Top of the pop kim wilde site rutracker.org năm 2024

Riverside/Craft, 1962. (reissue)

One of the best non-Blue Note sessions from Art Blakey in the 60s – a really searing set that features the sextet lineup of the Jazz Messengers – a group that's filled with legends who include Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Wayne Shorter on tenor, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Reggie Workman ... (Jazz LP)

Athens Of The North (UK), Mid 1990s.

Obscure British soul from Bovel – a Manchester singer from the mid 90s, and one who's got a vibe that's very different than the more popular London soul of the same time! Bovel clearly came up through the underground, and embraces a host of important musical currents here – while also ... (Soul CD)

Express/Universal (Japan), 1969. (reissue)

The sweet image really gets at the wonderful sound of this record – a Japanese pop gem from the end of the 60s, and one that seems to mix together elements of bossa nova and European grooves – all in this way that really fits the way that the male and female vocals come together! The ... (Japanese LP)

Minipan (Italy), 2024.

A stunning record that takes us back to the glory days of cosmic sounds at the start of the century – that moment when new ideas seem to be constantly exploding from the London scene in a flurry of classic records that really enriched our lives! That spirit is recaptured here beautifully ... (New Grooves LP)

Olindo (UK), 1971. (reissue)

A lost masterpiece of modern jazz from the Venezuelan scene at the start of the 70s – a record that mixes together acoustic and electric elements with effortless ease – maybe echoing some of the best Gil Evans experiments of the time, but also vibing with the cooler European work on ... (Jazz LP)

Maple/On High (Canada), 1972. (reissue)

A really obscure soul trio from the New Jersey scene of the 70s – and one who've got a nicely rough-edged approach to their harmonies! The record's definitely in the grittier side of the scene – more funky 45 production overall, and a nice current of funk on the record at times too ... (Soul LP)

Groove Merchant/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1972.

Wonderfully baroque funk from the great O'Donel Levy! The album's got some very cool arrangements by Manny Albam that mix together strings and funk – in a super-dope way that sounds a lot like the work coming out of Cadet during the late 60s – and the rest of the set features Levy ... (Jazz CD)

Mojo, 2024.

Paul McCartney is on the cover, and they even got him to sit for great interview to discuss 50 Years of "Band On The Run" – plus a free CD featuring a slew of great bands inspired by that classic album! Other great features including Jon Anderson on the trailblazing prop pedigree ... (Magazine)

Music Take Me Up (Netherlands), Late 1970s/Early 1980s.

An obscure gospel group, but a great one too – thanks to plenty of secular soul inflections in their music, which gives these classic tracks a real crossover appeal! The group hail from San Diego, maybe a bit farther off the gospel map – and they've got this warm way of blending subtle ... (Gospel LP)

GSF/On High, Early 1970s. (reissue)

A wonderful album from this beautiful soul duo – a pair who kind of take the earlier Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell mode into a sweet 70s groove – all with help from members of The Crusaders on the backing! Most numbers feature the male singer stepping out a bit more in the lead, but in ... (Soul LP)

Not Two (Poland), 2024. 3CD

Trombonist Steve Swell works here in a shifting set of groups, all recorded during a festival performance in Poland – with smaller group outings on the first CD, and much larger ensemble expressions on the final two discs! Swell is a hell of an improviser, but here he's clearly stepping into ... (Jazz CD)

Dead Oceans, Late 1970s.

A really fantastic chapter in the career of the legendary Bill Fay – material that might have formed a lost third album, had any record company chosen to respond at the time – and which, presented here, really serves to illuminate a lost chapter in Bill's musical lineage! The set has ... (Rock CD)

PTG (Netherlands), Late 1970s/1980s.

One of the deepest entries in this long-running series – and like some of the other recent volumes, a package that goes way farther than some of the earlier compilations! The music here is not straight disco or funk – and instead, captures that really hip blend of modes that came into ... (Funky Compilations CD)

Vinyl Masterpiece (Netherlands), Late 70s/Early 80s. 2CDs

Great 80s grooves with some 70s moments thrown in as well – a double-length collection that features a host of overlooked gems from the past! The "giants" here aren't overplayed disco hits or classics that have been compiled too much – and instead, the set continues the great ... (Funky Compilations CD)

Capitol/Sundazed, Late 1960s.

Rare Capitol country from the great Kay Adams – a female singer with a distinct love of trucking songs, and one who also hails from the Buck Owens side of the spectrum too! Kay only cut a handful of records over the years, and this set's a great addition to her catalog – as it features ... (Folk/Country LP)

As Shams (South Africa), 2024. 2LP Gatefold

A contemporary album on the legendary South African jazz label As Shams, and one that really continues the strong legacy of sounds it began in the 70s! The tracks have this long, building approach – strong rhythms at the core headed by pianist Kyle Shepherd, which are topped with work on ... (Jazz LP)

Nederlands Jazz Archief (Netherlands), 1970. 2LP Gatefold

A long-lost performance by Sun Ra and the Arkestra – recorded in Amsterdam at the start of the 70s, when the group were brought in by avant saxophonist Hans Dulfer for a special performance! This album marks the first-ever issue of the material, from rediscovered tapes that finally present ... (Jazz LP)

Olindo (UK), 2017.

Earthy vocals and plenty of percussion – a wonderful set of parranda tracks from Betsayda Machado, who works here with a tight combo that really sends her vocals over the top! On her own, Betsayda would be enough – a singer with the expressive qualities of older giants, such as Omara ... (Global Grooves LP)

Wand/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1975.

Soaring, soulful work from South Shore Commission – one of those great upbeat soul groups who really helped shape the scene in the pre-disco years – effortlessly blending strong vocals and uptempo grooves, and setting the stage for countless others to follow! Like some of their best ... (Soul CD)

CuBop/Ubiquity, 2024. 2LP

A long-overdue set from the great Johnny Blas – the percussionist who really made the Cubop label so great back in the 90s, returning here with a sound and style that's even more classic than ever! The instrumentation and production are rock-solid throughout – no too-polished modes, ... (Latin LP)

London Afrobeat Collective

Esengo

Canopy (UK), 2024.

Hard-driving work from this Afrobeat collection – an ensemble who've been working together for over a decade, and whose members hail from more scenes than just London – yet one who also use that city's cross-cultural heritage to really craft their own groove! Vocals are by Juanita Euka ... (Global Grooves LP)

Bear Family (Germany), Late 1950s/1960s.

A great look at the work of Eddie Bond – an underground rocker on the Memphis scene during the early years of Elvis, and one who also cut some rare tracks for Sun Records – plus a variety of other labels too! Bond has roots in country, and that definitely comes through in the twang ... (Rock CD)

Liberty/Universal (Japan), 1970. Gatefold (reissue)

A record with a really special sound – Japanese pop moving past some of the more emotive modes used a few years before, and working with a gentle, breezy style that sometimes echoes the best A&M Records styles from the Cali scene of the late 60s! Both singers intertwine in a wonderful ... (Japanese LP)

University Of North Carolina Press, 2023.

Dusty Groove owes plenty to the world of college radio – and in fact, our store grew out of long years of experience on a college station on the south side of Chicago – so we're extra-pleased not just to see a really comprehensive book on the glory days of college radio, but also one ... (Book)

Albina Music Trust, 2023.

Domo Branch is represented as a group on the front cover – but if you take a closer look, you'll notice the image features multiple shots of the man himself – a killer drummer who delivers a wonderful performance on this full album of solo drums! The set was recorded overseas, but Domo ... (Jazz LP)

Capitol/Big Pink (South Korea), 1979.

The last full album recorded by Minnie Riperton before she left our planet all too soon – and a killer batch of work that really has us wondering how great the world of soul music would have been, had Minnie stuck around to keep on growing into the 80s and 90s! The set's filled with the kind ... (Soul CD)

Morabeza/Lusafrica (France), Early 1970s.

A pair of classic albums, served up here in a single set! First up is the sound of Angola, circa 1972 – served up here in a beautiful album of songs from Bonga! The music is relatively spare – mostly just lead acoustic guitar, bass, and percussion – the latter of which is played ... (Global Grooves CD)

RAK/Cherry Red (UK), Early 1980s. 4CD

The full early work of UK pop singer Kim Wilde – a big force on both sides of the Atlantic for a few short years, and part of a great wave of catchy girl-fronted music in the generation that also included Blondie and the Go-Gos! Kim's got her own special twist on the sound – one that ... (Rock CD)

Doctor Bird (UK), Late 1960s/Early 1970s. 2CD

Stunning sounds from the first three years of Niney The Observer on record – a huge amount of rare singles from back in the day, served up in a double-length package that features 22 tracks on CD for the first time ever! The mix of modes here is incredible – and a real demonstration of ... (Reggae CD)

Bear Family (Germany), 1950s/Early 1960s.

Serving time has never been this groovy – thanks to a whole host of prison-themed tunes from the postwar years, presented here in a package that's especially strong on blues and R&B! Sure, most folks know "Folsom Prison Blues", but this package digs much deeper to come up with ... (Rock CD)

Liberty/Universal (Japan), 1971. Gatefold (reissue)

A really great record from the Japanese scene of the 70s – one that seems to borrow a lot from the French pop styles of the late 60s – as you might guess from the group's name! Toi Et Moi are one guy singer, one gal – blending their Japanese vocals beautifully, with elements that ... (Japanese LP)

Groove Merchant/Solid (Japan), Early 1970s.

Killer guitar work from a legendary label – tracks that were all recorded for the Groove Merchant imprint in the 70s – a company that really valued the sound that a hip guitarist could bring to the funky side of jazz! Some of the tracks here feature a Hammond player in the lead, but ... (Funky Compilations CD)

Express/Universal (Japan), 1974. (reissue)

There's no shrieking going on here, as the music's got this gently groovy style that's warm and wonderful – post-folk, maybe a bit sunshine pop influenced – and coming across as almost like a Japanese attempt to hit some Carpenters territory! The songs are often more sophisticated than ... (Japanese LP)

Strut (UK), Late 70s/Early 80s. 3LPs (reissue)

A really wonderful collection – an important re-investigation of the unusual mix of sounds and styles on the New York scene in the years after disco – a time when funk, punk, hip hop, and art were all colliding at once – providing a really fresh antidote to the staid sounds of ... (Funky Compilations LP)

Adarce (Spain), Mid 70s.

