For the good health of all jazzers and funksters addicted to vinyl, Ace releases six hot slabs of wax to tingle your nerve ends. From the tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, whose chief influences were John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins, and whose CV includes collaborations with Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock and Blood Sweat and Tears, comes two much sought after albums. In Pursuit Of Blackness and Black Narcissus were recorded for Milestone in the mid-70s and have, until now, been available only on the wonderful but pricey 8-CD boxset.

The Blackbyrds make yet another appearance on Ace's release schedule with City Life and Flying Start on the BGP label. Set up by jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd, the group display the rhythmic and infectious soul funk which sent them racing up the Billboard charts on these two albums. Flying Start was their second album, released in 1972 by Fantasy, and includes the hit Walking In Rhythm. City Life, recorded in 1975, features Rock Creek Park and Happy Music. Both LPs are reissued with the original cover design in gatefold sleeves.