Now-Again – the Stones Throw subsidiary that deals in classic funk, soul and jazz reissues as well as new projects from the likes of The Heliocentrics – has released a lavish box set collecting three lost albums by P.E. Hewitt, from the years 1968-70.

Vibraphonist, composer and arranger Hewitt is a cult figure among jazz-heads. Operating in the deep-cum-modal-cum-spiritual idiom that’s so beloved of Stones Throw types, Hewitt was aged just 16 when he recorded his debut album Jawbones, and released it in an edition of just 50 copies. That album, and the two that followed it – Since Washington and Winter Winds – are anthologised in the Now-Again reissue, which is available on 3xLP, 3xCD and digital. We’ll let the label tell you more:

“The three albums [Hewitt] and his young compatriots wrote, recorded, pressed and – if you can call it that – distributed, are three of the rarest damn-good 70s jazz albums you could ever hope to come across. That’s a subtle, but important distinction. There are many rare jazz albums in every imaginable subgenre – funk, free, fusion… But Hewitt’s three albums were so damn-good that neither micro presses nor forty years of silence could suppress their reemergence.

“Now-Again decided against compiling a ‘best of’ anthology out of respect for Hewitt’s monstrous achievements and because, well, these albums are so damn-good. Instead, on offer is a three album hard-box set with directly reissues of the albums in thick ‘tip on’ sleeves. CD box set mimics the vinyl format, but with CDs packaged as “mini LPs” in the hard box. Also included is an extensive booklet which includes the original liner notes from the albums, an essay on Hewitt and his career, a thorough interview with Hewitt by Egon and Groove Merchant ‘Cool’ Chris Veltri, and never before seen photos.

For more info and photos, and a free download of Hewitt’s classic ‘Bada Que Bash’, click here. You can listen to clips of all tracks here.