Charles Sullivan - 1976 - Re-entry

One of the few sessions ever cut as a leader by soul jazz trumpeter Charles Sullivan, a brilliant talent who shone brightly in the mid 70s, working in hip small groups that were very much in the Strata East mode. This rare, previously Japanese-only release has Sullivan working with Rene McLean, Kenny Barron, Buster Williams, and Billy Hart on a tightly crafted set of tunes that share the same lyrical searching quality as some of McLean or Barron's own work from the time. The compositions are incredibly soulful, very much in the mode of some of Billy Harper's genius Japanese recordings.

01 - Re-entry

02 - Body & Soul

03 - Carefree

04 - Waltz For Cricket

05 - Mabe's Way

06 - Body & Soul

07 - Carefree

Herbie Hancock - 1973 - Live In Ultrasonic Studios, Hempstead, New York

HERBIE HANCOCK AND THE HEADHUNTERS

Live at Ultrasonic Recording Studios, Hempstead, NY , October 1st, 1973

PERSONNEL

Herbie Hancock: keyboards

Bennie Maupin: reeds

Paul Jackson: bass

Mike Clark: drums

TRACKS

01. Actual Proof (9.37)

02. Butterfly (12.47)

03. Sly (17.48)

04. Chameleon (15.41)

Herbie Hancock - 1978 - Live At Nakano Sun Plaza. Tokyo

Herbie Hancock - Live At Nakano Sun Plaza.Tokyo

September 29, 1978

4 Brothers Beats

Herbie Hancock - Electric Piano, Keyboards

Bennie Maupin - Soprano & Tenor Saxophones

Webster Lewis - Keyboards

Paul Jackson - Bass

Bill Summers - Percussion

Alphonse Mouzon - Drums

1. Butterfly

2. Sunlight

3. I Thought It Was You

4. Chameleon

5. Shifless Shuffle

George Coleman - 1979 - Playing Changes (Live at Ronnie Scott's Club)

George Coleman
Playing Changes (Live at Ronnie Scott's Club)

1979

George Coleman - Tenor Saxophone

Hilton Ruiz - Piano

Ray Drummond - Bass

Billy Higgins - Drums

01 - Laura

02 - Sierra

03 - Moment's Notice

George Coleman - 1987 - At Yoshi's

George Coleman - At Yoshi's

08/01/1987

Evidence

George Coleman - Sax (Tenor), Producer, Main Performer
Harold Mabern - Piano
Ray Drummond - Bass
Alvin Queen - Drums

When any recording made by George Coleman is issued, it's an instant event. Though Coleman has always been busy performing, writing, and especially teaching, scant few LPs or CDs have come listeners' way. It is especially thrilling to hear him live in concert performance at the initial site of the then newly minted Yoshi's in Oakland, CA, as his extended techniques and heightened sense of tonal ideas come fully to the fore. Coleman and pianist Harold Mabern, both originally from the fertile jazz scene in Memphis, make the perfect tandem, ably supported by super pros in expatriate drummer Alvin Queen and veteran New York bassist Ray Drummond, both of whom Coleman played with when he was in Europe.There are many solemn, laid-back, and reflective moments from Coleman, as both of the opening tracks, "They Say It's Wonderful" and "Good Morning Heartache," warm slowly and simmer at their easily swinging maximum, with the tenor man progressively squeezing out more and more notes in refined fashion.Never far from the soul of his homeland, "Laig Gobblin' Blues" is a refreshing modal original by the leader, a 5/4 beat in a 12-bar idea, with 7/4 tossed in cleverly. The dignity and class of Coleman cannot be overemphasized, as he further displays on his neat and clean composition "Father." A lovely and loping "Soul Eyes" is a perfect closer over its nearly 17 minutes, giving pause to the thought that it was in fact Coleman who influenced John Coltrane. The quick, constantly forward-moving Freddie Hubbard standard waltz "Up Jumped Spring" further shows a relationship between the tenor titans, with the band quoting Trane's "Ole." The talent of Mabern is formidable, tasteful, and exciting, as showcased during his rumbling chords during "Io," a killer modal track written by Paul Arslanian, as Coleman inserts a memorable singsong line and Queen injects some calypso. This one is as definitive a track as Coleman has in his repertoire. Frankly, the whole CD from top to bottom has Coleman and his band inspired to the hilt and playing their best, and At Yoshi's is a highly recommended effort that deserves a space on each and every jazz lover's shelf.