Spanish tracks with a very soulful vibe – and a set that includes a fair bit of very groovy tracks from the years when the scene was mixing older flamenco styles with disco rhythms of the 70s! The flamenco mode here doesn't involve guitar so much as it does a wonderfully expressive style of ... (Global Grooves LP)

Dusty Groove,

A stunning image of our legendary Chicago outpost – the three story building where Dusty Groove has resided since the start of the 21st Century, and a building that's chock full of music, every day of the week! The sleek images gets at the charms of our Wicker Park location, and our ... (Dusty Groove Swag Photo)

Sam Records (France), 1976.

A never-issued live performance by the legendary Heath Brothers – and a set that's got the same freewheeling spiritual jazz vibe as their classic album on Strata East! The group's a quartet here, with excellent piano work from Stanley Cowell – who also plays mbira, and might also ... (Jazz LP)

Act (Germany), 2023.

A very earthy setting for the legendary reedwork of Peter Brotzmann – a killer live performance that has him working in a trio with the great Hamid Drake on drums, and Moroccan musician Majid Bekkas on the spare-stringed guembri! Drake really adapts himself to the guembri, and opens up with ... (Jazz CD)

Verve, 1964. Gatefold (reissue)

Excellent 60s work by tenorist Stan Getz – a completely sublime meeting with pianist Bill Evans – tunes recorded in 1964, but not issued at the time, even though they are fantastic – because Verve Records instead wanted to really focus on Stan's bossa nova recordings! The ... (Jazz LP)

Olindo (UK), 2020.

A really great combo from the contemporary London scene – one who work with jazz instrumentation, but in ways that echo a variety of rhythmic styles – elements of North and West African modes, and touches of Caribbean as well – but all done with a lean, instrumental style! The ... (Jazz CD)

CBS/Mad About Records (Portugal), 1970. (reissue)

An incredible bit of global jazz from the French scene at the start of the 70s – one of those really unique records that's beyond easy definition, and which really represents all the cool criss-crossings in styles that were taking place on the Parisian scene at the time! Majole Hajary was ... (Jazz LP)

Lansdowne (UK), 2024.

A stunning book – even more amazing than we were expecting, and we were really expecting a lot! This is a heavy, hardcover, full color volume that takes a deep dig into the world of British jazz during some crucial modern years – presented with oversized images throughout, in the ... (Book)

Rogue Art (France), 2024.

A record with a very deep sound – maybe what you'd guess from the richness of the trombone work of Steve Swell, which is also echoed here by the bass of Peter Giron and drums of John Betsch – both of whom make for a very solid bottom to the set! The music is improvised, but this ... (Jazz CD)

Capitol/Big Pink (South Korea), 1969. Gatefold

A pretty obscure late 60s set on Capitol Records – by one of those great bands who briefly got the chance to record for the label, then never showed up again! The Serfs have a lot going on for such a relatively unknown group – a sound that's partly folk, partly roots, and with some ... (Rock CD)

Discolando/Pharaway Sounds (Spain), 1977. Gatefold (reissue)

Killer work from this Latin funk combo from the 70s – a group who were supposedly formed to open for Santana at a concert in Nicaragua, then went on with a searing legacy of their own! The music definitely owes a bit to the Bay Area Latin sound of the period – a blend of traditional ... (Latin LP)

DC International/Numero, 1974. (reissue)

Sublime harmony soul – and one of THE east coast classics of the early 70s! Skip and group were one of the best vocal groups working on their scene at the time – with a style that's incredibly well crafted, yet also fragile enough to really capture the emotions of the tunes. This ... (Soul LP)

Selva (Brazil), 1988.

Not the same Maria Rita that rose to international fame in the past decade or so – but an earlier, much more obscure singer with a nicely rootsy vibe – one whose presence in the Brazilian music scene is maybe more welcome to our ears than her famous later namesake! The album came out ... (Brazil CD)

Rogue Art (France), 2023.

A beautiful juxtaposition of sounds from this ultra-hip group led by pianist Myra Melford – a combo that's filled with sonic delights, thanks to work from Mary Halvorson on guitar, Ingrid Laubrock on tenor and soprano, Tomeka Reid on cello, and Lesley Mok on drums! The players with with a ... (Jazz CD)

Olindo (UK), 2021.

A very beautiful, very intimate album from Venezuelan singer Isaac Sasson – a set that's got an acoustic, gentle approach throughout – almost recalling some of the more inventive post-bossa experiments from the Brazilian scene, but with flavors that are very much its own! In addition ... (Global Grooves LP)

Verve, 1965. (reissue)

One of the moodiest Verve albums from Astrud Gilberto – a set that has some surprising arrangements by Gil Evans – working here on one of his few 60s dates with a singer! Astrud's blue-tinged vocals work perfectly with Evans' backdrops – and Al Cohn also takes over the helm on ... (Brazil LP)

Now Again, 1970s/Early 1980s. (reissue)

Some of the most unique soul music you'll ever hope to hear – recorded by a pair of artists who mostly worked in Buffalo, New York during the 70s – with a very odd style that's completely their own! We'd quickly place the duo of Jesse Key and Sylvester Cleary in territory that would ... (Soul LP)

Ghetto/Now Again, 1971.

Underground salsa from Orquesta La Fantastica – the group's debut from the early 70s, originally issued on the tiny Ghetto Records label! The album's a great illustration of the way that the regular Latin codes of the mainstream got broken down on the fringes – as the sounds and styles ... (Latin LP)

Albina Music Trust, 1982.

An early 80s gospel cooker from a group who really live up to their name – young singers from the Portland scene, recorded here during a very uplifting performance at a high school! The rhythms are very driving – funky gospel at its best, with a very romping vibe that has both the ... (Gospel LP)

Whirlwind, 2023. 2LP Gatefold

A really beautiful record from London pianist Sultan Stevenson – a set that seems to hearken back to the wonderful 70s territory of McCoy Tyner, especially in the way that Sultan can balance a sense of subtle majesty with an undeniable flow! Half the record features a core trio – with ... (Jazz LP)

Polskie Radio/GAD (Poland), 1977.

Sweet funky grooves from 70s Poland – material by a radio/TV orchestra, but one who've clearly learned a lot from Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra and some other great American acts of the time! Keyboards, basslines, and tight drums really set the stage for the tunes – so that ... (Sound Library CD)

Perception/Octave (Japan), 1972.

A key classic from the earliest years of the Fatback Band – one of the group's funkiest albums, and part of their original trilogy for the Perception label! The groove here is mighty raw throughout – but a bit more complicated than some of their funky 45 releases – a mixture of ... (Soul CD)

Polskie Nagrania/GAD (Poland), 1978.

An obscure Polish date from the great Gustav Brom – the Czech bandleader known for his great grooves for MPS and Supraphon! The styles here are something of a mixed bag – with some tunes that are straight swinging big band, mixed with a few others that show more of the jazz rock ... (Jazz CD)

Philips/Light In The Attic, 1971. (reissue)

Fantastic stuff – and a record that may well be the greatest ever from the mighty Serge Gainsbourg – high praise indeed, considering the greatness of Gainsbourg's other music! The album is one long suite built around a spare, electric bass-driven theme – a slow funk riff that's ... (French LP)

Native Rebel (UK), 2022. 2LP

Saxophonist Chelsea Carmichael has a really beautiful sound here – a style that's spiritual, but spacious too – so that her flow is one that often has a nice sense of space between the notes, as she moves through tracks that effortlessly blend live instrumentation with a few additional ... (Jazz LP)

Philips/Universal (Japan), 1973. (reissue)

A very groovy album from 70s Japan – one that makes all the best use of the sexy vocal style of Kaoru Yumi, set to a warm mix of funky and easygoing backings! Yumi's as famous for her appearances on screen as she is on record – a role that was unified here through the scandalous album ... (Japanese LP)

Dusty Groove Gear,

A modernist design that hearkens back to our favorite jazz albums of the 50s – served up as a testament to our best-selling style of music year after year! Yet even if you're not a jazz listener, you can still dig the sleek look of the image – which is printed here on an even better ... (Clothing)

Mississippi, Early 70s.

Revelatory sounds from Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru – an Ethiopian nun, but one who had a secret side life as a pianist and composer – stepping out here on a selection of solo tracks that have a wonderfully captivating vibe! Gebru's music first got wider exposure in the Ethiopiques series ... (Global Grooves LP)

GAD (Poland), 1980.

Jazzy disco grooves from Henryk Debich and his long-running broadcast orchestra – a group who were well-schooled in jazz modes from years past, and were very able to soar with upbeat rhythms in the latter half of the 70s! The tunes here echo some of the best sound library modes of Western ... (Sound Library CD)

Westbound/ORG, 1980.

One of the last great soul albums on the Westbound label – the Detroit funk powerhouse known for famous records by Funkadelic, The Counts, and the Detroit Emeralds! Eramus Hall have a vague P-Funk connection – and according to legend, the band were given their name by George Clinton, ... (Soul CD)

Vijay Iyer/Linda May Han Oh/Tyshawn Sorey

Compassion

ECM (Germany), 2024.

The music of pianist Vijay Iyer has always been pretty darn great – but it also seems to take on a warmer, more mature quality here in this trio with Linda May Han Oh on bass and Tyshawn Sorey on drums – almost as if Iyer is bringing more feeling into the music, letting things flow ... (Jazz CD)

Blue Note (Japan), 1958.

A pivotal album in the career of saxophonist Lou Donaldson – a set that really has him finding his own groove – a slow-stepping, soul-drenched mode that's a nice change from the bop of his roots! A key part of the record's charm is conga work by Ray Barretto – a player used often ... (Jazz CD)

Zea/Big Pink (South Korea), 1970.

One of the most badass records ever issued by funky guitarist David T Walker – a set that's got a looser, freer vibe than some of his other albums – and which puts Walker in territory next to Shuggie Otis and Phil Upchurch from the same time in their careers! The set's equal parts jazz ... (Soul CD)

Savant, 2024.

