To prove how important the vinyl reissue series from Verve Records is for jazz fans, of the six recent releases from either the “Acoustic Sound Series” or “By Request”, I have previously only heard one of them before. Thank the good Lord and Verve for second chances!
For example, there’s this obscure 1989 Art Deco by Don Cherry is essentially a reunion of the original band from Ornette Coleman, with Charlie Haden/b and Billy Higgins/dr joined by Angeleno James Clay/ts. This gem of an album even includes three Coleman tunes like “The Blessing” and some surprisingly accessible standards like “Body and Soul” and, if you can believe it, “I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face” along with a snappy take of Thelonious Monk’s “Bemsha Swing”. 
Oh boy!!
And just when you think you’ve heard every Ella Fitzgerald album, up from the crypt comes this obscure one-off from Ella Fitzgerald from 1960. She’s paired only with pianist Paul Smith, and she’s amazingly comfortable in these slow and expressive tempos of tunes from the Columbia Pictures film Let No Man Write My Epitaph. Haunting takes of “September Song”, “Who’s Sorry Now” and a surprising read of “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” make one wonder where this one’s been hiding. Let’s see if vinyl can still be worn out by a needle.
While best known as one of the best bopping trumpeters in jazz history, Roy Hargrove pulled a fast one in 2003 with his 
group RH Factor, mixing in hip hop, funk, and gospel into a street cred surprise. Hargrove plays horns, bass, percussion, bass and even sings a bit with a rhythm section of Willie Jones III/dr, Reggie Washington/b, Cornell Dupree/g and guests like D’Angelo, who sings on a cover of the Funkadelic tune “I’ll Stay”. There’s a bit of rap from Q-Tip on “Poetry” with Meshell Ndgeocello/b as well a soulful EWF-ish “I’ll Stay”. Hargrove hits the Afro Sheen!
LA-based tenor saxist Harold Land is found in 1968 meeting with vibist Bobby Hutcherson, piano man Joe Sample, drummer Donald Bailey and bassist Buster Williams for a symbiotic session. Land and Hutcherson are a dynamic duo, blending perfectly together on the title track “The Peace-Ma ker” and the easy grooves of “Stylin’” and “Imagine”. Land had a warm Lester Young-ish tone that harmonizes over and around the vibes as on “40 Love” and “The Aquarian”. Where’s this been all my life?
The only album I’ve every heard before is this 1962 album which was the first time Oscar Peterson and his team of Ray Brown/b and Ed Thigpen/b joined forces with Milt Jackson, as you can expect, it’s a swinger. There’s even a hard hitting jam of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” in “John Brown’s Body”, for Pete’s sake! Then, Jackson takes you to church on “The Work Song” and “Reunion Blue” and Peterson goes toe to toe with him on “Green Dolphin Street”. The start of a beautiful friendship.
After leaving Miles Davis, John Scofield carved out an impressive career on his own. One of his smarter calls was teaming up with the groove band of Medeski, Martin & Wood for a collection of finger popping jams. Drummer Billy Martin, bassist Chris Wood and keyboardist John Medeski are perfectly matched here, as the opening “A Go Go” sets the tone with finger pickin’ and lickin’ good note selection over the relentless pulse. Scofield gels on the flowing “Kubrick” and makes sparks fly in all directions on the intense volleying of “Hottentot”. Why did I miss these guys in concert?