Trumpeter Blanchard has released some fine recordings in the '90s, but this one may be the best of them all, as he asserts himself as a composer of truly original modern jazz. He wrote seven selections, utilizing one or two of three saxophonists per cut — Branford Marsalis and Brice Winston (tenor) or Aaron Fletcher (alto). It's the rhythm section that boils this pot over; bassist David Holland and especially pianist Edward Simon are en fuego, while young drummer Eric Harland continues to show steady progress en route to becoming a first-rate trappist.

The Crusaders hail from Houston in Texas. Since 1961, the group (under various names) have released more than forty albums, 19 of which were recorded under the name 'The Jazz Crusaders' (in betweeen 1961 and 1970). In 1954, keyboards player, Joe Sample teamed up with high-school friends, tenor saxophonist Wilton Felder and drummer Stix Hooper to, originally, form the Swingsters.

SHAKATAK have enjoyed a level of success and a career longevity rarely paralleled in contemporary music - but then SHAKATAK are a particularly unusual group. Because of the nature of the music, their fan base is one that is very far reaching while always retaining it's "underground" element.

It would be easy to peg Ray Obiedo's Sweet Summer Days in the lazy title category, but in this case, the Bay Area guitarist's easygoing approach applies perfectly. That's not to say he's dogging it; this is a tightly produced mix of memorable ballads and gentle, mid-tempo melodies, with subtle hints of the Latin fusion punch that is Obiedo's trademark.

Limited edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve.

The Crusaders are an American music group popular in the early 1970s known for their amalgamated jazz, pop and soul sound. Since 1961, more than forty albums have been credited to the group (some live and compilations), 19 of which were recorded under the name "The Jazz Crusaders" (1961–1970).

A power fusion combo, the members of Trix are from Casiopea and T-Square. The four person powerhouse plays their butt off. A must hear !!

'Theatre De Marionnettes', recorded in 2008, is CAB's strongest effort to date, both musically and compositionally. Bunny Brunel & company deliver a fusion tour de force that rocks from start to finish. With Bunny Brunel - bass and keyboards, Tony Macalpine - guitar and keyboards, Patrice Rushen - keyboards, Brian Auger - organ, Virgil Donati - drums with special guests Chick Corea and French mega star Michel Polnareff on piano.

A power fusion combo, the members of Trix are from Casiopea and T-Square. The four person powerhouse plays their butt off. A must hear !!

It’s not a revelation that trumpeter Tore Johansen’s (30) mode of playing and overall sound has been compared to Chet Baker and Art Farmer. His calm but hip approach, combined with gorgeous tone and great phrasing, make’s Tore one of Norwegian Jazz’s most personal trumpet voices today.

Austrian reed man Wolfgang Puschnig, Tunisian oud player and vocalist Dhafer Youssef, and Indian tabla master Jatinder Thakur met in Puschnig's home base of Vienna at the beginning of the '90s, but they did not record as a trio until last year. These three tracks with special guests were recorded in 1997 and have just been released.

The best music is often the hardest to classify, and so it is with Ben Neill's latest CD, Goldbug. It might be acid jazz, or ambient, or new age, or techno--often, it's two or three at once.

Recorded at the same sessions as A Fine Intensity (released by CIMP under the name of the Elliott Levin-Tyrone Hill Quartet) and featuring the same musicians, Soul-Etude at times rises to great improvisation and outstanding collective interplay.