01 - They Say It's Wonderful

02 - Good Morning Heartache

03 - Laig Gobblin' Blues

04 - Io

05 - Up Jumped Spring

06 - Father

07 - Soul Eyes

Bobby Hutcherson - 1970 - San Francisco Featuring Harold Land

Bobby Hutcherson - San Francisco 

Blue Note

Bobby Hutcherson - Vibraphone

Harold Land - Tenor Sax, Flute, Oboe

Joe Sample - Acoustic & Electric Pianos

John Williams - Acoustic & Electric Basses

Mickey Roker - Drums

Produced by Duke Pearson at UA Studios LA

Recording Date: July 15 1970

Bobby Hutcherson's late-'60s partnership with tenor saxophonist Harold Land had always produced soulful results, but not until San Francisco did that translate into a literal flirtation with funk and rock. After watching several advanced post-bop sessions gather dust in the vaults, Hutcherson decided to experiment with his sound a bit, but San Francisco still doesn't wind up the commercial jazz-funk extravaganza that purists might fear. Instead, Hutcherson and Land stake out a warm and engaging middle ground between muscular funk and Coltrane-style modality; in other words, they have their cake and eat it too. Joined by pianist/keyboardist Joe Sample (also of the Jazz Crusaders), acoustic/electric bassist John Williams, and drummer Mickey Roker, Hutcherson and Land cook up a series of spacious, breezy grooves that sound unlike any other record in the vibist's discography (even his more commercial fusion sessions). The selections -- all group-member originals -- often skirt the edges of fusion, but rarely play it as expected; they might float some spare tradeoffs over a loping, heavy bass groove, throw in an oboe solo by Land, or -- as on the slowest piece -- keep time only with intermittently spaced piano chords. It's all done with enough imagination and harmonic sophistication to achieve the rare feat of holding appeal for traditional jazz and rare-groove fans alike. It's a shame Hutcherson didn't explore this direction more, because San Francisco is not only one of his best albums, but also one of his most appealing and accessible.

01. Goin' Down South

02. Prints Tie

03. Jazz

04. Ummh

05. Procession

06. A Night In Barcelona

Harold Land - 1972 - Damisi

Harol Land - Damisi

Mainstream Records, MRL 367

1972

Harold Land : tenor saxophone, oboe

Ndugu (Leon Chancler) : drums

Buster Williams : Fender bass, acoustic bass

Bill Henderson : electric piano, acoustic piano

Oscar Brashear : trumpet, flugelhorn

Bobby Hutcherson : vibraphone (tracks 6 & 7 only)

"Step Right Up From The Bottom" is a straight ahead acoustic cooker by Land with some intriguing changes allowing the soloists to stretch out.

"In The Back etc"has a funky feeling-electric keyboards and bass, Brashaer on flugelhorn and the two horns interweaving in a complex, collectivly improvisational finish.

Land plays Oboe on "Pakistan" and it's exotic tone is well suited to its dark mood. Brashaers muted trumpet and Hendersons Tyneresque piano contribute to the adventurous piece. Back on tenor Land plays Ndugu's" Chocolate Mess" on which brief ensemble statements alternate with a sustained minor vamp.

"Damisi" is an attractive melodic creation, featuring Land at his most intense on two burning solos seperated by trumpet and piano passages.

1. Step Right Up To The Bottom

2. In The Back, In The Corner, In The Dark

3. Pakistan

4. Chocolate Mess

5. Damisi

6. Dark Mood

7. Up and Down

Matthew Halsall

Already following up on his Sending My Love debut, Mancunian trumpeter Matthew Halsall teams up with labelmate Nat Birchall, pianist Adam Fairhall, bass player Gavin Barras and alternating drummers Gaz Hughes and Marek Dorcik for an album of melodic and often meditative jazz. As with its predecessor there's a pleasantly trad feel to all this, taking on the feel and character of a fairly conventional club combo, albeit with an uncommonly heightened sense of composerly intuition. Halsall sounds especially strong during the record's quieter passages, slowing the pulse to stealthy, dulcet levels on 'I've Been Here Before', leaving room for restrained, melancholy intonations counterbalanced by the prickly harpof Rachael Gladwin.

