José James releases his twelfth Album ‘1978’ (his birth year) and it is one of his most soulful to date. It has a very mellow soul sound reminiscent of the year and period it is named after. ‘Let’s Get It’ has very hypnotic groove with nice percussion and a four piece string section. ‘Saturday Night (Need You Know) ‘ subtly has a little more tempo without being an out and out dancer. Xenia Franca co-wrote and sings on the folky soul ‘Place Of Worship’ . ’38th & Chicago’ is possibly the albums highlight with a lilting groove and superb percussion...
Keyboard legend Lonnie Smith recorded the killer ‘Afrodesia’ album for Sonny Lester’s Groove Merchant label in 1975. It features a great line of Lonnie on keyboards and organ, Ron Carter and Ralphe Armstrong on basses, Ben Riley and Jamey Huddad on drums, Joe Lovano on sax (one of his earliest recordings), Greg Hopkins on Trumpet and an uncredited George Benson on guitar on three of the albums five cuts. ‘Afrodesia’ is a very funky Jazz nine minute compelling groove with Lonnie on keyboards featuring a lead male vocal and female backing vocals and great solos as it chugs along, a...
Donald Byrd was always trying to push the boundaries of the Blue Note sound and ‘A New Perspective’ is a clear illustration. In the seventies, Byrd would embrace Jazz Funk and with his first effort in this style produced the biggest selling album in Blue Note’s catalogue up to that point –‘Black Byrd’. Back in January 1963 when ‘A New Perspective’ was recorded, Donald Byrd was still a mainstream Blue Note artist. His rich soulful trumpet caresses notes using space in much the same way as Miles Davis and allows the music space to breathe. On ‘Elijah’ – a tribute...
Joe Henderson recorded this seminal album 'Power To The People' in 1969, his third album for the Milestone label, but the first in a series of great spiritual inspired jazz albums. Joe is joined by a great line up featuring Herbie Hancock on keys, Ron Carter on Bass, Jack De Johnette Drums, and Mike Lawrence on trumpet, who support and interweave with Henderson's powerful and expressive tenor sax playing. 'Black Narcissus' is a beautiful track with a lovely melody played with amazing clarity, he would revisit this tune in the 70s. 'Afro- Centric' has a far more urgent groove and...
For today's album of the day we are presenting the most recent addition of Colin Curtis's Jazz Dance Fusion series. This brilliant compilation is available on LP and CD, with the LP version being split across two gatefold albums. Trumpeter Bill Ortiz is joined by Azar Lawrence on sax and Brian Jackson on Piano for a breakneck version of Eddie Henderson's 'Fusion/Noche Cubana' heavy vibes ! GeeW cover Rose Royce classic 'Still In Love' jazz dance style ft Navasha Daya on vocals. Tom Funk's The Sultans Swing '46 To Somewhere' grooves along nicely. The music's heritage is represented by Charro Band...
For today's album of the day we are presenting Dinner Party - the group consisting of Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin and 9th Wonder - who have put their first two albums on fantastic new CD. Both albums are significantly in demand and were snapped up quickly when first release. Although formed somewhat as a supergroup featuring household names in the jazz/hip-hop world, there is clearly no single leader to this fantastic set up musicians, each bringing their own talents and styles to the table and a rich depth of musicality quietly distilled into lovely album. I say album...
For today's album of the day feature we would like to present to you O'Donnel Levy's fantastic album Simba. Recorded in 1973 and released the following year on Groove Merchant, Simba features seven killer tunes brought to you by some of the very best musicians of the time. Levy himself was of course a heavily sought after player during this time, touring with George Benson and Jimmy McGriff before signing to Sonny Lester's Groove Merchant label. His ability in full flow on this record, with slick melodic phrasing that is both exuberant and delicate in equal measure and complimented perfectly...
Check the Soul, Funk and Jazz Japanese CDs that we have in stock. There are quite a few new titles including two from Jackie Ross that have just arrived, plus some deep dig finds in the back of the shop. Most of the titles are one off's and may not be available again, so please order early to avoid disappointment.. Happy Diggin, Laurence
We have had two absolutely fantastic Blue Note albums in recently the latest instalment of their Classic Album Series. Lee Morgan recorded ‘Search For The New Land’ just two months after the classic ‘Sidewinder’ session. The unexpected crossover success of ‘The Sidewinder’ which carried on throughout 1964 and into 1965 led to the delay in the release of ‘Search For The New Land’ and the recording of ‘The Rumproller’ as follow-up. An understandable decision by Blue Note to cash in on this success, meant that this sextet session has remained something...
With Valentines Day round the corner we wanted to draw your attention to an album that could not be more perfect for this time of year. Of all his albums ‘Hutson’ subsequently known as ‘Hutson 1’ is widely considered as his greatest, and is in fact regarded by many people as one of the best soul albums of all time (myself included). The full production with string and horn sections make a perfect complement to the songs and his seductive voice. Every track on the album is worthy of note, but especially ‘Lucky Fellow’ and ‘All Because of You’ which...
