The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble is a 9 piece Soul Jazz band from San Diego California. 'Gemini' is their fifth studio album for the Colemine label and comprises of eleven self written tracks, or between 3 and 5 minutes each. Their sound is like a modern day The Crusaders meets The Meters with a touch of Mulatu Atstatke, along with other influences. All the tracks blend together to make a strong album with great horns, rhythm and percussion. Highlights are 'Gemini' which has a very strong Crusaders influence, the funkier ' Making Moves' the flute led 'Freddie' and more laid back...
Japanese bassist Teruo Nakamura recorded this superb heavy fusion Jazz album, his debut in New York in the summer of 1973. He is joined by some of thecream of upcoming musicians including Alphonse Mouzon and Lenny White on drums, Hubert Eaves and George Cables on keyboards, Steve Grossman on sax and Charles Sullivan on trumpet. Stylistically ‘Unicorn’ could easily have been recorded for the NY Strata East label but was actually commissioned by the acclaimed Japanese label Three Blind Mice. The album is best known for the Groovy jazz dancer ‘Umma Be Me’ which like the ethereal ‘Understanding’ features Sandi Hewitt...
Donny Hathaway made this his second album in 1971, it followed his sensational highly acclaimed debut 'Everything Is Everthing'. The album is superbly produced by Jerry Wexler and Arif Mardin and features nine songs that really focus on Donny's so soulful voice and his keyboard playing. The tight rhythm section features Donny along with Chuck Rainey bass Cornell Dupree guitar and Al Jackson drums and percussion. 'Giving Up' is an amazing soulful piece of music, full of emotion and immaculate performances topped by King Curtis sax solo. Donny's versions of Leon Russell 'A Song For You' , Billy Preston 'Little...
Joe Henderson recorded ‘Multiple’ in 1973 for the Milestone label, one of a string of great albums he made for the label. Right from the opening notes of the 10 minute opener ‘Tress-Cun-Deo-La’ you know this is going to be special. The band lay down an incredibly intense funky groove over which Henderson blows hard using Tenor and Soprano saxes, flutes plus percussion and voices to create a very full sound that you can really immerse yourself in. Larry Willis on electric piano, Jack DeJonette on drums, Dave Holland on bass and James ‘Blood’ Ulmer on guitar are really going...
Harlem River Drive is the main expressway up the east side of Manhattan past Harlem to NY state, it is also the name of one of the best Funky Latin Jazz bands from the early 70s, led by pianist Eddie Palmieri. Their self titled album from 1971 released on the Roulette label is a genre defining masterpiece. The band included leader Eddie Palmieri on Piano, his brother Charlie on Organ, Ronnie Cuber outstanding on Baritone Sax, Cornell Dupree on Guitar, Bernard Purdie on Drums, Randy Brecker on Tenor Sax and the so soulful Jimmy Norman on vocals along with many...
Singer and Trumpeter Johnny Britt releases another strong album 'Midnight In Paris'. It is a mixture of instrumentals and vocal tracks inspired by Johnny's regular visits to Paris where he has been studying music and language. The vocal cuts include the lovely sensual Marvin-esq mid tempo 'Show Me', the super smooth mid tempo groover 'Boulevard St Michel' the swinging 'Cherie Je T'Aime' and down tempo 'Whatever You Want I Will Do' which like on some the other tracks Johnny sings and speaks in French. The notable smooth Jazz instrumentals included 'Midnight In Paris' , ' Emotions' , 'You Are...
The legendary British funk group Cymande announce their return with first studio album since 1974's 'Promised Heights'. Renascence is a true return to form with album that caps off their already classic discography. The album kicks off with a funky number in 'Chasing An Empty' a track that wouldn't be out of place with their early albums. The is a more spiritual side to this album with tracks like 'Road To Zion' but the majority of it is very soulful and funky. Standout tracks include 'Coltrane', 'How We Roll' with Jazzie B, and 'Sweden' as well as 'I Wanna Know'...
Leon’s classic and best album , a masterpiece recorded in 1976 for Motown , just after he wrote and produced Marvin’s ‘I Want You’ album. This is in a similar style, and was over shadowed at the time by Marvin’s classic but if anything this is actually a better album. The sensual mood of the album is epitomised by the heavily orchestrated mid tempo ‘Learning How To Love You’, ‘Instant Love’ (ft Minnie Riperton) ‘Body Heat’ (Leon co-wrote and sang on Quincy’s original a year earlier) , ‘Journey Into You’ , and the slower ‘Holiday’ (ft Marvin and Womack) ,...
The band Eramus hall were apparently named after a famous Detroit landmark building by George Clinton. Their debut album 'Your Love Is My Desire' was released on Westbound in 1980 , the last album on the label, although it was recorded a couple of years earlier. It shows influence from Ohio Players, Blackbyrds and not a long way off Breakwater. 'Your Love Is My desire' is a lovely jazzy soul modern soul mid tempo horn backed dancer. They cover J.R.Bailey classic stepper 'Just Me N You' with a lusher jazzier soul production. There are some nice mid tempo ballads 'She...
October London’s ‘The Rebirth Of Marvin’ has been one of the most sought after contemporary Soul albums since it appeared as a download nearly two years ago, now it is finally available as a limited edition CD and LP. October displays a very credible and heavy influence from Marvin Gaye in his vocal delivery, style and songs on this very strong 11 track album. Most of the songs are mid tempo beat ballads like ‘Rollercoaster’, ‘Back To Your Place’ and ‘You Give Me Love’. There are more upper mid tempo semi funky tunes like ‘Make Me Wanna’ and the slightly slower but outstanding...
