The present collection serves as an exemplary demonstration of Kenny Burrell's many facets, as reflected by the music he recorded for Argo/Cadet between 1959 and 1967. The earliest material stems from the 1959 engagement at New York's Village Vanguard which produced the album "Man At Work". These six selections on side two feature Burrell's trio with Richard Davis and Roy Haynes, who had previously worked together with Sarah Vaughn and would subsequently play important, albeit separate, roles in the music of Eric Dolphy. Excepting the attractive ballad "I'm A Fool To Want You", the titles are all jazz standards. The juxtaposition of "Just A Settin' And A Rockin'" and "Well You Needn't" reveals the undeniable kinship Monk has for Ellington. Of special significance is the inclusion of "Afternoon in Paris" and "Tricrotism" which were never previously released. A "Chess Jazz Masters Series" compilation released by Chess in 1976 and re-issued in 1990.

Virtuoso Indian percussionist Zakir Hussein and noted bassist/producer/world music advocate Bill Laswell formed the group Tabla Beat Science as a project that would bring together Indian ragas and Western rock, psychedelic, and hip-hop flavors in a new and innovative manner. Tabla Beat Science: Talamanam Sound Clash - Further Adventures in Hypercussion features Hussein, Laswell, and their five-piece band melding musical cultures on-stage before a rapt audience at San Francisco's legendary Fillmore Auditorium, captured for posterity using state-of-the-art camera and sound equipment.

Olivier Messiaen once remarked that Peter Hill "has beautiful technique, a true poet – I am a passionate admirer." As the final CD in Peter Hill's seven CD survey of Messiaen's piano music, this disc is unique in bringing together three early pieces, one very late piece ("Petites Esquisses D'oiseaux") and the key piece in understanding Messiaen's piano output—"Visions De L'Amen". This was the first work inspired by the talent of Yvonne Loriod, an exceptional pupil of Messiaen's, for whom he wrote almost all of his piano works. Her ability as a pianist challenged him to compose for the piano in a way he had never done before.