John Coltrane – My Favorite Things

Although seemingly impossible to comprehend, this landmark jazz date made in 1960 was recorded in less than three days. All the more remarkable is that the same sessions which yielded […]

Decent set featuring the highly stylized, often erratic vocalist Lorez Alexandria doing conventional jazz and jazz-centered pop tunes and standards. She’s backed by a capable band, and [...]

Steve Tibbetts – Northern Song

With percussionist Anderson, Tibbetts explores urban landscape, especially on “Nine Doors/Breathing Space.” Tibbetts is reminiscent of Ralph Towner. Northern Song Review by Michael G. [...]

Lou Bennett – Dansez Et Rêvez

This release contains Bennett’s second LP as a leader in its entirety: Dansez et Rêvez avec le trio Lou Bennett (RCA Victor 430.051). Presented here for the first time ever […]

John Handy – Recorded Live At The Monterey Jazz Festival

John Handy’s performance at the 1965 Monterey Jazz Festival was a sensation and arguably the high point of his career. The altoist, using a quintet that included violinist Michael White, [...]

Miles Davis – Sorcerer

Sorcerer, the third album by the second Miles Davis Quintet, is in a sense a transitional album, a quiet, subdued affair that rarely blows hot, choosing to explore cerebral tonal […]

Jackie McLean – Let Freedom Ring

Jackie McLean had always been a highly emotional soloist, so it makes sense that he was one of the first hard bop veterans to find a new voice in the […]

The Mahavishnu Orchestra* With John McLaughlin – The Inner Mounting Flame

This is the album that made John McLaughlin a semi-household name, a furious, high-energy, yet rigorously conceived meeting of virtuosos that, for all intents and purposes, defined the fusion of [...]

Stan Getz / Joao Gilberto* Featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim – Getz / Gilberto

One of the biggest-selling jazz albums of all time, not to mention bossa nova’s finest moment, Getz/Gilberto trumped Jazz Samba by bringing two of bossa nova’s greatest innovators [...]

Thelonious Monk – Solo Monk

The mystery and haunting angular beauty of Thelonious Monk’s unadorned keyboard sides are the focus of Solo Monk. As if holding the history of jazz in his hands, Monk’s solo […]

Miles Davis – E.S.P.

ESP marks the beginning of a revitalization for Miles Davis, as his second classic quintet — saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Tony Williams [...]

Les McCann Ltd. • Stanley Turrentine • Blue Mitchell with Frank Haines*, Herbie Lewis, Ron Jefferson – Les McCann Ltd. In New York (Recorded “Live” At The Village Gate)

*Japanese Import CD* “A thoroughly satisfying live date. The good-time pianist forgets singing on this Village Gate outing, and the band just cooks. Silky saxman Stanley Turrentine and [...]

Lou Donaldson Quintet – Wailing With Lou

*Japanese Import CD* “Wailing With Lou is an appropriate title for this enjoyable set of straight-ahead bop. Whether he’s riding the propulsive rhythms of “Caravan” or [...]

Stanley Turrentine – Mr. Natural

*Japanese Import CD* “Stanley Turrentine’s supporting cast is a strong one, including Lee Morgan, McCoy Tyner, Bob Cranshaw, Elvin Jones, and Ray Barretto. The leader’s [...]

Horace Silver – Horace Silver Trio

*Japanese Import CD* A collaboration album between The Horace Silver Trio and the conga player Sabu. Absolutely top tier rhythms.

Toquinho & Vinicius – Vinicius & Toquinho

*Japanese Import CD* The Bossa Nova songwriting duo deliver smooth samba on this album, featuring tracks such as Samba Da Volta and Sem Medo.

Stan Getz And The Oscar Peterson Trio – Stan Getz And The Oscar Peterson Trio

*Japanese Import CD* “In that quintessential breakthrough year of modern jazz — 1957 — Norman Granz was fond of pairing the legendary drummerless trio of Oscar Peterson with [...]

Donald Byrd – The Creeper

*Japanese Import CD* “This LP was trumpeter Donald Byrd’s final album in the hard bop idiom and it went unissued until 1981. For the last time, Byrd was heard in […]

Laurindo Almeida & The Bossa Nova Allstars – It’s A Bossa Nova World: International Hits In Jazz Samba Arrangements

*Japanese Import CD* Laurindo Almeida and his All-Star band cover traditional songs from all over the world in a Samba style.

Jun Fukamachi – The Sea Of Dirac

*Japanese Import CD* The follow-up to Spiral Steps, and just as groovin’ and hard-hitting.

Sylvia Telles – Silvia

*Japanese Import CD* A reissue of one of the best early albums of Bossa Nova, featuring tracks such as Cala Meu Amor and Amargura

Elvin Jones – Dear John C.

*Japanese Import CD* “The second album by Elvin Jones as sole title rights leader (excluding the co-op ensemble that recorded the stunning and essential progressive jazz icon Illumination!) [...]

Hermeto Pascoal E Grupo – Festa Dos Deuses

*Japanese Import CD* An intense later album from Hermeto Pascoal’s group. Absolutely smokes.

Joe Pass – Simplicity

*Japanese Import CD* “An aptly titled release, as guitarist Joe Pass offers smooth, fluent songs, crisp, polished solos, and sentimental material.” – allmusic.com

Gal Costa – Gal Tropical

*Japanese Import CD* A mid-career peak from Gal Costa, featuring tracks such as Samba Rasgado and Estrada Do Sol

McCoy Tyner – Asante

*Japanese Import CD* “The final McCoy Tyner Blue Note album found the innovative pianist during a low point in his career. His records were not selling that well, his mentor […]

Caetano Veloso – Noites Do Norte

*Japanese Import CD* “Veloso continues to show his pre-eminence as a singer and songwriter with Noites Do Norte. He may be almost 60, but he’s far from set in his […]

Vinicius* & Odette Lara – Vinicius & Odette Lara

*Japanese Import CD* “The poet/performer Vinicius de Moraes and the vocalist Odette Lara make a wonderful team, and though their voices aren’t heard together as much as they should be [...]

Booker Little 4, Max Roach – Booker Little 4 & Max Roach

*Japanese Import CD* “Memphis-born trumpeter Booker Little was a bright light of the jazz world who died tragically young at age 23. A prodigiously talented hornman as well as a […]

Bill Evans Trio* – Bill Evans At Town Hall (Volume One)

*Japanese Import CD* “This LP is a superior effort by Bill Evans and his trio in early 1966. The last recording by longtime bassist Chuck Israels (who had joined the […]