Introducing another timeless jazz masterpiece: Hello Herbie (1970) by The Oscar Peterson Trio with Herb Ellis, the legendary guitarist who played with the likes of Jimmy Dorsey, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald, just to name a few. Ellis was a permanent member of Peterson's trio from 1953-58, while it was featuring a guitar but no drums - one or even the greatest jazz combo of the 1950s. Rediscover the magic of this timeless album where Ellis is joining Peterson and his trio again with Sam Jones on bass and Bobby Durham on drums. With Peterson's incredible skill, Ellis thoughtful playing and a more than solid foundation in Durham and Brown this album showcases exceptional artists at their very best. Both, Ellis and Peterson feed of each other and the album's fusion of playful interplay, together with nuanced arrangements and combined with the AAA remaster by Grammy-nominated mastering engineer Christoph Stickel, delivers an immersive experience. - The album includes a scan of the original master tape box and new liner notes by jazz journalist Scott Yanow. Hello Herbie is a 1969 album by pianist Oscar Peterson and his trio, joined by guitarist Herb Ellis.

The Best Of The MPS Years presents you all the classics and highlights of Osacr Peterson's time at the Black Forest label on one album. It was 1961 when Oscar Peterson came to Villingen, Germany the first time. Hans-Georg Brunner-Schwer, former owner of the hifi dynasty SABA, had just set up the first version of his studio, equipped with the most advanced recording technology of the time. This was the bait used by the piano enthusiast to attract the famous pianist to the Black Forest. After a performance in Zurich, Peterson climbed into a limousine and embarked on a journey across the mountains. As soon as he arrived, along with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen, the international star was led to the Steinway grand in the living-room where a number of excited guests were eagerly waiting. "I listened to him play 'til four o'clock in the morning and lost the desire to ever hear the Beatles again!", says Matthias Brunner-Schwer, HGBS' son, still starry-eyed half a century later. The legendary pianist himself was equally delighted when he listened to the recording of the nocturnal living-room performance, never before having heard such a direct and pristine piano sound on tape. Peterson's enthusiastic response marked the beginning of a long-term friendship and spiritual kinship with Brunner-Schwer. In the following years, the Canadian pianist returned again and again with various line-ups to capture his musical vision on tape. The legendary "Exclusively For My Friends" live series was the very first release for Brunner-Schwer's newly-established MPS label with many studio albums to follow.

2022 collection. The Best Of The MPS Years presents you all the classics and highlights of George Duke's time at the Black Forest label on one album. A curious happenstance in 1966 triggered the partnership between MPS head Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer and George Duke. Brunner-Schwer was in San Francisco to record the Art van Damme Quintet. After finishing the recording session one evening, he and his team strolled over to a club called the Jazz Workshop. Les McCann was supposed to be playing, but this particular day was his day off. Instead, a 20 year old pianist, still involved in his studies, was performing with his quartet. The music's freshness so enthralled the German that he set up a recording session on the spot. This encounter between George Duke and Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer in sunny California was both accidental and noteworthy. It turned out to be the jazzy prologue to future events: five years later the American began his fusion-infused sessions for the man from Germany's Black Forest. The six albums of this series still count as a fascinating and essential part of George Duke's life's-work and canon of the genre.

Considered one of Nathan Davis' best albums, and long a collector's item, The Hip Walk was recorded in 1965, a time when the Afro-American Davis lived in Europe, working with such legends as Kenny Clarke, Art Blakey, Ray Charles, Dexter Gordon, Eric Dolphy and Woody Shaw. Nathan's Kansas City school mate, trumpeter Carmell Jones - who e.g. worked with Horace Silver, Paul Kuhn, Eugen Cicero - comes along for the ride. A superb album of soulful, swinging jazz - the perfect companion when you feel the need to get in the groove. The album was remastered from the original analogue master tapes by Christoph Stickel (cs mastering) with the vinyl getting an AAA treatment. The original artwork is complimented by a supplement with additional liner notes, pictures, and a scan of the original master tape box. Until now, to get your hand on this early Davis LP you had to be lucky to purchase an expensive original pressing. Finally, it's available again for everyone to enjoy! The album is featuring Jimmy Woode (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums) and Francy Boland (Piano).

FEARLESS

SUNDAY WALK

FEARLESS

Life Enigma, originally released in 2001, stands as a testament to the genius of the French violinist, Jean-Luc Ponty. This groundbreaking album seamlessly blends jazz, fusion, and world music, showcasing Ponty's virtuosity and innovative spirit. Seven years after his previous studio album No Absolute Time, Life Enigma showed that Ponty was "up to the task of carrying the spirit of fusion into the new millennium instead of just mining the same old spent lodes" (All About Jazz). - The compositions on Life Enigma transcend genres, creating an immersive sonic experience that has captivated audiences worldwide. "This was a very special project because of the work I did with sound colors and atmospheres in addition to the spontaneity of our improvised solos", says Ponty about the album. - Besides his amazing band he also plays a great number of instruments himself experimenting with a multi-layered electronic approach that includes synthesizers and an electronic MIDI violin.

Reissue. Life Enigma is a 2001 album by French jazz fusion artist Jean-Luc Ponty.

Double vinyl LP pressing. Monty Alexander has been one of the most popular pianists in jazz for over 50 years. Early on, his prodigious technique and wide-ranging style garnered comparisons with the great Oscar Peterson. But there has always been another side to Alexander's playing. Usually, jazz grabs the upper hand, but on occasion he digs deep into his Jamaican roots. The 1974 We've Only Just Begun recording signals the beginning of Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander's fruitful relationship with MPS, lasting over a decade and encompassing some dozen albums. On many he partners with no one else than fellow Jamaican and one of the fathers of ska, guitarist Ernest Ranglin. Among others, this Best Of includes tracks from Monty MPS classics like RASS!, Here Comes The Sun, Live At Montreux, We've Only just Begun, Monty Strikes Again, Cobilimbo, or the untitled Monty Alexander & Ernest Ranglin.

POWERFUL VULNERABILITY

TRISTEZA ON GUITAR

INTERCONTINENTAL

Limited Coke bottle green colored vinyl LP pressing.

Oscar Peterson - The Way I Really Play (Exclusively for My Friends, Vol. III) LP Vinyl LP pressing.