In 1972, thirteen years after her death, Congress extended copyright protections to include recorded musical performances. Billie Holiday would have benefited greatly from such protection: during the more than twenty-five years of her career, Holiday gave an unknown number of live performances on TV & Radio and in clubs & concert halls, many of which were recorded both officially and unofficially by sound engineers, fellow musicians and fans. Today, ESP-Disck, which for many years has been assembling unofficial recordings of several artists from before 1972, has released one of the most comprehensive collections of live Billie Holiday recordings to date, some previously available but most not. These recordings, laid out in chronological order, not only demonstrate the arc of Holiday's development as a vocalist but give a rare behind-the-scenes look into how the singer approached her musicians and her audience. The first disc of this compilation opens with a twenty-year-old Billie Holiday performing with Duke Ellington in 1935, followed by a radio broadcast from the Savoy Hotel in New York two years later in which Holiday fronts the Count Basie Orchestra. The next four discs cover Holiday's career from 1949 to her death in 1959.

\'Released in the early \'90s, Concert for the Comet Kohoutek captures a typically inspired night by Sun Ra & the Intergalactic Space Research Arkestra. Recorded in late 1973, on this date the Arkestra is guided by a musical theme composed around the idea of the Comet Kohoutek, which was passing close to Earth at the time. Typically, the release vaults between cosmic vocal songs that speak of Truth and other such brashly capitalized affairs (such as \'Astro Black\'), almost straight-ahead big-band jazz arrangements (\'Variations of Kohoutek Themes\'), and frighteningly evil free explorations (\'Journey Through the Outer Darkness\').\'-Jesse Jarnow, AMG Digitally remastered by Joe Phillips with brief liner notes by ESP label founder Bernard Stollman.\' Recorded live at Town Hall, NYC, on December 22, 1973.

In 1966, the late Steve Lacy visited the new ESP-DISK office at 156 5th avenue with a master tape of his concert in Buenos Aires with his quartet, Louis Moholo, Enrico Rava and Johnny Dyani. He offered to sell the master for what I thought was an exorbitant price. I bought it. This LP was released featuring a reproduction of a painting by his friend, the late Bob Thompson, who had died before obtaining recognition. In 1992, the master tape was brought to engineer Ken Robertson at the Sony Studio, who observed that it had been recorded out of phase, and he corrected the phasing. - Bernard Stollman Digitally remastered from the original tapes Featured Artists Steve Lacy: soprano saxophone Enrico Rava: trumpet Johnny Dyani: bass Louis T. Moholo: drums.

IN SEARCH OF THE MYSTERY

\'Milford Graves has been among the flashiest drummers in the free mode, known for skillful inclusion of Asian and African rhythmic ingredients into his solos.\' - Ron Wynn / Percussionist Milford Graves recorded his first and only ESP-Disk recording on August 5th, 1966 along with fellow percussionist, the late Sonny Morgan. According to Milford Graves, the track titles were given numbers according to how many beats were in each measure. This unique combination of percussion conversations between Graves and Morgan is a welcomed addition in ESP\'-Disk\'s new series of digipak re-issues. Digitally remastered.

From the original liner notes: "This recording is made of an assembly of estranging electronic sound effects, trite sports commentaries and the music of a beautifully improvising jazz trio. Bob James has, through this convulsion of out-of-context sound elements and music of a trio, tried to emphasize the strange acoustic complex of modern man in his city, in his world, in his cosmos". Features Bob James on piano, Barre Philips on bass, and Robert Pozar on percussion.

This previously unreleased recording features the remaining music from the legendary concert that produced Lowe's ESP-Disk's debut as a leader, Black Beings. This recording features Art Ensemble of Chicago saxophonist Joseph Jarman in perhaps his first New York appearance, with the future Cecil Taylor bass and drum team of William Parker and Rashid Sinan and violinist Raymond Lee Cheng (The Wizard) on his only known recording. High energy music in it's purest form.

(2-CD set) a prolific writer and arranger, Canadian clarinetist Phil Nimmons has never received due praise from the international jazz community. His heavy involvement in jazz education (he has been on the Univ. Of Toronto faculty since 1973) has allowed him to act as mentor for many of Canada's jazz writers and arrangers. The material on this CD comes from broadcasts and transcriptions recorded in Toronto from 1959-64 by the Canadian Broadcasting System. The sessions initially took place at the McGill Street Studio and were then moved the Carlton Studio, and most were recorded in front of an audience. Features Jerry Toth, Bernie Piltch, Roy Smith, Rick Wilkins, Eddie Karam, Jack Taylor, Erich Traugott, Ross Cully and others.

2-CD set from trombonist live at the Montreal Bistro in Toronto, feat. Alex Dean, Don Englert, Pat LaBarbera, Dave McMurdo, Mike Malone, Paul Novotny, Mark Promane, Terry Promane, Chase Sanborn +.

