Archive for the Jazz Category
Miles Davis “The Legendary Prestige Quintet Sessions” (Craft)
The 42 tunes that make up Miles Davis’ famed quintet sessions – feat. John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones – have nearly all become classics, and have resulted in several iconic albums. Originally released in 2006, this critically acclaimed collection returns to vinyl format. The final […]
Phineas Newborn Jr. “Here Is Phineas” (Speakers Corner)
At long last! Three years after his début as a bandleader, Phineas Newborn found a courageous producer who was willing to allot him time in the studio to record an LP. The man from Tennessee brought with him his guitarist brother Calvin and a rhythm group made up of super […]
Art Blakey “Buhaina’s Delight” (Blue Note)
The line-up of drummer Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers shifted in 1961 with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard replacing Lee Morgan, pianist Cedar Walton replacing Bobby Timmons, and the addition of Curtis Fuller on trombone who joined existing members Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone and Jymie Merritt on bass. This powerful new sextet […]
Archie Shepp “A Sea Of Faces” (Black Saint)
Recorded in Milan (Italy) and originally released in 1975 “Sea of Faces” stands as one of Shepp’s strongest recordings of the Seventies. A highly varied program, covering Shepp’s entire spectrum and performed by an all-star line up featuring Archie Shepp – tenor & soprano sax, piano, vocals, Charles Greenlee – […]
Bill Evans “Live At Art D’Lugoff’s Top Of The Gate” (Resonance)
This Record Store Day Black Friday release captures two complete sets of the Bill Evans Trio (with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Marty Morell) on October 23, 1968 at Art D’Lugoff’s legendary Village Gate club in New York City. The much sought-after 2012 3LP boxed set edition was initially pressed […]
Greg Foat “The Dreaming Jewels” (Athens Of The North)
Recording at Malcom Catto’s analogue studio has been an ambition of Greg’s for a long time, not only for the studio itself but for Malcolm’s skill using this vintage equipment, very few people can achieve such an incredibly big sound. Earlier this year we grabbed the chance to get the […]
Various Artists “Breath Of Danger (Themes)” (Be With)
Reissue of Breath Of Danger (Themes), originally released in 1974. They say: “A selection of suspense underscores and drama blackcloths which vary in intensity and cover a wide range of suspense and drama situations”. Be With Records say: A breaky, funky library great masquerading as a horror score. Oh, and […]
Peter Ludemann & Pit Troja “The Now Generation (Percussive Underscores)” (Be With)
Reissue of Peter Lüdemann and Pit Troja’s The Now Generation (Percussive Underscores), originally released in 1983. They say: “Documentary and industrial underlays for current themes of modern life”. Be With Records say: Mind-blowing, percussion-heavy, Afro-tinged, cosmic-disco library bomb. An absolutely outstanding record from 1983 and definitely one of the hardest […]
Various Artists “Hunter (Drama Suite)/Adventure Story” (Be With)
Reissue of The Hunter (Drama Suite) / Adventure Story, originally released in 1975. They say: “Composite themes and incidental cues for dramatic application”. Be With Records say: Well, it’s definitely dramatic. No wonder this LP was mined by a multitude of ’70s and ’80s crime shows. Much like Beat Incidental, […]
Various Artists “Visual Impact” (Be With)
Reissue of Visual Impact, originally released at 1976. They say: “Descriptive scores for scenes of visual impact”. Be With Records say: Arguably the single greatest album in KPM history. An ensemble piece of staggeringly heavy works from none other than Brian Bennett, John Scott, Steve Gray, Jim Lawless, and Johnny […]
Various Artists “All American Powerhouse (Themes)” (Be With)
Reissue of The All American Powerhouse (Themes), originally released in 1976. They say: “Driving brass and sax ensemble over funky rhythm section, playing tracks of various feel and style”. Be With Records say: From the Lincoln Continental that memorably adorns the cover to the tranquil funk contained within, this glowing […]
Gideon Nxumalo “Jazz Fantasia” (Mad About)
