Author Archive: dereksmusicblog

ROY HAYNES-HIP ENSEMBLE.

ROY HAYNES-HIP ENSEMBLE. In the history of jazz music, Roy Haynes’ name looms large. He is one of the most recorded drummers in jazz history. During a career that spanned sixty years, Roy Haynes worked with the great and good of jazz music. This included Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Wardell Grey, Stan Getz and Sarah …

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MEGA JAWNS-TEN LETTERS FROM HOME.

MEGA JAWNS-TEN LETTERS FROM HOME. From the day Bernie Lowe and Karl Mann founded Cameo Records in 1956, Philadelphia was on its way to becoming one of America’s musical capitals. Throughout the sixties, Philly’s reputation as a musical centre of excellence grew. This was in part down to a trio of songwriters and producers, known …

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BOBBY WOMACK-PIECES.

BOBBY WOMACK-PIECES.  On  June 27th 2014, Bobby Womack, one of the legends of soul music died. Bobby’s career had lasted over fifty years. It began when Bobby was a member of The Valentinos. After that, Bobby embarked upon a solo career. He released his debut album Fly Me To The Moon in 1968. Bobby would then release another …

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KILINDU-KILINDU.

KILINDU-KILINDU. There aren’t many bands who are fortunate enough to have a Grammy Award winning producer working on their debut alum. Kilindu have been. They’ve recently been working with Grammy winning producer, Robert Cutarella. He produced their eponymous debut album, Kilindu which was released as a digital download on 20th September 2014. Previously, Robert Cutarella …

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MARSHALL ALLEN PRESENTS SUN RA AND HIS ARKESTRA-IN THE ORBIT OF RA.

MARSHALL ALLEN PRESENTS SUN RA AND HIS ARKESTRA-IN THE ORBIT OF RA. Enigmatic and innovative describes the man whose been referred Mr. Mystery, Sun Ra. He was, without doubt, one of the most important figures in jazz music. Constantly, Sun Ra’s pushed musical boundaries. Sun Ra was never content to stand still musically. Similarly, he …

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BRENT SUPERB 60S SOUL SIDES.

BRENT SUPERB 60S SOUL SIDES. When Bob Shad founded Brent Records in 1959, he was no newcomer to the music industry. Music had been his life. Originally, Bob, a native New Yorker, started life as a session guitarist. Bob made it his business to know everyone within the New York music scene. He knew everyone …

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THE EXCELSIORS-CONTROL THIS.

THE EXCELSIORS-CONTROL THIS. When The Excelsiors recently released their debut album Control This, on BBE Records, one thing shawn through, Shane “Sureshot” Hunt’s love of Jamaican music. It shines through from the opening bars of Mrs. Magic, right through to the closing bars of Soon I Will Be Done. So much so, that Control This …

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CRACKING THE COSIMO CODE-60S NEW ORLEANS R&B AND SOUL.

CRACKING THE COSIMO CODE-60S NEW ORLEANS R&B AND SOUL. Between 1956 and 1968, Cosimo Matassa owned what was the most important recording studio in New Orleans. Situated at 521-525 Governor Nichols Street, Cosimo Matassa’s studios were where some of the most important soul and R&B to come out of New Orleans was recorded. Cosimo Matassa’s …

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DAN MASTROIANNI-TEARS AND WHISPERS.

DAN MASTROIANNI-TEARS AND WHISPERS. All too often, an album fails to find the audience it deserves first time round. This can be a result of a number of reasons. The albums was released on the wrong label, it wasn’t promoted properly or it was too far ahead of its time. There can be any number …

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JEFF BUCKLEY-GRACE.

JEFF BUCKLEY-GRACE. Twenty years ago, Jeff Buckley released the one and only album of his career, Grace. Jeff was the son of  Tim Buckley, one of the most talented singer-songwriters of his generation. Tim could’ve and should’ve enjoyed widespread commercial success and critical acclaim. Sadly, that wasn’t to be. Having released nine albums between 1966 and 1974, …

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SHE DID IT! THE SONGS OF JACKIE DESHANNON VOLUME 2.

