Born 25th August, 1925 in Montreal, Canada, Oscar Emmanuel Peterson grew up in Little Burgundy, a predominantly black neighbourhood in greater Quebec. He took up piano and trumpet at age five, quickly becoming adept on both instruments. At seven he was diagnosed with tuberculosis which prevented him from playing the trumpet, he thus concentrated on the piano during this time, practising four to six hours a day. Studying under the Hungarian-born player Paul de Marky - himself a student of virtuoso Istvan Thoman - the young Oscar began learning classical piano but later switched to jazz styles, most notably 'boogie-woogie'. By 1961, with the piano-bass-drums line up now firmly established, the OPT performed a week's residency at The London House, a renowned jazz spot in Chicago. These performances were among the finest the new line-up ever gave, and were released on Verve as four separate albums; The Trio, Something Warm, The Sound Of The Trio and Put On A Happy Face, in '61 and early '62. The following year, Peterson's most commercially successful record Night Train (Verve, 1963), was released, another Trio masterpiece that due to it's shorter track times, received considerable radio play. Oscar Peterson's extraordinary career spanned more than 60 years during which time he won eight Grammys among a host of other awards and honours, and played on over 200 albums. His live repertoire was equally impressive and the great man remains among the most respected jazz musicians of all time. This 4CD collection brings together eight of Oscar Peterson's finest albums, all recorded for the esteemed Verve label during his heyday in the late 1950s and early 1960s. A dynamic introduction to Peterson's best work, this box set equally serves as a welcome reminder for those already familiar.

Born September 23, 1926 John Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes and was at the forefront of free jazz. He led at least fifty recording sessions and appeared on many albums by other musicians, including trumpeter Miles Davis and pianist Thelonious Monk. Over the course of his career, Coltrane's music took on an increasingly spiritual dimension, as exemplified on his most acclaimed albums A Love Supreme (1965) and Ascension (1966). He remains one of the most influential saxophonists in music history. He received numerous posthumous awards, including a Pulitzer Prize in 2007, and was canonized by the African Orthodox Church. This extraordinary collection features eight of John Coltrane's most cherished and popular albums, all from the era when the great man's star shined brightest. A fine selection of his best ever work, all now housed on 4 CDs, this set will work equally well for new converts to Coltrane's music as it will as a welcome reminder for those already hooked

Formed in 1956 by Joe Sample (piano), Stix Hooper (drums), Wilton Felder (saxophone), and Wayne Henderson (trombone) - buddies from an early age out of Houston, Texas - The Jazz Crusaders had all been schooled in local centres of prayer. They first performed together at one of the city's Creole churches, where they began to define their sound. The blend of Jazz, Blues and Soul which the young quartet developed throughout this formative period remained their default style during their early career. Having tried a number of short-lived names such as The Swingsters and The Nite Hawks, the founding members relocated to Los Angeles. On arrival, they stayed with family and friends, often sharing one room between them with a couple of mattresses on the floor. After changing their name to The Jazz Crusaders in 1961 (a nod to jazz great Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers), the group signed with Pacific Jazz Records, a label with whom they would remain throughout the 1960s. Fronted by a two man horn section featuring trombone and tenor sax, the group's sound was by now rooted in hard bop, with a nod still to R&B and soul. As The Jazz Crusaders, they released over a dozen albums before re-christening themselves The Crusaders in 1971, under which moniker they released a string of further albums in the jazz-fusion style, popular during the 1970s. This four disc boxset brings together the first eight albums by the Jazz Crusaders; all recorded for Pacific Jazz Records during the first half of the 1960s. Still held in huge esteem by Jazz critics and enthusiasts alike, this 4 CD collection, featuring over 5 hours of superb jazz, serves as both an ideal introduction to the Jazz Crusaders music, and as a welcome reminder of the group's majesty, musicianship and style for those already well versed.

