Category Archives: Jazz
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 4.
The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 4. Iggy Pop-The Idiot. Label: UMC. When Iggy Pop released his debut solo The Idiot in March 1977, it was a stylistic departure from the former leader of The Stooges. The Idiot seemed to have been influenced by Kraftwerk, James Brown and David Bowie’s Berlin trilogy. As for the title, …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 5.
The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 5. Melissa Manchester-Home To Myself, Bright Eyes, Melissa and Help Is On The Way. Label: BGO Records. Success didn’t come overnight for Melissa Manchester. She released her debut album Home To Myself in 1973, which was well received by critics, but reached just 156 in the US Billboard 200. In …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 6.
The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 6. Radiohead-OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 – 2017. Label: XL Recordings. In June 1997, post rock pioneers Radiohead released the album that transformed their career, and catapulted them to music’s premier league. OK Computer with its abstract lyrics, densely layered sound and eclectic range of disparate influences was very different to …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 7.
The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 7. Stoneground-Stoneground and Stoneground 3. Label: BGO Records. When Stoneground released their eponymous debut in early 1970, critics were won over by a fusion of blues, folk, pop, psychedelia, rock and soul. Seamlessly, Stoneground switch between and fuse musical genres and influences. To do this they deployed seven separate vocalists …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 1.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 1. Every week of the year, dozens of compilations are released by independent and major record labels which makes choosing just a few of the highlights of 2017 no easy task. However, after much consideration I’ve managed to choose The Best Compilations Of 2017. Acetone-1999-2001 Label: Light In The …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 2.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 2. Conrad Schnitzler-Filmmusik 2. Label: Bureau B. Filmmuzik 2, just like Filmmuzik 1, is the perfect starting place for newcomers to the music of Conrad Schnitzler. Both albums are a gateway to the rest of Conrad Schnitzler’s back-catalogue. These compilations will be the first step on a voyage of …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 3.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 3. Innerpeace-Rare and Spiritual Funk and Jazz Gems: The Supreme Sound Of Producer Bob Shad. Label: Wewantsounds. Nowadays, the music Mainstream Records released between 1964 and 1978 is more popular than ever. It seems that with every passing year more people discover the delights of Mainstream Records’ illustrious back-catalogue. …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 5.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 5 Screamin’ Jay Hawkins-The Planet Sessions. Label: Ace Records. Inimitable and unique describe the late Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. He was one of the great musical showmen, whose performances were designed to leaving a lasting impression. They always succeeded in doing so. So did his music including the songs on The …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 6.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 6. The Monkees-Summer Of Love. Label: Rhino. Even today, The Monkees divides the opinion of many critics and record buyers. Partly that is because of the perception that The Monkees were a manufactured band that was the brainchild of television executives. Despite that, The Monkees went on to enjoy …
THE BEST BOX SETS OF 2017.
The Best Box Sets Of 2017. Each and every year, hundreds, if not thousands of box sets are released by independent and major record companies, and usually there’s something for every budget. That is also the case on list of the Best Box Sets of 2017, which features box sets that cost £10 right up …
THE BEST NORDIC WAVE RELEASES OF 2017-PART 2.
The Best Nordic Wave Releases Of 2017-Part 2. Danish String Quartet-Last Leaf. Label: ECM Records. Nowadays, the Danish String Quartet is regarded by many critics as the most exciting young string quartets in Europe, if not the world. They’ve been breathing new life and meaning into contemporary compositions and the classical repertoire. However, when the …
DON ELLIS-TEARS OF JOY AND CONNECTION.
Don Ellis-Tears Of Joy and Connection. Label: BGO Records. As 1971 dawned, drummer, trumpeter, composer and bandleader Don Ellis was regarded as an innovative musician within jazz circles due to his use of willingness to experiment, and particularly due to his use of different time signatures. That had been the case as his career took …
EMILIO APARICIO-SONIC SCIENTIST AND MUSICAL PIONEER.
Emilio Aparicio-Sonic Scientist and Musical Pioneer. Nowadays, the words pioneer and innovator tend to be overused, and musicians who create truly groundbreaking music seem to be sadly, few and far between. While there are some pioneering musicians whose music continues to push musical boundaries, there are no longer as many as there once were. Especially …
GIL SCOTT-HERON-AMERICA’S SOCIAL CONSCIENCE: 1970-1980 THE GOLDEN ERA.
Gil Scott-Heron-America’s Social Conscience: 1970-1980 The Golden Era. After releasing a trio of studio albums on Bob Thiele’s Flying Dutchman Productions between 1970 and 1972, Gil Scott-Heron signed to Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell’s Strata-East Records. By then, Gil Scott-Heron was well on his way to becoming America’s social conscience. Gil Scott-Heron was a poet, …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ANE BRUN.
The Life and Times of Ane Brun. In her native Norway, forty-one year old Ane Brun is one of the most successful singer-songwriters of her generation. Her career began in May 2003, when she released her debut album Spending Time With Morgan. This was the start of a glittering career for Ane Brun, who recently …
MAYNARD FERGUSON-M.F HORN 4 AND 5: LIVE AT JIMMY’S.
Maynard Ferguson-M.F. Horn 4 and 5:Live At Jimmy’s. BGO Records. 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 …
THE ORIGINAL SOUND OF BURKINA FASO.
The Original Sound Of Burkina Faso. Label: Mr. Bongo Records. After the success of Mr. Bongo’s The Original Sound Of Mali compilation, the Brighton-based label recently released a new compilation, The Original Sound Of Burkina Faso which was compiled by David ‘Mr Bongo’ Buttle and Florent Mazzoleni. The Original Sound Of Burkina Faso transports the …
HABIBI FUNK: AN ECLECTIC SELECTION OF MUSIC FROM THE ARAB WORLD.
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World. Label: Habibi Funk Germany. Nowadays, hundreds of compilations are released by record companies all around the world, and with one click of a button music fans have access to an eclectic selection of music that forty years ago, wasn’t available to record buyers. Back …