Audiopile Review: This crate-diggers delight finally gets a first-time reissue since it’s initial 1970 pressing. Heavily sampled over the years, including notable flips from Cypress Hill, Ugly Duckling, Jay Dilla, Bustah Rhymes, O.C., and Vast Aire, Seasons has become a bit of a holy grail for the hip-hop DNA embedded in its grooves. Though it’s as equally loved by the the jazz connoisseur for the infectious and laid-back grooves helmed by one of the more under appreciated jazz musicians of his time. Led by Jolly’s airy and effortless keys, the album marked a departure away from the cool jazz he was known for prior and into a new era of breezy grooves, incidentally concocting one of the first jazz-funk records. Though more popular albums would come to define the genre, Seasons has nonetheless remained a deep-cut classic, going for hundreds of dollars each time a copy surfaces. Lovely new pressing issued on coloured vinyl, remastered by Kevin Gray and pressed at RTI.

Organic, electric, freeform. Pete Jolly’s Seasons is comprised of melodies and textures composed live and without pretense—its grooves contain a complete and divine listening experience that surpasses all others of the era in which it was originally released, coming as close to transcendent musical meditation incarnate as one could possibly imagine. Seasons is an unsung masterpiece of ensemble groove and stellar musicianship, equally unsurpassed and inspired in its quiet excellence.

While Seasons never had significant commercial success upon its release, it has since amassed a cult following, leading collectors to pay top dollar for copies of the rare record. Out of print since 1971, it has only been reissued once on CD. In his liner notes accompanying this release, Dave Segal puts the album’s massive demand in perspective: “British label owner Jonny Trunk put up an original pressing of the LP for sale for an undisclosed but large sum on Instagram in January 2023, and it sold in five minutes. With Seasons back in circulation, maybe Pete Jolly will finally gain the broader audience that his phenomenal skills merit,” writes Segal. “If nothing else, it serves as a valuable lesson to artists: venturing outside of your comfort zone can bring the most interesting, enduring results.”

Remastered from the original analog master tapes by Kevin Gray at Coherent Mastering, this record not only foreshadows the roots of hip-hop but manages to embody the richness of a full album listening experience that few records can offer. Its timeless appeal is rare—and its dynamic range sets it apart as an album that straddles both the jazz and pop worlds in a way that almost no others can. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the changing and complex colors of Seasons for the first time ever since its initial release.