Born in Philadelphia on 11th December 1938, as a youth McCoy Tyner was encouraged to study piano by his mother and began lessons at age 13. Within two years music had become the focal point in his life and Tyner was playing on his neighbour's instrument, but his family soon invested in one of his own for the budding musician, following which he began hosting jam sessions at home. Among his friends were a number of other young musos who would go on to make their mark in the field of jazz, including Lee Morgan, Archie Shepp, Bobby Timmons, Reggie Workman, and most notably, fellow pianist Bud Powell and his brother Richie. McCoy later said, "Bud and Richie Powell moved into my neighbourhood. Bud was a major influence on me during my early teens. He was very dynamic." Tyner later attended the West Philadelphia Music School and the Granoff School Of Music. Also included as part of this collection, is a rare, previously unreleased recording of a jam session undertaken by members of John Coltrane's group in Munich in 1961, led by Eric Dolphy on bass clarinet and McCoy Tyner on piano. This unique and rarely heard recording also featured Reggie Workman on bass, Mel Lewis on drums, and Coltrane himself contributed trumpet to one number. This complete 4 CD collection, containing almost five hours of music, showcases all of Tyner's work with Impulse! As a bandleader, bringing together as it does McCoy Tyner's finest early releases, during a period that the great man went from being a breakaway from John Coltrane's group, to a fully-fledged international and wildly respected jazz band-leader in his own right. This boxed set will thus serve as both welcome reminder of this sublime musician's best ever work, or as a starting point for those not yet flying the flag.

This 4CD boxset features music from the golden era of this superb musician and composer's long musical career, comprising as it does eight original albums first released between the mid-1950s and the early-1960s. Serving as an ideal introduction to Taylor's music, as well as a first class collection of his best work, this set will delight all those who take the time to listen.

Herbie Mann - The Complete Recordings Part III 1959-1962 Having already put out an impressive body of work by the end of 1958, Manns career witnessed a major creative shift thanks to one Sid Torin. Better known as Symphony Sid, Torin was the DJ credited by many as having introduced bebop into the mainstream, and it was he who suggested Mann add a conga player to his group. This, coupled with a State Department funded tour of Africa, influences the Afro-Cuban jazz album Flautista! (Verve, 1959). Recorded live at Basin Street East, New York on 30th June that year and featuring renowned percussionist Carlos Patato Valdes, the record was a vital stylistic development for Mann, and for the jazz genre as a whole. Across the next few years Herbie Mann's albums would become a veritable smorgasbord of legendary jazz percussionists, with 1960s Flute, Brass, Vibes And Percussion (Verve, 1961) regarded as one of Manns finest recordings, due in no small part to the inclusion of Ray Barretto and Ray Mantilla. This four disc collection features eight complete albums from one of the most exciting and experimental phases of Herbie Mann's career, and serves as a perfect illustration of how this unique, exciting and ultimately fearless musician favored the exotic over the traditional or mainstream and in so doing ended up among the most respected jazz men of all time.

One of the most innovative, experimental and outlandish figures in American jazz, saxophonist Ornette Coleman dramatically altered the direction of the genre. A leading musician on the avant-garde scene, Coleman was among the pioneers of the free jazz movement, alongside Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy and John Coltrane. His unconventional techniques, stark arrangements and unique playing style opened up a host of possibilities for what could be achieved in the field of jazz, and in so doing he earned himself a reputation that is as potent today as ever it was. This 4CD set compiles all eight Ornette Coleman albums released between 1958 and 1962, from his stunning debut Something Else, through to his final album with the Ornette Coleman Quartet, Ornette On Tenor. Featuring over five hours of music, remastered to the highest standard possible, this collection serves as both an excellent starting point for those new to this musical genius, and as a welcome reminder of Coleman s most acclaimed and respected era, from a career that lasted the best part of 70 years, ended only by the man s passing in 2015 at the age of 85.

Demonstrating the creation of a true jazz icon and tracking his development from his earliest recordings to his departure from the label with whom he made his name, these albums are presented here faithfully remastered form not just the perfect introduction to this master musician, but equally provide an a enthralling glimpse of an essential contribution to American musical history.

