vinyl LP: Verve, 2 LPs)
Night and the City was the third in a series of Charlie Haden duet projects for Verve in the 1990s, recorded live at New York City's Iridium Jazz Club in 1996.

Since the mid-1970s, after the great collective and utopian struggles, Charlie Haden has made a specialty of musical conversation, like a return to the essential. Here he is engaging in a loving and modest tête-à-tête with pianist Kenny Barron, full of sobriety and introspective lyricism. A music that is both seductive and audacious, gently nostalgic, between the deep and melancholic bass and the precious harmonies of a piano firmly anchored in the history of jazz.

This 140-gram vinyl is the first international vinyl reissue, pressed at Optimal, and is presented in a wide-spine, single-sleeve jacket. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £35.99 


Ethel Ennis: Lullabies For Losers (Vinyl LP: Supper Club)
Released in 1955, Lullabies for Losers marked vocalist Ethel Ennis'debut album. Highly talented, Ennis recorded a series of wonderful albums in the following decade, and collaborated with such stars as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, but after that, disenchanted with the creative direction of the label and artist management, she only made sporadic recordings and rarely left her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. On this LP she is backed by a small group featuring piano legend Hank Jones and Kenny Clarke, who was one of the greatest drummers in modern jazz.

Limited edition of 550 copies - 180g vinyl, the complete album + 2 bonus tracks. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £25.99 

Ethel Ennis: Lullabies For Losers (Vinyl LP: Supper Club)


Chris Connor: Sings Lullabys For Lovers (Vinyl LP: Supper Club)Chris Connor: Sings Lullabys For Lovers (Vinyl LP: Supper Club)
Chris Connor was among the most celebrated female jazz vocalists in the 1950s. Her interpretations of ballads, on which she frequently altered the rhythm in unusual ways, were truly unique. Billboard reported in 1955 that Connor's first two solo 10-inch albums, Sings Lullabys of Birdland and Sings Lullabys for Lovers (the latter featured here), ranked No. 1 and No. 2 on the jazz chart for the week ending April 23, 1955.

The aforementioned 10-inch album is complemented here with nine George Gershwin ballads taken from a brilliant series of 1957 sessions on which she is backed by such jazz luminaries as Milt Jackson, Herbie Mann, Joe Newman, Oscar Pettiford, and Mundell Lowe, among many others.

Limited edition of 550 copies - 180g vinyl. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £25.99 


Ahmad Jamal Trio (Vinyl LP: Wax Time)
This album was recorded three years before Ahmad Jamal's rise to fame following the success of his 1958 Pershing and Spotlight live albums. Issued in 1956, the LP The Ahmad Jamal Trio comprises performances from an extended single 1955 Epic session in New York. With Jamal accompanied by the legendary bassist Israel Crosby, and guitarist Ray Crawford. 180g vinyl with two bonus tracks. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £22.99 

Ahmad Jamal Trio (Vinyl LP: Wax Time)


Horace Silver Quintet & Trio: Blowin' The Blues Away (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)Horace Silver Quintet & Trio: Blowin' The Blues Away (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
The Horace Silver Quintet of 1959 was a hard bop juggernaut featuring the great pianist and composer with trumpeter Blue Mitchell, saxophonist Junior Cook, bassist Gene Taylor, and drummer Louis Hayes. The band had already cut the excellent album Finger Poppin’ earlier in the year and returned to Van Gelder Studio in the late summer to record the follow-up Blowin’ The Blues Away. From the moment the needle drops on Side 1 the quintet comes flying out of the gate on the blustery title track which succeeds in blowing away any remnants of the blues. Timeless Silver originals like the groovy swinger “Sister Sadie” and the sublime ballad “Peace” are perfect vehicles for this dexterous line-up, while the pianist pares down to a trio for “The St. Vitus Dance” and the stunning closer “Melancholy Mood.”

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £25.99 


Jimmy Smith: Midnight Special (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
It’s a testament to Jimmy Smith’s volcanic creativity that the Hammond B3 organ firebrand recorded not one but two soul jazz classics—Midnight Special and Back at the Chicken Shack—in a single day when he entered Van Gelder Studio on April 25, 1960 with Stanley Turrentine on tenor saxophone, Kenny Burrell on guitar, and Donald Bailey on drums. Smith had been a self-taught pianist before abandoning the instrument in 1954 in favor of the organ, renting a Philadelphia warehouse, and woodshedding for a year until he emerged with a revolutionary style that immediately caught the ear Alfred Lion. The Blue Note boss dubbed him The Incredible Jimmy Smith and recorded the B3 innovator as frequently as he could between 1956-1963. Midnight Special opens with the soulful title track which chugs along at a laid-back pace giving ample space for Smith, Turrentine, and Burrell to state their case. Other highlights of the set include the up-tempo burner “Jumpin’ the Blues” and a deeply felt ballad performance of the standard “Why Was I Born?”

