Released in 1962 on Verve, Big Band Bossa Nova continued Stan Getz's early-1960s engagement with Brazilian music in a large-ensemble format. Produced by Creed Taylor and arranged/conducted by Gary McFarland, the album places Getz's tenor saxophone within orchestrated settings that combine brass and woodwind writing with the rhythmic qualities of samba and bossa nova. Recorded in August 1962 at Columbia's 30th Street Studio in New York, the session featured studio musicians including guitarist Jim Hall, trumpeter Doc Severinsen, bassist Tommy Williams, and drummer Johnny Rae. Verve's Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes remastered on 180g vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.

No, we're not yelling at you. That's the answer. WHO ASKED? is the long-awaited sophomore album from the French-born Domi Louna and Texas native JD Beck. Following two GRAMMY nominations, including Best New Artist for a debut album (2022's NOT TiGHT), WHO ASKED? is unlike anything they've done before. Bringing together a small sinfonietta of seasoned classical players, WHO ASKED? showcases the duo's incredibly singular, super maximalist, and strikingly beautiful orchestral vision.

For 'A Sun That Never Sets,' Ralph Alessi expands the quartet configuration with a fifth player for a set of eleven new compositions that elaborate on Alessi's intricate writing with deep thought and a fresh sense of adventure. The last time Alessi operated with a quintet was with saxophonist Ravi Coltrane in his This Against That ensemble, captured on 2019's acclaimed Imaginary Friends. Instead of a saxophonist, this time the trumpeter's brother Joseph Alessi comes into the fold and fortifies an already state-of-the-art group with inspired trombone lines in frequently wild interplay with the trumpet.

MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY

Double green colored vinyl LP pressing. No, we're not yelling at you. That's the answer. WHO ASKED? is the long-awaited sophomore album from the French-born Domi Louna and Texas native JD Beck. Following two GRAMMY nominations, including Best New Artist for a debut album (2022's NOT TiGHT), WHO ASKED? is unlike anything they've done before. Bringing together a small sinfonietta of seasoned classical players, WHO ASKED? showcases the duo's incredibly singular, super maximalist, and strikingly beautiful orchestral vision.

Recorded and released in 1958, just over a year before his death, Laughin' to Keep from Cryin' captures saxophonist Lester Young in one of his final studio sessions. Though his tone had softened, Young's phrasing remains fluid and expressive, favoring subtlety over force. Produced by Norman Granz, the date brings together Roy Eldridge and Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet, whose contrasting styles (fiery drive and relaxed, bluesy restraint) create a compelling musical contrast. Backed by Hank Jones (piano), Herb Ellis (guitar), George Duvivier (bass), and Mickey Sheen (drums), the session blends small-group swing with a polished studio feel. Highlights include "They Can't Take That Away from Me" and "Salute to Benny," a tribute to Benny Goodman, who gave Young his first clarinet. Verve's Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes remastered on 180g vinyl.

ELECTRIFYING SEAMUS BLAKE: EH!

Charles Lloyd pays homage to his dear friend and longtime collaborator Zakir Hussain with Sangam & Friends", an extraordinary document of the deep musical camaraderie between the legendary saxophonist/flutist and master tablaist along with their Sangam trio mate drummer Eric Harland. The album is built around studio recordings made in Mumbai in 2009 for an album that was begun but never completed featuring an expanded ensemble with Carnatic singer Vijay Prakash", Rakesh Chaurasia on bansuri", Sabir Khan on sarangi", Ranjit Barot on keyboard", and Niladri Kumar on sitar.

Vinyl LP pressing. Charles Lloyd pays homage to his dear friend and longtime collaborator Zakir Hussain with Sangam & Friends", an extraordinary document of the deep musical camaraderie between the legendary saxophonist/flutist and master tablaist along with their Sangam trio mate drummer Eric Harland. The album is built around studio recordings made in Mumbai in 2009 for an album that was begun but never completed featuring an expanded ensemble with Carnatic singer Vijay Prakash", Rakesh Chaurasia on bansuri", Sabir Khan on sarangi", Ranjit Barot on keyboard", and Niladri Kumar on sitar.

Tenor saxophonist Curtis Amy recorded his powerhouse live album, Tippin' On Through, for Pacific Jazz in 1962 at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, California with a stacked sextet featuring Roy Brewster on trombone, Roy Ayers on vibraphone, John Houston on piano, Bob Whitlock on bass, and Lawrence Marable on drums. This stereo Blue Note Tone Poet Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe tip-on gatefold jacket.

Cal Tjader's The Prophet (recorded in 1968 in New York & Los Angeles and released the same year on Verve) captures the vibraphonist at a moment of artistic expansion, blending his signature Latin jazz with a more orchestrated, textural approach. Arranged/conducted by Don Sebesky and produced by Esmond Edwards, the album features an ensemble including Joao Donato (organ), Red Mitchell (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums), and Hubert Laws (flute). Drawing on a broad palette of jazz, Latin, and blues influences, The Prophet reflects Tjader's growing interest in composition and arrangement, balancing melodic elegance with rhythmic sophistication. Several of the album's compositions were written by Brazilian pianist Joao Donato, adding a harmonic warmth and subtle bossa nova influence to the overall character. The Verve Vault series is always mastered from analog tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Released on Impulse! Records in 1966, Ascension stands as one of Coltrane's most radical and influential works. Subtitled "Edition I & II" to reflect the two complete takes recorded at the session, the piece is a nearly 40-minute large-ensemble performance marking his embrace of the avant-garde. Recorded on June 28, 1965 at Rudy Van Gelder's Englewood Cliffs studio and produced by Bob Thiele, the session assembled an expanded ensemble of 11 musicians. Alongside Coltrane's tenor sax are trumpeters Freddie Hubbard & Dewey Johnson; saxophonists Pharoah Sanders, Marion Brown, John Tchicai, & Archie Shepp; pianist McCoy Tyner; bassists Art Davis & Jimmy Garrison; and drummer Elvin Jones. Initially controversial for it's intensity, Ascension is now recognized as a landmark of modern jazz and a defining statement of the emerging free-jazz movement. Presented together on 2-LP for the first time, the Verve Vault series is always mastered from analog tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Trumpeter/composer Ambrose Akinmusire and guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson's album Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings is due June 12, 2026, on Nonesuch Records. The album features four new compositions by each musician as well as one collaboration. The album track "Soundcheck" is available today and can be heard below; you can pre-order the album here. The duo, long admirers of each other's musicianship, met at Halvorson's Brooklyn apartment and began playing together periodically, going back as far as 2009. They rehearsed the music on Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings in January 2025, just before performing it at the New York City club The Stone; they recorded this album the next day at Sear Sound.

