Jazz keyboardist Alex Bugnon had a successful career as a studio musician before becoming an equally well-known solo performer. The year 2005's FREE, the artist's ninth release under his own name, offers more of the instrumental jazz-pop mixture that has come to characterize his output. While FREE isn't particularly challenging, it is full of smooth, light, percolating grooves, bright, memorable melodies, and tight, straightforward playing that makes for a pleasant and relaxing listen.

For many fans, the equation Count Basie = Big Band Jazz is indisputable. Upon listening to these eight numbers, a new equation becomes equally clear - less is more when it comes to swing. Bob Thiele, Impulse producer, came to the conclusion that even with a meager budget, a whole lot of music with a terrific sound could be squeezed into the grooves. As always, the great soloists of the Basie big band are on top form. First and foremost is Frank Wess, who demonstrates why the flute is so popular for its sound-coloring and as a solo instrument. Thad Jones on the trumpet is outstanding in all the numbers and is equally important as composer and arranger. On this disc, carefully remastered for SACD by APO, the Count, delivers one adrenaline-like thrill after another. ~ Amazon

The Monkees were a pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork, and Englishman Davy Jones. All music was supervised by producer Don Kirshner. At the time of the group's formation, its producers saw The Monkees as a Beatles-like band. At the start, the band members provided vocals, and were given some performing and production opportunities, but they eventually fought for and earned the right to collectively supervise all musical output under the band's name. The group undertook several concert tours, allowing an opportunity to perform as a live band as well as on the TV series.