Herbie Mann - COMPLETE RECORDINGS: 1955-1957 - A true pioneer of his instrument - indeed his predecessors were few and far between - Herbie Mann was one of the first to take the flute into the mainstream jazz spotlight. Embracing elements of numerous genres throughout his long and decorated career, Mann was lauded for his intricate playing and impeccable sense of groove that would influence generations of flautists to follow. Born Herbert Jay Solomon in Brooklyn, New York on 16th April 1930, Mann became enamored with music at an early age, initially wishing to learn drums but eventually being convinced by a family member to take up clarinet instead. His parents, both of Eastern European descent, were dancers and singers before becoming vocal coaches later on in life. Mann attended Lincoln High School in Brighton Beach, and gave his first ever performance at a resort in the Catskills aged 15. After serving four years in the army including time stationed in Trieste, Italy, where he had played saxophone in the military band, Mann returned to the United States in 1952, only to find the Lester Young-derived style he had adopted now oversaturated the music scene. Fate was on Mann s side however, as he was soon approached by Dutch accordionist Mat Mathews, who was seeking a flautist to appear alongside him on the debut album of the then-unknown jazz vocalist Carmen McRae. These sessions would later be released as Carmen McRae (Bethlehem, 1954), and would enable Mann to distinguish himself as one of the first and most groundbreaking jazz flautists. In December of that year he would also appear on Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown (EmArcy), an album that would go on to be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. It was soon after these collaborations that Herbie Mann began taking part in his first studio sessions as bandleader. These would initially be released as the 10 East Coast Jazz/4 (Bethlehem, 1954), and later as a full album with additional recordings as Herbie Mann Plays (Bethlehem, 1956). These sessions also saw the first collaboration of Mann with esteemed jazz guitarist Joe Puma, who would feature on nearly all of Mann s albums over the next four years. Whilst well known for his adoption of different styles as his career progressed, Herbie stayed firmly within the realms of cool jazz during this early period, a direction which received mixed reviews from critics at the time but did little to halt his rising popularity. His proper debut album, Flamingo (Bethlehem 1955) would appear the following year, along with an appearance on The Herbie Mann-Sam Most Quintet (Bethlehem), a collaboration with one of his few flute contemporaries. Mann would also release two highly-regarded albums alongside Belgian flautist and tenor saxophonist Bobby Jaspar: Flute Flight and Flute Souffle (both Prestige, 1957). This four disc collection contains, in their entirety, the recordings that would prove the crucial foundation for this magnificent musician s career. Remastered in excellent quality and featuring nearly five hours of sublime music, this set captures perfectly the striking ability of Herbie Mann during the earliest period of his recording career, and hints at the potential that, when realized, would go on to establish Mann as one of the finest purveyors of his instrument within the world of jazz.

Herbie Mann - COMPLETE RECORDINGS: 1957-1958 - A pioneer of what has come to be known as world music and one of the first notable jazz flautists, Herbie Mann s unique sound developed throughout his long and eclectic career. With a repertoire that also included the tenor saxophone and clarinet, Mann produced a staggering back catalogue during his lifetime, both as bandleader and alongside such jazz greats as Chet Baker, Count Basie and Art Blakey, featuring prominently as he did on the latter s undisputed masterpiece Orgy In Rhythm. Between 1957 and 1958, a period in which he began to evolve from his roots in bop and cool jazz, Herbie Mann recorded some of his most critically-acclaimed albums of the 1950s, including the well received Salute To The Flute. Featuring a plethora of big name contributors including Oscar Pettiford, Philly Joe Jones and Gigi Gryce, this landmark work also included guitarist Joe Puma in it's line up, a musician who had featured on many of Mann s previous records. 1957 also saw the release of one of Herbie s most curious LPs, Mann Alone, remembered primarily as a solo jazz flute record and previously available only on vinyl. Other notable releases from the period include the classic Yardbird Suite, featuring Mann s interpretation of Charlie Parker s bebop standard, and Flute Fraternity, which saw him collaborate with the legendary Buddy Collette. Demonstrating the musical dexterity of the pair, the album would feature both Mann and Collette playing flute, various saxophones and clarinet. Just Wailin boasted the talents of saxophonist Charlie Rouse, pianist Mal Waldron, guitarist Kenny Burrell, bassist George Joyner and drummer Art Taylor. In December of 1958, Mann had the honour of recording several sessions with the great jazz trumpeter Chet Baker, which would later appear on Chet Baker Introduces Johnny Pace and Chet. 1957 and 1958 marked a true turning point in the career of Herbie Mann as he began to abandon the straight-edge cool jazz style for which he had become best known, and increasingly take influence from outside his traditional fare. This collection, featuring eight original Herbie Mann albums, all now in fully remastered format and providing over five hours of music across four CDs, documents perfectly the beginnings of this master musicians most transitional and challenging period, as it highlights the great man s ability to adopt increasingly experimental forms in a surprisingly subtle manner.