Vinyl LP pressing. Trumpeter/composer Ambrose Akinmusire and guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson's album Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings is due June 12, 2026, on Nonesuch Records. The album features four new compositions by each musician as well as one collaboration. The album track "Soundcheck" is available today and can be heard below; you can pre-order the album here. The duo, long admirers of each other's musicianship, met at Halvorson's Brooklyn apartment and began playing together periodically, going back as far as 2009. They rehearsed the music on Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings in January 2025, just before performing it at the New York City club The Stone; they recorded this album the next day at Sear Sound.

Released in 1956 as the first album on the newly established Verve label, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book inaugurated her Song Book series and marked the beginning of her extended focus on composers associated with the Great American Songbook. Produced by Norman Granz, the sessions paired Ella with arranger/conductor Buddy Bregman and a studio orchestra, establishing the large-ensemble format that characterized the early Song Book recordings. The 2-LP set presents 32 songs drawn from Cole Porter's catalog and frames Ella's immaculate phrasing with West Coast orchestration that blends swing, ballad writing, and classic Hollywood sheen, emphasizing the lyrical wit and melodic elegance of Porter's writing. Formative in shaping both Verve's identity and Ella's artistic trajectory, it remains a cornerstone of her discography. Verve's Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes remastered on 180g vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.

DYNASTY

LONG WAY HOME

WHERE THE JOY IS

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Vinyl LP pressing. Bria Skonberg's 'Brass' is a celebration of her favorite elements of trumpet playing featuring Luther Allison, Eric Wheeler & Darrian Douglas. After many years of working to synthesize voice and trumpet, Juno Award Winner Bria Skonberg has chosen to explore them both individually. Her new album on Cellar Music is the first of those explorations - ' Brass'. For Bria Skonberg studying the trumpet has been a true labor of love. Through precision, power, style, and/or subtlety, this collection of songs and arrangements is a celebration of her favorite elements of playing the trumpet. Her trio of Luther Allison, Eric Wheeler and Darrian Douglas provides a highly swinging, steady yet versatile foundation for the project. The trumpet is ultimately an extension of Bria Skonberg's voice, and the beauty of instrumental music is it can often express emotions without words.

Norman Brown's most popular album of the last 20 years!!! Grammy Award-winning Contemporary Jazz/R&B superstar Norman Brown has sold over 4 million albums in his extraordinary career and virtually lives at the top of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz sales and radio charts. Having shared the stage with virtually every Contemporary Jazz superstar from Boney James to Dave Koz to Gerald Albright, Norman is also touring nationwide as co-leader of the supergroup BWB (Norman Brown, Kirk Whalum and Rick Braun)!! Let's Get Away which is already approaching 100 million streams, has Norman Brown's hit-making talents on full display. Featuring inspired original compositions such as the vibey "LA Chill," the funk/blues tinged "Talk It Out," and the romantic tribute to Wes Montgomery, "Heading Wes," Norman tops it all off with a brilliant rendition of the classic "Down Here On the Ground!"

INTRODUCING ARDESHIR

Recorded in 1962 and released the following year, Listen to Art Farmer and the Orchestra stands as one of his most ambitious statements as a leader. The album places Farmer at the forefront of a large ensemble arranged and conducted by Oliver Nelson. The personnel bridges New York's hard-bop scene with leading studio and jazz musicians, with Farmer featured as the principal solo voice against Nelson's full complement of brass, reeds, and rhythm. Guitarists Jim Hall & Barry Galbraith, bassist George Duvivier, drummer Charlie Persip, and pianist Tommy Flanagan support Farmer alongside an expanded orchestra. Nelson's orchestrations give him space to showcase his lyricism and poised tone, balancing tightly arranged ensemble passages with luminous solo statements. This program draws on beloved standards, including "Street of Dreams" and "Naima." The Verve Vault series is always mastered from analog tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Double vinyl LP pressing. With his stunning 4th Blue Note album, The Myth We Choose, the brilliant South African pianist, composer, healer, and philosopher Nduduzo Makhathini explores the ways in which various societies choose their own myths through song. The album, which was co-produced by his son Thingo Makhathini, refracts Makhathini's distinctive sound through a broad spectrum of sonic settings with bassist Dalisu Ndlazi and drummer Lukmil Perez, plus collaborators including Black Coffee, Shabaka, Omagugu, Thando Zide & Muneyi

A subtle tour de force are the words with which Billboard met guitarist Bill Connors's Of Mist and Melting upon the album's release in 1978; and revisiting this music decades later only confirms that special spirits were indeed at work when the Manfred Eicher-produced session with Jan Garbarek, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette and Connors unfolded at Oslo's Talent Studio in December 1977. Reissued as part of ECM's Luminessence series, Of Mist and Melting arrives in a tip-on gatefold jacket with new liner notes and photos from the archive.