McCoy Tyner Plays Ellington is a spectacularly expressive, historically monumental, and masterfully synchronized post-bop and modal jazz studio masterpiece led by the legendary American acoustic grand piano vanguard monarch McCoy Tyner, digitally preserved and reissued on compact disc in 1997 under the prestigious Impulse! Records banner. Spanning nearly 48 minutes of breathtakingly intense, conceptually deep harmonic interactions across 10 definitive selections, this high-fidelity document serves as an absolute peak monument in mid-1960s acoustic jazz archaeology. Originally recorded on December 2, 7, and 8, 1964, at Rudy Van Gelder's legendary Englewood Cliffs studio, this historic project executes a fierce, forward-thinking sonic blueprint that daringly reinterprets the timeless swing architectures of Duke Ellington through the roaring, block-chord modal structures and volcanic rhythm dynamics that defined the golden era of post-bop.

Originally recorded in 1969 and reissued by Original Jazz Classics in 2000, Feeling Free captures the legendary jazz guitarist Barney Kessel stepping outside of his traditional comfort zone into highly adventurous territory. For this exceptional session, Kessel surrounds himself with a powerhouse lineup featuring vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, bassist Chuck Domanico, and the polyrhythmic master drummer Elvin Jones. The presence of Hutcherson and Jones injects a vibrant, post-bop modernism into the music, pushing Kessel to deliver some of the most exploratory and fluid playing of his career. The concise six-track program is exceptionally balanced, featuring driving originals like Moving Up and Blues up, Down and All Around, alongside deeply imaginative, contemporary interpretations of popular hits like Burt Bacharach's This Guy's in Love With You and Paul Simon's The Sound of Silence. The interplay between Kessel's crisp guitar articulation and Hutcherson's shimmering vibes creates a marvelous harmonic palette, grounded perfectly by the flexible, muscular rhythm section to deliver an essential, overlooked classic in modern bop guitar literature.

Blues in Orbit is a spectacularly colorful, historically monumental, and masterfully synchronized large-ensemble studio masterpiece directed by the legendary Canadian-American jazz pianist, composer, and ultimate orchestrator icon Gil Evans, released in 2009 by the premier German archival jazz imprint Enja Records. Spanning over 36 minutes across 8 visionary tracks, this high-fidelity document serves as an absolute peak monument in late-1960s and early-1970s progressive jazz orchestration archaeology. Gathering rare, fiercely experimental New York studio sessions tracked between 1969 and 1971, Evans completely bypasses conventional big-band arrangements, choosing instead to execute a bold, psychedelic sonic blueprint that masterfully bridges his signature cool-jazz textures with electric guitars, deep modal grooves, and raw avant-garde horn textures.

Marking 100 years since Coltrane’s birth, Charly Records presents France 1965: The Complete Concerts — a landmark 4LP deluxe set housed in a gatefold package with photographs, a concert poster, and new liner notes. This historic collection brings together, for the first time ever, the complete series of performances by the revered John Coltrane Quartet in France in July 1965, capturing the original “classic quartet” lineup — John Coltrane (tenor saxophone), McCoy Tyner (piano), Jimmy Garrison (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums) — during their final European tour together. On July 26, the quartet performed the only complete live version of A Love Supreme ever known to have been played by the original lineup. Previously believed lost to time, the Charly Records archivists have painstakingly recovered and restored the full performance, long thought to survive only in a brief French TV excerpt. Recorded just seven months after Coltrane entered Rudy Van Gelder’s studio to record A Love Supreme (December 9, 1964), these performances offer a transcendent continuation of that spiritual masterpiece.

Presented here are two classic John Coltrane live recordings made at the Birdland jazz club in the early 1960s. While the first three tracks feature the leader with his immortal quartet (featuring McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums), on the last three the great Eric Dolphy is added to that group.

