Horace+silver

While there may never be an truly comprehensive, one-disc "introduction" to jazz in general, CLASSIC JAZZ does indeed come close–at least, regarding mainstream jazz of the 1960s and early '70s. Present are iconic drummer-bandleaders Buddy Rich and Elvin Jones, purveyors of blues-soaked hard bop Cannonball Adderley and Lee Morgan, vibes ace Bobby Hutcherson, soul-jazz stalwarts Gene Harris, Horace Silver, and Grant Green, and more!

British progressive rock band Jody Grind issued two obscure albums combining hard rock, jazz, blues, and classical influences with lineups emphasizing Hammond organ, guitar, and drums. Prone to long instrumental riffing and rather ponderous, stern original material, they were similar to other very early organ-oriented U.K. progressive rock acts. But they did not possess the originality, or songwriting or vocal talent, to match well-known exponents of the style such as the various groups in which organists Keith Emerson, Vincent Crane, and Brian Auger played…

There are a multitude of reasons why Bags' Groove remains a cornerstone of the post-bop genre. Of course there will always be the lure of the urban myth surrounding the Christmas Eve 1954 session – featuring Thelonious Monk – which is documented on the two takes of the title track…

The Hammond organ, named after its inventor Laurens Hammond, debuted in 1935 as a cost-effective electro-acoustic alternative to the gigantic pipe organs mainly installed in churches. Among Hammond’s first customers were George Gershwin and Count Basie. Jazz pianists like Basie, Fats Waller, Wild Bill Davis and Milt Buckner were the founding fathers of the instrument’s international conquest, which led across all styles of popular music, from jazz to progressive rock, with its heyday in the 1960s and '70s…

Five of the jazz bassist' solo albums in a slipcase. 'Stanley Clarke' released in 1974, 'Journey To Love' from 1975, 'School Days' from 1976, 'Modern Man' from 1978 & the 'Clarke/Duke Project' from 1981.

Any fan of Dickie Betts can expect surprises. Early on with the Allman Brothers, he stunned rock critics with the adventerous "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed", added some country flavor to the blues-based brew with "Blue Sky" and "Ramblin' Man", and proved to be one of the premier guitarists who was also a strong singer…

Free in America is Ben Sidran's fifth album overall and his debut for Arista Records, and showcases him moving to an even more eclectic margin where the lines between jazz – contemporary and classic – blue-eyed soul, and sophisticated pop begin to blur into one another…