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Two CDs. A previously unreleased live recording of drum legend Art Blakey with a classic line-up of the Jazz Messengers, trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist Bobby Timmons, and bassist Jymie Merritt. It was captured on January 14, 1961, at Hibiya Public Hall in Tokyo during the band's first-ever tour of Japan. Co-produced by Zev Feldman and David Weiss, the audio was newly transferred from the original 1/4" tape reels. First Flight To Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings.

Venue: La Grande Halle, La Villette, Paris, France - Date: 10th July 1991. Miles was renowned for never revisiting the past, even though many fans, critics and concert promoters always hoped that he would. Then, in July 1991, Miles went back, Miles arrived at Paris to play this special gig. It was simply advertised as "Miles and Friends" and neither the audience nor Miles' band had any idea on what they were about to witness. Playing with Miles was an amazing roll-call of past musical associates from the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s: Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Al Foster, Steve Grossman, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, Darryl Jones, John McLaughlin, Jackie McLean, John Scofield and Joe Zawinul. Miles' band members were Kenny Garrett, Foley, Deron Johnson, Richard Patterson and Ricky Wellman. This is the final volume of the Miles Davis "Lost" series (double CD). This time it's a lost concert he recorded in Paris just 3 months before he died.

The Wynton Kelly Trio and Wes just tear up this set of standards and originals on this 1965 LP. They do Willow Weep for Me; Misty; No Blues; If You Could See Me Now; What's New; Impressions, and more!

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE VILLAGE VANGURAD

Released in 1995, Sarala marked it's time by generating a genuine enthusiasm for Mandingo music, encouraging many Western musicians to go to Mali and explore this music at it's very source. Fruit of the reunion of Hank Jones (an African-American musician and one of the most gifted pianists of his generation) and Cheick-Tidiane Seck (a reputed arranger, band-leader, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Mali) the album is a symbiosis - one of the spirit and the heart - of two genres.

Vinyl LP pressing in gatefold jacket. Blues And The Abstract Truth is Oliver Nelson's triumph. Featuring his all-time classic Stolen Moments, Nelson assembled one of the most potent modern jazz sextets ever. Lead trumpeter Freddie Hubbard is at his peak of performance, while alto saxophonists Nelson and Eric Dolphy (Nelson doubling on tenor) team to form an unlikely union that was simmered to perfection. Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) & Roy Haynes (drums) can do no wrong as a rhythm section.

Recorded live at The Greek Theater, Los Angeles, California. Personnel: Stanley Clarke (acoustic & electric basses); Najee (soprano, alto & tenor saxophones, flute, synthesizer); Deron Johnson (keyboards); Larry Carlton (acoustic & electric guitars); Billy Cobham (drums, percussion).

Big Train is the 4th release in Marsalis's unprecedented 8-CD series titled Swinging Into the 21st (this historic series features a release of new Marsalis music each month from April through September). Debuted with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra in 1998 (also featured during a 1998 U.S. tour), Big Train is a remarkable musical journey, a significant new entry in Marsalis's compositional scope from jazz to classical and beyond.

1965's Maiden Voyage remains one of the pinnacle artistic achievements of the great pianist's career. Hancock is joined by Miles Davis Quintet bandmates Ron Carter on bass & Tony Williams on drums, along with Freddie Hubbard on trumpet & George Coleman on tenor saxophone. The quintet embarks on an oceanic exploration of 5 original Hancock compositions, several of which have since become enduring standards of the jazz lexicon including the title track, "Eye of the Hurricane," and "Dolphin Dance."

DUDE

The jazz-pop fusion present in Hiroshima's ANOTHER PLACE wants to take you on a journey to a place you've never been. The ethereal songs fuse genres effortlessly, delivering a radio friendly yet experimental result.

