Criminally overlooked by academics, critics and purists who refuse to listening to anything outside of conventional jazz vernacular, Andy Bey's delivery on Experience and Judgment goes beyond anything he previously committed to tape, revealing a spiritual side that's punched up and supported by a jazz-funk ensemble. The album's opener "Celestial Blues" finds Bey delivering lines that wouldn't be out of place on Bill Withers records from this era, and the remainder of the album sounds similar to the works of such contemporaries as Roy Ayers and Gil Scott-Heron. It's soul soothing music that's been played with great reverence by the rare soul and funk community for years and rightly so, as Bey captures the essence of the soul world brilliantly, and fuses it into something that is uniquely his own.

The Cropredy Box is an album by Fairport Convention recorded at their annual live concert in Cropredy, Oxfordshire, England to celebrate the band's thirtieth anniversary in 1997. Featuring many songs for which the band had become noted, the set also features performances from many former members including violinist Dave Swarbrick, original vocalist Judy Dyble, and Ralph McTell. Commentary is provided by their first manager, Joe Boyd, and Ashley Hutchings.

Composer, arranger, guitarist and producer, Richard Niles' "Bandzilla Rises" CD according to drummer, Danny Gottlieb, "is a masterpiece of contemporary music that the music world needs now more than ever". Sporting fourteen distinctive originals by Niles (both music and lyrics) it includes titles like LA Existential and Stone Jungle to Tip for a Toreador and The 5th Elephant. Don't even ask about making sense of the titles or interpreting the lyrics, etc as being an arranger myself there is not enough that I can enthuse about of the writing and performing aspects of this recording. Quite complex and sophisticated throughout yet accessible and sending a very positive message with no shortage of wit and blindingly stupendous instrumental soloing and craftwork.

This "concept" album related to an infamous rock'n'roll habit! Unfortunately the album sleeve didn't list the line-up, but it seems likely that Ken Hensley of Uriah Heep fame had a leading role. He recorded the Weed album during March 1971 in between the Uriah Heep albums Salisbury and Look At Yourself. Some members of the 1970/71 Virus line-up were also involved, Bernd Hohmann and Werner Monka at least and possibly their rhythm section as well. All six tracks were composed by the concert promoter Bobo Albes and Phillips' household producer Rainer Goltermann made sure the sessions in the Windrose Studios in Hamburg were preserved for posterity.

GQ - Two (1979) {2012 Remastered & Expanded - Big Break Records CDBBR 0155}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 348 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 114 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 60 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1979, 2012 Arista / Big Break Records / Cherry Red Records | CDBBR 0155
Disco / Soul / Funk / R&B / Quiet Storm

GQ originally formed in 1968 as Sabu & The Survivors. Their biggest hit was "Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)” single from their debut album which peaked at R&B #1, Disco #3 and Pop #12. The debut album peaked at R&B #2 and Pop #13. GQ TWO was their second album and reached R&B #9 and Pop #46 shortly after it’s release in 1980. It was produced by Jimmy Simpson who also produced Candi Staton, Ashford & Simpson and Deodato.

Shelly Manne & His Men - West Coast Jazz In England (1960) {Solar Records 4569886 rel 2011}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 217 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 136 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 25 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960, 2011 Solar Records | 4569886
Jazz / Bop / Cool / West Coast Jazz

Digitally remastered release that contains, for the first time ever on CD, a complete live performance in Manchester by the legendary Shelly Manne quintet with Joe Gordon and Richie Kamuca. This short lived group had produced the celebrated multi-volume albums at the Blackhawk, in San Francisco, the previous year (with Victor Feldman on piano instead of Russ Freeman), as well as celebrated recordings of Henry Mancini's Peter Gunn music. The Manchester concert, which was only previously released on an extremely rare long out of print LP, showcases the quintet in high spirits, and offers a new opportunity to appreciate the talents of trumpeter Joe Gordon, who would die soon after.