As the 1950s drew to a close, Monk's relationship with Riverside was beginning to sour over disagreements concerning royalty payments. He would not record another studio album for Riverside after 5 by Monk by 5, and a significant number of live albums followed, which showcased a variety of legendary performances across the USA, France and Italy. In 1962, Monk signed to Columbia Records. Working with producer Teo Macero on his debut for the label, the sessions in the first week of November had a stable line-up that had been with him for two years, Monk's Dream, was released in 1963. Columbia's resources allowed Monk to be promoted more heavily than earlier in his career. The album would become the best-selling LP of his lifetime, and on February 28, 1964, he appeared on the cover of Time magazine, being featured in the article "The Loneliest Monk". He continued to record studio albums, including Criss Cross, also from 1963, and Underground, from 1968. Monk had disappeared from the scene by the mid-1970s, and made only a small number of appearances during the final decade of his life. His last studio recordings as a leader were made in November 1971 for the English Black Lion label, near the end of a worldwide tour with the Giants of Jazz, a group which included Dizzy Gillespie, Kai Winding, Sonny Stitt, Al McKibbon and Art Blakey. The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz was established in 1986 by the Monk family and Maria Fisher. It's mission to offer public school-based jazz education programs for young people around the globe, helping students develop imaginative thinking, creativity, curiosity, a positive self-image, and a respect for their own and others' cultural heritage. In addition to hosting an annual International Jazz Competition since 1987, the Institute also recently helped, through it's partnership with UNESCO, designate April 30, 2012, as the first annual International Jazz Day. Monk was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

Bill Evans is widely considered to be one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. Evans' use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, block chords, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines continue to resonate today. Born in Plainfield, New Jersey on 16 August 1929, Evans was classically trained and studied at Southeastern Louisiana University. In 1955 he moved to New York, where he worked with bandleader and theorist George Russell. In 1958, Evans joined Miles Davis' sextet, where he was to have a profound influence. In 1959, the band, then immersed in modal jazz, recorded Kind of Blue, the best-selling jazz album of all time. In late 1959, Evans left the Miles Davis band and began his career as a leader with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian, a group now regarded as a seminal modern jazz trio. In 1961, ten days after recording the highly acclaimed Sunday at the Village Vanguard and Waltz for Debby, LaFaro died in a car accident. After months of seclusion, Evans re-emerged with a new trio, featuring bassist Chuck Israels. Despite his success, Evans suffered personal loss and struggled with drug abuse. Both his girlfriend Elaine and his brother Harry committed suicide, and he was a long time user of heroin. Many of his compositions have become standards and have been played and recorded by many artists. Evans was honored with 31 Grammy nominations and seven awards, and was inducted in the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame. This compilation contains Evans' first 12 albums as leader covering the years 1956 - when he recorded and released his debut record New Jazz Conceptions featuring the original version of his most covered track 'Waltz For Debby' - through to his seminal Empathy album in 1962. Generally considered in jazz circles as the period in which Evans' star shone brightest and the era of his finest work, this 6CD set is as close to the perfect Bill Evans collection as is currently available.

