An excellent little album that Sergio recorded in the US -- with a sweet funky electric sound that's very different than his other work! At some level, the album has a feel that's almost like a hip 70s soundtrack -- sporting these great arrangements by Dave Grusin that bring in a lot more funk ... (Brazil)

Tripped-out jazzy funk from Kafka -- a hip Aussie combo with a really unique groove -- one that draws from Afro Funk, 70s fusion, and 90s hip hop -- the rolls the whole thing into a mad little blend that's all its own! Most of the instrumentation is live, but the production is really what makes ... (New Grooves)

The amazing debut of Ronnie McNeir -- a 70s soul maestro we'd rank right up there with Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson, or Leon Ware -- but one who's possibly even more impressive, given that he cut this record when he was only 22 years old! The album's quite heavy on keyboards -- played by Ronnie ... (Soul)

One of the coolest MPS albums of the 60s -- a world-meets-jazz set that has trumpeter Benny Bailey blowing soulfully over a set of Balkan-styled tunes! The mix of modes is incredible -- as Benny's warm trumpet completely transforms the material -- digging into Balkan feelings with American soul, ... (Jazz)

Amazing stuff! Jorge Ben never made a bad record in the 60s -- and this is one of his best! The album's filled with tight jaunty numbers that mix big band samba arrangements with quickly strummed guitar, and Jorge's wonderfully raw vocals -- all classic stuff for Jorge, but a style that we never ... (Brazil)

A rare European date from reedman Buddy Collette -- and arguably one of his hippest albums ever! The set was recorded in Milan in 1961, and features a great lineup not only of Italian players, but which also includes the legendary Dusko Goykovich on trumpet -- bringing in a nicely harder sound ... (Jazz)

We've been waiting years for this one -- and our patience has been duly rewarded! Stephanie McKay teased us a few years back with a self-titled EP, issued after her UK debut (as McKay) -- but with this finally-released full album, she really blows our mind -- emerging as one of the strongest soul ... (Neo Soul)

A rare meeting between percussionist Sabu Martinez and reedman Sahib Shihab -- both American players, but working here in a really unique European setting! The tracks are filled with great percussion from Sabu -- that legendary groove he first laid down on Blue Note and Alegre albums years back -- ... (Latin)

A killer full-length set from Fabio Nobile -- an artist who's been making hip singles for a number of years, but who really sparkles in the space of an extended album! Fabio's groove is always warm and jazzy -- a bit like some of the best moments from Italian contemporaries on Schema Records, but ... (New Grooves)

Damn, these guys are great -- and they've really grown tremendously since their last album -- moving into the cosmic soul stratosphere with a totally together approach to their music! There's a brilliance here that's undeniable -- a mix of spiritual jazz, spacey soul, and a few contemporary ... (New Grooves)

Funky soul from the great Alice Russell -- the first effort on her own label, and a killer set that's right up there with the greatness of previous albums! TM Juke produced, but the record has an even more stripped-down and soulful feel than before -- a blend of funk and soul backings that allow a ... (Neo Soul)

A fresh couple sides of mad funky beatcraft from Madlib, the one and only Beat Konducta -- with a little help from J Rocc, and spiritual guidance from Dilla! 'Lib is the longstanding champion of hazy, smoked out hip hop funk instrumentals -- and the Dil Withers set is another blunted gem -- with ... (Hip Hop)

Warm mellow magic from Sergio Mendes in the 70s -- a great little album that's got a sweet electric feel! The set was recorded with help from Tom Scott and Bob Alcivar on arrangements, and has a sunny southern California feel that's a nice extension of Sergio's 60s work -- yet which also takes his ... (Brazil)

Magnificent images from photographer Pete Turner -- best known for his work with record producer Creed Taylor, his collaborator on a host of classic album covers of the 60s and 70s! The book is really beautifully done -- as it features the original photographs by Turner, alongside albums on which ... (Books & Magazines)

