The Mary Wells volume of MCA's 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection may not be definitive, but the 11-track compilation contains all of her biggest hits – "Bye Bye Baby," "I Don't Want to Take a Chance," "The One Who Really Loves You," "You Beat Me to the Punch," "Two Lovers," "Laughing Boy," "You Lost the Sweetest Boy," and, of course, "My Guy" – which makes it the ideal choice for budget-minded fans.

Many artists in the mid-priced 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection series had already been the subjects of more extensive greatest-hits compilations, but when Ce Ce Peniston's volume was released, it was the only collection of her singles on the market. And, at 12 tracks, it's not a bad overview of the dance club diva's career, either. All of Peniston's major club and urban radio hits are present, including two mixes of her breakthrough smash "Finally," and have been digitally remastered. For those who don't want to purchase Peniston's three albums (to date), this makes a perfect introduction.

A gifted mimic and peerless physical comedian, Danny Kaye ranked among America's most popular entertainers in the years during and following World War II. Rubber-faced and manic, he rose to stardom in film and in television, on record and on Broadway, easily adapting from outrageous novelty songs to tender ballads; for all of his success as a performer, however, his greatest legacy remains his tireless humanitarian work – so close were his ties to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) that when the organization received the Nobel Peace Prize, Kaye was tapped to accept it.

Talented jazz pianist, but best known for her wizardry as a composer/arranger of big band music since the 1950s.
Having mastered the art of blistering speed and dynamic and then the opposing art of tonal sophistication and phrasing, by 1957 Toshiko set out to combine the approaches, making the album title more than just a random marketing move. The Many Sides of Toshiko, indeed. It might even make the best all-around introduction to her work provided you can find a copy.
The Gershwin classic ‘The Man I Love’ starts the album with a return to the swoonworthy romantic piano of ‘Laura’ off the first album - a captivating choice for the leadoff track and bookended by the choice of ‘Imagination’ for the final number…

Art Pepper & Marty Paich Quartet + Art Pepper & Shelly Manne (2012) {Charlie Parker Records, The Complete Collection Vol 4 rec 1955-1956}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 198 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 145 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 60 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1955-56, 2012 Charlie Parker Records / Membran Media / Documents | 233193 / 4
Jazz / Cool / Bop / West Coast Jazz

Exhaustive 30 CD collection from the Jazz legend's short-lived label. Contains 44 original albums (421 tracks) plus booklet. Every record-collector has run across an album with the little sax-playing bird in it's label-logo, right next to the brand name Charlie Parker Records or CP Parker Records. Turning the sleeve over, especially if it was one of the non-Parker releases, and seeing a '60s release date under the header Stereo-pact! Was as exciting an experience as it was confusing. Was the claim Bird Lives meant more literally than previously thought?

Charles Mingus & Eric Dolphy - Jazz Festival, Antibes, July 13, 1960 (1996) {Giants Of Jazz CD 53013}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 428 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 171 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 7 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960, 1996 Giants Of Jazz / Promo Sound AG | CD 53013 | Immortal Concerts Series
Jazz / Post Bop / Bass / Saxophone / Clarinet

This show, recorded in Paris in the '60s, features the Charles Mingus group with drummer Dannie Richmond, saxophonist Booker Ervin, and trumpeter Ted Curson. Mingus plays the piano solo on "Better Git It in Your Soul," and there is a guest appearance on "I'll Remember April" by Parisian resident and bop progenitor, Bud Powell. The sound is as recorded, not as broadcast on the radio, and coming from the beautiful Antibes Festival stage, it is remarkable. None of the strange reprocessing that was done in the States on the Mingus at Antibes set is happening here, giving this budget issue a much greater sonic presence. For the price you can't beat it.

A heavyweight astral shower of rhythm and vibes, Ash Walker’s third album ‘Aquamarine’ is set for release on 19th July via Night Time Stories. An avid collector of jazz, blues, soul, funk, reggae, and all things in-between; Ash has DJed far and wide… from the infamous Royal Mail squat party to the canals of Venice, spinning vinyl in Brixton with The Specials to scattering dub across San Francisco and LA.

Montreal, Quebec-based musician Ada Lea is also a painter and visual artist, and traces of her many creative abilities run throughout her debut album what we say in private, a beautifully colorful collection of profound pop songs to be released later this summer via Saddle Creek.

Brand new studio album featuring ELEW, Eric Harland, Kassa Overall and Jamaican singer Chronixx. Trumpeter, producer, arranger, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Theo Croker's Star People Nation finds him at the helm of production, songwriting, and performance, resulting in an intimate exploration of“the everyday rituals of blackness. A translation of Theo Croker's personal, spiritual and creative experience, Star People Nation is a self-reflective collection of provocative, powerfully passionate and boundary-busting compositions that speak to our greater, shared human existence. In the end, he creates a haven for creativity, spirituality, seduction and enlightenment throughout the album. “This is really supposed to inspire others to embrace themselves, their experiences and their community,” says Croker. “As world citizens, we can all be a part of Star People Nation.”