First and foremost, Quincy Jones is a musician, composer and arranger of some of the finest music of the 20th Century, and this 4 CD Set houses his very finest work. Eight original albums released by Jones on Mercury and other labels between 1960 and 1963, on which he was leader or co-leader, remain, certainly for jazz fans, the great man's finest hour. This set includes these integral albums in their entirety and in pristine re-mastered form, complete with full musician lists and release details, to make for perhaps the best collection yet of Quincy Jones's jazz recordings which pre-date almost everything this giant of a man remains most famous for.

A jazz tenor saxophonist of huge merit, Stanley Turrentine, often fondly nicknamed "The Sugar Man", pursued an illustrious career in jazz and R&B which spanned an impressive five decades. Finding his inspiration in blues, his eclectic use of style and form earned this gifted musician four Grammy nominations, and a back catalogue that boasts 30 records on which he is credited a leader, and numerous more as sideman. This 4CD boxset collates Stanley Turrentine's albums as leader - all released on the Blue Note label - across the earliest part of his lengthy musical career. Remaining revered to this day among jazz and soul, this collection serves as both a welcome reminder of the man's enormous talent, and complex yet approachable music, and as a fine starting point for those eager to discover arguably the best music the esteemed musical Mr. T ever produced

Among the most inspirational and innovative composers and musicians of the 20th Century, Charles Mingus remains perhaps jazz music's most accomplished bass player and amongst it's most formidable pianists. His extensive back catalogue of recordings set a new standard in experimentation, blending as it does hard bop with elements of gospel, blues, classical and avant-garde. With a fearsome reputation as a bandleader too, Mingus' guidance resulted in some of the finest performances from the best musicians ever to grace the jazz genre, and his long-standing influence is as potent today as ever it was. This 4CD Set brings together eight of Charles Mingus' lesser known albums, all released during his glory years, between 1952 and 1964. Each LP featured remains a classic in it's own right despite their commercial scarcity and often underrated status. With full original release details and complete musician lists for each record, this set provides over 5 hours of Charles Mingus' musical genius. Available here once again in perfect remastered sound, this collection will prove a delight for long term fans and Mingus beginners alike, offering as it does the chance of completing collections of this legendary jazz maestro universally.

Zoot Sims had an extraordinary recording career which began in the late 1940s and which continued until the mid-1980s, shortly before his death. This 4 CD collection features eight albums from his heyday, on which he performed as leader or co-leader, and which best illustrate Zoot's majestic approach to music and his quite stunning musicianship. Coming from the period 1953 - 1960, among it's features are the finest albums Sims made with Al Cohn, the quite stunning Tenor Conclave, made with John Coltrane, Hank Mobley and Al Cohn, and - among several other masterpieces - A Gasser, made with vocalist Ann Ross. Certain to delight both newcomers to the great man's work, and those already smitten by this celebrated Jazz-man, this compilation works on just about every level and is certain to become one of the most popular compilations of Zoot Sims' finest music.

Among the most celebrated and respected saxophonists of the post-bop age, Wayne Shorter's influence on the entire jazz spectrum remains as potent and relevant today as ever it did. Having come to prominence with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the late 1950s, and played in Miles Davis' 'second great quintet' from the mid-60s, Shorter is remembered best as one of the founding members of the legendary Weather Report. However, the albums on which he served as leader, released between 1959 and 1964, best represent the output of this iconic musician, bandleader and composer. This 4CD boxset highlights the early, albeit crucial, years of Wayne Shorter's solo career, both as bandleader and as contributor. A true pioneer in jazz, this collection serves as both the ideal starting place for those new to the great man's work, and as a delightful reminder of it's depth and colour, for those already familiar.

