Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Out Front is probably the greatest realization on record of trumpeter Booker Little's scope as a musician and composer. It is also one of only five sessions led by Little as a band leader before his premature death at the age of 23 in 1961. The fact that this is only Little's third outing as a leader is further testament to the talents of this young artist. Arguably, the seven original compositions here might be more widely known today had his life not been so tragically cut short. Little is mostly known for this association with Max Roach, who he began playing with as early as 1955. But it was not until 1958 that he officially joined Roach's outfit and began recording with him. Little made 8 albums with Roach between 1958 and 1961. And it is Roach's ground breaking We Insist! Album that is the precursor to the Out Front sessions, as this is where Little's talents fully caught the attention of Candid Records' A&R and producer Nat Hentoff. The sextet on these dates include the great Max Roach on drums, Eric Dolphy on reeds, and Julian Priester on drums. At the time, a growing number of younger jazz artists were exploring ways to further expand the range and depth of communication in jazz. This album is a perfect example of that "new wave." Born in Memphis, Little started out on trombone and then clarinet before taking up the saxophone. While studying formally at the Chicago Conservatory, Little met Sonny Rollins, who was notably a huge influence on Little's development as an artist, and who introduced him to Max Roach. Recorded at the Nola Penthouse Sound Studios, in New York City and produced by Hentoff in the spring of 1961, the album was released just months before Little's passing

In July of 1960, in protest against what they considered the failings of the jazz scene and the accelerating commercialization of the annual Newport Jazz Festival, Charles Mingus and Max Roach staged their own "rebel" festival at nearby Cliff Walk Manner, RI. The rebels set up their own tents for sleeping, built their own stage, handled advertising, promotion, ticket taking and MC duties. By all accounts the concert was wholly inspired and a peaceful affair. Meanwhile, what was supposed to be an alternative festival turned out to be the only one in town. Unable to disperse an intoxicated mob of young people seeking access to the sold-out show at Freebody Park, the actual Newport Jazz Festival ended abruptly in a full scale riot. Despite the fact that these sessions were held in the studio, the music reflects the high-spirited freedom of the best jazz played at the original setting with nearly all of it improvised during the recording. Of particular note is the Booker Little track "Cliff Walk," which features both Max Roach and Jo Jones, two of the greatest jazz drummers ever, trading off. The LP includes extraordinary liner notes written by Hentoff himself, giving a context and insight that adds to the experience of hearing these magnificent performances. This recording is remastered by legendary mastering engineer, Bernie Grundman. A1. Mysterious Blues 8:35 A2. Cliff Walk 9:37 B1. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams 3:47 B2. Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do 7:11 B3. Me And You 9:46

180gm Tip-on Jacket Remastered by Bernie Grundman. 1992's A Walkin' Thing is the last of three albums the great American organist Shirley Scott recorded for Candid, and her final recording before her passing. First and foremost, Scott was a trained pianist, and it should be noted that towards the end of her life, she gravitated more to that instrument. But here, Scott returns to form, making this recording bitter sweet. Recorded in 1992 at the at the famed Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey and engineered by Rudy Van Gelder. This recording has been remastered by legendary mastering engineer Bernie Grundman.

Vinyl LP pressing. Carrington's very first session, TLC & Friends features an epic and enviable lineup of collaborators, including Kenny Barron on piano, George Coleman on saxophone, and Buster Williams on bass. Her father Sonny Carrington also contributes saxophone to the Sonny Rollins classic "Sonnymoon for Two." The album masterfully showcases Carrington's artistry as a drummer and composer, highlighted by the standout original track "La Bonita," a refreshing interpretation of Billy Joel's beloved composition, "Just The Way You Are," alongside scorching renditions of standards like "Seven Steps To Heaven," and "What Is This Thing Called Love."

JAZZ MONEY

TALES OF THE FACADE

An avant-garde masterpiece, a vocal-instrumental suite, a work of collective improvisation, directly addressing the racial and political issues of it's day, We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite is one of the most important artistic statements of Civil Rights Movement and one of the most groundbreaking jazz albums of all time. Max Roach was already almost a decade into his career as one of the most influential jazz drummers and composers when he teamed up with lyricist Oscar Brown Jr. To collaborate on a piece they planned to perform at the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1963. Recorded just months after the February 1960 Greensboro sit-ins, the album stands as an early musical testament to the burgeoning rage, anger and passion that would take the Civil Rights Movement from it's early victory in Montgomery in 1955 into a future that would dramatically alter race relations in the United States. The second release from the newly launched New York City based jazz label Candid Records, and produced by label co-founder, famed music critic and social activist, Nat Hentoff, the album is a bold statement, focused on civil injustices in black history ranging from slavery to contemporary racial prejudices, and featuring some of the finest jazz musicians ever, including Abbey Lincoln, Coleman Hawkins, Eric Dolphy, Booker Little, and Michael Babatunde Olatunji. The five movements of the work are organized as a historical progression through African-American history, a shape similar to the one in Duke Ellington's Black, Brown and Beige. The Freedom Now Suite moves from slavery to Emancipation Day to the contemporary civil-rights struggle and African independence. The LP includes extraordinary liner notes written by Hentoff himself, giving a context and insight that adds to the experience of hearing these magnificent performances. 1. Driva' Man 5:14 2. Freedom Day 6:05 3. Triptych: Prayer / Protest / Peace 8:06 4. All Africa 8:03 5. Tears for Johannesburg 9:47

