Milestone Profiles stands as a essential two-disc anthology that brilliantly captures the artistic depth and creative versatility of legendary jazz pianist McCoy Tyner during his historic tenure with Milestone Records. Disc one functions as a definitive career retrospective of Tyner as a leader, showcasing his signature thunderous modal chords, explosive pentatonic runs, and rich composition across masterpieces like The Greeting, Sama Layuca, and his stirring live performance of Enlightenment Suite, Part 1: Genesis. Disc two expands this musical horizon by placing Tyner within the broader tapestry of the Milestone Records roster, highlighting remarkable collaborations and label-mate highlights alongside jazz titans such as Joe Henderson, Sonny Rollins, Flora Purim, and the Jim Hall and Ron Carter Duo. Sourced from original studio and live tapes, this comprehensive collection offers an immersive journey through one of the most vibrant periods in modern post-bop jazz history.

Smokey Robinson is one of the most iconic figures in R&B. As the leader of the Miracles, the singer/songwriter and producer played a key role in making Motown the quintessential label of the genre. The first Motown signees, Robinson and his group helped define pop-oriented soul with Top Ten hits such as "Shop Around" (1960), "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (1962), and the chart-topping "The Tears of a Clown" (1970). At the same time, he became an invaluable behind-the-scenes figure who wrote and produced – including Mary Wells' "My Guy" and the Temptations' "My Girl," both number one hits – and scouted and developed talent while serving as vice-president at Motown. Robinson continued to be bankable as a solo artist in the '70s and '80s. His lush, romantic ballads inspired a radio format named after his album A Quiet Storm (1975), before he notched solo Top Ten singles with "Cruisin'" (1979), "Being with You" (1981), and the Grammy-winning "Just to See Her" (1987). Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, Robinson entered the Songwriters Hall of Fame three years later, and in 2005 received the Johnny Mercer Award, the highest honor of the latter institution. He continues to perform while occasionally releasing studio projects like Smokey & Friends (2014) and Gasms (2023).

Nossa Imaginação is the celebrated 1978 debut album by Uruguayan-born Brazilian singer, guitarist, and composer Don Beto. Reissued on CD in 2006 as part of the esteemed "Som Livre Masters" series, this 12-track, 34-minute gem represents a classic milestone in 1970s Brazilian boogie, soul, and disco-funk (MPB / Black Rio sound). Arranged by maestro Lincoln Olivetti and producer Hugo Bellard, the album features infectious basslines, lush horn arrangements, and silky vocals across beloved tracks like Não Quero Mais, Menina Mulher, Pensando Nela, and the title track Nossa Imaginação. Rescued from the original Som Livre tapes for collectors and music historians, this album remains a revered centerpiece of Brazilian funk-soul history.

Quem é Quem is a landmark masterpiece by legendary Brazilian musician, composer, and keyboardist João Donato, originally released in 1973 by Odeon Records and reissued on CD by EMI in 2006. Produced by Marcos Valle alongside Milton Miranda, the album marked Donato's triumphant return to Brazil after living in the United States for a decade. It stands as a pivotal entry in his rich discography, featuring his lead vocals for the very first time on record in addition to his signature piano and Fender Rhodes playing. Blending classic samba-jazz and bossa nova roots with modern American funk, soul, and electric fusion grooves, the 12-track album features sophisticated arrangements by Dori Caymmi, Lindolfo Gaya, Laércio de Freitas, Ian Guest, and Donato himself. The tracklist includes enduring Brazilian music classics such as A Rã, Amazonas (Keep Talking), Até Quem Sabe?, and Mentiras featuring a guest vocal appearance by Nana Caymmi. Backed by an all-star lineup including Naná Vasconcelos, Hélio Delmiro, and Novelli, Quem é Quem remains widely recognized as a masterpiece of MPB, famously ranked among Rolling Stone Brazil's 100 Greatest Brazilian Albums of All Time.

