John McLaughlin
The Montreaux Years
BMG
★★★★

CURATED and compiled by jazz guitar supremo John McLaughlin from six concerts at the Montreux Jazz Festival between 1978 and 2016, McLaughlin has chosen seven sides (for the single CD version from 1984 to 2016) all subjected to superb sonic restoration and re-mastering.

The set kicks off with The Mahavishnu Orchestra on 1984’s Radio Activity, and Nostalgia.
His other bands include Heart Of Things who appear on Acid Jazz from 1998 and the Free Spirits on Sing Me Softly Of The Blues from 1995.

Other tracks come from albums cut with Paco De Lucia (David and Florianapolis) and 4th Dimension’s El Hombre Que Sabia (The Man who Knew).

Complete with detailed notes, rare photos — the Montreaux Years is released in multi formats including triple vinyl album, double and single CDs and downloads.

This is unsurpassed jazz fusion by one of our greatest ever guitarists.

Joe Satriani
The Elephants Of Mars
earMusic
★★★★

SATCH’S 19th album in 35 years. His recording career started in 1986 with the album Not Of This Earth followed by the ground-breaking Surfing With The Alien in 1987, the first all-instrumental smash hit in many years.
 
Besides studying with jazz guitar maestro Lenny Tristano he worked as a guitar teacher himself – students included Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett of Metallica and David Bryson of Counting Crows.

In 1993 he turned down a move to Deep Purple and instead produced consistently excellent solo albums, sets with the  changeable G3 and the hard rock outfit Chickenfoot.

Waxed during lockdown and recorded remotely with his touring band there’s not a duff track in sight. Standouts include Sahara, Through A Mother’s Day Darkly, and the title track.
Released on CD and  three coloured vinyl albums – another winner.

Family
A Song for Me – Remastered And Expanded Edition
Esoteric
★★★★

FORMED in 1966 and fronted by the distinctive warbling vocals of Roger Chapman, Family hailed from Leicester.

They became firm favourites of legions of British progressive and underground music fans also with a large European and US following. John Peel said they were one of the few bands he would cross continents to see.

A Song for Me was their third album released in January 1970.

The album reached number four in the UK chart and the single No Mule’s Fool made the top 30.

This two-disc re-mastered set includes singles, stereo mixes/edited 45s, a 1969 BBC session from Peel’s Top Gear — broadcast on the World Service with the un-hip Brian Matthew doing intros,  plus a 1970 Peel Sunday Concert with the band on stunning form.

Including a fully illustrated booklet, this is essential for old hippies.