Jazz master Chick Corea's unconventional vision of a classical performance shines through in his interaction with the Orchestra da Camera Della Sardegna, turning the acclaimed chamber orchestra into a large-scale jazz ensemble. His unorthodox approach adds a touch of playfulness to the Mozart & Gershwin pieces performed while upholding Corea's obvious reverence for their music. His joyous fusion sets the tone for the musicians and the audience, creating a truly captivating and boundary- pushing experience. The recording captures the essence of Corea's musical vision, his appreciation for classical traditions, and his undeniable genius as a performer and improviser. It stands as a testament to his lasting influence and his eternal quest to push the boundaries of music. Through his work as a composer and a performer, he sought to bridge the gap between genres, embracing the universality and enduring power of classical music. Corea realized this ambition fully during this live performance as was eager to release the recording as an album that would inspire jazz and classical music lovers equally. 1. Mozart Intro 1:31 2. Mozart Piano Concerto No. 24 In C Minor, K. 491: I. Allegro 19:51 3. Mozart Piano Concerto No. 24 In C Minor, K. 491: II. Larghetto 7:58 4. Mozart Piano Concerto No. 24 In C Minor, K. 491: III. Allegretto 13:49 5. Gershwin Intro 1:24 6. Someone To Watch Over Me 6:42 7. Rhapsody In Blue 26:10 1. Mozart Intro 1:31 2. Mozart Piano Concerto No. 24 In C Minor, K. 491: I. Allegro 19:51 3. Mozart Piano Concerto No. 24 In C Minor, K. 491: II. Larghetto 7:58 4. Mozart Piano Concerto No. 24 In C Minor, K. 491: III. Allegretto 13:49 5. Gershwin Intro 1:24 6. Someone To Watch Over Me 6:42 7. Rhapsody In Blue 26:10

PHIL WOODS / RIGHTS OF SWING - When he first came on the scene, Phil Woods was often referred to as "The New Bird," in a nod to the legendary Charlie Parker. A testament to his genius on the saxophone to be sure. But while obviously indebted to Parker - as all modern jazz saxophonists of a certain era were - there is no question that Phil Woods was an original. After earning a degree in music from Juilliard in the early 1950's, Woods found himself in the orbit of the great Quincy Jones. At Jones' invitation Woods joined Dizzy Gillespie's infamous Jazz Ambassadors - a tour sponsored by the US State Department as part of a global cultural diplomacy initiative - and subsequently became a member of Jones' own touring band. This recording, his 9th album as a band leader, consists entirely of Woods' five-part Rights of Swing Suite. An ambitious large-scale composition based solidly on jazz traditions. A culmination of the influences the then 30 year artist had absorbed. Arguably considered one of Woods finest recordings, the record features a stellar section made up of Wood's fellow Quincy Jones band members. (It should be noted that these same musicians, for the most part, are also the section on Benny Bailey's Candid Records recording, Big Brass, recorded a a few months prior in November of 1960). Recorded at the Nola Penthouse Studios in New Your City on two dates in January and February of 1961, and conducted by Quincy Jones. The LP includes extraordinary liner notes by Candid A&R man and producer Nat Hentoff, and in-depth commentary from Woods himself, giving a context and insight that adds to the experience of hearing these extraordinary performances.

Double vinyl LP pressing housed in gatefold jacket. For The Elektric Band's sophomore outing, Chick Corea - the venerated 27-time Grammy winner and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master - entered the studio with Dave Weckl on drums, John Patitucci on bass, and two new players who would solidify the band's classic line up, guitarist Frank Gambale and saxophonist Eric Marienthal. More heavily produced than it's predecessor, Light Years contains several sequence-driven tracks, Corea's attempt at reaching out to a wider audience with a brand of music that was tighter, funkier and eminently more communicative than he had recorded on 1986's The Chick Corea Elektric Band. The crisp, irrepressibly catchy title track is a prime example of Corea's more commercial aspirations for the album, with Patitucci laying down a fat, funky groove with some hearty slap bass lines (a distinct flavor of the time), and Marienthal's pungent alto sax strutting over the top. Not only did this groove-oriented track catch on with listeners, it also won a Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental Performance at the 31st Annual Grammy Awards. Originally released on GRP Records in 1987, the album also contains the dreamy contemporary jazz offerings of "Second Sight" and "The Dragon," the sequence-driven "Time Track", "Flamingo," featuring Carlos Rios on guitar and, the electrifying, techno tour de force, highly complex closer, "Kaleidoscope."