One of the most incredible African collections we've ever heard -- almost more amazing than the African Scream Contest set from the same label! The package focuses on work by Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo De Cotonou -- a group who really live up to their name, by bringing in a host of complicated rhythms ... (Global Grooves)

A rare Decca album lead by the smoky vocals of Beverly Kenney -- a really unique late 50s/early 60s jazz girl who once worked for the Dorsey brothers, the Count Basie Orchestra and others, and only ever cut a handful of albums under her own name! Sings for Playboys is an intimate, sultry batch of ... (Vocalists)

A trio of cool cop soundtracks from Stelvio Cipriani -- all brought together in a beautiful package with a really unified feel! Cipriani's easily one of our favorite Italian composers for the cop/crime genre -- as he's got a way of bringing sensitive sounds into play with driving action -- in ways ... (Soundtracks)

One of the best-remembered Sun Ra albums from the 70s -- a really cool little session that features Ra playing the unusual "rocksichord" all the way through! The instrument's a very weird one -- kind of like a messed-up electric piano, with lots of cool broken notes and a weird fuzzed-out ... (Jazz)

Very righteous work from Esther Marrow -- a soul sister who sings with a hell of a lot of power! The set's an overlooked gem in the Fantasy catalog of the 70s, and it's one of only two secular soul albums cut by Marrow -- and quite possibly the best of the bunch, too! Esther's got some great help ... (Soul)

Another fab issue of Soul Up North -- an excellent publication for anyone interested in classic soul! This time around, features include a look at Stevie Wonder by Howard Priestley, a rundown of 15 top tunes by Dee Irwin, a look at the Marvells and Fabulettes, and a huge amount of reviews of rare ... (Books & Magazines)

An obscure little album of jazz vocals -- but a great one! Janet Brace has a style that's similar to Jackie Cain or Chris Connor during the same time -- kind of light and floating, but with a deeper sadness that makes the tracks stand out from the usual vocal fluff -- a rich sort of feeling, but ... (Vocalists)

An incredible album from the man that changed the way the world hears the Hammond! This album was Larry Young's first for Blue Note -- and it's a mindblowing batch of tunes that push the organ into realms that had never been heard of in jazz. Young's got a real penchant for a modal groove -- no ... (Jazz)

Mad mischief from Madlib -- crafting a killer mix of his trademark blunt funk beatcraft mixed with crates of obscure Brazilian music --- a hot mix for Mochilla! Ever the adventurer, Madlib's mix has a deep, deep eclecticism -- with sweet samba, folkloric stuff, jazzier soundscapes hallucinatory ... (Funky Compilations)

A relaxed small group session from saxophonist Oliver Nelson -- a record that's quite different than some of his more tightly arranged dates, and a good reminder of this side of his talents! Oliver plays both alto and tenor sax on the album, and he's joined by a perfect group for the easy rolling ... (Jazz)

One of Sun Ra's best non-Saturn live sets of the 70s -- a nice little record that shows the group mixing it up with equal parts avant garde and straight ahead jazz, all handled in that ever-growing large group style that made them a real force to be reckoned with in a concert setting! The album ... (Jazz)

A cool Italian trio with a really great vocalist -- a contemporary combo, but one with a swinging sort of 60s feel! There's plenty of modal elements in the music here -- a magnificent dance between acoustic piano, bass, and drums -- sometimes joined by vocalist Alan Farrington, a raspy-voiced ... (Jazz)

Amazing work from The Voices Of East Harlem -- a group with roots in gospel, but working here in a wonderfully soaring secular soul style -- complete with arrangements and production from the legendary Leroy Hutson! The style here is similar to some of Leroy's best work, and that of his ... (Soul)

A tremendous combination of Latin roots and contemporary grooves -- the mixing of the Puerto Rican scene with a definite influence from West London -- resulting here in a really righteous batch of tracks! The set's the brainchild of Afronaut, and features a bit of his own work, plus contributions ... (New Grooves)

