Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing including digital download. Coin Coin Chapter Two: Mississippi Moonchild is the much-anticipated 2013 installment of Matana Roberts' unique and forward-looking project and it finds Roberts conjuring some of the most nuanced, thoughtful and substantial American liberation music of the 21st century.
Spyro Gyra's new release Vinyl Tap, their first album of new material in six years, is sure to excite their worldwide fan base as well as to bring new listeners into the fold. Never content to rest on their prodigious work of the past, they have once again challenged themselves to apply their iconic sound to an idea that makes this release stand out from all of it's predecessors. With Vinyl Tap, they have decided to craft an entire album of inventive jazz covers from pop favorites from the vinyl era. But these versions of familiar tunes will surprise the listener as well as entertain them. Whether it's turning Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" into a Latin big band sound or making a tender ballad out of the Beatles' "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away", this release will impress at every turn. They weren't satisfied with just turning Johnny Rivers' 1960's hit "Secret Agent Man" into a rollicking party jam. They added an uptempo melody from "Alfie's Theme" to make something brand new, "Secret Agent Mash". There are also more conventional approaches with faithful versions of songs like War's "The Cisco Kid" and the Doobie Brothers' "What a Fool Believes". Spyro Gyra's haunting version of Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home" is going to radio ahead of the release, so we anticipate high consumer awareness.
Pressed on 180-gram white marbled vinyl, this premium edition revives a historic 1969 Paris session from the iconic BYG/Actuel catalog-an essential statement from a visionary musician and activist, now reissued in it's best quality ever. Restored & remastered from the original tapes by Nick Robbins, it features a new and insightful essay by author & music journalist Kevin Le Gendre. The LP edition presents the original gatefold sleeve and artwork meticulously recreated with a sleek matte laminate finish, along with a double-sided insert. Awarded Audiophile Album of the Month by Jazzwise, March 2023, and hailed as "A must for Shepp fans as well as free-jazz aficionados" by Kevin Whitlock - Jazzwise. Among the many African-American jazz musicians who arrived in Paris in the late '60s, saxophonist Archie Shepp was arguably the most influential. Still residing in the French capital today, he became a key figure in the European jazz scene, forging strong collaborations with artists like German pianist Joachim Kuhn. Archie Shepp recorded several landmark albums for BYG, with Yasmina, A Black Woman standing out as one of the most compelling-both musically and intellectually. The title track is a powerful tribute to a "soul sister" with an Afro-Arabic name, signaling a deliberate shift away from Eurocentric narratives. Shepp's impassioned performance is matched by an extraordinary lineup that bridges hard bop and the avant-garde. Saxophonist Hank Mobley and drummer Philly Joe Jones-two hard bop legends-share the stage with boundary-pushing soloists like pianist Dave Burrell, trumpeter Lester Bowie, and saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell, both of whom were members of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. The result? A true jazz supergroup. This remarkable ensemble delivers a dynamic repertoire that reflects Shepp's deep engagement with the entire spectrum of Black American music, from blues and swing to free improvisation, while embracing African rhythms and post-colonial themes. The album radiates defiant energy yet also reveals moments of profound romanticism and tenderness-a testament to Shepp's artistry and vision.
Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing cut by mastering engineer Kevin Gray using the original high resolution studio masters. 2018 release. Bob James, the Grammy Award-winning jazz keyboardist, arranger, record producer, record executive, and founding member of Fourplay, returns with Espresso, his first solo-led project in 12 years. Album tunes, penned by James, reflect the same inventiveness and musical fluency that persuaded Quincy Jones to become his mentor and champion back in 1963. His expressiveness through both writing and performance permeates the rocking minor-key blues of "Bulgogi," the definitive cool jazz of "Topside," the funk strut of "Submarine," the whispered beauty of "Promenade," the turbulent, more complex yet supremely listenable "Mojito Ride" and every other moment on Espresso. The Bob James Trio is complete with drummer Billy Kilson and bassist Michael Palazzolo.
Mark Egan and Danny Gottlieb, long time band mates and highly acclaimed rhythm section team, have released a Duo recording, Electric Blue. Drawing from their 49 years of playing experience with such luminaries as Pat Metheny, Sting, Gil Evans, John McGlaughlin, Pat Martino, Larry Coryell and many more, Danny and Mark have created a platform to explore and document their highly creative interplay and improvisational stylings within the universe of drums and bass. Listeners of Contemporary Jazz, Ambient Music, Prog Rock, Fusion and Jam Bands will feel at home with this dynamic recording. 180 gram vinyl.
On Curtis Stigers's 2022 release, this multi platinum artist takes a look back with new versions of his international hits "I Wonder Why," "Never Saw A Miracle," and "You're All That Matters To Me," as well as "This Life," the theme song to the TV show Sons Of Anarchy, and (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding" from The Bodyguard soundtrack. Stigers revisits these classics and more, in his signature laid back, jazzy, bluesy style. Exclusive to the gatefold double LP is the bonus track, Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right." Track-listing: 1. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding 2. You're All That Matters To Me 3. I Don't Wanna Talk About It Now 4. I Wonder Why 5. This Life 6. Keep Me From The Cold 7. Summertime 8. Don't Go Far 9. Tonight Will Be Fine 10. Swingin' Down At 10th And Main 11. Never Saw A Miracle 12. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Vinyl LP pressing. Hank Jones has a reputation for being one of the most flexible and dynamic piano players of the jazz genre. His playing on Arigato is a fantastic example of such and gives the listener great insight into the artist's unparalleled talent. Appearances by Ronnie Bedford on the drums, Jay Leonhart and Richard Davis - both on the bass, and Ray Rivera on guitar help to round out this fantastic 1976 recording. The album was remastered for vinyl at Infrasonic Mastering and pressed on audiophile-grade vinyl at Pallas in Germany.
