The release of a Mark Murphy recording renders hyperbole superfluous. Other people have said it all: Murphy is "a hipster's hipster," writes the New York Post. Featuring his latest effort Links, Mark performs classic tunes and original lyricst and otehr adventurous choices make this mark's finest record to date.

JAZZ WITH GENTLE RHYTHMS / VARIOUS

PROMISE LAND

Ma Rainey once sang "You see me ravin', you hear me crying... this lonely heart of mine." If you can identify with that, and if you ever feel a little blue & sentimental, then you need to put this CD on the player. It features songs by Ernie Andrews, Randy Johnston, Cindy Blackman, David "Fathead" Newman, Irene Reid, John Hicks, Houston Person, Wesla Whitfield, Jimmy Ponder & Etta Jones.

Vocalist Jones once again joins sidekick Houston Person on a selection of tunes that represent all the greats of Tin Pan Alley & Broadway, inc. Frank Loesser, Irving Berlin, Dietz & Schwartz, Anthony Newley & others

KEEPERS OF THE FLAME

Featuring wonderful standards perfromed by: Houston Person, Norman Simmons, Charles Earland, Wallace roney, Lenny White, Mike Renzi, Gerri Allen and others.

DEAD CENTER

REFLECTIONS

Veteran saxophonist was the cornerstone of Ray Charles' band, and the Texas tenor tradition inhabits his playing like the slight Texas accent Newman never lost; here, he performs intricate, intense music with finely crafted solos & no superfluous notes, surrounding himself with the top men of their craft - trombonist Steve Turre, pianist John Hicks & drummer Winard Harper

Ever since his arrival in New York back in 1984, Don Braden has been one of the most impressive tenor saxophonists of his generation. He has uplifted the bands of the Harper Bros., Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Tony Williams & others along the way, yet it is his work as a leader that is most significant. From start to finish, this CD is one of his finest recordings & it shows why he is rated as one of the top sax men of the early 21st Century. Together with his quartet, his chosen medium now, Braden offers a program of jazz classics, as well as a sprinkling of original tunes, including an innovative tenor sax/drum duet.

Hear history in the making as saxophonist Ventura & trombonist Harris team up on this astounding session, captured live in 1947, and unavailable on any format for over 25 years; Harris shows his inimitable way with ballads, while Ventura leaps into his famous "High On An Open Mike," propelled by drummer Davey Tough

RUSTY RIDES AGAIN

JAZZ BALLADS WITH A BLUE FEELING / VARIOUS

The Mighty Burner, who passed away recently, rips it up on this album, which was his last recording with his "regular" band, feat. sax smoker Eric Alexander, Michael Karn & James Rotondi - together they create a real "little big band" sound on originals & standards