Gideon Nxumalo’s Jazz Fantasia is probably the rarest release in South African jazz. Along with Chris McGregor, Nxumalo helped pioneer the pre-exile South African jazz sound. Jazz Fantasia — originally released in 1962 — is widely regarded as a seminal South African jazz record. The record features legendary jazz altoist […]
Mike Selesia “Flavor” (Mad About)
Mad About Records present a reissue of Mike Selesia’s Flavor, originally released in 1976. This is cool jazz album all the way around. From the black-and-white, hand-drawn cover, to the fact that it came out of Fresno, California (not exactly a hotbed for jazz), to the handful of styles present […]
Sun Ra “Antique Blacks” (Art Yard)
Art Yard present a reissue of Sun Ra’s The Antique Blacks, originally released in 1974. The vitality you hear on The Antique Blacks is a testament to the unique energy of the community around The Foxhole Cafe in Philadelphia, as Ra honed his unique brand of Afro-futurism through the late […]
Alice Coltrane “Carnegie Hall ’71” (Hi Hat)
Alice Coltrane, live at Carnegie Hall, New York on February 21st, 1971. On Sunday, February 21st, 1971, a benefit was held in New York’s Carnegie Hall for Swami Satchidanda’s Integral Yoga Institute, featuring Laura Nyro, the New Rascals, and Alice Coltrane’s All-Stars. The latter band was a remarkable coming-together of […]
Shamek Farrah & Sonelius Smith ”The World Of The Children” (Svart)
One of the rarest albums on the infamous Jazz label Strata-East from 1977 and it’s a spiritual soul jazz masterpiece. Sonelius Smith’s free piano comes together with Shamek Farrah’s heartfelt saxophone for a totally unforgettable journey into the meaning of sacred jazz. Fresh and imaginative, but not too improvisational. Rhapsodic […]
Sadik Hakim “Sadik Hakim” (Return To Analogue)
Reissue of this great funky modal jazz album, originally released by Radio Canada International in 1973.
Matthew Halsall ”Colour Yes” (Gondwana)
Matthew Halsall is a trumpeter, composer, producer and DJ. Since 2008, Matthew has released seven critically acclaimed studio recordings and has been a key figure in the rise of a new jazz sound in the UK. His own rich music draws on the spiritual-jazz of Alice Coltrane and Phaorah Sanders, […]
Matthew Halsall ”Sending My Love” (Gondwana)
Matthew Halsall is a trumpeter, composer, producer and DJ. Since 2008, Matthew has released seven critically acclaimed studio recordings and has been a key figure in the rise of a new jazz sound in the UK. His own rich music draws on the spiritual-jazz of Alice Coltrane and Phaorah Sanders, […]
Various Artists “Follow The Leader: Re-Imagined As Jazz…” (Hay, Reid & Smith)
Re-imagined instrumentals of the groundbreaking and critically acclaimed Follow the Leader album from Eric B. & Rakim. Endorsed and fully supported by Eric B. & Rakim. Jonathan Hay, Benny Reid, and Mike Smith had numerous discussions on how to respectfully, faithfully, and creatively re-imagine Eric B. & Rakim’s classic 1988 […]
Lonnie Smith “Live at Club Mozambique” (Blue Note)
Recorded in May 1970, this smoldering set of funky soul jazz by the great organist Lonnie Smith went unreleased until 1995. Captured live at Club Mozambique in Detroit just 5 months after Smith recorded his excellent Blue Note album Drives, this live date featured a similar line-up with tenor saxophonist […]
Company “Trios” (Honest Jon’s)
For the 1983 edition of Company Week held at London’s I.C.A. in May of that year, guitarist Derek Bailey once more invited a typically eclectic collection of guests. Cellist Ernst Reijseger is a mainstay of Dutch new jazz (ICP Orchestra, Clusone Trio…), American wind virtuoso J.D.Parran a veteran of the […]
Various Artists “Spiritual Jazz Vol. 10: Prestige” (Jazzman)
Double LP version. Gatefold sleeve with comprehensive liner notes and pics. Subtitled: Esoteric, Modal and Deep Jazz from Prestige Records, 1961-73. The tenth edition of Jazzman Records Spiritual Jazz series takes a closer look at the music Prestige was recording at the start of the 1960s. This was the period […]
Jacky Giordano “IM 24” (Le Tres Groove Club)
Le Tres Groove Club present a reissue of Jacky Giordano’s IM 24, also known as Organ, originally released in 1977. An aura of mystery hangs over Jacky Giordano, a studio musician who has mostly worked for library music. He is the one behind the amazing label Freesound — Schifters (1974), […]