Issued in 2006 by El Records LLC as an exclusive promo compilation for guests and clients of the luxury boutique hospitality chain Morgans Hotel Group, this sleek 2-CD set captures the sophisticated soundscape of mid-2000s hotel lounge culture. Balancing atmospheric downtempo, nu-jazz, and neo-soul on Disc 1 with energetic mid-2000s indie rock, dance-punk, and electro-pop on Disc 2, the collection features standout tracks from Andrew Bird, Moby, Citizen Cope, Kasabian, Bloc Party, Maxïmo Park, and M.I.A.

Released in 2006 as part of Fantasy/Milestone's celebrated Milestone Profiles series, this 2-CD retrospective spotlights tenor saxophone legend Sonny Rollins across nearly three decades of recordings made for the label between 1972 and 2000. Disc 1 presents a curated overview of Rollins' own Milestone leader dates—capturing his fearless blend of classic hard bop, calypso rhythms, electric jazz-funk, and fiery live improvisations. Disc 2 adds a unique companion disc featuring labelmates and collaborators like Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Flora Purim, Jim Hall & Ron Carter, and Jimmy Smith. Supported by stellar personnel including Jack DeJohnette, Tommy Flanagan, George Cables, Clifton Anderson, and Tony Williams, this compilation offers a comprehensive snapshot of Rollins' modern era.

The Carpenters With their light, airy melodies and meticulously crafted, clean arrangements that appealed to a variety of audiences, the Carpenters stood in direct contrast to the excessive, gaudy pop/rock of the '70s. Yet, they became one of the most popular artists of the decade, winning four Grammy Awards, and scoring 12 Top Ten hits, and three number one singles, including the classic "(They Long to Be) Close to You" off 1970's Close to You. Karen Carpenter's calm, pretty voice was the most distinctive element of their music, settling in perfectly amidst the precise, lush arrangements provided by her brother Richard. Though their popularity began to fade as the '70s progressed, the duo continued to make music together until Karen's tragic death in 1983.

After recording one of their darkest albums, 1984's The Top, the Cure regrouped and shuffled their lineup, which changed their musical direction rather radically. While the band always had a pop element in their sound and even recorded one of the lightest songs of the '80s, "The Lovecats," The Head on the Door is where they become a hitmaking machine. The shiny, sleek production and laser-sharp melodies of "Inbetween Days" and "Close to Me" helped them become modern rock radio staples and the inspired videos had them in heavy rotation on MTV. The rest of the record didn't suffer for hooks and inventive arrangements either, making even the gloomiest songs like "Screw" and "Kyoto Song" sound radio-ready, and the inventive arrangements (the flamenco guitars and castanets of "The Blood," the lengthy and majestic intro to "Push," the swirling vocals on "The Baby Screams") give the album a musical depth previous efforts lacked…

This is it, your perfect starting point to understanding how Elvis – as Howlin' Wolf so aptly put it – "made his pull from the blues." All the source points are there for the hearing; Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right (Mama)," Roy Brown's "Good Rockin' Tonight," Kokomo Arnold's "Milkcow Blues Boogie," Arthur Gunter's "Baby, Let's Play House," and Junior Parker's "Mystery Train." Modern day listeners coming to these recordings for the first time will want to reclassify this music into a million subgenres, with all the hyphens firmly in place. But what we ultimately have here is a young Elvis Presley, mixing elements of blues, gospel and hillbilly music together and getting ready to unleash its end result – rock & roll – on an unsuspecting world.~ Review by Cub Koda

Released in 2006 on the French progressive rock label Musea, A room of Fairy Queen's is the captivating debut album by Japanese symphonic progressives Narrow Pass, led by multi-instrumentalist and composer Katsumi Yoneda. Infusing classic 1970s British and Italian progressive rock influences (Camel, Genesis, PFM) with delicate acoustic folk melodies and lush symphonic arrangements, the album creates a fantasy-tinged, pastoral sonic atmosphere. Featuring sweeping recorder and flute work, melodic electric guitar leads, and layered vintage synthesizer textures across ambitious tracks like "Lord of the headline" and the 10-minute epic "Wake up," this release stands out as a hidden gem of Japanese symphonic prog.