Jonathan Butler began his singing career at age 7, releasing his first album in 1973 and winning the Best New Artist Grammy in South Africa the following year at age 12. He made history by being the first black artist played on white South African radio while earning three gold records in 1975 as he became a teenager. More than a decade later, Butler moved to London, England after signing with Jive Records and released his first album internationally. The self-titled set went gold in 1987 in the United Kingdom and in the USA. He received Grammy nominations for Best R&B Song for his R&B-pop vocal hit “Lies” and for Best Jazz Song for the instrumental “Going Home.” His genre-busting material earned songwriter’s awards and received abundant airplay in multiple radio formats: pop, urban, contemporary jazz, adult contemporary and gospel. Of his new release, Close to You, Butler writes, “This record was inspired by my fiancé Nadira Kimberly. At home one night, we played and sang together as we listened to “Close to You” by the amazing Burt Bacharach. This really opened the door for me to do this amazing man’s music. In 1975 I was 13 years old when my first single was released, “Please Stay” by none other than Burt Bacharach. It's like I've come full circle.”

2018 release from the Brazilian jazz vocalist. On the liner notes of this release, Luciana Souza says that making music with Chico Pinheiro and Scott Colley is a thing of wonder. And she means that in the sense of what is mysterious, miraculous, and beautiful about making music and lifting poetry from the page.

ALL MY TOMORROWS

Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Acoustic Sounds Series reissue. Mastered by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound From Original Analog Tapes. A classic big-band album and one of the first-ever releases on the Impulse! Label, this 1961 recording features a superb line-up including Jimmy Knepper on trombone, Ron Carter on bass and a fiery Elvin Jones on drums. Verve's Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.

Time and troubles seem to melt away during the 15 enrapturing minutes of "Idle Moments," the opening track of Grant Green's sublime 1963 album of the same name. As the piece unfurls, all the unique colors of the ensemble present themselves with Green on guitar, Duke Pearson on piano, Bobby Hutcherson on vibraphone, Bob Cranshaw on upright bass, Al Harewood on drums, and Joe Henderson on tenor sax. Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is all-analog, mastered from the original tapes on 180-gram LP.

Vinyl LP pressing. Described by Mingus himself as "ethnic folk-dance music," The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady is a single song cycle rather than a traditional jazz album of separate tracks. The intricate arrangements and raw emotional swings of the piece make it a highlight of Mingus' career, and one of the most compelling listens in jazz.

2021 release. Nearly two decades into her career, Grammy-winning artist Norah Jones releases her first live album, 'Til We Meet Again. With performances from the US, France, Italy, Brazil and Argentina recorded between 2017-19. Spanning her entire career from her 2002 debut to her more recent singles "It Was You" and Grammy-nominated "I'll Be Gone." It closes with a cover of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun," a tribute to Chris Cornell recorded at the Fox Theatre just days after Cornell's death.

ELLA & LOUIS TOGETHER

ESSENCE OF

Ellis Marsalis's role in jazz is not just limited to his mastery of the piano; he is also a renowned jazz educator. Former pupils include (in addition to his sons) Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, Harry Connick Jr.., among others. On this album, Ellis pays tribute to Duke Ellington on the year Duke's centennial. Features the original composition "Duke in Blue" which is Ellis poignant tribute to one of the most important figures in the history of American music. This will take listeners on a journey back to the roots of jazz.

Vinyl LP pressing. Guitar virtuoso Julian Lage makes his Blue Note debut with an album that weds incisive, expressive songwriting with the profound interplay of his trio featuring Jorge Roeder and Dave King. The trio planned to record after a Village Vanguard residency in January 2020 but were delayed by the pandemic. Lage retooled the songs in light of the summer's lockdown and protests over social justice. By the time he recorded the album in August, the tunes had taken on a deeper air of mystery and searching.

This is Grammy winning vocalist Catherine Russell's 7th studio album. On Alone Together, her curatorial skills shine brightly, plucking compositions where the lyric and harmonic structure draw her in on a deeply personal level.

Over the last fifteen years, pianist Eric Reed has been a mainstay on the jazz scene. Having toured the world with his group and recorded as both a leader and sideman on numerous projects, he constantly demonstrates the creativity that distinguishes him as one of the leading pianists of his generation.

3 giants of West Coast jazz came together in this swinging session recorded in 1953. Alto saxophone master Lee Konitz joins Gerry Mulligan on baritone saxophone and legendary trumpeter Chet Baker on a half-live/half-studio recording. They are supported by bassists Carson Smith and Joe Mondragon with Larry Bunker on drums for this spontaneous and inventive jazz treasure. The Blue Note Tone Poet Series features all-analog, remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.