2-CD set consisting of the album "Atlantic Suite", plus "Suite P.E.I.", part of a CBC album called "All Star Jazz in Concert at the CNE"; the remaining selections are from a never before released session from 1973-79, inc. Nimmons 'n Nine Plus Six band fet. Dave Caldwell, John Capon, Art Ellefson, Dave Field, Jerry Johnson +.

Pianist celebrates the contribution made to jazz by women of African American ancestry & is a follow up to the 1979 collaboration between Doc Cheatham & Sammy Price.

Recorded live at the Montreal Bistro, Toronto here's the powerful stride pianist Ralph Sutton collaborating with Jim Galloway on soprano sax and Don Vickery on drums from three nights on January 15-17, 1997. While Sutton worked with Jack Teagarden, Bob Scobey and The World's Greatest Jazz Band he was predominantly on his own throughout his long career. Originally from Scotland Galloway emigrated to Canada in the mid-60s, became a fixture on the Toronto jazz scene and appears on many Sackville albums. Ten selections include "Blue Skies", "Baby Won't You Please Come Home", "Poor Butterfly", "If Dreams Come True", "She's Funny That Way" and more. (Previously deleted:10/1/06. Original release date:2/24/98)

Cornet player swings with Cal Collins-gtr, Keith Ingham-pno, Earl May-bss, Jackie Williams-drms, 16 tracks.

Drummer is joined by Greg Gisbert, Andy Gravish, Chris Persad, Gary Pribeck, Ralph Lalama, John Rohde, Joe Carello, Dave Shapiro + others on 11 tracks.

This 12 track reissue of "Kansas City Nights" recorded in Tortonto in 1993 features Jay McShann, Fraser MacPherson and Jake Hanna. After more than a five year hiatus, it is great to have this music available again. (Previously deleted: 9/1/05. Original release date: 6/1/94)

New Orleans jazz veterans Barry Martyn-dms, Chris Burke-cl, Wendell Eugene-tmb, Ron Simpson-gtr, recorded 1993.

This 1991 live album is a reunion of the same group that recorded Bones Blues (SAC 4004) in 1977, still rated as a milestone in these musicians' artistry. Don Menza is a powerful tenor saxophonist, with a dynamic and distinctive sound and style. Menza joined Buddy Rich's 1968 big band in the "jazz tenor" chair, recording the famous solo cadenza on "Channel 1 Suite" that utilized circular breathing and has become known as a classic. He settled in California and worked with Elvin Jones, Louie Bellson and as a member of The Tonight Show Band, with Johnny Carson. With Wray Downes, piano, Dave Young, bass and Pete Magadini, drums.

Second release from all-stars gives nod to jazz great Ralph Sutton.

Pianist & bassist in a duo setting, 7 tracks recorded in Toronto, 1983.

CD reissue of classic recording from 1972, w. Jay McShann-piano & voc, Claude Williams (Andy Kirk)-violin & guitar, Don Thompson-bass, Paul Gunther-drums.

A member of a distinguished New Orleans musical family, Herb Hall was the youngest of 5 brothers. His brother Edmund became a world-renowned clarinetist. After time in San Antonio and Philadelphia, Hall moved to New York and joined the Eddie Condon band in 1957. He toured France and North America with Sammy price and generated much excitement on Louisiana Lament, a studio session for Vogue. In '67 Hall shared the stage in Toronto with Don Ewell and a year later with The Jazz Giants (issued as Wild Bill Davison, the Jazz Giants, Sackville 3002). This all-star band returned to Toronto several times and it was on one of these tours that Herb recorded this quartet date on January 10, 1969.

Jazz pianist Junior Mance made his first recording at age 19 in 1947 with Gene Ammons. Two years later he recorded with Lester Young and the following year with Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons. In '53 Mance was the house pianist at Chicago's Beehive where he accompanied many greats including Charlie Parker and Coleman Hawkins. Mance made his first album as leader in '59 for Verve and hasn't stopped since. He now has over 50 albums as leader, the latest on his own JunGlo label from 2012 when he was 83 years young. Jubilation is from a 1994 solo piano concert in Toronto. 66 minutes includes "Autumn Leaves", "Georgia On My Mind", St. Louis Blues", "Birks Works", "Lover Man" and 10 more. (Previously deleted:6/1/09. Original release date: 11/15/96)

16 solo piano pieces from 1987; here she performs standards learned from older brother Ralph Sutton - elements of his style can be found in her playing.

Pianists live at the Montreal Bistro playing compositions by Nat Cole, Thad Jones, Phineas Newborn & Duke Pearson.

Brilliant follow up to 1983 New York date "Partners in Crime", Ralph Sutton-pno down under w. The Barnard Bros. Bob-tpt & Len-dms & washboard, recorded Sydney, Australia 1991.