Pat Kirby's looking a little bit like a school teacher on the cover of this one -- but the music inside is lush, mature, and all-adult -- hardly the stuff of schoolboy fantasies! Kirby's a lesser-known singer from the 50s, but she's a great one too -- a vocalist who never goes too far, but who ... (Vocalists)

A brilliant album from Kaidi Tatham -- deeper by far than anything we've ever heard from him, and way more than you might expect if you only know his singles from the London scene! This set's got a very strong jazz component -- monstrous keyboard work from Kaidi that stretches and soars with the ... (New Grooves)

Hard driving funky holiday cheer from the Breakestra -- a stormer of a Christmas single from one of the flagship combos in the deep funk underground! "Let The Bells Ring" starts out literally with some jingle bells that clear the way for walloping funky drums that pull you deep down into ... (Funky 45's)

Vintage piano solos from Alexander Von Schlippenbach -- one of our favorite artists on the FMP label, heard here in a late 70s session that's filled with unbridled creativity! Schlippenbach's solo work always has a great sense of drama and timing -- a style that's free, but never totally abstract - ... (Jazz)

Another astounding set of heavy vibrations from Soul Jazz in there ongoing series of collections focusing on great Jamaican music! This bouncing set takes a long, deep look at Dancehall culture, and accompanies a great book by Beth Lesser! While dance halls have existed in Jamaican music for ... (Reggae)

The only album from The Innocence -- a cool little group with a really playful pop feel -- one that's definitely cut from the same cloth as other Kama Sutra groups from the Lovin Spoonful generation! The core sounds here are from the duo of Pete Anders and Vinnie Poncia -- who often use relatively ... (Rock)

A darkness tinged departure for Kanye West -- his electro hip hop soul tome 808s & Heartbreak! Kanye's albums are always newsworthy, but this one divides opinions as sharply as any major release of 2008. That said, we'll go on the record with some real love for this sometimes confounding, ... (Hip Hop)

Common's easygoing Universal Mind Control -- a record that by design doesn't cut as deep soulfully and emotionally as the previous couple of LPs -- this one's spun for a slick synth heavy party rocking vibe by the Neptunes! The record was originally titled Invincible Summer and was set to drop for ... (Hip Hop)

Big features this time around on Sly Stone and Jimmy Cliff -- plus shorter bits on Egyptian Lover, Ahmad Jamal, and South Korean B-Boys! As usual, the Wax Poetics crew have also stuffed plenty of other great bits inside the full-color, beautifully printed journal -- articles on Randy's Records, ... (Books & Magazines)

More greatness from Shook -- a magazine that's fast becoming one of our favorite reads for all things funky! Shook has grown strongly with each new issue -- finding a unique space for itself away from Wax Poetics, or earlier mags like Big Daddy or Straight No Chaser -- and this time around, they're ... (Books & Magazines)

Wonderful work from Wayna -- an artist we've waited a few years to hear again after her great debut -- and one who re-emerges here with a fresh, mature sound! Wayna's still got that personal quality to her lyrics -- one that almost makes you feel like she's speaking to you personally -- but she's ... (Neo Soul)

A massive tribute to The Meters -- one that features rare versions of some of their best funky classics! If you dig The Meters, you'll no doubt recognize most of the tunes -- but you've probably never heard them in these versions before -- as most of them are pulled from the farthest reaches of ... (Funky Compilations)

A killer bumping little instrumental -- one that's got the bassline dancing nicely underneath sweet clavinet licks on the top -- while the whole thing jostles around with an upbeat energy that's really great! The tune's more funk than club, but would work well in either setting -- and there's also ... (Funky 45's)

Let's forget for a second that Jimmy Radway's Dub I is just about one of the hardest to get pieces of Jamaican wax, so we can talk about what a fierce batch of rhythms we've got here! Add ET's deft hand at the console and you've got one mighty, mighty batch of drum and bass, with some nice licks ... (Reggae)