The Compositions by Matthew Halsall - http://www.gondwanarecords.com/

Booker Ervin - 1966 - Structurally Sound

Booker Ervin - Structurally Sound

1966

Booker Ervin (tenor saxophone)

Charles Tolliver (trumpet)

John Hicks (piano)

Red Mitchell (bass)

Lenny McBrowne (drums)

Mixing the dusky romanticism of Dexter Gordon and the progressive tonal ideology of John Coltrane, Booker Ervin is often filed under "A" for amalgam alongside other overlooked tenor masters such as Tina Brooks and Hank Mobley. Structurally Sound is perhaps not Ervin's most provocative album, but a solid and tasty endeavor featuring the "suspended" chord sounds popularized by McCoy Tyner during the late '60s. Here, the chords come via the brilliant pianist John Hicks, who opens the album with funky high-end triplet figures on Randy Weston's "Berkshire Blues." Joining in is a well-selected roster of musicians, many of whom were also overshadowed by their more well-known contemporaries, including Charles Tolliver on trumpet, Red Mitchell on bass, and Lenny McBrowne on drums. Tolliver contributes the original composition "Franess," a Wayne Shorter-influenced affair that features his fat and burnished tone. They also cover Oliver Nelson's blissful standard "Stolen Moments" to good effect. Originally ending with an athletic up-tempo version of "Take the 'A' Train," the Blue Note Connoisseur Series reissue includes a sparkling "Shiny Stockings," featuring an especially inspired chorus by Ervin. An oddball version of "White Christmas" also makes it onto the disc, as do alternate takes of "Franess" and "Deep Night."

01. Berkshire Blues

02. Dancing In The Dark

03. Stolen Moments

04. Franess

05. Boo’s Blues

06. You’re My Everything

07. Deep Night

08. Take The 'A' Train

09. Shiny Stockings

10. White Christmas

11. Franess (alternate take)

12. Deep Night (alternate take)

Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Ron Carter, Al Foster - 1978 - Milestone Jazzstars In Concert

Milestone Jazz Stars - In Concert

1978

Sonny Rollins - tenor and soprano saxophones

McCoy Tyner - piano

Ron Carter - bass

Al Foster - drums

1. The Cutting Edge

2. Alone Together

3. Continuum

4. Nubia

5. N.O. Blues

6. In A Sentimental Mood

7. A Little Pianissimo

8. Don't Stop The Carnival

Favourites

Syl Johnson - I'm Talkin' Bout Freedom

Lillian Hale - Don't Boom Boom

Bobby Jackson - 1978 - Desiree Song

Bobby Jackson - Desiree Song 

(LP Ninth Note Records, US, 1978) 

Catalog # NNR-0072

Bobby Jackson (piano)

Tony Moreno (drums)

Enrique Mercado Reyes (trombone)

Bobby Hughes (alto saxophone)

John Howard (bass)

I am big fan of Independent Jazz Labels. This album was first made known to me a few years back by a jazz dealer of mine. He wouldn’t sell me his copy though, so I had to look for it myself. A very strong LP - and a must for lovers of spiritual jazz. I was blown away the first time I heard "Desiree Song". The Piano and messy horn bit at the end does my head in every time. Also check out "Modetique" on the album as well: Really nice (even if I do say so myself).

1.Desiree Song

2.Modetique

3.Bunglers Twist

4.Peepin

5.Pressure Funk

Unsung: The Story Of Donny Hathaway

Donny Hathaway was a Prolific Song Writer and Music Composer of the Fabulous Soul Music Era. Donny's rise to Soul Music Prominence made him the standard bearer for today's R&B Male vocalist. Indeed Donny Hathaway is responsible for creating and influencing today's modern R&B vocal style for ALL male vocalist of our time. Before Donny Hathaway, no R&B male singer or performer was singing riffs, incorporating high notes or bringing down the house with soulful, melodic vocals. Donny Hathaway was the FIRST to do it...................not Lurther Vandross, not Stevie Wonder, Not even Marvin Gaye!