SHE DID IT! THE SONGS OF JACKIE DESHANNON VOLUME 2. When eventually, the definitive history of modern music is written, Jackie DeShannon will be remembered as one of the first, and most successful singer -songwriters. Her career began in 1956, when as Sherry Lee, she released her debut single Baby Honey. Jackie was just fifteen. …

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DJ SNOWBOY PRESENTS THE GOOD FOOT.

DJ SNOWBOY PRESENTS THE GOOD FOOT. Mark Cotgrove was just fourteen when he made his DJ-ing debut. This was at Deanes School, in Thundersley, Essex. The future DJ Snowboy assisted his metalwork teacher on the wheels of steel. This could’ve, and should’ve, been the start of his DJ-ing career. It wasn’t. By the time Mark …

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COLD COLD HEART-WHEN COUNTRY MEETS SOUL VOLUME 3.

COLD COLD HEART-WHEN COUNTRY MEETS SOUL VOLUME 3. For the past fifty years, country music has influenced soul music, and soul singers. Many soul singers grew up listening to soul music. This would later influence and help shape their careers. Later, when their careers began, many soul singers would pay homage to how country music …

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CHANCHA VIA CIRCUITO-AMANSARA.

CHANCHA VIA CIRCUITO-AMANSARA.  It’s been three long years since Chancha Via Circuito released his sophomore album, Rio Arriba in 2011. Hailed as an innovative, groundbreaking, genre-melting album, Rio Arriba lifted the profile not just of Chancha Via Circuito, but cumbia.  The commercial success and critical acclaim of Rio Arriba lead to  Chancha Via Circuito being …

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VELVET REVOLUTIONS PSYCHEDELIC ROCK FROM THE EASTERN BLOC VOLUME TWO 1968-1971.

VELVET REVOLUTIONS PSYCHEDELIC ROCK FROM THE EASTERN BLOC VOLUME TWO 1968-1971. One of the last sources of undiscovered music has to be what was the former Eastern Bloc. Especially the music released during the psychedelic era. As a result, music lovers in the West never got to discover the psychedelic rock music that was popular …

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WILLIAM ONYEABOR-WHAT?!

WILLIAM ONYEABOR-WHAT?! It was only when David Byrne’s Luaka Bop released World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who is William Onyeabor in October 2013, that the wider world first heard the music of one the most mysterious and elusive musicians. The title Who is William Onyeabor was one that nobody could answer with any certainly,  There’s a …

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LED ZEPPELIN-LED ZEPPELIN IV.

LED ZEPPELIN-LED ZEPPELIN IV. When Led Zeppelin III was released in October 1970 music critics gave the album mediocre reviews. This had been the case throughout their career. Critics didn’t seem willing to Led Zeppelin a fair hearing. For Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham, this was hugely frustrating. Things got …

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UNDER THE INFLUENCE VOLUME 4-COMPILED BY NICK THE RECORD.

UNDER THE INFLUENCE VOLUME 4-COMPILED BY NICK THE RECORD. Over the last few years, ZR Records Under The Influence compilation series has become one of the most eagerly awaited releases. The first volume of Under The Influence first hit the shops back in October 2011. Under The Influence Volume 1 was compiled by Red Gregg. …

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THE PEARLFISHERS- OPEN UP YOUR COLOURING BOOK.

THE PEARLFISHERS- OPEN UP YOUR COLOURING BOOK. “Everything comes to he who waits.” So the sayings goes.  Even a new album from The Pearlfishers. Recently, Scotland’s best kept musical secret, The Pearlfishers, released their seventh album, Open Up Your Colouring Book, on Marina Records. Open Up Your Colouring Book was released seven years after their …

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PORTISHEAD-DUMMY.

PORTISHEAD-DUMMY. Over the years, I’ve often written about many groups groups who were innovators within their chosen genre. This includes King Tubby, Kraftwerk, The Orb and Primal Scream. Each of theses groups have produced albums that have been influential in various ways. King Tubby pioneered dub reggae. Krafwerk were one of this first groups to use …

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