An overstuffed package that feature 2 albums from Italian guitarist Franco Cerri! First up is Metti Una Sera Cerri, from 1973 -- an unusual album that has Cerri working with larger backings, in a style that's almost a bit like soundtrack work of the time! Franco's guitar lines are clean and clear ... (Jazz)

A bit of a shift for La Dusseldorf, but a good one too -- and a record that has the group reaching even more towards some of the punkish directions initially inspired by their music! The sound's less stretched-out than before -- shorter tunes, often with a bit more force, especially on the vocals - ... (Rock)

A bold shift for N'Dambi -- and a record that's far different than the jazzy introspection of her Tunin Up & Cosignin album! The sound here is much tighter and more focused -- witth N'Dambi hitting a funkier groove overall -- a style that hearkens back to her initial debut, but which also ... (Neo Soul)

The Southern Style here is a great one -- a small jazz combo approach to backings, with Jeri on piano, supported by just a bit of bass and drums! This sort of mellow, intimate album was rare for a singer of Southern's stature at the time -- and Jeri takes keen advantage of it in her presentation ... (Vocalists)

A funky monster -- filled with pounding rhythms and a really offbeat approach to a groove -- one that's almost equal parts funky jazz and deep funk, especially given the great sax and organ work on the track! The tune spins out with plenty of room to roam around -- really taking advantage of the ... (Funky 45's)

A beautiful example of the maturation of American avant jazz in the 70s -- a set that has the Revolutionary Ensemble really drawing their sound into focus, drawing on older experimental modes and forging them into a rich new vision -- one that would certainly live up to the AACM's promise of "G ... (Jazz)

A wonderful bit of spiritual jazz from this richly collective ensemble! The album's got a groove that's as promising as its title -- and features a large assemblage of percussionists, singers, and instrumentalists -- all coming together in longer tracks penned by Wainwright, with a feel that's ... (Jazz)

One of the hippest 60s sets from saxophonist Sahib Shihab -- a large group album recorded with the Danish Radio Group -- a great batch of modernists from the Scandinavian scene of the time! The album's still got the modal rhythms and long-flowing solos we love in Sahib's best 60s work -- but the ... (Jazz)

Dramatic themes from the martial arts underground -- a set of DeWolfe Sound Library tracks, all of which were used in Kung Fu films by the legendary Shaw Brothers! The work here is different than some other martial arts music you might know from the 70s -- not originally penned and recorded for ... (Funky Compilations)

Steve Marshall towers above the 70s San Francisco skyline on the cover of this record -- and the set features some equally towering grooves to match! The style here is a bit unusual -- kind of a west coast take on the underground modes of the P&P empire out east, mixed with a bit of soul jazz - ... (Soul)

Majestic music from the mighty Popcorn Wylie -- the Detroit soul legend best known for his work in the 60s, but an artist who really shines on this rare 70s set for ABC! The album was done during the same stretch as Lamont Dozier's ABC work -- and like those records, this set features killer ... (Soul)

The cover's a bit cheesy, but the collection's a great one -- filled with killer female soul cuts from the global underground! The track list is great -- and although we know some of these artists, there's a number of other singers here we've never heard before -- making the package a great ... (Neo Soul)

Some of the most stripped-down and personal work we've ever heard from British reedman Bob Downes -- quite different than the jazz rock vibe of some of his Open Music albums of the early 70s, but equally great music overall! There's almost an Ogun Records feel to the set -- as Bob is in a relaxed, ... (Jazz)

One of the most personal albums we've ever heard so far on the Do Right label -- the second effort from singer/songwriter Valery Gore, a really compelling artist with a heck of a lot to offer! At some level, the record's in the territory of the Elizabeth Shepherd work on the label -- especially ... (New Grooves)

