Portishead is one of the original chill-out "trip-hop" English groups of the mid-90s. Here, they seamlessly integrate an orchestra into their moody and dramatic music.

The forceful jazz pianist in top form, with Michael Brecker on sax.

Chet originally hailed from Yale, Oklahoma. One of the great jazz trumpeters and singers. He played the Nine of Cups in 1982. I met his grandsons last year at the Tidal School Vineyards in Drumright.

The Police's songwriting and performing strengths sustain a consistent mood on their 2nd album. They did a gig at the Cain's very early in their career.

Big band and Louis Jordan covers, highly listenable from start to finish. This album anticipated the mid-1990s swing resurgence by 15 years.

Nick Lowe's send-up of pop music is great pop music itself. He also produced many of Elvis C's early records and opened for him in Tulsa.

Joe Zawinul is the master of organic synth sounds. The debut of jazz bass great, Jaco Pastorius. Alphonso Johnson, Wayne Shorter, Chester Thompson and Alex Acuna aren't too shabby, either.

All-acoustic Hicks was in rare form on this live date. And that's just speaking of his between-song patter! I was in the audience for his "Austin City Limits" appearance in 1990 and showed up on camera several times.

Robin Trower is an exponent of the dreamy side of Hendrix' style. I can't tell you how many times I heard "Bridge of Sighs" on 8-track, but it's still good.

Raw power characterizes this pioneering fusion of jazz and rock. It's a different animal from Blood, Sweat and Tears, that's for sure.

When I first heard this, I thought, "if only I just play some of the chords!" I learned that and a bit more, but "And Live" still stands for me as one of Johnny's white-hot peaks of creativity.

Herb Alpert had moved beyond "Tijuana Taxi" with subtle and satisfying arrangements.

My first LP was a salute by Pete to the great clarinetists in his own limpid style. I still have my peanut butter-stained copy.