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £25.99 

Jimmy Smith: Midnight Special (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)


Cecil Taylor: Unit Structures (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)Cecil Taylor: Unit Structures (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
The intrepid free jazz pianist Cecil Taylor produced some of his best work for Blue Note Records, including his explosive 1966 label debut Unit Structures featuring Eddie Gale on trumpet, Jimmy Lyons on alto saxophone, Ken McIntyre on alto saxophone, oboe, and bass clarinet, Henry Grimes and Alan Silva on bass, and Andrew Cyrille on drums. Over the course of four extended original pieces by Taylor—“Steps,” “Enter, Evening,” “Unit Structure/As Of A Now/Section,” and “Tales (8 Whisps)—the band scales the pinnacle of the mid-1960s jazz avant-garde with awe-inspiring performances that are by turns ferociously unbridled and intricately textured.

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £25.99 


Tony Williams: Spring (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
The precocious and prodigious drummer and composer Tony Williams had already participated in numerous landmark Blue Note recordings including Herbie Hancock's Empyrean Isles, Eric Dolphy's Out To Lunch, Andrew Hill's Point Of Departure, Jackie McLean's One Step Beyond, and Grachan Moncur III's Evolution by the time he recorded his own adventurous debut album Life Time in 1964. The following year Williams convened a stellar line-up with saxophonists Wayne Shorter and Sam Rivers, pianist Herbie Hancock, and bassist Gary Peacock and returned to Van Gelder Studio to record the follow-up: Spring. The five Williams originals presented here—“Extras,” “Echo,” “From Before,” Love Song,” and “Tee”— each offer the musicians spacious realms in which to go exploring.

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £25.99 

Tony Williams: Spring (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)


Lonnie Smith: Turning Point (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)Lonnie Smith: Turning Point (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
One of the funkiest and most creative organists of all time, Dr. Lonnie Smith was first brought into the Blue Note fold by alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson who featured the B3 virtuoso on late-1960s soul jazz classics including Alligator Bogaloo, Mr. Shing-a-Ling, and Midnight Creeper. Smith went on to sign with Blue Note and lead his own dates beginning with his excellent 1968 label debut Think! In January 1969 Smith returned to Van Gelder Studio to record the follow-up Turning Point with a dynamic 6-piece band that packed a punch with a 3-horn frontline featuring Lee Morgan on trumpet, Julian Priester on trombone, and Bennie Maupin on tenor saxophone. The rhythm section featured guitarist Melvin Sparks and was anchored by the propulsive drumming of Leo Morris (aka Idris Muhammad). The 5-song set produced by Francis Wolff opens with a hard-grooving take on Don Covay’s “See Saw,” which was a hit for Aretha Franklin the year before. Other choice covers include a laid-back version of “People Sure Act Funny” by Titus Turner and Bobby Robinson and an inventive reworking of The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” that injects the Lennon-McCartney gem with a healthy dose of soul. Two Smith originals round out the album including the smoldering “Slow High” and the expansive album-closing title piece which kicks into high gear after a rubato introduction by Smith.

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £25.99 


Ike Quebec: Heavy Soul (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)
There may not be a more apropos album title in all of recorded music than tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec’s 1961 classic Heavy Soul. The session marked a comeback for a crucial player in Blue Note history. Quebec had recorded a series of 78s for Alfred Lion in the 1940s and also served as a talent scout who encouraged Lion to record important figures of the emerging bebop scene including Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell. After a difficult period through the 1950s, Lion began to reintroduce Quebec’s music to jazz fans in 1959 with a series of 45 jukebox singles that were well received and inspired Lion to put the saxophonist back into the studio for a full album session. So, in November 1961 Quebec brought a 4-piece band into Van Gelder Studio that included Freddie Roach on organ, Milt Hinton on bass, and Al Harewood on drums. The resulting 8-song set is a soul jazz masterclass with Quebec’s robust tenor conjuring a variety of moods from the rhythmic drive of swinging originals like “Acquitted” and “Que’s Dilemma” to slow-tempo stunners including “Just One More Chance,” “Brother Can You Spare a Dime,” and “I Want A Little Girl.” A remarkable reading of “The Man I Love” leads into the sultry title piece, which practically drips with soul, but it’s the album closer which delivers a showstopper. With Roach and Harewood laying out Quebec and Hinton converse in a duo setting on a spellbinding performance of “Nature Boy” that reverberates in the listener’s soul long after the last note has faded.

