Category Archives: Jazz Funk
TERJE RYPDAL-CONSPIRACY.
Terje Rypdal-Conspiracy. Label: ECM. Format: CD. Norwegian guitarist Terje Rypdal was twenty-one when he released his debut album Bleak House on Polydor in 1968. This was the start of a recording career that has spanned six decades and saw the him become one of Norway’s most successful musical exports. Three years later, in 1971, Terje …
THE AWAKENING-HEAR, SENSE AND FEEL.
The Awakening-Hear, Sense and Feel. Label: Real Gone Music. Format: CD. Of the twenty albums that Black Jazz Records released between 1971 and 1975, The Awakening’s Hear, Sense and Feel is a much prized rarity amongst collectors. Copies of the album change hands for hundreds of dollars. That is no surprise given the quality of …
COLIN CURTIS PRESENTS JAZZ DANCE FUSION VOLUME 2.
Colin Curtis Presents Jazz Dance Fusion Volume 2. Label: Z Records. Format: CD. During the late-seventies and early eighties, one of most popular DJs on the UK jazz-dance scene was Colin Curtis, who was born Colin Dimond, in Madeley, Staffordshire 1952. That was where the his lifelong love of music began when he started to …
EABS-DISCIPLINE OF SUN RA.
EABS-Discipline Of Sun Ra. Label: Astigmatic Records. Format: CD. Having orbited planet earth and ascertained that it was safe to land, the spaceship carrying the Sun Ra Arkestra landed in Kalisz, one of the oldest cities in the Polish People’s Republic on the ‘7th’ of December 1986. Martial law had been imposed by the Pro-Moscow …
NIMBUS SEXTET-DREAMS FULFILLED .
Nimbus Sextet-Dreams Fulfilled. Label: Acid Jazz Records. Format: CD. The roots of the Glaswegian-based contemporary jazz combo can be traced to Scotland’s capital Edinburgh, where pianist, keyboardist and bandleader Joe Nichols was studying at Edinburgh University. That was where he met his long-time collaborators drummer Alex Palmer and bassist Mischa Stevens. They’ve been performing together …
ALAIN BELLAICHE-SEA FLUORESCENT/KIRLIAN EFFECT.
Alain Bellaïche-Sea Fluorescent/Kirlian Effect. Label: Souffle Continu. Format: CD. Alain Bellaïche was born in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, but spent his childhood in Cannes, on the French Riviera which was where he discovered music and played his first concerts. Initially, he played in friends’ houses where he was guaranteed a captive and appreciative audience. …
ROLAND HAYNES-2ND WAVE.
Roland Haynes-2nd Wave. Label: Real Gone Music. Format: CD. Forty-five years ago in 1975, Roland Haynes released his debut album 2nd Wave on the Detroit-based Black Jazz Records. The label was founded by Gene Russell and Dick Schory and released twenty albums between 1971 and 1975. 2nd Wave was the label’s penultimate release and it …
NIMBUS SEXTET-DREAMS FULFILLED .
Nimbus Sextet-Dreams Fulfilled. Label: Acid Jazz Records. Format: LP. The roots of the Glaswegian-based contemporary jazz combo can be traced to Scotland’s capital Edinburgh, where pianist, keyboardist and bandleader Joe Nichols was studying at Edinburgh University. That was where he met his long-time collaborators drummer Alex Palmer and bassist Mischa Stevens. They’ve been performing together …
DOUG CARN FEATURING THE VOICE OF JEAN CARN-SPIRIT OF THE NEW LAND.
Doug Carn Featuring The Voice Of Jean Carn-Spirit Of The New Land. Label: Real Gone Music. Format: CD. Doug Carn was one of the first artists that Gene Russell and Dick Schory signed when they founded Black Jazz Records in 1971. His debut solo album Infant Eyes was the nascent company’s third release and featured …
NIMBUS SEXTET-TRAP DOOR.
