NEW RELEASES - JOHN COLTRANE, THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS, KENNY WHEELER / NORMA WINSTONE / LONDON VOCAL PROJECT

JOHN COLTRANE - SUN SHIP: THE COMPLETE SESSION

A hugely expanded version of this legendary album – one that features loads of unreleased tracks that show the whole thing coming together in the studio! The set's filled with soaring work from the legendary John Coltrane Quartet – a session that was incredibly far-reaching for the time, and which originally was unissued until after the time of Coltrane's death! The record's got the group really pushing forward strongly – hitting a Love Supreme mode, but also showing even some of the sharper edges that John would explore with the group after this one – a beautiful swan song to the lineup of McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. Things soar with a hell of a lot of spirituality, yet never get too overindulgent to lose their groove – and titles include "Amen", "Dearly Beloved", "Ascent", "Attaining", and "Sun Ship". CD features complete takes of some tracks that were cut off on the original LP release, plus other versions that show a strong development of the music! ~ Dusty Groove

THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS - INLAND EMPEROR

Damn great work from the Greyboy Allstars – a record that's deeper, hipper, and more rewarding than we ever remember from the group – a rich blend of jazz and funk, without any tricks or gimmicks at all! The playing of the members has really deepened a lot since the last album – and there's a soulful sensibility here that may finally rank them right up there with the 70s legends who inspired their sound – especially in the case of Karl Denson's work on sax and flute, and Robert Walter's keyboards! There's also some occasional vocals on the record, but often pressed down into the grooves, in this cool electric way – and which also still leaves most of the focus on the instrumentation. Surprisingly great – with titles that include "Profundo Grosso", "Old Crow", "Bomb Pop", "Inland Emperor", "Diminishing Blackness", "Trashtruck", "Better Get A Jump On It", and "Bitch Inside Me". ~ Dusty Groove

KENNY WHELLER / NORMA WINSTONE / LONDON VOCAL PROJECT - MIRRORS

A beautiful contemporary project from these two British jazz legends – one that definitely lives up to all their genius from earlier years – while finding a whole new level of expression! The album was done in collaboration with the London Vocal Project – a large group who are used here in a manner that's similar to some of the Donald Byrd "with voices" albums on Blue Note, or some of the Max Roach choral projects of the 60s. Winstone comes forth as the key soloist on some tracks – singing lyrics with this amazing quality that hasn't dimmed at all, with all the darkness we've always loved in her approach – and on other numbers the full chorus rises with the rhythms, propelling things forward alongside Wheeler's lines on flugelhorn – and the work of Mark Lockheart on saxes and Nikki Iles on piano. A stone classic, and a real surprise – with tracks that include "Black March", "The Hat", "The Broken Heart", "Breughel", and "The Lover Mourns".  ~ Dusty Groove