Bridge - 1981 - Crying For Love

Bridge - Crying For Love

We all know the group - their mixture of soul, funk, disco and Latin elements made this marvellous grouping a really talented band with the versatility and option to change tempo, the direction and beat at the drop of a hat. Something not many artists can do today. Still, this CD is a collection of the demo cuts that won them a recording deal with the CBS owned Bang label. These songs were recorded in 1981 and were intended to become their album for the label. Sadly this was not to pass, and these songs were to sit and gather dust. As one quick spin off of this CD will show this was a criminal act. Still, First Experience has done the decent thing and has rectified this very sorry situation. 1981 as I have said before, was a vintage year for soul music and this is reflected in every song on this CD. I cannot really pull out any clear favourites on this CD but please, if I may, direct you to a few particular songs, which I think should be given special listening treatment. Vocalists Debravon Lewis and Derick Hughes are superb; the latter is very reminiscent of the sadly missed and masterful Donny Hathaway. Both "Stella" and "Listen" are excellent readings of the 1977 Norman Connors versions, and are here performed by the writers themselves in their own right. "From The Darkness To The Light" is a superb ballad complete with flute and summary percussion background which really does the honours. Continuing the trend is "Fire Burning" which underlines how criminal it was not to have had the material released years ago. The vocals on this song are stunning, with Derick Hughes really laying out the red carpet. Surprisingly, for me, was the "Next To Me" cut that was covered by drummer Kenneth Nash. On his 1986 "Mr Ears" album. These tracks are but a few of the highlights from many gems on here.

01. Crying For Love

02. Stella

03. From The Darkness To The Light

04. Fire Burning

05. Waiting Patiently

06. He Say C. She Say Game

07. Sweet & Wonderful

08. Out There In Space

09. No Where Love Affair

10. Rivers Of Love

11. Turn To Love

12. Next To Me

13. Reach Out

14. Listen

Link:Download

Jump Back - A Tribute To James Brown (2008)

01 Os Incriveis - I Feel Good

02 Jr. and The Preludes - Papa's Got a Brand New Bag

03 Soul Sounds - Lickin' Stick

04 Showmen - Voglio Restare Solo

05 Rabbits and Carrots - Give it Up Or Turn it Loose

06 Rabbits and Carrots - Sex Machine

07 Kashmere Stage Band - Super Bad

08 Soul Sound - I Got the Feelin'

09 Esquires Now - Think About it

10 The Presidents - It's my Thing

11 Victor Olaiya & His International All Stars - There Was a Time, Cold Sweat (Medley)

12 Victor Olaiya & His International All Stars - Mother Popcorn

13 Impalas - Soul

14 Big Boe and The Nighthawks - My Thing

15 The Invaders - Big Payback

16 Get Up With the Dancer - Sex Machine

17 University of Illinois Jazz Band feat. Don Smith - I Got the Feelin'

18 Harrison High School - Get on the Good Foot

19 Les Watson and The Panthers - Mother Popcorn

Link:Download

Good God! Heavy Funk Covers Of James Brown From All Over The World 1968-1974 (2007)

Good God, indeed -- a masterful compilation of some of the weirdest James Brown covers you've ever heard -- a truly global assortment of tunes, all of which really keep the best funky spirit of The Godfather in place! The tracks here go way past the usual, and most of the numbers are all quite obscure -- tracks recorded not even by soul singers, but by an assortment of artists of many different genres-- all working at different points around the globe in the 60s and 70s, brought together here by their love of James' original funky vision! And in case you're worried about these tunes being some watered-down version of the JB groove, put your fears to rest -- because all the cuts here have as many funky breaks and hard riffing as any of James' best from back in the day -- sometimes even more, given the weirdness of their styles!