A beautifully stripped-down set from saxophonist Jim Snidero – one that has him working in a trio, with excellent rhythm from Peter Washington on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums! Both Washington and Farnsworth are nicely understated – perfect in the way they contribute, but also ... (Jazz CD)

Dusty Groove Gear,

An image that conjures up the delight we experience every time we drop a needle on a record – kicking back and letting our mind drift away to the music! And sure, maybe we're not as likely to drop the cover on the floor as this guy – we are record collectors after all – but we ... (Clothing)

Tonodisc/Far Out (UK), 1970.

The sublime debut album from Argentine guitarist Agustin Pereyra Lucena – a musician who learned plenty from the bossa guitar generation of the 60s, then took things into his own hand with this wonderful record! Agustin's acoustic guitar is the main instrumentation on the set – ... (Brazil CD)

Now Again, 2019.

Some of the fullest, freakiest sounds we've ever heard from Karl Hector & The Malcouns – and a set that almost has the contemporary combo resonating with some of the older psych and fuzz that often gets reissued on the Now Again label! JJ Whitefield – of Whitefield Brothers/Poets ... (Deep Funk LP)

JMI, 2023. Gatefold

One of the richest albums we've ever heard from saxophonist James Carter – and one of the sparest too, given that he only blows solo throughout the entire album! We're much more used to hearing Carter on tenor sax – and usually in the company of a small combo, where his classic tone ... (Jazz LP)

Gearbox (UK), 2023.

An unusual project from the team of tenorist Binker Golding and drummer Moses Boyd – and one that really represents the compelling directions they've taken in recent years! The group here is a trio, with key contributions from Simon Ratcliffe of Basement Jaxx – who provides all these ... (Jazz CD)

Dusty Groove Gear,

A modernist design that hearkens back to our favorite jazz albums of the 50s – served up as a testament to our best-selling style of music year after year! Yet even if you're not a jazz listener, you can still dig the sleek look of the image – which is printed here on an even better ... (Clothing)

RCA/BGP (UK), 1977. Gatefold (reissue)

The mighty Lonnie Liston Smith live – sounding every bit as great as he did on his famous studio sessions from the 70s – and maybe even more freewheeling too! The feel of the record is really tremendous – extremely soulful, with Lonnie jamming away on keyboards as the band ... (Jazz LP)

Drift (UK), 2024.

The soulful sound of Bukky Leo takes off in all sorts of directions here – served up in a sweet soup of remixes by some great overseas talents! The work has the same Afro Funk vibe as some of Bukky's classic records – complete with his searing tenor work and strong lead vocals – ... (Global Grooves LP)

Blue Note, 2024.

The music of vibist Joel Ross just keeps getting better and better with each new release – and on this set, he showcases a strong balance of sounds – really able to push the edges at some points, while also managing a soulful swing at others too! There's some key work on the album from ... (Jazz CD)

Marlin/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1977.

An album with a righteous cover, but one that follows strongly in the soaring disco mode that made the Ritchie Family such a strong act on the dancefloors in the late 70s! The trio are working with disco maestro Jacques Morali here – and side one features the extended "African ... (Soul CD)

Chien Chien Lu, 2023.

The boldest set so far from up-and-coming vibist Chien Chien Lu – a set that's got a deeper feel and darker energy than some of her previous records – thanks in part to key use of the great Jeremy Pelt on trumpet! The album features a piano-less quartet – with Richie Goods on ... (Jazz CD)

Catalpas (Belgium), 2023.

A cool Scandinavian combo, and one who've got heavy influences from both American and African funk of the 70s – influences that they weave together wonderfully here in a rich tapestry of grooves! There's as much Nigerian elements in the music as Ethiopian – especially the more exotic ... (Deep Funk CD)

Numero, Late 1970s/Early 1980s.

Numero's Eccentric Soul series focuses on a well-named label – the tiny Shoestring company, who must have operated on a shoestring budget – given that most of its work hardly made it out of the Southern Illinois scene in which they worked! Yet the label's home of Alton, Illinois was ... (Funky Compilations LP)

Guerssen (Spain), 1972.

The second half of the title gives this one away – as the album's a batch of progressive rock tracks from early 70s Bolivia – all very heavy on guitar and organ! Tracks are longish, but never too sloppy – and the keyboards and guitar jam together nicely in an exploration of ... (Rock CD)

Trojan/Ultra Vybe (Japan), Late 1960s/Early 1970s.

The soulful sound of Trojan Records, mixed superbly here by Japanese DJ Holiday – who comes across with a killer blend of cuts from the rocksteady and early reggae years! A number of tracks here are Jamaican remakes of American soul tunes, and they're mixed with originals that really echo ... (Reggae CD)

Mosaic, Mid 1940s. 10CD

The genius of Don Byas finally gets its due – served up here in a massive 10CD package that's overflowing with work from some of Byas' most fruitful years as a saxophonist! Byas is one of the sometimes-overlooked giants of his generation – a player with a tone and style that's every ... (Jazz CD)

Fremeaux & Associates (France), 1987.

Wonderful later work from Brazilian guitar legend Baden Powell – an artist whose sound just deepened and got more complex as the years went on! Here, Baden's just playing solo, but with a vibrancy that's amazing – fingers moving across the strings of the guitar in this amazing way, ... (Brazil CD)

Thames & Hudson, 2017.

A beautiful book of images – not just for record lovers, but for all fans of sonic delights – as the author starts from the earliest days of recorded sound, then moves up through decades of representation – following images of record players, radios, cassette tapes, albums, 78 ... (Book)

Brunswick/Solid (Japan), 1967.

A really breakout moment for The Artistics – and the start of a really sublime run with the great Brunswick Records! The group had already broken a bit on Okeh a few years before – securing a top spot on the Chicago scene with their bouncy northern soul groove – a love of rhythm ... (Soul CD)

JMI, 2023. Gatefold

An open, beautiful, and really well-recorded album from guitarist Lage Lund – a set that really lets all the careful tones and colors of his music come across beautifully – as he plays in a spacious trio with Matthew Brewer on bass and Tyshawn Sorey on drums! Lage is always a chromatic ... (Jazz LP)

Trojan/Music On Vinyl (Netherlands), 1974. (reissue)

You gotta love Ken Boothe – a guy who can take familiar pop tunes like "Impossible Dream" and "Theme From The Godfather", and turn them into surprisingly soulful reggae classics! Yet that kind of magic is exactly what makes a great reggae album so great – the kind ... (Reggae LP)

Jewel/ORG, 1969. (reissue)

Gritty work from John Lee Hooker – a set recorded at the end of the 60s in Paris, at a time when that city was playing host to some of the hippest blues work of the decade! The style here is very much like John Lee Hooker of a decade before – simple, stark, and unadorned – with a ... (Blues LP)

Brandao/Sabura (Portugal), 1982. (reissue)

A set that was originally issued in Portugal, but which carries forth a strong quality of Cape Verdean rhythms – which are then inflected with some nice currents of European funk! Instrumentation is electric, with lots of great keyboards and guitar lines – and although the lyrics aren't ... (Global Grooves LP)

Stomper Time (UK), Late 1950s.

An overdue look at the 50s work of Charlie Gracie – a singer who could rock when he wanted, but also step back into a mellower pop ballad too – both of which are featured strongly on this set! Charlie cut a lot of material in Philly, at a time when the city was a real laboratory for ... (Rock CD)

Selva (Brazil), Mid 80s.

Never-issued work from these two giants of Brazilian soul – excellent material that really should have seen release back in the day, but which is maybe even more of a treasure presented here at long last! The set's got a warm modern soul glow – the sort of 80s material that Marcos ... (Brazil LP)

LRK (UK), 2024.

A set that's got all the classic soul vibe you might guess from the title and the cover, but one that's also got some more contemporary elements too – as Bella Brown and the group weave together strands of soulful influences from many decades – all with the feeling as if a 60s act on ... (Deep Funk CD)

Mainstream/Sundazed, 1968.

One of the tightest, grooviest albums on the short-lived rock years of the mostly-jazz Mainstream Records label – a treasure trove of tuneful tracks that spin out like some of the best late 60s work by The Zombies or The Left Banke! There's a starkness to the tunes that recalls some of the ... (Rock LP)

180g (UK), Late 70s/Early 80s.

Japanese club music from the disco years onward – but a set that's got a very universal appeal in the rhythms! The vocals are mostly in Japanese, but the arrangements, production, and instrumentation here resonate strongly with the best that New York or Philly had to offer during the disco ... (Funky Compilations LP)

Fire/P-Vine (Japan), Early 60s. (reissue)

An early full length album from the great Arthur Crudup – and one that wasn't cut until after he'd had years on the scene, including some work that was a key inspiration for Elvis Presley and others of his generation! The set's done in a nice raw style – that grittier side of the ... (Blues LP)

Smithsonian, 2024.

A hefty paper presentation of the fantastic Smithsonian exhibit of the same name – filled with images from the important showcase at the Museum Of African American History & Culture – and balanced with new essays penned for the book! The book is filled with striking images ... (Book)

Mirumir (Russia), 1975/1979. (reissue)

Sublime soundtrack music from Edward Artemiev – not a big name for film scoring on this side of the Iron Curtain, but a really well-remembered talent for his classic 70s work for the films of Andrey Tarkovsky! Side one of this album features wonderful sounds from the film Stalker – ... (Soundtracks LP)

Abkco, Early 1960s. 4LP Gatefold

Soul legend Sam Cooke left our planet all too soon – but during his short time in the business, and during the height of his fame, he managed to start his own record company too – a really groundbreaking imprint that issued some great singles of his own, and helped to showcase a small ... (Soul LP)

Continued Sound, Early 70s.

A killer collection of 70s soul – and one that focuses on the incredible scene that was going on in New Jersey at the time! The state was very adjacent to Philly – both geographically, and in style, with a great blend of harmony soul and upbeat grooves – but there's also a ... (Funky Compilations LP)

Native Rebel (UK), 2023. 2LP

A real genre-defying record from the contemporary London scene – a set produced by Shabaka Hutchings, and done with that post-jazz vibe that's really been creeping into his music in recent years! There's a very strong hip hop component to the record at times – thanks to key appearances ... (Jazz LP)

Nonesuch, 2024.