Led by musical director Scotty Barnhart, the Count Basie Orchestra keeps Basie's unmistakable style alive and thriving around the world. In the great traction of the Basie Swings albums comes this explosive album of collaborations with some of the greatest living blues and jazz artists, Basie Swings The Blues. In preparation for these sessions, Barnhart took a pilgrimage to the Mississippi Delta to immerse himself in the land where blues began. The resulting album is joyful mix of downhome blues with the deep swing and sophistication that only The Count Basie Orchestra can provide. As Count Basie famously once said, "our blues will make your blues go away." Produced by Barnhart along with Grammy-winning producer John Burk (Ray Charles Genius Love Company), and Grammy-winning drummer/producer Steve Jordan (The Rolling Stones), the album brings together Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush, Keb' Mo', Shemekia Copeland, Robert Cray, Charlie Musselwhite, Betty LaVette, Ledisi, George Benson, and others to bring the blues and swing back together for a set that jumps and jives with an energy not heard since Louis Jordan and T-Bone Walker lit up stages in the '40s and '50s.

Double vinyl LP pressing. Wayne Shorter is arguably the greatest living jazz composer and a key participant in some of the most iconic jazz recordings of all time. Congratulations to Terri Lyne Carrington, who won the GRAMMY Award for Best Instrumental Jazz Album for her groundbreaking project, new STANDARDS Vol. 1. And congratulations to Wayne Shorter & Leo Genovese, who won Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "Endangered Species," from the Carrington-produced Live At The Detroit Jazz Festival, by the quartet of Shorter, Carrington, Genovese and esperanza spalding. Carrington, who produced and performed on both projects, entered the GRAMMY Awards with four nominations. New STANDARDS Vol. 1 and Live At The Detroit Jazz Festival, released on Candid Records, were each nominated in both the Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo category. It's been a tremendous year for Carrington, who is an NEA Jazz Master, virtuoso jazz drummer, composer, interdisciplinary artist, activist, educator, 7-time GRAMMY nominee, and now a 4-time winner. Carrington was also honored by the Recording Academy's Producers and Engineers Wing at their annual event.

A fascinating blend of jazz and contemporary classical influences, How Time Passes is the debut album from the envelope pushing trumpeter and composer Don Ellis. Known for his extensive musical experimentation, particularly in the area of time signatures, Ellis began his long career in the New York City's post bop and avant-garde jazz scenes of late 1950s. Most notably he appeared on Charles Mingus' Mingus Dynasty, and albums by George Russell and Maynard Feguson. But he also worked with, among others, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Lionel Hampton, and Woody Herman. On subsequent albums, Ellis would take an even wilder direction. Here, on his first recoding date as a band leader, the experimentation begins. Ellis stretches the boundaries of bop-based jazz playing with time, tempo and meter. It is the start of his exploration of Third Stream - a fusion of jazz and contemporary classical music. The album title itself - How Time Passes - was taken from an article written by the controversial German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen on the "function of time." The exceptional section features Ron Carter on bass, the underrated Jaki Byard on piano and saxophone, and Charlie Persip on drums. The LP includes extraordinary liner notes by Candid A&R man and producer Nat Hentoff, and noted musician, historian and writer Gunther Schuller - the originator of the term "Third Stream" - giving a context and insight that adds to the experience of hearing these extraordinary performances.

180gm Tip-on Jacket Remastered by Bernie Grundman. Recorded November 15, 1960 at the Nola Penthouse Sound Studios in New York, Lightnin' In New York captures the legendary bluesman in classic form, including some rare solos on the piano. Produced by Candid Records label co-founder, famed music critic and social activist, Nat Hentoff, and recorded at a time when Hopkins was being "rediscovered" by white audiences, the bluesman was reluctant in accepting his new role as an "artist" before predominantly white audiences.

180gm Tip-on Jacket Remastered by Bernie Grundman. The combo here, referred to by Mingus as The Jazz Workshop, had been in residence at the Showplace on W. 4th St. In Greenwich Village for nearly a year when they entered the studio to record what became the album Charels Mingus Presents Charles Mingus in October of 1961. To recreate this atmosphere, Mingus introduces the songs as if he were speaking to the audience, giving off the illusion of a live album. The charade paid off. The LP includes extraordinary liner notes written by Hentoff himself, giving a context and insight that adds to the experience of hearing these magnificent performances.