'Cool Jazz' personified, Dave Brubeck is one of few post-bop bandleaders to remain a household name well into the third millennium. With his favoured use of unconventional time-signatures, meters, rhythms and tonalities, which all together made for a unique style of jazz that incorporated elements of classical and other traditional musical forms, Brubeck was a commercial oddity in the late 1950s and early 1960s; a serious jazz performer who had hit singles. The early 1960s witnessed The Dave Brubeck Quartet garner even more commercial and critical success. Recorded in 1962, Bossa Nova U.S.A (Columbia, 1963) found the group flirt with 'the cool wave of Brazil', for which, with one eye on the pop chart, Brubeck composed a set in-keeping with current trends. It's follow-up, Brubeck In Amsterdam (Columbia, 1963), a live album recorded in the Dutch capital in late '62, was a more traditional affair, and found the Quartet in fine form on a number of Brubeck classics. The Dave Brubeck Quartet at Carnegie Hall (Columbia, 1963), an undeniable milestone in the group's career, is often hailed as Brubeck's greatest live album, with critic Jim Santella commenting; this is timeless music from a classic ensemble.' On the 5th of December 2012, one day before his 92nd birthday, Dave Brubeck died following a cardiac arrest, many years after his legacy had been cemented. Named a Kennedy Center honouree in 2009 for contributions to American jazz, Dave Brubeck remains in memoriam as one of the greatest jazz composers and musicians of all time, becoming what the Los Angeles Times described as 'one of jazz's first pop stars.' This 4 CD Box Set serves to highlight some of the Dave Brubeck Quartet's greatest and oft-overlooked albums, all faithfully remastered and presented here as both a perfect introduction to the great man's music, and as a welcome collection for those already versed in this extraordinary body of work.

Born October 13, 1926, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ray Matthew Brown took piano lessons from the age of eight, but after noticing how many pianists attended his high school, he thought of taking up the trombone, but was unable to afford one. With a vacancy in the high school jazz orchestra, he took on the upright bass. As a young man Brown became increasingly well known in the Pittsburgh jazz scene, with his first experiences playing in bands with the Jimmy Hinsley Sextet and the Snookum Russell band. After graduating high school, having heard stories about the burgeoning jazz scene on 52nd Street, he bought a one-way ticket to New York. He arrived in the city at the age of 20, met up with Hank Jones, with whom he had previously worked, and was introduced to Dizzy Gillespie, who was looking for a bass player. Gillespie hired Brown on the spot, and he soon played with such established musicians as Art Tatum and Charlie Parker. Between 1956 and 1965, Ray Brown released a number of albums on which he performed as leader or co-leader. He made four records alongside Barney Kessel and Shelley Manne between '57 and '60, performing as The Poll Winners, and in the early sixties made two with his old buddy Milt Jackson. Brown was later adopted by the rock and pop fraternity and has appeared on albums by Steely Dan, Linda Ronstadt, Barry Manilow, Maria Maldaur, Elton John, Lionel Ritchie, Stephen Bishop, Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello. While never reaching the status of many of his contemporaries, Ray Brown's legacy is virtually unparalleled in the history of jazz, having appeared on literally hundreds of albums during his lengthy career, and remaining a name to drop in all the right circles. This delightful 4CD set features many of Brown's finest early albums, up to the mid-1960s, and includes recordings he made alongside Ella Fitzgerald, Milt Jackson, The Pollwinners, and of course all the records from this era on which he performed as leader.

Born September 2, 1928, Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silva - later to be known as Horace Silver - was among the most accomplished American jazz pianists and composers of all time; coming out of the hard bop school of jazz, Silver was known for his distinctive playing style and pioneering compositional contributions to the form. Influenced by a wide range of musical styles, notably gospel, African music, and Latin American, Silver also later ventured into the soul-jazz genre. This 4CD collection features Horace Silver's eight finest Blue Note albums, made between 1952 and 1963, the first, and many would say most productive and challenging, decade of this masterful composer, performer and musician's career. Despite living a long and hugely influential life, Horace Silver sadly passed away on June 18th 2014, albeit at the age of 85 and of natural causes, having generally enjoyed good health until his final hour. This compilation serves as both an ideal starting point for those new to Horace Silver's music, and as a perfect reminder for those already familiar.

