Gil Scott Heron is justifiably recognised as one of the most unique black music artists of all time. His music transgresses all musical barriers in the same way that Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley and Marvin Gaye did. Along with his song writing partner, MD and co-producer Brian Jackson he recorded some of the most memorable songs of the 1970’s, songs which combined a message with powerful rhythms. They brought to our attention issues that most other recording artists and the media chose to overlook. Their songs always gave food for thought to the listener in the same way their contemporaries...
Far Out Recordings is delighted to present Mora!, and for the first time ever on vinyl Mora! II. Mexican-American percussionist and former member of the Sun Ra Arkestra, Francisco Mora Catlett originally recorded and released his debut solo LP as a private press in 1987, but the sequel he recorded over the course of the next few years with an expanded Detroit jazz brass section was shelved for decades to follow. A pan-American melting pot of hypnotic afro-cuban rhythms, frenetic batucadas and fiery sambas, Mora I & II are holy grails of latin jazz, masterminded by an unsung hero of the genre. Born in Washington DC,...
Dego—one of the longest standing servants of the Broken Beat scene—gives us his most latest offering "The Negative Positive", inundated with shuffling and sporadic electronic broken beats, swaggering bassweight and stuttering, jerking rhythmical syncopation overlaid by his idiosyncratic key work and brooding, assonant melodies. The album is a pinnacle of his musical output, a maturation of earlier Broken Beat and a more succinct amalgamation of Broken, urban electronic sounds with rawer Jazz moods and Funk energy. "This Is A Message To You", one of the album's highlights, trundles and jerks to an unquantised kick pattern with a round, squelchy moog...
Bobby Womack recorded the iconic ‘The Poet’ album for the Beverly Glen label in 1981, it was later reissued on Motown. It is one of his best ever albums including the driving modern soul classic ‘So Many Sides of you’, upper mid tempo ‘Secrets’, ‘Where do we go from here’ and ‘Lay your lovin’ on me’ and great ballads ‘If you think you’re lonely now’ and ‘Games’. Classic Womack, Classic Soul Bobby Womack – The Poet II Bobby Womack followed up ‘The Poet’ with Poet II in 1984 . It is another great album and features Patti Labelle on...
BBE Music present the latest in the acclaimed J Jazz Masterclass Series: Kohsuke Mine ‘First’, the debut album by one of the leading artists in the new wave of modern jazz that swept Japan in the late 60s and early 70s. ‘First’ epitomises the shifting sound of the Japanese modern jazz scene of the time, characterised by rich textures and tones, kinetic rhythms, punctuated by urgent, angular melody lines. Reissued for the first time since original 1970 release, Mine is joined by master keyboard player Masabumi Kikuchi on electric piano, and two American players – bassist Larry Ridley and drummer...
Purple vinyl remastered reissue of the classic Latin-funk LP by this iconic 1970s West Coast band. This remastered reissue of 1974 LP recreates the exuberant, Latin-tinged funk and jazz of the San Pedro-based group that backed KGFJ’s weekly Soul Search and spread its sound with itinerant flat-bed truck concerts throughout Southern California. Classics such as ‘Funky Junkie’, the often played deep funker ‘Evolution’ and the Cuban-kissed ‘Composition Seven’ mix with the fuzz funker ‘Your Mind’ and punchy ‘It’s The Music That Makes Us Do It’. Killer album! Buy the LP HERE Listen to the tracklisting Here Magnum - Evolution Magnum...
Alfa Mist is one of the driving forces behind a young and vibrant scene of UK musicians, who’ve taken on jazz as their musical narrative. On his new album Bring Backs the producer, self-taught pianist and rapper takes us on a sonic trip back to his beat-making past on the streets of East London, through the depth and musicality he discovered composing and playing jazz. 2017 saw the release of Alfa’s breakthrough record, Antiphon and the 2019’s album Structuralism were both self-released on his Sekito label. His latest endeavour, 2021’s Bring Backs, sees Alfa taking on new challenges. The record...
Jazz gem in 1973 for the Groove Merchant label. 'First Come First Served' is an excellent example of its style , hard heavy grooves laid by drummer Mickey Roker and bassist Mickey Bass supplemented by writer Albert Dailey on Electric piano and topped by Morris on tenor sax and Cecil Bridgewater on Trumpet. 'Wijinia' is lovely mid tempo Jazzy groove. 'Sweet Sister Funk' is full on Jazz Funk with a relentless groove. 'Don't ask me' has a more straight ahead Jazz approach and there is a good version of 'People make the world go round '. Another strong album in...
Fully Exposed from 1973 was Willie Hutch’s first non-soundtrack album for Motown. It illustrates Willie’s distinctive very rhythmic sound, with full on production featuring strings, horns, and Willie’s so soulful gritty voice. His version of ‘California my Way’, is a fantastic string laden, horn backed semi funky strutting groove track that has all the ingredients of classic 70’s soul. ‘Can’t Get ready For loving You’ is another great upper mid tempo track and there’s a great version of Leon Ware’s ‘I Wanna Be Where You Are’. The ballads ‘Sunshine Lady’ and ‘I Just Wanted To Make Her Happy’ hit the...
Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the reissue of Robert Cotter’s ultra-rare 1976 album, ‘Missing You’ in partnership with Robert Cotter himself. Originally released on the notorious Tiger Lily label, the album was never properly released at the time and most copies were destroyed before they could hit record store shelves. The few that survived now command unreasonable prices. The album, recorded in New York between 1975 and 76, is also Chic’s earliest recording – or The Big Apple Band as the group was known, which Robert Cotter was fronting at the time alongside fellow musicians Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards, Tony Thompson and Robert Sabino. Featuring Nile Rodgers...