Mary Halvorson seems to expand her sound here a bit more than usual – not in that she's working with a large ensemble, or in any sort of too-ambitious ways – but just that she's mixing her very unique phrasing on the guitar with just the right blend of other instruments – all at a ... (Jazz CD)

We Release Jazz (Switzerland), Late 1970s/Early 1980s.

Mindblowing work from Swiss jazz and funk legend Bruno Spoerri – all of it never issued before, and a set that maybe comes across as some of the coolest music we've ever heard from Bruno! Spoerri has a long legacy of recordings – including straight jazz in the 60s, and sound library ... (Jazz LP)

Blue Note, Late 60s. Gatefold (reissue)

Lyrical beauty from trumpeter Blue Mitchell – one of those records that really has him coming into his own, sounding fantastic on Blue Note in a way he never did on his earlier albums as a leader! it's clear that Blue learned a lot while playing in the group of Horace Silver – a way of ... (Jazz LP)

Columbia/BGO (UK), Late 1980s/Early 1990s. 2CD

A trio of Columbia Records sets from Jean-Luc Ponty – served up here in a single package! First up is Gift Of Time – a set that really shows him embracing keyboards much more than at the start of his career – even though he also still turns in plenty of great jazzy sounds on ... (Jazz CD)

Mainstream/Sundazed, Late 60s.

An incredible treasure from the late 60s underground – the one and only album from the Jelly Bean Bandits, a group who really should have been huge! These guys are hardly the sweeter pop act you might expect from their name – and instead, they've got a rock-solid sound that's very ... (Rock LP)

Thames & Hudson, 2022.

One of the most lavish, loving books on hip hop that we've ever seen – a huge volume that manages to be a history of rap music, a photo book, a guide to key albums, and also a personal journey as well – all served up with a vivid, non-stop array of images that make the whole thing even ... (Book)

Strata East/P-Vine (Japan), 1969. 2LP (reissue)

One of the most ambitious albums ever recorded from Clifford Jordan – a totally righteous little effort that was the first installment in the legendary Dolphy Series on the Strata East label! The set has Jordan working with a larger group than usual – an all-star array of players that ... (Jazz LP)

Roadshow/Iconoclassic, 1975.

BT Express are speeding it up a bit from the first album – hitting more of a disco vein, as would be their due, since they were one of the key groups in inventing the genre! The core ensemble funk sound is still firmly in place, with loads of great horns arranged by the enigmatic Carlos Ward ... (Soul CD)

Moserobie (Sweden), 2024.

Emmeluth is alto saxophonist Signe Emmeluth – a player with a very unusual ear for timing and rhythms, as you'll hear in this completely unique set! The record has a vibe that's very hard to describe in words – maybe partly some of the experimentation of the 80s New York downtown scene ... (Jazz CD)

Stones Throw, 2020. (reissue)

A rock solid effort from one of the finer producers on Stones Throw at this stage in the label's esteemed history! If you expect 1988 to be throwback effort by the number title, think again, but he's not as predictable as that anyway. He sets an impeccable and unpredictable mood that stays rooted ... (Hip Hop LP)

All Art/Solid (Japan), Early 70s.

A really groovy little record from singer Kim Sang Hee – a vocalist who works here in English throughout, but gets backing from a few different forces on the Japanese jazz scene! Things change up nicely throughout the record – so that some tracks have Fender Rhodes backings from the ... (Japanese LP)

Midi/We Want Sounds (UK), 1978.

An early album from Japanese genius Akiko Yano, and one that features some key contributions from American jazz and fusion players – in a lineup that brings some surprisingly funky touches to the record too! Akiko's vocals and unique song structures still have all the charms you'll know from ... (Japanese CD)

Malaco/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1982.

Sho-Nuff deepens their sound nicely for this second set for Malaco Records – still sticking in the lean club funk sound of their debut for the label – but also reaching a bit more on the lyrics and vocals too! Ballads show up a bit more than before, and almost evoke an old school group ... (Soul CD)

Robinsongs (UK), Late 60s/1970s. 5CDs

An incredible run of music from one of the grooviest soul groups of all time – a combo who started out down in the Texas scene with some very upbeat dancing soul singles in the 60s, who then moved to work in the Philly studios in the 70s, where they really opened up their groove! The set ... (Soul CD)

Nodlew/P-Vine (Japan), 1968/1980s. (reissue)

Rare work from Weldon Irvine – a selection of tracks recorded as private studio outings, reissued briefly by Luv N Haight in the early 90s, and then only on vinyl! The style here is much more jazz-based than some of Irvine's soul recordings – a mode that's often all instrumental, and ... (Jazz LP)

Stephen Guarnori (UK), 2023.

An insanely fantastic book on one of our favorite record labels of all time – the All Platinum family of labels from the New Jersey scene of the late 60s/early 70s – a precursor to the later Sugar Hill hip hop empire, and home to The Moments, Whatnauts, and countless other great groups! ... (Book)

Soul Jazz (UK), Late 60s/Early 70s.

Pure dynamite throughout – a really killer batch of cuts that easily steps between 60s and 70s styles in Jamaican music – shaking things up with soulful late 60s numbers, funky 70s gems, and some dubbier tracks from a time when production styles really opened up! As with other volumes ... (Reggae CD)

Stunt (Denmark), 2024.

Swedish ballads, recorded in Denmark – in a setting that makes the album a real standout in the long career of tenorist Scott Hamilton! Hamilton's always been a master of tone and timing – but in his more mature years, he also seems to have loosened up, and almost comes across with a ... (Jazz CD)

Themes/Be With (UK), 1976. (reissue)

That's a pretty dramatic image on the cover, and Brit maestro Alan Tew follows it up with just the right sort of tunes you might expect – many of which are thematic tracks titled "The Detectives", and which would be right at home in some kind of cool 70s cop/crime TV show! As with ... (Sound Library LP)

No Salad (Switzerland), 2024.

A very different record than usual for Arto Lindsay – definitely one that's at the more artistic side of his spectrum – as the music was done for a sonic installation at a gallery in Switzerland, and is very different than some of Lindsay's guitar work and vocals! In fact, Arto didn't ... (Rock LP)

Elektra/Rhino, Mid 60s. 2LP Gatefold (reissue)

The second heady dip into the under-discovered underground of the late 60s – and a package that's every bit as ear-opening as the first Nuggets volume! As with that classic, there's material here that really shows the full spectrum of the American scene in the mid 60s – music that's ... (Rock LP)

El (UK), Late 1940s/1950s/Early 1960s. 3CD

A set with an unusual sort of flavor – one that looks at the influence of Spanish culture on modern music during the postwar years – brought together here in a mix of jazz and classical recordings with some very different styles! CD1 is all jazz – and showcases some key Spanish-th ... (Global Grooves CD)

Cotter, 2024.

Funky jazz for the hip hop generation – a set that features warm instrumental solos over some well-crafted beats – all with a vibe that effortlessly links the 70s with the 21st Century! Pat Van Dyke plays a host of instruments – including vibes and Fender Rhodes – in a ... (Jazz LP)

Elevation (Netherlands), Early 1970s.

A very cool group, and one who are every bit as groovy as they look on the cover – a hip early 70s Indonesian quartet, and one who mix together equal parts rock and funk – but all with a very trippy sound throughout! These guys are incredible – an under-discovered group who've ... (Global Grooves CD)

Nadja (Japan), 1994. 4CD

Fantastic work from a really wonderful trio – a group with a sense of space and scope that's completely sublime! We've always loved the piano work of Masabumi Kikuchi, but here he really has this special energy next to the basswork of Gary Peacock – a player who somehow always feels a ... (Jazz CD)

Posi tone, 2024.

Rich-voiced tenor work from Diego Rivera, a player who just seems to get better and better with each new album as a leader! The set follows strongly on Diego's previous – and as with that one, features that top-shelf Posi-tone presentation – with a focus on original material, a strong ... (Jazz CD)

Vulcan/VP, 1976. (reissue)

A mighty righteous set of roots material – but maybe that's no surprise, given that Fred Locks titled the album after the shipping line started by Marcus Garvey to help African-Americans get back to the homeland! On vocals, Fred's got an approach that's every bit in spirit with his rasta ... (Reggae LP)

TDK/Lawson (Japan), 1989. (reissue)

A great bit of Japanese soul from the end of the 80s – and one that's got a surprising connection to Prince as well – given the man himself wrote some of the tracks, and also appears on the record himself! Apart from Kahoru's Japanese vocals, the Prince tracks are totally Prince ... (Japanese LP)

Harvest/Esoteric (UK), 1969. Gatefold (reissue)

A wonderful departure for Kevin Ayers – an album that's a lot lighter and more whimsical than his original fame with Soft Machine! The tunes are extremely playful, and often quite catchy – almost a Donovan-esque blend of folksy roots and jazz inflections – but tuned a bit more ... (Rock LP)

WeJazz (Finland), 2023.

The great Donald Byrd is on the cover this time around – and gets a great feature on his key jazz funk years for Blue Note on the inside! And as always, We Jazz really knocks it out of the park – with a mix of writing and artwork that's far beyond jazz magazines of years past – ... (Magazine)

Blue Note, 1997. 2LP Gatefold

One of those 90s albums that really made people sit up and take notice of saxophonist Joe Lovano – a musician who'd been appearing on records since the 70s, but who finally got the due he deserved when Blue Note let him open up like this! The album's got a relatively loose, open vibe – ... (Jazz LP)

Golden Ear/P-Vine (Japan), 1980. (reissue)

Very obscure later work from Jackie Ross – recorded in her years after Chess Records, with a sound that's a lot more mature than before! The style here is a bit like Marlena Shaw in the late 70s – a sophisticated blend of soul, jazz, and a little bit of club – served up with ... (Soul LP)

Victor/BBE (UK), 1972.