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (Blue Note Records) 


Price:  £25.99 

Ike Quebec: Heavy Soul (Vinyl LP: Blue Note)


Flip Phillips: The Clef Years - Classic Albums 1952-56 (CD: Acrobat, 3 CDs)Flip Phillips: The Clef Years - Classic Albums 1952-56 (CD: Acrobat, 3 CDs)
Flip Phillips was a tenor saxophonist who came to the fore in the post-war era playing with the bands of Woody Herman, Red Norvo, Benny Goodman and Frankie Newton. He was perhaps most famously associated with Norman Granz’s Jazz At The Philharmonic concerts in the late 1940s and, in the early 1950s, he recorded a string of sessions for Norman Granz. Phillips can be heard leading groups that comprised many different line-ups, with most of the titles coming out a succession of albums on Granz’s Clef label during this era.

This 58-track collection includes most of the titles he recorded for Granz at these sessions. The numbers are presented in the order and format they were released on the albums Flip Phillips Quartet, Flip Phillips Collates Vols.1 & 2, Jumping Moods, Flip Phillips & Buddy Rich Trio, Flip Phillips Quintet (Rock With Flip), and Flip Wails, Swingin’ With Flip Phillips and Flip. It features performances with some of the great names of the era, including: Oscar Peterson, Charlie Shavers, Barney Kessel, Ray Brown, Howard McGhee, Alvin Stoller, Buddy Rich, Hank Jones, Herb Ellis, Freddie Green and Max Roach. Plus, as a bonus, it includes a ‘live’ jam session version of Stompin’ At The Savoy Pt.1.

Phillips died in August 2001, in Florida, at the age of 86. This 3CD set offers a great showcase for Flip Phillips at probably the zenith of his career. (Trapeze Music) 


Price:  £16.99 


Art Farmer: Four Classic Albums (CD: AVID, 2 CDs)
AVID Jazz continues with its Four Classic Albums series with a re-mastered 2CD second release from Art Farmer, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details.

“When Farmer Met Gryce”; “Last Night When We Were Young”; “Farmers Market” and “Art”.

A pretty handy quintet from 1955 kicks off the first selection in our second Art Farmer foursome - ‘When Farmer Met Gryce’. Art himself on trumpet of course, Gigi Gryce on alto sax, writer of an amazing six out of the eight titles featured. Freddie Redd or Horace Silver at the piano, either Art’s twin brother Addison on bass or the great Percy Heath and one of either Art Taylor or Kenny Clarke on drums. Some musicians get to make all the tough choices! Also recorded in New York a couple of years later in 1957 - ‘Last Night When We Were Young’ finds Art in the company of the great arranger and conductor Quincy Jones for a somewhat different sounding album, Art with strings! Along for the ride include among others Hank Jones, Osie Johnson and Barry Galbraith. We hit the quintet trail again for album number three - Farmers Market from 1956, where Art is joined this time by the great tenor man Hank Mobley, Kenny Drew on piano, Addison Farmer again on bass and the incomparable Elvin Jones behind the drum kit. Down to a quartet for album number four with the increasingly difficult to find album - Art from 1960, not a bad bunch of guys turning up for this set. Art of course on trumpet joined by Tommy Flanagan on piano, Tommy Williams on bass and Albert Heath at the drums. (AVID Entertainment) 


Price:  £8.99 

Art Farmer: Four Classic Albums (CD: AVID, 2 CDs)


Wynton Kelly plus Don Sleet: Four Classic Albums (CD: AVID, 2 CDs)Wynton Kelly plus Don Sleet: Four Classic Albums (CD: AVID, 2 CDs)
AVID Jazz continues with its Four Classic Album series with a re-mastered 2CD second release from Wynton Kelly, including a rare album by trumpeter Don Sleet complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details.

“Kelly Great”; “Kelly At Midnite”; “Wynton Kelly!” and Don Sleet’s “All Members”. 


Price:  £8.99 


Dexter Gordon: Copenhagen Coda (CD: Storyville)
Jazz giant and tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon bids Copenhagen farewell on 'Copenhagen Coda', recorded live at Jazzhus Montmartre in 1983. This album marks Gordon's final farewell to friends and fans in the Danish capital, with which he had had a twenty year love affair. He is quoted as having said: "I don't think they [his fellow American musicians living in Europe] got the love I got in Copenhagen". The concert was part of a TV production by the national Danish Broadcasting Corporation, who have documented this golden era in Danish jazz history.

On this recording, Gordon is accompanied by the accomplished and versatile pianist Kirk Lightsey, wonderful bass player David Eubanks and the master drummer Eddie Gladden. He proves that he hasn't lost a step, as he projects enormous authority on stage, being a fountain of sound and ideas, melodically as well as rhythmically. He generates a stunning energy, taking off on a flight that is able to captivate the audience with his tenacious be-bop, somewhere between Lester Young and Coltrane, with a bold, dry sound.