An insanely wonderful album of Latin percussion -- the only album we've ever seen from Cuban percussionist Lazaro Pla, aka Manteca -- a date recorded in Miami in the 70s, and filled with lots of raw percussion jams! There's a massive amount of bongo work here, mostly in a very spare setting -- but ... (Latin)

One of the best London sets we've heard in awhile -- the kind of collection that shows that cosmic beats are alive, well into the 21st Century -- especially when handled by key British talents like these! The package has a simple, straightforward vibe that takes us back to the time when London ... (New Grooves)

Francesco De Masi soundtracks for two films also known as The Murder Clinic and The Ghost -- both sounding as spooky as their titles! The bulk of the CD features De Masi's 1966 score for La Lama Nel Corpo -- mostly tense, short tunes that feature offbeat, atonal string passages -- drawn out with a ... (Soundtracks)

A sublime album through and through -- and another essential slice of work from the legendary Nicola Conte! Conte's only given us a few full length sets under his own name, but they've all been amazing, and this album's no exception -- a record that mostly features live jazz instrumentation, ... (New Grooves)

A stellar single from the Chi underground -- featuring rhymes and hypnotic, murky funk boom bap beats by Gilead7 -- and guests include the always fresh Thaione Davis, Nizm, and GQ The Teacha. "Moverz & Shakas" is totally killer -- with funky production that's both raw and ambient, ... (Hip Hop)

A brilliant encapsulation of the modern psyche, freak folk, tripped out indie pop, and all around uncategorizable grooves of the Twisted Nerve label -- a 10th anniversary celebration -- doubling as both a label retrospective and a fantastic, riveting mix set by DJ Andy Votel! This approach works ... (Funky Compilations)

Brilliant British soul from Romina Johnson -- a record that should be huge, if the world has its ears screwed on right! Romina's got a perfect way of balancing between underground soul and crossover appeal -- using compelling rhythms and unusual instrumentation to inflect hook-heavy tunes that ... (Neo Soul)

German funk galore -- a huge batch of 70s gems we'd never find in years of digging on this side of the Atlantic! The grooves here are all pretty darn great -- kind of a harder and heavier take on the In Kraut vibe -- with vocals on some tracks, but a decided emphasis on kickass drums, rumbling ... (Funky Compilations)

First time on CD for this rare peplum soundtrack -- penned for a film that starred Victor Mature in the role of Hannibal -- making an Italian screen appearance that was a bit less epic than some of his American work! Carlo Rustichelli's score is a bit more traditional than some of his 60s work -- ... (Soundtracks)

A heck of a great little boogaloo album -- and one of the few 60s sides by the legendary Johnny Zamot! Although cut for Decca, the album's every bit as tight and soulful as contemporaneous work for Tico, Fania, or Cotique -- and the set features a similar blend of English lyrics, Latin rhythms, ... (Latin)

A season-themed album from Eydie Gorme -- a great date from the early years, and one that has her working with jazzy backings from the great Don Costa! Don's got a great ear for both sides of Eydie's talents -- the upbeat, swinging style that always sounds cheery -- and the straighter, more ... (Vocalists)

Wonderful work from Ingram -- an incredibly talented soul family who'd spent more than enough time woodshedding in earlier years, and emerged to become one of the strongest mainstream acts of the 80s scene! There's a solid feel here that goes way beyond commercial soul -- a great way with some of ... (Soul)

Wonderful 60s work from pianist Michel Sardaby -- a smoking little quintet session, and one of his few non-trio dates from the time! The groove here is totally wonderful -- almost in the space of a Blue Note or Prestige album of the 60s, but served up with a bit more sensitivity overall -- as you ... (Jazz)

There's plenty of Afro Funk combos working today, but these guys are one of the greatest -- a totally hip French ensemble with a really amazing sound! Fanga has a groove that's really a cut above -- a way of pulling together all the best elements of the 70s generation of Afro Funk, and sifting ... (Global Grooves)