Really evocative work from pianist Mal Waldron – a rare Japanese session cut with trumpeter Terumasa Hino, and a hip group of players who really make the set sparkle! The album's easily one of the most spiritual that Mal ever cut – and features two side long tracks that build ... (Jazz CD)

Now Again, 1971. (reissue)

A rare early moment from the legendary Austrian group Paternoster – sounds that predate their one and only cult-status album – originally created for the equally legendary film, Die Ersten Tage! The music here was never issued commercially at the time – and the release of these ... (Rock LP)

Themes/Be With (UK), 1976. (reissue)

That gun on the cover is a great hint at the action within – as UK sound library genius Alan Tew comes up with a whole host of hip cop/crime grooves for the set! Tracks are short, but done brilliantly – with a blend of keyboards and electric basslines amidst warmer jazzy ... (Sound Library LP)

Atco/Earth, 1968. (reissue)

One of the great, lost, under-discovered albums on Atlantic from the late 60s – the little-circulated debut of singer Scott Fagan – a very unusual talent who mixes soulful currents with a very personal singer-songwriter approach! Scott's sound is never too polished – he's ... (Rock LP)

Blue Note (Japan), 1959.

A killer session from Horace Silver – a record that has the legendary Blue Note pianist working with his famous quintet that includes Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Junior Cook on tenor, Gene Taylor on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums! The album's one of the group's first, and really showcases ... (Jazz CD)

Polydor/Big Pink (South Korea), 1972.

A pretty wild album – and a really wonderful mixture of funky fusion and Spanish guitar, featuring tunes written by flamenco guitarist Sabicas, backed by arrangements handled by funky guitarist Joe Beck! The sound is pretty darn incredible – way better than you might think, and ... (Jazz CD)

Sugar/Universal (France), 1973.

A fantastic soundtrack that's maybe even more legendary than the unusual animated film for which it was created – a funky French classic that stands strong in the best tradition of work by Serge Gainsbourg, Jean-Claude Vannier, and Michel Colombier! No surprise, Alain Goraguer is part of the ... (Soundtracks CD)

Island/Light In The Attic, 1975. (reissue)

The biggest-label release ever cut by 70s funk legend Betty Davis – but a set that's every bit as hard and heavy as the indie dates that preceded it! Davis is at the top of her form here – bad-stepping amidst the heavy drums and freaked-out guitars that easily made her one of the ... (Soul LP)

Mondo Groove (Italy), Late 1970s/Early 1980s.

A treasure trove of rare grooves from the Italian scene – including plenty of cookers from those years when the Italians were just about the only one keeping the disco sound going! The work predates the big wave of Italo House to come, but has a vibe that's equally lively, and a nicely ... (Funky Compilations LP)

Ultra Vybe (Japan), Early 60s/Late 70s.

An unusual slice of work from the James Brown Family – material from three different periods – early 60s cuts for Dade Records, early 70s material for Brownstone, and late 70s tracks for TK Records! The collection features some especially rare Dade material – tracks from artists ... (Soul CD)

Yupiteru/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1978.

A nicely bold record from pianist Masaru Imada – one of his most strongly-grooving records of the 70s, and a set that features some great hork work as well! The core trio features Kunimitsu Inaba on bass and Fumio Watanabe on drums – both of whom bring out a more soulful groove than on ... (Jazz CD)

Color Red, 2024.

Guitarist Eddie Roberts is a legend in contemporary funk – famous first for his work in the New Mastersounds, then for some great records on his own – now working here as a key part of The Lucky Strokes – a group who open up a whole new chapter in Eddie's career! The group's a ... (Deep Funk LP)

Death Is Not The End (UK), Late 1980s/Early 1990s.

A mysterious batch of funk and soul from tapes that were originally played at London clubs and parties in the late 80s and early 90s – the key years of the rare groove scene, which is represented here by a fantastic assortment of obscure grooves from the 70s! The presentation is different ... (Funky Compilations LP)

Venture/Kent, Late 60s.

The first-ever full length collection of work by Calvin Arnold – a killer 60s soul singer and guitarist, and one who cut some classic funky 45s back in the day, but never got a chance to record an album! All the material here came out on the Venture label – a small label, but one that ... (Soul CD)

Corbett vs. Dempsey, 2024. Gatefold

A really mesmerizing performance from a completely fantastic version of Rob Mazurek's Exploding Star Orchestra – a smaller unit, and one that seems to bring even more focus to Rob's incredible musical vision of the past decade or so! Mazurek has grown tremendously as a player in the 21st ... (Jazz CD)

Axiom/Zehra (UK), 1994. 2LP Gatefold

One of the most compelling Bill Laswell productions of the 90s – partly because the work of Maleem Mahmoud Ghania is so great – and also because tenor genius Pharoah Sanders turns in some great work on the set! The core sound comes from Ghania's roots in gnawa – vocals and ... (Global Grooves LP)

Gramavision/Real Gone, 1993. (reissue)

A seminal set from a time when few folks were thinking of funk in jazz – the second effort by a trio who came years after the glory days of soul jazz and funky 45s, but who also paved the way for the Daptone generation to come! Chris Wood plays bass, Billy Martin plays drums, and John ... (Jazz LP)

Full House/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1979.

A sublime solo set from pianist Masaru Imada – one that really opens up with the kind of warm, spacious approach to jazz that he showcased on his famous albums for the Three Blind Mice label! Imada's got a completely captivating sound here – really bringing us in with a personal ... (Jazz CD)

Lost Recordings (France), 1967. 2LP Gatefold

Ella Fitzgerald recorded famously in Berlin for Verve Records at the start of the 60s – but this set's from later on in the decade, and shows just how much Ella had grown as a singer! There's less of the easygoing good vibes of that previous album, and a much more mature, intimate quality at ... (Vocalists LP)

RCA/Sonor (Italy), 1959. (reissue)

Piero Umiliani gave the world some fantastic soundtracks in the 60s, and incredible electronic and sound library work in the 70s – but in the immediate postwar years, he was a jazz musician at heart – as you'll hear in this great set of small combo jazz from 1959! The vibe is right up ... (Soundtracks LP)

Trad Vibe (France), Mid 70s.

Electric piano genius from this legendary French group of the 70s – served up here in a set of tracks that were only issued as 7" singles, plus a few other rare gems too! Cortex are maybe best known for their landmark Rhodes album Troupeau Bleu – a classic that stands up next to ... (Jazz LP)

Astral Spirits, 2024. 2LP

You might know pianist Ra Washington from his work in Mourning A BLKstar or Vernacular, and he's even more powerful and righteous here in a collaboration with bassist Jah Nada – as the pair head up a collective that delivers music that's full of music and message throughout! There's a ... (Jazz LP)

Bear Family (Germany), Late 1950s.

Rockabilly legend Billy Joy definitely rocks – hardly a household name in the 50s, but a killer figure in the rock and roll underground – and one whose fame has just grown more and more over the years! The package is a beautifully-done tribute to Benny's genius – and presents the ... (Rock CD)

Columbia/Endless Happiness (Italy), 1970. (reissue)

Two sides of very free piano from the great Masahiko Sato – an album of improvised genius, and surprising beauty as well! Playing solo on two side-long improvisations, Sato is very much in Cecil Taylor territory – yet he also delivers his performance with this inherent sense of ... (Jazz LP)

Paddle Wheel/Cinedelic (Italy), 1979. (reissue)

Inventive percussion and amazing bass work – plus a host of other interesting elements as well – all wrapped up beautifully in this unique collaboration between Isao Suzuki and Masahiko Togashi! Both players were some of the most creative of the mainstream Japanese scene of the 70s ... (Jazz LP)

Meta, 2023. Gatefold

Adam Rudolph works here with a whole host of instruments of his own, then opens the door for a huge amount of guests – all of whom help the proceedings come across with an organic, earthy blend of both acoustic and electric instrumental elements! Rudolph himself handles kalimba, keyboards, ... (New Grooves LP)

Modern Silence (Italy), 1966.

A rare performance from trumpeter Don Cherry – caught here at a key experimental moment in the 60s, when he was working with his Complete Communion lineup! The group are a trans-Atlantic quintet – with a young Gato Barbieri on tenor sax, Karl Berger on piano and vibes, Bo Stief on bass ... (Jazz LP)

Fabiano Do Nascimento & Sam Gendel

Room

Real World, 2024.

An album that's a really beautiful showcase for the reed work of Sam Gendel – as he plays here alongside guitarist Fabiano Do Nascimento, who really seems to unlock a different side in Sam's music! The album's got a lean vibe – very similar to some of Fabiano's other records, which we ... (Brazil CD)

Easy Tempo (Italy), Late 60s/1970s. 2LP Gatefold

A long-overdue entry in this legendary series of compilations – one that taught us an awful lot about funky soundtrack music back in the day, finally back in action after a long hiatus! This time around, the groove has gotten even deeper – as the series has stretched to include some ... (Funky Compilations LP)

Bear Family (Germany), Early 1960s.

A set that definitely takes the title seriously – as it brings together lots and lots of upbeat groovers from Dion – a few early cuts with The Belmonts, and a lot more from his excellent solo years of the 60s! That stretch of Dion's career is often given focus as a time when DiMucci ... (Rock CD)

Six Degrees/Polysom (Brazil), 2012.

A nice step forward for Ceu – and a record with a bit more of an edge than we might have expected! The set's still heavy on those sweet Brazilian vocals with an old school vibe – but the production, although often spare, has this nice raspy quality we really love – subtle ... (Brazil LP)

Timeless/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1986.

A really fantastic setting for the tenor genius of Pharoah Sanders – and a record that's very different than just about anything else he ever recorded! As the title implies, the album's a duo recording with pianist John Hicks – just his piano and Pharoah's tenor – working ... (Jazz CD)

Urban Discos (Japan), 2024.

Nautilus sound every bit as great hear as on previous albums, but they've also added a difference too – the use of vocals on many tracks, in a way that really helps expand and open up their sound! The singers vary, as do their approaches – one track has a vocoder filtering the vocals ... (Deep Funk CD)

Sussex/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1972.

A mighty nice soul group from the 70s – one that features early work from Zulema before she went solo, and who come across here with a slightly righteous style that you might guess from the cover! Vocals soar at all the right moments, and there's some hipper-than-usual production that's very ... (Soul CD)

P-Vine (Japan), 2010s.

A wonderful collection of later work from this legendary Japanese pianist – a set that's named after his famous Watarase album from years back, but which includes some unusual live recordings and material that we haven't seen elsewhere! Some of the tracks here really break the standard piano ... (Jazz CD)

Du Books (Japan), 2023.

