A great little set – warmly spiritual soul jazz, recorded as one of the few mid 70s releases to grace the Catalyst label. Pianist Mark Levine leads the set – and he's got a gentle west coast touch that fits perfectly with the album's horn work by Tom Harrell, Mike Morris, and Ray Pizzi. The set's got some nicely grooving numbers that spiral out with a bit of modal, a bit of Latin rhythms, and a free dancing soul that will keep you coming back to this one more than you'd expect! Titles include "Ixtlan", "Up Til Now", "Sweet Pea", and "Something Old, Something Blue".

Released in 1966 on Verve Records, Jimmy and Wes (The Dynamic Duo), captures the only full-length studio collaboration between organist Jimmy Smith and guitarist Wes Montgomery. Produced by Creed Taylor and arranged by Oliver Nelson, Jimmy and Wes brought together two of jazz’s most distinctive voices in an expansive big band setting. Recorded over three days in September 1966 at Rudy Van Gelder’s Englewood Cliffs studio, the sessions featured a brass and reed-heavy ensemble and a top-tier rhythm section with drummer Grady Tate and bassist Richard Davis. Montgomery’s melodic guitar lines and Smith’s fiery organ grooves find a vibrant setting in Nelson’s tight, punchy arrangements – rich in harmonic color and rhythmic drive. The result is a rare meeting of two jazz giants, captured during a period of broad popular success, with the added presence of one of the era’s most accomplished arrangers.

Voted New Star on Trumpet in Down Beat’s 1957 Critics Poll and Heard on no fewer than 36 recording sessions that same year, Donald Byrd was one of the fastest-rising talents of the hard-bop movement then reshaping the New York jazz scene. In July 1958, he assembled a quartet with a rhythm section featuring Walter Davis Jr., Doug Watkins, and Art Taylor for his first European tour, which took him to jazz festivals and concert appearances in Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden, and Norway. Tenor saxophonist Bobby Jaspar joined the group on several occasions during the tour and became a regular collaborator during Byrd’s subsequent stay in Paris.

Vibraphonist Milt Jackson and tenor saxophonist John Coltrane make for a surprisingly complementary team on this 1959 studio session, their only joint recording. AllMusic notes that with fine backup by pianist Hank Jones, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Connie Kay, Bags and Trane stretch out on two of Jackson's originals (including "The Late Late Blues") and three standards: a romping "Three Little Words," "The Night We Called It a Day," and the rapid "Be-Bop." The highlight of the set is the eponymous opening track, which just oozes late-night cool.

The first album to hit the shelves after Giant Steps, Coltrane Jazz was recorded in November and December 1959, although one of the eight tracks ("Villiage Blues") was recorded in late 1960. On everything save the aforementioned "Village Blues," Coltrane used the Miles Davis rhythm section of pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Jimmy Cobb.

Italian bassist Giovanni Tommaso has a knack for assembling talented groups. For this studio session, he brings together an all-star quintet of Italian hard bop musicians: a front line of trumpeter Paolo Fresu and alto saxophonist Massimo Urbani, and rhythm section cohorts Danilo Rea on piano, and Roberto Gatto on drums. The whole gels, as Urbani and Fresu produce the kind of lightening solos that have since brought them international critical acclaim.

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Atlantic Records! John Coltrane's seminal 1961 release featuring "Everytime We Say Goodbye". Hybrid Stereo SACD. Mastered directly to DSD from the original master tape by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound.

The legendary Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers, live at the 1963 Sanremo Festival in Italy and recorded for posterity by RAI on March 23, 1963.

All this material is tackled by Başar and his bandmates Michelangelo Scandroglio and Bernardo Guerra with a truly surprising flair: these are strongly purposeful performances that immediately impose their presence without getting lost in vain babble or idle turns waiting for serendipity. Here we get serious and straight to the point, little talk and lots of music. (Luca Conti, liner notes)

The album captures Davis and his quintet, which included Hank Mobley on tenor saxophone, Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums, during their performances at the Blackhawk. It is considered one of Davis' best live recordings and is highly regarded by jazz enthusiasts.

In the 1950s, the Big Four, led by George Kawaguchi, was a pioneering force in Japan's modern jazz scene, gaining immense popularity. Despite changes in its lineup, the group continued to make a significant impact on Japanese jazz. The album 'George & Sleepy' was originally released in 1969 as part of Victor's Japanese Jazz series. While the original liner notes described it as an attempt to recreate the nostalgia of the George Kawaguchi Big Four, this album is far from just a retrospective.

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Blending a socially conscious spirit with hard bop, jazz-funk, and electronic elements, Power to the People finds Joe Henderson saxophonist entering a new creative dimension, as he performs such originals as “Isotope,” “Afro-Centric” and the first recording of his classic “Black Narcissus,” alongside such legends as Herbie Hancock (piano, Fender Rhodes), Ron Carter (electric and acoustic bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums), and Mike Lawrence (trumpet). Available on 192/24 hi res digital.

At the Jazz Showcase is the first ever release of piano legend Ahmad Jamal's trio featuring bassist John Heard and longtime drummer Frank Gant captured live at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase in Chicago, IL on March 20-21, 1976.

Jultrane's (Babacar Sy Ndiaye) upcoming third album, Miles & John: The Century Birthday, is a 2026 tribute album celebrating the 100th anniversary of jazz legends Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Scheduled for release on Friday, April 24, 2026, the album will be featured at a live concert at New Morning in Paris on Thursday, May 28, 2026.