Booker Little - Booker Little 4 & Max Roach (Blue Note Tone Poet) - Blue Note Records

Memphis-born trumpeter Booker Little was a bright light of the jazz world who died tragically young at age 23. A prodigiously talented hornman as well as a composer, Little first came to prominence as a member of Max Roach’s band which he joined in 1956 after the death of Clifford Brown, another trumpet great gone far too soon. Little only made a handful of albums as a leader during his brief career including his astounding debut Booker Little 4 & Max Roach recorded in 1958 for United Artists when he was just 20 years old. The full breadth of Little’s artistry leaps out of the grooves with his brilliant tone, astonishing technique, and inventive lines matched by Roach’s fiery drums throughout this engaging set that also featured George Coleman on tenor saxophone, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Art Davis on bass. The album opens with Miles Davis’ “Milestones” and includes the standards “Sweet and Lovely” and a stunning version of “Moonlight Becomes You,” but the album’s centerpiece is the trio of Little originals: “Rounder’s Mood,” “Dungeon Waltz,” and “Jewel’s Tempo.”

Donald Byrd - Kofi (Blue Note Tone Poet Series) - Blue Note Records

Drawn from two sessions recorded in December 1969 and December 1970, and not first released until 1995, Kofi found Donald Byrd in the early stages of his transformation from top-notch hard bop trumpeter to fusion pioneer. Byrd had already begun to move away from a pure hard bop sound with his album Fancy Free in the Spring of 1969, and the two Kofi sessions straddled the recording of his adventurous fusion album Electric Byrd. The first Kofi session subtly explored a new realm of sounds on Byrd’s originals “Kofi” and “Fufu” with producer Duke Pearson’s electric piano shimmering underneath textured arrangements featuring Lew Tabackin on flute and tenor saxophone, Frank Foster on tenor saxophone, William Campbell on trombone, Ron Carter on acoustic bass, Bob Cranshaw on electric bass, and Airto Moreira on drums. The following 1970 session produced two more vibey Byrd originals—“Perpetual Love” and “Elmina”—adding Wally Richardson on guitar and Mickey Roker on drums with Moreira playing percussion along with Dom Um Romão.

Billy Strings - Highway Prayers - Reprise

BILLY STRINGS Highway Prayers Modern bluegrass superstar Billy Strings has announced Highway Prayers, his first studio release since his 2022 father-son team-up LP Me/And/Dad and his first solo studio collection since 2021's Renewal. The 20-track LP, co-produced by Billy Strings and Jon Brion, is due out on September 2024.

Various Artists - Bridgerton Season Three (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series) - Capitol Records

Double wedding ring gold colored vinyl LP pressing. As the Bridgerton franchise returns for it's highly anticipated third season, prepare to be swept away once again by it's unique musical touch. Season 3 will captivate viewers worldwide with a fresh blend of orchestral pop covers and original compositions infusing a modern twist into the Regency-era romance. In Season 3, acclaimed composer Kris Bowers orchestrates a stunning original score, with covers ranging from Billie Eilish's "Happier Than Ever" and BTS's "Dynamite" to the #1 Global Viral Spotify Hit, "Give Me Everything" by Pitbull covered by Archer March.

Common & Pete Rock - The Auditorium Vol. 1 - Loma Vista Recordings

Legendary hip-hop figures Common and Pete Rock showcase their evolved prowess in their debut collaboration, "The Auditorium, Vol. 1." Despite years apart, their synergy is palpable. Pete's groundbreaking production, blending intricate harmonies, and Common's multifaceted artistry shine through. Their meticulous process births 15 tracks that blend nostalgia with innovation. With cameos from Jennifer Hudson and De La Soul's Posdnuos, each element is carefully curated, resulting in a timeless masterpiece. This album not only celebrates their individual growth but also sets the stage for future volumes.

Luke Bryan - Mind Of A Country Boy - Capitol Nashville

Five-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan is releasing a brand-new album, Mind of a Country Boy, featuring 14 tracks including his latest single, “Love you, Miss you, Mean It.” “This song was special from the first time I heard it,” said Luke. “I knew it would resonate. It’s about young love and that whole process of trying to make relationships work through the on-again and off-again cycles. My wife and I went through that journey during college, and I know a lot of people out there have too.” During his career Luke has performed for more than 14 million fans inclusive of his numerous headline tours, “Crash My Playa,” “Luke Bryan: VEGAS” and “Farm Tour.”