A Japanese disc guide, but one with a really great focus – a look at the revival of indie labels in the world of hip hop in the 90s – after surprising domination of the style by the bigger record companies by the end of the previous decade! The book traces records through the 90s to ... (Book)

Hat Art (Switzerland), Early 1960s.

Two key albums from a young Jackie McLean – both very early entries in the "new thing" mode of the 60s! First up is Let Freedom Ring a record that features a young Jackie McLean at the height of his powers – really stretching out here, but never going too far out – a ... (Jazz CD)

Costeno/Vampi Soul (Spain), Mid 70s. (reissue)

One of the most obscure salsa albums to come out of the Colombian scene in the 70s – a set that features top-shelf instrumentation from members of Fruko's combo, and vocals from singer Jacky Carazo! Jacky's got a great approach that almost seems to echo the Latin soul generation at times, ... (Latin LP)

Hilton's Concept/P-Vine (Japan), Mid 70s.

A holy grail of funky music – and a rare gem from the DC scene of the 70s! Keyboardist Hilton Felton cut this wicked killer for his own tiny label – Hilton's Concept – and it's a very unique blend of jazz and funk modes, done with help from members of The Blackbyrds and Three ... (Jazz CD)

Konduko/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1977.

The heavy conga image on the front cover will give you plenty of hints at the sound inside – a percussion-driven record served up by the mighty King Sporty – who works here with plenty of TK Records Miami funk in the mix! George Perry co-produced the record with Sporty, and the whole ... (Soul CD)

Blue Note, 1953. (reissue)

Clifford Brown only recorded a handful of sides for Blue Note – but all of the best ones are included in this excellent album – a full length set that culls together Brown's material from the 10" years, issued as a memorial to his early death in 1956! Side one features Brown with ... (Jazz LP)

Cosmic Rock (Italy), Early 70s. (reissue)

Japanese keyboardist Kuni Kawachi works here on a variety of cool keys while also singing – serving up work on Hammond, celeste, harpsichord, and even rocksichord – while also getting strong support from the legendary Flower Travelling Band! The record's leaner than that group's music, ... (Japanese LP)

DCM/Vampi Soul (Spain), 1967. (reissue)

A really cool blend of familiar Latin rhythms and South American electric guitar – use of the instrument that's more typically associated with genres in Peruo and other scenes on the west of the continent – but used here in a very cool set from the late 60s Venezuelan scene! The music ... (Latin LP)

Red (Italy), 1991.

There's nothing standard about this set – as Joe Henderson always brings something special to a recording session – especially at this point in his career! The album has a wonderful format – Joe's unique tenor tone set up beautifully alongside the bass of Rufus Reid and drums of ... (Jazz CD)

Glitterbeat (Germany), 2024.

A really wonderful album from this ever-changing Brazilian group – a combo who started out in more standard Afro Funk modes years ago, but who've really shifted their music in all sorts of great ways over recent albums! There's still some strong use of horns and heavy percussion throughout ... (Brazil CD)

Fantasy/Southbound (UK), 1980. (reissue)

Seminal work from this legendary duo – singers Martha Wash and Izora Armstead – better known by their later name as The Weather Girls, but already pretty darn great here as Two Tons! The pair first famously sang backup for Sylvester in the Bay Area, but quickly stepped out on their own ... (Soul LP)

Young, 2023.

Sampha's a singer who's always hard to peg, but one who grabs you right away – with a voice that's one of the most unique, distinct, and powerful in contemporary soul music – and which deserves to be heard in all its brilliance on a record like this! We're not sure how to describe what ... (Neo Soul CD)

Alston/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1975.

One of the most unique albums to ever come out of the Miami soul scene of the 70s – a sublime set of work that we'd easily rank right up there with the best material of the time from Donny Hathaway or Stevie Wonder! Milton Wright has a really jazzy groove to his music – and he mixes ... (Soul CD)

Habibi Funk (Germany), Late 70s.

Some of the most obscure work ever recorded by Lebanese singer/songwriter Roger Fakhr – late 70s recordings that were originally only circulated on tape within a small community of friends and supporters, and material that has a vibe that almost feels like some of the best late 60s material ... (Global Grooves CD)

Rogue Art (France), 2024.

Mindblowing duets between trombonist Steve Swell and pianist Matthew Shipp – both incredible players on their own, but musicians who really seem to unlock something special here together! The improvisations have a way of mixing boldness with personal expressions of humanity – at a ... (Jazz CD)

Amour/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1977.

An obscure group from the Oakland side of the Cali soul scene in the 70s – and one who get some superb backing here on the best cuts – thanks to work from the funk combo Perfect Circle, who bring some great jazz funk elements to the mix! The group features one female vocalist, Samaki ... (Soul CD)

Immediate/Charly (UK), 1968.

A classic set of British soul by PP Arnold – LA native, and a onetime member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue who ended up staying behind in the UK after a mid 60s tour! The album's got a very interesting approach that's quite a bit more sophisticated than the sound of the Ike Turner group ... (Soul CD)

Light In The Attic, 2007. 2LP Gatefold

The last-ever album from the legendary Lou Reed – and a set that's completely different from the sounds he gave the world in the Velvet Underground, and on most of his solo work in recent decades too! The music is spare and ambient, and very much lives up to the "meditations" in ... (Rock LP)

Ancient Archive Of Sound (UK), 2023.

Reedman Nat Birchall digs deep for this masterful set – creating timeless music that easily stands next to the work of some of his key ancestors in jazz – especially musicians of the generation of John Coltrane! The set is one that has Birchall layering his tenor, soprano, and baritone ... (Jazz LP)

Madlib Invazion, 2024.

Joe Harrison starts out this set with a reference to David Axelrod, and the set just keeps getting better and better after that – as Joe mixes together vibes, mellotron, guitar, organ, flute, and lots of other cool instrumentation – but all with a lean vibe that's definitely more on the ... (Sound Library LP)

Blue Note, 1953. (reissue)

One of the first-ever full length collections of work from bop piano legend Bud Powell – a record with a seminal Blue Note cover image, and the well-earned "Amazing" in the title! Powell's in great form throughout – very much at that restless, effortless best of his early ... (Jazz LP)

Saadia/Numero, Late 60s.

Heavy funk from the Florida scene, and a set that brings together some real killers from the much-lauded Saadia label – an imprint that followed on the scene after the earlier Deep City label, and which definitely set the tone for all sorts of funky 45s from TK Records to come! There's some ... (Funky Compilations LP)

Blue Note (Japan), 1965.

A set titled after a Beatles hit of the 60s, but one that's got a lot more depth than that – as the record is a landmark moment in the development of organ/guitar jazz at the time – a set that features the key pairing of guitarist Grant Green and Hammond modernist Larry Young! As with ... (Jazz CD)

Figure & Ground, 2024.

A set that's heavy on percussion, and which really sticks to this group's commitment to the rootsier sound of Colombian music – particularly the coastal style of bullerengue, which is served up here in a bold mix of drums, percussion, and rising voices! There's a female singer in the lead, ... (Latin LP)

BYG/Charly (UK), 1969. Gatefold (reissue)

The Art Ensemble at the height of their powers – really letting loose on the Parisian scene of the late 60s, where they found a great audience for all the new ideas they'd been brewing up back home! The album's definitely one that has the group's unique ethos coming into focus – that ... (Jazz LP)

Trost (Austria), 2024.

A beautiful piece of music, and one that features Mats Gustafsson working as both an instrumentalist and conductor – contributing work on baritone, flute, and the unusual spilapipa throughout the course of the album's single extended performance! As with Mats' instrumentation, the rest of ... (Jazz CD)

Paula/Wax Trader (Canada), 1972. (reissue)

One of the best soul records to come out on the Paula label in the early 70s – one with a number of beautifully soulful moments – and a few surprisingly funky ones, too! Although Bobby Patterson did a lot of work for other singers, this is one of the few albums he actually cut under ... (Soul LP)

Omni Sound, 2024.

A tribute to a lost side of the creative powers of the legendary Sun Ra – his work in prose and poetry, presented here on record by a variety of different voices – all in a production that features some cool electronics from Marshall Allen as well! The instrumental work of Ra and the ... (Jazz LP)

Tricatel (France), 2023. 2LP

A sublime mix of art, jazz, and other unusual sounds – served up in tribute to the roving 7 x 7 exhibition series, and with a really beautiful package! The book itself is great – 12" square, and with 64 pages of artwork and writing in the middle – graced by recordings from a ... (Out Sound LP)

Atlantic/Robinsongs (UK), Late 70s. 2CD

A trio of funky classics from Faze-O – collected here with bonus tracks too! First up is their debut, Riding High – a spacey soul classic – with a sound that never gets old! Faze-O will be forever remembered for their massive cut "Riding High", the leadoff on this ... (Soul CD)

Jazz Detective, Mid 60s. 3LPs

Very cool work from vibist Cal Tjader – sounds that are different than some of the larger arrangements and concepts of his Verve Records albums of the mid 60s, and material that appears here for the first time ever! The set features a range of appearances that Tjader made on radio in Seattle ... (Jazz LP)

Ugly Things, 2023.

A beautiful issue of Ugly Things – one of the preeminent journals covering timelessly groovy sounds! Twin pillars of the 60s English scene are on the cover – The Creation and The Artwoods – with a great look at the early years of the former, circa 1966, and an excellent, far-reach ... (Magazine)

RR Gems (Estonia), 2023. Gatefold

A really fantastic set from Organic Pulse Ensemble – not a group, but a single artist – although one who has a really unique way of putting together an album that feels like some spiritual jazz classic from a larger lineup of musicians! In fact, we probably shouldn't even have ... (Jazz LP)

TK/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1970s.

The album's titled after a funky Miami soul gem from the 70s, and the set's got a strong feature on some of the best groovy tracks from that southern city – all originally issued on 7" singles by the TK family of labels, and brought together here with a nice focus on the range of ... (Funky Compilations LP)

Calig/Moosicus (Germany), Late 60s.