Vinyl LP pressing. Digitally remastered edition of Dee Dee's debut album. Recorded in Tokyo in 1974, the album was originally released exclusively in Japan via two different Japanese labels. Afro Blue features an exquisite collaboration of American and Japanese musicians, such as Cecil and Ron Bridgewater, Motohiko Hino and producer Takao Ishizuka. The result is a sublime deep soul-jazz masterpiece with timeless versions of 'People Make The World Go Round', 'Love From The Sun', and 'Afro Blue'. It is arguably one of the finest albums in it's genre. This record has long been a sought-after item for DJs and collectors alike, so we are delighted to finally make this wonderful music from an understated great available to all.
Sun Ra, the extraordinary, outlandish, and sometimes controversial pianist, is often described as an "acquired taste", with a massive and diverse catalog. This release is a good place to start for uninitiated or dismissive listeners. The album showcases Ra's grounding in the jazz tradition, with unique takes on standards like "Time After Time," "Easy to Love," and "But Not for Me". Not unordinary for Sun Ra, the recording process was informal; "Can This Be Love?" was recorded in his Chicago apartment in 1955; he is accompanied only by the great Wilbur Ware on bass. The other five tracks, which feature, among others, Ra's longtime associate John Gilmore on tenor saxophone, were recorded at the Choreographer's Workshop rehearsal space in 1962 and 1963.
Remastered 180-gram vinyl. Here Comes the Sun (1971) is an album by jazz singer-pianist Nina Simone, consisting of cover versions of songs by Pop and Rock musicians. It features songs recorded in the RCA studios with a full orchestra and backing vocals.
Pressed on 180-gram white vinyl, this premium edition revives a historic 1969 Paris session from the iconic BYG/Actuel catalog-an essential statement from a visionary musician and activist, now reissued in it's best quality ever. Restored & remastered from the original tapes by Nick Robbins, it features a new and insightful essay by author & music journalist Kevin Le Gendre. The LP edition presents the original gatefold sleeve and artwork meticulously recreated with a sleek matte laminate finish, along with a double-sided insert. Awarded Audiophile Album of the Month by Jazzwise, March 2023, and hailed as "A must for Shepp fans as well as free-jazz aficionados" by Kevin Whitlock - Jazzwise. Florida-born saxophonist, composer, poet, actor, and playwright Archie Shepp was one of the most powerful voices of politicized Black culture in the late '60s-a time of radical thought and social upheaval. After relocating to Paris, Shepp recorded a series of groundbreaking albums, including Blase, which explored themes of freedom, racial equality, and the deep roots of African-American music. Blending gospel, blues, and avant-garde jazz, the album featured the mesmerizing vocals of Jeanne Lee and members of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, creating a powerful fusion of jazz, poetry, and radical politics. Blase defies categorization, moving fluidly across eras and influences-what Shepp called "pre-jazz" as much as "free jazz." From a graceful reprise of Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Lady to the propulsive rhythms of Touareg, inspired by his transformative experience at the 1969 Pan-African Festival in Algiers, Shepp's vision was always expansive. Black music has a dynamic relationship with it's past-what was once old becomes new again, resonating across generations. If Blase teaches us anything, it's that younger artists will always feel the spirit of their predecessors, both in life and beyond. As Duke Ellington put it: "All God's chillun got rhythm."
Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing housed in gatefold jacket. Blue Mitchell was a member of Horace Silver's quintet before he began recording his own albums as leader for Blue Note through the 1960s. His 1966 album, Bring It Home to Me, is a bluesy and soulful hard bop date featuring the trumpeter with Junior Cook, Harold Mabern, Gene Taylor, and Billy Higgins. Blue Note Tone Poet Series features all-analog remastering.
Solid Blue Vinyl. Limited edition - only 1,000 pieces. GRAMMY® NOMINATED Jazz Hands is Bob James' third outing for evosound, following in the wake of 2018's Espresso and 2022's Feel Like Makin' LIVE. Produced by the pianist with his manager Sonny Abelardo, the ten-track album was mostly recorded during the months of the Covid pandemic and featured James in a number of different musical settings. It also features a stellar cameo from the ex-Gnarls Barkley singer CeeLo Green on the sensuous title track and includes production input from the legendary hip-hop turntablist DJ Jazzy Jeff, who rose to fame as half of the hit-making '80s/'90s rap duo, DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince, early samplers of James' music. Blending cool jazz tropes with funky dance floor grooves, blues-tinged ballads, cinematic mood pieces, and sensuous slow jams, Jazz Hands is the Missouri pianist's most eclectic album of his long career. Simultaneously classic and contemporary, it's Bob James at his majestic, ground-breaking, and timeless best. The album has been nominated for the GRAMMY AWARDS® for the category of "Best Contemporary Instrumental Album" - proving that the Jazz legend has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing featuring bonus CD edition. Includes bonus tracks. Monk's Dream is an album by jazz pianist Thelonious Monk that was released by Columbia Records in March 1963. It was Monk's first album for Columbia following his five-year recording period with Riverside Records.
The Horace Silver Quintet of 1959 was a hard bop juggernaut featuring the pianist with trumpeter Blue Mitchell, saxophonist Junior Cook, bassist Gene Taylor and drummer Louis Hayes. Timeless originals like "Sister Sadie," "Peace," and the blustery title track make Blowin' The Blues Away one of the finest entries in Silver's formidable discography. Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series features stereo, all-analog mastering by Kevin Gray from the original tapes and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Optimal. Musicians: Blue Mitchell-trumpet / Junior Cook-saxophone / Horace Silver-piano / Gene Taylor-bass / Louis Hayes-drums