Released in 2006 through BMG Special Products and Sony Music, The Mighty is a focused 10-track retrospective collecting defining hits and essential album cuts from legendary American funk, soul, and R&B powerhouse Earth, Wind & Fire. Masterminded by founder Maurice White alongside lead vocalist Philip Bailey and an unmatched brass-and-rhythm ensemble, the compilation spans the band's most celebrated era across the 1970s and 1980s. Highlighting their signature blend of tight horn arrangements, soaring falsettos, and uplifting spiritual grooves, the set includes transcendent funk anthems ("Mighty Mighty," "Serpentine Fire," "Getaway"), radiant pop-soul hits ("Sing A Song," "Fantasy"), the timeless title track balladeering of "That's The Way Of The World," and Maurice White's hypnotic kalimba-led classic "Evil." An ideal gateway anthology highlighting the unstoppable groove of one of music history's greatest bands.

Released in 2006 on the UK budget label Pazzazz, Drown In My Own Tears compiles classic early recordings by the legendary "Fifth Beatle," keyboard virtuoso, and soul legend Billy Preston. Originally cut during his mid-1960s formative period—where his fiery Hammond B-3 organ work bridged gospel, soul, and rhythm & blues—this 12-track anthology showcases Preston's soaring organ instrumentals and soulful vocal interpretations of popular hits of the era. Featuring energetic covers of standards like Ray Charles' "Drown In My Own Tears," John Barry's "Goldfinger," The Supremes' "Stop! In The Name Of Love," and Roger Miller's "King Of The Road," this compilation serves as a vibrant document of a young organ prodigy on the cusp of international superstardom.

Recorded live in New York City in 1981 and released in 2006 by archival specialists Raga Records, Live At Washington Square Church 1981 captures a breathtaking concert by Hindustani classical sarod master Vasant Rai. A senior disciple of Baba Allauddin Khan and a prominent figure in bridging Indian classical traditions with Western audiences, Rai is joined by esteemed tabla virtuoso Ananda Gopal Bandhopadhyay and Kokila Rai on tanpura. The performance features deep, meditative, and virtuosic improvisations across two extended ragas—the solemn, majestic midnight classic "Raga Darbari Kanada" and the lyrical, romantic "Raga Zila Kafi." An essential live archival document for connoisseurs of North Indian classical music, sarod virtuosity, and acoustic improvisation.

Released in 2006 by Union Square Music, Nu Jazz Cool: The Essential Album is a comprehensive 2CD compilation showcasing the vibrant, sophisticated world of modern nu-jazz, broken beat, and electronic lounge music. Spanning 30 standout tracks, the collection seamlessly bridges classic jazz aesthetics with contemporary club culture, featuring heavyweight remixes, rare edits, and ground-breaking compositions from genre pioneers such as Gotan Project, 4 Hero, St. Germain, Koop, David Holmes, The Cinematic Orchestra, and Kenny Dope. Highlights include Gotan Project's iconic tango-lounge remix of Sarah Vaughan's "Whatever Lola Wants," 4 Hero's sweeping revision of Nuyorican Soul, and Herbert's playful rework of Serge Gainsbourg's "Bonnie & Clyde." An essential primer for lovers of downtempo grooves, bossa beats, and future jazz.

Released in 2006 as part of Membran Music's Supreme Jazz series, this compilation highlights master brass technician, trumpet icon, and flugelhorn pioneer Clark Terry. Featuring recordings from his acclaimed late 1950s and early 1960s small-group and big-band sessions, the collection showcases Terry's legendary warmth, technical brilliance, and buoyant swing. Surrounded by an all-star lineup including multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef, pianist Tommy Flanagan, trombonist Jimmy Knepper, and saxophonist Seldon Powell, the 7-track set features standout blues and bop workouts such as "La Rive Gauche," "Nahstye Blues," "Chat Qui Peche," and "Flutin' And Fluglin'."