Since his stunning debut in 1974 with the now world-famous audiophile recordings for the Three Blind Mice label, Japanese pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto has built a career that now spans four decades. This live set by the Yamamato Trio, recorded at Jazz Is in Yokohama, features "Midnight Blues", "Polka Dots And Moonbeams", "The Look Of Love", "Mack The Knife", "Gentle Blues", "Caravan", "Misty", and more.

Harold Mabern is a hard bop, post-bop and soul jazz pianist and composer. He is described in The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings as "one of the great post-bop pianists." On this release, Mabern is joined by Nat Reeves on bass, and Joe Farnsworth on drums.

A die-hard bopper, alto saxophonist Phil Woods nonetheless manages to push the boundaries of straight-ahead hard bop on Souvenirs. As far as the '90s go, this is one of Woods' best. This version of Woods' quintet, most notably featuring trumpeter Brian Lynch, is a solid entity with much forward momentum. Lynch, a member of Art Blakey's last Jazz Messengers lineup, is easily one the best trumpeters around, displaying a knack for interesting note choices and lines that border on the progressive. Woods sounds thoroughly engaged throughout, attacking each tune with his characteristic fire.

On this tribute to Ray Brown, this stellar trio plays its way through 11 standards in nearly 66 minutes, and the result is as fresh and tasty as you could ever wish. The trio's instrumentation begs comparison with the great Oscar Peterson Trio, of whom Brown was such an important member, but this threesome plays with confidence and gusto, as if to scoff at the folly of such futile mind play. Joy and good fun exude from the disc as if from pores, writes reviewer J. Robert Bragonier.

Established in Miami, on life support in L.A., then finally burnished in New York City, the Konrad Paszkudzki Trio's aesthetic can be summed up in three words: mood, sizzle and swing. Their sound is classic yet timeless in its mode of expression, captivating ardent lovers of the jazz idiom and Tin Pan Alley tradition alike. "Konrad Paszkudzki has a pearly touch, a sense of history, a sense of drama, a love of the blues, and an elegance which is borne of high minded dedication" – Wynton Marsalis

Vocalist Laird Jackson is known for her personalized renditions of pop and jazz standards and also has a few originals to her credit. She is recorded and released Quiet Flame in 1994. It would be eight years until she she made another album.

Anna Kolchina's mellow seductive voice has been heard around the world. Born in Russia (Republic of Bashkortostan) and graduate of the St.Petersburg State University of Cultural Arts, Anna has since performed and recorded with world class musicians from Russia, Europe and USA. In 2016, Anna released her sophomore record with Venus Records, “Dark Eyes”. On this album, she choose to be more hands on and wrote the arrangements for 6 songs which was played by Massimo Farao’s trio featuring Claudio Chiara- alto sax and Fulvio Albano- bari sax. “Dark Eyes” was in high rotation for weeks Virginia Muse radio in Amsterdam.

Anna Kolchina's Wild is the Wind is a masterclass in ensemble performance. Backed by pianist John di Martino, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Willie Jones, Kolchina is more an equal quartet member than a singer backed by a trio. This is experienced immediately on the title piece, where Kolchina's delicately-played voice peeks out from behind Washington's gentle bass playing as it directs the remainder of the arrangement. It is a stunningly organic musical effect that increases the intimacy of the performance greatly.

This wonderful studio date by the talented Catalonian blind pianist Tete Montoliu was recorded in his native Barcelona in March of 1992, but until now it had been only available on a long out of print CD issued in Japan by the Alfa Jazz label shortly after being recorded. The renowned VENUS label presents it back again for everyone to enjoy. Tete is backed by New Orleans drummer Idris Muhammad, and Netherlands born bassist Hein Van de Geyn, and the program features a selection of Catalan traditional songs, plus two versions of songs by the remarkable Joan Manuel Serrat (“Words of Love”, which Tete recorded on several other occasions, and the more seldom heard “My Street”), and one Montoliu original, "I Don't Smoke Anymore".

A jazz pianist noted for his versatility and elegance, Derek Smith, from the '50s was a staple on the U.K. jazz scene, regularly performing with the giants like Kenny Graham, John Dankworth, and Kenny Baker. Smith remains relatively unknown in the U.S. but is strongly admired by fellow musicians and ardent fans. For his debut for Venus Records, Smith - who was 76 years old at the time of the recording - was paired with a very strong rhythm section: Peter Washington on bass and Joe Ascione on drums. In a program of well-known standards, Smith impresses the listener with his swinging, dynamic and even fiery pianism on fast tunes and beautiful touch and harmonic elegance on slow numbers.

A jazz pianist noted for his versatility and elegance, Derek Smith, originally from London, has been playing professionally in the US since 1957. He remains relatively unknown in the US but is strongly admired by fellow musicians and ardent fans. Following his successful debut Beautiful Love, a trio album, Smith went into the studio by himself this time to record a solo album at the suggestion of Venus producer Tetsuo Hara. A program of well-known touch and harmonic elegance, romantic and even dreamy interpretations and an undeniable sense of jazz and swing.

Known for their hard-bop style of jazz, the sextet One For All was formed in 1997 and features Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone), Jim Rotondi (trumpet), Steve Davis (trombone), David Hazeltine (piano), David Williams (bass) and Joe Farnsworth (drums). The group has been compared to 1960s-era Blue Note jazz and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, and borrowed the name One For All from the Jazz Messengers' last album. Jazz Times' critic David Adler has called One For All "New York's premier hard-bop supergroup".

Rock-solid work from One For All, easily one of the greatest straight jazz combos going, thanks to some tremendous tenor work from Eric Alexander, sweet piano work from David Hazeltine, and snapping rhythms from drummer Joe Farnsworth. The sextet also features Jim Rotondi on trumpet, Steve Davis on trombone, and John Webber on bass, all working here at the height of their powers, and also coming across with a bit more sharpness and soul than even other recent sessions on the Venus label. Arrangements are by all members of the group; the tunes are long and roll out beautifully with a solidly soulful feel — no surprise, given that most of them are covers of classic soul tunes from the '70s.

During his long career, Cedar Walton has been one of hard bop's most lyrical pianists. His funky touch and cogent melodic sense graced the recordings of many of jazz's greatest players. He was also one of the music's more underrated composers; although he was always a first-rate interpreter of standards, Walton wrote a number of excellent tunes ("Mosaic," "Ugetsu," and "Bolivia," to name a few) that found their way into Art Blakey's book during the pianist's early-'60s stint with the Jazz Messengers. On this album, Walton and his musician friends Buster Williams and Willie Jones II, have compiled an album of songs dedicated to the works of American composer Victor Young.

Eric Alexander has had many opportunities to record as a leader for several different labels, though producer Tetsuo Hara, owner of the Japanese label Venus, has become a huge fan, recording him almost any time he travels to New York City. This is another superb outing by Eric Alexander on a freewheeling trio to compile a nine-track full of jazz's favorite staples from John Coltrane, Cole Porter and many more! There's a new sort of edge in Eric's horn, sided with the sublime work of Dezron Douglas on bass and Neal Smith on drums, which he displays throughout the set with a new great sense of spirituality.