"Portrait in Jazz" (Riverside RLP12-315) was Bill Evans’ third album as a leader, following New Jazz Conceptions (1956) and Everybody Digs Bill Evans (1958). It was also Evans’ first LP with the talented bassist Scott LaFaro, who would tragically die in a car crash in 1961. This CD is completed by a different take of “Autumn Leaves”, which was issued on the Mono version of the LP, as well as by the original version of “Blue in Green”, recorded by Bill Evans with Miles Davis for the classic album "Kind of Blue".

You and the Night and the Music is an album by American jazz pianist Mal Waldron recorded in 1983 and released by the Japanese Paddle Wheel label. The Allmusic review by Ron Wynn awarded the album 4 stars stating "High-caliber lineup".

Dinah Washington was an American singer and pianist, who has been cited as "the most popular black female recording artist of the '50s". Primarily a jazz vocalist, she performed and recorded in a wide variety of styles including blues, R&B, and traditional pop music, and gave herself the title of "Queen of the Blues". She was a 1986 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Digitally remastered edition of this 1966 album from the Jazz legend. On this album, Kenny's guitar is embellished beautifully by Richard Wyands, piano; Martin Rivera, bass; AND Oliver Jackson, drums. It is an album that is indicative of all that is good about Mr. Burrell. The word 'versatile' is over-used in describing musicians and entertainers but Kenny's playing is both distinctive and varied. He has a beautiful lyrics sense-dig the unaccompanied "People", but he also has an aggressive style of playing that makes his sound easily recognizable. The outstanding characteristics of his playing-his best-known trait-is an honest and soulful blues feeling… a feeling so fresh and distinctive that the Kenny Burrell sound could almost be patented.

Gotta Travel On is an album by pianist Ray Bryant recorded and released by Cadet Records in 1966. Raphael Homer "Ray" Bryant was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 24, 1931. His mother was an ordained minister who had taught herself to play the piano; his father also played the piano and sang. His brothers were the bass player Tommy, drummer and singer Len, and Lynwood. Ray began playing the piano around the age of six or seven, following the example of his mother and his sister, Vera. Gospel influences in his playing came from being part of the church at this stage in his early life. He had switched from classical music to jazz by his early teens, and played the double bass at junior high school. He was first paid to play when he was 12: "I would play for dances, and they'd sneak me into bars. I'd get four or five bucks a night, which was good money then." He turned professional aged 14, and immediately joined a local band led by Mickey Collins.

Slow Drag was one of trumpeter Donald Byrd's final hard bop dates. Teamed with altoist Sonny Red, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Walter Booker and drummer Billy Higgins (who takes a surprise vocal on the title cut), this quintet outing features originals by Byrd, Walton and Red along with the standards "Secret Love" and "My Ideal." The music in general finds Byrd looking both backwards toward the blues and forwards toward modal music and hints of the avant-garde. A fine effort. ~ AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

This album, originally released by Epic, features trombonist-arranger Slide Hampton's augmented octet but it was overlooked when it was released in 1962 despite the all-star personnel. Hampton's arrangements are forward-looking hard bop and among the key soloists are tenor saxophonist Yusef Lateef (who is heard throughout in top form), drummer Max Roach and Hampton himself. The five-part "Drum Suite" is the most ambitious work but all of the arrangements have their unexpected moments, and Hampton's playing on an up-tempo "It's All Right with Me" is outstanding. This limited-edition Mosaic release, just a single CD, augments the original set with a version of "Well You Needn't" that was only out previously on an obscure sampler, plus a previously unreleased "Sleigh Ride" from the same dates. Overall the music is rewarding and if not quite essential, there are enough exciting moments (whether from the ensembles or the main soloists) to make this a recommended acquisition. ~ AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

The first of five albums headed by trombonist Jimmy Cleveland during 1955-1959 (he has not led any since), this out of print LP (which was reissued by Trip in the 1970s) features Cleveland in medium-size groups with trumpeter Ernie Royal; either Lucky Thompson or Jerome Richardson on tenor; baritonist Cecil Payne; Hank Jones, John Williams, or Wade Legge on piano; Barry Galbraith, Paul Chambers, or Oscar Pettiford on bass; and either Max Roach, Osie Johnson, or Joe Harris on drums. The all-star cast interprets a variety of Quincy Jones arrangements, alternating standards with lesser-known originals, and although many of his sidemen get fine spots, Cleveland generally wins solo honors. ~ AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Kama Sutra: The Original Music Of The Indian Sex Ritual is a new age album by act Shah released in 1993. This comes from a Russian pressing released in 2002 by Landy Star Music.

Pianist and New Yorker George Cables absorbed all that the city had to offer and its influence on him shaped his approach to music. Trained classically as a youth Cables attended the Mannes College of Music for two years and by the age of 19 was playing professionally with the Jazz Samaritans alongside drum legend Billy Cobham. Cables went on to work as sideman with Max Roach, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and after touring with Sonny Rollins he settled in Los Angeles.

"That's What Friends Are For" is an album by American singers Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams that was released in 1978 by Columbia Records. The project was a continuation of the pairing of the artists that began on his previous LP, "You Light Up My Life", which included "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late", the duet that was on its way to #1 on three different charts in Billboard magazine as the recording sessions for this album got underway. On July 20 1978, "That's What Friends Are For" received Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of 500,000 copies in the United States, and it debuted on Billboard's list of America's Top LP's & Tapes shortly thereafter, in the issue dated July 29, for the start of a 16-week chart run that took the album to #19. That same issue also marked its debut on the magazine's Black Albums chart, where it remained for 11 weeks and peaked at #14.

"I'm No Hero" is a 1980 album by Cliff Richard. The album features three hit singles, including "Dreamin'" and "A Little in Love", which were top 20 hits in both the UK and the US. The album received positive reviews and kept Richard high in the charts during this, his revival period. It was also the last time he would appear in the US top 20. Album track "Give a Little Bit More", which was co-written by Andy Hill, who was about to become famous as writer and producer for Bucks Fizz, was released in some countries as a single, as was "In the Night" - although this wasn't the same as the Barbara Dickson song which was released around the time (and was also produced by Tarney). "Give a Little Bit More" gave Richard a third hit from the album in the US, peaking at #41.

Up until the original release of At the Piano in 1982, Kenny Barron had yet to record an entire album of solo piano pieces. Although this would not to be his last in this context, it would be his most honest and representative. The set is a fine mix of standards and originals, with the highlights being a beautiful interpretation of "The Star Crossed Lovers," and a memorable original, "Enchanted Flower." Along with the duets he recorded with Stan Getz, this stands as the high-water mark in his stellar recording career. ~ AllMusic Review by Robert Taylor

One thing Concord Jazz cannot be accused of is failing to document Ernestine Anderson's live performances. When the veteran jazz singer was recording for Concord in the late '70s, '80s, and early '90s, the label put out several live albums that featured her extensively. Here's the thing: Not all of those albums were released under Anderson's own name – she was employed as a featured vocalist for pianist George Shearing, the Frank Capp/Nat Pierce Juggernaut, and a band that was billed as the Concord All Stars.

Under The Sun is the 1974 album by Human Arts Ensemble, which featured Lester Bowie, Marty Ehrlich, James Marshall, Carol Marshall, J.D. Parran, Oliver Lake, Victor Reef, Charles Bobo Shaw Jr., Butch Smith, Abdullah Yakub, Alan Suits and Vincent Terrell. Originally a self-released/limited edition project, this was reissued in 1976 on the Arista-subsidiary label Freedom (Arista Freedom) and is a vinyl rip.