20 Superb Southern Soul tracks from the Stax vaults make up this excellent compilation on the Kent label. Eddie Floyd contributes two previously unreleased cuts the lovely floater ‘How can I win your love’ and ballad ‘Everybody makes a mistake’. Isaac Hayes original 75 version of Banks and Hampton’s ‘I’m Gonna have to tell her’ , Fredrick Knight ‘Let’s make a deal’, Israel Tolbert ‘Got to get away from you’ and Randy Brown& Company funky ‘Did you hear yourself’ are also highlights. There are many originally unreleased tracks included. The best are Shirley Brown ‘Ain’t no way’ , Soul Children...
Veteran saxophonist Gary Bartz joins forces with Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Young for the sixth installment of the Jazz is Dead series. Gary is fine fettle primarily on alto throughout on this fine piece of contemporary Jazz which links the tradition with modern production featuring real instruments. The uptempo ‘Black and Brown’, Hip hop influenced beats of the down tempo ‘Spiritual Ideation’, ‘Soulsea’ and ‘Blue Jungles’ and mid tempo ‘The Message’ are all highlights. ‘Visions Of Love’ has a really nice soulful feel with background vocals in the hook line. Really nice album from one of the masters of Jazz,...
Our first ever record of the day of Lebanese origin! The mystical sounding Jazz-Funk-Disco grail from Ziad Rahbani - Abu Ali, recorded in Greece back in the seventies with a mixture of Greek and Arabic musicians. It was a time of turmoil back in Rahbani's home country of Lebanon, which was in the throes of civil conflict and committed to a prolonged war with Israel. A renowned cultural firebrand figure back in Lebanon, known as one of the leading exponents of the prevalent left-wing counterculture of the time and as one of the most biting Lebanese political satirists and playwrights...
UK Jazz outfit Vertaal’s debut mixtape / album on vinyl, Paradigm Shifting, is a stunning body of music, reflecting the rich evolution of the wider UK Jazz scene and its myriad of influences and musical styles. Flitting between Broken Beat and Hip-Hop productions to straight up Jazz-Dance, it is a record unlike any other recent UK Jazz album—a unique and idiosyncratic recording, the groups first vinyl release. The album was funded in majority through a kickstarter campaign—the ensemble of donors thanked on one of the inner sleeves—and recorded and mastered remotely. Polar is a rolling Jazz dancer, underlaid by silky...
Aspects by Str4ta—the new album by J. P. Maunick (Bluey) of Incognitio fame, alongside a few of his long time associates such as Matt Cooper, Ski Oakenfull, Peter Hinds and Francis Hylton - produced by the soulful stalwart Gilles Peterson and released on Brownswood Records - Str4ta, Aspects. The album is an excursion of Britfunk, reminiscent of the Jazz-Funk era of the late 70's and early 80's with London bands like Hi-Tension, Atmosfear and Incognito putting their own take on American Soul, Disco, Jazz and Funk Fusion sounds, music which was simultaneously broacast during that time on London's many pirate...
Tom Brock recorded this great Barry White produced album in 1974. ‘I Love You More and More’ is a brilliant two stepper with soulful vocals. ‘There’s Nothing in This World’ is a another highlight which was sampled by Jay-Z. The beat ballads ‘Have a Nice Weekend Baby’ and ‘The Love We Share Is The Greatest Of Them All’ and Motown influenced ‘ Naked as the Day I Was Born’ are also strong tracks. Overall, a really good 70s Soul album. Buy the LP here Buy the CD here Listen to the album here Tom Brock - Have A Nice Weekend...
10 track “Best Of” from the Jazz Funk band that included James Mason & Ryo Kawasaki & recorded for the same label as James. Incl. “Truth Is The Key” – similar to Seawind’s “He Loves You” & the Fusion dancer “Out Of This World”. Check also the beautiful “Dreamflower” as sampled by the Underwolves & used by Erykah Badu. Strong yet relatively unknown Jazz Funk album. "From a musical perspective, the 1970's were a good time for having your cake and eating it too. The Term "out of the box thinking" was not in play - it didn't need to...
Seventh volume of this ever popular series sees yet more unreleased gems come to light, including a fine version of Claude Huey’s ‘Why Would You Blow It’ by Isaiah Smith, Carolyn Crawford’s powerhouse ‘Ready or Not Here I Come’, the street corner feel of Harvey Scales’ ‘It’s Midnight’ and the sublime ‘Farewell My Love’ from The Performers. Little Nicky Soul’s ever in demand ‘You Said’ is a classic, Melvyn Hicks & The Versatiles ‘The Intruder’ is another incredible find that was thought to be acetate only while The Family Brick’s free flowing ‘I’ll Fly To Your Open Arms’ is another...
UK based, Ghanaian born singer-songwriter Myles Sanko follows up his superb 2016 album ‘Just Being Me’ with a new set that further enhances his reputation as one of the best voices on the UK soul circuit. As ever, the themes are of love and loss and longing with keen social observations along the way; there are comparisons with Gregory Porter, both vocally and musically’ and the uptempo opener ‘Where Do We Stand’ has that hard driving jazz laced soul feel. The pulsating ‘Rainbow In Your Cloud’ is a funkier, positive-message song, the soaring, ‘Whatever You Are’ is carried along by...
Tower of Power’s third album ‘Tower of Power’ from 1973 was the first with Lenny Williams as lead vocalist and band members Chester Thompson and Lenny Pickett, probably their best ever line up. It is one of their best albums and includes the brassy funky anthems ‘What is Hip’ and topical ‘Soul Vaccination’. There is also the Soul dancer ‘This time it’s real’ and the superb ballads ‘So very hard to go’ and ‘Just another Day’ plus the mid tempo ‘Clever Girl’ highlighting Williams excellent soulful voice. Great album. BUY LP here Listen Tower Of Power - What Is...