"Time Capsule" is a remarkable album by legendary drummer Elvin Jones, released in 1977 on Vanguard Records. The record captures the essence of post-bop jazz with a masterful blend of rhythmic sophistication, melodic exploration, and harmonic depth. Each track highlights Jones's signature drumming style, driving complex time signatures while maintaining fluid interplay with the ensemble. From the energetic opener "Frost Bite" to the meditative "Moon Dance" and the expansive title track "Time Capsule," the album demonstrates a compelling balance of improvisation and composition. Featuring an extraordinary lineup of musicians, the record is a showcase of technical skill, creative expression, and collaborative artistry, making "Time Capsule" a timeless work in modern jazz history.

Blue Note Records has announced an April 26 release of Sonny Rollins A Night at the Village Vanguard: The Complete Masters, a special Tone Poet Vinyl Edition of the legendary saxophonist’s tour-de-force live trio album. The expanded 3-LP set, which can be ordered now on the Blue Note Store, marks the first time Rollins’ complete recorded performances at the Village Vanguard on November 3, 1957 will be made available in a single vinyl package. The collection is also available as a 2-CD set and on all digital formats.

Drummer Elvin Jones' first full-length album as a leader is different than one would expect when it is taken into consideration that he was a member of the fiery John Coltrane Quartet at the time. This sextet session, which also includes his brothers Thad and Hank on cornet and piano in addition to flutist Frank Wess, Frank Foster on tenor, and bassist Art Davis, is straight-ahead with a strong Count Basie feel. Jones is still recognizable on the fairly obscure material (only "You Are Too Beautiful" qualifies as a standard) and shows that he can cook in the fairly conventional setting. All of the musicians are in fine form, and two selections feature the rhythm section as a trio.

What can you expect but good things from a date featuring three players of such high pedigree. With Dave Holland and Elvin Jones representing the steadfast rhythm sections of old, and with Frisell's post-modern tones being among the finest voices moving jazz forward, a date like this should easily yield some classic moments. But Frisell comes up with only partial melodies and bare bones sketches for the band to play. Jones sounds at times utterly bored with his rhythm duties, desperate for a chance to stretch out. Frisell himself is often hesitant. Henry Mancini's "Moon River" and Stephen Foster's century-and-a-half old "Hard Times" together offer brief glimpses of levity, but cannot save the set entirely.

Elvin Jones may have established himself as one of the greatest drummers of all time, but equally important to him was his nurturing of young musicians. His Jazz Machine opened the door to several upcoming musicians, including Delfeayo Marsalis, Antoine Roney and Ravi Coltrane. He characteristically took delight in their playing, thus forging an emphatic bond. His attitude also served to enrich the music of the band.

Revival: Live at Pookie's Pub is a thrilling previously unissued live recording of Elvin Jones’ quartet that captures the legendary drummer’s emergence as a bandleader at a little-known club in New York City where he had a weekly residency after leaving John Coltrane's band in the late 1960s. Featuring Joe Farrell on tenor saxophone, Billy Greene on piano, and Wilbur Little on bass, Revival was recorded between July 28-30, 1967, just two weeks after Coltrane died on July 17.

This Impulse! session co-led by drummer Elvin Jones and bassist Richard Davis finds the pair joined by tenor saxophonist Frank Foster and pianist Billy Green. The quartet performs an erratic but generally interesting set of music including "Shiny Stockings," Foster's funky "Raunchy Rita," and "Elvin's Guitar Blues"; the latter briefly features Jones making his first and only appearance on guitar.

Limited pressing edition. Reissue album from ELVIN JONES. Releasing in SHM-CD. Originally released by Atlantic in 1965. Recorded on Feb. 16(Tr. 1, 4, 6) & Mar. 18(Tr. 2, 3, 5, 7), 1965 in New York. J.J. Johnson(tb), Frank Wess(ts, fl), Charles Davis(bar), Don Friedman, Hank Jones(p), Art Davis, Paul Chambers(b), Elvin Jones(ds), Thad Jones(cnt, arr).