Mark Elf - Lift Off (2006)

For some 35 years jazz guitarist Mark Elf's playing experiences have included a who's who in the jazz giant world. Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, The Heath Bros. Jon Hendricks, Wynton Marsalis, Lou Donaldson, Art Blakey, Walter Bishop Jr., Jr. Cook and many more.
Liftoff is his 12th outing as a leader. The velocity of the first few notes of the opener and title track. Liftoff, will give you ample warning: if you love jazz guitar, this is your man. With high profile cats, David Hazeltine, Peter Washington and Lewis Nash, this is i a blazing session of ten tunes that feature Mark’s fervent bop playing.

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Calvin Keys - Proceed with Caution (1974)

A classic album from guitar stalwart Calvin Keys originally released by the Blackjazz label in 1974. this was his second release after "Shawn Neeq" on the same label.

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Kenny Garrett - African Exchange Student (1990)

Low-keyed and soft-spoken, Kenny Garrett lets his music do the talking, and he communicates clearly through his post-bop saxophone styles, exuding easy listening from his alto horn. After years of apprenticeship with legendary jazz bands including the Jazz Messengers and the Woody Shaw Quintet, Garrett came to prominence during the 1980s as Miles Davis's sideman. After Davis died, Garrett moved into his own spotlight as the bandleader of the Kenny Garrett Quartet. In addition to his various album releases during the 1990s, he contributed to dozens of works by his fellow jazz musicians. 'African Exchange Student' is his fourth release as a leader.

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Robert Walter's 20th Congress - Money Shot (2000)

Robert Walter and his former Greyboy's colleague guitarist Elgin Park joined by Galactic drummer Stanton Moore and saxophonist Cochema Juan Gastelum tear and cook up mix of originals plus some covers

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Mel Davis - Revealed (2005)

Melvin Davis has understood the power of his hands to transport the sound of instruments from his imagination to a concert hall or nightclub dating back to his childhood. He played his first piano recital at 9, and at 15, when cats his age were learning how to charm young ladies, Davis was sneaking into local night clubs, hoping to charm the Hammond B3.
But 29 years ago, Davis lost the ability to play with his hands. A freak accident ripped a finger from his left hand, which was also split diagonally. He needed eight painful years and seven grueling operations to rehabilitate that hand and those fingers before he could play again. Even his brain underwent reconstruction. It had to adjust to Davis now playing bass with his left, chords and melodies with his right; the opposite way he learned and opposite the way most musicians play. 'Revealed' is his third release as a leader ; guitarist Ronny Jordan who produced the album also contributed in the session; other personnel are : Mark Bowers (guitar); Bruce Williams (saxophone); Freddie Hendrix (trumpet, flugelhorn); Abe Fogle (drums); DJ AP (turntables).

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Phil Ranelin - Vibes From The Tribe (1976)

"An excellent lost classic from Detroit soul jazz powerhouse Phil Ranelin! Trombonist Ranelin was one of the key figures in the city's Tribe Records scene -- and this album (reissued in 2001) is one of the greatest that the label ever issued. The set features Ranelin on trombone, Marcus Belgrave on trumpet, Kenny Cox on electric piano, and Harold McKinney on piano -- plus other luminaries from the incredibly strong Detroit scene of the time. The set includes the funky classic "Sounds From The Village", the slow spacey breakbeat number "Vibes From The Tribe", and the jazzy groover "For The Children". (Excerpt from Dusty Groove).

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Marcus Belgrave - Gemini (1974)

Perhaps because he has spent most of his career in Detroit and has not recorded enough, Marcus Belgrave has often been overlooked. His musical career in fact spans over 4 decades. He has worked with everyone from Sun Ra to Charles Mingus, from McCoy Tyner to Clifford Brown; he has also been featured with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. This album features many of the Detroit heavyweight artists such as Wendell Harrison and Phil Ranelin plus drummer/percussionists Roy Brooks, bassist Ed Pickens, electric pianist Harold McKinney, and synth man Daryl Dybka. There were only limited copies (1000) of this record pressed when it was originally released in 1974 which makes it a collectors’ album and it is reissued only in 2004.

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Ivan Paduart - Selections (2006)

A compilation album that provides a decent overview of jazz pianist Ivan Paduart's works over the years starting from 1996's White Knights up to 2005's Vivre.

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Claudio Roditi - Gemini Man (1988)

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Brandon Lee - From Within (2007)

A remarkable debut album by trumpeter/flugelhornist Brandon Lee (member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra). On this 2006 studio session, he leads a dynamic small group among other: pianist Mayuko Katakura, alto sax Jon Irabagon and Tommy Gardner on tenor . The album is a straight ahead jazz with his original compositions and arrangements.

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Robert Walter - Spirit of '70 (1997)

Spirit of '70 is the debut release from Greyboy Allstars' keyboardist, Robert Walter with his choice of arsenal - organ, electric piano, clavinet and Mini-moog. The perennial saxophonist Gary Bartz added the extra punch to this album.

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Ecstasy in Numbers -The Search (2003)

Ecstasy In Numbers is a Seattle based jazz fusion trio - Garey Williams (drums), Mike Mattingly (guitar), and Dean Schmidt (bass); and it only take a few seconds to realize that this is a skilled triumvirate. "The Search" is their second album with progressive jazz/rock composition that are quite accessible in the same vein as Yellowjacket, Steve Khan, or Holdsworth.

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Carl Orr - Mean It (1993)

Australian jazz guitarist Carl Orr has toured and recorded with Billy Cobham, among others. But he has many fine projects in his own name, including Mean It, his third outing as leader. He decided to focus on highly electric jazz-funk music filled with plenty of improvisation.

The personnel are : Carl Orr (guitar),Miroslav Bikovsky (trumpet, flugelhorn), Martyn Love (synthesizer, organ), Adam Armstrong (electric bass), Andrew Gander (drums), Phillipe Lincy (percussion)

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Junior Mance - Sweet and Lovely (2004)

Along with Horace Silver, Bobby Timmons, and Gene Harris, Junior Mance was one - of the Holy Trinity of soul/blues jazz pianists. All have a complete command of the blues, along with gospel, which makes up the subatomic particles of soul jazz piano. This 2004 release unites two of Mance's early-‘60s sessions : 1960's The Soulful Piano of Junior Mance and 1961's Big Chief (minus "The Seasons" on the Big Chief). Both albums find Mance leading piano trios with bassist Ben Tucker and drummer Bobby Thomas on Soulful Piano and bassist Jimmy Rowser and drummer Paul Gusman on Big Chief.

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