'Copenhagen Coda' is a celebration of and a tribute to Dexter Gordon's legacy in Copenhagen. The audience in the Danish capital loved the sophisticated giant "Copenhagen Slim" immensely, and their love was reciprocated - Copenhagen Coda is a testament to this intense year-long love affair! (Proper Music) 


Price:  £13.99 

Dexter Gordon: Copenhagen Coda (CD: Storyville)


Tubby Hayes: Quartet In Scandinavia (CD: Storyville)Tubby Hayes: Quartet In Scandinavia (CD: Storyville)
2023 repress of this recording of the great Tubby Hayes live at "Guldhattan", Stockholm, Sweden, February 18, 1972, which was originally released by Storyville in 1998. 


Price:  £13.99 


Barney Kessel: The Barney Kessel Story - Honey Rock 1954-1962 (CD: Jasmine, 2 CDs)
In the 1950s Barney Kessel was acknowledged as the premier Jazz guitarist in the US, routinely voted #1 in Esquire, Downbeat and Playboy magazine polls. Famous for his knowledge of chords, inversions and chord-based melodies, he recorded at least one solo LP per year, plus endless sessions and guest appearances.

This compilation is drawn from his seventeen solo albums recorded between 1954 and 1962, largely for the specialist Contemporary label. Two "bonus cuts" are included; Julie London's sumptuous 'Cry Me A River' from 1955, which is in essence a Barney Kessel guitar master-tutorial with vocal accompaniment, plus his own unlikely R&R hit, 'Honey Rock', which appeared on the flip of Ricky Nelson's million-selling 'You're My One And Only Love' in 1957. Kessel would go on to become one of the leading lights in LA's legendary Wrecking Crew, during the 60s, before resuming his love affair with Jazz in the late 70s. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £12.99 

Barney Kessel: The Barney Kessel Story - Honey Rock 1954-1962 (CD: Jasmine, 2 CDs)


Steve Lacy: The Straight Horn Of (CD: Candid)Steve Lacy: The Straight Horn Of (CD: Candid)
The "straight horn" referred to in the title of this superb album from 1961 is the soprano saxophone, and Lacy is recognized as one of the greatest to ever play the instrument, ranking alongside John Coltrane and Sidney Bechet. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £13.99 


Phil Woods: Rights Of Swing (CD: Candid)
When he first came on the scene, Phil Woods was often referred to as "The New Bird," in a nod to the legendary Charlie Parker - A testament to his genius on the saxophone to be sure. But while obviously indebted to Parker - as all modern jazz saxophonists of a certain era were - there is no question that Phil Woods was an original. After earning a degree in music from Juilliard in the early 1950's, Woods found himself in the orbit of the great Quincy Jones. At Jones' invitation Woods joined Dizzy Gillespie's infamous Jazz Ambassadors - a tour sponsored by the US State Department as part of a global cultural diplomacy initiative - and subsequently became a member of Jones' own touring band. This recording, his 9th album as a band leader, consists entirely of Woods' five-part Rights of Swing Suite. An ambitious large-scale composition based solidly on jazz traditions. A culmination of the influences the then 30 year artist had absorbed. Arguably considered one of Woods finest recordings, the record features a stellar section made up of Wood's fellow Quincy Jones band members. Recorded at the Nola Penthouse Studios in New Your City on two dates in January and February of 1961, and conducted by Quincy Jones. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £13.99 

Phil Woods: Rights Of Swing (CD: Candid)


Terri Lyne Carrington: TLC & Friends (CD: Candid)Terri Lyne Carrington: TLC & Friends (CD: Candid)
An early snapshot of an extraordinary musician at a young age, TLC & Friends was recorded in October 1981 when Terri Lyne Carrington was only 16 years old - Now a 4 time Grammy winning, NEA Jazz Master, composer, activist, and educator, this album, being widely released for the first time, gives us a glimpse of the incredibly talented and influential inter-disciplined artist during her first record session and as band leader no less. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £13.99 


Charles Mingus: Mingus (CD: Candid)
At the time of this recording, Mingus had been working regularly with the piano-less quartet of Eric Dolphy, Ted Curson and Dannie Richmond - The same group featured on the 1960 Candid release, Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus. The Mingus album, also recorded that year, features one track, "Stormy Weather," recorded with that same quartet, and two tracks recorded with a larger group featuring piano and additional horns. Of note, "MDM (Monk Duke & Me)" consumes the majority of this album. The piece consists of three intertwining themes - Duke Ellington's "Main Stem", Thelonious Monk's "Straight, No Chaser", and Mingus' "Fifty First Street Blues." Released in 1961, and recorded in the fall of 1960 by Candid A&R and Producer Nate Hentoff at the Nola Penthouse Sound Studios. (Proper Music) 


Price:  £13.99 

Charles Mingus: Mingus (CD: Candid)

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