Chappell Roan - The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess (Anniversary Edition) - Island

Bold pop hooks, sex positivity, honest songwriting and a heavy dose of glitter make up the world of Chappell Roan, the next multi-faceted force in pop music. A technicolor celebration of self-discovery and transformation, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess tracks Chappell’s cinematic journey of falling in queer love for the first time, while embracing all the messy and imperfect moments in-between. Penned by Chappell Roan alongside Dan Nigro. Anniversary Edition 2 LP set on 180g peach color vinyl in gatefold jacket with embossed die-cut O-card and Mylar glitter star inserts. Limited Edition.

Katy Perry - 143 - Capitol Records

143 IS A PARTY AND EVERYONE IS INVITED! Katy Perry has officially launched an exciting new era with the long awaited sixth studio album “143”. Katy set out to create a bold, exuberant, celebratory dance-pop album with the symbolic 143 numerical expression of love as a throughline message. The result is a sexy, fearless, return to form for the multifaceted musician with an album jam packed with the empowering, sexy, & provocative pop anthems you’ve come to love. This is an album with a lot of heart and a lot of BPM. Get ready to pop off!

Keith Urban - HIGH - Capitol Nashville

Four-time GRAMMY Award-winner and three-time Entertainer of the Year recipient Keith Urban releases his 11th studio album, HIGH, on Capitol Nashville Records. The brand-new collection of 11 songs, includes “GO HOME W U” (with Lainey Wilson), “CHUCK TAYLORS,” and the hit single “MESSED UP AS ME.” It showcases Urban’s extraordinary talents as a vocalist, virtuoso guitarist, songwriter, and collaborator.

Paul McCartney - Japanese SHM-CD Exports - PAUL MCCARTNEY CATLG

These replica mini LP papersleeve SHM-CD [Super High Material CD]'s, manufactured in Japan, includes a miniature Linda McCartney Polaroid poster, inner-sleeve, obi strip and white booklet featuring Japanese translations of the lyrics. 2010 remaster.

George Strait - Cowboys and Dreamers - MCA Nashville

George Strait's latest album, Cowboys and Dreamers, is his first new music since 2019. This new collection features 13 songs and includes a duet with Chris Stapleton. George is currently on his sold-out stadium tour through summer 2024. This will be his 31st album on MCA Nashville. George Strait is the unambiguous King of Country Music, having sold more than 105 million albums (and counting) while earning more than 60 major entertainment industry awards, as well as countless nominations, and becoming the only act in history to have a Top 10 hit every year for over three decades.

Sarah Kinsley - Escaper - Verve Forecast

Sarah Kinsley’s debut album Escaper is a vibrant, bold and beautiful body of work written solely by this left-field singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

Modest Jazz Trio - Good Friday Blues (Blue Note Tone Poet Series) - Blue Note Records

Recorded in the wee hours of Good Friday 1960, this charming and impromptu Pacific Jazz session captured the easygoing alchemy of The Modest Jazz Trio featuring Jim Hall on guitar, Red Mitchell on piano, and Red Kelly on bass. Good Friday Blues would be the trio's sole album, a sublimely swinging date that did indeed begin with the modest expectations of capturing a single track for a blues anthology that Richard Bock was producing. But the vibe was right, the trio was inspired, the music flowed, and by morning they had laid down six tracks including a pair of originals by Mitchell and renditions of songbook standards including "Willow Weep For Me," "I Remember You," and "I Was Doin' Alright." The drum-less setting allows Hall's gorgeous, subtle tone and melodic flow to shine while Mitchell-who was primarily known as a bassist-surprises with his impressive piano chops, and Kelly provides a sturdy base.

Jackie Mclean - Let Freedom Ring (Blue Note Tone Poet Series) - Blue Note Records

Jackie McLean’s 1962 album Let Freedom Ring reflected the change in the air of the early ‘60s: both the musical freedoms being explored by the emergent avant-garde movement and the social freedoms sought by the ascendent civil rights movement. This four-song set featuring the alto saxophonist with Walter Davis Jr. on piano, Herbie Lewis on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums melds the bluesy language of hard bop with the bristling energy of The New Thing. McLean’s emotive horn wails, shrieks, and soothes as the quartet moves through three striking McLean originals: “Melody For Melonae” (dedicated to his daughter), “Rene” (dedicated to his son), and “Omega” (dedicated to his mother). A plaintive rendition of the Bud Powell ballad “I’ll Keep Loving You” rounds out the date.