01. El Klan - Cold Sweat

02. Dillard Crumb & The Soul Rockers - Mother Popcorn

03. St. Vincent's Latinaires - Hot Pants I'm Comin'

04. The Dave Pike Set - I Got The Feelin'

05. Toni Tornado - Soul Negro

06. Doublass High School Stage Band 1970 - My Thing , I Made A Mistake Medley

07. Lil' Tiger - Do It (Give It Up , My Thing Medley)

08. The Philosophers - Mama's Orgy (Cold Sweat)

09. Waltel Branco - Tema De Zorra (Popcorn With A Feeling)

10. East Of Underground - Popcorn

11. Six Pack - There Was A Time

12. Willy Dickson & The Playboys - Lickin' Stick

13. Som Livre House Band - Papa Don't Take No Mess

14. Skorpyons Of Jamaica - Think (About It)

15. El Combo Xingu - Hot Pants

16. Tihomir Pop Asanovic - Hot Pants Road

Link:Download

German Funk Fieber Vol. 2

01. Siegfried Schwab - High Snobiety

02. Malcolm’s Locks - Get Up Stand Up

03. Orchestra And Chorus Les Humphries – Mandrake

04. Lift - Wenn

05. James Last - Rice And Beans

06. The Cosmic Sound Orchestra - Listen to the Beat

07. Eric Thoener’s Sound Magazine - Speed Limit

08. Joy Fleming - Geld

09. Panta Rhei - Der Losverkäufer

10. Roland Kovac & The ORF Big Band - Operation Rose

11. Manfed Krug - Wenns Draußen Grün Wird

12. Jochen Brauer Sextett - Sunny

13. Kati Kovács - Sehnsucht

14. Memphis Black - Testify

15. Fredy Brock - Betwixt And Between

16. Don Anderson - Understanding

17. Jürgen Franke - Back Talk

18. Peter Thomas - Evening Air

Link:Listen

Link:Download

German Funk Fieber Vol. 1

01 - Gus Brendel - Night Clipper

02 - Messengers - Gang Bang

03 - Ken Aldin - Dark Alley

04 - Was Tun Band - Es Geht

05 - SWF Tanzorchester Rolf-Hans Mueller - Gate One

06 - Veit Marvos Red Point Orchestra - Family Affair

07 - Die Melon Men - Tuesday

08 - Martin Philippi Blues Band - I Got My Mojo Workin'

09 - Klaus Wunderlich - Summertime

10 - The Rainbow Orchestra - La Avispa

11 - Dave Kamien Division - Watermelon Man

12 - Howard Carpendale - Du Hast Mich

13 - Hugo Strasser - Flashlights

14 - Peter Herbolzheimer - Rock-O-Mobile

15 - Heinz Kiessling Orchestra - Uptown

16 - Sandra Haas - Kleiner Mann

18 - Udo Lindenberg - Votan Wahnwitz

Link:Download

Avenue Blue featuring Jeff Golub

In the '90s, guitarist Jeff Golub's blend of jazz, R&B, and pop earned him a reputation for being one of the edgier, more tasteful players in the crossover jazz/NAC/smooth jazz field. Although some of Golub's recordings were played on smooth jazz stations extensively, he was quoted as saying that he refuses to play outright elevator music, and to be sure, Golub's solos give the impression that he is essentially a soul-jazz improviser at heart. The Ohio native (whose influences have included Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Lee Ritenour, and Larry Carlton, among others) is quite capable of playing straight-ahead bop; he certainly has the chops for it. However, Golub chose to focus on more commercial music and has a long résumé as a rock, pop, and R&B session player. He appreciates being compared to artists like David Sanborn, the Crusaders, Ronnie Laws, Joe Sample, and the late Grover Washington, Jr., that is, instrumentalists who can be commercial and groove-oriented but still have a jazz improviser's mentality.

01 - Pick Up The Pieces

02 - Stockholm Prelude

03 - Stockholm

04 - Gimmie Some

05 - That's The Way Of The World

06 - West Side Serenade

07 - Nightingale

08 - I'll Be Around

09 - Atlanta Nights

10 - Just Goodbye

11 - Lucy, I'm Home

12 - Moon River

Link:Download

BWB - 2002 - Groovin'

WB stands for the first initials in the last names of Rick Braun (trumpet) , Kirk Whalum (soprano & tenor saxophones) , and Norman Brown (guitar).

Additional personnel includes:

Dee Dee Bridgewater (vocals)

Michael Campbell (guitar)

Ricky Peterson (Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards)

Christian McBride (bass)

Gregory Hutchinson (drums)

Bashiri Johnson (percussion)

BWB's (Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum & Norman Brown) debut album Groovin' harks back to a great '70s session vibe with a disc of classic covers given a Smooth Jazz groove, including The Radicals 'Groovin,' Booker T & The MGs 'Hip Hug Her,' Curtis Mayfield's 'Let's Do It Again,' The Isley Brothers 'It's Your Thing' and Parliament's 'Up For The Down Stroke.' The disc also includes exclusive behind-the-scenes video. Warner. 2002.

Recorded at Capitol Studios, Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California.

01 - Groovin'

02 - Brown Sugar

03 - Ruby Baby

04 - A Woman's Worth

05 - Hip Hug Her

06 - Mercy Mercy Mercy

07 - Let's Do It Again

08 - It's Your Thing

09 - Povo

10 - Up for the Down Stroke

Link:Download