Larry Douglas has ruled as one of San Francisco’s top trumpet/flugelhorn players for more than three decades. A native of Statesboro, Georgia, Douglas found early inspiration in the music of his older brother Gary (who played trumpet) and his high school teacher James Blakely (who played alto saxophone). While in college, he and his group Funk, Incorporated (a self-proclaimed Earth, Wind, & Fire pre-cursor band), took first place in the national and international levels of the Budweiser Music Festival competition. He moved to San Francisco, as a member of the United States Army’s Sixth Division Band, in 1975. With his...
Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Cosmic Funk Lonnie Liston Smith’s second album ‘Cosmic Funk’ was released in 1974 on the Flying Dutchman label. The title track is a spacey funky jazz number reminiscent of Miles Davis ‘On the Corner’. ‘Footprints’ is a brilliant percussive version of the Wayne Shorter track featuring Lonnie’s textured keyboards, George Barron on Soprano Sax, propelled by Al Anderson’s bass. ‘Beautiful Woman’ is a beautiful track featuring Donald Smith harmonic vocals. ‘Sais (Egypt)’is a lovely atmospheric Spiritual Jazz track written by Mtume. Donald Smith appears again on the slower and reflective...
Moonchild return with their 5th album 'Starfruit' . Amber Navran's cute voice is complimented by musicians Andris Mattson and Max Bryk and many guest singers and musicians making a very hypnotic laid back album. Lalah Hathaway sings on the strutting mid tempo 'Tell Him'. Alex Isley guests on the head nodder 'You Got Me' and Chantae Caan 'The Long Way' which also has a sax solo from Josh Johnson. 'I'll Be Here' and 'Too Good' are also nice headnodders. 'Love You Need' is slightly funkier with nice flugelhorn from Mattson but features an unnecessary rap by Rapsody. Overall a good album....
Bay Area jazz guitar legend Calvin Keys released his debut solo record, Shawn-Neeq, in 1971, and it remains one of the most beloved albums on the Black Jazz label. But that record was mere prelude for 1974"s Proceed with Caution; this time around, the arrangements were more complex, the instrumentation more diverse. In short, a quantum leap forward; indeed, as Calvin tells Pat Thomas in his liner notes for the release, 'I started going to the Los Angeles School of Music studying orchestrations and I was putting it to use!' And he recruited the band to fulfill his ambitious musical visions...
First vinyl issue of an unreleased jazz album recorded by keyboardist Kenny Cox for the Detroit Strata label in 1974. ‘My Lost Love’ ‘Clap Clap (the Joyful Noise) and ‘Samba De Romance’ are beautiful mellow keyboard led mid tempo shufflers, ‘Island Song’ is more uptempo and percussive. ‘Beyond the Dream’ is a spiritual jazz workout. Nice album, a real discovery. Buy the LP HERE Buy the CD HERE Check out the tracks below, Kenny Cox - Clap Clap (A Joyful Noise) Kenny Cox - Samba De Romance Kenny Cox - Island Song Kenny Cox - Lost My Love Kenny Cox...
THESE MEMORIES Rare Soul Gems…Memories of the rare soul scene are manifold but this timeless collection goes right to the heart and soul of the scene and is perhaps best summed up by the emotive title track “These Memories” by Almeta Lattimore. You really don’t need any other reason to buy this album, but how about Corey Blake’s £1,000+ collector’s-piece “How Can I Go On Without You”, which has evaded compilation for over twenty years. Equally rare is Billy Harner’s “I Got It From Heaven”, recorded and produced in 1976 by ‘Sound Gems’ label boss Frank Fioravanti. It was discovered,...
MF Robots return with their much anticipated second album 'Break The Wall' . Former Brand New Heavies founding member drummer and singer Jan Kincaid and BNH vocalist Dawn Joseph are joined by a good band with horns to create a joyful and uplifting contemporary Soul and Funk album. The 13 tracks have good grooves and that feelgood factor to lift us from the general mood of the last couple of years. The driving funky 'Change', dancers 'Crazy Life', 'Good People' and 'Shine' chugging groover 'Gold', mid tempo 'You' and best of all the harmonic floater 'Make The Call' are all...
Sir Edward (AKA Harold Vick) - The Power Of Feeling Jazz Room Records have stepped things up a notch with their latest reissue, a fine piece of A&R from label head honcho Paul Murphy who recently paid a visit to us in the shop to hand deliver this item. One of the great unsung saxophone hero's: Harold Vick worked as a sideman with Hammond Legends Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Big John Patton, and Larry Young. He played on and off with Walter Bishop, Jr. and worked with Philly Joe Jones, Howard McGhee, Donald Byrd and Ray Charles. He also appeared...
The only album ever recorded by Peruvian sax player Nilo Espinosa and his group, also known as the Nil’s Jazz Ensemble, remains not only a grail item for collectors of Latin-American jazz but also as an outstanding piece of music, seamlessly flitting between Jazz Fusion, Funk and Latin modes in it's own particular style. After being unavailable for many years—having previously been reissued back in the 1990s—Vampi Soul present the 1976 album in its full glory, with remastered sound and original artwork, including a replica of the rare promo poster that initially came with the album. The set begins with "Reflexiones"...
Check out this listing of 30 Rare and out of print classic albums on CD, quite a few from our own Soul Brother label catalog recently found in a warehouse with a few Japanese issues . These are mainly one offs , but we do have a very small quantity on a few of them and all are new sealed copies. Some of these have been out of print for many years and are highly sought after, so please order early to avoid disappointment. CDs can be ordered on-line, over the phone on 020 8875 1018 or collected from our...
