Category Archives: Jazz
L.A. EXPRESS: TOM SCOTT’S SHORT-LIVED JAZZ SUPERGROUP.
L.A. Express: Tom Scott’s Short-Lived Supergroup. Musical history is littered with artists and groups that never enjoyed the commercial success that their music deserved. That was the case with L.A. Express an oft-0verlooked fusion supergroup who released a quartet of albums between 1973 and 1976. Sadly, these albums never found the audience they deserved and it was only later, that L.A. Express’ music started to be appreciated by jazz …
THE STORY OF THOS. RAPP AND PEARLS BEFORE SWINE.
The Story Of Thos. Rapp and Pearls Before Swine. When Pearls Before Swine released their fifth album City Of Gold in April 1969. it was the first album credited to Tom Rapp and Pearls Before Swine. This seemed only fair, as Tom Rapp was the only original member of Pearls Before Swine left. The rest of the …
MELVIN SPARKS-FIVE FRUITFUL YEARS 1970-1975.
Melvin Sparks-Five Fruitful Years 1970-1975. Although American jazz and blues guitarist Melvin Sparks enjoyed a career that spanned five decades, the most fruitful period of his career was the seventies, when he released five albums between 1970 and 1975. Melvin Sparks’ career began at Prestige Records, where he released a triumvirate of albums between 1970 …
CYMBELINE-SWEDEN’S LOST GROUP.
Cymbeline-Sweden’s Lost Group. Nowadays, Norway and Sweden both have vibrant and thriving music scenes, where pioneering musicians record and release some of the most ambitious, important and innovative music that is currently being released in Europe. This is nothing new, and both countries have a long and illustrious musical history stretching back to the early …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CAN.
The Life and Times Of Can. Having released eleven albums in eleven years, Can called time on their career in 1979. By then, Can were rightly regarded by critics as one of the most important, influential and innovative bands of the Krautrock era. However, like many of the Krautrock bands, Can hadn’t enjoyed the commercial …
THE INIMITABLE SUN RA, INNOVATOR AND MUSICAL PIONEER.
The Inimitable Sun Ra, Innovator and Musical Pioneer. Nowadays, music journalists are guilty of using the words innovator and musical pioneer all too freely, but that is the perfect description of the inimitable Sun Ra. He’s now regarded as one of the true pioneers of free jazz and a truly innovative and influential musician who pushed musical …
NAT BIRCHALL-COSMIC LANGUAGE-VINYL
Nat Birchall-Cosmic Language-Vinyl. Label: Jazzman Records. Manchester-based jazz saxophonist Nat Birchall has come a long way since releasing his debut album The Sixth Sense in January 1999, and nowadays, is regarded as one of the leading lights of the vibrant British jazz scene. Nat Birchall is also one of the most talented and inventive British …
A NEW LIFE VOLUME II-VINYL.
A New Life Volume II-Vinyl. Label: Jazzman Records Three years ago in 2015, Jazzman Records released A New Life, their critically acclaimed compilation of British jazz. This is no ordinary jazz compilation though. Instead, A New Life featured tracks from private pressings and hidden gems released by independent labels. So successful was A New Life …
ABSTRACT ORCHESTRA-MADVILLAIN VOLUME 1-VINYL.
Abstract Orchestra-Madvillain Volume 1-Vinyl. Label: ATA. On the ‘30th’ of June 2017, the Abstract Orchestra, who are led by saxophonist Rob Mitchell, released their debut album Dilla to plaudits and praise. Buoyed the response to Dilla, the Abstract Orchestra headed out on a lengthy tour of Britain where the all-star hip hop band’s music found …
ALAN HAWKSHAW AND BRIAN BENNETT-SYNTHESIS.
Alan Hawkshaw and Brian Bennett-Synthesis. Label: Be With Records. During the last few years, many record labels have issued compilations of library music, which has been growing in popularity. The rise and rise in popularity of library music continued during 2018, and hardly a week seemed to go by without a new library music …
SOUL OF A NATION: JAZZ IS THE TEACHER, FUNK IS THE PREACHER-VINYL
Soul Of A Nation: Jazz Is The Teacher, Funk Is The Preacher-Vinyl. Label: Soul Jazz Records. Just fifteen months after the release of their critically acclaimed compilation Soul Of A Nation, Soul Jazz Records release the much-anticipated followup Soul Of A Nation: Jazz Is The Teacher, Funk Is The Preacher as a three LP set. …
JON SAVAGE’S 1968-THE YEAR THE WORLD BURNED.
Jon Savage’s 1968-The Year The World Burned. Label: Ace Records. When the Rolling Stones released Street Fighting Man as a single in America in August 1968, it was called their most political song to date. The song started life as Did Everyone Pay Their Dues, but it’s alleged became Street Fighting Man after Mick Jagger …
VENEZUELA 70 VOLUME 2: COSMIC VISONS OF A LATIN AMERICAN EARTH: VENEZUELAN EXPERIMENTAL ROCK IN THE 1970S AND BEYOND-VINYL.
Venezuela 70 Volume 2: Cosmic Visions Of A Latin American Earth: Venezuelan Experimental Rock In The 1970s and Beyond-Vinyl. Label: Soul Jazz Records. During the seventies, Venezuela was one of the most prosperous countries in South America after oil was discovered in the North West of the country in 1914. Soon, there was the equivalent …
JOHN COLTRANE-1963: NEW DIRECTIONS-VINYL.
John Coltrane-1963: New Directions-Vinyl. Label: Impulse! As 1963 dawned, John Coltrane was at the peak of his powers and was already regarded as one of the greatest tenor saxophonists of his generation. However, the previous year 1962, had been somewhat disappointing by his high standards. Neither of the two albums he released in 1962, Ballads …
ALAN HAKWSHAW/BRIAN BENNETT-FULL CIRCLE.
Alan Hawkshaw/Brian Bennett-Full Circle. Label: Be With Records. Ever since the dawn of hip hop, library music has proved a source of inspiration for sample-hungry hip hop producers and crate-digging DJs alike. Library music has also proven popular with a coterie of music lovers with discerning musical tastes over the last few years. This was …
THE LIGHTMEN-FREE AS YOU WANNA BE-VINYL.
The Lightmen-Free As You Wanna Be-Vinyl. Label: Now Again Records. Before founding The Lightmen, drummer, bandleader and political activist Bubbha Thomas had toured the length and breadth of America playing in R&B revues. The rest of his career had been spent working alongside the legends of jazz and playing on sessions for Peacock and Back …
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