The first of two x 2LP sets that examine the influence and expression of the underground jazz that evolved in California and surrounding states during the latter part of the 20th century.

John Coltrane recorded Sun Ship in 1965, among the last sessions by the classic John Coltrane Quartet (pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones), marking the end of a year in which Coltrane arguably reached his creative peak. Sun Ship was not released until 1971, one of several Coltrane albums that came out after his death. When the original three-track masters were discovered, including previously unavailable alternate takes, the complete session was reissued for the first time with great sonic results, a major improvement on the existing LP mix.

Following on from his recent string of exceptional all-solo albums, Mysticism of Sound, Ancient Africa and Afro Trane, Nat Birchall releases his first new studio recording, Spiritual Progressions, with his current working group, Unity Ensemble. This group consists of long time musical partner Adam Fairhall on piano, plus the bassist in Nat’s group for several years and albums, Michael Bardon, and a welcome return on drums by Paul Hession who recorded on the legendary Live In Larissa double album. Rounding out the five-piece ensemble is percussionist Lascelle Gordon, a mainstay of the London music scene for many years.

In 1964, John Coltrane spent the least amount of time of his entire solo career in the recording studio. It wasn't until April 27 that Trane, along with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones, went into the familiar surroundings of Rudy Van Gelder's Englewood Cliffs studio to begin work on the album, which was named "Crescent".

Smile With Your Heart: The Best of Bill Evans on Resonance brings together standout tracks from the company’s four sets of hitherto unheard material by the lyrical keyboard master: Live at Art D’Lugoff’s Top of the Gate (2012); Some Other Time: The Lost Session from the Black Forest (2016); Another Time: The Hilversum Concert (2017); and Evans in England (2019). Evans in England was issued for the first time as limited edition two-LP set on Record Store Day 2019, and 3 tracks from the album appear on Smile With Your Heart.

Morning Glory: The 1973 Concert at the Teatro Gran Rex, Buenos Aires is the first official release of pianist Bill Evans with Eddie Gomez and Marty Morell captured live at the Teatro Gran Rex in Buenos Aires, Argentina on June 24, 1973.

A seamless blend of the avant jazz of David Murray (sax) and Steve McCall (drums) with the powerful prose and cadence of Amiri Baraka! This first ever reissue of poet and social/political activist Amiri Baraka’s electric live 1982 beat poetry reading is newly remastered and includes a zine-style poetry insert and liner notes by David Murray!

A Spiritual Jazz Landmark. A Cry from The Motherland. Recorded in Paris shortly after the historic Pan-African Festival of Algiers in 1969, Hommage To Africa stands as one of the most transcendent statements of the avant-garde jazz movement.

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".

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.

Spellbinder, originally released in 1966 on Impulse! Records, introduced Hungarian guitarist Gábor Szabó to a wider American audience with a set that blends modal jazz, Eastern European folk influences, and 1960s pop textures. The album is set to be reissued on all-analog 180-gram vinyl on March 13, 2026, as part of the Verve Vault Series.

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.

969 was the year of release of this one and only album by Japanese jazz pianist Hideo Ichikawa, vibraphonist Hiroshi Matsumoto, bassist Kunimitsu Inaba and drummer Motohiko Hino, all in collaboration. A one-off coming-together, it centred on the valerian vibes of Matsumoto, whose star instrument, the vibraphone, was bound to take centre stage for its comparative novelty, not to mention the fact that Matsumoto himself had been practicing before the others. An honorary work, this urbane masterpiece hears tasteful vibraphonic panning in full stereo, as blue passing notes collide with expert steel brushings and untied chord playing, resulting in a unique but salubrious listen.

A really far-reaching and dynamic little set from Japanese drummer Akira Ishikawa and his Count Buffalos group – one that definitely lives up to the promise of its Electrum title! As you might guess from a word like that, the sound here is relatively electric – served up with electric piano, clavinet, guitar, and electric bass – all in a style that's a lot more relaxed and open than some of the group's other work, almost in the best mode of spacier electric jazz from the US at the same time. Tracks are all quite long, and spun out in really evocative ways – dipping, turning, and cascading with a lot of soulfully searching energy. Titles include "The Eyebrow", "Electrum", "Revulsion", and "Speak Under My Breath".

BBE Music’s celebrated J Jazz compilation series reaches its fifth and final volume in early 2026, culminating in a track list that maintains the exceptionally high standard first set with volume one back in 2018.