Unfortunately we will have to postpone our planned day of Jazzroom records this Saturday due to illness, Paul is slightly under the weather but should be back on his feet for next week. So save the date Saturday the 8th October in your calendars for our instore session with Paul, including a live link with Johnny Walker himself from Philadelphia at 13:00.
Johnny Walker – Advent
This particular release from American trumpeter and bandleader Johnny Walker -Advent is an increasingly rare record, initially released on Walker’s own private press label Walk On Productions. Walker wrote and produced the album while on tour with veteran Jazz star Lionel Hampton in 1982, an off the radar release that subsequently resurfaced on Kev Beadle’s Private Collection (Independent Sounds from the Seventies and Eighties) compilation on BBE records, which saw a wave renewed interest in the original album shortly thereafter. It’s an unjustly neglected underground Jazz classic, drenched in Funk with heavy back beats and intricate horn lines. The album has a similar musical register to some of the early Jazz Dance era albums from the likes of Tom Browne, Rahmlee and Marvin Stamm, a slept-on classic that is well worthy of this timely reissue.
Dipping is the album highlight. Muted trumpet flits between funky and swinging modes, backed up by a punchy rhythm section and cascading electric keys: the bassline is particularly juicy, slapping and popping in a style akin to Nathaniel Phillips. After the two-minute mark the song switches up into a swinging breakdown section, featuring an earthy and nimble walking bassline, cool, metallic drumming and delicate comping on the keys. Walker comes into his element with a piercing muted solo before the song returns to its recognisable funk formula, led by a romping rhythm section. Arrival is another album highlight, a ripe morsel of Jazz-Dance featuring soprano saxes, rollicking percussion and dynamic guitar work. Throughout the album, the rhythm section is particularly impressive with Kim Davis on bass and Larry Aberman on drums and percussion both worthy of mention. Coincidentally, Kim Davis was a protégée of Marcus Miller, also hailing from Queens New York and rubbing shoulders with the Jamaica Kats on numerous occasions – clearly his musical influence rubbed off!
Buy the LP HERE
Listen HERE
Carlos Franzetti – Grafitti
A superb Jazz Flavoured Latin Funk Soul album recorded in 1977 by Grammy Award Winning Carlos Franzetti when he was a struggling musician trying to get his first breaks in a tough New York Jazz scene. With a Top Notch grouping including Percussionist Ray Mantilla, Victor Venegas on Bass and Dick Meza from the Tito Puente Orchestra. Carlos played all the Keyboards, wrote and arranged the session.
Released by taxscam label Guiness Records and swiftly forgotten in the US, it was picked up by the DJ’s in London’s early Jazz Dance scene where “Cocoa Funk” became a must have cut, eventually appearing on Soul Jazz Records seminal re-issue series “London Jazz Classics”. It also became a hit in Germany after being re-issued on a double vinyl by leading label Sonorama Records. Now available again in its original single album format and sounding as fresh as if recorded yesterday from the opening bars of the jazz inflected cut “Beatriz” via the Worldwide sounds of “Sweet And Low” to the Funky Latin Jazz of the title track “Graffiti”.
Still changing hands for eye watering sums on collectors sites and now available again for a reasonable sum courtesy of Jazz Room Records.
Buy the LP HERE
Listen HERE
