5 best underrated or unknown bands and why?

Cpdunn99, did Chris Barry play Martin Stephen (and the Dainties, I believe) for you? Just wondering as I remember that record from a long time ago and will have to find it again as it is a good listen for sure.

I recommend: The Bad Plus, (I may have spelled Plus wrong) but this is one jamming jazz trio with piano, bass and drums that is very dynamic with lots of talent and a little alternative. This group is hard to describe but if it sounds like maybe your cup of tea you should give it a listen as my description is not doing it justice I promise.

BTW the Bad Plus may not meet with Ben Campbell's criteria of an obscure group, but I am not very familiar with the critics and/or publics opinion, just my own (and they seemed obscure to me), and feel these groups are worth a mention.

phil, yes he did! And I went right to eBay and bought a couple of LPs!

Philjoilet you got me with Bad Plus........

Here are my favorite record companies, I'm sure you can find
many unknown bands within their sites:
http://www.projekt.com/ (my favorites: Mira, Lycia)
http://www.cleorecs.com/ (Hevanly Voices; Switchblade Symphony; Tributes to the Cure, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Pink Floyd.
http://www.jenniferhope.com/ (beautiful voice from some above compilation cds)

Michael Hashim, while not new or really "unknown", I feel should be heard and appreciated by more people. He's a tenor, alto jazz sax player and has a few discs out. I especially enjoy "A Blue Streak" which has some pretty good B-3 organ played by Mike LeDonne. Hashim is fine player and at times on alto reminds me of Joe Farrell at Farrell's best. Cheers, Lee