Nimbus Sextet-Trap Door. Label: Acid Jazz Records. Format: Single from the album Dreams Fulfilled released “23rd October 2020. For the best part of six decades, Scotland has enjoyed a vibrant and eclectic music scene and has produced many successful artists and bands that have gone on to enjoy commercial success and critical acclaim. This began …
AMBIANCE-INTO A NEW JOURNEY.
Ambiance-Into A New Journey. Label: BBE MUSIC. Format: CD. Release Date: ‘19th’ September 2020. During the seven year period between 1979 and 1986, Ambiance led by Nigerian born multi-instrumentalist Daoud Abubakar Balewa released six albums on the LA-based private press label Da Mon Records. It was a self-financed business that released short runs of Ambiance’s …
SOUL LOVE NOW: THE BLACK FIRE RECORDS STORY, 1975-1993.
Soul Love Now: The Black Fire Records Story, 1975-1993. Label: Strut Records. Format: CD. Many people who love music dream of owning and running their own record company. However, not everyone who decides to found a record company is qualified or suited to do so. They don’t have the skillset or experience that’s required and instead …
BOILLAT THERACE QUINTET-BOILLAT THERACE QUINTET +3.
Boillat Thérace Quintet-Boillat Thérace Quintet +3. Label: We Release Jazz. Format: CD. Release Date: ’10th’ July 2020. By 1974, the Swiss jazz scene was thriving, and the Montreux Jazz Festival which had been launched in 1967, was in its eight year. The organisers had surpassed themselves with what was an all-star lineup Between the ‘2nd’ …
GREG FOAT-SYMPHOMIE PACIFIQUE.
Greg Foat-Symphonie Pacifique. Label: Strut Release Date: ‘3rd’ July 2020. Prolific and versatile are words that describe London-based Greg Foat, who nowadays, is regarded as one of Britain’s top jazz pianists and composers. His career began back in the noughties, and in 2009, he founded The Greg Foat Group who went on to release five …
ATA RECORDS: THE LIBRARY ARCHIVE VOLUME 1.
ATA Records: The Library Archive Volume 1. Label: ATA Records. Format: CD. Release Date: ‘10th’ July 2020. Nowadays, library music is highly collectable, especially the albums released by KPM, De Woife, Amphonic, Conroy and Sonoton from the sixties, seventies and early eighties. That is regarded by many collectors as a golden age for library music. …
CULT CLASSIC: MAYNARD FERGUSON-M.F HORN 4 AND 5: LIVE AT JIMMY’S.
Cult Classic: Maynard Ferguson-M.F. Horn 4 and 5:Live At Jimmy’s. The first time many jazz fans heard Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, was when he joined the when the twenty-four year old joined Stan Kenton’s new Innovations Orchestra in 1949. This was home for Maynard Ferguson for the next four years and was where he …
CULT CLASSIC: BILLY COBHAM-MAGIC.
Cult Classic: Billy Cobham-Magic. By 1977, Panamanian-American jazz and fusion drummer Billy Cobham had only been a solo artist since 1973, but he already accumulated a wealth of experience since his discharge from the US Army in 1968. Soon, he had joined Horace Silver’s Quintet, then became the house drummer at Atlantic Records and a …
CULT CLASSIC: SEA LEVEL-BALL ROOM.
Cult Classic: Sea Level-Ball Room. In 1980, Southern rockers Sea Level released their fifth album Ball Room, which was a new start for the band. They had been signed to Capricorn Records since the release of their eponymous debut album in 1976. After recording four albums for Capricorn Records, Sea Level signed to Clive Davis’ …
ROY BUDD-THE INTERNECINE PROJECT.
Roy Budd-The Internecine Project. Label: Trunk Records. By 1974, London born jazz pianist, arranger, bandleader and composer Roy Budd was twenty-seven, and had been performing professionally since the age of fifteen. A year later, he formed his own quartet, and in 1967, released his debut album Roy Budd At Newport. The young pianist was a …