A pare of rare European sessions from saxophonist Marion Brown – back to back on a single set! First up is Gesprachsfetzen – a really wonderful collaboration between alto saxophonist Marion Brown and vibist/reedman Gunter Hampel – a set that's maybe one of the sharpest to come ... (Jazz CD)

Vampi Soul (Spain), Late 60s/1970s/Early 80s. 2LP Gatefold

A killer selection of Spanish female pop – music that echoes British and French female work of the time, but which often has a different vibe as well! Part of that difference is the Spanish language of the lyrics, which seems to encourage some differences in the rhythms – but there's ... (Latin LP)

Red (Italy), 1983.

Proof that Dannie Richmond had a lot more to offer than just his drumming with Charles Mingus! The album's a stunning post-Mingus set that shows Richmond in command of a hip group of Mingus-ites – but working in a style that has much of its own manners and quirks! The album features 2 ... (Jazz CD)

MCA/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1973.

The mighty debut album from the Average White Band – Show Your Hand – a set that was originally issued in the US as Put It Where You Want It, with a slightly different placement than their later hits! Average White Band are most clearly associated with Atlantic Records during the 70s ... (Soul CD)

Trojan/Doctor Bird (UK), Late 60s. 2CDs

Two rare compilations from Trojan Records – back to back in a single set, with an insane number of bonus tracks too! Both records capture that time when the groove was moving from rocksteady to early reggae – still yet to hit global fame, which makes for a really nice mix of music from ... (Reggae CD)

Golden Ear/P-Vine (Japan), Late 70s.

A great pairing of two Chicago soul talents – as vocalist Jackie Ross gets backing from the funky South Side Movement! The album's an obscure EP put together by producer Jimmy Van Leer – possibly as an attempt to revive the careers of both artists, and possibly only ever circulated as ... (Soul CD)

De-Lite/Octave (Japan), 1982.

It's past the disco years, and Crown Heights Affair have emerged nicely – with a sweet modern soul style that's got a bit of 80s groove, and which shows a lot more soul than some of their earlier work! The band's singing in a sweet harmony style that works very well with the music – ... (Soul CD)

Blue Note, 1969. Gatefold (reissue)

The title's a great one for this post-Coltrane cooker from Elvin Jones – as the set really has Elvin exploring some really fresh currents in jazz, with a range of complicated rhythms that really pull the whole session along strongly! Rhythm is really set free on the record – as Elvin ... (Jazz LP)

Studio One, 1982. (reissue)

One of the headiest Studio One albums of the 80s – as you might guess from the trippy space-themed cover – a killer set of dee jay work from Lone Ranger, set to rhythms that get nice and heavy! The set's one of those in the best meeting of dub and dee jay modes – reworking both ... (Reggae LP)

Expansion (UK), 2023.

That's almost an Earth Wind & Fire-styled image on the cover – and the Brit Funk Association definitely live up to the spirit of that scene – which is maybe no surprise, given that group members have a legacy that goes way back for many years on the UK soul scene! There's a warmth ... (Neo Soul CD)

Numero, 1981.

Some of the moodiest, most majestic music we've ever heard from composer Joanna Brouk – which might be a surprise, given that the initial release of the album was only on a cassette with a relatively cheesy cover! There's a depth here that's almost like 4AD at its mid-80s height – very ... (Out Sound LP)

Red (Italy), 1989.

Low-burning tenor from Jerry Bergonzi – a player we grow to appreciate more and more as the years go by! Jerry starts this set off with a great reading of Joe Henderson's "Inner Urge" – which is a very apt choice, as Bergonzi's tenor has all the deep soul and modern edges we ... (Jazz CD)

Ovation/Night Train, 1976. (reissue)

One of the greatest albums ever made by Willie Dixon as a leader – a really cooking set done after years backing other folks up in the Chess Records studio – and a date recorded for the Chicago-based Ovation Records label, who really let Willie do his thing! Given that Dixon plays bass ... (Blues LP)

Top Deck/Pressure Sounds (UK), Mid 60s. (reissue)

Completely top-shelf work from the short-lived Top Deck label in Kingston – one of the great early imprints to really help get things going from the indie side of things in the 60s – run by Justin Yap, an entrepreneur with a great ear for the changing sides of the scene! This is ... (Reggae LP)

De-Lite/Octave (Japan), 1978.

A tasty little disco album that's a lot better than you might think! In some ways, this might be Crown Heights Affair's most perfectly realized album – as it's got lots of long tracks that mix the group's always-tight instrumental style with a spacey soul sensibility that's quite captivating. ... (Soul CD)

Click/P-Vine (Japan), 1978.

Breezy electric vocals from 70s Sweden – a great little record that's heavy on electric piano and organ, and which features some sublime vocals from singer Meta Roos! The record does a great job of blending influences from bossa nova and sophisticated American soul – in a style that ... (Vocalists CD)

Dash/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1976.

An unusual set from Kracker – a record that's possibly more rock/pop at the core, but one that definitely shares some of the soulful touches of other albums on the Dash label too! The group dress like a funk band on the album's flipside photo – and they've got vocal interplay that's ... (Soul CD)

Luv N' Haight, 1978.

A funky treasure from the 70s – a record that hardly made waves at the time, but which has lived on strongly for years – thanks to a great sample history and key interest from generations of groove diggers! Mighty Ryeders have a sound that's clearly influenced by Earth Wind & Fire ... (Soul CD)

Discogram/Return To Analog (Canada), 1979. (reissue)

Jimmy Hyacinthe is posed on the cover like some 70s bluesman, but his music here is much more global overall – plenty of grooves that echo his origins in the Ivory Coast, but handled with qualities that are electric and a bit funky too! The rhythms almost feel Caribbean at times, especially ... (Global Grooves LP)

Mad 13 (Japan), 2023. 2LP

The album's great cover image is an homage to the Death Wish soundtrack by Herbie Hancock, and Mantle references 70s funk group Mandrill in his name – but the sound here is very different than either of those two references might make you expect, more in a contemporary hip hop vein, but ... (Japanese LP)

Hilton's Concept/P-Vine (Japan), Mid 70s.

A mighty great little record – a mixture of jazz and soul from the heavy talents of Hilton Felton – and a record that not only features some of his own great work on organ and keyboards, but some great contributions from other members of the DC scene of the 70s! In addition to help ... (Jazz CD)

Duke University Press, 2023.

A well done book about the continuing importance of soul and R&B in black culture over the decades – one that begins its journey in the 70s, and moves right up to the present with a key chapter on the music in the post-George Floyd landscape in America! Author Alexander Ghedi Weheliye ... (Book)

Soul Jazz (UK), 1970s/Early 80s.

A really cool collection – one that's maybe best summed up by the word "ecstatic" in the title – as the package presents a blend of work from artists who easily skirt both the spiritual and secular side of soulful music, united together with a very joyous, uplifting vibe in ... (Funky Compilations CD)

Folkstudio/Black Sweat (Italy), 1976.

A group that's not really folk, but who definitely have a special magic of their own – a collective ensemble who played on the Italian scene of the 70s, and who bring together free improvisation with a range of other earthy and organic elements! There's definitely some global currents going ... (Jazz CD)

Limelight/Verve, 1969. (reissue)

One of our favorite albums of all time – and a legendary testament to the greatness of the Chicago music scene in the late 60s! Melvin Jackson was the bassist in Eddie Harris' very successful group of the time – and his playing on Eddie's trippy and funky records for Atlantic is one of ... (Jazz LP)

APA/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1980.

One of the more obscure stars in the TK Records constellation – a one-off club project, featuring the writing and production talents of Oscar Llord, and the vocals of Bobby Bushe – hence the title! The set's got a rough take on the Miami disco style of the time – a bit less ... (Soul CD)

Invitation/Lawson (Japan), 1980. (reissue)

A wicked bit of Japanese soul, and a rare album done by an American singer who was working on the scene at the time! Shoody sings in English throughout, with a soulful style that's wonderful – mixing her own great vocals with jazzy backings in a level that's a bit like some of the Japanese ... (Japanese LP)

Beat (Italy), 1969.

One of our favorite all-time soundtracks from the legendary Ennio Morricone – and a record that really clued us in to that subtle sort of genius that sets him apart from the rest! Maestro Morricone is working in a number of different modes here – really making this one of the more ... (Soundtracks CD)

Express/Universal (Japan), 1970. (reissue)

The very first album from long-running Japanese singer Akira Kushida – a set that bursts out with the word "soulful" on the cover, and definitely follows through with its promise! Given that Akira sings in Japanese on many cuts, the sound isn't exactly the same as James Brown on ... (Japanese LP)

Riverside/Craft, 1962. 2CDs

With grooves this great, the house must have been full – and the album's a gem of an early live date by Wes Montgomery, recorded in Berkeley with a quartet that includes Johnny Griffin on tenor, Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums! The tunes have a nicely ... (Jazz CD)

De Wolfe/Be With (UK), 1972. (reissue)

An ultra-hip batch of vocal tracks – and one of the few full albums recorded by singer Barbara Moore – a UK jazz artist at the start, but then an important studio talent often working behind the scenes! Barbara's got a very groovy style that's part jazz, part easy, part sunshine pop ... (Sound Library LP)

Roctober, 2023.

A very cool double-sized issue of Roctober – long-overdue, as we haven't heard from them in a bit – but well worth the wait, as the range of features and mix of material continues to be stunning – a great reminder that, decades back, this magazine was exploring this territory long ... (Magazine)

Colourful World (Netherlands), Late 80s.

A tight collection of gems from Ghana and Cape Verde – pulled together by Arp Frique, as an illustration of the sounds that have inspired him greatly over the years! The package features four cuts that move with mighty tight grooves – very upbeat, but in ways that are different than ... (Global Grooves LP)

Solar/Octave (Japan), 1981.

A great second adventure from Dynasty – the kind of set that shows why the group went on to become one of the strongest things going in the second chapter of the Solar Records soul empire from LA! The album begins with a rock-solid punch, then continues strongly throughout – basslines, ... (Soul CD)

Believe International (UK), 2023.

The title structure hear hearkens back to some of the anagram puns that Fela Kuti used to twist the political knife back in the day – and Olumo Soundz have definitely inherited some of the spirit of that scene! Yet the group also have a different sort of vibe, in part because a number of ... (Global Grooves LP)

Perception/Octave (Japan), 1972.

