at The Kansas City Seven

Back in 1940, Keynote Recordings Inc. was a new, small and independent New York company with offices at 522 Fifth Ave., recently founded by Eric Bernay, the owner of a midtown Manhattan record store called The Music Room. Bernay was musically openminded and, looking for a place in the increasingly convulsed American record industry, he launched a catalog of varied music and performers.

Al Cohn, Joe Newman & Freddie Green - Mosaic Select (2007) {3CD Set, Mosaic Records MS-027 rec 1955}
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© 1955, 2007 RCA Victor / Mosaic / BMG Music | MS-027
Jazz / Bop / Mainstream Jazz / Trumpet / Sax / Guitar

This Mosaic compilation draws from material that comprised five separate RCA Victor LPs of the 1950: Al Cohn's The Natural Seven and The Jazz Workshop: Four Brass, One Tenor, Freddie Green's Mr. Rhythm, plus two Joe Newman records, All I Wanna Do Is Swing and I'm Still Swinging. Cohn, Green, and Newman are the common element to all of the recording sessions, leading bands ranging from septets to nonets.The Natural Seven was inspired by the Kansas City Seven drawn from the Count Basie band of the 1930s, and while the arrangements by Cohn and Manny Albam swing lightly in the style of Basie's septet, the focus is more on originals written for the session rather than simply recreating earlier recordings.

A pop music band from California in the sunshine pop genre, The Association are known for their tight vocal harmony. In the 1960s the group had numerous hits at or near the top of the Billboard charts…

Comprehensive 3CD set featuring all of The Artwoods’ A and B sides, plus four previously unissued early acetate recordings by the Art Wood Combo. Also includes several BBC radio sessions with unique tracks and a long-lost live recording from Denmark at tail-end of their career. The compilation benefits from the involvement of the band’s guitarist Derek Griffiths and basisst Malcolm Pool, plus legendary blues producer Mike Vernon.
Back in the mid-‘60s, The Artwoods were one of the most vital, impressive R&B bands on the circuit, fronted by Art Wood (elder brother of future Faces/Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie) and also boasting future Deep Purple organist Jon Lord, renowned drummer Keef Hartley, guitarist Derek Griffiths and bassist Malcolm Pool. Between 1964 and 1967, the band recorded seven singles, the ultra-rare EP ‘Jazz In Jeans’ and a nearly as scarce LP, ‘Art Gallery’, mostly for Decca…

Count Basie's Columbia years have long been debated, subject to apocryphal written data and legend because of the willy-nilly nature of his tenure with the label and its subsidiaries. Producer Orrin Keepnews has thus assembled America's #1 Band: The Columbia Years, a compilation of Basie's Columbia years that not only makes sense historically; it is a treasure trove for listening. Aesthetics played a grand part in the decision-making process here, as did sound reproduction and discographical accuracy. Over four CDs, the Basie/Columbia collaboration is split into three parts. On disc one and roughly half of two, the small-group recordings are presented, from the original Smith-Jones quintet sessions in 1936 through the 1957 octet recordings…

The set was advertised vigourously in the national press from 5th November 1980 through into 1981. This means it was at the forefront right across the period of John's murder, and therefore sales must have been quite good, but as this box set was sold only by mail order the figures did not qualify for chart entry, and consequently are not publicly known.

A wonderful collector's edition of jazz pianists' records in almost all styles from the first ragtimes to modern jazz.

Level 42 - The Complete Polydor Years 1980-1984 (2021) {10CD Set, Polydor–Robinsongs ROBINBX45}
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© 1980-84, 2021 Polydor / Robinsongs / Cherry Red | ROBINBX4
Jazz / Sophisti-Pop / Contemporary Pop / Dance Rock / Jazz Funk / New Wave / Synth Pop

Formed in the last embers of the 70’s Level 42 started as a Jazz Fusion band before embracing dance rock for which they would be best known. The band’s first single Love Meeting Love was released in 1980 to much critical acclaim which led to the debut album, the self-titled Level 42 which charted in the top 20. Throughout the 80’s the band released numerous albums and toured regularly building a large and devoted fan base – these early years are featured here. Volume One contains all the Level 42 albums from 1981 – 1984 in their original glory. Discs 6 -10 contain all the B-Sides, 7” Mixes, remixes and rare versions from those eras. Compiled in conjunction with Level 42 and band experts Paul Wallace, Paul Waller and Simon Carson. The band go out on a major tour in 2021 and are fully involved with the release of this box set. This beauty is PART ONE! PART TWO to follow…