Charles Saumarez

Though this is not the most recent Ray Charles box set collection, it may be the best. That's because it focuses on Ray's great growth in the 1950s, particularly his days with Atlantic Records. The set opens with Ray still in a Charles Brown, smooth-voice, mellow-piano mode, but in short order, he discovers his own identity. From the good time of "It Should Have Been Me" on disc one, though the orgiastic "What'd I Say, Parts 1 & 2" on disc three, the man they call "The Genius" rocks, rolls, raises the rafters, and sinks way down low with the blues. This box also features an excellent essay by the late music historian, Robert Palmer. –Robert Gordon

In 1960, celebrated jazz critic Nat Hentoff called Charles Mingus to record a number of sessions for the new Candid label on which Mingus was given absolute freedom. All of the music from these sessions is on this set. Taped during the apex of Mingus’ creativity, they showcase such stars as Eric Dolphy, Roy Eldridge, Booker Ervin, Jimmy Knepper, Charles McPherson, Paul Bley, Tommy Flanagan, Jo Jones, and Dannie Richmond. A session featuring Booker Little, Benny Bailey, Eric Dolphy, and Max Roach (but not Mingus), has been added here as a bonus.

4CD Remastered collection of 6 original albums from the soft vocal group that worked with Ray, Perry Como & others. Includes 'Winter Wonderland', 'Love & Marriage', 'In The Evening By The Moonlight', 'Deep Night', 'Something Wonderful' & 'Rome Revisited'

Charles Mingus (1922-1979), nicknamed "the angry man of jazz" and still today an icon of the jazz world, was known for his intimidating temperament. His musical talent on double bass, as musical arranger, bandleader or composer, was immense. His music touches on all kinds of jazz styles, from free, blues, hard bop, big band or third stream, influenced by Duke Ellington's orchestrations, but always has an element of irritation and danger. Influenced by New Orleans jazz, Mingus also fancied collective improvisation (as we can hear on various albums on this collection). This exciting box set is a journey through his fascinating music, displaying all of his artistic mutations and idiosyncrasies. Mingus is accompanied here by a host of all-time greats including Max Roach, Teo Macero, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Bud Powell.

Between May 17 and 25, 1962, Ray Charles, “The Genius”, returned to Paris for a series of memorable concerts. And he was at his peak, fronting his big band and accompanied by his Raelets led by a dazzling Margie Hendrix. This 3CD set prepared by Joël Dufour with the help of Michel Brillié and Gilles Pétard contains previously unreleased material and bonus tracks that include recordings made in Ray’s own studio, where he plays piano alongside his favourite artists, Percy Mayfield and Louis Jordan. And this set has a must: “Blue Stone” is a great instrumental with Ray playing alto, but he never recorded it in a studio. And you can listen to it here! Patrick FRÉMEAUX

Charles Aznavour Il était le dernier des Mohicans, l'ultime géant ayant écrit l’histoire de la chanson française du XXe siècle. Avec Charles Trenet et Gilbert Bécaud, il fait partie de ce trio gagnant qui s’est imposé au plus haut niveau mondial, auteurs de « standards » repris par tous, Frank Sinatra les a chanté tous les trois.

4CD Remastered collection of 6 original albums from the soft vocal group that worked with Ray, Perry Como & others. Includes 'Winter Wonderland', 'Love & Marriage', 'In The Evening By The Moonlight', 'Deep Night', 'Something Wonderful' & 'Rome Revisited'

Charles Aznavour Il était le dernier des Mohicans, l'ultime géant ayant écrit l’histoire de la chanson française du XXe siècle. Avec Charles Trenet et Gilbert Bécaud, il fait partie de ce trio gagnant qui s’est imposé au plus haut niveau mondial, auteurs de « standards » repris par tous, Frank Sinatra les a chanté tous les trois.