American jazz drummer and bandleader Buddy Rich, born September 1917, is still considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, he discovered his affinity for jazz music at a young age and began drumming at two years old! He began playing jazz in 1937, working with acts such as Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, and Harry James. From 1942 to 1944, Rich served in the U.S. Marines. From 1945 to 1948, he led the Buddy Rich Orchestra. In 1966, he recorded a big-band style arrangement of songs from West Side Story. He found lasting success in 1966 with the formation of the Buddy Rich Big Band, also billed as the Buddy Rich Band and The Big Band Machine. Rich toured and performed until the end of his life. In early March 1987, he was touring in New York when he was hospitalized after suffering a paralysis on his left side that physicians believed had been caused by a stroke. He was transferred to California to UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles for tests, where doctors discovered and removed a brain tumour. He was discharged a week later, but continued to receive daily chemotherapy treatments at the hospital. On April 2, 1987, he died of unexpected respiratory and cardiac failure after a treatment related to the tumour. His wife Marie and daughter Cathy buried him in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. He was 69. This new release features 4 CDs of Buddy Rich's most iconic works from across his career, showcasing his incredible talent as the most influential drummers of his generation.

Jim Hall - The Early Albums Collection - Born in Buffalo, New York in 1930, James Stanley Hall was an American jazz guitarist, composer and arranger. Hall moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio, during his childhood. Hall's mother played the piano, his grandfather the violin, and his uncle the guitar. Jim began playing the guitar at the age of 10, when his mother gave him an instrument as a Christmas present. At 13 he heard Charlie Christian play on a Benny Goodman record, which he called his "spiritual awakening". As a teenager in Cleveland, he performed professionally, and also took up the double bass. Hall's major influences since childhood were tenor saxophonists Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Paul Gonsalves, and Lucky Thompson. While he copied out solos by Charlie Christian, and later Barney Kessel, it was horn players from whom he took the lead. In 1955, Hall attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he majored in composition, studying piano and bass in addition to theory. Jim Hall was a true original on the jazz spectrum, always experimenting and pushing ahead, and the albums featured on this new collection illustrate his musical prowess, innovative practices and acute talents perfectly. All originally released between 1959 and 1965, the eight records featured here in astounding re-mastered versions remain a pure delight, and this set works equally well for those new to Jim Hall's music and those already somewhat familiar. - Featuring 8 records released between 1959 and 1965, this 4CD set works equally well for those new to Jim Hall's music and those already familiar.

Born April 1927, Gerry Mulligan was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinettist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists- playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz, Mulligan was also a significant arranger, working with Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis, Stan Kenton, and others. His piano-less quartet of the early 1950s with trumpeter Chet Baker is still regarded as one of the best cool jazz groups. Mulligan was also a skilled pianist and played several other reed instruments. Many of his compositions, such as 'Walkin' Shoes' and 'Five Brothers', have become standards. Featuring eight original albums in all, remastered in the finest quality, this box-set compliments perfectly the aforementioned earlier Gerry Mulligan box set on Enlightenment, while equally working well as a standalone compilation of some of this Jazz pioneer's very finest work.

This four CD set compiles the finest albums Slide Hampton released as leader, all from his golden years, 1959-1963. Featuring too some of the finest American Jazz musicians around during this period, this collection will delight fans new and old, containing as it does some of the best hard bop released during the era in question.

Dizzy Gillespie - 1961-1964: The Classic Philips Albums - This four-disc collection features eight of the finest LPs Dizzy Gillespie recorded for Philips in the 1961-1964 period. One of the most recognised and esteemed names in all of jazz music, Dizzy Gillespie's work, his live performances and his multiple recordings are legendary. A truly gifted player on his chosen instrument, the trumpet, Gillespie was famous for the complexity of his improvisation. His work also had a profound effect on the popularity of bebop during the 1940s and 1950s. Dizzy's influence on host of jazz masters who followed in his footsteps, from Miles Davis to Lee Morgan and numerous others, was profound, and he embraced a wide variety of styles and arrangements during his lifetime. Some of his finest work emerged during the late 1950s to the mid-1960s, when he was initially signed to Verve Records, and then, from 1962 onwards, to the legendary Philips label. This four-disc collection, containing over five hours of music in total, features eight of the finest LPs Gillespie recorded for Philips during the 1961-1964 period, and houses some of the best playing to grace jazz records at this time.