A rare set from the Chicago scene of the early 70s – put together by a group who are the "American family" promised in the title, but who have a lot more to offer than just the kiddie soul of the time! The members of the group have a nice range of ages and styles – which ... (Soul CD)

Blue Note, 1960. (reissue)

One of the greatest albums ever for Blue Note – and the only album recorded by tenor player Tina Brooks that was issued during his lifetime! The album's nearly perfect – and features Brooks' edgey tenor set in an all star group that includes Duke Jordan on piano, Freddie Hubbard on ... (Jazz LP)

Big Crown, 2023.

A definite set of crown jewels from the Big Crown label – especially as most of these gems were only ever around as funky 45s – some now gone forever, and all compiled on this nicely-priced full length set! The package shows the real evolution of Big Crown in recent years – as ... (Deep Funk LP)

Contemporary/Craft, 1958. (reissue)

A really pivotal album from the great Art Farmer – a late 50s session that has him finding that sense of tone and timing that would dominate his work in years to come! Art was already great by the time of this set, but he's also got maybe a more personal, almost poetic vibe at times – ... (Jazz LP)

Triple Point, 1964.

An incredible early recording from avant tenor genius Archie Shepp – material recorded before his famous debut for Impulse Records, and with a group that's every bit as legendary as the leader! There's a vibe here that's a bit like ESP at times, but which both also echoes the Impulse Shepp ... (Jazz LP)

Glitterbeat (Germany), 2023.

Contemporary sounds from the legendary Parchman Prison farm in Mississippi – once home to musical blues and jazz legends in the 20th Century, and open to visits from creative talents and photographers – but which has been much more closed off in recent years, which maybe makes this ... (Gospel CD)

BBE (UK), 1970s/1980s. 3CDs

A stunning celebration of one of the greatest pairings in Brazilian music – and in American music as well, given that both Airto Moreira and Flora Purim recorded plenty of these cuts up in our neck of the woods! Airto's percussion is the stuff of legend – a key force in Brazilian ... (Brazil CD)

Brunswick/Solid (Japan), 1967.

A wonderful little album from Jackie Wilson – one that helped him redefine his sound and save his career! Jackie's earlier work for Brunswick was a mish-mash of styles that ranged from raw R&B to smooth supper-club jazz to silly novelty numbers, all of which had gotten pretty stale by ... (Soul CD)

Soul Sounds, 2023.

It's been a decade since the last entry in this really wonderful series – and it's clear that there's been plenty going on in the Detroit scene as well – a continuation of that old school underground that has the spirit of classic soul alive and well in the Motor City! These cuts are ... (Soul CD)

Soul Jazz (UK), Mid 60s. 2LP (reissue)

The last train to skaville, and a record that should be the first in line when you're digging for rare instrumental ska – as the collection offers up a mix of the mighty Hammond skills of Jackie Mittoo and the searing rhythms of the Soul Brothers – who also serve up great solos on tenor ... (Reggae LP)

Mercury/Verve, 1959. (reissue)

One of Max's many great records from the late 50's, most of which tend to get overlooked in favor of his more experimental sessions. The group here includes Ray Bryant, Stanley Turrentine, Julian Priester, and Turrentine's great brother Tommy – and they're joined by Abbey Lincoln on vocals ... (Jazz LP)

Jazzaggression (Finland), 1973.

A wonderfully raw keyboard trio session from the Norwegian scene of the early 70s – served up by a group led by Christian Reim, who you may know from more modern jazz-styled material, but who's in a killer funky group here! Reim plays Fender Rhodes and organ next to the guitar of Rickard ... (Jazz LP)

Verve/Elemental, 1966. Gatefold (reissue)

Tremendous work from Bill Evans – one of his rare non-trio sides of the 60s – and a stunning batch of tunes with backings from the mighty Claus Ogerman! Most of the tunes here are of classical origin, but they're recast by Evans and Ogerman with almost a soundtrack sensitivity – ... (Jazz LP)

Funk Night, 2023.

The Great Revivers are especially great here – really building off the sort of energy we love on their funky 45s, as they serve up great goods over the course of this full length album! There's a slight psychedelic edge to the music – not as tripped-out as a Malcolm Catto production ... (Deep Funk LP)

Blue Sky/Iconoclassic, 1981.

Dan Hartman cut some big records in the late 70s disco years, but this set has him returning to more of the blue-eyed soul of his debut – music that's well-produced and tight, and at times almost an update of older rockish modes through the lens of 70s AOR! There's a really well-crafted ... (Soul CD)

Nodlew/P-Vine (Japan), 1972.

Landmark early work from the legendary Weldon Irvine – recorded way back when he was first coming to fame with Nina Simone, but done as an obscure indie effort for his tiny Nodlew label! The set's a wicked batch of keyboard-heavy funk – at a level that's similar to some of the best ... (Jazz CD)

Verve, 1959. (reissue)

The debut album from pianist Junior Mance – a session that showcases some of the harder, more soulful modes he'd soon bring to his great run of records in the 60s, but one that also has some of the more easygoing modes of 50s Verve Records too! Junior's got some surprisingly lyrical touches ... (Jazz LP)

Nodlew/P-Vine (Japan), 1973.

One of the most beautiful records to come out of the early 70s – a tremendous indie effort from a young Weldon Irvine! Irvine put this album together as sort of a musical "time capsule" of his generation – an effort to capture the era's thoughts, feelings, and emotions ... (Jazz CD)

Schema (Italy), 2023.

Gianluca Petrella has come a long way since his initial work as a straight jazz trombonist – and has really risen up with his Cosmic Renaissance project as a bold messenger of righteous energy in the 21st Century! The set's just an EP, but it's got a flowing, spiritual quality that makes the ... (New Grooves LP)

Soul Jazz/Studio One (UK), Mid 70s. 2LP (reissue)

A set that's heavy on roots reggae numbers, but which also maybe predates some of the more mainstream work in the field – especially some of the more easygoing tracks that were playing bit in American dorm rooms at the end of the 70s! Instead, these are cuts from a scene where the message in ... (Reggae LP)

VP, 2023.

Reggae takes on Beatles tunes – both from the early and later years of the Fab Four – served up with vocals from a variety of different singers! There's a soulful vibe to the record right from the start – and the rhythms move between roots and lovers rock-styled pacing – ... (Reggae LP)

Oasis/Pleasantville (South Korea), 1991. (reissue)

An instrumental set that's partly in the mode of some of the Japanese work of the 80s, but which also has maybe more dynamically tuneful moments too – tracks balanced between mellower piano/keyboard lines and others that have more pronounced guitar parts and rhythms! There's a lot of warmth ... (Rock LP)

Arista/Iconoclassic, 1976.

A soaring, spacey set from the mighty David Sancious – one of his 70s albums that's almost a genre unto itself, given the many different elements that David mixes into the music – touches of jazz, fusion, funk, and soul – but also delivered with the proficiency you might find in a ... (Jazz CD)

De Wolfe/Be With (UK), 1971. (reissue)

A jazzy gem from the DeWolfe sound library in the UK – a record done by pianist Roger Webb, but with an expanded "Sound" – as you might guess from the title! Roger plays both acoustic and electric pianos, in a variety of styles – and a number of cuts here have sublime ... (Sound Library LP)

Ballister (Dave Rempis/Fred Lonberg Holm/Paal Nilssen Love)

Smash & Grab

Aerophonic, 2023.

Brilliant work from this well-matched trio of improvisers – a group who definitely smash and grab in a highly sonic way – thanks to cello and electronics from Fred Lonberg-Holm, drums and percussion from Paal Nilssen Love, and alto, tenor, and baritone saxes from the great Dave Rempis! ... (Jazz CD)

How Do You Are (Germany), Late 70s/Early 80s.

The second killer set in this series – a wonderful blend of AOR hits and soulful singers – wrapped up in a stunning style that's a great subgenre in itself! Many of the tunes here are familiar, but served up in versions you might not know at all – done by soul artists who were ... (Funky Compilations CD)

Parlophone/Lion, 1971. (reissue)

An incredible concept album from the South African scene of the early 70s – a record that mixes rootsy percussion with plenty of freak and fuzz – all in a style that seems to take UK psychedelic inspirations and forge them into a very unique Johannesburg expression! Acoustic elements ... (Rock LP)

Jazzman (UK), Late 60s/1970s/1980s/1990s.

A wonderfully wide-ranging tribute to the great John Coltrane – served up here in a whole host of tracks recorded after his too-early death, each of which take his musical message in different directions! The sound is certainly spiritual – in keeping with the different volumes in this ... (Funky Compilations CD)

Far Out (UK), 2023.

A set that's mostly solo from guitarist Fabiano Do Nascimento – yet one that's not like the solo Brazilian guitar records from years back, as Fabiano handles a range of different instruments, often overlaying them during the course of a performance – so that he works here with a ... (Brazil CD)

Light In The Attic, 1979.

The final album from Betty Davis – and a killer cap to her stunning run of female funk classics in the 70s! The album was recorded at the end of the decade, but has a sharpness that's every bit as great as her earlier work for the Island and Just Sunshine labels – grooves that are more ... (Soul LP)

Gearbox (UK), 1964.

Almost from the start of his career, tenorist Johnny Griffin was heading overseas, delivering searing live performances like this – working as a solo horn player with a pickup group, at a level that was often even more powerful than some of his studio work back home! And here, the combo is ... (Jazz CD)

Blue Note (Japan), 1967.

A pivotal session from the late 60s – one that has Jackie McLean pulling things back a bit from his "new thing" period, and turning towards the spiritual soulful groove that would characterize his early 70s work! The album bristles with excitement – still very much informed ... (Jazz CD)

P-Vine (Japan), Early 90s.

The never-issued second album from Main Source – and a set that's a very worthy successor to their classic Breaking Atoms! As with that record, the production here is superb – Large Professor at his best, with all the right sort of early 90s jazz influence in the samples, balanced with ... (Hip Hop CD)

Cadet/Verve, 1968. (reissue)

A fantastically beautiful record that stands as the first meeting between Bobby Hutcherson and Harold Land – an album that's possibly even better than the more famous Blue Note work by the pair! This is one of those "once in a lifetime" jazz sessions – filled with magical ... (Jazz LP)